Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 575 - 574: Blazing New Trails

Kamel left, while Gawain sat quietly behind his desk, lost in deep thought.

He pondered the nature of magic power, speculated on its source, considered how to shield natural magic power from disturbing observational experiments. Amidst his contemplation, Amber spoke up: "You seem to be constantly studying the nature of magic power... Is this question really so important?"

"Aren’t you curious?" Gawain turned to glance at Amber, noting the bewildered expression on the half-elf’s face, "Have you never thought about what exactly magic power is in the natural world, never wondered where it comes from?"

"... Magic power is just magic power, it’s as natural as air, it’s part of the world," Amber scratched her head, "Casting spells requires it, brewing potions needs it, even some fauna and flora rely on it... I think it’s like stones, existing since the birth of this world."

"But stones won’t suddenly turn into chaotic waves, magic power can, and it doesn’t necessarily exist eternally unless we can prove it’s truly endless," Gawain gently shook his head, "What if magic power is just a fleeting miracle? Of course, this ’fleeting’ is relative to the world’s ages, but perhaps magic power is merely a short-lived phenomenon in the world’s long cycles, like a momentary calm amidst thunderous waves. We mortals are born in this moment of calm, fleeting as short-lived insects, thinking the world’s essence is a tranquil sea without realizing the next moment could bring a stormy gale or that magic power might be a finite resource, being consumed every moment, yet before it’s exhausted, mortals have no way of perceiving or measuring it..."

The more Amber listened, the more shocked she became, finally widening her eyes: "Where did you come up with these sensational ideas!"

Then she gave Gawain a peculiar look up and down: "No wonder you often seem mysterious... Turns out your head is full of these strange and curious thoughts every day... By the way, did you see something during the seven hundred years your soul was detached?"

"... This has nothing to do with that," Gawain replied, shaking his head half amused and half helpless, "Well, someday you’ll..."

He was about to say "Someday you’ll understand this issue," but considering Amber’s predisposition for laziness in the realm of knowledge and lack of propensity for deep thought, he changed his tone: "Don’t think too much about it."

Amber thought for a moment, eyes narrowing: "I feel like you’re underestimating my intelligence..."

Gawain didn’t pay much attention to the half-elf’s small protest; he simply stood up, left the study, and entered the nearby magic laboratory.

This laboratory belonged to Aunt Heidi, but as Gawain also possessed certain knowledge in the magic domain, it contained some items of his as well. He went to a corner of the lab, took out a set of apparatus that had been shelved for a while, and moved it to a nearby workbench to assemble it.

The structure was simple: a light screen with a small hole, a barrier with two narrow slits, and a flat light screen—thanks to Nicholas Egg’s precision manufacturing ability, the apparatus’s accuracy was unparalleled in this era.

The barrier was not a Suppressing Magic Crystal but an ordinary opaque metal plate, therefore it wasn’t meant for observing magic’s double-slit interference but was instead a typical apparatus used to observe light’s double-slit interference phenomenon. It had been placed here for several months now, with the observations already recorded, but today, Gawain wanted to see it again.

He set up a monochrome light source before the apparatus, extinguished the laboratory’s lights, then began carefully adjusting the relative position between the barrier and the light screen.

No matter how he adjusted it, all that appeared on the light screen was a chaotic, diffused halo of light.

That halo floated and transformed as Gawain adjusted it, resembling the malicious smile of a devil, mocking the powerless experimenter.

No interference pattern.

It was as if Gawain had returned to several months ago, experiencing again the shock and bewilderment from observing that halo of light for the first time with this apparatus.

The light in this world seemed not to be light, yet the telescopes and other simple optical devices he designed all functioned normally.

No interference pattern on the light screen, which could be due to insufficient precision or adjustment range of the apparatus or perhaps this world’s "light" truly lacks wave-like properties. But when combined with today’s conversation with Kamel and his own elaboration, and the elves’ encounter with a similar issue while verifying the waviness of magic, he now had a new hypothesis: perhaps this apparatus was also interfered with by magic in the natural world.

