Lennok spoke in this manner, hesitated no more, and descended the lighthouse.
He could feel Lapis’s eyes fixed on his departing figure, yet she made no attempt to detain him.
She fully understood his intention to leave the autonomous region once he had recuperated.
Stepping out of the grand hall, he casually acknowledged the greetings from the Watchers and exited the lighthouse.
Although he had been residing there for well over a week, it was now time to leave the autonomous region.
His stay had been marked by a whirlwind of activity, and somewhere along the journey, he had lost contact with Jenny.
Moreover, he needed to ascertain the current situation in Vulcan during his absence.
That sprawling city, where the unexpected could occur at any moment, would not remain the same without his presence.
If Lennok were to announce his departure, an unprecedented crowd would likely gather to bid him farewell.
Such a warm reception would not align with his preferences.
Silently fading into the background, he made his way towards the dock where the wing boats were securely moored.
As he attempted to navigate through the dense forest in between, he spotted Amon standing against a tree with his eyes closed.
“……”
His countenance had undergone a complete transformation, now exuding a chilly demeanor compared to the earlier hints of admiration and loyalty.
Lennok had never witnessed him engage in direct combat, but judging from his composure, mastery of magic, and the respect he commanded from other Watchers, it was evident that Amon possessed considerable skills.
Yet, despite his apparent capabilities, he had made no notable contributions in the recent battle and had maintained an unwavering demeanor.
This was indicative of not only surface-level skill but also a profound inner discipline.
Amon slightly parted his eyes and nodded at Lennok, who comprehended the unspoken message and continued on his path towards the dock.
“I hope we can cross paths again in similar circumstances.”
There was no need to reply to the gentle voice that emanated from behind him.
Amon had already concealed both his presence and form completely.
Lennok moved through the crowd of returning Watchers unnoticed, like a phantom, and naturally selected a wing boat, taking hold of the helm.
No one detected his actions until he ascended above the clouds and departed from the astrological boundary.
This, in itself, demonstrated the potency of the astrological enchantment cast upon the lighthouse.
As he soared above the mirrored clouds into the tranquil sky, Davi spoke.
[This will be the last time we witness this landscape.]
“Did you find it enjoyable?”
[Well…]
Davi, peering out from beneath his robe, responded.
[It’s a peculiar sensation, gazing down upon people from such great heights.]
“……”
Was Davi not merely a brain spirit but perhaps destined to be a ruler?
Lately, listening to Davi had stirred inexplicable emotions within him.
Guiding the helm in the direction of Davi’s gaze, Lennok approached the surface of the sea.
The sun shattered into a dazzling display of reflections, moistening the faces of both the wizard and the spirit with the salty sea breeze and cool air.
Huwooooo—!!
Lennok, releasing his grip on the helm of the wing boat as it raced above the sea, murmured while fixating his gaze on the scenery before him.
“Yes, sometimes there are days when I like something like this.”
Since awakening in this world, he couldn’t claim that many positive occurrences had unfolded.
Yet, today’s vista would forever linger in Lennok’s memory.
The enchanting floating islands gradually faded from view.
His time in the autonomous region was drawing to a close.
***
Lennok returned the wing boat to the same young man at the fog-covered cliff where he had initially rented it. This location marked the boundary where the updraft lost its strength, rendering this convenient mode of transportation useless.
For residents of the autonomous region, this was not an issue, but outsiders were required to leave a record of wing boat rental and return when moving between the floating islands. Recently, due to the emergence of an unusual phenomenon, a significant number of outsiders who had visited the autonomous region left as soon as the barrier was lifted.
Of course, there were some eccentric individuals who found this phenomenon intriguing, thinking it added depth to the unique natural occurrences of the autonomous region. However, Akasha clearly did not share that sentiment.
Lennok, confirming that her alias, Casia, was logged in the ledger for renting and returning wingboats, turned his head without hesitation. He could have at least briefly explained what had transpired this time, but it seemed she had returned to Vulcan first due to circumstances.
All that remained was to wait for the train back to Vulcan. Fortunately, considering the time Lennok had spent at the lighthouse, it seemed he could catch the train that Broker had mentioned.
As he sat in the aging train station, waiting for time to pass, someone settled down next to him.
Lennok suddenly turned his head and chuckled when he saw the familiar grayish skin.
“If you wanted to greet me, you could’ve done it in the autonomous region. Why are you loitering here?”
“Hey, at least mind your manners when speaking to an adult.”
“I have nothing to hear from someone who called the Ascendant an old lady.”
A beret and trench coat adorned Grisha’s attire. If it was a disguise, it was terribly outdated in terms of fashion. Could it be that an old-fashioned spellcaster expressed their individuality through such trivial matters?
Grisha, who hid her face with a hat and sunglasses, sighed at Lennok’s words.
“Well, I didn’t come all the way here because of you. I had planned to leave the autonomous region as soon as I confirmed the face of the guy who inherited the Old Lady’s message.”
“You must be busy.”
It wasn’t really Lennok’s place to say, but considering her actions when he first met her, it was obvious.
Grisha was practically one of the strongest forces, a force that could be counted on one hand even in the Eyes of Blue.
She naturally had to be a top priority in any operation led by the Eyes of Blue. And since Lapis defined the activity area of the Eyes of Blue without being restricted to a place, she naturally had to be busy given her capabilities.
The first meeting had been quite uncomfortable, but now he somewhat acknowledged her.
“By the way, I had something to pass on. Take this.”
