Chapter 229 (1/2)

Spring, Year 578 on the Continental calendar.

It was late March, six months after the second stage of the replica project ended with a success.

The upper floors of Harrell Workers’ Hotel were bathed under the warm sun for the first time in a long time. Along one side of the wall was a huge blackboard that spanned from floor to ceiling, full of chalk sketches and equations. Next to the blackboard was a bookcase, absolutely packed with books and journals. Desks were scattered along the floor, each one containing yet more books and scrap bits of paper. Despite the chaotic mess of the laboratory, all was calm and quiet until Adrian broke the deathly silence.

“You really aren’t going to end it here?”

Eleonora clearly heard his question, but she didn’t even look at Adrian. She continued to stare at the replica process schematic that filled the wall.

Her apricot-colored hair glistened under the sunlight beaming through the window. The thin-rimmed glasses on her small face made her haughty and arrogant impression seem intelligent. There was a teacup clasped between her thin, calloused fingers.

Adrian waited in silence for her answer.

The silence continued for a long while until Eleonora sighed.

“You know that I was not satisfied.”

“Do we really have to do this…? Aside from the replica project, there is still so much we haven’t done.” Adrian said, taking the chance to persuade her. “I’ve officially obtained a permit to start building the ship’s blueprint. It will take decades to complete just that.”

“No, it won’t take that long if the replica project is a success.” Eleonora, who was looking up at the wall process, slowly turned her head. “There is a lot that I want to do, Ari.”

The world in her eyes was too slow. In her head, hundreds of designs had already been completed or were mere steps away from being completed. This world was too small to embody the world in Eleonora’s head, and the pace of development was terribly slow.

Adrian knew that Eleonora had always been unhappy about that. Even though Laurent carried the weight of the entire continent’s magic, she was not satisfied.