Chapter 84
While Bromnick and the dwarves continued construction, Elia and Noah left the ducal estate.
Zirque had come to greet them.
“Lady Elia!”
Zirque waved toward Elia in front of the teleportation gate.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“Because I get to go to the Magic Tower with you, my lady.”
Just the thought of going with Elia seemed to make him happy.
“What, am I invisible?”
Noah waved directly in front of Zirque.
“Oh, Your Highness, you’re here too.”
Zirque nodded slightly in greeting.
“That’s kind of a rude greeting.”
“That’s just how you perceived it.”
Alexis, who had appeared behind them, stepped forward to speak to Zirque.
“Take good care of them, Zirque.”
“Don’t worry, Duke.”
Zirque smiled gently and looked at Elia.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
Elia nodded and turned to Alexis.
“Duke, I’ll be back.”
“Alright, travel safely. I’ll come pick you up.”
“Please don’t forget.”
After saying goodbye to Alexis, Elia passed through the teleportation gate with Zirque and headed for Luminere Island.
Upon arrival, Austin, the Master of the Tower, was waiting for them.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Hello, Tower Master.”
“Welcome.”
“We’ve returned, Tower Master.”
Zirque politely greeted Austin, who responded with a nod.
“Zirque, show them to their rooms.”
“Yes, Tower Master.”
Zirque held out his hand, and Elia took it. As Elia walked with Zirque, Noah quickly followed.
Elia and Noah entered the tower together.
The tower only allowed access to authorized individuals. Elia and Noah had already received such authorization from the Tower Master.
Felix, who was conducting research in the tower, had similar clearance.
Zirque led Elia up the tower.
At the very top was the Tower Master’s room, and one floor below that was Zirque’s.
Elia and Noah, as guests, were placed on a lower floor than Zirque.
“I did my best decorating it, but I hope you like it.”
When the door opened and Elia entered, she blinked.
The entire room was pink.
Just like her room in the ducal estate—it was pink here too.
“I tried to make it as similar as possible to your room at the estate. I thought it would help you adjust more easily.”
“Thank you.”
“This is like a full-on princess room.”
Noah shook his head with a face that looked overwhelmed.
“Your Highness, your room is this way.”
Zirque led Noah to his room, which was quite far from Elia’s.
Almost at opposite ends.
“Hey, why’s my room so far away?”
“It’s regulation. Male and female rooms must be kept at a distance. All the mages in the tower follow this rule.”
With that said, Noah couldn’t argue.
He entered his room.
It had a completely different feel from Elia’s.
Calm. Simple.
There was only a bed, desk, bookshelf, and wardrobe.
Still, it was spacious.
There was even a window. He found it reasonably satisfying.
“Not bad.”
“I’m glad you like it. I’ll go check on the lady now, so please rest.”
Zirque shut the door without hesitation.
Noah stared at the door, dumbfounded.
“I swear he doesn’t like me…”
He had no idea why.
Knock knock.
While Elia was still looking around her room, Zirque knocked and entered.
She had been waiting for him.
“Zirque, let’s go see Uncle Felix.”
“Yes, follow me.”
The Magic Tower, with its complex formulas and structure, relied entirely on magical transportation.
Zirque had explained that it was because of the mages’ tendency to hide their personal spaces, preferring seclusion.
They rarely revealed their private research areas.
Elia followed Zirque to Felix’s lab.
“Uncle!”
When Felix saw Elia, he greeted her with an emotional expression.
“My lady!”
He tried to pull Elia into a hug, but Zirque stopped him.
“Please maintain proper distance.”
Felix scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Sorry, I got excited…”
“Anyway, take this.”
“What is it?”
“Research data for the burn ointment. And this is a prototype.”
“Oh, this is the one you mentioned!”
Felix quickly accepted it and skimmed through the documents, then clicked his tongue in amazement.
“You really are a genius, my lady.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Elia smiled brightly and continued.
“Once it’s complete, wouldn’t it be best to personally deliver it to Florence in the capital?”
“Of course! It’s the first product—I have to deliver it myself!”
Felix was thrilled at the thought of going to the capital, where his beloved Jasper was waiting.
Because of Elia’s actions, the two had ended up like star-crossed lovers, and she felt sorry about it.
“If we succeed in entering the capital, I’ll make sure you both can live there.”
“Of course! I’m counting down the days.”
Felix smiled and gathered the research data.
“I’ll try to finish it as quickly as possible.”
“Thanks. And there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I’m planning to recruit the Queen’s researchers. They’re already on their way to the ducal estate.”
“I had a feeling… so it’s true.”
“Yep, it’s true. I’m also planning to build a research lab for them here on Luminere Island.”
Felix looked at Elia and let out another amazed sigh.
“Well then, I have somewhere else to go.”
“Of course.”
Elia left the lab with Zirque and went out to find a suitable location to build the new research facility.
Zirque made a recommendation.
“This is the most suitable location.”
The tower stood tall at the center of the island, surrounded by dense forest.
To the north, the forest stretched out to a sandy beach. East and west were too narrow for development.
That left the southern area, which had relatively flat land.
“This really is the perfect spot.”
According to Zirque, there was no better location.
“We’ll build it here.”
“You brought the blueprints, right?”
“Yes, here.”
Elia pulled the blueprints from her bag without hesitation. She no longer carried the animal-shaped bags she used when she was seven.
Now, at ten years old, she had a bag decorated with beautiful beads.
Zirque studied the blueprints and nodded.
“We’ll begin construction as soon as the materials arrive.”
“Will it be possible?”
“It is. If you wish it, then anything is possible.”
“That’s reassuring. Lapis-uncle said he’d prepare the materials. Once they’re ready, we’ll have to go get them ourselves.”
“Understood.”
“Alright, let’s head back. I’m hungry.”
It was already lunchtime.
Back at the tower, Elia ate with Noah. The meal had been prepared by none other than Zirque.
“You made all this yourself?”
“I didn’t know what you might like, so I prepared a variety.”
Zirque replied with a soft smile. Austin added a comment.
“He started learning to cook just to feed me.”
It was truly unexpected that Zirque could cook so well.
Elia took a bite of a butter-seared scallop first. Her eyes widened.
“This is amazing, Zirque.”
Austin, as if it were a given, began eating as well. Surprisingly, he was a gourmet.
He and Zirque had apparently gone on rare ingredient hunts together.
“That fish, Zirque caught it himself from the sea.”
Austin pointed to an enormous grilled fish.
“What kind of fish is it?”
“Java grouper.”
“That’s super rare!”
“It is.”
Elia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Zirque.
“How did you catch it?”
“Fishing.”
“Is that even possible?”
Java groupers are known for their size and strength.
Catching one with a fishing rod is no small feat.
“I’m pretty good at fishing.”
“Amazing.”
Austin gave a small laugh and said,
“You like seafood, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then get ready. The stuff he catches? You won’t find it anywhere else.”
“You mean you’ve been keeping all this delicious food to yourself, Tower Master?”
Elia narrowed her eyes at Austin.
“I didn’t eat it alone! I shared with the other mages. I’m not that shameless!”
Austin couldn’t believe he was even defending himself like this.
