"Elandor, the purpose of our visit is to seek your help."
"I hope you can bring this colossal creation to life, not just leave it on paper."
Previous magical devices had been limited to tools for improving the daily lives of the nobility.
An airship of this scale had never appeared in the public eye. This was a grand experint in magical devices, and if successful, it could potentially change the world.
After a long silence, Elandor set down the papers, his gaze settling on Charlotte’s face as he spoke in a low voice.
"Mages can achieve free flight by manipulating wind elent particles, and knights can conquer the skies by materializing their spiritual energy... Now, a third option lies before us..."
"In my hundred years of life, I’ve never seen such a romantic and creative idea. Without the need for flapping wings, the buoyancy generated by heating can lift tons of weight into the sky. Even soone without ntal energy can control the airship and gaze down at the earth from hundreds of ters above. What a magnificent feat."
"I am honored to be part of the construction of this flying behemoth."
With that, Elandor turned to Astrid. The young lady sat gracefully, her waist-length silver hair adorned with a pure black lace ribbon, her crimson eyes clear and calm.
Looking at the face that bore so resemblance to Fanya’s, and thinking of the imaginative yet practical drawings on the paper, Elandor nodded, removed his glasses, and the deep wrinkles on his face shifted as he spoke in a husky voice tinged with faint praise.
"Princess Astrid... truly her daughter..."
Years ago, the empire’s genius mage Fanya combined magical circle carving with elental arrays to invent the first magical devices, a temperature-adjusting kettle, and later founded the field of magical devices.
Years later, Fanya’s own daughter, Astrid Calliste, conceived the idea of a magical airship and sought to bring it to life.
For Elandor, a man over a hundred years old, the passage of a decade or two ant little.
Yet, it was precisely during these years of studying magical devices that he witnessed the legacy passed down between two generations.
"Thank you, Mr. Elandor," Astrid said.
Elandor shook his head in response. "It is I who should be thanking you."
"Your mother showed a path that made feel alive again in this world..."
"Magical devices has the potential to influence the entire empire. I am delighted that you have entrusted with the creation of this grand masterpiece."
The idea of using the property of wind elents escaping when heated to lift the airship was itself a priceless treasure. Astrid had placed a mountain of eralds before him, telling him he could mine it freely.
Seeing Elandor agree, Charlotte smiled slightly at Astrid before continuing.
"Elandor, let us know whatever you need, including the raw materials for the airship, as well as the manpower and space required."
This small magical workshop clearly couldn’t accommodate such a massive airship, nor could it hold the necessary materials.
Elandor examined the scale markings on the drawings for a while before speaking. "I already have craftsn here, so there’s no need to hire additional ones."
"But the materials and space will indeed need to be provided by Princess Astrid. Such a large airship cannot be built within the Capital."
After a quick review, Elandor determined that the airship could be divided into three parts for simultaneous construction: the heating gasbag, the passenger cabin, and the control helm that activated the wind elental crystal. However, even when divided, he lacked a suitable space for construction.
"There’s open land near the estate where we could start work," Charlotte added softly.
"I’ll have the servants set up a dedicated work area, transport the necessary tools there, and provide rooms for rest."
Elandor nodded. "That would be best, though transporting the materials might be a bit inconvenient."
After so discussion, the basic process for the construction was set. Elandor would refine the airship’s structure based on the concept drawings and determine the specific materials and quantities needed. Astrid would prepare the raw materials, while Charlotte would focus on the airship’s control helm.
"Elandor, how long will it take to finalize the airship’s structure?"
"It’s hard to say, but I estimate it will take over a month."
The inflatable gasbag needed to withstand sufficient force, the tough hooks connecting the passenger cabin, and the hull design suited for flight, such a novel transport required not only structural drawings but also model testing.
Even with the wisdom of experienced craftsn, a month was a tight estimate.
...
After leaving Elandor’s magical workshop, Astrid and Charlotte exchanged a few words on the road before parting ways.
"Little Astr, I’ll head back to the estate to prepare the space," Charlotte said.
Astrid nodded slightly and politely asked, "Lady Charlotte, would you like to call a carriage for you?"
Hearing this, Charlotte waved her staff and replied softly, "The West Gate is nearby. I’ll just fly back."
