Ten days later.
After flying all this way, the two of them finally crossed the Eye of the Storm and arrived at the Heiwun Natural Sciences Academy, at its very heart.
By comparison, the two most remote of the Academic World's central academies were now the Heiwun Natural Sciences Academy and the Thunder Century Academy. One lay deep in the wasteland, while the other was surrounded by the sea. The latter was also the only one of the Seven Central Academies that had not been contaminated by radiation.
"Since we've come all this way, it would be unthinkable not to pay that fellow a visit."
Nikola murmured to himself.
Reilo had come here on a matter involving the Academic World's top powers, even a private affair between the Grand Natural Sciences Academy and the Heiwun Academy. Naturally, Nikola couldn't get involved. But there was also an old friend of his here whom he ought to visit: Vidon the Gravedigger, bearer of the Sacred Demon Artifact, the Death Book. Sixty years ago, they had embarked on the Night Expedition together.
So Nikola tactfully took the initiative to bid Reilo farewell, agreeing to travel with him to the Thunder Century Academy after Reilo had finished his business here.
Reilo readily agreed.
After Nikola left, Reilo didn't immediately contact the Heiwun Academy's leadership. Instead, he wandered the streets of this city at the very edge of the Academic World.
As he observed the city's entirely different cultural atmosphere, he fell into thought.
There was no need to mention the Eight-legged Self-propelled Device or the Air Port for balloon airships. These standard forms of transportation had long since connected the academies along their routes, becoming commonplace in academies of every size and linking the Academic World of the Seven Eyes of the Storm into