"Well, as you can see, it's still nothing impressive," the old master remarked, "We've set up a defensive formation, barely enough to inspect the situation. It seems we'll need at least another day to establish a proper one. If only my apprentice had created the formation a bit quicker, we could've progressed further by now. Tsk."

"Master, do you wish to kill me? There are only a few people across the continent who can finish a defensive formation faster than I!" Alik cried out in a gloomy tone from afar. But neither Thais nor Yuder paid much attention to his words.

"I see. I heard you've had some conversation with Kanna."

"Oh, that young woman with astounding abilities."

A delighted smile spread across Thais's face.

"She was very enthusiastic and friendly. Thanks to the stories shared by Kanna, I was able to contemplate on how to approach the Red Stone."

Of course, nothing was definitively decided yet, Thais added. Yet, to Yuder, his words sounded like great news.

"Is that so?"

"Indeed. Care to listen?"

Yuder followed Thais back to the spot with chairs and a table, where Alik had already prepared a pot of tea.

"Have some. It's tea made from flowers I personally harvested and dried."

"You've plucked it from the garden behind the Pearl Tower, haven't you? As they're grown by the mages for research, they may at least have the best effect in boosting energy, if nothing else."

The flower, floating on the hot water, seemed almost alive. He didn't know about the effects, but the extraordinarily fresh and cool scent washed away the lingering sweetness of the cake he had at Kishiar's quarters.

"How is it? Isn't the fragrance pleasant?"

"Yes, it's delightful."

Hearing Yuder's response, Thais twirled his swollen fingers around the invisible tea cup and continued.

"Pouring hot water over dried flowers to experience such vivacity and intense aroma again, it's truly a marvel."

"..."

"Each time I see this, I'm reminded of the immense potential and power dormant within a tiny, withered flower. That's why I adore this tea. The effects of this tea, which I first researched 54 years ago....."

He had promised to discuss how to approach the Red Stone, but the old mage began a new tale.

"My research on the origin of magic, which started there....."

Alik, too, was at a loss when the idle talk, starting from the tea, eventually led to the historical research of Thais Yulman. Despite the irritating situation, Yuder didn't rush him. Seeing Yuder listening to his words patiently, without any change in expression, a faint smile flashed across Thais Yulman's face, only to disappear shortly.

"Oh dear, I apologize. I got carried away with a different topic instead of getting to the main point. Weren't you bored?"

"Not at all."

Sitting quietly in front of someone who only talked about his interests was not a difficult task for Yuder, who had been dragged to various meetings in his previous life that didn't suit his personality.

'And besides, Thais Yulman does not seem to be sharing these stories for no reason.'

"Truthfully, I had a specific reason for telling these stories."

'Just as I thought.'

Yuder felt a sense of vindication, taking another sip from his cup of tea.

"You guys were the ones who retrieved the Red Stone, and I'm sure you're already aware, but contrary to its exterior, the stone is brimming with dormant power, isn't it? I thought maybe we could apply the method used in making this flower tea to access that power."

Access the stone in the same way as making tea? Yuder looked at his companion's face for a moment before responding.

"Do you plan on pouring some water on it?"

"Ha ha ha. Close, but not quite water."

At Yuder's words, Thais chuckled as though amused, stroking his beard as he continued the conversation.

"When I asked Kanna, she mentioned... if an Awakener's power like you guys touches the stone, it triggers an explosion, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yuder quickly realized what the old mage was thinking.

"Do you plan on forcibly triggering all the remaining power within the Red Stone to erupt and discharge?"

"That's right."

"That's dangerous."

The response didn't need a second thought.

"The power of the stone is of a different dimension than any other power we've encountered so far. A mere touch can have lethal consequences. And what do you plan to do with the released power?"

Yuder himself had suffered damage from accidentally touching the power of the Red Stone, so there was no need to elaborate on its lethal danger.

