Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1504 - 517: Search and Divination (2)

At that particular moment, Rein’s gaze fell upon Menia’s glowing complexion and her deep, cherry-red lips. Driven by a sudden, inexplicable flutter in his chest, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against them.

"Surely, stealing a single kiss won't hurt, right?" Rein mused to himself.

"Wait... why is Prince Menia’s face flushing even deeper?"

As he studied her lovely features, Rein noticed the change and felt a flicker of silent curiosity.

However, he dismissed the thought, assuming the blistering heat radiating from the Magma Lake was the culprit. Once the Witch Array was fully established, he ascended quickly, intending to escort the ancient mermaid girl down to the depths as well.

Only after Rein had departed did Menia’s stunning eyes slowly flutter open.

She watched Rein’s receding back with a look of great complexity, letting out a soft sigh before she returned to the depths of her meditation.

....

Across the ocean.

The conflict over Reef Island had devolved into a grueling war of attrition, with both the Sea God Sect and the Federation constantly funneling in reinforcements and Strength as skirmishes erupted incessantly.

In the opening stages of the assault, the Sea God Sect utilized the 'Smouldering Electric Eel' Glasers, a terrifying ancient Sea Beast. The creature managed to wound the Federation’s Sword Saint Terrio immediately. Though the injuries were not fatal, Glasers’ sheer ferocity forced several of the Federation’s high-speed fleets to keep a desperate distance.

Balance was only restored later that evening when additional Epic-level experts from the Federation reached the front lines.

By the following day, the Federation gained a decisive advantage as more reinforcements arrived, including several 'Ajax' giant Demon Statues that joined the fray.

Under the pressure, the Sea God Sect was forced into a gradual retreat!

Despite the heavy casualties, Pope Egil’s true objective was to continue regenerating the Strength of the 'Smouldering Electric Eel' Glasers. In his eyes, nothing provided better sustenance than a massive Blood Meal.

Once Reef Island was firmly under Federation control, an exhaustive search operation was launched immediately.

The relatively small island was scoured thoroughly, yet neither Reginald nor Terrio could find any sign of Rein. Throughout the search, Reginald and other High Rank Wizards of the Federation repeatedly employed Investigation Technique, but their efforts yielded no results.

"It is possible that Lord Rein possesses a specific Witch Artifact designed to mask him from witchcraft investigation," Sword Saint Terrio suggested, his voice low and contemplative.

"Continue the search. Check every single inch!"

"Understood!" Federation soldiers began a manual sweep of the terrain. From an aerial view, Reef Island appeared to be swarming with a thick carpet of 'ants.'

An hour passed before an officer, drenched in sweat from the heat, arrived to deliver a report: "Sir, we have found no sign of Lord Rein anywhere."

"Have you searched the entire island?"

"Everywhere... wait, no, sir. There is one location we haven't checked—the lake." The bearded officer suddenly had an epiphany, pointing toward the body of water created by the blast.

The lake no longer resembled the crater initially formed by Rein’s "Molten Core Flame" explosion.

Due to surface pressure, water from an underground dark river had been siphoned upward, causing the lake to expand. Subsequent tremors from the fierce fighting had collapsed the narrow tunnel Rein had bored, cutting off the water source and allowing the lake to stabilize at its present size.

"Then why are you standing here? Get over there now!" Terrio’s eyes lit up the moment the lake was mentioned.

Indeed! The very center of the explosion was the most probable location.

Reginald also fixed his intense gaze upon the water's surface.

"At once, sir," the bearded officer replied.

Ten minutes later.

Federation divers began to emerge from the lake one by one, shaking their heads in disappointment. Nearby, several Water Element Wizards utilized Water Witchcraft to probe the depths, but they too found nothing.

"Sir, there are no tunnels or hidden caverns below. We found no trace of Lord Rein."

Upon hearing the report, Terrio’s face darkened, and he dismissed the men with a wave of his hand.

"Is it possible I was mistaken? Could both Prince Menia and Lord Rein have perished in the earlier struggle?" Reginald, who was exhausted from days without sleep, felt his spirits sink, his lips parched and cracked.

