Chapter 123
As an experienced Pegasus, Dvořák understood very well that if they didn't leave this place soon, there would hardly be any "Lucky Points" left in the entire space for them. Its wings were not folded, but flapping to accelerate.
Generally, Pegasus wouldn't easily show its wings because it would cause a lot of trouble for the rider in terms of handling the reins. The feathers might hit the rider or even knock them down. Fortunately, Virgil was an experienced rider. He immediately lay back, securing himself with his legs and the reins. As for Sylas, he cradled her in his arms. Thank goodness, her lightweight sorcerer was an experienced mage. The spell's duration should last a bit longer.
The lightning became more intense. The black clouds in the sky kept spinning. They were probably white originally, but they became opaque black when gathered together. Occasionally, they were illuminated by flashes of purple lightning. This revealed their rapid rotation in the sky.
The intervals of the bright lights became shorter and shorter. Aimekotes' greyish-white tower gradually appeared in a slender shape on the horizon. Virgil couldn't help but look back at the only spot that still showed a blue sky (which was now compressed by the huge core). It seemed very far away from here, at least not chasing them urgently overhead. Of course, it was also far from where the archmage left the group.
Should he trust her? He always trusted this old friend unconditionally. Her plans were never disrupted by Virgil, and more importantly, he firmly believed that Xerath was not the kind of person who would sacrifice herself for others. Her limited selfishness and meticulous thinking always made her plans appear balanced and perfect. She had Hyectra and Leunen switch places to restore the water lord to its optimal state, had Sylas deliver the message on horseback, and probably immediately cast some kind of sleep spell on her. She knew that Virgil would turn back to look when he couldn't hear Sylas's voice, and she knew that he never missed his mark.
After a few lightning strikes, the arrow would probably be shaken down from a high position. Then, how would the archmage coexist with the wind core?
Aimekotes became bigger and bigger in their sight. The gray-white tower provided them with good protection. Lightning occasionally lit up the sky, but every strike hit the top of Aimekotes. Virgil felt a weight in his arms, the spell had disappeared. He quickly yelled for Dvořák to end the flying state, and Pegasus lowered its wings. He held Sylas tightly in the saddle.
"Teacher!" Sylas woke up, and Virgil felt a jolt in his arms. Sylas struggled out of his embrace and looked back. Naturally, she couldn't see the water lord air cushion hanging behind or Xerath. The little girl anxiously grabbed Virgil's collar and asked, "Where's the teacher? Did you leave her behind?!"
"How could I leave her behind! She went down by herself! Don't move around, we're almost at Aimekotes."
"You just... you just left her alone in the storm? Even if she's an archmage, she can't withstand the lightning attacks, right?!" Sylas widened her emerald eyes, now filled with anger and fear.
"I don't know, but my mission is to bring you back to Aimekotes."
"And then what?"
"...I don't know. It depends on whether there are tools in the mage tower."
"You're just abandoning her? You're leaving her fate up to chance?! If you want to go to Aimekotes, go by yourself! Let Dvořák lend me!"
"You want to ride my horse to certain death? Okay, let's see who Dvořák listens to." In a battle of harsh words, the little girl clearly wasn't Virgil's match. Two fierce gazes met, and neither backed down.
But the unusual wind surrounding him suddenly reminded Virgil of the terrifying nature of this small demon beast. With just a scream, she could take Virgil's life! Cold sweat ran down Virgil's spine. He was bitten to death by the ownerless demon beast, but there was nowhere to claim compensation!
He secretly reached out to touch the tranquilizer arrow in the quiver, but Sylas threatened him in a low voice, "If you dare move, you will definitely regret it."
Virgil laughed carelessly, "You will regret it too. Didn't your teacher teach you not to use magic recklessly inside the Elemental Gate? Or did they teach you but you didn't learn?"
He was right. On the first day she arrived here, Sylas experienced the terrifying nature of storms. Using wind element magic casually would cause unpredictable changes, not just opening a passage for lightning.
Just now, Xerath banished the whirlwind and tornado on a large scale... It startled her and sent shivers down her spine. Suddenly, she lifted her head, grabbed Virgil by his collar, and said, "She knew what would happen when she used the banishment just now!"
So, that's why she said... "Virgil, no matter what happens, don't look back," and sent herself to deliver the message? Did she calculate every step and everyone involved?
