Lind was both amused and exasperated by Alice's blunt teasing, but it also brought to light his hidden worries about Leonis.
He reached out and pinched Alice's small, pert nose in an annoyed manner.
"What kind of crazy stories are going on in that little head of yours?"
Lind's voice carried a hint of helpless laughter, but his eyes were serious as he looked at her. "Leonis is my Holy Knight, a loyal partner who protects the territory and your safety. She was clearly not quite right just now. I was just worried about her, or rather... something was on her mind."
He paused, deciding to be honest about part of it, after all, Alice's perception far surpassed that of ordinary people:
"You saw it yourself. My Alice was so proactive today. How could Leonis, this quiet, reserved girl who grew up in the church, not react? As a lord, isn't it only right that I care about the mental and physical well-being of my subordinates?"
Alice wrinkled her nose, slapped away his mischievous hand, and the mischievous smile in her gray-blue eyes faded, replaced by a hint of understanding and... an imperceptible complexity.
"Hmph, you're right."
She pouted, but her grip on Linde's sleeve didn't loosen; instead, she tightened it, as if trying to confirm his presence.
“However, Sister Leonis… she was acting really strange just now. She…”
Alice seemed to be searching for the right words.
"She seemed a little...sad? Or...scared? I can't quite put my finger on it, but she was definitely different from usual."
Linde's heart sank; Alice's observation confirmed his worries.
He took Alice's hand in his own, gently stroking the back of her hand with his fingertips, a gesture of comfort.
"Don't worry, I'll find time to talk to her."
He made that promise, then changed the subject, a mysterious smile on his face.
"But now, my genius mage, instead of worrying about other people's condition, why don't you take a look at what 'gift' I brought you? I guarantee it's a million times more exciting than any 'romantic tale of a nobleman' you've ever read."
Alice's attention was instantly drawn.
Her slight jealousy and complicated emotions were instantly replaced by intense curiosity.
"A souvenir? For me?"
She tilted her little face up to Linde, looking at him expectantly. "What is it? New magical materials? Rubbings of ancient ruins? Or... some strange magical artifacts you scavenged from some cult stronghold?"
Linde smiled and carefully took out the thick parchment scroll, which was carefully bound with tough leather rope, from the mage's sleeve.
The parchment had a faint smell of ink and looked quite new; it wasn't some kind of antique.
"Neither."
Linde's voice carried a hint of smugness as he handed the heavy scroll of blueprints to Alice.
"It's knowledge. A unique recipe from the Orks, and also my 'capture'."
I think it might answer some of your questions about the 'Crystal Remains Alternative,' and even... open a door to a completely new realm.
Alice's gaze was instantly fixed on the bundle of blueprints.
She almost held her breath as she carefully took it. Her fingertips touched the rough leather cord and thick paper, and an indescribable excitement made her fingers tremble slightly.
She couldn't wait to untie the knot and unfold the top sheet.
Lines! Countless lines! Precise, complex, and full of geometric beauty that perfectly blends mechanics and magic! The structure of the energy conversion matrix unfolded before her eyes like a sophisticated universe.
Her gaze was instantly drawn to every symbol, every line, and every dimension on the drawing, as if the whole world had disappeared, leaving only the blueprint before her that embodied the fruits of wisdom.
"This...this is..."
Alice's voice trembled with disbelief as she flipped through the pages rapidly, one after another. The Orcs' ingenious ideas—breaking free from the traditional framework of magic, using basic magic to build up power, and using human strength to compensate for the lack of magic—were like a tidal wave crashing against her established cognitive system.
Her breathing became rapid, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and her eyes blazed with an unprecedented, almost fanatical light!
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"
She murmured to herself, completely absorbed in the world of the blueprints, "They actually bypassed the limitations of the crystal skeleton in this way! Energy conduit... the superposition and resonance of basic runes... modular design... and this! This overload protection mechanism! Although it's crude, the idea is..."
She abruptly raised her head, looking at Lind, her eyes filled with the ecstasy and thirst for knowledge of discovering a new continent:
"Linde! This is...this is Orc technology? The complete blueprints for that 'Crystal Replica Cannon'?!"
“That’s right.” Lin De nodded with a smile, admiring her current state of blissful excitement.
"Moreover, it's a mature design that has been tested in real combat. Alice, do you think this 'storybook' is substantial enough?"
"Enough! That's more than enough!"
Alice was so excited she almost jumped up. She hugged the bundle of blueprints tightly, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
"This is more valuable than any legendary equipment or ancient forbidden spell! This is a completely new approach! It's the key to breaking the mold! Lind! You're absolutely amazing!"
Overwhelmed with joy, Alice threw herself into Lind's arms again. This time, it wasn't a lingering attachment tinged with fear, but pure excitement—the thrill of a researcher discovering a priceless treasure.
She stood on tiptoe and gave Lind a loud "kiss" on the cheek.
"I need to study it immediately! Right now!"
She let go of Lind, grabbed the blueprints, and ran into the magic tower like a child eagerly unwrapping a gift, her steps filled with joy.
After running a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Lin De, her face flushed, with a hint of embarrassment and slyness:
"Um... about Sister Leonis... we'll talk about that later! And... welcome back, it's so nice to see you back!"
After saying that, she rushed into the tower without looking back. The heavy metal door slid shut behind her, isolating her from the outside world and seemingly cutting off all the disturbances of the outside world.
Linde stood there, feeling the lingering warmth on his face, looking at the closed tower gate, he smiled helplessly, but his eyes were full of doting affection.
"Looks like the gift was a success." A voice with a lazy laugh came from the side.
Linde turned his head and saw that Nazla had quietly arrived nearby at some point.
She leaned against the shade of a large tree, her silver hair shimmering softly in the afterglow of the setting sun. She looked with interest at the closed doors of the magic tower, then turned to Lind.
"Your mage sister is indeed extraordinary."
Nazla's lips curved into a smile.
"A single blueprint is enough for her to completely forget about the lord she was just holding in her arms. Her focus is truly enviable."
Her words were teasing, but not malicious.
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