"Didn't I just mention that the area I've been consistently studying for a long time has to do with the origin and essence of magic?"

"The power of magic and the Red Stone are completely different."

"But what if they're not so different?"

Thais responded leisurely, flashing a smile.

"Look here, Yuder. Our magic-created barrier is firmly blocking the power of the Red Stone, right? That means, although the two powers might differ, they can influence each other. If we can block it, theoretically, it should be possible to confine the discharged power."

Yuder furrowed his brow, momentarily at a loss for words. It was true that the seven-layer barrier he and his disciple had cast was currently blocking the energy emitted by the Red Stone. However, naturally emitted energy and exploding energy couldn't possibly be the same.

"Even if that's true... If multiple layers only manage to block this much, it's impossible to stop the exploding power. Let alone confining it, I can't even imagine it."

"I think it would be possible to confine the discharged power within a certain space if we significantly reinforce the barrier we have now. After that, we would need to transfer it using a medium."

"Transfer it?"

"Yes. Like a magic tool. Yuder, have you heard about magic tools?"

As Yuder nodded, Thais continued, as if he had expected as much.

"The principle of making a magic tool is to preserve the form of magic power at the moment of its manifestation using a medium. How well it can be confined depends on the quality of the medium and the skill of the mage making the tool, but the principle itself is simple. That's what I want to try."

If making magic tools was as simple as Thais suggested, the mages who knew how to create them wouldn't be treated as such rarities. However, Thais was talking about it as if it was an easy task.

"You make it sound so simple."

"In a sense, it might be easier than creating a magic tool, since we're trying to contain just the pure energy filling a space, not preserving a specific form of magic energy."

His explanation was complicated, but frankly, it was a rather intriguing proposition. If, as Thais had suggested, they could separate the energy from the Red Stone, they could possess the Stone and its energy separately.

The Stone, devoid of energy, would no longer be dangerous, and they could have Kanna examine it. If they had the mages investigate the energy stored in a medium, it couldn't be better.

When he thought that far, Yuder suddenly remembered something and froze with a stiff expression.

'...Wait. How was it in my previous life?'

In his previous life, the Red Stone that headed to the Pearl Tower had lost its power afterward and returned as the 'World Sphere'. Yuder had long been puzzled about where the power that the World Sphere originally had went, but due to the collapse of the Pearl Tower and the loss of all relevant personnel and information, he couldn't find the answer until his death.

The one who examined the Red Stone headed for the Pearl Tower in his previous life was likely Thais Yulman, just like now. In that case, he must have thought of the same solution back then.

'And... it must have been successful. Otherwise, the World Sphere that returned couldn't have been such an empty shell. If he had succeeded in separating the Red Stone and the energy inside it, where did the separated energy go? Who used it, and for what purpose? Keilusa La Orr died before the World Sphere returned... How about Kishiar? Did he retire before the World Sphere returned? Did Emperor Katchian know about it?'

Or perhaps, the Pearl Tower side may have hidden the separated energy, or it might have been lost Trying to recall faint memories, he got a headache.

Yuder felt a chill down his spine and gritted his teeth. Seeing him suddenly stop talking and become cold, Thais Yulman tilted his head as if he found it strange.

"Does my idea seem that reckless to you? Your expression doesn't look good."

"...No."

Right. What did it matter what happened in the past? The Red Stone and Thais Yulman were both here now, so all they had to do was find new answers.

'Anyway, one thing I can be sure of. I don't have to worry about Thais Yulman's hypothesis failing.'

Regaining his composure, Yuder spoke.

"Your words certainly seem reasonable, Yulman. But even if we can separate and contain the power... Do we have a medium that can contain such immense power?"

Seeing that his sudden change in mood was due to the matter of the medium, Thais didn't question it further.

"We'll have to test that from now on. I'll tell you a few things that are known as the strongest mediums. It would be great if you could tell the Duke about this. He should be able to help with that, shouldn't he?"

"Understood. What are they?"