Chapter 33
55 vouchers
Laurence ranked third in seniority, putting him above even Sect Leader Kermit. He excelled in Enchantments and mechanisms, but since Craig’s teacher, the alchemist, was nowhere to be found, he’d been stuck pinch- hitting in that role.
Lately, he’d been hunkered down on Cinnabar Heights, experimenting with herbs and Arcane Produce.
His big aim? Whipping up something to cover meals for the hundred–plus students in their generation.
The Arcane Produce research wasn’t going smoothly. He hadn’t nailed it down yet, but his Enchantments had supercharged the sect’s Arcane Flora, making them grow like weeds.
They never wanted for healing ointments.
Pills were another story: with Craig’s teacher AWOL, no one was brewing them. Craig managed the basics, simple healing pills and first–grade poisons. Second–grade or above? Still a work in progress.
Rafael had teased Craig about it once and got walloped for it. “Try joining a sect only for your teacher to vanish the next day, then bootstrap yourself to Master Apothecary and Condensation of the Primal Core stage just by poring over books, see how you like it!”
Once he heard Craig’s tough backstory, Rafael dropped the jokes.
By Craig’s account, the first three students, himself, Laura, and their yet–to–appear senior, had all been left to fend for themselves.
Teacher recruited you, plopped you on the mountain, and tossed in a lesson here and there when convenient.
Laura got a few years of hands–on guidance from the sect leader because she’d been such a frail kid, but everyone else? Figure it out or flop.
The personalized coaching Linda and Rafael were getting from Byron and Mack? That was brand new this year, totally unprecedented.
“Byron, w–what are you doing here?” At the sight of Byron, Rafael straightened up like a soldier, fidgeting by the table with his arms and legs all out of sync.
Linda had spent half a year in seclusion up in the snowy mountains, leaving Rafael to train mostly under Byron, with some time under Laurence and the odd check–in from Kermit.
Their formal teacher–student relationship had only kicked in after he left the Sepulcher of Lost Steel with his Soul–Bound Rapier, but they’d been operating as an apprentice pair for a bit already.
Even so, they didn’t come across as particularly chummy, mainly because Byron was strict as hell.
Rafael hastily offered up his seat. Byron, sword in hand, responded with a curt hum. “Always quick with the dodges. How far have you gotten with that Gale–Storm Incantation I assigned you?”
Rafael’s expression collapsed, tears practically welling up. “Byron, I’ve got the Swift Wind down, but Fulmen- Binding Rite is a Liturgy of Core–Coalescence. I only formed my core two days ago. I haven’t even cracked it
Chapter 33
open yet…”
“Making excuses for laziness now?”
Rafael grabbed his head, the picture of injustice.
Laurence let out a hearty chuckle. “Come on, we’re out in the world now, don’t terrify the youngsters.”
Craig said, “… Laurence, you’re the one throwing me off. This out–of–nowhere kindness? I’m not buying it
Laurence’s gaze sharpened. “You checky punk!”
Craig flashed a goofy grin.
Rafael and Laura offered their formal greetings and bows, but Laurence brushed it aside. “Skip the ceremony. Have a seat. Byron and I headed down the mountain once we caught wind of the trouble here.”
The four of them nodded meekly.
Laurence tugged at his beard, sizing up the group. He thought, ‘Have we picked a bad moment? These kids look wound tighter than a drum.’
“Take it easy. Byron and I already smoothed things over with the Abyssal Coven. The puppet mess is for the elders to sort out. You all just worry about the Veil.” He paused, then added, “We’ll hang around outside until you’re done this time.”
Rafael managed an awkward chuckle. “Really, no need…”
If Laurence was sticking around, that meant Byron would be camped out in Mist–Haven Borough too, and then he’d be totally screwed.
Byron looked up, his tone frosty. “Am I not welcome?”
“Of course not!” Rafael hollered. “With you around, Byron, my back’s not sore, my legs are solid, and I could scarf down two extra plates of pasta. How could I possibly begrudge you?”
With that, he scooted over to Byron like an eager sidekick, kneading his shoulders and thumping his back. “I’m just concerned you’ll wear yourself out, Byron. After all, you’ve got big responsibilities on your plate.”
Bringing in resources for them, that was Byron’s main gig.
But since the sect leader had reclaimed the tribute Luster Shards from those two protected cities at the end of last year, they’d been swimming in Luster Shards.
Byron didn’t need to hustle odd jobs all over the place anymore.
Even so, he still wandered through ancient ruins and thick forests, popping up unpredictably. But each return came with a haul of goodies.
Feral beasts carcasses, forging materials, rare herbs, even elusive immortal grasses. And it wasn’t just Byron; the other uncles had been shipping back treasures to the sect as well.
The younger students like them didn’t know the full details on those valuables, but when spring rolled around and the sect leader bumped the Annual Stipend to a Monthly Stipend….
Complete with ten thousand Luster Shards each time, they figured First Unity Coven was doing just fine. financially for now.
The elders were busting their butts for the group’s sake. Byron included.
Byron brushed off Rafael’s brown–nosing, snagging him by the collar and hauling him away. “It’s been a few days, time for me to put your footwork to the test.”
Rafael looked ready to burst into tears.
Once the pair was gone, Laurence chuckled and announced he was heading out too. “Rest up tonight. Tomorrow at first light, after they drop off the stuff, we’ll go over the Veil details.”
“Yes, Laurence.”
Watching the two elders depart, Craig exhaled in relief. “Whew, now I can breathe easy. Linda, why the furrowed brow?”
Linda whispered, “Because this just escalated.”
Craig blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Linda stared at the door, as if gazing across the entire Mist–Haven Borough. If Byron and Laurence hadn’t bothered to show, it would’ve signaled no big deal.
But their presence meant trouble was brewing.
They only left the mountain for life–or–death situations, to shield students like them.
Linda said, “Craig, watch your step once we’re in the Veil tomorrow.”
Craig figured Linda was jumping at shadows a bit, but he nodded solemnly anyway.
The next day, the group assembled at the base of Somnambulist Highlands. Abyssal Coven had dispatched three Astral Sovereign Form elders, and as they spotted Byron and Laurence, their faces grew somber. They rushed forward right away to offer polite greetings.
Byron remained icily quiet.
Laurence returned their hellos with a jovial grin, but there was no mercy in the hand he extended. He collected four Infinite–Expansion Satchels and distributed them to Linda and the rest.
“This has to be the compensation, yeah?” Rafael snuck a peek inside, then snapped his hand back and tucked the bag away in a flash.
Craig rolled his eyes. “Why the shady vibes? You’d think we’d never laid eyes on valuables before.”
But when he cracked his open for a look, he cinched it shut just as quickly.
12:48 Mon, Jan 19
Chapter 331
A
Linda clocked their reactions and had a suspicion. She checked hers, and sure enough, the Luster Shards tallied up to ten times the promised amount.
“Did they mix up the bags?” Rafael muttered. Tenfold, that meant a hundred thousand Luster Shards. Even for a Vaughn family heir like him, that was unheard–of riches.
“No chance of a mix–up,” Craig said gravely. Byron had personally doled them out.
Byron scoffed coldly. “Pitiful.”
Laurence chuckled amiably. “Hey, our First Unity Coven students were the ones singled out by Abyssal Coven this time. Naturally, our payout’s a cut above the rest.”
Rafael and Linda glanced up in unison. “What?”
They thought, ‘When have we been targeted?‘
Linda, though, felt a sinking dread.
“Claudio, come say hello to your seniors.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
