Chapter 40 - 48-59

Chapter 48: Charging into the Vortex!

The swaying ship's cabin and the continuous screams from above interrupted the conversation between Lynn and Jonny. They exchanged glances and rushed upstairs in unison.

Opening the door, a frigid gale howled, and icy raindrops poured down on the deck like a dense hailstorm. It was the prelude to a tempest.

The once calm sea had become tumultuous, with the waves continuously crashing against the ship's hull, causing the sail warship to sway incessantly.

Due to the relentless gale, the previously thick fog had dissipated significantly, doubling the visible range. However, the fog was no longer pure white but had turned into an eerie gray.

"Hurry, tighten the sails, everyone, get moving! We must escape this area as quickly as possible!" Lynn shouted.

The deck was in chaos, with hundreds of crewmen from the Ship's Gang in disarray. Lame Loude's face turned extremely grim as he shouted loudly, but many people were kneeling on the ground, looking hopeless, and shouting something.

"Loude, did we run aground? Or is it the effect of the storm?" Lynn hurriedly approached, inquiring.

"No, it's the Great Whirlpool, the Eye of Death!" Loude exclaimed, terror evident in his voice.

The Great Whirlpool?

Lynn immediately recalled the information he had gathered in the harbor town. He gazed once more at the turbulent sea, realizing what he had overlooked. The surging sea was flowing consistently in one direction, drawing the Wind Sail ship towards the center of the vortex.

The diameter of this vortex was simply massive. Moreover, the sea was shrouded in fog, making it nearly impossible to find any reference point. It gave him the illusion that the ship was sailing normally.

Just how enormous was this thing?

Lynn couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Loude, on the other hand, seemed to have had a sudden revelation and looked at Lynn with an intense, hopeful look, asking, "Master Wizard, can you freeze the entire whirlpool?"

"What are you joking?" Lynn furrowed his brow. The diameter of this whirlpool had to be several kilometers to create such a visual deception. What kind of power could freeze an ocean of this magnitude?

"Then we're doomed. It's too late to escape now," Loude said, his eyes losing the glimmer of hope. He slumped to the ground, muttering to himself.

The Sea of Mist was terrifying for a reason. Besides the thick fog that covered the entire area, making it easy to lose direction, the most crucial element was the Great Whirlpool, known as the Eye of Death.

It was an existence that struck fear into the hearts of countless seafarers, akin to a grim reaper roaming the vast Sea of Mist. It could appear in any corner of this region without warning or any discernible pattern. Once encountered, the crew and their ship were condemned to death.

The terrifying pull of the Great Whirlpool far exceeded the speed of any sailing ship. Rumor had it that those who were eventually sucked into the vortex not only faced certain death but their souls would plunge into the abyss, hence the name "Eye of Death."

The only way to pass through the Sea of Mist was to wait until Monday when the Eye of Death temporarily calmed down. During this brief period, ships tried to distance themselves as much as possible from the frequent appearance of the Eye of Death. The rest was left to luck.

In previous years, when they transported goods, they would try to set sail on the first few days of Monday, ensuring they didn't collide directly with the Great Whirlpool.

But this year was different; the Church had blocked the harbor town, delaying their departure.

Lynn paid no attention to the lamentations and swiftly walked over to the cargo piled on the deck. He picked up a few wooden barrels, gauged their weight, and then tossed them in different directions and angles. He extended his right hand, measuring the relative distances of these objects.

For an individual, trying to calculate the diameter and flow speed of the Great Whirlpool with just a few drifting barrels as reference points seemed like an impossible task.

But for an intellect like Lynn, it was child's play.

"The diameter of the Great Whirlpool is seven kilometers, and the escape speed is... twenty knots! To avoid being sucked into the vortex, we need at least twenty knots!" Lynn received the analysis from his intellect, and his brows furrowed.

In his previous life, achieving a speed of twenty knots was easily attainable with even a small boat, but in this wicked otherworld, the Wind Sail warship beneath their feet appeared to have a maximum speed of... seven knots?

"This is impossible! Even the finest alchemical ships in the land of the wizards can't reach twenty knots!" Loude heard Lynn's words and shouted in despair.

Although he didn't understand what the escape speed meant, he knew what twenty knots signified.

"No, it's possible!" Lynn said seriously, pushing the helmsman who had slumped to the ground aside. He looked at everyone present. "I'll take the helm. Everyone, get back to your posts, listen to my orders, and raise all the sails for me!"

"Do you even know anything about ships? With these massive waves, if we raise all the sails, this ship won't last long, and we'll all die!" The helmsman whom Lynn had pushed away immediately jumped up and shouted at the top of his lungs. In this situation, he didn't care about wizards or non-wizards anymore.

But the next moment, the words at the edge of his mouth were swallowed back because a massive fireball was forming in Lynn's palm.

"Do as he says, or you'll die right now," Lynn's tone was icy.

The yellowish-white phosphorus flames made the sailors on the deck shiver involuntarily, and the helmsman even sat down on the ground in fear.

However, in this hopeless situation, not many people obeyed the command. Some even believed that dying by sorcery was better than having their souls devoured by the Great Whirlpool.

Just then, the sound of a winch turning vigorously reached their ears, and Lynn and the others turned to look. The person working the winch was Jonny!

The young girl was tightly gripping a sail rope, threading it through the winch. Raindrops flowed from her head, streaming over her delicate profile and soaking her robe, but Jonny didn't mind. She pulled harder and harder, securing the last loop of the rope firmly on the winch.

"If you have no other way, sitting here waiting for death is the only option!" Jonny's sapphire-like eyes gazed at everyone present, and she spoke resolutely.

Loude quickly rallied as well, drawing a whip from his waist and fiercely lashing a praying sailor on the ground. He shouted in anger.

"Do it, all of you, do as he says, hoist all the sails!"

Chapter 49: Conquering the Eye of Death!

Under Loude's whip-wielding command, the sailors moved with the last glimmer of hope. The sail ropes tightened, and the winches spun relentlessly, raising the canvas made from camel leather. These camel leather sails were incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding the wildest storms and gales.

The remaining crew members began unloading the cargo piled on the deck, lightening the weight of the sailboat.

Loude watched as their valuable cargo was tossed into the sea one by one, feeling a pang in his heart, but he had no other choice. His life was more precious.

The howling wind and churning waters made the massive wind sail ship appear as if it were a fragile leaf on the brink of capsizing. The ship continuously swayed, seemingly on the verge of sinking at any moment.

Lynn's approach was straightforward. He adjusted the angles of the sails, using the powerful winds to balance the ship. This was a highly precise operation, but the sailors on board, while not understanding the principles of aerodynamics, possessed decades of maritime experience, barely maintaining control.

Under Lynn's guidance, the warship gradually changed course, heading full speed in the direction of the water flow.

"Wizard, are you sure you're not making a mistake? That's the giant whirlpool over there!" Loude, who had just ordered the sailors into action, turned to check their course and was terrified to the core.

Were they trying to escape the giant whirlpool, or were they rushing headlong into certain death? He now believed the helmsman had no clue about ships!

"Of course, I know that's a giant whirlpool. What we need to use is the power of the Eye of Death," Lynn said with a solemn tone.

The wind sail ship's speed was only seven knots. Escaping the vortex's pull was nearly impossible. The only way out was to align the ship's direction with the direction of the swirling water, circumnavigate the giant whirlpool, and then use centrifugal force to accelerate out.

In fact, Lynn had no prior experience with ships, but he had undergone starship piloting assessments, understanding how to use a planet's gravity for reverse acceleration. The principles were quite similar.

In simple terms, they would charge in and then be flung out!

Lynn briefly explained this, but Loude didn't understand a word of it. He had a vague feeling that it made sense, though.

"We must be out of our minds!" Loude muttered to himself. He had never imagined that one day he would be sailing directly into a giant whirlpool!

Apart from Loude, the other sailors soon noticed the ship's course was amiss. However, they didn't even have time to despair, as several sail ropes on the deck couldn't withstand the strong winds and snapped. In this perilous situation, they had no choice but to use sheer manpower to keep the ropes taut to prevent it from affecting the ship's progress.

Lynn continuously adjusted the ship's rudder. Accompanied by a violent but brief shake, the ship suddenly veered to the right, then stabilized once more. The surging seawater propelled the sailboat forward, heading resolutely toward the giant whirlpool.

A deafening thunderous roar echoed from the distance of the sea, like thunder erupting on a clear day. In the sparse black mist, a portion of the giant whirlpool quickly appeared before them.

