Rafael stepped off the Sky Runner, his gaze finally drifting away from the vessel just a little. He let out a sigh of surprise as he walked up to the edge, his eyes roaming nonstop, the bizarre magical monocle clamped on his nose pulsing with a surge of mana.
The first plane Leon ever encountered—the Bone Plane—was where he obtained the Book of Death. In the future, it would be completely conquered by a handful of young mages piloting a nearly scrapped mana warship, taking just three months to finish the job.
The USS Dauntless relied on its own formidable power: crafted with the bones of gods and demons as its keel, designed as a Sky Rank alchemical array, outfitted with countless mana crystal cannons, and even bearing a fully intact Hand of Destruction. That was the true source of its strength.
But in terms of design, the USS Dauntless was nowhere near the top-tier mana warships of the Northend World at its peak.
"Lord Rafael, Skyhold Fortress sent such a massive floating warship here—surely it's not just to pick me up, is it?"
Rafael smiled.
"That's actually true. But I am, in fact, here to pick up Leon. This floating warship still has to pick up another family from Greendale."
As Rafael spoke with Leon, they stepped out of the Sky Runner. On the deck of the floating warship, many mages in Skyhold Fortress robes were busy at work, while sturdy swordsmen stood guard, and numerous alchemical golems toiled away as laborers.
Stepping off the shuttle, they were greeted by a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties. He wore a pair of peculiar glasses on his nose, their surface shimmering with faint magical ripples—clearly an alchemist who spent most of his time in the lab, radiating that unique aura only alchemists had.
"Archmage Leon, this is my senior apprentice Gullard. He’s a Worldshaper and a true craftsman—he’s poured his entire life into the pursuit of alchemical truth. All he wants is to find the real meaning behind forging."
Rafael stepped off the floating platform, his gaze finally drifting away from the contraption just a little. He let out a sigh of surprise as he walked up to the edge, his eyes roaming nonstop, the bizarre magical monocle clamped on his nose pulsing with a surge of mana.
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Rafael’s face. He hurried over and dragged the middle-aged man along.
“Gullard, what are you doing? Can’t I even take a peek at your design? Seriously, did you forget how many times I helped you out when you first joined Master’s workshop? If I hadn’t bailed you out that time, you’d have been kicked out ages ago!”
"You petty bastard, I just wanted to check out your genius design and you—"
The middle-aged man kept rambling, airing out all of Rafael’s embarrassing stories. Rafael’s face turned even redder and he quickly cut him off.
“Gullard, could you shut that damn mouth of yours? Can’t you see we’ve got company?”
At Rafael’s words, Gullard—who’d been in full mad scientist mode—finally noticed Leon stepping out from the floating platform.
"Ah, my bad, Rafael. You really should’ve said something if we had guests. Isn’t it your job to introduce your friend to your senior apprentice? What are you zoning out for?"
Rafael gave a wry smile.
"Master Mafa, this is my senior apprentice Gullard. He’s a Worldshaper and a true craftsman—he’s poured his entire life into the pursuit of alchemical truth. All he wants is to find the real meaning behind forging."