NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114: Construction Workers?
The storm's unnatural intensity frightened everyone, even Lincoln.
"Everyone, go to the back of the cave," he instructed urgently. "This is not good."
They obeyed, seeking safety in the cave's depths. Lincoln cast a spell, creating a stone barrier to protect them.
William remained near Lincoln, observing the professor's worried expression. "What's happening, Professor?" he asked.
Lincoln, eyes fixed on the storm clouds, stammered, "L-Look! Just look!"
He stared at the sky in awe. William followed his gaze and saw a magnificent creature soaring above them. It was a horse-like being with two wings, a horn, and crackling lightning surrounding its form. Its size was immense, like something out of a myth.
"It's a mythical creature," Lincoln whispered, his voice filled with wonder. "Few have ever witnessed such a sight... We are fortunate."
"Then why are the students hiding?" William questioned.
"Because it's dangerous! We need to hide as well. If it finds us, we're doomed."
Lincoln and William retreated deeper into the cave, extinguishing the campfire. They joined the students, waiting anxiously for the creature to depart. The sound of its powerful wings echoed around them for hours until the storm subsided, and the creature vanished.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The students, learning of the mythical horse, were incredulous. Some expressed disappointment at missing the sight, but the creature was gone.
As they soared over a dense forest, a flock of monstrous ravens, their wingspans exceeding ten feet and their eyes burning with malevolent intent, descended upon them, their beaks sharp as daggers and talons outstretched.
Lincoln, ever vigilant, reacted swiftly. "Hold tight!" he instructed the students, his voice unwavering.
He raised his staff, channeling his mana. "Terra Spikes!" he boomed, and massive earthen spikes erupted from the ground below, narrowly missing the students but impaling several ravens, sending feathers and dark blood raining down.
The remaining creatures screeched in fury, their feathers ruffled. They swooped and dived, attempting to flank the group, but Lincoln remained unfazed. "Vine Snare!" he incanted, and thick, thorny vines snaked out from the forest canopy, ensnaring the ravens, pulling them from the sky.
William and the students watched in awe as Lincoln effortlessly controlled the earth and plants, manipulating the battlefield to his advantage. They had witnessed his strength before, but this aerial display was breathtaking.
With the raven threat neutralized, they continued their journey, their confidence in Lincoln's protection reinforced. They encountered other airborne creatures along the way – giant, venomous wasps with stingers the size of swords, monstrous bats with razor-sharp claws, and even a colossal wyvern, its leathery wings eclipsing the sun as it swooped down, its jaws agape, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
Each encounter tested Lincoln's skills, but he remained undeterred, his magic a force to be reckoned with. He summoned earthen platforms to elevate them above attacks, conjured thorny vines to ensnare their airborne foes, and commanded the very air to buffet and disrupt their enemies' flight.
William, observing Lincoln's mastery, felt a pang of envy. He yearned to possess such power, to command the elements with such ease. He knew he had a long way to go, but witnessing Lincoln's abilities fueled his determination to grow stronger.
After several days of travel, they reached the coast, the vast expanse of the sea stretching before them. A bustling port city, nestled amidst a crescent-shaped bay, marked their destination.
"This is Port Azure," Lincoln announced, guiding his mount towards the city. "We'll secure passage to the island from here." Find your next adventure on empire
The city was a hive of activity, its streets teeming with merchants, sailors, and adventurers. The air was thick with the scent of salt, fish, and exotic spices. William, someone who had traveled a lot both in the past and the present of Aethel, felt adjusted to the place.
As for the other students, most of them didn't have the same experiences as he did, and they were in complete awe, looking around them with curious eyes.
They landed in a designated area for flying mounts, drawing glances from the locals. Lincoln led them through the city, navigating the labyrinthine streets with practiced ease. They reached the docks, where a variety of ships bobbed gently in the harbor.
Lincoln approached a sturdy-looking vessel with crimson sails. "Captain Valerius," he greeted the ship's captain, a weathered man with a stern expression. "We require passage to the island."
Captain Valerius eyed the group with a discerning gaze. "The island is a dangerous place," he warned, his voice gruff. "Are you sure you're prepared?"