It looked like an enormous, hair-raising funnel at sea, continuously sucking in vast amounts of seawater into its bottomless abyss. At the whirlpool's deepest point was darkness and an eerie coldness, emanating a spine-chilling aura, hiding its true nature from view.

As they gazed upon the horrifying giant whirlpool, Loude's face turned deathly pale. The sailors' reactions were even worse, with some starting to mutter incoherently.

"Mom, I'm coming to find you..."

"It's stars, I can see the stars!"

Lynn faintly sensed that something was amiss. This whirlpool, known as the Eye of Death, seemed to affect people's minds. It appeared that this phenomenon wasn't a natural occurrence caused by ocean currents or gravitational tides.

They needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

However, their current speed was still lacking.

"Use Fireball, seven o'clock direction!" Lynn shouted loudly, making sure Jonny understood and indicating the precise direction.

The silver-haired girl immediately grasped the idea, activating her Magic Hands. A massive fireball condensed in her palm and was thrown toward the rear side of the wind sail ship.

At this moment, Lynn also acted, creating two huge fireballs that collided violently. The shockwave made the ship creak, but it also boosted the ship's speed once more.

The constantly swaying wind sail ship, in a thrilling fashion, grazed the edge of the giant whirlpool. With the powerful centrifugal force at play, they accelerated at several times their usual speed, breaking free!

The intense sound also woke Loude and the others, enabling them to shake off the mental influence of the whirlpool. They watched as the terrifying "Abyssal Maw" receded into the distance, relief washing over their faces.

After a brief moment of calm, the deck erupted in joyful shouts. Everyone was celebrating their escape from the clutches of death.

"This is incredible! We've truly escaped the whirlpool!"

"This must be a miracle!"

"As soon as we reach land, let's get married immediately. There's no time to waste!"

All the crew members were ecstatic, and even the two grizzled old men embraced each other.

"Loude, once we're past this area, bring out the wine I've been hoarding. Let's celebrate properly," Loude's hands were still trembling, but he generously made the offer upon seeing the joyous scene.

"However, Loude, sir..." the first mate hesitated and then cautiously added, "Your box of wine was just thrown overboard."

Loude's expression immediately froze, and an endless sorrow surged within him. Most of the rare treasures he had collected over the years were stored in the wooden box on the deck, and now they were all gone!

An urge to dive into the whirlpool and retrieve his riches welled up within him, but it was ultimately a futile thought.

Amidst the heartache, Loude didn't forget to acknowledge the hero of their triumphant "conquest" of the Eye of Death.

"Many thanks, Master Wizard. You saved us all! If you have any tasks in the future, please don't hesitate to command us," Loude gazed at Lynn, took off his hat, and placed it over his chest, bowing respectfully.

The previously boisterous deck fell into a profound silence. Every sailor and crew member there made the same gesture, the highest form of respect among seafarers.

After the harrowing experience with the Eye of Death, they now had deep admiration and respect for Lynn, the wizard.

"What should we do next? Please continue to guide us!"

Chapter 50: The Current Situation in the Land of Wizards

Lynn surveyed the crew members waiting for his instructions and spoke with ease, "In that case, I kindly ask you all to continue working hard. We won't be truly safe until we're completely out of this sea area."

Under Lynn's command, the sailors in attendance temporarily suppressed their excited emotions and returned to their positions. However, unlike before, they no longer bore worried expressions when facing the vast, misty sea.

"I never thought that in my lifetime, I would escape the 'Eye of Death' twice," Lame Loude said, feeling quite moved.

"Was the first time because of the assistance of that great wizard?" Lynn asked curiously. He had suspected this when Loude mentioned the Icebound Maelstrom; it was clear that Loude had faced such danger more than once.

Loude nodded and then recounted his experiences from over a decade ago. At that time, he was just an ordinary pirate, living a life of killing and plundering on the sea.

Because their activities were near the Misty Sea, they didn't have to worry about the Empire's naval fleet pursuing them. If things got too dicey, they could simply hide within the fog. As long as they didn't venture too far in, they would eventually find their way back.

Then, one day, their pirate crew encountered a large ship coming out from within the Misty Sea...

Initially, they thought it was a cargo ship that had mistakenly entered the Misty Sea and had luckily found its way back. They took advantage of their superior numbers and prepared to raid it. But to their surprise, they had met their match.

The ones who took action were not Helram, but two official wizards who accompanied the ship. Even so, they utterly decimated the entire pirate crew of several hundred people, and Loude lost his right leg due to the residual effects of a fireball spell.

If they hadn't wanted to interrogate him, he might have died long ago.

However, it was through this chance that he managed to change his fate completely and became the representative of the great wizard Helram in the port town...

Listening to this, Lynn couldn't help but glance at Loude, wondering what exactly he had done to escape his status as a prisoner and gain the favor of that great wizard.

He had witnessed the cunning of this old fox, albeit in a very limited way. He wouldn't trust someone like that completely. Had Loude been caught doing something?

Despite these thoughts, Lynn didn't interrupt Loude's narrative.

"After taking care of the matters in the Port Town, I had the honor of accompanying Master Helram to the Land of Wizards. It was during the sea voyage that we encountered the maelstrom," Loude recounted nostalgically.

Of course, this 'Eye of Death' maelstrom from that time wasn't as terrifying as the one they had just faced. It only covered an area of about one kilometer, and Helram's solution was quite simple: he froze the entire maelstrom!

Even so, this was enough to surprise Lynn. It seemed that the power possessed by the great wizard was far stronger than he had initially imagined.

"By the way, the final destination of our journey this time is Master Helram's domain—Iyeta Sea Port," Loude added.

Lynn nodded, realizing that he would soon be dealing with this great wizard. However, he still had no clue about how to respond to Helram's accusations.

As the two of them chatted, the sail warship beneath their feet had completely left the range of the great maelstrom, and the sailors on board cheered loudly.

Despite the heavy losses when they had crossed the Eye of Death, Lame Loude was in high spirits, allowing everyone to eat, drink, and celebrate tonight!

However, life at sea could be somewhat dull. So, this "celebration" mainly consisted of everyone sitting together, drinking barrels of beer, boasting about their heroic exploits of the past, and trying to catch some fish.

Perhaps their luck was changing, as they didn't encounter any more unfortunate events in the following days. The entire sea remained blanketed in white fog. If it weren't for their compass guiding them, Lynn might have thought they had never left their original position.

This was the eerie aspect of the Misty Sea. Even great wizards like Helram could get completely lost in this region if they couldn't find their way. Despite being able to deal with the maelstroms, they could still become entirely disoriented here.

During these days of sea travel, Lynn didn't just sit idly by. Besides practicing magic as usual, he spent every day asking Jonny for information about the Land of Wizards. Soon, he had a general understanding of this sanctuary for wizards.

First and foremost was the attitude of the wizards toward the outside world, which roughly divided into two factions.

The first was the conservative faction, who chose to isolate themselves. This was the choice of most wizards in the Land of Wizards. They paid no heed to the outside world and believed that the people controlled by the Church were incredibly ignorant.

Wizards, in their pursuit of understanding the mysteries of the world through magic, cared little about political power or territorial claims. Therefore, the study of magic was the same everywhere.

Moreover, the Land of Wizards possessed an extremely rich reserve of magical ores. Coupled with the blockade of the Misty Sea, even if the Church couldn't break in, the wizards didn't find it easy to leave. They might as well focus on developing various magical theories and directly crush their enemies in the future.

The second faction was the proactive one, such as the Great Wizard Helram, advocating the display of magical power to the outside world. They believed that, despite being a massive island, the Land of Wizards couldn't be entirely self-sufficient, and it needed to continuously absorb new blood from the outside world due to its small population.

However, the downsides were also evident. The more they interacted with the outside world, the greater the danger. Relying solely on the power currently stored in the Land of Wizards wasn't enough to compete with the Church. If the Land of Wizards' location was fully exposed, it could invite catastrophic consequences. This was the fundamental reason why most wizards leaned towards the conservative faction.

It was worth mentioning that their mentor, Kora, belonged to the proactive faction and was part of the school created by the Great Wizard Helram.

"So, it's difficult for information to spread between the Land of Wizards and the outside world, right?" Lynn pondered, asking Jonny.

"Seems like it," Jonny nodded. In these four years, she had only been to the Land of Wizards once, and most of her knowledge came from Kora's regular stories.

"If that's the case..." Lynn gazed thoughtfully out of the porthole, as though he wanted to see the Land of Wizards, standing deep within the vast sea, through the endless white fog.

He had already figured out how to handle the accusations from that great wizard.

