"Are you going to lend it to me or not?" Alleria grabbed Leylin's arm with her left hand, threateningly demanding it.
The pinched arm ached. Leylin chuckled and said, "What? Is this your method of asking? You're even threatening me?"
Alleria frowned and berated Leylin, "Stubborn, dull, stingy, and a fool! I told you, I'm only borrowing it because I'm on a mission."
It wasn't that Leylin didn't want to hand the Arcane Construct over to Alleria. It wasn't Leylin's personal property. It was the Teacher's creation.
To lend it out so casually was unacceptable. More so if he hands over his arcane construct, the modifications he made restricted access towards anyone. Only his mana signature could give access to it.
Seeing Alleria's eager expression, Leylin's heart softened. "Don't worry, it's not that I don't want to lend it to you. I don't have Teacher's permission but I could take fall just in case."
Hearing Leylin's tone, what had seemed like a lost cause was now a win-win situation.
"After the mission is completed, I will return the Arcane Construct intact. I promise."
Having lived with the Teacher for so long, Leylin understood his lifestyle and study habits. After completing a project, it wouldn't be revisited.
Since Alleria had put aside her ranger identity to borrow the Arcane Construct, she must have a particularly important mission—perhaps the same one my younger sister and Sylvanas were on.
A sudden resolve: Fine. I'll take the blame! Leylin nodded and said, "Okay, you must definitely return it back undamaged. This construct cost me and my mentor more than half of our funds."
Carrying the Arcane Construct, Leylin accompanied Alleria to the Farstrider's Temple.
Arriving at the Temple's training grounds, Alleria expressed her gratitude to Leylin. "Thank you, anyway. We're a bit tight on funds these days, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to Grand Magister Belo'vir's Mage Tower to borrow from you."
Oh my god, was the mentor so unreasonable, ignoring the Farstrider's mission for gold? Leylin and Belo'vir weren't penny-pinchers; they wanted the gold because the costs of construct experiments and production were immense.
It's understandable that a mentor and student without other sources of income would be stingy.
"What's there to explain now? You've already deposited the arcane construct inside the Ranger's Temple." Leylin made a helpless gesture.
Alleria was at a loss for words after hearing Leylin's words. She stared blankly at him for a few seconds before uttering these simple words: "Stingy! Cheap! Mean!"
Burning bridges after crossing them—is this the way of a Ranger Captain?
There was no other way. Since he'd already borrowed them, he might as well return to the Mage Tower to craft enchanted arrows and further raise his proficiency on tailoring.
There might be missions next week, so his magic studies would have to be put on hold for a while. Improving his skills first wouldn't be a bad idea.
Leylin turned to leave the training grounds near the sanctuary when another Windrunner emerged.
"Wait, Leylin."
Was it Sylvanas?
"The enchanted arrows aren't finished yet. Give me a little more time," Leylin replied.
Leylin, clear-headed, couldn't think of anything else the Ranger General could talk about besides the enchanted arrows. But the world is full of surprises.
"I saw the arcane construct you brought the other day. Alleria deposited it in the material vault," Sylvanas said.
"Does this violate any of your Farstrider rules?" Leylin asked curiously.
Sylvanas looked at Leylin coldly and asked directly, "How much gold did Alleria give you in exchange for the arcane construct?"
Leylin, confused about the question, answered frankly, "I lent it to her. No gold exchanges."
Sylvanas, whose expression was usually impassive, blushed at this answer. However, it wasn't a shy expression. The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
"What's wrong?"
Sylvanas's breath hitched, and she said bluntly, "Get lost!"
Damn! Are the two of you and your sister mentally ill? I lent you the arcane construct out of kindness, and one of you called me a stingy person, and the other one after asking a question actually told me to get lost!
Whew! It's so hard to be a good person.
Despite being told to get lost, Leylin remained calm. He calmly bid Sylvanas farewell, "Goodbye, Ranger General Sylvanas."
With a graceful turn, Leylin vanished from Sylvanas's sight. After Leylin left, the Ranger General remained standing beneath the crimson canopy.
A few fallen leaves fell as her fingertips caressed her lips. "Why did I say that?" Sylvanas muttered. What she didn't know was what Alleria brought was a different construct from what was tested before.
Noticing her own state, she immediately shook her head. She gazed at the quiver behind a ranger, clenched her fist, and turned to walk into the Farstrider's Temple.
Returning to the Mage Tower, Leylin continued crafting enchanted arrows. His technique grew more and more proficient, and soon he had finally finished all enchanted arrows.
In the afternoon, Leylin sat on the top floor of the Mage Tower, practicing his tailoring, the designs he used on his creations are based on his previous life. He designed some cool coats using leather and wool. Leylin decided to sell some of these cloths he made to earn back some gold.
After finishing making clothes, he placed it within his [Space Backpack] since his magic bag is for a different use. Leylin went outside the mage tower and walk back in the Bazaar to sell his merchandise.
Time passed by quickly, and Leylin finally struck a deal with a merchant where sells all of his clothing merchandise in exchange for some gold and materials.
Negotiations with people are really tiring no matter which world. It's another kind of battle, either to haggle or raise prices basing it from the process of its production. Anyhow after completing his mini training.
Leylin's armor took shape—his dedication transforming raw materials into functional works of art. After weeks of trial and error, he finally finished not just one, but two distinct sets of armor, each reflecting different aspects of his personality and intentions.
The first set was inspired by the mystic robes of a wandering mage—flowing, elegant, yet practical. The fabric was a deep, midnight blue, woven with subtle silver threads that shimmered when caught by the light. The robes were loose-fitting, allowing for ease of movement, but reinforced at the shoulders, chest, and forearms to provide protection against minor spells and attacks.
A prominent feature was the hood—large and draping, capable of shadowing Leylin's face when he desired to remain unseen or to focus his mind. The sleeves were long, tapering at the wrists, with intricate runes embroidered along the hems, symbols of arcane power and protection. The overall look was reminiscent of the Eclectic Mage Robes from Skyrim—mysterious, versatile, and imbued with a quiet elegance suited for both casting spells and blending into the shadows.
The second set was a stark contrast—sleek, streamlined, and designed for agility and stealth. Inspired by Altair's armor from Assassin's Creed, it was crafted from lightweight leather and reinforced with thin plates of hardened metal, offering a balance of defense and mobility. The color scheme was a matte black with subtle gold accents along the edges, giving it an air of refined stealth and nobility.
The armor covered vital areas—chest, shoulders, forearms, and shins—while leaving the joints free for maximum flexibility. The design was minimalist, with clean lines and a high collar that could be flipped up to conceal his neck and lower face when needed. The helmet was omitted, favoring instead a hood that could be pulled over, similar to the mage robes, but made of durable leather lined with soft fabric for comfort.
Leylin tested both sets, adjusting straps and ensuring comfort. The mage robes suited his need for magic and mystique, perfect for casting spells from the shadows or blending into magical environments. The assassin-inspired armor was ideal for swift strikes, stealth missions, and close combat.