As evening fell, Lynn bid a heartfelt farewell to La Loude and left the southern district.
The lively and bustling Central Square presented itself as she exited the narrow alleyway. The wide streets were teeming with life, bustling with people, and a massive airship sailed through the city's skies, eliciting joyful laughter and playful chasing from the children.
Although Ralph's death had dealt a blow to the halfling community, life continued on.
This prosperity and tranquility stood in stark contrast to the chaos and decay of the southern district. However, Lynn had neither the energy nor the capacity to concern herself with the impoverished victims of magic's ravages. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her next steps.
Starting an investigation with the young wizard apprentice who had attempted to steal airship blueprints seed like a good choice. Apart from the airship matter, Lynn was eager to make contact with an organization known as the "Bloodthorn Thorns." Her interest wasn't solely in obtaining a source of magical power through this channel, but also in understanding how a wizard apprentice could advance their class, and whether there were alternative thods to beco a full-fledged wizard.
Perhaps her entry into the southern district had raised suspicions, as Lynn hadn't received any ssages from La Loude for the next few days. There were no updates from the city's law enforcent either.
Lynn wasn't surprised. Based on La Loude's accounts and the chaos in the southern district, the so-called law enforcent teams were likely deeply entwined with the magical workshops.
If she pushed too hard, the best-case scenario would be that Lea found and eliminated the young wizard apprentice, leaving her with no answers. It was best to exercise patience for now and continue her daily life as a professor, attending classes and researching magic, all the while accumulating her magical reserves to their limits.
It wasn't until the morning of the third day that Lynn prepared to do sothing specific. She was going to apply for teaching funds!
Whether it was researching magic or establishing an information network, almost every aspect of her plans required funding. Considering that just one airship had attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives, Lynn had no intention of revealing any more groundbreaking discoveries in the near future.
To amass a substantial sum quickly, she had to start with teaching funds. This ti, she planned to request a whopping 100 magical gold coins!
The amount was quite substantial, but what did Senge say? If you want to open a window, you first need to propose tearing the roof off!
However, Lynn's plans seed to fall apart before they even began. Philip looked at her extensive teaching proposal and shook his head with a wry smile. "You're a bit late, Professor Lynn. Master Herlram hasn't been at the academy for the past few days."
"How unfortunate," Lynn furrowed her brow.
"Do you rember the psychic apprentice you brought back?" Philip asked.
"Dove?" Lynn hadn't forgotten the incident at all. She had visited Dove in the infirmary, and the girl was still enclosed in the ice coffin.
"Yes, that's her. Herlram took her with him last night. They should be on their way to the Wizard City," Philip said, sowhat uncertain.
Lynn nodded, then hesitated for a mont before inquiring, "Professor Philip, I had a question earlier. It seems that Master Herlram is quite concerned about this matter."
Dove was just an ordinary apprentice recruited by Kora in the Seccast Empire. In theory, she had no connection to the grand wizard.
"Perhaps it's because of Iyeta..." Philip said, hesitating.
"Iyeta? The academy?" Lynn paused, finding it hard to see how Dove's life and the academy could be related.
"No, I'm talking about Master Herlram's daughter - Iyeta. She was a child with great magical talent, and she looked sowhat similar to that halfling girl. Unfortunately, she got involved with magic too early and died in a magical accident. So when he saw this psychic nad Dove, I guess it brought back so mories for him," Philip explained with a hint of sadness.
In fact, the requirent that students must be at least twelve years old to enter Iyeta Academy was related to this, aiming to prevent unnecessary magical accidents.
Lynn nodded in understanding. It made sense that Herlram would be lenient with a rambunctious halfling girl like Dove due to his own fond mories of his daughter.
Since the grand wizard was absent, Lynn had to put her extensive teaching plan away. The professors couldn't make decisions on funding requests for hundreds of magical gold coins.
"By the way, Professor Philip, I heard that there are many magic workshops in the southern district experinting on the poor. Is that true? It doesn't seem to align with the Council's regulations..." Lynn asked, referring to what she had seen and heard in the southern district the day before.
Lynn knew that relying solely on La Loude's testimony wouldn't be enough. She was curious about how the true ruler of this harbor city, the grand wizard Herlram, viewed these activities. Surely he wasn't completely unaware of them?
"Even if it doesn't comply with the regulations, what does it matter? The vast majority of the poor involved in these magic experints volunteer willingly. No one can stop them. If soone wants to gain magical power through this ans, they must inevitably pay a price," Philip responded with a sowhat cold tone.
Elental magic, shapeshifting, potion-making, alchemy - the developnt of each field of magic was not easy. For example, the fusion of elents sotis led to unimaginable destruction. Developing every kind of potion required a large number of test subjects. Shapeshifting magic required the dissection and study of magical creatures' structures. Even in alchemy, a slight error while drawing the magic circle could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Almost every year, wizards died in magical experints, even if they had taken precautions. However, the casualties were predominantly among apprentice assistants and the poor who participated in the experints.
In recent centuries, there had been relatively few casualties, but every regulation of the Magic Council had been written in blood.
Lynn was montarily at a loss for words. In this chaotic, otherworldly realm, it was clear that one couldn't expect the wizards to place a high value on human life.
"Professor Lynn, there's soone looking for you outside the academy. Should I allow him to co in?" While they were talking, a small head suddenly popped out from the door, two little hands clutching the door fra, and the person asked.
Seeing that familiar and adorable face, Lynn smiled and nodded, "Lydia, please take him to my room. I'll be there shortly."
If everything went as expected, it should be one of La Loude's subordinates here to deliver a ssage.
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