Chapter 51: "The Society of Mystical Arts"

Ever since they boarded the Wind Sail Warship, Lynn had been pondering in what capacity they should enter the land of the wizards.

As Kora's apprentice? A wizard's apprentice who had practiced magic for less than half a year?

If he were to assume this identity, it was evident that he would run into numerous troubles.

After all, everyone on the Wind Sail Warship had witnessed his spellcasting, not to mention the explosion in Harbor Town. This was not something a mere apprentice could accomplish.

As the saying goes, the innocent will bear the sins of the guilty, and someone who was weak and harbored significant secrets was often the target of those with ill intentions.

Their current situation was indeed quite awkward. Being pursued by the Church all the way, they had escaped to the land of the wizards like fugitives, and on top of that, they had destroyed a crucial trade route. It was only natural that they would be detained and interrogated upon their arrival in the Iyeta Harbor.

So, if they wanted to change the game, they needed to make some alterations.

With these thoughts in mind, Lynn turned to Jonny and asked, "Do you know why our teacher is risking capture to go to the Duke of Nordland's capital?"

Jonny hesitated for a moment and then replied with certainty, "Teacher said that the Duke of Nordland's second daughter has considerable talent in magic... and we're running out of money too."

Lynn couldn't help but twitch his lips. He knew that Kora had a hidden agenda for taking in noble students, and it seemed like he was after research funds.

Of course, there was another reason besides that. Nobles were usually literate, well-educated, and didn't need everything to be taught from scratch.

Learning magic itself was an expensive affair. For example, a scroll for casting the Fireball spell, "Crimson Embers," cost one silver and thirty-seven copper, enough to sustain a commoner's family frugally for a month.

Magic wasn't something the poor could afford to learn!

Perhaps Kora had a thought of cultivating one or two noble wizards as well. While these apprentices were not first heirs, they still had the potential to create something on their own.

Lynn didn't delve deeper into these thoughts and shook his head. He retorted, "Those are just excuses. Have you ever heard of the 'Society of Mystical Arts'?"

"What's that?" Jonny asked, looking puzzled.

"It's a highly secretive wizard organization within the Sekas Empire. It's composed of many influential figures. During the time when our teacher taught me magic, he had the chance to interact with members of the 'Society of Mystical Arts,'" Lynn made up on the spot.

Kora's process of teaching apprentices was quite casual. He would spend some time with each apprentice and then leave them in a relatively safe place to practice magic on their own. In other words, everything that happened during the time Kora personally instructed him was known only to the two of them, and Jonny had no way to refute his words.

"After interacting with the 'Society of Mystical Arts,' our teacher told me that many of the magical research theories in the outside world are already outdated and cannot keep up with the times," Lynn continued.

Therefore, our teacher secretly compiled a precious research manuscript and planned to go to the capital of Nordland to meet with a colleague from the 'Society of Mystical Arts.' If this mission fails, he instructed me to bring back this valuable research manuscript to the land of the wizards at all costs!"

In just a few sentences, Lynn transformed their identity from being fugitives on the run from the Church, accidentally destroying an important trade route, into dedicated individuals who, under their teacher Kora's orders, had endured all hardships to escape the Church's clutches and deliver a research manuscript containing vital information to the land of the wizards.

If this research manuscript held enough weight and brought explosive news, they might not only avoid blame but even receive commendation.

Is it really like that? Jonny looked bewildered. Kora had never mentioned anything about the 'Society of Mystical Arts' to her, and Lynn's expression didn't seem like he was joking.

"So, you mean the way you advanced to become an official wizard was through the 'Society of Mystical Arts'?" Jonny said thoughtfully.

"Or you could say it like this: my situation is even more unique, and this method doesn't apply to others." Lynn nodded, not bothering to correct the misunderstanding.

In the land of the wizards, only official wizards held a certain status and the ability to protect themselves. This also aligned with the lowest evaluation of his abilities from everyone on the ship.

If he didn't want to attract trouble, willingly or not, he had to become an official wizard.

As he spoke, Lynn also pondered the content of the "research manuscript."

Based on Jonny's descriptions over these days, the wizards in the land had about the same level of understanding about the world as Western Europe during the Renaissance.

As magic existed, wizards specialized heavily. While they had made significant strides in micro-level research, discovering the existence of gravity early and even creating alchemical ships powered by steam, the majority of wizards still adhered to the belief that the earth was flat, and that this continent beneath their feet was the center of the entire universe.

They even used this continent as a reference point to chart the orbits of every celestial body in the star system, forming a highly complex geometric pattern. This also aligned with the descriptions in the Church's Bible about the creation.

However, over the past few days, he had talked with Lame Loude and others, and this world also had solar eclipses. The sailing over the seas involved seeing towering mountains and spires.

Apart from this, if he slightly adjusted the positions of the celestial bodies in the star chart, placing the stars at the center, everything became familiar again.

It was evident that the Church's theory of divine creation was complete nonsense. There was no way the goddess, Elara, who had supposedly created this world, couldn't even determine whether she made a continent or a sphere, right?

Of course, this kind of incorrect understanding was a pitfall that almost every civilization had to go through. To put it plainly, their thinking was bound by common knowledge.

When people are born, they tend to think of themselves as the center of the world. They believe that everything in existence revolves around them, and the continent beneath their feet must be a particularly special existence, the center of the entire universe.

However, after delving into further research, one would discover a cruel truth. Not to mention planets, even an entire star system was negligible in the grand scheme of the universe.

Using the attack on the belief in a flat earth as a starting point was undoubtedly a good choice. It was not only shocking but also had a plethora of evidence to prove the fallacy of this argument. There was no need for him to say much; the wizards would naturally realize what was correct.

Lynn was also preparing to test the "scientific research" atmosphere in the land of the wizards. Faced with skepticism, whether they would carefully seek the truth and accept it, or vehemently suppress voices that didn't conform to the mainstream, would determine his future course of action!

Chapter 52: Perhaps This Is Just a Farce

After finalizing their plan for the upcoming actions, Lynn turned to Jonny and spoke.

"We may have successfully escaped the Church's pursuit this time, but in doing so, we've disrupted a crucial trade route. When we reach the Iyeta Harbor, we might face some scrutiny. I'll handle the explanations."

Jonny realized the magnitude of their predicament, but seeing Lynn's unwavering composure gave him a modicum of reassurance.

Next, they pondered the potential troubles they might encounter upon entering Iyeta Harbor and roughly discussed strategies. Eventually, Lynn hesitated for a moment and spoke again.

"By the way... from now on, please address me as Lynn. It's a new alias I've come up with. Since we've become wizards, it's best to leave our past identities behind to avoid implicating our families in any future problems."

...

The massive sail warship drifted on the sea for a full half-month before finally emerging from the shroud of mist. The outline of a vast island was now visible at the horizon's end.

"Hurry, give it your all! We're almost there. The Iyeta Harbor is just ahead!" Lame Loude shouted loudly, and the sailors on the ship pushed harder, eager to escape the accursed fog.

Lynn stood on the deck, gazing into the distance. As the ship drew closer, the city's harbor was clearly visible.

However, several patrol boats were quickly closing in on the sea.

These boats had a peculiar appearance, appearing relatively flat overall. There were no masts on their hulls, and instead of the tall sails, there were cylindrical structures emitting smoke.

Steamboats? Lynn observed with interest, and Lame Loude, standing nearby, provided an explanation.

"These alchemical ships are a unique creation of the Wizard's Land. They are much faster than our sail warships, and they aren't as affected by strong winds."

As he spoke, the sail warship, escorted by a few alchemical ships, slowly approached the shore.

The sailors skillfully lowered the rudder and gangplank, and a wizard in a blue robe was already waiting at the dock.

"It's been a while, Theodore, my old friend!" Lame Loude descended from the ship, warmly embracing the wizard and then turned to introduce the two people behind him.

"This is Lord Lynn and Miss Jonny!"

"Rare indeed. It's been quite some time since foreign wizards set foot here." Theodore scrutinized Lynn and Jonny for a moment before speaking. "Nevertheless... welcome to Iyeta Harbor. I believe it won't be long before you both grow fond of this place!"

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Theodore!" Lynn replied confidently, and Jonny offered a respectful bow.

Theodore exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to Lame Loude. "By the way, Old Lame, why did you personally come this year? And with a sail warship? Has something happened?"

If he hadn't used his alchemical eyepiece to spot Lame Loude on the deck, the crystal cannons in the harbor would have been activated long ago.

