novelraw Chapter 49
Chapter 49
Chapter 49: Heading to Gaul City
After some thought, Lina decided to set off for Gaul City today.
Work would begin next week, and after that, taking time off wouldn’t be so easy.
Coincidentally, her “students” also needed a week to digest the knowledge she had taught, so starting practical lessons next week would be the best choice.
Lina was also quite interested in that ‘World Expo Preview’.
It was said that the preview would showcase many cutting-edge magitech technologies and magical theories. After all, Osselro Town was just a small place, and she wanted to take this opportunity of a global exhibition to see how the world had developed in the fifty years since her death.
Moreover... this was an invitation from a big star! Not going would be far too disrespectful!
As early as a week ago, Sibyl had already asked Lina and Annie about the exhibition at the dining table, so she wasn’t completely unprepared.
After a brief discussion with Annie and Sibyl, the three of them decided to set off immediately.
The exhibition would last for three days. Lina planned to stay there for two nights. Thanks to the existence of storage rings, they finished packing in no time.
Since magitech trains had not yet been opened in Osselro, the three could only travel to Gaul City on foot.
Fortunately, the distance between the two places wasn’t far. With the aid of wind magic, even without transportation, they could reach their destination before nightfall.
The autumn air was crisp and refreshing, the sky high and clear—autumn in Koberen was the most suitable season for outings.
The vast Duran Plains were split in two by the Rubis River. This river was called “Koberen’s silver belt” by bards. It originated from the Yaqir Snow Mountains in eastern Koberen, flowed through the entire country, and finally emptied into the Credy Sea in the west.
A few wild geese swept across the azure sky, leaving behind a string of black punctuation marks at the edge of the horizon. The autumn wind carried a slight chill as it brushed past the maple trees along the Rubis River. Red maple leaves drifted down onto the crystal-clear water, playing amidst the vibrant colors of autumn.
The fish in the water were startled by the falling leaves, hastily darting out from beneath the rocks where they hid and fleeing toward deeper waters.
“Ice Crystal Spell!”
Before they could escape into the faster currents, Annie successfully froze them in place with her spell.
“Well done, Annie!” Lina stepped out from the nearby bushes and looked with satisfaction at the partially frozen river surface. “Looks like our lunch is settled!”
Stuffing several fish still covered with ice shards into the storage ring, Lina brought Annie to an open area, where Sibyl had already set up a campfire.
“The fish are here!” Lina carefully melted the ice off the frozen fish with a Fireball, then handed them to Sibyl.
Sibyl took the fish and swiftly removed their innards. With graceful movements, she made a few diagonal cuts along their bodies, then took out ginger slices and scallion segments she had already prepared on a nearby stone block and stuffed them into the fish.
Lina and Annie crouched on either side, watching without blinking, like two kittens waiting to be fed.
“Sibyl, you’re amazing!” Annie exclaimed softly.
“Annie, help me get the spices over there,” Sibyl said while skewering the fish with sharpened wooden sticks. “They’re just behind the stone block.”
Annie trotted over and brought the ground spices. Lina sniffed them and could vaguely distinguish the scent of pepper and cumin.
As Sibyl’s fingertips moved slightly, a gentle swirl of wind lifted the spices and evenly coated every inch of the fish.
“Sibyl, your control over magic has improved quite a bit,” Lina blinked.
“Ahaha...” Sibyl laughed awkwardly. “I’ve been doing all the math exercises Lina leaves me every night, so my understanding of spell models has deepened.”
Sibyl placed the seasoned fish over the fire, turning them evenly as they roasted. Before long, the rich aroma, accompanied by the sizzling of oil, drifted into Lina’s nose.
“You’ve really got skill,” Lina swallowed. “Feels like it’s no worse than the restaurants outside!”
“This is nothing,” Sibyl smiled gently. “I just learned a bit from the chef at home.”