"Damn it! Virgil! Let me go back to find her!" The "wind" around her had started to act up. Virgil had no doubt that this increasingly deranged girl would use some extreme and crippling spell to knock him off his feet (she might not even realize it would cause harm). Luckily, she was now able to understand human speech.
"Sylas, calm down. If you go back now, it's just a death sentence. But if we can find the right tools, maybe we can go back..."
"Like what?"
"For example, we should find a wire to make Leunen raise a certain height and attract lightning away from us, while we stay far away from it," Virgil thought to himself, but didn't say out loud. He set up his bow, and the explosive spell attached to it shattered a suddenly appearing giant Son of the Wind. Sylas turned back to look and saw that where the Son of the Wind disappeared, a whirlpool gradually formed, sucking up sand and spitting it out around, growing taller and taller. Many howling winds joined in and eventually merged with the clouds.
Everyone is right, casting spells in the storm at the Elemental Gate can lead to unpredictable consequences.
The storm was turbulent, with stones falling from the sky. Dvořák swiftly dodged, and the trembling stones formed an Earth Child on the ground, which then began roaming in the wilderness.
The number of roaming Earth Children ahead kept increasing. Although they weren't aggressive, they caused a lot of trouble for Dvořák, who was moving at full speed. Luckily, there were many "Lucky Points" in this area, and the lightning was all drawn to the tall towers. The last stretch of the journey didn't encounter any problems.
After they passed through the wind barrier, a huge white shadow lunged at them with a bark. The wind made the door rattle, and Virgil had to hold the crying big dog, trying to cheerfully say, "Titus, shrink! Shrink and I'll give you food!"
Titus transformed back into a footstool, and Virgil took out his last bit of food and shared it with Titus. There were a few dry biscuits, but Titus ate them with great delight, making a smacking sound as its tail wagged slightly.
Sylas bent down and casually rubbed Titus, quickly rushing up the stairs. Virgil also patted the front half of the cushion, saying, "Poor thing, you must be starving. Where are the beef jerky treats?"
Titus paused for a moment, tilting its head as if pretending not to understand, while the front part of the cushion faced Virgil.
It must have eaten them all beforehand, that's why it's like this. Virgil casually stroked Titus and then turned to go upstairs. When he caught up with Sylas, she was opening the door to the laboratory.
The laboratory was always kept very clean. Most of the experimental equipment was stored in another room, including some poisonous or harmful substances. Archmage's things were neatly organized, making it very easy for Sylas to find what she needed.
Mithril had a lot at home, but the Mithril Wire wasn't very long. The only roll of Mithril Wire she used to think was so much, maybe she would never run out in her lifetime, but now she felt it was actually too little.
"I'll search for it, and you take off any metal on your body, like your skirt!"
Sylas felt a moment of fear when the lightning didn't find her in the end. She was really grateful to the Mountain Giant and Dvořák. She didn't have time to go back to the house and take it off slowly, but her outer robe was loose, so she just pulled out the metal-studded dress from inside and threw it aside.
Virgil was searching through a pile of small parts in a drawer. After Sylas finished taking off, he had already connected them into a chain. He called out to Sylas, "Hurry, let Leunen come out and hold them!"
Leunen reluctantly floated over, its fine waves-like tentacles wrapping around the metal. It stretched out while saying, "Madam, this requires a lot of extra use of magic power. I hope you can stay connected with me at all times."
"Of course, of course! Let's go! Virgil?"
Virgil then took the heavy metals and went downstairs with her. Titus had been following them, but nobody seemed to notice it. Even Dvořák almost stepped on it, and Titus had to sorrowfully bark twice before shrinking back into the house, sticking half of its head out from the door to watch them busy.
Sylas couldn't wait and jumped onto the horse. Virgil handed her the package with the metal wires and chains, then sat behind her and urged Dvořák to run faster.
Pegasus was not very happy. Virgil was already heavy enough, and now with Sylas added, and the twenty-plus-pound wire, it was a tough decision to go back or continue. Pegasus snorted and made a grumbling sound until Sylas made everything "light as a feather." Then Pegasus stopped complaining and rushed back in the direction they came from.
Pegasus spread its wings, trembling slightly up and down to catch the side wind. Sylas was very anxious and even thought about calling the wind element to give Pegasus a push, disregarding the consequences. After struggling a few times, she gave up.
Suddenly, Virgil asked, "Sylas, what... if... I mean, if, by any chance... Xerath really dies, what do you plan to do?"
Sylas looked up in alarm, stared at him blankly, moved her lips, but before she could say anything, tears started streaming down her face.