"The situation is even more complicated than you might imagine. We need to meet with Master Heralm personally to explain everything," Lame Loude said, his tone grave.

Upon hearing Lame Loude's solemn words, Theodore's smile immediately faded, and he furrowed his brows. He spoke, "Master Heralm is not at the academy right now. Let me take you to find him."

Lame Loude understood the procedure, so before leaving, he instructed all the sailors to remain on the ship and await inspection.

As the distance wasn't great, they decided to walk, following Theodore into the city.

The inner city of Iyeta Harbor presented a stark contrast to the Imperial territories. The black road was clean and smooth, the streets were wide enough to accommodate three carriages side by side, and the rows of white-walled, red-roofed buildings were laid out meticulously. Even the trees and flowers by the street were trimmed to perfection, exuding a rich Western classical style.

While Jonny and Lame Loude had been to the Wizard's Land before, revisiting it still left them deeply awed.

Lynn almost felt like he had time-traveled. If the people of the Secas Empire were still living in the wicked medieval era, the Wizard's Land had leaped ahead to the 17th or 18th century.

"Oh, look over there. Isn't it beautiful?" Walking on a cobblestone path that led further into the city, Theodore pointed to a large fountain and a group of sculptures of various shapes and sizes within the city. He introduced them with a sense of pride.

"The entire Iyeta Harbor was designed by Master Raphael. He's the most renowned architect and sculptor in the entire Wizard's Land."

"He must be a perfectionist..." Lynn couldn't help but comment silently.

All the buildings in Iyeta Harbor were perfectly aligned, and there was no discernible difference between the left and right sides of the streets. If there was a decorative flower bed on one side, there would inevitably be an identical one on the other side!

However, after experiencing the city's scenery, Lynn understood why most wizards preferred to stay in the Wizard's Land. Anyone who experienced this environment wouldn't want to return to the dirty, disorderly, and foul-smelling Secas Empire.

Along the way, Theodore boasted about everything in Iyeta Harbor, from the road surfaces to architectural designs, and even the materials used for crafting each sculpture. He enjoyed observing the surprised and awed expressions on the faces of Lynn and his companions.

Whenever someone from outside the Wizard's Land arrived here, he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of superiority.

Lynn surveyed the unique harbor city with great interest, his gaze passing over each building. He had only seen such an ancient architectural style in black-and-white photos from the database. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel a bit perplexed. Were there too few people on the streets?

After entering the inner city, they encountered no more than a hundred people in total.

Just as Lynn was contemplating this, a sudden commotion and clamor ahead caught his attention. He looked up to see that the massive square at the city center was already filled with a crowd, and it seemed to be growing by the minute.

"Is there some sort of celebration today?" Lynn asked with curiosity.

Theodore opened his mouth but hesitated, ultimately shaking his head with a hint of resignation. "Not exactly. It's probably just a farce!"

Chapter 53: The Girl Who Yearned to Soar

"It must be those halflings up to some new antics again," Theodore sighed, leading the way through the dense crowd.

Lynn quickly realized the esteemed status of wizards. The crowded harbor residents, upon seeing the emblem on Theodore's chest, spontaneously made way for them. They soon found themselves in the front row, witnessing the scene in the square.

On the smooth, paved stone road, there stood a massive flying contraption, about two meters tall and with a wingspan of nearly seven meters.

Well, to describe it as a "flying contraption" might not be entirely accurate. It looked rather rudimentary, like a framework of wood and steel, tightly bound at the joints with leather straps. The frame was covered with a canvas made from camel leather. It appeared like a monstrous creature hovering above the ground, eliciting continuous gasps from the onlookers.

"It's enormous!" Jonny gazed in astonishment at the contraption. He couldn't find the words to express his shock. "Is this a new alchemical invention of the wizards in this land?"

"Of course not!" Theodore slapped his forehead, turning his head away, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of outsiders.

Lynn, on the other hand, found it quite intriguing. He hadn't expected to witness such a peculiar sight right after arriving at Iyeta Harbor. Was this a test flight?

Lynn immediately noticed the propellers hanging from the double wings. However, if it relied solely on steam for power, the results could be questionable.

Despite his doubts, Lynn kept his eyes fixed on the contraption. Every human attempt at flight was worth celebrating, especially in a world where magic existed. Nothing was truly impossible here.

"Hey there!"

Just as he was thinking, Lynn saw a petite figure nimbly climbing to the top of the contraption. She secured the final connection point with leather straps and then settled inside the cockpit.

She looked no more than eight or nine years old, wearing a dirty, dust-covered, yet exquisite short robe. Her hair was windswept and disheveled, her face smeared with dusty grime. She had rolled up her sleeves and pants, and she wore oversized wind goggles on her head. Her entire presence exuded vitality and determination!

"She's so young... Why did they choose a child to operate this contraption?" Lynn asked in amazement.

"No, you've got it wrong. Lydia is a halfling, and in fact, she's already sixteen this year," Theodore explained.

Is that so? Lynn took a closer look and noticed the slight pointiness of the girl's ears, as well as her unique eye color and hair. It was often challenging to distinguish between halflings and ordinary humans during their early years. Coupled with her youthful appearance, Lynn hadn't recognized her.

"Lydia, maybe we should reconsider..."

In the square, a few halflings were gathered around the contraption, conducting final checks. An elderly halfling placed his hands on the "body" of the contraption and gave it a few strong shakes, seemingly testing its sturdiness.

Of course, if it were to fall apart, that would be even better. This way, the other side would have to give up this impractical fantasy.

"Don't worry, Uncle Darren. This time, I've prepared for everything, and I'm sure it will work," the girl named Lydia brushed off the other's teasing hands, tugged on her wind goggles, and placed her hands on the controls. She exuded confidence. "Alright, I'm taking off now. Everyone, please clear the area!"

"But you said the same thing last time..." the group of halflings silently commented in their hearts. Nevertheless, they moved aside. They felt quite embarrassed to be gathered here and were afraid of the impending embarrassment.

Moreover, the wizard nobles, though not vocal about it, definitely had reservations about the chaos caused by the halflings occupying the city square.

Vroom, vroom...

Accompanied by puffs of smoke continuously billowing from above the contraption, the steam-powered contraption's side propellers started spinning. Once everyone in front made way, Lydia pulled the lever, using the straight street as her runway. The massive contraption charged straight ahead.

"Can this thing really fly?" Jonny was immensely curious. She could see that this contraption was designed for ascending, resembling an extremely large bird.

"It should be able to, but most likely, it can only fly a little..." Lynn hadn't sensed any magical energy fluctuations throughout, so he had an idea of what the outcome would be.

Jonny, on the other hand, was puzzled. What did he mean by "it can only fly a little"?

Theodore, however, shook his head. He believed this contraption couldn't fly at all.

Independent flight was a privilege of high-ranking wizards. Other than the griffin knights trained by the Secas Empire, no one else could freely soar in the sky.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the contraption picked up speed and charged across the city square.

On the opposite street, there was a large, sloping structure to provide the necessary height. Lydia was tense, her pupils fixed firmly on the path ahead.

When the contraption reached the top of the slope, the girl pressed the controls hard, causing the contraption's massive wings to shudder abruptly. With the last burst of lift, it soared over the slope.

"It actually took off!" Theodore was in complete disarray, his face filled with an expression of disbelief. The common folk who were also watching were equally astounded.

"My goodness, she did it!"

"She truly deserves to be called 'Lydia the Artisan.' She's amazing. I've even bought some of the little gadgets she made, and they're just as magical as the wizards' tools..."

"She's definitely going to pass the selection this year..."

The halflings below were ecstatic, dancing and cheering. "Lydia is the pride of the halflings..." "She's sure to become the first halfling wizard..."

However, their celebration was premature. Once the contraption ascended with the assistance of the thrust, numerous issues were exposed simultaneously.

Lydia was happily adjusting her course, planning to fly around Iyeta Harbor. But within a few seconds, she realized her contraption was losing balance and descending rapidly.

In a panic, Lydia pulled on the lever, trying to control the wing's oscillations and imitate the way birds provide lift. Unfortunately, her efforts only made things worse. The contraption's flight path immediately became erratic, like a young dragon hit by a spell, spiraling down from the sky...

Chapter 54: The Great Wizard Herlram

"I knew it would be like this."

Theodore breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the flying contraption descend from the sky. Then, he quietly muttered, "Master Herlram should not have indulged her so much..."

Lynn gazed at the sky, the massive flying machine swaying in mid-air, heading straight for the square. However, the crowd gathered in the square didn't appear alarmed. Lynn abandoned the idea of intervening; it seemed there were specialists on hand to handle this situation.

