After leaving Yuan's residence, it wasn't until they were seated in the carriage that Elena, her tone tinged with curiosity, asked:
"That spell you just used was impressive… but I don't think I've ever seen it before. What was it?"
"Just a little air manipulation spell," Lynn replied offhandedly.
In truth, the White Crow Swordsmanship was itself a kind of spell.
Since advancing to a Second-Rank Apprentice, its power had naturally grown. But more importantly, perhaps because of his strengthened mental power, Lynn discovered he could now use his own magic to generate the White Crow sword qi.
For a long time, he had wanted to try casting spells by channeling the White Crow's energy cluster, but the process was riddled with difficulties, and he had never succeeded.
Unexpectedly, after his promotion, the reverse became possible: he could drive the White Crow Swordsmanship directly with his magic.
It was far simpler than the other way around. And though it consumed more, the resulting sword qi was also far more powerful.
Seeing he had no intention of giving her a real answer, Elena didn't press. She only said softly:
"You know, Lynn… I thought you wouldn't do that."
"Do what?"
"I thought you'd keep haggling with Yuan," she replied, then suddenly asked,
"If he still refused to lower the price, would you really have done as you said, just taken the Lanveined Crystals by force?"
Lynn thought for a moment before nodding.
"I'm not as kind as you imagine, Elena. I just have my own bottom line."
Elena smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled faintly.
"We're the same kind of people, Lynn."
"I don't think we are," he answered calmly, shaking his head.
She didn't argue further. Instead, she changed the subject:
"Three Lanveined Crystals will that be enough?"
"We'll have to see. I'll need to adjust some of the energy modules…"
Lynn frowned, gazing out the carriage window at the bustling city streets of Emeraldwood, and let out a quiet sigh.
Elena said nothing more, though for once a rare hint of unease showed on her face. After all, she, too, was only a Second-Rank Apprentice.
...
After parting with Elena, Lynn returned to the basement to continue his work on the Lambiel Skiff.
The small vessel was now largely complete in form.
Shaped like a spindle, with short wings on either side, it measured around ten meters in length and two and a half in width at its broadest point.
Fortunately, wizard residences often had basements designed large enough for experiments and spell practice. Without such space, this contraption could never have fit.
Still, while the Lambiel Skiff was large for a basement, compared to true airships, it was tiny.
Its interior was cramped, technically able to seat eight, but once supplies were factored in, three to six passengers was more realistic.
Taking the Lanveined Crystals, Lynn went to the skimmer's center.
He lifted the floor panel, revealing a complex rectangular framework.
This was the power module of the Lambiel Skiff. Lynn had already completed its construction; all that remained was to set the crystals in place and charge it with magic stones or a magic-ore vein.
The problem was that the original design required five Lanveined Crystals.
Now, with only three, many sections would need reworking.
As for seeking more crystals… Lynn had no intention of pinning his hopes on such uncertain luck. He would rather attempt a redesign himself.
Perhaps I can reduce output and strip away nonessential functions to lessen the energy demand…
He returned to the workbench, pen flying across draft paper, soon immersed in the problem.
The sun traced its arc across the sky before sinking below the horizon.
Winter had come to Emeraldwood. As night fell, the air grew colder still.
Then, in a fleeting moment, a snowflake drifted down from the heavens
The first snowfall of the season.
In the basement below, Lynn noticed nothing. Massaging his temples, he glanced at the time, weighing whether to sleep before continuing his research.
"Snow's falling…"
Upstairs, Adeline hadn't gone to bed yet. She sat by the window, watching the snow fall outside, her thoughts drifting somewhere far away.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a figure hurrying through the snow along the street below.
A visitor coming for Lord Lynn?
She rose to her feet, but in the next instant, the figure vaulted over the wall and moved swiftly toward the manor house.
Lynn's warding array… didn't react?
But as the figure passed beneath the lantern light by the gate, Adeline recognized her. She froze, then rushed to open the door.
"Where's Lynn?"
The woman strode into the hall, pushing back her hood to reveal her distinctive golden hair and green eyes, her face tight with urgency.
It was Elena Ross.
"Lord Lynn is still in the basement," Adeline answered.
Elena nodded and moved quickly toward the stairs leading down. Then, as if remembering something, she turned back.
"Adeline, fetch Giggs. Both of you come with me."
Adeline was puzzled but obeyed.
Elena pressed on, and just as she reached the basement stairway, she nearly collided with Lynn, who had been on his way up.
Seeing her hurried appearance and the travel pack slung on her back, Lynn's heart sank.
"Short version," Elena said breathlessly. "Just now, I discovered that the guard station's short-range communication array with the mountain has been severed.
"There are only two possible reasons: either the array was damaged or…"
"The school has fully activated its defense array," Lynn finished grimly. "Which means…"
"War is upon us."
He didn't hesitate, turning back down toward the basement.
"Adeline, call Gaius," he said over his shoulder. "Elena, explain everything to them when they arrive. They still don't know about the skiff or the war."
"I already sent for them," Elena replied.
Lynn paused, gave her a brief look, then kept moving. He knew her well enough by now to know she wouldn't joke about something like this.
"How far along is the skiff?" she asked, following.
"Almost done. I just need more time. How long before it begins?"
"No idea. Could be minutes, could be an hour, certainly no more than half a day." She shook her head, then added with a frown, "There's something else. Two days ago, the academy summoned part of the guard station back to the mountain. They were supposed to return yesterday, but they didn't.
"At first, I thought it was just a routine assignment… but now I think the academy sensed what was coming, so they recalled them."
"You're saying the academy abandoned the rest of you?" Lynn shook his head. "Coincidence, Elena. And besides, you had no plans to go back anyway, did you? What matters now is finishing the skiff."
"You're right," she exhaled, easing her brow. "Maybe I'm overthinking. What can I do to help?"
Pushing open the basement door, Lynn headed straight for the meditation chamber. After a moment's thought, he said, "Give me time. Don't disturb me. If you want to help, explain the situation to Adeline and Giggs when they get here."
Then, as if remembering something, he unclasped the badge of the Golden Shadow Society from his cloak and tossed it to her.
"Take this to the Society."
"Why?"
"I can't say too much. Just know this may be our second chance at escaping Emeraldwood. The odds are slim, but it's something."
Though he suspected that the Golden Shadow Wizard was stringing him along, Lynn couldn't afford to ignore even the faintest hope when lives hung in the balance.
Drawing a steadying breath, he stepped into the meditation chamber.
He glanced at his energy reserves, barely half-restored, but he no longer had the luxury of waiting.
Cross-legged on the cushion, Lynn closed his eyes and exhaled deeply, forcing his mind into calm.
He had to dive into insight right now
to find a way to redesign the power module.
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