At dawn, the faint morning sun broke through the clouds.
After several days of snow, Hossens' domain finally welcomed a clear sky.
"I'll be gone for about two weeks. If anything unexpected happens, it could take longer."
Inside the rattling carriage, Lynn gave his instructions to Adeline. At his side rested a black backpack, packed with the supplies he might need for the journey.
"During this time, the house is in your care. If something comes up that you can't handle, you can go to Martin or Sir Lucas for help."
"Yes, Master," Adeline answered earnestly. Then she added, "I also prepared some dried pork for you using the method you taught me. It's in the middle pouch of your pack."
Lynn's eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised. "You managed to get the recipe right already?"
"I think so. The result looks just as you described."
"It seems you really do have talent in cooking, Adeline."
Lynn couldn't help but praise her. If there was one thing he had struggled most to adapt to in this world, it was the food.
Ever since becoming a wizard apprentice, with the ability to experiment and refine, he had been devoted to recreating dishes from his previous life.
In a sense, making life a little better every day was part of what cultivation meant.
Of course, the actual experimenting was usually left to his servants, first Carter, and now Adeline, while he provided the descriptions.
"Master, we've reached the northeast gate," the driver called from the front.
The carriage slowed to a halt.
Lynn stepped down, gave Adeline one last look, and said, "Then I'll be off."
"Safe travels, Master," Adeline replied softly as she fastened the pack to his shoulders, her eyes betraying a trace of reluctance.
Their bond was that of master and servant, but also, in many ways, of friends.
...
The rendezvous point for the escort mission was right outside the city gate, hard to miss thanks to the massive transport vehicle waiting there.
The machine came from Silver Ring Academy. Its body resembled a small spacecraft from a science-fiction tale, sleek, flat, metallic gray-silver, about twenty meters long.
The only difference was that it was built for land travel, not flight. Instead of wheels, it walked on eight sturdy metal legs, perfect for traversing rough forest terrain.
The leader of the group, a First Rank apprentice, stood beside it.
She had short chestnut hair, wore spectacles that were clearly a magical tool, and though her features were plain, she gave off a gentle, intelligent aura that put people at ease.
Lynn approached, presenting his Academy badge.
"Lady Serena, I am Lynn Kent, a Second Rank wizard apprentice assigned to this escort mission."
"Good morning, Lynn." Serena smiled warmly. She pulled out a folded sheet of notes and handed it to him.
"This is a briefing I prepared. Two more members haven't arrived yet, use this time to read through it."
"Thank you, Lady Serena." Lynn accepted it with a nod.
The Academy always issued official mission details.
But what Serena gave him was far more comprehensive, a supplemental guide she had clearly compiled herself, listing precautions and notes for the journey through the Emerald Forest.
It seems the leader this time is very dependable, Lynn thought, feeling a wave of relief.
Their destination, Outpost Twelve, was the fifth-farthest outpost from Hossens' domain.
Even with the octopedal land-barge and without delays, the trip would take at least five days.
Serena's notes warned of a toxic-mist hollow and a cliff along the way.
Fortunately, the formal wizards had already cleared most of the dangers when establishing the outpost, carving out a safe route for the supply convoys.
The hollow now held only traces of poisonous fog, its original inhabitants long since purged.
The cliff, however, remained troublesome; they would have to detour around it.
By the time Lynn finished skimming Serena's briefing, the last two teammates had arrived.
Including Serena and himself, there were six in total, three men and three women.
Aside from Serena, all were Second Rank apprentices.
Gathering the group, Serena spoke:
"To ensure the mission goes smoothly, let's each briefly introduce our specialties. Nothing detailed, just enough for everyone to have a sense of one another's strengths.
"I'll start. Serena Talbot, First Rank apprentice.
"While my scouting ability is lacking, I've mastered upper-tier Zero Ring spells in offense, defense, healing, and control. My strongest field is control."
When she finished, she turned toward Lynn on her left, signaling him to continue.