The Capital had no-fly zones, and if one flew within the restricted height, it would be considered an air raid, and the city guards had the authority to attack the flyer.
Of course, there was an exception to this rule: the takeoff area at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, where mages could adjust their altitude above the legal limit to fly within the city.
Seeing that the distance wasn’t far, Astrid offered, "Then let walk you there, Lady Charlotte."
Charlotte nodded, not refusing the gesture.
After about ten minutes, they reached the West Gate. Charlotte glanced back at Astrid as the surrounding wind elents gathered spontaneously.
"See you next ti, Little Astr."
"Goodbye, Lady Charlotte."
Watching the figure in the mage’s robe shrink to a black dot and quickly disappear into the distance, Astrid turned to Lyra and said softly, "Call a carriage. I don’t want to walk back."
Walking from the Elizabeth Academy of Magic to the restaurant, then to Elandor’s magical workshop, and finally to the West Gate, each segnt wasn’t too long on its own, but retracing the entire journey at once felt tedious.
Especially in these high heels she was wearing, which were completely unsuitable for long walks, much like the impression the original owner had left on everyone: beautiful but otherwise useless.
Lyra replied with a soft "Okay" and went to negotiate with the carriage driver at the entrance. Half a minute later, they boarded the carriage back to the palace.
As the carriage moved, Lyra’s hands rested on her skirt, her body swaying slightly with the motion. Her gaze unconsciously drifted downward.
A few faint rays of light slipped through the gap between the curtain and the window, landing on Astrid’s black stockings, which shimred with a smooth, delicate luster.
After staring for a mont, Lyra quickly averted her eyes, focusing instead on the black high heels adorned with tiny diamonds.
She had never worn such shoes. Though they looked beautiful on Princess Astrid, she couldn’t imagine them being comfortable.
That must be why Princess Astrid didn’t want to walk too much.
Recalling the day in the room when she had massaged Princess Astrid’s feet, Lyra unconsciously reached out and lightly touched her skirt.
The fabric of the maid’s dress was smooth, but it paled in comparison to the warm, jade-like softness she had felt in her palm that day.
If she had to compare it to sothing, Lyra’s eyelashes fluttered as her gaze quickly dropped.
It was like ice cream.
The thought had barely ford when Lyra rembered the ice cream Princess Astrid had bought for her when she first entered the city.
Sweet, soft, and cool.
She couldn’t let her thoughts wander any further. Lyra secretly pinched her thigh and refused to look in Astrid’s direction again.
This is too strange...
Noticing Lyra’s hurried shift in gaze and recalling the absent-mindedness she had shown during the al, Astrid frowned slightly and hooked her finger around the back of her shoe.
"Lyra, what’s wrong?"
"I’m fine."
Lyra’s reply ca quickly, almost overlapping with Astrid’s last syllable. The rushed tone left both of them montarily stunned.
After a pause, Astrid spoke coldly. "Are you sure?"
"I told you long ago that I don’t like being lied to."
"..."
Faced with Astrid’s chilly tone, Lyra pursed her lips and whispered, "Really, it’s nothing."
"It’s just that lately, I’ve been easily distracted."
Worried that Astrid might think her current state was affecting her work and possibly lead to her dismissal, Lyra quickly added, "But don’t worry, Princess Astrid. It won’t interfere with my duties."
Compared to receiving a hefty severance package, she much preferred staying by Princess Astrid’s side as a competent personal maid.
Seeing the slight evasion in Lyra’s eyes, Astrid remained silent for a while, simply resting her chin on her hand and watching her.
Lyra still hadn’t directly answered her question. Astrid wanted to know what was distracting Lyra, not just her current state.
Anyone could see that sothing was off.
A cool breeze slipped through the carriage’s cracks, brushing against Lyra’s hand. Under the steady gaze of those cold crimson eyes, Lyra felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Princess Astrid didn’t seem satisfied with her answer.
In this situation... she had to say sothing...
As the carriage passed Elandor’s magical workshop, the next stop was the restaurant where they had lunch earlier. Looking at the light reflecting off her small leather shoes, Lyra clenched her fingers.
Astrid still hadn’t spoken, continuing to sit upright and watch her.
After what felt like an eternity, Astrid heard Lyra speak in a soft voice.
"Princess Astrid..."
"I am your personal maid, right?"
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