Lina nudged Annie lightly with her elbow and said smugly, “See? I told you bringing Sibyl along was the best decision! If it were up to me, we’d probably only get smoked dried fish.”
“Last time Lina scorched a pot, even the housekeeping witch said it couldn’t be cleaned,” Annie covered her mouth and whispered the embarrassing truth. “In the end, that lady suggested I take the pot to a blacksmith and have it melted down and reforged.”
“Hey! Annie! That was an accident!” Lina’s face immediately flushed red as she lunged forward to tickle Annie. Annie dodged while letting out clear, bell-like laughter, and the clearing was instantly filled with cheerful energy.
Watching the two of them fool around, Sibyl shook her head helplessly. “Stop messing around, the fish is almost done.”
With a light tap of her fingertips, the fish on the rack above the fire turned steadily. The skin gradually became golden and crispy, and the enticing aroma mixed with the smoky scent of fruitwood drifted out in thin wisps.
Lina and Annie immediately quieted down, sitting properly again, their eyes fixed tightly on the grilled fish as they swallowed in unison.
Soon, the fish was ready. Using clean leaves as padding, Sibyl handed the largest one to Lina and gave another perfectly grilled one to Annie.
“Thank you, Sister Sibyl!” Annie happily took it, blowing on it in small puffs and tasting it carefully. Her eyes instantly curved into crescents. “Mmm… so delicious! Crispy on the outside, so tender inside!”
Lina had already taken a big bite, hissing from the heat but still praising through a mouthful of food, “Mmm… so—so good! Sibyl, your cooking is even better than high-end restaurants!”
Sibyl picked up one herself and ate elegantly. Seeing her companions’ satisfied expressions, a serene smile appeared on her face.
The autumn sunlight filtered through the yellowing leaves, casting dappled patterns over the three girls, warm and comforting.
“Speaking of which,” Lina said vaguely while eating quickly, “when we get to Gaul City, let’s find some good dessert shops! My treat!”
“Okay!” Annie responded immediately, enthusiasm written all over her face, with a bit of seasoning still at the corner of her mouth.
Sibyl also nodded with a smile. “Mm, I’ve heard Gaul City’s cloud soufflé is very famous.”
“We should also buy a few outfits,” Lina tugged at her apprentice robe coat. “Not sure if I’ll find something that suits me.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Sibyl smiled. “Don’t forget, the one who invited you this time is Ms. Hepburn. Fashion magazines are fighting to have her on their covers—letting her pick clothes for you can’t go wrong.”
“Oh right, Sister Sibyl, can you tell us more about the World Expo preview?” Annie asked from the side.
After that, Sibyl gave Annie and Lina a detailed explanation about the preview.
A total of six countries and twenty-seven companies would participate in this preview.
Among them, the most eye-catching were the “Magitech Difference Engine” and the “Portable Magitech Communicator” launched by Ainiat Technology Company from Celestis.
The former was equivalent to an early computer in the human world, while the latter was more like a ‘mobile phone’.
The concept of the Magitech Difference Engine was proposed by the wizard Turian of the Royal Magic Academy of Solennam, and it was ultimately developed and manufactured by a team led by the Golden Branch Witch, Feleinis, the chief engineer of Ainiat Technology Company.
As for the Portable Magitech Communicator, its prototype originated from the magitech laboratory of Saengra University, an advanced magic academy in Koberen, and it was also refined into its current form by the Golden Branch Witch’s team.
In addition, Moshan Heavy Industries from Yunque had also brought their next-generation magitech thruster model. It was said that this time, their thruster had successfully launched a Stone-Carapace Pig to an altitude of seven thousand meters.
In this world, the higher the altitude, the thinner the magical power. Even an S-rank Great Witch would find it difficult to fly above five thousand meters by relying on her own strength. Even in Lina’s previous life, she had only reached a height of seven thousand five hundred meters.
As she listened, Lina nodded repeatedly.
Her anticipation for the upcoming trip to Gaul City grew even stronger.