As expected, just as the flying machine was about to crash, several wizards in the square acted swiftly, casting levitation spells simultaneously, guiding the contraption to land gently in the center of the square. However, the battered wings had already fallen apart, and the camel leather covering them had been blown away by the wind.

"It seems like it can only fly a little bit..."

Jonny watched the ascent and descent of the flying machine and then turned to Lynn, quite curious about how he knew so much.

"Relying solely on steam for power is insufficient to sustain flight, and the design of the entire apparatus doesn't quite adhere to aerodynamics...a crash was inevitable," Lynn explained with a shake of his head. He could easily spot the problems with this flying contraption.

But Lydia, the young half-human girl responsible for creating this flying machine from such basic materials and getting it to function, was undoubtedly an engineering genius.

Imitating the wing flaps of birds to generate lift was a good idea, but it was too simplistic, lacking a deep understanding of the underlying principles.

In summary, history had proven that steam-powered aircraft had no future – they lacked the power to fly high or far.

"So, are you suggesting that with a different power source and a redesign, this... um... flying machine could soar in the sky without relying on magical energy?" Jonny asked as they discussed it.

As they spoke, a gentle voice sounded behind them.

Lynn turned to see an elderly man in a black robe with a round-topped hat, appearing to be around sixty or seventy years old. His neatly trimmed beard and the mysterious gleam in his eyes gave him an air of wisdom.

Theodore quickly bowed. "Master Herlram!"

The newcomer was Herlram, the figure who controlled the port of Iyeta. As a highly respected Grand Wizard, his attire was surprisingly plain, to the point that the townsfolk of the port couldn't recognize him immediately.

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Excellency Herlram," Lynn said, bowing in accordance with the local customs to show respect for the Grand Wizard. He then didn't directly answer Herlram's question but instead replied with a question of his own.

"Alchemy ships that use steam as their power source and don't rely on magic can sail on the sea, right? Why can't the same principle apply to flying?"

Herlram raised an eyebrow, finding the question intriguing, while Theodore couldn't wait to interject.

"Who told you those alchemy ships have nothing to do with magic? It seems your knowledge of alchemy is quite lacking..."

As he spoke, Theodore explained the two methods of operating alchemy ships. Either a trained wizard controlled the alchemical machinery, or magic stones were used as a power source to activate the corresponding alchemical array.

So, they used magic to produce steam, Lynn thought with embarrassment. He hadn't realized that these alchemy ships weren't coal-powered. Was this what they called the legendary one-hundred-kilometer journey consuming one wizard's... magic power?

Herlram cast an unexpected glance at Lynn. Over twenty years ago, when steam engines were first invented, they indeed didn't require any magic. It was only later that magic stones were used as a more convenient power source.

In fact, the steam engine installed on the flying machine by Lydia didn't use any magic. However, within the port of Iyeta, few of the younger generation of wizards were willing to delve into the fundamental principles of these alchemical formulas.

"Master Herlram!" Lydia, with the help of some halflings, had managed to free herself from the cramped cockpit. Her robe's sleeve had torn open, but the girl didn't seem to mind. She hurriedly ran up to Herlram, excitedly inquiring.

"Did I succeed? I really flew just now, didn't you see?"

"Can't really call that a success; it was more like..." Herlram paused for a moment and playfully repeated Lynn's words, "a little flight!"

Lydia's face immediately fell, like a defeated ostrich, but she quickly pointed out that she had made significant progress this time. With a few more adjustments, she was confident that the contraption would fly successfully.

Herlram patiently listened to Lydia's account and complaints before turning to Lynn and the others.

"It seems like you have something to discuss with me. How about this, Theodore, take the guests to the academy for now, and I'll join you shortly."

Theodore nodded; this wasn't the right place for a conversation. However, before he could leave, Herlram's voice rang out once more.

"Furthermore, Theodore, if you have any grievances against me, don't hesitate to speak to me directly."

Evidently, Herlram had not only heard Lynn's evaluation of the flying machine but also his complaints.

"No, Master. What I meant was that Lydia conducting flying experiments in the square is quite dangerous. In case of an accident, it might harm the townsfolk, and... and..." Theodore's expression suddenly froze, and he hurriedly explained. Herlram, however, waved a hand and cut him off.

"Alright, I understand your point. Next time, I'll set up a magical barrier. Your concerns are not entirely without merit."

With the flying machine crashing to the ground, the "spectacle" on the square came to an end, and the townsfolk, having satisfied their curiosity, gradually dispersed amidst chatter and gossip.

Theodore, looking somewhat dejected, led the group to the nearby Iyeta School of Magic.

It was a massive complex towering in the city's center, with tall spires, thick black walls, and the most prominent feature, even visible from outside the port – the Tower of Whispers.

"In Iyeta Port, is it this difficult for everyone to become an apprentice wizard?" Lynn couldn't help but ask as they entered the school.

He had heard that a girl named Lydia needed to complete this experiment to qualify for admission to the Magic Academy, and it seemed exceedingly challenging.

Could it be that everyone had to go through such trouble to enroll?

"No, that's just a test designed specifically for Lydia," Theodore explained. "In truth, Master Herlram means well. These halflings don't possess any magical talents, and letting her into the academy would be a complete waste of time..."

Chapter 55: My Name Is Lynn, I'm a Scholar

Theodore seemed to have an extraordinary desire to perform, and when he saw the interest of Lynn and the others, he began to complain.

In recent years, Lydia had become a well-known figure in the entire port of Iyeta, the small halfling was very enthusiastic about researching some strange and unusual things.

For example, last year, she imitated the spiral propellers on alchemical ships and created a small contraption called the "Fan." It could be powered by alchemical steam devices and provided a cool breeze, which was quite effective on hot summer days.

But who would put such a large and expensive alchemical machine in their home just to have a breeze?

For wizards, casting a wind-controlling spell was much more convenient.

Of course, it could also be operated manually, so there were some townsfolk who pursued novelty and were willing to buy these gadgets. This was also the source of funds for Lydia's flying devices.

"With Lydia's talent, she could join any alchemy workshop as an assistant and receive good treatment, but she insists on becoming a wizard. It's like asking for trouble..." Theodore shook his head. Even he had to admit that this halfling girl had many ingenious ideas, but in the land of wizards, no halfling had ever successfully become a wizard.

Listening to Theodore's account, Lynn vaguely understood why the "tech tree" in the land of wizards was so chaotic. It was because magic was just too convenient, and many things weren't impossible to make; wizards just didn't need them.

As they walked into the front hall of the academy, there were apprentices dressed modestly bowing to Theodore along the way.

These apprentices varied in age, with the youngest looking around eleven or twelve years old and the oldest not exceeding thirty. Those over this age who had not become official wizards were considered to have no talent and were therefore expelled from the academy.

"Here we are. Please wait for a moment. I will inform the other mentors of the academy," Theodore arranged them in a large lounge and had his apprentice bring tea. Then he quickly left.

Lynn sat down at the back, and on the mahogany table in front of him, there were several scattered magic books, presumably left behind by a wizard who hadn't had time to take them away. Besides that, there were some sheets of paper thrown carelessly to the side.

Out of curiosity, Lynn opened one of the folded pages and discovered that it was actually a newspaper called "Magic Weekly."

He didn't expect that even in the land of wizards, they had these.

The front page contained some interesting stories from the land of wizards, while the back had the latest theories about magic, with the author's name written below.

"Is the magical reaction of electricity and magnetism consistent?" "24 Basic Elemental Experiments," "Kozeran Force: The Power that Supports the World," "The Relationship between the Movement of Objects and Gravity"...

Lynn flipped through "Magic Weekly" and soon became immersed in it. The unique perspective of analyzing the world through magic made him find it fascinating.

On the other hand, Jonny sat upright, extremely nervous, unlike Lynn, who seemed at ease.

Before long, the sound of the door opening again, and Helram, whom they had met earlier, entered with several mentors from the academy.

After sitting in the main seat, Helram didn't beat around the bush and looked at Loude, asking directly, "Theodore said you have something very important to report to me personally. Has something serious happened in the port town?"

"It's probably even more serious than you can imagine. The entire port town's harbor has been completely destroyed, and even the Ship Gang has been wiped out," Loude said cautiously. Before he could finish speaking, a hoarse voice interrupted.

"Could it be that the Ship Gang made a mistake while transporting goods and got caught by the Church?" The one who spoke was Kevin, the Professor of Morphology at the Iyeta Academy of Magic. He looked to be around forty, with a tall and slender figure, wearing a gray robe with a shiny emblem on his chest. The emblem bore three mysterious strip-like patterns, the symbol of a third-ring wizard.

