Almost by reflex, Lynn stepped back half a pace, slipping his figure into the shadows of the street corner wall.
Wilfer didn't notice him. He kept walking, heading toward a narrow side street.
Lynn's eyes flickered. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to follow.
Activating the emerald Shadow Mark, his figure blurred and vanished into the air.
Wilfer strolled along the street, yawning tiredly.
After finishing his sentence, he had originally wanted to linger in Emeraldwood City to see if there were other tasks left to do.
But the punishment had delayed him far too long. Emerald Avenue was nearly complete, and within days it would open to traffic. There were no more tasks left to pick up.
So Wilfer had no choice but to hurry back to Silverring City. To make up for lost time before the Saint Miring Assembly, he had even spent heavily to take the teleportation array.
Days of constant travel had left him exhausted.
Wilfer continued forward, while not far behind him, Lynn followed silently, concealed in the void, his expression cold and focused.
A few minutes later, Lynn watched Wilfer walk into a tall residential tower.
Lynn stopped at the entrance, not going further.
Hewar Street, No. 23, Vulture Tower… Unfortunately, the tower entrance was heavily guarded with defensive arrays. There was no way to know exactly which room Wilfer lived in.
Lynn's gaze deepened. He had never been the sort to passively wait to be prey. If there was an opportunity, he preferred to crush threats in the bud.
No hurry. I'll send Lucky to watch later… If Wilfer really is behind this, he'll show his hand again.
Silverring City had strict, detailed regulations for familiars.
But as long as Lucky wore the special academy-issued collar for apprentice familiars, and combined it with his innate stealth, most problems would be no problem at all.
...
Back in his dormitory, Lynn set aside thoughts of Wilfer for the moment and focused on recalling the alien knowledge he had just obtained from Felicity.
Void White Lightning…
Now that he examined it carefully, Lynn realized this knowledge was even stronger than he'd thought.
It wasn't zero-ring knowledge at all; it was first-ring knowledge.
In other words, knowledge of the tier belonging to fully-fledged wizards.
And yet, according to Felicity's notes, apprentices could still practice it.
Its power would be diminished, of course, but even so, its value was no less than Golden Mist, and unlike Golden Mist, Void White Lightning was completely capable of being cultivated all the way to the first ring!
Lynn was overjoyed. He had never expected this knowledge to be so powerful. His original desire to see the original text had been mostly out of curiosity.
But don't get too excited… he reminded himself, forcing down his elation.
Like the White Crow Sword Technique, this knowledge wasn't designed for Guern humans.
Even if modified for them, its true power might not carry over, greatly reducing its worth.
Still… this is free knowledge. No matter what, I've already profited.
Even as he tried to temper his thoughts, Lynn couldn't help thinking of his Insight ability of the strange stirrings in his White Crow mana cluster earlier. His heart brimmed with expectation.
If he could use Insight to adapt Void White Lightning into a form Guerns could cultivate, while retaining its full might…
That would mean he had gained another top-tier sorcery.
And unlike Golden Mist, of which he only had the apprentice-level portion, this knowledge was complete straight through to the first ring.
If he could achieve that, his entire short-term plan would change.
A combat sorcery of this caliber, if exchanged at the Academy, would cost at least 500 contribution points.
Lynn would need at least 20 tasks to afford it.
Meaning two or three months, minimum, before he could gather enough.
But if Void White Lightning could be mastered
Then Lynn could skip all that time. His growth would leap forward by months.
Looks like I'll need to browse the Silverring markets… If I can find a World's Blessing, what they call lesser Source Energy, then maybe I'll even have a chance at this year's Saint Miring Assembly.
He took a deep breath, steadied himself, drew out a magic stone, and with anticipation burning in his chest, began Insight into Void White Lightning.
The stone in his hand crumbled into gray dust as his mind sank into the alien knowledge.
Gradually, he understood. Void White Lightning was unique. Its underlying principles differed from most sorceries.
The key difference: Void White Lightning required a special external object to be cast.
That object was what Felicity had called a weapon.
