The Blacksmith Shop

Starlight was momentarily stunned by the response. Under Eventador’s careful guidance, his understanding of space had improved significantly, but something like time was clearly of a completely different nature than other forms of magic, wasn't it?

“Don't look at me like that. I'm not entirely clear on the specifics either. Master is probably the only person on the entire continent who understands time magic. Earlier, when the room was about to give way, he was the one who rewound the time of the objects inside by a few seconds.”

“...I still can't wrap my head around it. But weren't we all still present? If time was wound back... then the several of us should have been affected as well.”

“I don't understand the principle behind it either. I can, however, tell you a story. Back when Carlos, Evan, and your father had just broken through to the Saint Rank, they once sought out Master to spar. Even with the three of them working together, they couldn't land a single blow on him.”

“Is time magic really that powerful? Even the three of you together couldn't do it?! Doesn't that mean Grandmaster is practically invincible among those at the Saint Rank?”

Starlight let out a cry of exclamation, his face filled with an expression of utter disbelief.

“The old man's magic definitely has a weakness; we just haven't found it yet. Nothing in this world is perfect. Ultimately, it was because the three of us had too shallow an understanding of time. However, Little Star, you might actually have the potential to surpass the old man.”

Noah spoke to Starlight word by word after a moment of deep thought.

“Stop teasing me! It's still a question whether I can even live past twenty... Even though you said Master has solved the problem, I have a premonition that things aren't nearly that simple.”

At the thought of Eventador’s explanation regarding the Radiant Elemental Body, Starlight felt another headache coming on. Although he understood it wasn't time to give up on himself, the amount of information in today's conversation was truly a bit too overwhelming.

“I wonder what Po Kong and Moen will think of me... Oh, right! Grandmaster gave us a key just now. Where exactly is it supposed to open? And how are we supposed to find Po Kong and the others?”

Starlight suddenly remembered the key Mowei had given him, which was still tucked in his pocket. Mowei had vanished right after handing it over, without mentioning anything about what it was for.

Furthermore, finding Po Kong and the other two in this massive academy wouldn't be easy. The castle at the center of the academy alone was nearly as large as an entire district of the Violet City-State.

“That key is just for an ordinary room, nothing special. If you want to go to the Craftsman District to find that silly boy and your little girlfriend, just follow my guidance. Hmm... go down the stairs ahead and then turn right.”

“Wh... What girlfriend! Noah, what are you talking about?!”

“Please! Aren't your thoughts written all over your face? Fine, fine... One hundred meters ahead, turn right into the second corridor.”

Hearing Noah's teasing, Starlight’s face, which hadn't yet recovered from the tension, instantly flushed bright red as he explained in a panic.

Noah, however, had no intention of entertaining him further. Instead, he transformed into a professional navigator, guiding Starlight as he threaded through the winding corridors of the castle until they finally emerged.

Before long, under Noah's guidance, Starlight arrived at the academy's Craftsman District and found the trio in front of a massive furnace.

At this moment, Po Kong was heatedly discussing something with a red-haired dwarf, while Xia Duo listened quietly from the side, nodding occasionally as if forming her own evaluation of their ideas.

Moen, meanwhile, sat on a nearby bench, eyeing the massive furnace with curiosity. As soon as she spotted Starlight, she immediately waved to call him over.

“Boy from the House of Mars, it'll probably take about half a month to repair your weapon. After all, I still have my academy duties to attend to. I'll notify you once it's finished. Where are you staying?”

As Starlight drew closer to the blacksmith shop, he saw the dwarf carefully wrap Po Kong’s two bracelets in cloth. After stowing them away properly, the dwarf posed the question.

“Where we're staying... a hotel outside? Little Shadow, what was the name of the place where we stayed before?”

Only then did Po Kong suddenly realize he didn't remember the name of the hotel they had stayed at. He had no choice but to turn back and ask Xia Duo sheepishly, just in time to see Starlight arriving beside them.

“I've already found a place to stay. Noah will take us there in a bit. Are you all finished here?”

Starlight greeted the group and briefly explained the current situation. Po Kong finally felt relieved and turned back toward the dwarf.

“Basically done. Oh, right, Brother Todd... can I borrow a weapon from you for these next few days? The thought of not having a sword by my side makes me feel all unsettled...”

The dwarf named Todd was inevitably a bit surprised, but he didn't refuse the request. He pointed toward a barrel filled with swords nearby.

“You're a Swordsman, yet you don't even have a spare weapon? That's far too unprofessional! Still, there's no harm in lending you one of my practice pieces. Go over there and pick one for yourself.”

“Well... I didn't expect spirit armaments to break so easily either! Let me go have a look~”

Just as Po Kong went off excitedly to pick a spare weapon, Todd turned toward Starlight and asked with a curious expression:

“Are you a freshman? The testing isn't over yet, so how did you get here?... But why do you look so strangely familiar to me?”

Starlight had no choice but to recount the story of how Eventador had suddenly burst into the testing grounds and taken them away.

“Oh! So it was the Principal who brought you here... Wait! I remember now. You look just like Arthur White, except for the hair color. How are you related to him?”

As Todd spoke, it was as if a memory switch had been flipped, and he cried out in surprise.

“Are my father and Master really that famous here?” Starlight was also a bit flustered by the outburst and asked Todd in a low voice.

“Of course! The Golden Generation from over twenty years ago is still fresh in my mind. That was probably the school's most glorious period. Wait... who did you say your Master was? It couldn't be that kid Carlos, could it?!”

Hearing this, Starlight could only nod honestly, which served as a tacit confirmation of the guess.

“If that's the case, I can roughly guess where the Principal arranged for you to stay. Speaking of which, your father and the others...”

Just as Todd wanted to probe further, Po Kong had already selected a silver, gleaming longsword. He sheathed it and walked over.

“I've picked one~ Thanks a lot, Brother Todd!”

Po Kong spoke to Todd while hanging the longsword at his waist, simultaneously interrupting the dwarf's train of thought. Todd then turned to give Po Kong some instructions.

“Listen... this thing isn't as convenient as a spirit armament. Remember to maintain it regularly! Try to cherish it a little.”

“Got it~ I still know basic knowledge like weapon maintenance,” Po Kong promised readily.

Starlight also happened to want to avoid continuing that heavy topic, so he made an excuse about taking the three of them to find their lodging and bid Todd farewell.

Before they left, Todd warmly invited the four of them to drop by anytime. After all, the students of the magic academy didn't have much need for a blacksmith shop, and staying there alone was quite boring.