"Next, I will teach you how to engrave the Magic Model in your Spirit Sea," Lillian's words interrupted his thoughts.
"Okay," Colin nodded in agreement.
But Lillian seemed to sense what he was thinking and added,
"The mentor... does not refuse to teach you personally, but there is another reason."
Her expression was as calm and serious as before, but for some reason, Colin saw a hint of fatigue in it.
He suddenly remembered the day he had asked Atbolde about Talent, before 12 o'clock, and had been hurriedly asked to leave... Since then, he hadn't asked Atbolde any more questions.
Right, there was also the farewell dinner held for him, which also ended much earlier...
In that instant, all the past hints surged forth.
Colin's heart sank slightly.
"Don't worry too much, the Faculty still has me."
At that moment, Lillian spoke again, her tone calm but firm as the roots of a gnarled ancient tree.
"Relax, first feel your Spirit Sea."
It seemed as a way to prevent himself from worrying further, and perhaps to save time, she continued to instruct Colin on how to engrave the Magic Model.
About an hour later, the instruction ended.
"Then I shall leave now, Senior Lillian," Colin slowly stood up and said.
"Mm," Lillian nodded lightly, her face showing a surprised expression, and she stood up as well.
The two of them walked to the door.
"Colin," after pondering for a moment, Lillian said, "Your Talent is very good… don't waste it, strive to cultivate."
Colin was slightly stunned.
Perhaps due to the original owner's memory of having poor Talent, he had no concept of comparison since his transmigration and had never heard others say so.
Hearing such praise from Lillian at this moment, he felt somewhat unaccustomed.
"I will," he said seriously, looking down at Lillian who only reached his chest.
In this turbulent world, only one's own power remains unchanged.
With Golden Paper's help, it seemed he would not fall into degeneration from pursuing knowledge excessively... if so, there was no reason not to strive for the peak, the highest peak!
"Mm, goodbye, Junior Colin," Lillian nodded in satisfaction. "If there's anything you don't understand in that notebook, you can always ask me."
"Mm."
Colin stepped out of the house, politely closed the door behind him, turned around, and exhaled a deep breath, then looked up to discern his direction and quickly headed towards his own room.
But he hadn't walked far when, turning a corner, he suddenly stopped.
In front of him stood a familiar figure looking off into the distance.
Following the figure's gaze into the distance, at the end of the gray-blue corridor, Colin saw another figure flash by, turning to the right.
'The figure at the end of the corridor… somewhat familiar.'
On the other side,
Seemingly feeling his gaze, the familiar figure in front turned around.
With a meticulous hairstyle and a mature, elegant face, it was Silear.
"Mr. Colin," a flicker of undisguised surprise crossed Silear's face.
"Did you just come from Lillian's place?" he asked, glancing in the direction from which Colin had come.
"Mm," Colin withdrew his gaze from the end of the corridor and turned his eyes back to Silear, nodding.
Seemingly thinking of something, he added another explanation, "Senior Lillian had something to ask me."
"I see." Silear nodded with a smile, then his tone changed:
"You don't need to explain so much, Lillian and I are just ordinary friends... well, or perhaps even less; in her eyes, I might just be an annoying stranger."
He followed this with a self-deprecating laugh.
"Mr. Colin, you might not believe it, but since I met Lillian half a year ago, I haven't spoken to her as much in total as you do in a single day."
Colin remained silent, unsure how to continue the conversation.
He hadn't expected Lillian to be so indifferent toward outsiders...
Although Lillian had the appearance of a girl, in his impression, she was more like a gentle and considerate older sister.
However, Silear's restraint impressed him once again.
After all, not everyone could recognize the difference between "the girl one pursues" and "one's own girl."
"Now that it's almost time for afternoon tea, would you be interested in joining me?" Silear asked again.
"No need," Colin shook his head in refusal. "I have some things to take care of, so I'll be heading back."
"That's a pity," Silear sighed and then seemed to remember something, he slapped his forehead and said:
"There's one more thing, Mr. Colin."
"Just now in the corridor, I encountered Herard. When you arrived, he had just walked to that end, and I don't know if you saw him."
Colin slightly raised his eyebrows. Under the effect of the Superbrain, he immediately recalled the figure he glimpsed at the end of the corridor and the figure of Herard he had seen at today's gathering.
Both were almost identical... no wonder it looked so familiar.
Silear continued:
"He had just come from Lillian's side, just like you. I wonder if he was looking for you?"
Colin instinctively wanted to shake his head in denial.
But the next second, he suddenly remembered that the rooms on the airship were fixed with a Silent Witch Array, which could be activated when needed to prevent disturbances from the outside world.
"However, if you had the Silent Witch Array activated, you probably wouldn't have noticed it either."
Silear also thought of this point and added.
Colin nodded; Lillian had indeed activated the Silent Witch Array while teaching him the engraving of the Witch Array.
"Mr. Silear, do you know what Herard came here for?"
Silear was slightly taken aback, looked at him, and ventured a guess, "I fear it was for you, Mr. Colin."
Colin nodded in agreement; he thought the same.
"In my view, Herard probably first went to your residence to look for you unsuccessfully, and then came here to Lillian."
Silear continued guessing,
"But Mr. Colin, you don't need to worry too much. Mr. Eugene would not likely involve himself in this matter, and on the airship, Herard could at most only verbally confront you... he would not dare to take any physical action."
"If you're worried about trouble, it's best to stay in your room and avoid Herard."
"Once we reach our destination, it's even less possible. Within the School, wizard-on-wizard violence is strictly forbidden. With many High Rank Wizards from the Battlefield School present, even if Mr. Eugene is persuaded, Herard will hardly be able to do anything to you."
'Trouble...' Colin nodded impassively and contemplated silently on how to deal with this matter.
He instinctively wanted to ask Silear about Herard's abilities.
But before he could speak, he quickly dismissed the thought.
One should not reveal depth in shallow friendships.
Although he had a favorable impression of Silear, one must remain cautious... including this time, he had only met him three times.
That was hardly enough to be considered acquainted.
"Then I shall take my leave, Mr. Silear."
The conversation ended there, and he spoke again to bid farewell to Silear.
"Alright, until next time, Mr. Colin."
Perhaps owing to the massive weight and size of the airship, walking along the gray-blue corridor felt just like walking on solid ground.
Colin proceeded silently, his thoughts shifted slightly, and he summoned the Golden Paper.
He read through the familiar characters on it once again, and his heart steadied.
Whether it was Herard or the upcoming battlefield, as long as his power was sufficient, none of it really mattered.
These characters on the Golden Paper and the power currently surging within him...
That was his true foundation.