These weapons were built from composite materials, but the core component was a peculiar substance described in the knowledge as Silver-Crystal Marrow.
This material could host fragments of spirit and store "crystal energy."
The practitioner had to split off a shard of their spirit, fuse it into the weapon, then soak it in crystal energy, nurturing it until it had absorbed enough raw power.
From that point on, the weapon became like an external incarnation, something the wizard could freely direct, unleashing devastating force from the crystal energy within.
And after being expended, as long as it wasn't seriously damaged, the weapon could slowly absorb and replenish its crystal energy.
But really… this is less like an incarnation, and more like… the flying swords of legends from my past life?
It moves at will, can compress into a small orb for easy carrying, then transform into a dart or blade for piercing attacks… Aside from not being able to store it in the body, it's practically a flying sword.
That said, Lynn realized its nature was actually closer to that of a magical tool.
Most of its power came not from the user but from the Silver-Crystal Marrow itself. The spirit fragment only provided the circuit to unleash the energy.
Like a magical tool, only this one could be controlled remotely, with far greater precision than normal.
Felicity's true aim was clear: what he valued most was the spirit-splitting method hidden within the knowledge.
Ordinary magical tools had hard limits: if they were powerful, small, and portable, then they required correspondingly immense control, making them impractical.
Which was why small portable tools rarely exceeded their wielder's power tier.
But in theory, Void White Lightning, even in the hands of a first-rank apprentice, could strike with force close to the first ring.
The gulf between the high-tier zero-ring and first-ring was no mere step.
Only the rarest, most elite sorceries could bridge that gap.
Unfortunately, one Insight isn't enough to grasp the entry stage.
And most of its might hinges on Silver-Crystal Marrow. Where can I even get such a substance?
Even if I do… it may not be able to hold mana. And if it can't, then replicating its true power will remain nothing more than a fantasy.
Lynn's face showed a trace of worry.
The so-called Silver-Crystal Marrow was, in truth, an extract from the crystalline plates found in certain bloodline-blessed White Crow people.
But that world had already been destroyed; finding such a substance again would clearly be exceedingly difficult.
If Lynn wanted to practice this knowledge without losing its original power, he would need to discover some equivalent material, within the framework of mana, that could serve in place of Silver-Crystal Marrow… and that was no simple task.
He couldn't help but sigh. Before using Insight, he had been full of joy, thinking he had stumbled onto a treasure.
But after delving deeper into the knowledge, he realized he had celebrated far too early.
Tomorrow, I'll look for another chance to examine the weapon Felicity has in hand. If it can also hold mana… then everything becomes easier.
Shaking his head, Lynn stood up and walked to the window, gazing at Silverring City cloaked in night. Lucky padded to his side and sat down.
Towers and castles crowded the skyline, their faint lights spilling in through the glass.
This sight was nothing like Emeraldwood City; it held a different kind of beauty altogether.
From here, I can just make out Vulture Tower, where Wilfer lives…
Scanning the horizon, his gaze settled on a medium-sized tower, and his thoughts drifted again.
Void White Lightning was one concern, but another matter weighed even heavier.
Reaching down to stroke the black cat, Lynn fixed his eyes on the distant Vulture Tower, a faint unease stirring in his chest.
By chance, he had discovered Wilfer's residence; he should have been pleased.
Yet, having shadowed the young man all the way here, Lynn couldn't shake a creeping doubt from his mind.
Wilfer, this profit-driven youth who, in critical moments, could drop his pride and beg for his life, somehow didn't feel like the one who had hired an assassin.
But if it wasn't Wilfer…
Then who was the hidden hand moving against him?
...
The next morning, at precisely seven o'clock, Lynn arrived at Felicity's residence.
The old wizard was standing at his lab table, the surface buried under piles of scribbled papers. Judging by the sheer amount, he seemed not to have slept a single moment.
"According to yesterday's plan, continue trying to split off a fragment of your spirit," Felicity instructed.
"Be sure to record every reaction and detail, focus especially on the fluctuations. Any doubts or suggestions, speak up immediately."
