A Sorcerer's Journey - Chapter 387
Chapter 387: Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball
In Grimm’s laboratory on the twenty-second floor of the Isotta tower.
Myna had gone over to hang out at Valor’s place, leaving Grimm alone in his own laboratory. After patiently carrying out the third phase work on the Mask of Truth’s Eagle Eye Technique for several hourglasses, he started his research on self-sealing sorcery.
Laid out on the experiment table was a perfectly preserved piece of pelt with dark-gray fur still attached, and on it was a single incision.
This belonged to Grimm’s accidental discovery in the Pinna Hares’ lair while he was still in the Burrow World.
Typically, whenever a sorcerer obtains a piece of pelt like this, the first thing that comes to mind is to use its fur for a sorcerer’s robe due to its Sound Wave perception suppressing abilities, or to make some kind of Sound Wave sorcery equipment.
In Grimm’s case however, he was more focused on the piece of perfectly sealed skin underneath the fluffy layer of fur.
Peranos once mentioned about using silkworms in experiments for furthering knowledge about self-sealing sorcery. Grimm’s experience in this particular field of sorcery, especially in regards to the use of silkworm specimens means it could be rather difficult to achieve any breakthroughs.
Perhaps the line of research Senior Quiet Spring has embarked on was exactly as described by Master Peranos.
Grimm personally named this pelt the “Soundhide”.
As for now, Grimm’s job was to remove each and every follicle of hair on the surface of the Soundhide and to keep them somewhere safe.
The average length of these dark-gray hairs were about fifteen centimeters. They were extremely luscious to the touch and none of them were tangled together, indicating their quality.
“Hm?”
As soon as Grimm cleared off a spot on the pelt, he noticed something out of the blue.
On the skin underneath the layer of hair, were naturally inscribed patterns like a map. Although hard to notice, it existed in a harmonic equilibrium with the surrounding laws, just like how a sorcerer’s magic rune would towards the Elemental Energy.
Underneath the Mask of Truth, Grimm’s eyes lit up. He picked up the tweezers and continued to carefully remove the individual sound-sealing follicles on the pelt.
It turns out that this specimen was an extremely precious one.
A few hourglasses later.
“Senior Grimm! Mavrica!”
Vivian knocked on the doors of Grimm’s laboratory. Upon hearing the knocks, Grimm put down the pair of tweezers and left the Inhabitant Specimen laboratory and into the hall where he opened up the door to his room.”
“Third Senior.”
After Vivian performed the sorcerer greeting, her eyes widened as she noticed Grimm’s empty shoulders. She then couldn’t help but ask, “Senior, where’s Mavrica?”
“That guy’s hanging out at Valor’s place.”
Grimm retrieved a few purple fruits he collected from the Burrow World from the Dimensional Gap. Each of these fruits were the size of a human’s skull. Using the repulsive and attractive force, two tall glasses of juice were quickly squeezed out from the fruits, which gave out a chilly and refreshing aroma.
Taking a sip, Vivian’s eyes lit up.
“Senior, what fruit is this? It has a really unique taste.”
After throwing away the remaining pulp, Grimm slowly drank the juice with a straw before replying: “There is no name for it yet. There is such a diverse biology in the foreign worlds, and fruits are no exception. This kind of fruit which has little to no use for the Sorcerer World is largely ignored. With that said, you can call it whatever you want and it will be called whatever you name it to be.”
‘Gulp.’
After greedily gulping down a large mouthful of fruit juice, Vivian then asked quietly, “Then do you think it’s a good idea if I name it the Vivianfruit?”
Laughing heartily, Grimm ruffled the hair on this young sorceress. “Nope! I don’t see anything inherently wrong with that. I will call it the Vivianfruit from here on out.”
Leading the way, Grimm took the curious junior sorceress on a short tour around his own laboratory. Proudly, he presented some of his war trophies and collectibles while explaining the history behind each of these items.
The little kid basked in Grimm’s intoxicating stories, as if she herself was the great warrior in the foreign worlds, becoming the Demon-Hunter Sorcerer that everyone envied.
“Senior Grimm, I want to be like you in the future, to become a Demon-Hunter Sorcerer and to spread the great Sorcerer’s Will across the foreign worlds.”
Vivian said, with eyes full of admiration and respect.
Grimm laughed as he heard such flattery. “Oh right, I heard the mentor said you were the inventor of the Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball. What’s that all about? You mind telling me about it?”