Lynn paused a moment before speaking:
"Lynn Kent. Forgive me, Lady Serena, I've only just advanced to Second Rank. So far, I've mastered only one close-range Zero Ring intermediate attack spell."
Aside from downplaying the strength of his White Raven Sword Qi, he wasn't lying.
He really hadn't had time to study much else.
Serena's brows furrowed slightly.
Lynn stayed quiet, unable to suppress a faint unease.
But a moment later, Serena relaxed and said thoughtfully:
"No need to apologize, Lynn. The formal wizards have already cleared the route of major threats. What strength you have is enough.
"Besides, you're not alone, you have us."
After a pause, she added, "The octopedal land-barge requires two apprentices to operate. For now, you'll be one of the pilots."
Lynn blinked in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Thank you, Lady Serena," he said quickly.
"No need to thank me, it's simply a practical division of labor." Serena shook her head.
She was right. But for Lynn, it had been a long time since he'd experienced something that felt so… normal.
Driving the Octopedal Land-Barge was certainly far safer than standing watch outside. By all logic, such a task should have been assigned to the strongest member of the team.
The Academy really is a different world compared to the outside, Lynn thought.
It's like the difference between the peaceful homeland of my previous life and those war-torn regions.
Having endured too much intrigue and backstabbing among wild wizards, Lynn found it hard to adapt to such a calm and gentle environment.
But precisely because of this, I must cherish these peaceful days and keep pushing myself forward… Order is only ever temporary; chaos is inevitable.
As the thought crossed his mind, he reminded himself silently.
He still remembered that enormous whale descending from the skies, the screams and wails echoing in his ears, and the apprentices who had been buried in the Blackmoon Fortress…
The apprentices took turns introducing themselves.
"Rosa George, Second Rank wizard apprentice. I've mastered several Zero Ring intermediate spells across different categories, with scouting as my specialty."
Rosa appeared to be the oldest of the group. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes could not be concealed, lending her a mature and steady air.
The other two men, Joel and Theodore, were young adults. Their spell repertoires were well-rounded but not remarkable in any particular aspect.
Serena gave a small nod, then turned toward the last apprentice.
The young girl looked no more than fourteen or fifteen. Feeling Serena's gaze, she grew visibly nervous.
"Leah Clayton, Second Rank wizard apprentice. I… I specialize in… Well, I'm sorry, Lady Serena, I only advanced half a year ago. I've learned one Zero Ring intermediate spell each in offense and defense. Everything else is still at the lower Zero Ring level."
Serena's expression showed no reproach. Instead, she offered words of reassurance, then, after a moment's thought, said:
"In that case, you'll share piloting duties for the Land-Barge with Lynn."
The Hossens Academy was indeed short on manpower these days. Under normal circumstances, a girl so young would never have been sent on such a mission.
With introductions finished, Serena led them aboard the Octopedal Land-Barge.
The cockpit was in the very front. To maximize cargo space, it was barely five square meters.
At the very front sat the main and co-pilot seats. Behind them was a narrow bunk with three tiers stacked one above the other.
Originally, the Land-Barge had been designed to carry only three people.
But because of the dangers of the Emerald Forest, escort squads had to number at least six for safety.
Thus, they would take turns. According to Serena's plan, only three people would ever remain in the cockpit: the two pilots and one apprentice resting off-shift.
The other three would ride on the barge's exterior, serving as sentries.
Unless something extraordinary happened, the Land-Barge would remain in motion at all times until it reached Outpost Twelve.
"Oh, before I forget," Serena turned to Lynn, choosing her words carefully. "Lynn, do you know the basics of arraycraft?
"To pilot the Land-Barge, you'll need at least some knowledge of arrays… From your records, I see you were away from the Academy for some time."
"I do," Lynn answered without hesitation. After a moment, he added, "In fact, I'm quite good at it."
"Really?" Serena smiled kindly, though her tone was polite and cautious. "Why don't you read through the Land-Barge's operating manual first, then give me your answer?"
Lynn only smiled in return. He wasn't bothered by her skepticism.
After all, who would believe that a Second Rank apprentice who barely knew any spells could be especially skilled in arraycraft?
