"Hm, it looks exactly like your original body. Is this a spare body you made?" Nolan's eyes widened as he leaned in for a closer look.
After examining it carefully, he realized that this body was identical to the teacher in his memory, from the face and figure down to the smallest details.
"This is my original body. Weren't you always curious about it? I have no use for it now, so I can give it to you. Consider it a reunion gift."
That was one brutal kind of gift.
Nolan hesitated a little. He had never seen anything this bizarre before. Then again, it was exactly the sort of thing his teacher would do.
"This... doesn't seem very appropriate."
He said that as he halfheartedly refused, all while slowly reaching out and gently gathering that seemingly lifeless body into his arms.
The moment his fingertips touched that soft skin, a familiar sensation welled up in him. It really did feel exactly the same as he remembered.
"I made a few modifications. If you want it to behave like a living person, you can use Glintstone..."
Before Sellen could finish, Nolan pulled her straight into his arms and cut off that unrestrained mouth of hers.
"That is enough, Teacher. I can figure out those functions for myself. You really do not need to explain them in such detail."
Melina was still standing right there. What if this ended up setting a bad example for a child?
Nolan had not expected his sense of shame to be utterly crushed the very first time they met again, and Sellen cast a rather displeased glance to the side.
Looking at Melina's blank, bewildered face, she pulled Nolan's hand away and let out a sigh.
His teacher's biggest flaw was that she was too self-centered. She always did whatever she pleased and rarely considered anyone else's feelings.
Still, after so many years together, she did seem to have changed a little. At the very least, she now kept others in mind.
"Then study it on your own. If there is anything you do not understand, ask me. And take this too."
At last, the farce came to an end. Sellen pulled a slightly worn notebook from her robes.
Nolan took it and gently opened the cover.
The moment he saw the familiar handwriting inside, his eyes flew wide open.
"This is our research from four years ago. It is finished?"
These were the research notes on casting without Glintstone.
His thoughts were instantly dragged back to that unforgettable time, when Sellen had carried out in-depth study of his body for the sake of this technique.
"That is right. It was finished long ago." Sellen crossed her arms over her chest, a confident smile on her face. "But only you can use it."
"Your soul is unique. You only need to imitate the flow of magical guidance inside the Glintstone. It is not actually that difficult."
Nolan froze for a moment. This really was what true research talent looked like.
Then he opened his arms and pulled Sellen into a tight embrace.
Sellen was startled at first, but soon an incomparably gentle smile blossomed across her face.
She lifted a hand and softly smoothed her beloved disciple's silky long hair.
"My disciple... this time... do not leave your teacher behind."
Nolan nodded.
"I will take you with me."
"Is that a promise?" Sellen looked at him with burning intensity.
"Yes," Nolan answered without the slightest hesitation.
But Sellen abruptly changed the subject.
"In that case, there is one more thing."
"What is it?"
"Your teacher is hungry."
A teacher with a growling stomach was no small matter. After all, people lived on food.
Unfortunately, there was nothing left in the Mage's Tower except some dried meat and a little fruit wine.
After discussing it, the three of them decided to head back to the fortress instead.
Walking through the bustling streets, Nolan, Sellen, and Melina moved forward shoulder to shoulder.
Time had passed quickly. After a full four years of continuous development, this once heavily guarded military fortress had undergone a complete transformation.
The streets were packed with people, filled with the constant rise and fall of vendors' cries. It was lively everywhere.
Street sellers displayed the bountiful harvests brought in by hardworking farmers and shouted out their wares at the top of their lungs.
The rich scent of wine drifted out from the taverns lining both sides of the road, curling into people's noses and making mouths water.
It could not compare to the prosperity of the magnificent Stormveil Castle in the distance, but for a place that had only been stable for a few years, reaching this point was already no small achievement.
As they wandered, they bought several jars of fragrant fruit wine.
Then, following the address Latenna had given them earlier, they asked a patrolling guard for directions.
After winding through the inside of the castle, turning one corner after another, they finally found the residence hidden deeper within.
Since Nolan had finally come back, this was naturally a good chance to gather with everyone.
When they stepped inside, they found the courtyard clean and tidy, and fairly spacious as well. Clearly, the soldiers were treated quite well.
The moment he entered, Nolan's eyes lit up at the sight of a familiar face.
"Thops?"
Standing at the entrance was a burly bald man with scruffy stubble, carrying several bags of different sizes. There was even a faint smell of food coming from them.
Judging by the look of it, aside from Nolan, not a single person present tonight knew how to cook.
At the sound of that voice, Thops immediately looked up, his face filling with joy.
"Senior, you are finally back."
With a rush of hurried footsteps, the shiny bald strongman strode over in great excitement.
When Thops reached him, he respectfully performed a perfectly standard sorcerer's salute, every movement as precise as if lifted straight from a textbook.
He was so emotional his eyes reddened on the spot as he looked at the man in front of him.
Nolan was just as pleasantly surprised.
He knew that Thops was now a magic professor for the Carian royal family, specializing in defensive sorcery. With his elevated status, he had probably learned some of the inside details.
As Nolan exchanged greetings with Thops, he continued walking farther in.
He also saw Hank and the others, who had now become generals commanding forces of their own.
Then Nolan introduced Melina to everyone.
The girl still wore that same lukewarm expression. She only gave a slight nod, as if that alone was enough to count as a greeting.
As for Sellen, there was no need for much introduction.
She had always been one of the Academy's most outstanding talents. Even after remaining by the Lunar Princess's side, her name still carried immense weight. Almost everyone knew there was a female sorcerer living up in the Mage's Tower above.
So this little gathering among old acquaintances began in an extremely lively mood, full of laughter and shared memories of the past.
In the end, even Loretta, who guarded the royal moon-gazing grounds, and Raziel, who was far away in Gatefront Town, hurried back.
The latter had gone from that little town to guarding the most prosperous city in Liurnia. That counted as a promotion, did it not?
Nolan showed astonishing capacity for drink, and before long he had drunk everyone else under the table.
The once lively gathering sank into a strange silence, and the mood suddenly turned rather peculiar.
Holding a wine bottle, Nolan walked toward Sellen, the only one still sober...