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 red, cherry-like lips. His heart skipped a beat for reasons he couldn't explain, and he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her.

“Surely stealing a quick kiss won't hurt?” Rein mused to himself.

“Wait? Why is Prince Menia’s face flushing even deeper?”

While observing Menia’s charming features, Rein noticed the change and felt a flicker of silent curiosity.

Ultimately, he dismissed it, assuming the sweltering atmosphere near the Magma Lake was to blame. Once the Witch Array was established, he ascended quickly, intending to retrieve the ancient mermaid girl and bring her down as well.

Following Rein’s departure, Menia’s stunning eyes slowly fluttered open.

With a complex expression, she watched Rein’s retreating back, let out a soft sigh, and returned to her state of deep meditation.

....

Above, upon the sea.

The conflict over Reef Island had turned into a relentless war of attrition, with both the Federation and the Sea God Sect constantly funneling in more personnel and Strength as skirmishes erupted repeatedly.

From the onset of the engagement, the Sea God Sect held the advantage by utilizing Glasers, the terrifying ancient Sea Beast known as the ‘Smouldering Electric Eel.’ In the opening exchange, it managed to wound Terrio, the Federation Sword Saint. Though the wounds were not critical, Glasers’ ferocity was so overwhelming that the Federation’s high-speed fleets were kept at a distance, terrified to close in.

Balance was only restored later that afternoon when additional Epic-level experts from the Federation reached the battlefield.

By the following day, the tide began to turn as more Federation powerhouses arrived. The inclusion of several ‘Ajax’ giant Demon Statues in the fray finally gave the Federation the upper hand.

The forces of the Sea God Sect were forced into a gradual retreat!

Even with heavy casualties, Pope Egil’s true objective was to continue regenerating the Strength of the ‘Smouldering Electric Eel’ Glasers. To such a beast, nothing provided better nourishment than a massive Blood Meal.

Once the Federation secured Reef Island, an exhaustive search operation was immediately initiated.

The relatively small island was practically turned inside out. Despite their efforts, Terrio and Reginald found no sign of Rein. During the search, Reginald and other High Rank Wizards of the Federation repeatedly deployed Investigation Technique, yet they came up empty-handed.

“It is possible that Lord Rein possesses some type of Witch Artifact capable of masking him from witchcraft investigation,” Sword Saint Terrio remarked in a low, contemplative voice.

“Search again, every single inch!”

“Understood!” The Federation troops transitioned to a manual search. From an aerial view, Reef Island suddenly appeared to be swarming with a thick carpet of ‘ants.’

An hour passed before a drenched officer arrived to deliver a report: “Sir, we have still found no trace of Lord Rein.”

“Have you checked everywhere?”

“Everywhere! Wait... no, sir, there is one spot left—the lake.” The bearded officer had a sudden epiphany, pointing toward the body of water created by the blast.

By now, the lake had changed significantly since the initial explosion of Rein’s “Molten Core Flame.”

The vacuum created by surface pressure had drawn up water from an underground dark river, causing the lake to expand. Following the subsequent heavy fighting, the resulting vibrations caused the long tunnel Rein had carved to cave in, stopping the inflow and allowing the lake to stabilize at its present dimensions.

“Then why are you standing here? Go at once!” Terrio’s eyes lit up the moment the lake was mentioned.

Indeed! The epicenter of the blast was a highly probable location.

Reginald also fixed his intense gaze upon the water.

“Yes, sir,” the officer replied.

Ten minutes later.

Federation specialists began emerging from the water 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 below, nor are there any hidden caves. We have discovered no sign of Lord Rein.”

Upon hearing this, Terrio’s face darkened, and he dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

“Is it possible I was mistaken, and both Prince Menia and Lord Rein perished in the previous clash?” Reginald, who was visibly exhausted and had chapped lips from days without rest, felt his spirits sink.

Even for a Fourth Level Dawn Wizard, the constant strain and days of non-stop combat were taking a heavy toll on his well-being.

“I suspect that Lord Rein might be carrying a concealment device or a specific Witch Artifact,” Terrio suggested 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 undetected by even the most advanced patrol sensors. However, since this touched upon the classified secrets of the Floating City, Terrio kept the specific details to himself.

“Perhaps... it is a possibility. But if Lord Rein is inside a shield and his wounds are too grave...” Reginald trailed off, leaving the grim thought unfinished.

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

...

In the meantime, the ‘Storm,’ an Imperial Airship, had successfully docked at 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 Imperial bureaucracy.

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

“Yes, sir!”

As the reports circulated, the story of the Empire’s Delegation being ambushed by the Sea God Sect near Federation waters spread like wildfire through the Imperial City. Conspiracy theories began to bloom, with many suggesting the Federation had orchestrated the trap against the Empire.

Fortunately, ‘Earth Vibration’ Reginald soon utilized the Federation’s long-range witchcraft communication systems to send a formal report to the Empire, which helped quiet the more radical rumors.

Reginald’s report mirrored Terrio’s assessment, using cautious terms like ‘suspected’ and ‘highly likely.’ However, the deeply entrenched powers of the Empire were not so easily satisfied.

At the Star Mage Platform.

Marshal Alfred arrived at the platform alongside General Augustus and a red-eyed Olena. They found an Elder from the Imperial Elder Council already waiting.

“Crown Dalain, my old friend, I require you to perform a personal divination.”

“Who could have guessed a trip to the Federation would end in such a way!” The Grand Astromancer Dalain sighed, filled with emotion.

“Alfred, you have arrived as well.” The silver-haired elderly man, his face etched with deep wrinkles, gave a nod.

“Greetings, Elder Ivan,” Alfred said, bowing slightly.

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

“Menia wore this crystal pendant for many years. Dalain, attempt to locate her first,” Elder Ivan requested with a sigh.

“O magnificent river of stars... I pray you light the path... find the traveler who is lost...” Holding Menia’s pendant, Dalain began the rhythmic chanting of Great Astrology!

A stunning celestial map manifested before him, crowded with shimmering stars.

Because the target of the divination was the Red Queen Menia—whose own power slightly exceeded Dalain’s—the exertion required for Great Astrology was immense, and the clarity of the vision was hampered.

When the ritual concluded minutes later, Dalain’s brow furrowed in silent contemplation.

“Crown Dalain, what did you see? Has Prince Menia truly...” General Augustus asked, unable to contain his anxiety.

“It is difficult to say for certain. However, based on the guidance of the starry river, it appears Prince Menia is not dead. Yet, she does not seem to be... intact.”

“Intact?” The group was baffled, immediately trying to decipher the cryptic word.

It was a very peculiar way to describe a person’s condition.

“Prince Menia’s current state is bizarre; I have never seen anything like it. Every soul has a corresponding star in the celestial river. Usually, a dim light means the person is badly hurt or perhaps confined in a Secret Realm.”

“However, Prince Menia’s star is visibly incomplete... this is...” Grand Astromancer Dalain shook his head, frowning.

A heavy silence fell over the platform at his words.

“Should we perhaps try to find Lord Rein first?”

“If Lord Rein is alive and we can find him, he might be able to explain what actually happened to Prince Menia,” General Augustus suggested after some thought.

“Yes, that is a viable path,” Grand Astromancer Dalain agreed with a nod.

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

...