Chapter 426: Spirit Summoning Ritual |
At precisely seven o'clock the next morning, with a sharp whistle, the magical steam train that had traveled for over twenty hours finally returned to the platform at the Turin Wizard Gathering Site from the Elemental Soul Gathering Site.
As the magical steam train pulled in, mist-like steam sprites flowed through the station entrance and poured into the waiting hall.
In an instant, the entire train waiting hall resembled an illusion filled with clouds and mist, a boundless sea of white.
"Dear passengers, hello. This train has successfully arrived in Turin. Passengers getting off, please take your belongings and disembark from the rear door."
"We’re finally here—"
Hearing the soft broadcast inside the carriage, Gawen-Tull, who had spent over forty hours round-trip, couldn’t help but massage her slightly sore neck and let out a deeply fatigued yawn.
"Let’s get off the train."
Seeing the carriage doors open, Janna, who had put her wizard hood and scarf back on, quickly followed the crowd off the train.
"Ha—Turin really is freezing."
"It snowed in Turin last night, so it’s colder than usual this morning."
Seeing that Lilith-Mage had also disembarked, Janna turned to Gawen-Tull and commented.
"I still prefer the climate of the Elemental Soul. Turin is just way too cold——"
"Professor Mage is coming."
As Lilith-Mage walked up to them, Janna and Gawen-Tull stopped their chat.
"I’ve got a few things to handle. You two go ahead."
"Yes, Professor."
Lilith-Mage, who remained standing near the waiting hall exit, gave the two of them a simple instruction before transforming into a pitch-black rook and swiftly flying out of the hall.
"Janna, I’m heading back to the inn. See you later."
Now graduated, Gawen-Tull was preparing to find another inn to stay in.
"Gawen, I have a vacant house in Turin. If you don’t mind, you can stay there for now."
"You have a house!?"
Hearing Janna’s words, Gawen-Tull, who was also a first-tier apprentice, was immediately surprised.
"Yeah, it’s in the suburbs of Turin, not far from the train station."
The house Janna spoke of was the property awarded to her some time ago when she received recognition from the Turin Mercenary Guild, presented by Teresa-Mensa on their behalf, along with a reward of ten thousand Gold Surrels.
"Here you go. This is the house key. It has a 【Guiding Array】 on it that will lead you there."
Looking at the ring-shaped “key” Janna handed over, Gawen-Tull, who had just been lamenting the cold of Turin, suddenly felt a bit warmer inside.
"Janna, aren’t you going to stay with me?"
After receiving the key, Gawen-Tull asked.
"I’ve got something to do at the Magic Tower today, so I won’t be joining you."
"I see—"
"Hurry along now. Let’s not block the way for others trying to board."
As the passengers from the previous train left the platform, new passengers waiting for the next train began entering the hall.
Seeing this, Janna and Gawen-Tull quickly left the waiting area and walked outside.
"Then I’ll head off first. If anything comes up, just send a message via a messenger—Oh, right, there’s also a fireplace in the house. You can leave a note with the Spark Sprite."
"Alright, I got it. You should head back and rest early too."
After several days of travel together, the two, now fast friends, had grown significantly closer, sharing everything without reservation.
So, at parting, they shared a light hug—marking a temporary farewell to their journey together.
"Everchanging Form—"
After parting with Gawen-Tull, Janna immediately cast 【Basic Transfiguration】 and transformed into 【Oak Dryad Form】.
"Pata—"
Her wings fluttered gently, and the moment she transformed, Janna vanished from sight in a flash, turning into a barely perceptible blur as she sped off toward White Coral Academy.
"One minute and fifteen seconds in total."
Upon arriving at the Vine Corridor, Janna reverted from her 【Oak Dryad Form】 to human form, retrieved the pocket watch from her robe, and stopped the timer.
"But the mana consumption is definitely high."
Compared to the previous 【Butterfly Wing Form】, the 【Oak Dryad Form】 consumed a whole different level of mana. However, its speed improvement was also tremendous.
Janna had needed at least fifteen minutes to fly from the train station to White Coral Academy using 【Butterfly Wing Form】, but now, the time had shrunk by more than tenfold.
"Gagyi—Crack—"
As Janna took out the Mist Branch, the vines of the Vine Corridor swiftly contracted, forming a narrow path barely wide enough for one person.
"Thank you, Tree Spirit."
Habitually, Janna gave her thanks to the Humanoid Willow hidden in the mist before putting away the Mist Branch and stepping into the corridor.
Only when Janna's figure fully disappeared did the surrounding vines close again, concealing the passage within the ever-present mist.
"That’ll be one hundred and thirty-seven credits."
"Alright, Miss Bell."
After paying the equivalent amount in Gold Surrels, Janna stored all the ritual materials for 【Spirit Summoning】 shown on the Magic Crystal Wall into her 【Thorn Bracelet】.
"Your strength has improved quite a bit lately."
Having accepted the local Elemental Soul-style dried fish Janna offered, Black Cat Bell gave her a careful look before lazily commenting.
"Well, the 【White Tower Trial】 is starting soon, so I wanted to push myself a bit before it begins.—"
As Janna said, the Dordogne-White Tower Trial would begin in just over a month.
In such a tense period, not just Janna, but many other Third Tier Wizard Apprentices awaiting the preliminary results had already begun their secluded training.
"With your current strength, getting into the White Tower is practically guaranteed. Rather than pushing yourself so hard, you might as well take this time to relax a bit.
After all, once you’re in the White Tower, especially as an apprentice who has mastered a 【Law Fragment】, there won’t be much time for rest—."