“How is it?”
In a spacious office with a clear view of the lighthouse landscape, Lapis, who wore a fatigued expression as she rubbed her forehead, inquired.
“It’s not easy.”
Grisha, who had been standing behind her, nonchalantly replied with a pipe dangling from her mouth, which she had discarded onto the common floor earlier.
Despite being covered in dust from the floor, Lapis understood that Grisha paid no mind to such trifles. She was known for her eccentric behavior, consistent with her role as a Spellcaster.
The dust on the floor failed to capture her attention.
Continuing to chew on her pipe, Grisha elaborated,
“It’s more than I thought. I assumed his abilities were mediocre since he was just an assistant professor in a university lab, but it’s completely unexpected.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“Hmm, it’s hard to compare. He’s quite different from the wizards I know…”
Grisha, well aware of her formidable capabilities as a sorceress, infused weight into her words.
Lost in contemplation, Lapis attentively absorbed Grisha’s narrative.
“He was very proficient in combat using spells. Not only is he talented, but he also knows exactly which type of spells to use when necessary. Especially the final transmutation he used…”
Grisha reminisced about the sequence of spells Lennok had employed during their brief encounter. Lennok had conjured a spherical boundary of gravitational chains, freezing everything within its confines. He effortlessly transitioned between two distinct schools of magic, culminating in the creation of a lightning spear to dispatch his adversary. The vivid memory of that scene lingered in Grisha’s mind.
“It seems like he’s used to these kinds of situations.”
“Definitely. He didn’t even flinch when he saw my ‘South Mando Coast Guard.’ Though he’s not perfect, he’s definitely entered the realm.”
Though Grisha’s assessment was subjective and rooted in intuition, it surprisingly depicted Lennok as a wizard with remarkable accuracy.
She not only gauged the pinnacle of Lennok’s magical prowess but also recognized his combat proficiency. This indicated that Lennok’s battle instincts, honed through countless perilous encounters, were sharp enough to pose a threat even to Grisha.
“I’m seeing a wizard like him for the first time, and he never even changed his expression during the fight. From my life experience, when you come across such tricky fellows—”
“They are people who should not be underestimated.”
Lapis interjected.
Disregarding Grisha’s momentary silence, Lapis proceeded with caution.
“I also tried to maximize the use of my ‘Celestial Sight’ to gauge Evan, but I couldn’t get any useful information. As you said, he’s likely a man with many secrets.”
Didn’t Amon harbor continuous suspicions about Lennok’s true identity when he initially arrived?
It was only after witnessing Davi during the confrontation with Byzen that Amon became convinced. There was no need to elaborate on how expertly Lennok had concealed himself.
“I didn’t leave this cave specifically to maintain my ‘Celestial Sight’ for as long as possible… but it didn’t have much effect.”
The reason she remained within this cavern to hear Lennok’s account even after his duel with Grisha was not extraordinary.
As one ascended the levels of the lighthouse, ‘Celestial Sight’ grew more potent and distinct.
Although all the upper spaces had collapsed, forcing Lapis to rely on her meager abilities, the amplification she experienced within this cave was significant.
Yet, she couldn’t ascertain the depth of Lennok’s capabilities.
He was a formidable individual.
Lapis concluded, contemplating his sharp combat skills, refined through bloodshed and battles, as well as his adeptness at concealing his true self.
When confronted by a formidable sorceress like Grisha, Lennok displayed a detachment that viewed the situation as a mere business transaction.
It was a blade that could easily cut one’s hand if mishandled.
However, Lapis was aware that Lennok deliberately unveiled this aspect of himself to her.
If he had desired concealment, he would have acted as he did when they first crossed paths, assuming the guise of an inconspicuous college assistant professor.
Instead, Lennok demonstrated his worth by confronting Grisha’s provocations head-on.
This was possible because Lennok possessed unwavering confidence in his own abilities.
Lapis found herself in need of a wizard with such exceptional skills – no, even an additional comrade would be essential.
Even if their relationship started as a mere transaction.
He was a person worth having on their side.
“It’s risky, but he’s a person worth cooperating with. There’s no reason to make him an enemy, even if he doesn’t catch the Blue Dragon’s eye right away,” Lapis concluded.
“He’s after the Drug Lord’s vault, so there’s no reason for us to distance ourselves. I’ll get started right away tomorrow.”
***
The following day.
Lapis sought out Lennok early in the morning.
The office had transformed drastically from the spacious setting of the previous day.
One wall was adorned with a map of the eastern continent, while the other was lined with hundreds of books. It was in this room that Lapis greeted Lennok.
“You look quite tired,” Lapis observed.
Lennok absentmindedly rubbed his eyes. “…I had some personal matters to attend to.”
“Is it about interrogating the Tower Wizard? If it’s about tracking, there’s no need to worry too much. Once inside the lighthouse, it’s impossible to find us by any means.”
“Well, it’s not just that.”
On that night, Lennok had kept Byzen up until dawn, extracting the unique magic of Blaiver
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