His face was filled with energy, as though he had made some breakthrough.
Lynn cast a discreet glance at the silver-white sphere by Felicity's hand, then, following orders, began the exercises.
Now that he had the full knowledge of Void White Lightning, he no longer cared about the success of Felicity's experiments.
What mattered was that sphere, the only piece of Silver-Crystal Marrow he had ever seen.
If he wanted to practice Void White Lightning, it was unavoidable.
Whether to verify if it could channel mana, or to compare it while searching Silverring for substitutes, he needed to examine it closely.
But as days passed, the opportunity proved far harder to find than he had imagined.
Not because Felicity guarded it too closely.
Rather, Lynn had found no plausible reason to touch it without arousing suspicion, and besides, he was far too busy.
In the days that followed, Felicity kept them shut in the laboratory.
Aside from eating, sleeping, and brief breaks, Lynn and the two other apprentices worked nonstop under his direction.
The pace was grueling. Yet it did not technically violate the task's terms, so the apprentices had no grounds to object; they could only comply.
A week slipped by in this fashion until at last the final day came. The results, however, were dismal.
None of the three had managed to split their spirit.
Not even Lynn.
He had not yet had the chance for a second Insight into Void White Lightning, so his understanding was still shallow. But he vaguely sensed that somewhere in Felicity's modified 016-knowledge lay a mistake.
There had to be an error. Otherwise, given his initial compatibility, he should already have succeeded.
"Master, the allotted time has run out," No. 006 reminded from the doorway.
Felicity lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot. The three apprentices had at least rested a little during the week, but this old wizard had not closed his eyes once.
"So it's already over…" His face looked weary, deflated.
Mick and Libelle, exhausted, waited quietly, making no demands.
After all, a week had passed; what was a few minutes more?
But Lynn frowned inwardly. He understood: this was his last chance.
"It seems this knowledge is a dead end after all…" Felicity sighed.
After a brief pause, Lynn spoke up:
"Master Felicity, these past days, I've constantly felt as though there is more to this knowledge than what we're practicing isn't the whole of it. Could it be that the fragment is incomplete, and that's why we've made no progress?"
Felicity glanced at him, thought for a long moment, then shook his head.
"Impossible. The beginning portion is complete. Only after completing this step can one proceed further.
"All right. Your task is finished. You may go. I'll confirm completion with the Academy."
"Thank you, Master Felicity." Mick and Libelle looked relieved, bowing gratefully.
Lynn's thoughts raced.
So I really have to give up this knowledge?
Then, gritting his teeth, he made up his mind and said:
"Master Felicity, I'm very interested in this knowledge. I plan to continue practicing it on my own. If I make any progress, may I contact you?"
Mick stared at him in shock. Libelle, too, then gave a short, mocking laugh.
To them, it was absurd. Felicity, a first-rank wizard, had poured endless effort into this knowledge with no success. And Lynn, just a mere first-rank apprentice from a minor school, dared to claim he could succeed on his own?
Supernatural knowledge was no brute task. It was intricate, delicate, and an error of a hair's breadth could ruin everything.
Even Felicity looked momentarily surprised, clearly not expecting such words.
But as his gaze lingered on Lynn, he did not dismiss him. Instead, he smiled faintly.
"I'll have No. 006 give you my contact number. If you gain anything, you may reach me through the Silverring badge at any time."
At this, Mick and Libelle's derision vanished. They suddenly understood Lynn's ploy.
This sly apprentice wasn't boasting; he was currying favor. And it had worked. He had secured Felicity's personal contact.
And Felicity was no ordinary first-rank wizard. His mastery of puppetry and constructs gave him considerable standing in the Silverring Academy.
"Master Felicity, if I, too, make any progress, may I contact you as well?"
Libelle smiled, imitating Lynn's words as she addressed Felicity.
Mick quickly followed suit, glancing sidelong at Lynn with a look that said, So that's how it's done.
Felicity did not refuse anyone; he nodded to each in turn.
