NOVPUB
Chapter 73: 013: Curl Up
Tulip Domain, Lynch’s Cultivation Room.
"Sizzle sizzle!"
A white candle sizzled as it burned in the room. This was no ordinary candle; instead of emitting a bright yellow flame, it gave off a dim white light interspersed with colorful glimmers, reminiscent of halos shimmering under the sunlight.
It was an Elemental Candle, a product of alchemy.
Created by Wizards who condensed elements, its purpose was to release elemental energy when burned, increasing the elemental concentration in a specific area.
The Mortal World was vastly different from the Wizard World; the elemental content here was exceedingly sparse. Even the most talented individuals would struggle to absorb elements purely through meditation. And so, Wizards invented Elemental Candles to enable sustained cultivation while residing in the Mortal World.
The cost of these candles was exorbitant. A single Meditation Candle could only sustain two days of meditation yet required 100 Magic Stones. Over the course of a month, thousands of Magic Stones would be spent. In regular circumstances, Lynch would hardly afford to splurge on such luxuries.
However, they were currently on an official mission, and all expenses for these items were fully reimbursed by the Tower.
In this regard, the Tower was rather generous.
"Tick-tock... tick-tock..."
The ticking of a pocket watch echoed as time flew by. Two hours passed in the blink of an eye, and when the candle had burned through a fifth of its length, Lynch completed the first round of today’s meditation.
[Meditation Proficiency +3]
Opening his eyes, Lynch glanced briefly at the data panel.
Two hours of meditation hadn’t yielded any perceivable improvement in his spiritual power, which felt as stagnant as a stillwater pond. If not for the feedback displayed on the data panel, Lynch wouldn’t even know whether his two hours of effort had achieved anything at all.
This was a common issue for many apprentices. At the start of meditation, they brimmed with enthusiasm and fiery resolve. But as time dragged on and they failed to see results or growth, their fervor inevitably waned.
For most apprentices, effort wasn’t the obstacle; effort without visible rewards was the true challenge.
"So slow..."
After a short rest to allow his spiritual power to simmer down, Lynch put away the candle and the Undying Bird’s Feather, preparing to dive into the study of Magic.
[Elemental Voidification lv1: 6/1500.]
Finally, I’ve achieved the entry level!
This spell had truly given Lynch a headache. The other spells he learned during the same period had already reached the entry level weeks ago, yet this one lingered in the background until just now. It hadn’t been easy.
"Let’s see how effective it is."
Once a spell reaches the entry level, it becomes usable. Sadly, when Lynch first learned this spell yesterday, he had already depleted all of his spiritual power, and it happened to be the day he planned for restorative sleep. As a result, he hadn’t yet experienced the spell’s effects.
With this in mind, Lynch channelled his spiritual power to activate the Elemental Voidification magic model within his Sea of Consciousness.
The casting of Wizard spells generally fell into two categories: Silent Spells and Spellcasting Spells.
As the name implies, Silent Spells required no recitation of incantations; one could directly activate the Magic Model within the Sea of Consciousness for spell execution, which was the typical method for most spells.
Spellcasting Spells, on the other hand, required lengthy incantations to guide spiritual power, often accompanied by intricate rune gestures. This method was typically employed for large-scale, complex spells.
Elemental Voidification was a conventional Silent Spell. Upon activation, Lynch immediately sensed a peculiar energy forming within his body, an energy he could control at will, directing it to move within himself.
This was Virtualization Energy. By manipulating this energy, Lynch could phase parts of his body into a void-like state.
At the entry level, the Virtualization Energy formed a sphere roughly the size of a basketball—not enough to envelop the entire body and only sufficient for partial voidification, with limited duration. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Lynch first directed the energy to cover his right hand. He watched as his hand distorted, turning hazy and transparent. Stretching his right hand toward the table in front of him, it phased through the tabletop and emerged from underneath it.
"Not bad at all."
"Let’s test the wall phasing effect."
The spell’s effect, akin to the legendary Wall Penetration Technique, brought out Lynch’s playful side. He immediately lay down on the floor, covering his head in the Virtualization Energy before thrusting his head downward through the floor.
His head successfully phased through the floor and emerged in the room below.
The room beneath belonged to one of Baron Claire’s young nieces. Lynch saw the thirteen-year-old girl standing by the window with a white flower in her hands, repeatedly tearing off its petals.
She muttered with a troubled expression, "Ah! What should I choose?"
"Mr. Lynch? Or Cousin Jamie?"
"Ah! They’re both so handsome! Why does fate torture me so? Can’t I... have both?"
"Maybe?"
"Maybe not?"
Lynch was speechless. How old is she again? Are girls from the Otherworld all this precocious?
Never mind. Let’s see what that vain Jamie is up to.
Standing up, Lynch walked to the right side of his room and phased his head through the wall into Jamie’s adjoining room.
Inside, Jamie was standing before a mirror, alternating between grooming his hair and adjusting his clothes.
His face radiated vanity and narcissism as he declared:
"Ah! Why are there men as handsome as I am in this world?"
"Look at these star-like eyes, this chiseled chest, this magnificent mane of hair. Ah! Truly the masterpiece of the Creator God!"
Lynch: "......."
Seriously, does anyone in this family act normal?
Feeling unimpressed, Lynch withdrew his head and finally moved to the left side of his room. The neighboring chamber belonged to Baron Claire, the master of this castle.
Phasing his head through the wall once more, the room’s interior unfolded before Lynch’s eyes.
But this time, the view left Lynch momentarily stunned.
The room was spacious and adorned with a high ceiling intricately carved with ornate patterns. In the center of the polished oak floors stood a massive four-poster bed, its soft feather quilt and pristine white sheets inviting anyone to rest in comfort.
Ancient candleholders, luxurious tapestries, exquisite porcelain, and various fine artworks were meticulously arranged throughout the chamber, exuding the opulence and grandeur befitting the nobles.
However, amidst the luxurious setting, Baron Claire wasn’t reclining on the bed or working at the desk but instead curled up in a cramped corner of the room.
Yes, curled up.
The Baron retained the attire he usually wore, but the authority and decisiveness normally emanating from him were entirely absent.
His eyes were deeply sunken, his gaze vacant and unfocused, tears pooling in his sockets yet refusing to fall.
His lips drooped slightly, his face devoid of any hint of a smile, lined with deep wrinkles and furrowed brows. His pallid complexion and worn-down demeanor painted a picture of utter fatigue and helplessness.
Sorrow, anguish.
There he was, curled up in the corner, still dressed in his heavy fur coat, but stripped of his former gravitas. In that moment, he resembled nothing more than an ordinary elderly man seeking refuge from the cold.
There he remained, clutching a Cross Sword in his hand, his reddened eyes fixated on it as he meticulously polished it over and over.
As he polished the sword, he murmured in a voice so soft it barely broke the air:
"Why were you so foolish... My Yuri..."
"My child..."
