The next day, before dawn had even broken, Lynn was already awake.
He quietly made his way up to the rooftop, gazing out over the darkened Emeraldwood City. His breath turned into faint, lingering mist in the icy air.
Perhaps it was simply the season, but Lynn felt the temperature had dropped noticeably overnight.
The thin, standard apprentice's robe was no longer enough to keep out the cold; one needed to wear a layer of fur lining underneath.
Of course, that only applied to apprentices whose bodies hadn't undergone enhancement.
For Lynn, such a temperature change shouldn't have been enough to make him feel cold.
And yet, perhaps it was all in his head, for he couldn't shake the chill. He went back inside, draped a shawl over his shoulders, and returned once more to the rooftop.
Dawn was still some time away. Emeraldwood City remained shrouded in darkness.
"This sudden drop in temperature marks the arrival of late autumn…"
"In my previous world, it would've been called 'Cold Dew' or 'Frost Descent'…"
In his memory, the Hossens Wizard Order always held the autumn hunt around this time.
Sensing the coming of winter, the beasts of the Emeraldshadow Forest would become unusually active, desperately stockpiling food.
It was the ideal time to hunt; not only was game easier to find, but it also greatly reduced the risk of beasts raiding Emeraldwood City during the winter, ensuring that the autumn harvest proceeded smoothly.
The harvest was a major event each year. Grain production was also one of the few industries entirely controlled by the Order.
Until a wizard advanced to the Second Rank, eating was still a necessity for most.
As such, nearly every Order and even academies owned and directly managed their farmland, ensuring complete self-sufficiency in food.
When the Hossens Order first relocated here, the very first land they opened up besides the Order's headquarters was the farmlands stretching east and west of Emeraldwood City.
In this world of Guern, wizard Orders were the nations; there was no real concept of "countries."
Lynn stood upon the roof, lost in thought.
In the east, the darkness gradually lifted, replaced by radiant hues. First a deep blue, then pale azure, and finally, when the sun's edge peeked out, a mesmerizing blend of pink and violet too enchanting for words.
As the sky brightened, apprentices and wizards began to streak across the air, heading in all directions.
Lynn knew they were Order members rushing to their various societies, urging the hunting parties to assemble.
Those taking part in the hunt would, within half a day, be split into two groups, moving into the Emeraldshadow Forest east and west of the city to begin their sweep.
They would keep pushing deeper and deeper, only returning five days later.
After standing a while longer, Lynn judged that it must be about time for the meditation method exchange office to open.
Turning away, he declined the breakfast Carter had prepared and went straight to the garrison post near the Order's headquarters.
He had barely arrived when the Second-Rank apprentice in charge of exchanges appeared.
"You're certain you want to redeem all the remaining sections of the Hossens Apprentice Meditation Method, not just the second part?"
The apprentice was visibly surprised after hearing Lynn's request.
Lynn nodded calmly, smiling faintly. "I made a little money recently."
"That's not just 'a little money'..." the apprentice murmured in amazement. Still, he asked no more questions and, following procedure, handed over the meditation method to Lynn.
After all, two hundred-plus primary-grade magic stones sounded like a lot, but for someone raised in a wizard Order, it wasn't much.
When Lynn finally received the complete meditation method, he let out a small sigh of relief.
Truthfully, he hadn't intended to act so high-profile. His original plan had been to redeem only the second part of the apprentice-level meditation method for now.
But plans rarely keep up with changes, he worried something might happen during the Autumn Hunt, so he chose not to hesitate and exchanged for the full method right away.
At least this way, he wouldn't need to worry about meditation techniques for a long time to come.
Once the exchange was complete, Lynn turned and left the garrison.
Seated inside his carriage, he lowered the window and watched the streets roll by.
Because of the hunt, the streets were desolate. Few pedestrians, many shops shuttered.
On some of the more remote stretches of road, not a single soul could be seen.
Only the rumble of his carriage wheels echoed across the empty avenues.
From time to time, he would see patrol squads pass by temporary teams composed of Order members and society members working together.
They moved in groups of three or five, faces stern, patrolling without a hint of levity.
Lynn tilted his head upward. The sky was clear, with white clouds drifting lazily across the blue.
Closing the window, he shut his eyes and rested.
When he arrived back home, Adeline rushed over, her face lit with excitement as she eagerly shared the latest news:
"Somlai is dead!"
Lynn feigned surprise, smiling in delight, then quietly excused himself to the meditation chamber.
After sitting still for a while, he exhaled slowly, calming his mind.
Following his usual routine, he began his daily meditation training.
In a chaotic world, only the steady growth of his strength could bring him peace.
Later that afternoon, before practicing the White Crow Swordsmanship, Lynn began sorting through his possessions.
He was no longer the impoverished mortal he once was. His assets were considerable now.
He possessed three pieces of magical gear alone.
Unfortunately, after redeeming the meditation method, his wealth had taken a sharp plunge, his fortune once more falling into the double digits, leaving him with just eighty-seven primary-grade magic stones.
Right… there's also this…
Something came to mind. He rummaged through his belongings and pulled out the faintly red orb that Somlai had kept carefully stored on the top shelf of his cabinet.
What exactly is this?
He turned it over in his hand, studying it closely.
The orb was no larger than a thumb, its surface smooth and seamless, like a flawless opaque gemstone.
Could it be some kind of magical tool? Lynn wondered, trying to probe it with his spiritual sense.
The very next moment, faint golden words suddenly shimmered into view:
[Absorb Secondary Mixed Source Energy?]
Lynn's eyes widened, his heart filled with shock. He murmured in disbelief:
"This orb… is secondary mixed source energy?"
He strained his memory, digging deep into his recollections, until finally he recalled a piece of related lore.
It was said that when a world neared destruction, its will would burn away its origin to create a strange substance known as the Blessing of the World.
Just as its name suggests, this blessing could strengthen living beings, sometimes even granting them extraordinary abilities.
But there was a limitation: it could only be absorbed by creatures native to that world. Because of this, its value wasn't high, though its rarity made it incredibly scarce.
I never thought… the Blessing of the World would correspond to Secondary Mixed Source Energy.
Taking a deep breath, Lynn suppressed his rising excitement and chose to absorb it.
Moments later, the red orb vanished into thin air.
Lynn paid the disappearance no mind. Instead, he focused inward.
On his energy panel, a new entry appeared: Secondary Mixed Source Energy. At the end of the line, the number glowed brightly: 82.
Though the name suggested it might not be as potent as ordinary mixed source energy, such a large quantity was surely worth months of insight training!
Lynn's heart leapt with joy, but he soon steadied himself with a shake of his head.
I'll only know for sure once I test it.
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