Is this world’s "light" also a form of magic power? Is it magic power visible to the naked eye that can be blocked by ordinary opaque materials? Or perhaps this world’s magic power affects the waviness of light on a micro level, causing all double-slit interference experiments to fail when exposed to a magic-pervasive environment?

Looking at the dim and chaotic halo on the light screen, Gawain sunk into prolonged contemplation.

...

Autumn had arrived.

As the most striking constellation of summer nights, the Flowing Fire was gradually moving away from the sky’s zenith, becoming a regular in the western skies, while the "Frost Throne" constellation representing the cooling of summer heat slowly rose, beginning its move toward the center of the sky.

Each year’s first month is the Cold Month, the second is the Revival Month, the third is the Fire Moon, and the fourth is the Harvest Month—the rising of the Frost Throne signifies the end of the hottest season of the year, heralding the arrival of autumn, a time of harvest. It will continue to rise through the coming Frost Month and Fog Month, getting closer to the sky’s zenith every day, and Anzu people named this time when the Frost Throne starts to rise "April Welcomes Frost" to distinguish the seasonal change.

This name once caused Gawain temporary confusion. Although he knew from memory that the term "Welcomes Frost" meant welcoming the "Frost Throne" and not the frost and snow itself, the conceptual habits of a person from planet Earth made him associative for a long while before linking this cool name to these still slightly warm days.

He finally adapted to this world.

Inside the Administrative Office, a weekly routine report meeting was underway. Gawain sat at the head of the long table, calmly listening to Agricultural Minister Norris’s report.

The minister, whose poor farmer background was becoming increasingly evident with age, held the report materials in his hand, trying hard to stand straight but still somewhat hunched over: "... The newly cultivated crops in the Hosman, Kant, Viscount Carol, Gran, and Tanzan regions are growing well, and a good harvest is anticipated. However, for Peibo, Constantine, the Western Wilderness, and the Northwest regions, due to the late cultivation and unresolved land integration issues, coupled with resident migration problems, completing the grain production plan might be challenging...

"Promoting new agricultural machinery in the Hosman and Kant regions has shown effective results, with some early-maturing crops already harvested ahead of schedule...

"The test of the ’Harvest-II’ Druidic Potion in the experimental fields on the northern banks achieved phase success, according to plan, we will next evaluate the follow-up impact of the new potion on the land... cough, cough..."

Gawain looked at the Agricultural Minister: "Norris, is your health alright?"

"Cough cough, it’s the old problem again. I always cough when autumn arrives," Norris waved his hand, "that’s the end of my report. I’ve already handed the detailed information to Lady Heidi."

Pittman, sitting next to Norris, winked at him: "Hey, do you want to try my medicine? Let me tell you, this problem is nothing to me..."

"Pay attention to order during working hours," Gawain glared at Pittman, then glanced around at everyone present, exhaling slightly, "Well, that’s it for today’s meeting, adjourn."

Soon, the attendees began to leave the meeting hall, leaving only Gawain and Heidi behind — along with Amber, who was invisibly perched next to Gawain, munching on sunflower seeds for an hour.

"Forefather, the messenger from the royal capital has arrived at Rocky Ridges Fortress," Heidi said, "Leading the group is Cohen Loland, the Vice Commander of the Order of Knights. Additionally, according to the envoy’s words, the first batch of supplies for constructing the great barrier has already been loaded onto ships at the upper port of the Duoergong river. Barring any mishaps, it will reach the southern borders within twenty days."

The elves acted as the vanguard messenger, delivering the letter, followed closely by the official envoy from the royal capital. Simultaneously, supplies from the northern parts of the mountain range were loaded onto ships upstream on the Duoergong river. This interlocking chain of actions indicates one thing: the aristocrats of the capital have finally come to a consensus.