Even for a Fourth Level Dawn Wizard, the constant strain and days of uninterrupted combat were reaching a breaking point.

"I suspect that Lord Rein might be using a concealment device or a specific Witch Artifact," Terrio said after a moment of deep thought.

He recalled how the Haleem team had survived while trapped in the Floating City by hiding within a shield and Witch Array, remaining invisible even to the city's advanced detection systems. However, since this involved the classified intelligence of the Floating City, Terrio kept the specific details to himself.

"That is a possibility... but if his injuries are catastrophic inside that shield..." Reginald trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

"We shall wait a while longer," Sword Saint Terrio decided after further reflection.

...

Meanwhile, the Imperial Airship 'Storm' had successfully reached the capital, Tamriel.

"The Red Queen Menia is feared dead? And the Imperial Marquis—the Vice Chief of Swordsmen, Lord Rein—is missing?" The news sent shockwaves through the Empire’s official circles.

"Hurry! Inform the Royal Family, the Elder Council, and the Sword Holder Headquarters immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

As the reports spread, the story of the Empire’s delegation being ambushed by the Sea God Sect near Federation waters gripped the Imperial City. Conspiracy theories began to flourish, with many suggesting the Federation had orchestrated the trap to weaken the Empire.

Fortunately, 'Earth Vibration' Reginald soon utilized the Federation’s long-range witchcraft communication tools to provide an official report, which helped quiet the more extreme rumors.

Reginald’s report mirrored Terrio’s assessment, using cautious terms like 'suspected' and 'highly probable.' These nuances, however, did not deter the influential powers within the Empire.

At the Star Mage Platform.

Marshal Alfred arrived alongside General Augustus and a tearful, red-eyed Olena. They found an Elder from the Imperial Elder Council already waiting for them.

"Crown Dalain, my old comrade, I must ask you to conduct a personal divination."

"Who would have thought a simple diplomatic visit to the Federation would end like this?" Grand Astromancer Dalain remarked with a heavy sigh.

"Alfred, I see you have arrived as well." The elderly man, his face etched with deep wrinkles and framed by gray hair, gave a small nod.

"Greetings, Elder Ivan," Alfred said, offering a respectful bow.

As a member of the Imperial Royal Family and an Imperial Guardian, Elder Ivan was a man of immense experience and standing within the Elder Council.

"Menia wore this crystal pendant for many years. Dalain, use it to try and locate her first," Elder Ivan requested with a sigh.

"O magnificent starry river... I beseech you to light the path... find the traveler who is lost..." Holding the pendant, Dalain began the rhythmic chanting required for Great Astrology!

A brilliant star map manifested before him, filled with shimmering, radiant celestial bodies.

Because he was attempting to divine the fate of the Red Queen Menia—whose power actually eclipsed his own—the toll on Dalain was immense, and the clarity of his vision was hampered by the disparity in their strengths.

When the ritual finally concluded minutes later, Dalain’s brow was furrowed in deep thought.

"Crown Dalain, what did you see? Is Prince Menia truly..." General Augustus asked, unable to hide his anxiety.

"It is difficult to say for certain. However, the guidance of the starry river suggests that Prince Menia is likely alive, though she does not appear to be... intact."

"Intact?" The group exchanged puzzled glances, trying to decipher the strange choice of words.

Describing a person’s existence in such a way was highly unusual.

"Prince Menia’s current state is peculiar; I have never seen anything like it. In the starry river, every soul has a corresponding star. A dim light usually means the person is gravely wounded or perhaps imprisoned in a Secret Realm."

"But Prince Menia’s star is visibly incomplete... this is..." Grand Astromancer Dalain shook his head, looking troubled.

A heavy silence fell over the platform.

"Should we not attempt to find Lord Rein first?"

"If Lord Rein is alive and we can find him, he can tell us exactly what happened to Prince Menia," General Augustus suggested after a moment.

"Yes, that is a logical path to take," Grand Astromancer Dalain agreed with a nod.

At that moment, Olena, her eyes still red from crying, stepped forward and respectfully presented a small box to Dalain.

...