And with the success of the mission at stake, Serena had every reason to be cautious.
After a quick read-through of the manual, Lynn was completely confident.
Though the Land-Barge was far more complex to build than the Lambiel Skiff he kept at home, piloting it was another matter entirely.
And piloting, to Lynn, was almost trivial.
"I think I understand how to operate it. May I try, Lady Serena?" he asked, putting down the manual.
Leah, still halfway through her own copy, looked at him with wide-eyed surprise.
Serena raised her brows slightly, then smiled. "Go ahead."
Lynn nodded, slid into the main pilot's seat, and, following the manual's steps, quickly completed the startup sequence.
Outside, the barge let out a low hum as indicator lights flickered to life across its metallic hull.
Inside the cockpit, Lynn pressed his hand against the control crystal, guiding the machine to rise.
Whrrr
With a faint shudder, the Octopedal Land-Barge stood upright and, under Lynn's control, strode forward a few steady steps.
"Very good, Lynn," Serena said with a smile, offering praise without hesitation.
"It seems I don't need to teach you how to drive. Leah, if you don't understand something, ask Lynn first.
"Alright, everyone, take your positions. We depart now."
The apprentices gave their assent. Leah, after a small nod to Lynn, took her seat at the co-pilot's chair and returned to studying the manual.
Rosa, Joel, and Theodore climbed onto the hull to take watch.
Serena herself would remain in the cockpit until they passed Outpost One, only taking up sentry duty in the more dangerous stretches.
Clank, clank, clank
The Land-Barge's eight legs flexed in smooth rhythm, carrying it out of Emeraldwood City and toward the looming wall of trees.
Through the front glass of the cockpit, Lynn beheld an endless sea of green.
Even in the depths of winter, most of the Emerald Forest remained vibrant and lush. Near its entrance, workers were felling trees.
Compared to a month ago, the forest's edge had been pushed back significantly.
But to expand Emeraldwood City and prepare for the flood of travelers once the Emerald Road was complete, logging continued relentlessly.
Finally, the Land-Barge reached the edge of the forest.
Though the sun shone brightly overhead, within the forest canopy, shadows pooled thick and heavy, the dense foliage blocking out much of the light.
Without hesitation, the Octopedal Land-Barge trundled forward, leaving the open road behind as it plunged into the vast, dim-green depths.
...
Clatter, clatter, clatter
As the Land-Barge pressed deeper into the Emerald Forest, the surroundings grew eerily quiet.
Strange insect cries and uncanny beastly roars echoed from time to time.
Besides Lynn, young Leah, only fourteen or fifteen, couldn't quite hide the flicker of fear in her eyes. She had spent all her years training safely on the mountain; this was her very first dangerous mission.
"Don't worry, Leah. From here to Outpost One is completely safe," Serena reassured her. "This stretch of forest is swept clean every spring and autumn hunt, and just recently checked again by official wizards. There's almost no danger left.
"So use this time to get familiar with piloting the Land-Barge. Later on, when the road becomes truly perilous, you won't have the luxury to practice."
"Yes, Lady Serena." Leah pressed her lips together and nodded before burying herself once more in the operations manual.
"Lady Serena, there's some movement in the forest to the left," Theodore's voice crackled through their academy badges.
The Hossens Academy badge, after all, was a minor magical tool; aside from confirming identity, it carried a few simple, practical functions. One of them was short-range communication.
But communication in this world, muddled as it was with mana interference, was much more limited than in Lynn's former life. The badges could only transmit up to two hundred meters. Longer distances required large, elaborate communication arrays.
Hearing Theodore's voice, Leah's shoulders tightened again.
Serena gently patted the girl's golden hair, then calmly asked the other side:
"Rosa, can you see what it is?"
"One moment, Lady Serena."
A pause. Then Rosa's voice returned, relaxed this time.
"Looks like just an ordinary black bear."
"Mm. Leave it alone. Keep moving forward," Serena instructed. She cast Leah a warm smile.
Leah's cheeks flushed pink.
