CH 80

Halhammer stops near a door, and when I catch up with him, I hear a familiar high pitched cry.

“What is…!? Is that Seilook?”

“Hm… From where we are standing, we can hear noises from the outside through the air vent. Did that sound come from your transmuted beast?”

“No, a dragon I formed a contract with. I’m going back to see what it is!”

I head for the entrance, running down the same path I just walked through.

“What!? Dragon!? Rust, can you use primordial magic?”

Now Halhammer is running after me. He sounds really excited.

Now that I think about it, Master Halhammer’s lifework revolves around the transition from primordial magic to alchemy.

“Seilook is the one who can use it.”

I’m out of breath, probably because I’m talking while I’m running. I sneak a stamina potion out of my bag, drink it quickly, and approach the ladder to the surface.

“Seilook!? I really want to examine it.”

“Don’t even think about dissecting it.”

I say while climbing up and looking down. I can see Taula and Roa coming up too.

“What are you talking about? I would never do something so tactless! So… How far can I go then?”

I don’t really know how to respond, so I give a safe answer.

“As far as Seilook allows, and nothing more!”

“Haha! Of course, it’s a dragon! Can it tell if the exams an alchemist is doing are right or wrong?! Is it that intelligent!? I can’t wait!”

Halhammer sure is excited. As someone who is also after the truth resting at the bottom of the abyss, I can’t say I blame him.

If I saw a being that could possibly provide a breakthrough in my research, I’d probably act the same way…

No, no. That just makes me more worried. I really do need to protect Seilook. And this is the guy calling me a blockhead…

I make up my mind about this, and keep climbing until I see the bright sunshine of the surface.

“Seilook!”

I scream, and hear a high pitched cry coming from the sky in response.

As I look up, I see Seilook locked in a fierce aerial battle with a feathered something or other.