Chapter 116 Visitors
Selwin brought a few people to a lounge. This was clearly a place for the Sorcery Anomalies Hand to receive guests. The space was not too large, but it was enough to accommodate more than ten people.
The decoration and furnishings here were not much different from what Li Wen had seen along the way, except for a huge floor-to-ceiling window that caught her eye. Outside the window was a sun-drenched academy. From a high vantage point, one could see every blade of grass and tree in Mitreton, as well as every pedestrian.
However, this was underground, and even when it wasn’t raining in Leicester, the sky was always gloomy and overcast, with no sunshine. So this was likely due to some kind of magic.
In the center of the room was an exquisite square table surrounded by a velvet armchair. A teacup on it still emitted a faint warmth from the red tea, clearly indicating that someone had been sitting here drinking tea not long ago.
It was likely that Marymana and Selwin had been discussing something in this room, and then Marymana saw Li Wen entering the academy through the magically enhanced window, which led to Li Wen finding Marymana waiting for her as soon as she teleported into the Sorcery Anomalies Hand.
“What would you like to drink?” Selwin conjured a tea set with magic and then looked at Li Wen and Moria.
“Red tea will do,” Li Wen said casually. She didn’t think there would be any other drinks available other than tea. Arthurians had an extremely strong obsession with drinking tea; even on the battlefield, officers and knights would not forget to prepare a set of tea utensils.
Afterward, the acting president of the Sorcery Anomalies Hand began the smooth process of brewing tea. He didn’t use any magic, relying solely on his skill.
After they were seated, Marymana shifted her gaze to Li Wen. Li Wen felt the gaze, did not respond, but glanced at Selwin, then looked at Marymana as if asking a question.
Marymana nodded slightly, indicating there was no problem.
“What is the Sage Ovum Sheath?” Li Wen immediately asked.
After her words fell, Marymana’s expression visibly stiffened. Selwin, who was brewing tea, trembled and spilled a little tea. Moria, who had already sat down, immediately stood up and said, “I think I’ll go out for a walk.”
“No need.” Li Wen shrugged. Regarding Moria, Li Wen had to admit that this guy was indeed an upright person.
“Where did you hear about it?” Marymana chanted a spell and then grabbed Li Wen, her expression serious and her gaze focused.
“Through a rather special channel. I don’t think anyone else here can do it,” Li Wen met Marymana’s gaze directly without flinching.
At this time, Selwin had finished brewing the tea. After pouring it for Li Wen and Moria, he slowly said, “This is a term that rarely appears in some obscure ancient alchemy texts.”
Marymana added, “It may be used to refer to the initial ‘rebirth’ of matter in alchemy history, the ‘Miracle of the Sage,’ or the name of the first alchemical apparatus, that stone egg which created the concept of ‘alchemy’… Some old scriptures also record that one of the avatars of the great pillar deity of the lineage creation, whose honorary title is suspected to be ‘Sage Ovum Sheath’.”
Creation is the lineage of birth, creation, and change. The birth and continuation of life, the transformation and change of all things in the world, and all concepts related to creation and recreation belong to the authority of creation.
Li Wen naturally knew all of this. The reason she feigned ignorance was to use the question to elicit the subsequent information.
“I heard… that something called the ‘Sage Ovum Sheath’ will be passing through Leicester’s Black Raven Port on a ship tomorrow morning. This news has already been deliberately spread.”
Upon hearing this, Marymana frowned and looked at Selwin, who slowly shook his head, indicating he was unaware.
“Little Mei Fei, is what you’re saying credible?” Marymana asked Li Wen seriously.
“I don’t know,” Li Wen replied without any change in tone. “I don’t know what that thing on the ship is, but one thing is certain: at least hundreds of Transcendent have decided to get involved.”
Hundreds of people? This was already equivalent to the membership number of a large association. Such a number of Transcendent appearing in Leicester and competing for a single target could have unimaginable consequences.
“Black Raven Port is a military port of the Kingdom. Only the military or the Disciplinary Bureau can apply for permission to enter. That means… it’s probably something from the Royal Fleet or the Disciplinary Bureau that leaked out,” Selwin guessed.
“That thing is definitely not some Sage Ovum Sheath!” Marymana said with extreme firmness. “The Miracle of the Sage, the first type of Sage Stone in the world, has become history along with the Hermes School. And the Alchemical Cauldron that refined the Sage Stone, that egg with a rocky shell, is now on display in the Louvre Museum in Roland.”
So it was obvious that this was a hasty lie, a trap, and a group of Transcendent, blinded by desire, were preparing to show off their skills.
Both the Bird Association and the Sorcery Anomalies Hand were recognized and allowed to develop magical associations by the Kingdom of Arthur, and they also had the responsibility to contribute to the Kingdom in times of crisis, which undoubtedly included preventing illegal Transcendent from causing damage to the Kingdom as a whole. They would not stand by and watch hundreds of Transcendent turn Leicester upside down.
Marymana immediately stood up, preparing to return to Talanis to inform her teacher, the Seven Sages of Arthur, Gudmeir. As long as he was present, Marymana believed that no matter how many Transcendent there were, they would be insignificant. And the prerequisite for all of this was that what Li Wen said was true.
“Wait,” Selwin suddenly stopped her. “We have another visitor.”
The acting association president stood up, reached out, and conjured a key-shaped magic staff from the void. He then gently tapped the floor-to-ceiling window in the room with the staff.
The scenery outside the window changed again and again, finally stopping at a mysterious and ancient door. The door, which should have been a phantom image, was slowly pushed open by someone and actually opened like that.
An beautiful elf girl walked out from behind the door, followed by her attendants.
“My apologies for the intrusion, Arch mage Selwin Lagovin.”
“Not at all. Director Jeffrey had already informed you of your arrival,” Selwin said neither servile nor overbearing. His gaze did not linger on the elf girl for a moment.
“You are…” Marymana looked at the girl’s face. “Princess Victoria? I have seen you in the Holy Brilliance Silver Palace.”
“I did not expect that after only meeting once in the palace, Master Marymana would still remember me; it is truly an honor.” Victoria, the treasure of Arthur, the youngest and most cherished daughter of the great queen, Victoria Arthur De Virilit, swept her gaze across everyone present, finally resting on Li Wen.