"Sorry to trouble you, Lady Serena."
"No need for that. We're all members of the same Academy," Serena replied with a smile. "When I went on my very first mission, older apprentices looked after me the same way."
Then her expression sobered.
"But Leah, remember this: the world is far more dangerous than you imagine. Not all wizards are as kind as the ones here in the Academy.
"Out there, many wild wizards wouldn't hesitate to kill someone over a single magic stone…"
Leah looked a little dazed, but she tucked Serena's words away.
Serena didn't press further. Apprentices raised in the ordered safety of the Academy could never truly grasp the chaos outside, not until they saw it for themselves.
In truth, Elena had been an exception.
Listening quietly, Lynn glanced at innocent Leah and couldn't help but feel out of place…
...
The following days passed without incident.
Driving shifts weren't too exhausting, and since he shared duties with Leah, Lynn even carved out spare hours for meditation each day. His training hadn't fallen behind.
A week later, they reached Outpost Seven, the only stop along the route.
After a few hours of rest, they would press on straight to Outpost Twelve.
"You've all worked hard these past days."
On the docking square, Serena addressed the group:
"The Land-Barge will take five hours to recharge. During this time, you may rest or move freely, but remember to obey outpost rules. If you cause trouble, I won't be able to shield you.
"And don't wander outside the outpost. We are still deep in the Emerald Forest, and danger can appear at any time.
"That's all. Take this chance to relax. I suggest you look around the inner market. Lots of rare resources from the forest can be found there. Plants, beasts… most at prices far cheaper than in Emeraldwood City."
With that, Serena headed toward the outpost's market.
Lynn followed.
Even if she hadn't suggested it, he had planned to.
Before the mission began, while browsing Emeraldwood's markets for beasts, he had already heard rumors of the outpost bazaars.
Built on the frontier, deep in the Emerald Forest, the outposts constantly captured magical beasts, many of them rare.
The trouble was transport. Most were never sent back to Emeraldwood alive. By the time they reached the city, they were usually corpses.
Lynn had seen a few suitable creatures back then, but all were dead. It had left him frustrated for days.
Soon, he spotted the "market" sprawled across an open patch of ground to the left.
It wasn't a market so much as a cluttered depot.
Wizards moved about, sorting through piles.
Useful things were kept for shipment back on return barges. Worthless ones were discarded or burned.
Lynn threaded his way through until he found the pens where live magical beasts were kept.
But to his surprise, there weren't many.
"You're late," one of the apprentices managing the pens told him. "Half a day ago, a land barge came through and hauled most away.
"These are all that remain. Have a look.
"But if you're looking for something specific, tell me. I can keep an eye out. Next time your convoy passes through, I'll set one aside for you."
"Thank you," Lynn said quickly, pleased. "I'm not after any particular species. Just something with strong abilities, but nothing above Zero Ring Intermediate."
"Understood. I'll watch for you," the apprentice nodded, unsurprised. Likely, he thought Lynn wanted subjects for bloodline research. "Anything among these interests you?"
Lynn studied the beasts in the cages, then shook his head. "No. Thank you."
These leftovers were unimpressive, unworthy of becoming his Familiar.
So, disappointed, he turned away from the beast pens and wandered the rest of the market.
He spotted many rare resources: strange plants, exotic materials. Nothing he urgently needed, but still, he bought a few magical plants priced well below Emeraldwood rates, portable, easy to resell for profit.
That was, in some sense, one of the small perks of missions like this.
Just as Lynn prepared to head back to the Land-Barge, his gaze fell on something both unfamiliar and familiar at once, a peculiar stone.
It was jagged, pitch black, and oddly deep.
At first glance, nothing special.
But under close inspection, the light around it dimmed slightly, as though the stone drank in illumination itself.
Unfamiliar because he had never seen one before.
Familiar because he had read of such a thing in a body of knowledge.
That knowledge was the Blackmoon Spirit Body.
If I'm not mistaken, this should be the "Light-Absorbing Stone" mentioned in the Blackmoon Spirit Body texts, a material that can aid its cultivation!
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