Loude quickly shook his head. He didn't want to shoulder the blame for this. He hurriedly explained.

But from his perspective, the information he had was very limited. He only knew the beginning of everything, where Archbishop Anluke caught Kora, who was attempting to abduct the Duke's daughter within the Nordlan territories, and then the pursuit led to the port town.

"I knew that Kora would get into trouble. We shouldn't have let him leave the land of the wizards in the first place," complained Philip, the Elemental Studies professor, unhappily.

He, of course, knew Kora. Before leaving the land of wizards a few years ago, Kora had been holding the position of a professor of Psionics at the Iyeta Academy of Magic, and he had made significant contributions in elemental, alchemical, and shape-shifting magic.

If he had continued to dedicate himself to magic research, he might have reached the rank of a grand wizard in the future.

However, just a few years ago, this guy went crazy and left everything behind to navigate the Misty Sea and head to the Secas Empire.

It was a completely insane decision.

Compared to the comfortable life and the freedom to study magic in the land of the wizards, the Empire was a completely different extreme. People there lived in squalid wooden houses, endured the oppressive rule of the Church, and had no knowledge of even the basics of elemental magic.

Philip was about to say more when his colleague pulled him back.

It should be noted that Kora's journey to the Secas Empire was approved by Master Helram! Despite the frequent interruptions from the wizard elders, Loude dared not voice any objections. In the moments when no one was speaking, he recounted the whole story without hiding any details.

When the professors heard about Lynn using an immensely powerful spell to kill a high bishop, annihilate three thousand heavily armored elite guards, and even level half a city, they couldn't help but wear expressions of disbelief, even Helram was moved.

Theodore even began to suspect whether Loude had messed things up on his own and then, in collaboration with this wizard named Lynn, concocted a random reason to cover up his mistakes.

With various thoughts in mind, all the wizards present involuntarily turned their gaze toward the two individuals who hadn't spoken yet.

Jonny and the others were familiar with Kora. Four years ago, when Kora returned to the land of the wizards, Jonny also followed him. But as for Lynn and the others, they had no impression of them.

"Just a moment ago, we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves. I'm Lynn, a scholar from the Society of Mystical Arts within the Secas Empire's territories, and I'm also Kora's friend." Under the scrutiny of everyone, Lynn put down the "Magic Weekly" in his hand and spoke naturally.

This was the identity they had discussed with Jonny on the airship.

Chapter 56: To Be Frank, the Magic Theories in the Wizard's Land are Outdated!

Kora's good friend, a scholar of the Society of Mystical Arts, an official wizard...

These were the three identities that Lynn had bestowed upon himself, capable of making most potential troubles vanish into thin air.

To uncover these lies would not be easy. For the people of the Wizard's Land, Kora's experiences in the Secas Empire were a complete blank, even though they could communicate through magic. It was plausible to say that they had only recently met.

Anyway, Kora's mentor had already been taken to the Holy City by the Church. By calculating the time, it was hard to say if he would survive the ordeal, but one thing was certain—he couldn't escape to correct Kora's words.

The only one who knew the truth was Jonny, whose life Lynn had saved twice. They had a bond forged through life and death, and more importantly, they were now inextricably linked. Even if it was to avoid being held accountable, Jonny had no choice but to remain silent.

As long as he could solidify his identity during this time, who would believe the words of a wizard's apprentice? Sometimes, the truth was less believable than lies.

No one would believe that someone who had only been studying magic for less than half a year could kill a Grand Archbishop, destroy half a seaside town, and possess extensive knowledge.

After Lynn's brief introduction, the professors present exchanged glances. Theodore was the first to speak, questioning, "You're not a Grand Wizard, are you?"

In Theodore's mind, the kind of magic that could cause such widespread destruction was at least High Circle Magic, something only Grand Wizards could perform. Yet Lynn appeared much too young, probably around twenty.

This seemed quite unreasonable. The most talented wizards in the Wizard's Land, like the "Star of Magic," Ougust, had become Grand Wizards at the age of twenty-four, and he was considered the hope of the entire wizarding world, the most likely candidate to reach the realm of legendary wizards!

Theodore couldn't believe that this newcomer, whose origins were unknown, possessed greater talent than the "Star of Magic."

"I'm certainly not a Grand Wizard. Destroying the seaside town was just a stroke of luck, and it was also thanks to the assistance of Lame Loude," Lynn explained casually.

"Luck?" Theodore was momentarily stunned, remembering that Lynn had ordered Lame Loude to collect a lot of basic materials before the conflict with the Church broke out completely. Was it the influence of a powerful alchemical array?

The professors from the various academies racked their brains but couldn't think of any powerful alchemical array that required such basic materials. They turned their gazes to Grand Wizard Herlram.

He pondered for a moment before speaking, "I heard a few years ago that the alchemists in the Wizard's City discovered a unique alchemical formula that didn't even require the use of magic. With a sufficient quantity, the resulting power could rival some high-level magic."

Lynn's face revealed a slight hint of surprise. Had the alchemists of the Wizard's City actually stumbled upon gunpowder technology? It wasn't surprising when you thought about it. After all, black powder wasn't something particularly advanced, having been discovered in the late 9th century in his previous life. Its power was also fairly average.

Back in the seaside town, the key was the sheer quantity, coupled with Lynn's addition of white phosphorus to enhance its strength, resulting in such impressive results.

In fact, if time had not been so limited, he would have let the natives experience a true spectacle.

After Herlram's explanation, Theodore and the others couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It turned out to be some sort of alchemical product that required employing thousands of people and several days of preparation to unleash its power. This thing could only serve as a trap and certainly wouldn't be used in battle.

Regardless of what the academy professors thought, Lynn continued his narration.

"Kora's journey to the capital of the Nordan Dominion was, in fact, to meet another scholar from the Society of Mystical Arts to discuss a very important magical theory. As for the abduction... um... as for the apprenticeship, it was merely a cover. Unexpectedly, the Church personnel still caught wind of it..."

"Just before departing, Kora implored me to compile a manuscript from the Society of Mystical Arts. He had foreseen that this meeting might not be as easy as it seemed. If he couldn't return this time, he asked me to do whatever it took to get these precious manuscripts to Iyeta Harbor."

At this point, Lynn sighed with regret and looked at the academy professors around him, speaking in a subdued tone, "Kora told me that the Wizard's Land is too closed off, with many magical theories that are likely outdated. These new ideas might bring a revolution to the Wizard's Land."

"Absurd! How dare he say such things!" Kevin stood up immediately, his eyes wide, practically ready to vent his frustrations.

What place was the Wizard's Land? It was the birthplace of countless top academies! It was the center of magical development and the sanctuary of wizards! They had spent hundreds of years transforming this once-barren island into a paradise of magic. Here, every wizard was dedicated to the pursuit of truth, and nearly every week, new elements or magical theories were discovered.

Now, the other side dared to claim that their magical sanctuary had become obsolete, falling behind the times...

This was simply absurd!

"Kora must have been away from the Wizard's Land for too long and doesn't understand today's magical theories well enough," Kevin sneered. He believed Kora's thinking was stuck in the time of his first journey to the Secas Empire, and that's why he was so amazed by one or two novel theories.

Little did he know that in the years since, the Grand Wizards and Legendary Wizards had developed enough magical theories to fill an entire bookshelf!

The other professors chimed in, all accusing Kora of speaking nonsense and tarnishing the reputation of the Wizard's Land.

Lynn didn't offer much explanation and instead placed the prepared "research manuscripts" on the table.

Kevin was the first to pick up a manuscript. He wanted to see exactly what kind of novel theory could make Kora entertain such unrealistic thoughts.

"Free-fall law? Kinetic energy formula? Ha, I knew it. Kora must not have read Master Yad's magic book while at the Iyeta Academy. Over two hundred years ago, he proposed that the velocity of an object in free fall is directly proportional to its weight, which is the basis of the gravity formula..."

Kevin had just flipped to the first page, read the title, and couldn't help shaking his head with a sigh. But after carefully reading the content for a moment, he froze in place.

Because the free-fall law in the manuscript was completely contrary to Master Yad's theory. The author believed that when two objects of different weights were in free fall, their acceleration would be the same, and they would hit the ground simultaneously.

"Absurd, truly absurd!" Theodore couldn't help but burst into laughter. Did that mean if you threw Mount Cogar into the air along with a pebble, they would both hit the ground at the same time? It was too ridiculous!

