Early in the morning, the weather was a bit chilly. Leylin, wrapped in a scarf and casting a heating spell on himself, emerging from the inn.
With two weeks remaining until the Construct Conference, he was going to work with his mentor today on further improving and operating the intelligent construct.
The mentor's study of intelligent constructs had made considerable progress in recent days, and Grand Magister Belo'vir's recent experimentation of arcane constructs were now capable of independently mobilizing magic energy. Today was a particularly busy day.
Entering the Mage's Tower, the mentor had placed a furnace atop the tower and used a fire array to generate heat, maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the room.
"The cold winds have arrived so quickly this year! It looks like winter is already here." the mentor said, rubbing his hands as he gazed at the dark, overcast sky outside the mage's balcony.
Had a year already passed? Leylin's heart skipped a beat. This was the fifth year since the Dark Portal opened, and many major events were expected to happen or is already happening. The creation of the Alliance of Lordaeron, the training of the first paladins, and the Horde's continued marching through the north.
"It wasn't this cold this time last year, at least Silverpine Forest still had a decent temperature." recalled Leylin.
The mentor and student sat down, and Leylin and his mentor prepared to research the intelligent construct. Compared to before, Leylin had now mastered all aspects of arcane construction.
Grand Magister Belo'vir patted the intelligent construct, activating it with arcane energy. Its eyes glowed purple, and the intelligent construct stared at the mentor and student in horror. It wailed in a mechanical voice, "You two monsters, you can't touch my body anymore."
The mentor and student exchanged a smile and continued their work.
"Try to activate the arcane energy within you, Frank." Frank was the name Leylin had given the intelligent construct RX 78 (Leylin's first ever construct). Now Leylin gave him an order.
"I refuse. I don't want to do this." Frank said proudly.
Neither Leylin nor his mentor knew the intelligent construct they had developed would possess such a tsundere personality. Ever since it developed its own personality, Leylin could no longer get it to prepare hot drinks for him. This intelligent construct was a master of bargaining; to get it to work, it had to trade something it liked.
"I can take you out to see the sights. Let's go somewhere further today." Leylin said, gesturing towards the outside world. Like a real creature, Frank was filled with curiosity about the world beyond.
Soon, Frank began to mobilize the arcane energy stored within his body, much like a mage would, and his movements were incredibly smooth.
Belo'vir nodded in satisfaction. He replaced Frank's body with another arcane core array, inscribed with special information, and said, "Currently mobilize the magical energy and cast this simple arcane shield spell."
Leylin's offer was indeed tempting, and Frank immediately complied. He had tried this experiment many times before. Though it had never succeeded, he felt that the two mages who had created him still held him in high regard.
The surrounding magical energy, relying on the universal magic circle drawn by Frank, began to cast an arcane shield. Unlike the smooth flow of magical energy just now, Frank's magic was now very different when it's time to cast it.
The instructor and Leylin held their breath; they had failed many times before. They yearned for success. Their previous accumulation had paid off.
The magical information Leylin and the instructor had officially entered yesterday—the key to the instructor's research project, a new type of magic rune—was now in effect. Frank successfully cast an arcane shield, an magical barrier composed of arcane magic.
Belo'vir wiped the sweat from his forehead with his long sleeve and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Student, you've worked hard this week." Belo'vir said sincerely.
Leylin shook his head. He had truly benefited from this week's work. He carefully observed the teacher's work and questioned any areas he didn't understand.
Even the latest magic rune the teacher had developed, Belo'vir taught him everything he knew, explaining the key links and rune paths in detail. Frankly speaking, aside from his inability to create the circle named after him, Leylin now possessed 80% of his mentor's knowledge.
The remaining 20% was his mentor's personal understanding, something he couldn't articulate; it could only be understood through his own comprehension.
However, with the aid of [Knowledge Comprehension], Leylin's understanding was also accelerating. Furthermore, through his mentor's guidance and his own study, Leylin now masters lots of knowledge from fire magic, arcane magic and now knowledge about arcane constructs.
"You can continue studying your advanced study on arcane magic this afternoon. Oh, and I'll take Frank for a walk. Student, you should rest for a while." Belo'vir said.
This was originally Leylin's responsibility, but now it had been done by mentor. Leylin couldn't resist and had to rest here.
Frankly, Leylin's mental state had been extremely tense for the past week due to the upcoming war and he truly needed a good night's sleep.
Leylin lay on a bench, facing the terrace. He gazed at the dim sky and thought: After all my time in Quel'Thalas, this was the first time I'd ever seen a day without sunlight.
White, flocculent feathers appeared in the sky? Was it snowing? Leylin stood up and walked outside the terrace.
Standard hexagonal snowflakes fluttered into Leylin's palm. The air was exceptionally fresh on a snowy day. Leylin greedily breathed in the air and stretched his body.
"By the way, shouldn't I take Vereesa out to play on a day like this? Otherwise, this beautiful scene will be wasted." Leylin turned and walked into the tower.
He packed up his things and extinguished the fire array in the furnace. He took a few quick steps and headed towards Windrunner's house.
Perhaps it was the kind of tacit understanding that couples have. When Leylin reached the Windrunner Village, he was greeted by her. Ever since the assassination of troll chieftain Kel'gash, Vereesa's missions had become less frequent.
"I was just about to look for you, Leylin." Vereesa ran over happily, but this time she was not the only one, there was also the Ranger General, Sylvanas, behind her.
The weather was very cold, but the coat that she wore had already exposed her snow-white neck. In order to let Leylin see the necklace with the 'illusion' enchantment, she was not afraid of the cold.
"Well, I was just about to look for you too." After saying that, Leylin took off his blue scarf and wrapped it around her fair neck.
Vereesa stood obediently in front of Leylin's chest, blushing.
"Sylvanas is coming too?" Leylin looked at the ranger general, with embarrassment still on his face.
Sylvanas put her hands behind her back and said, "We were supposed to go enjoy the snow scenery together, you give me back my younger sister. I don't want to see you two showing off your affection."
Vereesa stuck out her tongue, hurried over to take her second sister's hand, and then said to Leylin. "Let's go, Leylin."