Seeing Shawn look thoughtful, Old Fawley asked with some excitement.
"Have you thought of something? Whose wand was that? Whose skull?"
Shawn raised his eyes, and a mischievous impulse stirred within him.
The old man had always used his superior knowledge to tease him. Now the tables had turned.
"Yes. I still don't know who they belonged to, but I'm fairly sure I know where to find some relevant clues."
"Then..."
Old Fawley was about to ask where, but Shawn changed tack.
"But I'm not sure I'm right, and outsiders can't easily enter that place. I'll tell you when I have news."
"Ahem! You... honestly..."
Old Fawley did indeed splutter at that. Still, he was a seasoned man of the world. Perhaps he really had come to understand how things worked, or perhaps he simply enjoyed these exchanges with Shawn.
Once he had caught his breath, he nodded.
"All right, all right. This old man was being impatient. These matters are all in your hands now, anyway."
Now that he had clues to unlocking the altar's seal, Shawn prepared to leave this frozen wilderness.
He had no intention of continuing to explore the ruins beneath the nearby ice.
Anyone with any sense would know that the Pure Land Society had long since looted anything worthwhile.
And by now, all those treasures were probably in Old Fawley's hands.
Seeing Shawn turn to spread his wings and leave, Old Fawley paused, then spoke hesitantly.
"From beginning to end, you haven't mentioned inheriting the Pure Land Society's other assets, let alone asked about your mother. Don't you miss her?
"Was your purpose in coming here really so calculating? Did you only want to improve your chances of winning the Legendary Arena Tournament?"
Shawn's raised wings froze. With his back to Old Fawley, he