Chapter 57: The Water Globe in My Hand is this Vast Continent!

Theodore's irritable words immediately captured everyone's attention.

Facing the astonished gazes of the crowd, Theodore didn't say much. He simply handed over the so-called research manuscript, and Kevin and the others took it and began to read, their faces contorted with mocking expressions.

When this manuscript reached the hands of Herlram, the grand wizard, he didn't laugh. He discovered something mentioned in the manuscript, something called "air resistance."

Lynn took a sip of his tea, not in a hurry to explain, but patiently waiting for the academy professors to finish examining his "research material."

Although he had limited knowledge of the "magic" in the wizard lands, Kora had left him with two basic books, "Elemental Analysis" and "Foundations of Universal Magic," and the manuscripts he had written were extensions of existing theories in the wizard lands, easily verifiable.

In just five or six minutes, the dozen or so pages of manuscript were thoroughly examined by the wizards. Given the unreliability of the so-called law of free fall, they only gave the remaining content a cursory look. They were astounded to find an even more outrageous idea in the manuscript.

"Listen, your name is Lynn, right? I don't know what Kora had in mind when he sent you to bring this absurd manuscript to the wizard lands, but forgive me for saying that the magical theories of the Society of Mystical Arts are full of holes..."

Kevin tossed the pages in his hand casually onto the table, saying with a hint of frustration. "And you even believe that this world is a spherical continent? It's just ridiculous!"

"Why can't this world be spherical? No one has verified it yet," Lynn calmly placed his teacup down. Though he couldn't confirm this due to his lack of abilities to fly into space, the fact that he could stand here already explained many things.

For instance, the mass and gravity of the planet beneath his feet were almost identical to Earth, as he felt virtually no difference in gravity.

The changing seasons and the movements of the sun and moon also served as evidence of planetary rotation and orbit around a star. Moreover, after leaving the Misty Sea, the first thing he saw in the harbor was the spire of the Howling Tower, followed by the tower itself. The most crucial evidence was the star chart; by placing the star in the center, he could construct a perfect model of the celestial system, the most direct proof!

If it weren't for the star chart indicating that this star had only five orbiting planets, Lynn would have started to suspect if this was another Earth from a parallel world.

Because it looked so similar!

"Since Iyeta Harbor faces the open sea, I wonder if any of you have ever used farseeing magic or alchemical spyglasses to observe the sea. If so, you should have noticed that when a sailboat gradually approaches from a distance, you first see the sails and then the hull!"

As he spoke, Lynn extended his hand, and with the surge of magic, a huge and murky water globe appeared in front of everyone. He then inserted a feathered quill straight into the flow of water.

Immediately, the water began to ripple, and the quill rotated from the base to the top. Indeed, the first thing seen was the tip of the quill.

The wizards in attendance immediately understood Lynn's point. The massive water globe was akin to the continent beneath their feet, and the quill represented a ship. If the continent were flat, they would see the entire hull as it approached.

Only a curved surface would make the sails appear first.

"It does seem to be the case," Theodore's brow furrowed. Every Monday, he would go to the harbor dock to welcome new arrivals. Sometimes he had to use farseeing magic, and it was indeed as Lynn described. They always saw the sails on the horizon first.

This theory appeared to have some merit, but Theodore felt that something was amiss.

"That still doesn't prove that this continent is a spherical body; it might be a semi-circular one... That makes sense, doesn't it?" Another academy professor eagerly retorted, "And according to your theory, under the influence of gravity, the seawater above should have flowed down long ago..."

As he spoke, the academy professor mimicked Lynn, creating a clay sphere to simulate the continent. He then attached a layer of flowing water to its surface.

He promptly released the "Mage's Hand," causing the water to flow downwards, forming a puddle on the table.

"Look, it's like this... this completely doesn't work!" The academy professor proudly exclaimed. Theodore and the others nodded in agreement.

"Do we even need to determine which side is 'up'? Of course, the sky is above, and the land is below; it's gravity-guided!" Theodore furrowed his brow and explained, not understanding why the question seemed so absurd.

"Is that so? How about this, then?" Lynn raised an eyebrow, removed the water globe, and placed his hand on the clay sphere the academy professor had created. He activated the "Mage's Hand," causing the originally soft clay sphere to slowly compress inward until it became a solid sphere.

"If we consider the force granted by the 'Mage's Hand' as gravity, for the center of the clay sphere, which side is up, and which side is down?"

Theodore was left completely baffled. Lynn's metaphor using the clay sphere to represent the continent was straightforward and easily understood, so he naturally grasped it well. However, that understanding was precisely what left him in awe.

For the center of a sphere, there was gravity on all sides, so in all directions, there was an "up." The "down" was located at the center of the sphere, which meant the water would naturally adhere to the surface of the sphere.

The professors in the room also recognized this point. They engaged in a heated debate. Kevin was entirely unwilling to believe in this so-called theory of a spherical world, insisting that the continent was flat, and the sailboat's farseeing phenomenon was just a coincidence, not direct evidence.

Philip and others, on the other hand, held the opposite view. They believed that Lynn's words might not be entirely without merit. At the very least, it was a plausible theory, worthy of further research and confirmation.

As the scholars were about to descend into a heated argument, Theodore turned his gaze to Lynn and asked again, "Are you suggesting that there's a force compressing everything towards the center of this continent? Is that why the water remains on the surface?"

Lynn had not yet answered when Herlram, who had been reviewing the manuscript all this time, finally spoke.

"In fact, it should be the opposite. There is some force at the center of the continent that spreads outward in all directions, forming a gravitational field... dragging everything inward. Is that what you're trying to convey, right?"

Chapter 58: The Truth Can Withstand Any Form of Examination!

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean, Master Herlram."

Lynn nodded, casting a glance at the people present and then rotating the newspaper in front of him, pushing it toward everyone.

"Have any of you read this week's 'Magic Weekly'?" Lynn asked. "The legendary wizard Harof proposed that gravity might exist widely in any object, not just the land beneath our feet."

Lynn couldn't help but feel a bit awed by this. After reading Harof's "paper" in the "Magic Weekly," he realized it was nothing less than the initial concept of universal gravitation. He wondered how far this legendary wizard had already researched... if he had formulated the law of universal gravitation and understood the nature of gravity.

Nevertheless, this could serve as evidence for Lynn's theory because, in Harof's paper, gravity was not just a force pulling things downward but something that could affect the surroundings and even warp space.

"Lord Harof's argument is indeed fascinating and hard to refute," Herlram pondered. In truth, after reading the manuscript, he was leaning more toward the idea that the flat-earth theory was incorrect.

But Herlram was well aware of how this theory could shake the world's understanding when published in the "Magic Weekly." He had to be cautious.

"I've reviewed your star charts, and the theories about rotation and revolution are intriguing. Let's do this: I'll share this theory with some accomplished wizards who specialize in gravity research. If they approve, we can publish it in the 'Magic Weekly' without delay," Herlram said solemnly.

"That's no problem at all. The truth can withstand any form of examination!" Lynn nodded. Everything he had written in his manuscript was purely theoretical, and having professionals confirm it would be the best approach.

"Let's leave the topic of flat-earth and planet theory here," Herlram bypassed that subject and produced another manuscript. "This free-fall law is also interesting. Can you explain it in detail? If I'm not mistaken, it should be related to gravity."

"I think conducting an experiment would be the best way to illustrate it!" Lynn shrugged. Practical experimentation was the only true test of truth.

"In that case, according to this law, a feather and this solid earth sphere should fall at the same rate!" Kevin, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn't wait to interject.

He acknowledged that the theory of the Society of Mystical Arts about the planet was groundbreaking, but this so-called free-fall law was just nonsense!

Kevin directly used Mage's Hand to lift the solid earth sphere from the table and sent the quill into the air in the same way. Then he canceled the spell, and both objects fell from the same height.

In just two seconds, the earth sphere fell heavily to the ground, breaking into pieces, while the feather quill floated down to the ground after more than ten seconds.

Seeing this result, the wizards present all turned to Lynn, their faces displaying a mocking or bemused expression.

"This is merely the influence of air resistance. Why not try conducting the experiment in a vacuum?" Lynn calmly explained. During his time in the Mists of the Foggy Sea over the past half month, he had already performed a simplified version of the small sphere experiment and wasn't concerned about it failing.

Vacuum? The professors from the academies contemplated this new term, and under Lynn's explanation, they quickly grasped its meaning.

Herlram thought for a moment and motioned for everyone to step back, then gently extended his hand and tapped it lightly.