He wasn't willing to let go of even the slightest chance.
"Do you need anything else?" Felicity asked.
Lynn's eyes lit up, though outwardly he only showed a thoughtful expression. After a brief pause, he asked:
"Master Felicity, could you perhaps tell us a little about the later portions of this knowledge?"
"Yes," Felicity nodded.
"The latter part of the 016-knowledge I have not yet revised.
"According to the original records, this stage requires you to fuse the fragment of spirit you've split off into the 'weapon.'
"Then, by using that fragment, you construct a special structure within the weapon, turning it into something of immense power, an armament that can move freely under your control."
Felicity's explanation was clear and straightforward, entirely matching the understanding Lynn had already gained through Insight.
"This does sound somewhat like a magical tool," Lynn agreed with a nod. Then, without drawing attention, he slid in the question he had wanted to ask all along:
"But this sphere is an artifact from another world. What kind of energy does it run on? Could it be powered by mana?"
"The energy it uses is naturally the source energy of that world," Felicity answered. "As for whether it can run on mana… I've never tried."
Saying this, he picked up the orb and began channeling mana into it.
Lynn's heart tightened. The outcome of this simple test would decide whether he should continue investing in Void White Lightning.
He didn't have to wait long. Moments later, Felicity set the orb down again and said to him:
"This orb can indeed hold mana. It should be possible to power it with mana as well.
"From this, one can infer that the source-energy of the Crystal World is extremely similar to the source-energy of the Guern World, our mana."
Lynn's heart gave a violent jolt, joy leaping within him like startled birds taking flight.
But outwardly he showed nothing, only remarking with feigned realization:
"I see."
Yet Felicity kept his eyes on him, this boy who had boldly claimed he might someday succeed where others had failed, and, almost against his own will, he added:
"If you do succeed in the future, if you truly manage to split off a fragment of your spirit… I'll grant you one request."
Lynn froze, then met Felicity's earnest gaze and nodded.
Beside him, Mick and Libelle were both startled and jealous.
Did Master Felicity truly believe this minor apprentice from a backwater school might succeed?
The three apprentices had no further reason to linger. Guided by No. 006, they left.
Felicity stood alone in his laboratory, his gaze lingering unfocused on the direction they had gone, lost in thought.
After a long silence, he turned and walked toward the sealed side-room.
He opened the door that had stayed closed throughout the past week.
Cold, white light spilled inside, revealing a glass tank nearly two meters tall.
Suspended within it was a young girl.
Her skin was rosy, her body clad in a specially-made white dress. She looked for all the world as though she were simply sleeping.
...
So Silver-Crystal Marrow really can hold mana. That means the greatest obstacle to practicing Void White Lightning no longer exists!
All I need now is to keep using Insight… and find a way to get that Silver-Crystal Marrow from Felicity's hands.
Walking the streets beneath the first rays of dawn, Lynn's heart was soaring.
And Felicity's final remark
The source energy of the White Crow World and the Guern World is similar. In other words, their crystal energy is very much like mana.
No wonder, back when I used Insight on the White Crow Sword Art, it didn't take much to adapt it for Guern physiology…
But another puzzle surfaced in his thoughts.
*If crystal-energy and mana are similar, then their quality should also be similar.
Yet the energy I produce from the White Crow Sword Art, the White Crow mana-cluster, clearly surpasses crystal-energy in quality, though it still falls short of true mana.
Frowning, he compared the descriptions of crystal-energy in the two arts. After careful thought, he realized: though both called it "crystal-energy," they weren't the same.
In Void White Lightning, the so-called crystal-energy was more like crystal essence, a refined, concentrated version of the White Crow Sword Art's crystal-energy.
So, the White Crow mana-cluster's quality should lie somewhere between crystal-energy and crystal essence.
This realization made everything click.
Even without Insight, he could feel his grasp of Void White Lightning deepen.
One more session of Insight might be enough to master its foundation!
Eager to return home and begin, Lynn quickened his pace.
But just then, a signal came from Lucky.
Something was stirring on Wilfer's side.
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