Under the soft, magical light atop the workshop tower, Alice read word by word.
At first, she frowned, but as she read on, her worries were gradually replaced by a deep sense of gravity.
The letter was long, and Dean Lurie's handwriting was still elegant and powerful, but the information conveyed between the lines made Alice's heart sink.
The letter begins with the usual greetings and concern for Alice's well-being, carrying the longing that a mother typically feels but deliberately suppresses.
But soon, the focus shifted to the suffocating storm within the academy.
At the heart of "Storm" lies the "Crystal Dragon Breath Cannon" technology, which transformed the frontline landscape of Sutherland.
Dean Lurie frankly described the enormous shock caused by this groundbreaking weapon:
The royal family's rewards and deeper fears, the military's relentless demands and pressure, and... the power struggles and flames of resentment that were thus ignited within the academy.
“It’s like a boulder thrown into stagnant water,” Lurie wrote in her letter, “creating not just ripples, but a whirlpool that can swallow everything. Those who have been lurking in the shadows, coveting the position of Dean, those old fogies who believe that magic should be pure knowledge rather than a tool for killing, and those scoundrels bought off by the war interest groups… they have united like never before and turned their spears against me.”
The letter detailed several malicious attempts to frame and sabotage her and her research team.
An “accidental” energy leak in the core laboratory nearly caused major casualties; the “theft” of a key crystal purification formula pointed directly at her trusted assistant; and some even spread rumors in the royal capital’s noble circles, accusing her of using crystal technology to conduct dangerous “forbidden life experiments.”
"What they need is not the truth, but an excuse to bring me down from my pedestal and divide up control of the Crystal Remains technology."
Lurie's writing carries a cold sarcasm and a hint of weariness.
At the end of the letter, she revealed her true and urgent concerns and the core purpose of conveying the message to Alice:
"Alice, my daughter. The academy has become a place of trouble and danger. I can still manage, but what worries me most is you."
“I’ve sensed that more than one force is secretly investigating your whereabouts. Since they can’t directly challenge me, they’ve turned their attention to you—my only weakness.”
I can't be sure of their ultimate goal—whether it's to kidnap you to threaten me, or... worse, to destroy you and cut off my hope for the future.
"Karas's trip was the only seemingly 'safe' channel I could find under heavy surveillance. He is mediocre, inconspicuous, and far removed from the core conflicts. I hope he can evade those people's eyes and ears and deliver my warning to you."
But at this moment, I can't even be sure if this letter will safely reach you, or whether Carsas himself is reliable..."
“Listen, Alice:”
Immediately sever all public ties with the college! Do not trust anyone claiming to be from the college or on my behalf!
Unless… unless he can produce that mithril brooch I left you, engraved with an intertwined star and moon pattern, as a token! That was our last and only secret code!
"Take care of yourself, my child."
And that Viscount Linde… If he is as trustworthy as you say in your letter, then please seek his protection and trust his judgment.
Blackrock Territory may be remote, but its distance from the vortex of the capital might actually make it a temporary haven.
"A storm is coming, and I will do everything in my power to buy you time. Do not worry, do not reply. Wait for things to turn around. — Your loving mother, Lurie Erna"
The letter slipped from Alice's hand and landed on the blueprints on the workbench.
She seemed to have all her strength drained away, staggered backward, her face as pale as paper, and her blue eyes filled with immense fear, anger, and helplessness.
“They…they really are looking for me…and not just one group…Mother, she…” Alice’s voice was broken and choked with sobs, her body trembling slightly.
The perilous situation described in her mother's letter, and the terrible fact that she was coveted by various forces, gripped her heart like a cold, giant hand.
The mother was struggling alone in the eye of the storm, unable even to guarantee the safety of the warning letter; this sense of helplessness suffocated her.
Linde stepped forward and, without hesitation, pulled her trembling body into his arms.
His arms were strong and powerful, and his chest was warm and reliable, like a barrier that kept out all the storms of the outside world.
"Don't be afraid, Alice."
Lind's voice was deep and steady, ringing in her ears with a calming power.
“I am here. Blackrock Territory is here. Your mother was right in her letter, this place is far from the whirlpool, it is your safe haven.”
He gently stroked her back, feeling her trembling gradually subside.
"Kasas is just a pawn being used. The real mastermind is Tripoli and the Orks behind him, as well as the monsters and scoundrels in the academy. They dare to extend their claws..."
Lind's tone suddenly turned cold, filled with chilling killing intent, "I dare to chop them all off one by one! Whether he's an Ork or some damn mage!"
He cupped Alice's face in his hands, forcing her to look into his deep, resolute purple eyes:
“Listen, your mother can still manage for now; she is not alone.”
She's most worried about you.
So what you need to do now is: First, stay here safely. The Workshop Tower is your fortress, and without my permission, Nix will make sure no one can get close to you.
Second, focus on your research! Crystal replacement solutions, magic armor, even Zedo's runes… use your power wisely! Your growing strength is the greatest support you can give your mother, and the foundation upon which we face any future threat!
Lind's words acted like a stabilizing force, dispelling the panic churning in Alice's heart.
Feeling the warmth of his embrace and the unwavering determination in his words, tears finally streamed down Alice's face, but no longer from fear, but from the catharsis of finding someone to rely on.
She hugged Lind tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck, drawing in his reassuring breath and strength.
"Mmm!" she responded muffledly, her voice thick with nasal tone but full of trust.
"I'll listen to you! Lind... thank you... it's so good to have you here."
Linde tightened his arms around her, his chin resting against her soft blonde hair, but his gaze was fixed on the night sky of Blackrock Territory outside the workshop tower window, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
Dean Luli's warning letter, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, completely shattered the tranquility of Blackrock Territory.
Tripoli behind Casas, the hidden enemies within the academy, and the potential hunt for Alice revealed in that distress letter... a new storm is already gathering in the distance.
And he, Lynd Truk, would never allow this storm to harm the treasure in his arms in the slightest.
The bulwark of Blackrock Territory will be forged to protect her. Whether it's the machinations of Orcs or the hidden arrows of the royal capital, those who dare to attack will pay a bloody price!
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