The next day, Leylin and Alleria returned to the Mage Tower with the construct. As a Ranger Captain, Alleria sincerely apologized to Grand Magister Belo'vir.
Borrowing the Grand Magister's construct without permission was clearly a dishonorable act. However, Grand Magister Belo'vir did not blame the Ranger Captain or demand gold.
He sincerely accepted Alleria's apology, and the matter was over. Of course, the Grand Magister did not blame Leylin either.
He brought the construct into the Mage Tower and said, "Student, we might have trouble at the Arcane Construct Conference soon."
Belo'vir caressed the scars around the construct's body from the troll spear attack and slowly disintegrated it. The delicate disintegration and mobilization were smooth, and each part of the arcane construct fell smoothly to the ground.
Finally, several core arrays fell into the Mentor's hands. The mentor handed the arcane core arrays to Leylin and asked, "Do you see anything unusual?"
Leylin was stunned. He slapped his forehead and said, "It's been completely replaced with a normal arcane core array!"
Belo'vir was not overly surprised. He assembled the complete normal arrays and placed them on the magic storage device. These arrays were quite exquisite and could still be used.
Leylin's entire attitude completely changed after learning that the arrays had been replaced. He could not believe that such a heinous thing could happen among the noble magisters of Silvermoon City.
"Teacher, this is my oversight. I'm sorry to have caused you trouble." Leylin finally understood the trouble the mentor was talking about.
The theft of the arcane core array would create an additional formidable opponent at the Construct Conference in three weeks.
Leylin and his mentor had originally believed that the reward gold coins were already in their pockets, but now, everything was uncertain.
Belo'vir waved his hand casually, saying, "Don't worry too much. Even if other mages stole our core array, they still wouldn't be able to create one like this. We have the theory and technology here. It's just a matter of letting them get some attention and some gold."
The mentor said it lightly, but Leylin understood. While attention was only for show, 3,000 gold coins was a significant amount of construct materials.
"Teacher, don't try to comfort me. You and I both know what those 3,000 gold coins mean." Leylin said with a wry smile.
As always, Belo'vir's broad hand pressed against Leylin's shoulder. "Have confidence. We are here, mentor and student. I believe that in three weeks, our construct research will achieve even greater breakthroughs."
Leylin smiled calmly and nodded, "I will, teacher."
Within Belo'vir's mage tower, the two student and teacher never believed that the trouble would last forever.
In the evening, Leylin emerged from the Mage Tower, bound for the Farstrider's Temple to inquire about certain matters.
Approaching the temple's entrance, Leylin noticed Ranger General Sylvanas, training the rangers. Among the rangers in training was Vereesa. Noticing Leylin's arrival, Vereesa returned her arrows to their quivers and gestured to Leylin with a cheer.
Leylin gave an awkward smile as a gesture of encouragement. He understood the meaning of her gesture.
Sylvanas, upon seeing Leylin's arrival, knew he wasn't here for Vereesa. She coldly said to Leylin, "Wait for me on the second floor of the temple. I'll be there soon."
A few minutes later, Sylvanas and Leylin sat together inside the temple.
"Thank you for your help on my quest."
"Well, you're welcome." Leylin said, placing a snow-white handkerchief on the round, gold-rimmed mahogany table.
This miser is here to collect a debt! Sylvanas raged at the thought. Why was this guy so kind to his sisters, yet so harsh to her?
Sylvanas wanted to throw away the 52 gold pieces in front of Leylin and then casually walk away. But she didn't have the funds to pay the remaining gold pieces.
The usually calm and elegant Ranger-General was in a dilemma. She didn't know how to respond to this miser. Should she say she had no money, or remain silent? She reached out to pick up her handkerchief, but as soon as she touched it, her face flushed, as if remembering something, and she threw it back.
"I'm sorry, I don't have any extra gold right now. Can you wait until next month when I distribute the gold allowance?" Sylvanas said through gritted teeth.
Leylin was stunned, scratching his forehead, and then he placed the full 52 gold pieces into the handkerchief and pushed it towards Sylvanas's hand.
"How bad do you think of me? I'll give you the gold back, and consider those arrows a gift from me." Leylin said calmly.
Sylvanas turned away, pushed the gold back to Leylin, and snorted, "Who asked for your gold? I'm buying it!"
Leylin didn't touch the gold beside him. He changed the subject and asked, "Ranger General Sylvanas, I want to ask you something serious. The arcane construct that was used in this mission, who organized and led that team?"
Sylvanas paused, thinking: So, he really isn't here to collect debts.
"It was used by Ranger Captain Alleria. She leads another team of mages to support our elite rangers. This arcane construct performed the most crucial function of attracting the troll soldiers' attention during the mission." Sylvanas explained.
"Then can you tell me who the mage members of this team are?" Leylin demanded.
"Dar'Khan, Elrodan, Tyren"
Shit! I should have known it was this guy. It would have been worst if it was his RX 78 construct that was stolen or else I would have killed that guy.
"Okay, I understand." Leylin interrupted Sylvanas.
Sylvanas looked at Leylin with a strange look, completely unsure of what he was thinking.
"Nothing else. If the Ranger General needs me or my mentor's help in the future, just ask. We won't charge extra." Leylin said jokingly.
As he stood up to leave the temple, Sylvanas stopped him. "Wait! Get this back."
Sylvanas clutched the handkerchief that should have belonged to her and handed it to Leylin. What was the point?
"This is your handkerchief, isn't it?" Leylin asked, unfolding it neatly in his palm.
Sylvanas blushed slightly, and after a long struggle, she said, "Think carefully about what you did to it, you perverted mage!"
She saw him? Oh my god.
Leylin felt the atmosphere so awkward for the first time. He reluctantly placed the handkerchief in his bag and turned to leave. He neglected to do anything else, feeling unable to look at her face.
"Leylin!" Sylvanas suddenly called out.
Leylin turned away awkwardly, his eyes darting, not daring to meet Sylvanas's gaze. "Anything else?" Leylin asked.
"No, never mind." Sylvanas said casually, like a young woman who had won a battle.
As if pardoned, Leylin hurried out of the Farstrider's Temple and headed straight back to the Mage Tower.