“Oh it’s nothing. My invention pales in comparison to your genius invention of the Love Vials. What I don’t understand is why so many higher-ranking sorcerers are so fascinated by my invention.”
Sitting on the sofa, Vivian started learning the ways of Grimm for she too had also begun using a straw to slowly take in the taste of the juice. Before that though, she added a tad bit more honey to her juice.
‘Love vials…’
The memories are a bit hazy now. Grimm said, “Right, I’m sure Master-sister Quiet Spring will take a liking to you, should you meet her sometime in the future. Now, show me your invention.”
“Sure, but I have already sold the license of my product to the Isa family. What I can do is bring you to their family shop on the first floor of the Isotta tower where they sell my invention.”
‘Is it Alastair’s wife, Belle’s family?’
“Alright, let’s go.”
Vivian grabbed her little staff and took the lead while Grimm trailed behind her at a comfortable pace.
Most sorcerer-apprentices would choose a single type of sorcery that would be sealed within their staff. An official sorcerer’s staff on the other hand, increases their offense power by multitudes which, contrary to popular belief, gives zero practicality to an apprentice.
While descending the flight of stairs, Vivian quietly explained the invention process of the Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball to Grimm.
“In my first Elemental Sorcery class, one of my friends swore that she would become the strongest sorcerer-apprentice of all. The mentor that stood on the lecture platform told her to create a bottle of Love Vial before saying anything so outrageous. It was after this incident that the entire class of sorcerer-apprentices came to know who you are”
Pausing for a moment, Vivian continued, “Afterwards, I combined my own Crystal Skin and my knowledge on Light Elemental energy to accidentally invent the Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball. It’s license was bought at a pretty high price by the Isa family, which somehow came to my mentor’s knowledge.”
Grimm nodded his head and asked, “What about that friend of yours?”
“She…she was annihilated during the rookie trials. Three whole years gone to waste because she couldn’t come up with any invention.”
Vivian’s voice grew heavier by the moment.
It was apparent that she too, had gone through the morbid period of being a Dark Sorcerer’s Apprentice. She thanked her lucky star but tried hard to hide her emotions.
‘Dead huh…’
Upon further thoughts, Grimm came to the conclusion that this was pretty normal.
The stupid act of putting one’s own life on the bet is not necessarily due to the sorcerer’s true wisdom. Hell, even his own success was purely founded on dumb luck.
On the first floor of the Isotta Tower.
Vivian led Grimm to a shop filled to the brim with crystal balls. A young, bright-eyed lady rushed over to welcome them as soon as she saw Vivian leading a sorcerer into their shop.
“Master.”
The young lady seems familiarized with Vivian. She then performed a sorcerer greeting towards Grimm.
“Well, I have come to look at Vivian’s invention, the Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball. Will you please introduce me to it?”
The young lady smiled eagerly and took out a crystal ball from her shop. “The main function of the Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball we have on sale here is that it can perform autonomous recordings and playback the footage forever. Some of the sorcerers like to record down memories of their lovers, friends, family and even pets while they are still young and alive, keeping it forever with them.”
Grimm looked on with surprise at the crystal ball the young lady was holding. At the moment, there was a very realistic projection of a smirking vulture within the crystal ball.
While the average sorcerer’s crystal ball has the function to record footage, it still depends on the sorcerer’s own mental strength to replay the memories.
For a sorcerer, to revisit old memories using a crystal ball is completely redundant as relying on one’s own memory was much more practical.
But now…
Autonomous recording and playback is possible without any setbacks with this Eternally Projecting Crystal Ball!
“Senior, do you like my invention?”
After thinking in silence for a moment, Grimm nodded his head and replied: “This is an impressive invention. Not bad.”
Immediately after, Grimm looked at the young lady and said with a slightly hoarse voice, “I would like to order a few of these Eternally Projecting Crystal Balls. Here are the footages I want in them.”
Grimm projected the footages of Chris York, Robinson, Robin and Lefay from his own crystal ball. For Lefay’s footages however, there were only the early parts of the entire recording.
One hourglass later.
Inside Grimm’s laboratory on the twenty-second floor of the Isotta tower, a wave of frosty air drifted across the room as a massive crystal sealing vessel was opened up. Carefully, Grimm lifted up the sealing vessel’s lid before storing a crystal ball inside it.
Looking at the restored image of Lefay, her expression seemingly at ease as if she herself was there looking back at him. A slight smile broke across Grimm’s face as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Closing both eyes, Grimm tried to conceal his emotions as he stored the crystal sealing vessel into the Dimensional Gap.
