Chapter 1300 — Winter Night at the Paramel Observatory
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
Night fell, and a clear, star-filled sky draped itself over the quiet Paramel Heights. A deep-winter gale came howling in from the distance, raising a low moan as it threaded between concrete walls and metal support beams. The observatory stood solemn and towering on this height that had once nearly become the flashpoint of a war between the two great human empires, standing firm in the piercing cold of the winter night.
Under the adjustments of the mechanical apparatus, the highly precise lens assembly slowly returned to position. In the darkness directly above the observatory, several flickering runes could be faintly seen, and the night sky framed between them appeared far clearer than the sky over any other region. A veil like a color filter lay over that sea of stars, and accompanied by the low sound carried on the cold wind, another set of lenses and crystal arrays rose slowly through the dome that was opening atop the building, aiming toward the vicinity of the Frostsky Constellation, which had already reached the highest point in the night sky.
Inside the observatory, Morgan Hugo—white-haired and gaunt—handed the follow-up observation and recording work to his assistant. With slightly weary steps he walked toward the rest area, where he saw his closest friend, Benjamin, the observatory's second-in-command, sitting at the round table with a publication in his hands, his brow furrowed as tightly as a wadded ball of cotton cloth.
Perhaps hearing the approaching footsteps, Benjamin—who had been staring at the publication in his hands with knitted brows—looked up. Once he made out Morgan's figure, this former court mage of Saint Sunil finally relaxed his brows a little, forcing a smile onto his face: "Ah, looks like you've finally finished."
"Every time Frostsky reaches its highest point, the lens assembly here has to be recalibrated. I wouldn't trust those clumsy youngsters with that job for anything—if the main lens gets so much as a chip, it'd break my heart," Morgan said offhandedly, then an expression of curiosity came over his face. "What are you reading? Your face looks like you're about to go out and duel someone."
At that, Benjamin's expression turned even worse than before. This former court mage, whose complexion was slightly dark, could not help brandishing the publication in his hand and complaining loudly to his old friend: "A paper! A disturbing paper, newly published in *Frontiers of Magitech*! Damn it, you're right—I really do feel like finding someone to duel right now. A good thorough bath in great fireballs and lightning arrows would relax me body and soul more than looking at this thing!"
"Ha, a single paper reducing our great scholar to this state—the last time I saw you wearing that expression was after you'd read *A Detailed Explanation of Runic Logic* for three days and nights without sleep," Morgan couldn't help laughing aloud at his old friend's exaggerated manner, the wrinkles piling up on his aged face. He reached out a hand. "Let me see it too—let me see what magic there is between these lines that can torment a great mage like this..."
He took the copy of *Frontiers of Magitech* from the other's hands. It was the most authoritative and professional technical journal in the field of magitech, officially published by the Empire's Department of Magical Energy Technology, with Her Highness Frostbloom and Master Kamael listed as nominal editors. Its circulation was not large, but every modern scholar with some attainment in magitech who could keep up with the times took pride in owning and reading every issue of *Frontiers of Magitech* cover to cover—and Morgan himself was no exception. It was only that he had been too busy these past two days to acquaint himself with the contents of the latest issue.