Mage Legend

"Yes." Lynch used his magic wand to pry open the shark's mouth, found the fishhook, and threw it far away: "One shark is enough, no need for so many. But you'll have to be the one to cut it open; I don't have the strength for that."

"Leave it to me then." Zilvra quietly appeared behind Lynch. She drew her newly acquired thin sword and estimated the size of the shark: "It's just right to test my weapon."

"Do you really know how to use this weapon?" Lynch said with a doubtful look: "It will cause a rotating explosion in the wound if you pierce it. If you use it to cut the fish, we'll only be able to find fish bits tonight."

"That's information you told me, I didn't ask you for it." Zilvra sheathed the thin sword: "I know well that cutting fish requires a knife, not a sword, I was just coaxing information out of you."

"It doesn't matter." Lynch shrugged: "Actually, I didn't tell you the full function of the sword, so you'll still have to figure it out yourself. Now, I should go check on Soka." With that, the mage smiled and walked towards the bow of the ship.

When you're busy, time always flies. By the time the crew finished dealing with the shark, night had already fallen. The rich fish soup and chewy fish meat dispelled all of Soka's sleepiness. Additionally, Lynch had increased the total bonus again, making all the sailors decide to show their skills throughout the night.

On the dark sea night, aside from the stars in the sky and three beautiful crescent moons, only the Conch still remained brightly lit. All available lanterns were brought out and gathered at the bow of the ship, illuminating the sea around them brightly. Originally meant for the crew to leave the sea and return to the shores, the peaceful wind day had gradually transformed into a celebration of reminiscing about life on land. Although they couldn't light a bonfire like on the ground, loud and joyful singing echoed around, blending with the sound of waves crashing at the bow, carrying far away.

"Soka, drink slowly, don't rush." Lynch picked up a handkerchief and wiped the soup marks from Soka's mouth, smiling as he said: "Don't eat like your tiger."

"Lynch, today's stuff is much tastier than what the sailors made." Zilvra leaned in and said to the mage: "How do you know how to cook?"

"No, I don't." Lynch snapped his fingers, a few glittering dust particles drifted from his fingers. He grinned and said: "But I can make sure you feel the food tastes great, regardless of your preferences."

"Using magic again." Zilvra tilted her head looking at the celebrating sailors on the other side of the deck, clearly Lynch's fish soup wasn't as popular as rum, and those people were quite drunk.

"Mr. Lynch, uh!" A sailor held up a bottle and said: "To your health and the fish soup, cheers!"

The mage symbolically raised his cup, but didn't drink. Anything that could harm clear thinking, Lynch stayed away from, but it didn't stop him from using magic to cool the fine wine and make it taste better. "To a safe voyage!" the mage responded.

"Yes! To a safe journey!"

After drawing enough strength from the drink, the warriors of the sea began to showcase their singing voices. The songs that only sailors could understand contained all their emotions, whether grand or passionate, melancholy or longing, they echoed in the dark night for a long time. Since the crew of the Conch came from various places, the Common Language they spoke had many differences. Soka and Zilvra couldn't understand the stories the lyrics told, but it didn't stop these two groups from understanding and communicating with each other.

Zilvra gracefully declined the sailors' requests for her to sing, instead pushing Soka to the front. Encouraged by Macken and Lynch, the little angel, blushing, sang a song praising the sun in the Heavenly Language. Although only Lynch and Macken could understand it present, the uniquely beautiful and melodious sounds of Heavenly Language were enough to intoxicate the sailors, let alone Soka's naturally gentle voice.

"Wonderful! Little girl!" After downing three large cups of wine in tribute to Soka's singing, the sailors brought up the empty ale barrels and prepared dice and cards. They all looked at Lynch expectantly, their drunken minds still remembering the clinking of gold coins.

It wasn't that these sailors were particularly greedy, rather that gambling was a crucial part of the peaceful wind day. It's said that the sailors' happy laughter can dispel possible storms and bring endless luck; and in the minds of these sailors, nothing was more delightful than a win in gambling—also because, at the center of the ocean, gaining the favor of a beauty was practically impossible.

"Alright, I'll try playing a few rounds." Lynch had learned all the tricks in the taverns from the dwarven Morgan, which naturally included many dice and card games. He pulled Zilvra to stand by his side, then said: "You guys can start."

Playing simple games like guessing dice rolls' size, for Lynch with the Eye of Insight, the chances of not guessing correctly were close to zero. However, he decided not to make the sailors too sad, intentionally losing a few rounds was very necessary. Zilvra naturally knew Lynch's little tricks, but she also understood that the mage was indirectly teaching her the rules of these games.

"Why don't you take over." After a while, Lynch indeed passed the position to Zilvra: "If I keep winning, the sailors might say I'm going back on my word."

"How could that be, Mr. Lynch." The laughter continued unceasingly: "We're all very grateful to you, you've been very generous."

After the mage left, Zilvra, who was clearly a beginner, took over. The sailors, having had their interest piqued by Lynch, all wanted to earn some gold coins from the lady. However, they clearly underestimated the agile and coordinated skills of the Dark Elf. After a few initial failures, Zilvra quickly mastered the tricks, and then a large amount of gold coins flowed into her purse.

Lynch, having no choice, had to lose more in other games so the sailors could still have some capital to "duel" with Zilvra. So he no longer used his deft fingers to play with cards, instead, he began to honestly follow the rules.

As for the one-eyed Vilanser, his luck was not good. When he won money from Zilvra, he would inevitably lose it back to mage Lynch; but when he lost to Zilvra, Lynch would let him win two games. When other sailors gained considerable income, Vilanser neither lost nor won, no wonder he kept praying to the Goddess of Fortune to regain his good luck.

Soka, holding the tiger as a soft pillow, slept on Macken's leg, the old knight's cloak shielding her from the cold ocean wind. Just as the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, Lynch suddenly stood up. Only then did all the sailors notice that this young passenger's eyes were different from ordinary people, with what seemed like black whirlpools moving inside his pupils. However, nothing compared to what Lynch said next.

He picked up the long staff beside him, his right hand pointing under the ship: "Is there some huge monster in this water?"

"No, never heard of it." Captain Jebor poked his head out of the wheelhouse: "What's wrong, Mr. Lynch?"

"I think you're about to see it soon." He frowned, contemplating a solution.