Book 3: Chapter 265: The ’Aether Silver’ Art

In April, Sylutia and Amelie formally began receiving instruction from the Named One, Abellid.

This legendary figure who had made the "Mithril Clock" school truly powerful and the number one in the Alliance now stood before the two of them. He wore a black academy coat, a monocle perched on his nose, and with his youthful appearance of around thirty years old, if he were walking through Tetis College right now, it would be easy to mistake him for one of the students.

However, this Named One's true age was probably over six hundred years old. He had participated in the Alliance civil war sparked by the former "Star-Gazing School," had inherited the legacy of the Star-Gazing School, and had mastered the sleeping alien star from within the Four Seasons Clock controlled by the Hours, thereby obtaining the Authority of the "Time" concept.

As the youngest, most talented, and most rebellious of the three Named Ones, his act of stealing the "Time" Authority and stepping into the ranks of Named Ones had enraged the Hours who governed the Four Seasons, subsequently provoking their wrath and bringing down calamity. This was precisely why the Fourth Continent had been plagued by calamity beasts centuries ago.

Earlier, when Sylutia had visited the Wind Chime Grass Plains and heard the legend of the 'Pine Branch Knight,' the Winter Beast that knight had slain was one of the calamities awakened by the *Hour of Winter*.

In the decades that followed, the three Named Ones of the Mage Alliance paid various prices to finally appease the Hours who governed the Four Seasons and obtained their forgiveness, bringing an end to that terrible calamity. But it was also that opportunity that allowed the Mage Alliance to have a chance to converse with the 'Lady of Winter'—the only Hour the Mage Alliance could communicate with.

After the 'Fantasy Black Rabbit' took control of the 'Luminous Moon,' the only major thing it did was elevate some Beastkin Races to become its vassals, after which it vanished from sight, even partially delegating the duty of adjusting the Four Seasons to the Fairy Monarchs. With the 'Luminous Moon' Hour who once protected the Fourth Continent absent, the other Hours also refrained from interfering too much with the Fourth Continent, considering that 'overstepping' might trigger conflicts.

At the root of it all, in the Ninth Epoch, after the covenant between the Hours was established, any Hour wishing to interfere with the mortal continents had to comply with the restrictions set by the covenant, or else pay a heavy price. This was why the Hours had all become rather laid-back nowadays, rarely appearing before the world.

However, Abellid's actions back then happened to fall within the justification for interference allowed by the covenant—which was exactly why the Four Seasons Hours could directly unleash calamities. To challenge the dignity of the Hours while knowing full well the covenant existed—that courage, combined with the powerful desire to obtain the 'Time' Authority, was genuinely admirable.

"My name, you should have heard it from various books and rumors." Abellid spoke.

"Much of it contains exaggeration and falsehood, but I have no intention of explaining. During this period, I will teach you the deepest and most core knowledge of the 'Mithril Clock.' Many of the things I will impart are things you might only use after reaching Seventh Tier or even stepping into Eighth Tier. What you need to do now is simply try your best to remember."

Although both Amelie and Sylutia were rare geniuses, Abellid still didn't hold much hope, not expecting the two to fully comprehend all his insights. Who among those who had reached his level wasn't a genius? Pick any Sage from the Mage Alliance at random, and each one was the protagonist of some legendary tale—brilliant beyond compare, each with their own system. And in his six hundred-plus years, he had seen countless such cases.

Hearing Abellid speak this way, the two young women also became quite nervous and serious, worried they might not understand.

Fortunately, when it came time for actual instruction, the two didn't feel much resistance. Perhaps it was because it was still the beginning, and Abellid indeed possessed solid teaching ability, easily breaking down complex concepts for them to understand.

Time slowly passed, and over the following months, Sylutia worked at the Mishil District office during the day, then every other day, used the *Key of the Moon* to reach the top of the Sky High Tower, studying together with Amelie.

In the first two months, she learned the profound time rune theory *Mark of Time*, which should normally only be touched upon at Sixth Tier. Then in the following two months, she began studying the profound art of "Aether Silver"—a secret method capable of refining and producing metal materials above Sixth Tier.

For the mage system's rune inscription and enchantment secret arts, once a mage reached Sixth Tier, they had to pair them with materials of sufficient properties and grade to achieve rune enchantment effects. This was like a high-power machine or reactor that required materials of sufficient strength to be built; otherwise, the violent energy generated during operation would burst and destroy the apparatus.

Moreover, high-tier materials were also limited by certain extremes, unable to bear the faint effects of low-tier enchantments, which would result in failures during the inscription stage.

Afterward, Sylutia obtained the "Aisetis Silver" used for the "Seven Blossoms Hairpin," which was not produced through ordinary craftsmanship. It was not a metal that existed naturally in the world, but a rare low-tier material created by mages relying on the recasting concept of the 'Gold Steam' Aspect. The person who originally crafted that metal used that achievement to successfully step into First Tier and become a Sage.

"Aether Silver" recorded a total of one rare low-tier metal crafting technique. Together with "Scorching Sun Molten Gold" and "Mountain of Heavy Earth," they were known as the eight great top-tier metal crafting arts of the Mage Alliance, each belonging to the low-tier core inheritances of the eight major schools including "Mithril Clock," "Solar Furnace," and "Mountain Copper School."

"Although the 'Origin Hourglass' has top-tier metal crafting arts, we possess the finest paper and ink craftsmanship, which other factions find difficult to catch up to or surpass."

"Since the foundational and preparatory courses are already complete, I will now begin guiding you in crafting the first rare metal, 'Enamel Blue Inlaid Silver.'" Abellid stood behind the table, waving his hand, and precise alchemical instruments appeared behind Sylutia and Amelie.

"'Enamel Blue Inlaid Silver' is an essential material for low-tier enchantment. You first carve grooves on the surface of the equipment or apparatus to be enchanted, then inlay the prepared 'Enamel Blue Inlaid Silver' into them, and finally forge them together as one, making the implement seamless and beautiful." As he spoke, a dark blue longsword materialized beside him. As his fingertip traced across it, fine strands of silver thread appeared on the blade's surface, flowing like living serpents. Those silver threads outlined exquisite enchantment circuits, finally granting the longsword powerful enchantment protection.

"In the field of equipment forging, your 'Mithril Clock' and 'Solar Furnace' take two different paths. The former emphasizes equipment's ability to withstand extreme pressure environments and pure, extreme high strength. The latter—meaning us—cares more about granting equipment rare enchantment effects and elegant functionality."

"The representative artifacts of the two schools also vividly illustrate this difference: the former emphasizes the precision of clocks, while the latter emphasizes furnaces that withstand high pressure and temperature."

"If you go to the 'Solar Furnace' to forge the strongest spear and shield, you can only come to us to forge the most functional accessories and apparatuses."

While teaching the two, Abellid earnestly cited references and examples, casually weaving in the origins, histories, and characteristics of the various major schools within the Mage Alliance, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each school's arts. This allowed the two not only to learn knowledge and skills, but also to gain a deeper, more concrete understanding of where this art stood in the Alliance or the world at large, and the impact it had.