Lincoln nodded confidently. "We are. We have urgent business there."
Captain Valerius, seemingly satisfied with Lincoln's assurance, gestured towards the ship. "Then welcome aboard. We set sail at dawn."
After some discussion with Captain Valerius, they secured space for their flying mounts aboard the ship. William, Marcel, and Denise huddled together, their expressions reflecting shared concern.
"Did you hear the captain? He called the island dangerous. What's going on at that Snowpeak branch?" William voiced their worries.
Marcel, initially skeptical of William's suspicions, had become increasingly concerned. "I don't know," he admitted, "but we shouldn't be in any real danger. Though I don't trust Lincoln, Headmaster Grant is a good man. He wouldn't send us into harm's way."
William agreed. Lincoln was an enigma, but Headmaster Grant, despite his stern demeanor, was ultimately kind.
They waited for the departure, passing the time with idle chatter and nervous anticipation. Captain Valerius's experienced crew knew the surrounding waters and the safest route to the island.
"Couldn't we fly there directly?" William asked Lincoln, curious about their travel plans.
"We will, eventually," Lincoln explained. "This ship will take us to another island, from which we'll continue by air. There's a particularly treacherous stretch of sea where flying is unsafe due to powerful aerial creatures and sea monsters. Once we pass that point, we can fly the rest of the way."
William's apprehension grew as he realized the complexity of reaching the Snowpeak branch. However, he kept his doubts to himself. The ship was well-stocked, and Lincoln had handled all the arrangements. The students simply boarded and prepared for the four-day voyage.
William spent most of his time reading and conversing with Marcel and Denise, who shared his cabin. The first two days were uneventful, but then disaster struck. Sea monsters attacked the ship.
A massive shark with multiple eyes and a single wing leaped from the water, attempting to devour a sailor. Lincoln, ever vigilant, reacted instantly. He conjured mud on the deck, from which a massive, animated tree sprouted, intercepting the shark's attack and trapping it in a wooden embrace.
This allowed the crew to counterattack, ultimately slaying the monstrous shark. William, observing from the upper deck, was stunned.
"Were those the creatures you warned us about?" he asked Lincoln.
Lincoln nodded. "Yes, and those are the weaker ones. The real danger lies above."
William followed Lincoln's gaze and noticed something unsettling about one of the clouds. It seemed to writhe and shift.
"Did that cloud just move?" William wondered aloud.
"You're not mistaken," Lincoln confirmed. "There are creatures here called Cloud Eaters. They are essentially living clouds that devour anything that flies through them. They are formidable opponents, and I'm not confident we could defeat a group of them. As for the students, well, you would be no match for them."
The existence of such creatures astonished William. They were unlike anything he had encountered before, and he recognized the danger they posed to unsuspecting travelers.
Over the next few days, they faced several more sea creatures. William assisted where he could, gaining two levels in the process. The EXP gains were welcome, but he remained wary of the Cloud Eaters.
They eventually reached a small, sparsely populated island inhabited mainly by fishers and farmers.
"We'll recruit students for our academy from this island," Lincoln explained. "They have talented individuals who lack opportunities elsewhere. We're providing them with a chance!"
It seemed like a noble cause. However, according to Lincoln, recruitment hadn't begun yet. William questioned this.
"We still need to construct the initial buildings and clear the area of magical beasts," Lincoln clarified. "The project is in its early stages."
"So, we're essentially construction workers?" William asked, incredulous. "That doesn't make sense! The other Snowpeak Academy is still under construction. Why are we building another one?"
Lincoln shrugged. "I'm just following orders, kid. Headmaster Grant wants this academy built, and we're here to do it. I'll be staying to teach you magic, so you won't miss out on instruction."
William still felt misled. There were plenty of tutors at the main academy, but on this island, he would only have Lincoln, whom he didn't trust. He tried to reframe it as an adventure, a chance to learn magic in a more practical setting.
'Classroom learning isn't the only path to strength,' he reassured himself.
The promise of substantial rewards motivated the other students, outweighing their concerns. They spent a day on the fishing island, then prepared to fly to the Snowpeak branch location.