Victoria Wilder... her capabilities as the North Duchess are quite reliable.

"Their efficiency has finally improved," Gawain nodded, "’Pathfinders’ engineering team’s recent progress?"

"The ’Pathfinders’ have established a forward base at the northern border of the Black Forest and have begun advancing towards its depths. The guards have had several brief skirmishes with non-human monsters in the forest, with only one soldier lightly injured, no other casualties."

"Crossing the Dark Mountain Range means stepping beyond the safe zones of civilization’s borders. Be extra cautious to prevent enemies from lurking within the Black Forest," Gawain said slowly, "Let’s head to Southgate Fortress together to check on the construction progress."

Heidi bowed her head: "Yes."

Gawain grunted and casually took the sunflower seeds from the table next to him: "Enough snacking, come with me."

"Hey hey!!"

...

Southern slopes of the Dark Mountain Range, Southgate Fortress.

Strictly speaking, it can’t be called ’Southgate Fortress,’ but rather a huge half-finished construction and a busy worksite.

Construction machinery, materials, and personnel from Cecil Castle are stationed at the former ’Shadow Testing Grounds,’ using this massive cavern as a foundation to construct a large and sturdy steel-reinforced concrete fortress.

Under the direction of building supervisor Gordon, the engineering team has reinforced the southern wall of the cavern with permanent cement structures, built iron mechanical gates on the mountain wall along with several firepower and observation points. Inside the cavern, powerful large magic crystal lamps illuminate it bright as day, with remnants of Gondor Empire artifacts systematically sorted or cleaned out, stagnant ponds and cracked pits filled level, laying new Magic Web bases and flooring, with exposed stone walls reinforced with supporting structures, launching wall construction and pipeline laying projects.

The team is currently setting up support pillars in the cavern’s southern and western sections, preparing to build the fortress’s second floor. Meanwhile, Gordon himself is in the cavern center, supervising workers in protective isolation and repair of the ’Shadow Gate.’

The door capable of accessing the shadow realm is damaged, yet Amber can still use her unique power to enter the depths of the shadow realm through the gate. The leader believes this gate holds special research value, considering the portal is fixed as a terrestrial facility and can’t be moved. Therefore, Gordon plans to secure this place, making it a unique facility within the fortress.

A Mechanical Scholar equipped with a Magic Transmission Terminal, dressed in yellow workwear, approached Gordon and saluted: "Mr. Gordon, supplies from Cecil Castle have arrived — they’re destined for the forward base. Do you want to inspect it personally?"

Gordon raised his head, seeing several trucks stopped under the lights with the Cecil Construction Department emblem hanging from them.

Nodding, he stepped towards the truck: "I’ll take a look."

Supplies headed for the forward base are crucial items, and there’s no room for any carelessness.

Grateful for the new magic-guided vehicle technology, these powerful machines can transport the equivalent of a small convoy of carriages at once, also appreciating Gondor Empire’s advanced architectural techniques from years ago. The defied Fortress’s main corridor allows such large vehicles to move freely within it. Gordon climbed up the ladder at the back of the truck and began inspecting the goods.

Food, clothing, new water purification devices...

Gordon nodded, marking successive checkmarks in the ’living provisions’ section of his record sheet.

Then he moved to another truck, whose cargo came into view —

Boxes of Rebecca Crystals, individually packed detonating rune base plates, Druid withering potions, Type II High Explosive Bombs with matching fuses...

Gordon nodded again, marking checkmarks in the ’construction consumables’ section of his record sheet.

While checking off items, the Minister of Architecture couldn’t help but mutter: "How on earth do these things count as construction consumables..."

(My wife’s entered the final days before giving birth, I’ll be at the hospital for full-time support, trying to keep updates as usual, but if the backlog can’t hold and there’s a pause... hope everyone understands. =.=

Everyone, the little eyeball is really almost here ah ah ah!!!)