168 - Dragon

At some point, Aurora had already risen from her seat, taking over Harof's duties with a subtle, captivating smile. She walked towards Lynn, leaving him somewhat surprised. He couldn't help but recall their earlier clash with the Divination School and was worried about her intentions.

However, Aurora's next move completely took Lynn by surprise.

The legendary witch skillfully placed the dark gold Sun Crown Medal on Lynn's chest, then leaned in and planted a light kiss on his forehead, whispering in his ear, "Good day, my tawny star..."

Lynn turned in astonishment to see Aurora's smile and those blue-violet eyes.

Even the wizards and council members present at the Sky Mirror were taken aback, and whispers, gossip, and suspicions filled the air.

Even Harof was stunned, not knowing what Aurora was up to.

But the legendary witch showed no inclination to explain herself. She acted as though it was just a fleeting moment of whimsy, and after placing the medal on Lynn, she returned to her seat.

Lynn was left bewildered, unable to comprehend why Aurora had suddenly made such an intimate gesture. This should have been their first meeting.

Could it be that the legendary witch had taken a liking to him? Lynn couldn't help but shiver at the thought. He couldn't let Aurora's youthful and alluring appearance cloud his judgment; after all, she had already become a legendary wizard, likely several times his age.

But what did she mean by "tawny star"? Lynn was utterly baffled. According to Phillip, many people were now calling him the Twin Star of Greenville. Was this a new nickname?

"Ahem, Lord Lynn, you've received the highest honor in magical academia. Don't you have anything to say?" Harof cleared his throat, easing the tension and redirecting everyone's attention to the matter at hand.

Lynn immediately responded, addressing the gathered wizards. "I'm deeply honored that my theories and research in magic have been recognized by the Council. In truth, this honor doesn't belong to me alone. The Three Laws were the result of collaborative research by many scholars within the Society of Mystical Arts. I simply summarized their findings and experimented to validate the theorem."

"The path to seeking the truth of magic is destined to be filled with challenges. All our research is merely an elucidation of the surface of things. The grandeur and mystery of the world far exceeds our imaginations. Wizards are like wanderers on the vast sea, rejoicing at every discovered island."

"But I believe that one day, we will reach the continent called 'Truth' and find all the answers," Lynn's gaze swept across the room. After a pause, he continued, "Of course, this will require the collective efforts of all wizards. During my time at the Society of Mystical Arts, I heard a saying that became the foundation of my academic research: 'Practice is the only criterion for testing the truth.'"

Lynn's resolute words drew the audience's attention, and they applauded enthusiastically.

"An excellent speech, Lord Lynn," Harof praised, then continued, "In addition to the Sun Crown Medal, the Magic Council has decided to grant you a council seat. Let's proceed with the vote now."

If the Sun Crown Medal represented honor, a council seat symbolized an elevation in status. All significant decisions within the Wizard's Land were discussed and voted on by the council.

The Wizard's Land was home to thousands of wizards, yet there were only 150 council seats. Apart from about thirty grand wizards, the remaining council members were exceptional Three-Tier wizards in various fields. For example, Lynn had met Tike, a master alchemist who had earned a council seat due to his exceptional alchemical skills.

However, everyone knew that today, the council would gain one more member.

The vote was more of a formality, as no one would openly oppose a rising magical prodigy. The final result was a unanimous approval.

Lynn expressed his gratitude once more, and Harof officially declared the honor ceremony over.

The wizards in the Sky Mirror, who had been gossiping about Lynn's relationship with Aurora, now stood up, discussing Lynn's speech and whispering about his connection to the "witch."

Just as everyone was about to leave, a series of urgent bell chimes resonated from a distance.

The once-noisy Council Chamber fell into sudden silence. Several legendary wizards' expressions changed, and they looked up at the sky.

Lynn also followed their gaze and saw a colossal, ominous black dragon slowly approaching the cerulean sky. Through Tike's [Far-Sight] Magic, Lynn could clearly discern the ferocious black dragon's appearance.

With a wingspan of over thirty meters, its jet-black scales emitted a cold, icy light, like indestructible steel, inducing fear in anyone who gazed upon it.

"Isn't Lord Fayz coming a bit late?" Raphael chuckled. He had been puzzled by the sudden alarm sounded by the magical clock earlier, but it seemed to be a false alarm.

Lord Fayz, has the power of the Giant Dragon, right? Lynn immediately remembered its name; it seemed that was the reason for this.

Lynn realized that this was the first time he had seen a dragon in person. He was curious and took a few more glances, but quickly sensed that something was amiss. The black dragon's flight path was erratic, and it was shrouded in a gloomy and lifeless aura. After flying over Greenville City, it let out a painful roar and descended straight down.

"How could this be?"

"Lord Fayz?"

The black dragon crashed into the ground, causing a violent tremor that seemed to shake the entire city. Panic and cries erupted within the Council Chamber.

Several legendary wizards had already disappeared from their council seats, leaving early.

"What should we do now, Professor Lynn?" Philip, who had initially intended to ask Lynn about his relationship with the legendary witch, was now more concerned about the situation.