Saying that, Grisha pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it to Lennok.
Lennok casually dropped it and picked it up from the ground with a calm expression.
A small doll the size of a thumb.
The characters engraved on it in messy writing were indecipherable, and it was hard to say that it was a good design.
“A truly terrible gift, to say the least.”
Grisha chuckled at Lennok’s blunt honesty.
“Spellcasting is always like that. Just accept it and keep it. It’ll be helpful if you meet a kind-hearted spellcaster like me later.”
“Oh, so it’s an item needed to flaunt one’s connections? Then that changes things.”
Pretending to be pleased, Lennok put the doll inside his coat.
Grisha nodded her head as she took a pipe out of her pocket.
“Yeah. I don’t expect many to recognize it, but… someone in that huge city should know it and take care of you.”
“That would be interesting.”
Lennok also chuckled at Grisha’s bold guarantee.
“Let’s see how great your network is then.”
“Yeah. If both of us don’t end up dying somewhere.”
“…”
Grisha continued calmly.
“Neither you nor I seem invincible even after exploiting the heavens.”
“You have a knack for sugar-coating unpleasant things.”
“It’s not wrong though. To be honest, I was envious of the Old Lady.”
She lowered her head slightly and lit her pipe.
Inhaling the burning smoke, she blankly stared down at the rusty tracks.
“It’s been a life filled with its share of ups and downs, but in the end, Grandma did everything she had to do, and everything she could, before she departed. She even left her final message for you, not for me. I always regarded her as a bothersome old woman… but perhaps, deep down, I sought her approval.”
“…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter now. I’m not the type to cling to the departed for too long.”
Grisha spoke as she adjusted her seat and gracefully stood up.
“Maybe Grandma didn’t want us to stop the war… but even so, I intend to support Lapis Falcia to the end.”
She gazed down at Lennok with unwavering determination.
“So, you, the one Grandma chose, take a good look and decide. Determine which side made the right choice in the end.”
It was nearly certain that the answer would unfold in this era.
Until the very end, Grisha departed without revealing her own inner turmoil.
Though she may have ostensibly intended to present this small doll as a gift, her true purpose likely leaned in this direction.
Outwardly composed, she too wrestled with the absence of any legacy left by the Ascender for Lapis and herself.
Even though she understood that it held no significance.
Lennok silently reclined in his seat and cast his gaze upwards at the sky.
It’s a world where nothing can be confronted head-on.
Just as Lennok continued to evade the remaining time, others also grappled with the tasks they were destined to fulfill.
Life flickers and wanes like a flame.
Finding meaning in it always remains an individual pursuit.
And Lennok was still contemplating that significance.
Lost in thought, he noticed faint smoke rising from beyond the horizon.
Lennok halted his musings and slowly stood from his seat.
His legs momentarily wavered, but as always, he swiftly regained his balance.
It was time to return to Vulcan.
***
The duration of Lennok’s stay in the autonomous region was a bit over two weeks, to be precise, but it felt much longer.
Pursuing the traces of the drug lord and crisscrossing through Philemon had sapped Lennok’s mental stamina.
Therefore, Lennok found it odd to feel relief upon seeing the familiar cityscape after such a long absence.
“I never thought I’d miss this kind of smog…”
The unpleasant fumes from the 50th district, where cheap fuel was burnt, seemed like a distant memory to Lennok now.
“Hey, you there! Hand over all your money and get lost!”
Encountering the faces of troublemakers looking for a fight suddenly felt endearing; perhaps this was already a sign of mental change.
Lost in thought, Lennok swiftly incapacitated one of the thugs who had charged at him with an old firearm.
Regardless, it was now time to shed the various layers of disguise and return to being Van.
“There’s a mountain of things to do.”
Lennok had acquired insights into magical research during his time in the autonomous region. He had to analyze the essence of alchemy, obtained medicine from Yakson, and even had to make an appearance as Evan at the university from which he had taken a leave of absence.
In addition to these tasks, he had to uncover information about the Vulcan underground, as mentioned by Jenny before her departure.
Despite his physical exhaustion, Lennok tried to muster the energy to face the demanding schedule that awaited him.
It had been a while since he had been able to communicate with Jenny in the autonomous region. So, as Van once again, he decided that his first order of business should be to visit the bar and catch up on recent events.
“I should change out of this worn-out coat first. Was there a clothing store near the bar?”
With that thought in mind, he ventured into the 49th district.
However, as he walked through the district, someone suddenly approached him from the side.
“I heard you were dead, but it seems you’re very much alive?”
“…”
“I heard rumors that you were assassinated because you didn’t show up at the bar, but it looks like that was all nonsense.”
Lennok couldn’t ignore the remarks and turned his head.
The bald man, casually smoking a cigarette, shifted his gaze towards Lennok.
“Well, I didn’t say that for you to listen. If it bothered you, I apologize.”
“No, I have a question to ask before that.”
“Hmm, I don’t have much, but if you’re trying to extort money…”
“Did something happen at Jenny’s bar?”
“What?”
The bald man appeared surprised, his eyes widening behind his sunglasses.
“My God, you don’t know that there’s chaos in the 49th district because of that?”
“I had my reasons.”
“Then the rumors about you disappearing were true…”
“Just answer my question.”
Lennok’s words were icy, prompting the man to nod obediently.
He succinctly summarized his previous lengthy explanation.
“Jenny started a business. And the cartel moved in. As a result, the bar has been completely destroyed.”