Lynn immediately sensed that the "elements" in front of him were being stripped away at an incredible speed due to some mysterious force. After a moment, a rectangular vacuum field measuring four meters in length, four meters in width, and seven meters in height appeared before everyone.

Witnessing Herlram create and maintain such a large vacuum field with such ease, Lynn couldn't help but feel amazed. Although he had previously deprived a hunter witch of oxygen in the slums, the fact was that air continued to circulate. What he had created was just a small temporary low-oxygen area.

The power of a Grand Wizard far exceeded that of regular wizards, and this revelation left Lynn surprised. He had only been testing the waters with his previous comments, not expecting Herlram to achieve this feat so effortlessly.

Herlram retrieved the feather quill and used magic to create a solid iron sphere. He placed both objects within the vacuum field simultaneously.

Two objects with a thousand-fold difference in weight fell at the same rate.

At that moment, the expressions of Theodore and the others changed from casual to fearful. Their eyes widened, fixed on the scene, because the feather quill and the solid iron sphere were indeed descending at the same speed.

"It's true, this is actually real..." Philip muttered in amazement.

"This can't be! Master Herlram, did you accelerate the feather quill's descent?" Kevin suddenly stood up and looked at Herlram, unable to contain his questions. It was undoubtedly an offensive remark, but Kevin no longer cared.

Herlram didn't pay him any mind and continued the experiment, replacing the iron sphere and feather with other materials like wood, stone, and water droplets. The results were consistently the same.

Seeing this, regardless of the professors present and their feelings, they had to admit that the manuscript's law of free fall was indeed a fact!

"Could Master Yad's theory be completely wrong?" Kevin's puzzled expression remained on his face.

"No, his theory isn't wrong. It's just a different interpretation of air resistance," Lynn explained casually.

Master Yad's theory had prevailed and gained the acceptance of most wizards because it explained a portion of natural phenomena. For instance, his teacher, Kora, had based her improvements to the Icy Blade spell on fluid dynamics knowledge that extended from Yad's theory.

While reading the "Magic Weekly," Lynn even found wizards who integrated air resistance into the influence of gravity, theorizing that the constant movement of air and elements was also due to gravity's effects.

This was undoubtedly a perplexing hypothesis.

However, Lynn had no intention of mocking or underestimating the others. The pursuit of truth in the world was always accompanied by countless errors. Throughout history, scholars had often proposed numerous different theories for the same physical phenomena, each of which sounded reasonable and could explain a portion of the phenomena.

But with time's accumulation and continued verification, truth always triumphed over error.

The reason Lynn could sit here and discuss without arrogance was not because he was smarter than everyone present. It was simply because he stood on the shoulders of giants...

Chapter 59: The Forbidden Arcane Magic

The free fall experiment had quickly come to an end. Once Herlram dispelled the vacuum field, the group of professors finally recovered from their previous astonishment.

"It seems Kora was right; some of the theories from the wizarding realm are indeed outdated compared to the outside world," Herlram sighed.

Apart from astrophysics and kinetic formulas, Lynn's research notes contained several unverified theories, proven with symbols he couldn't comprehend. These theories were fundamentally different from the existing methods in the wizarding realm.

Theodore, Kevin, and the others wore uncomfortable expressions upon hearing this, but they didn't argue.

"The population of the wizarding realm is still too small," Philip sighed.

Despite hundreds of years of development, the sanctuary established by a small group of fugitive wizards had grown into the present-day magical haven. However, even with this growth, the wizarding realm only had a population of around six hundred thousand, with roughly seven thousand official wizards and even fewer grand wizards. Legendary wizards numbered only seven.

Outside the wizarding realm, the Singlecas Empire had a population of twenty million. Even with the Church's constant pursuit and persecution, the number of official wizards was undoubtedly several times higher there. It wasn't impossible for them to have discovered some theories before the wizarding realm.

"Mr. Lynn, thank you for taking the risk of bringing this precious research manuscript to the wizarding realm," Herlram paused for a moment and then continued, "I have an unusual request. I would like to hire you as a professor at the Iyeta Academy and establish a separate discipline to teach some of the new knowledge about 'The Society of Mystical Arts.'"

From the unintelligible symbols in the manuscript, it was clear that the knowledge of 'The Society of Mystical Arts' was systematic and required specialized study to understand the meaning of these symbols.

If Lynn agreed, when he published these theories in the future, the Iyeta Academy would also gain a significant reputation.

Faced with Herlram's olive branch, Lynn's mind raced as he considered the pros and cons.

Joining the Iyeta Academy had many benefits. Firstly, all of his identity issues could be easily resolved, and he would gain a powerful ally. Secondly, he could access the Academy's magical books using his professor's status, which would help fill the gaps in his magical knowledge.

On the downside, the Iyeta Academy wasn't the top institution with legendary wizards. Their resilience in the face of pressure was uncertain. If he proposed more revolutionary theories in the future, Herlram might not be able to protect him.

After careful consideration, Lynn nodded in agreement.

Since his arrival at the harbor and his interactions with the grand wizard, Herlram had shown himself to be an open-minded and accommodating individual. He tolerated a group of halflings conducting flight experiments in the square and didn't rush to question Lynn's theories. He appeared to be a suitable collaborator.

Reliability was always a top priority, and running into someone like a certain famous inventor who liked to claim the achievements of others would be a disaster.

Once Lynn accepted the position as a professor, the atmosphere in the room immediately eased. Even Kevin, who had been the most opposed, no longer opposed the idea. After all, if these theories could be verified, the entire Iyeta Academy would benefit from it.

As for the explosion in the harbor town and the destruction of vital transportation routes, no one mentioned it anymore. Even if they wanted to assign blame, they didn't know who should be held responsible.

Blame Lynn? That was absurd! He risked capture by the Church as a close friend of Kora's, and he worked tirelessly to bring back the newfound knowledge of 'The Society of Mystical Arts' along with Kora's apprentice. It wouldn't be fair to place the blame on him.

No, instead, the entire Iyeta Academy owed him a favor.

Jonny and Loude, one an apprentice wizard who knew nothing and the other, a wizard who had been working in the Nordland region for decades without making significant contributions – it wasn't easy to hold them accountable for the loss of an important transportation route in the wizarding realm.

Given these circumstances, they could only reluctantly accept the fact that the wizarding realm had lost a vital trade route.

"By the way, Master Herlram, when we clashed with Archbishop Anluke in the harbor town, one of Kora's apprentices suffered magical backlash. I'm not sure if there's a possibility of healing her..." Lynn suddenly thought of this and mentioned it.

"Then let's go have a look!" Herlram stood up, and a few other professors who were equally interested followed him out of the meeting room.

Ten minutes later, Lynn and the others returned to the docks. The sailors from the Shipmates were still detained here. After Loude reassured the sailors, they all entered the lower deck of the sail warship.

A massive ice coffin appeared in front of them, and within it lay a girl of around thirteen or fourteen. She lay silently, her complexion as pale as paper, her eyes tightly shut, making it hard to determine whether she was in a coma or had already passed away.

"Is her body being kept at the minimum functioning level through freezing?" Kevin, the professor of Plastic Arts, nodded, thinking there might still be a chance to save her.

However, after melting the ice and conducting a thorough examination, Kevin became uncertain. "There don't seem to be any major physical injuries. It appears she's been severely traumatized mentally. Can you tell me what magic she was using when the backlash occurred?"

"It was the 'Soul's Scream,'" Lynn explained.

"She's a soul mage?" Philip's eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he asked abruptly.

"What's wrong with that?" Lynn asked, puzzled.

"It's not that there's anything wrong, but there are no active soul mages left in Iyeta Harbor now." Philip sighed and went on to explain.

Three years ago, a catastrophic event occurred in the wizarding realm. The Soul Mage School founded by the grand wizard Mok had, during a particular soul magic experiment, led to the death of thousands in an entire village.

This event outraged the entire Wizard Council. After dispatching three grand wizards to directly obliterate the school, they suddenly banned the various schools from privately researching soul magic.

As for those soul mages recorded in the register, they had to join the newly established Soul Mage Academy in the Wizard's City to undergo appropriate supervision if they wished to continue studying magic.

"There are rumors that those dark mages discovered a forbidden soul magic, but only the legendary wizards might know the specifics." Philip said helplessly.

As a result, after Kora's departure, the Iyeta Academy hadn't recruited another Soul Magic professor because it was no longer necessary.

Upon hearing this, Lynn was also somewhat shocked. What kind of forbidden magic could make the Wizard Council impose such strict restrictions on an entire school of magic?