Like many estates in the interior, the estate is a single plan of sandstone, glass, wood and deformed cement. From a distance, the estate has an artistic feel, a contemporary façade, and from the front, it blends into the landscape. At the back, a 40-meter-long plank stretches beautifully over the undulating plateau.

Melissa kicked the handbrake and hit the stick into neutral. After the power was cut off, the mana core of the engine coughed to death, and it clanged as it cooled down. Gwen opened the passenger side door and awkwardly pulled out her legs, as the sunken seat prevented her from modestly leaving herself.

Melissa whistled.

"Well done, you're Helena's little girl?"

"Yes, do you know my mother?"

"We've met. ”

"Amiable?"

Melissa laughed and slapped Gwen on the back so hard that she had to lean against the car.

"Funny girl?" she grinned. "Come in, the master is waiting. ”

The interior of the estate consists of dark floors and bare walls, with glass to absorb natural light wherever possible. Everywhere there are artistic sculptures of various materials, seemingly random.

Upon closer inspection, Gwen realizes that these abstract figures are hypersensual statues of women in different states of undressing. The shape of their chest, waist and hips subtly creates an uncomfortable sense of reality. Perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that these figures are artistically distorted to bring them to life.

Gwen covers Percy's eyes, and the boy has been inspecting a huge sculpture in the center of the atrium, mesmerized by its obscenity.

"These ... Is it grandpa's work?"

"Oh yes, the best part of him. Melissa patted a fat, black obsidian ass, you know, and he got an incredible commission from it. ”

"Anyway, if he wasn't here to greet us, then he's probably in the workshop. ”

They walked through the atrium of the house and onto the balcony. Outside the deck, an infinite water garden stretches to the horizon and reflects the blue sky. It creates a blue world beyond the deck, and at its end is a huge workshop of steam and smoke.

What the hell is that?, Gwen mentally checked her textbook. The last building looks more like a forge. A wizard's workplace was supposed to resemble a watchmaker's workshop, with a large tall table hidden in a small box shelf containing valuable materials, on which dozens of intricate instruments were used to make glyphs.

Instead, there was a hissing of cold air coming from the bulky door, and Gwen's skirt flew up, forcing her to pull the wayward hem of her skirt to her hips. Inside, she saw anvils, molds, carving blades, dozens of files, pliers, and an ingot that looked like a hill.

Gwen glared in amazement as a bronze statue of a sexy woman appeared, walking naked towards them. She looked like Melissa, just freed from the shackles of her clothes, and her broad hips reminded Gwen of Gleco's statue.

Oh, my God. Gwen's mind hit her hard. A damn puppet.

As a complex building, the golem is the highest level of craftsmanship possible for an enchanter. Clay golems, iron golems, crystal golems, they are priceless tools for industry and warfare. As a frontier city, Sydney is always in short supply.

Is this a bronze puppet?" Gwen gushed, her heart pounding, pounding for the impossibility, this female construct represented. How incredible would her family be if her grandfather could create a puppet?

But why is there on the puppet?

Gwen frowned.

Her gaze lowered.

She covered Percy's eyes. Whether it's a puppet or not, it's impossible for a child. Those swinging toy bags were too realistic to be Page-13, bronze or something else, let alone something carved downstairs.

Percy had stiffened with shock, and his mind entered a whole new world.

"Hey, Tess," Melissa greeted the golem.

"Yo, welcome back," it replied.

After a while, the metal bronze faded from the puppet's skin and returned to the skin of the flesh. The woman named Tess turned to Gwen, who grinned as she covered Percy's eyes with her hand.

"Never seen a bronze body metamorphose?" she asked with a smile You can't work here, you can't resist heat and cold, it's better to have greater resistance. ”

Now, Gwen is glad she didn't blurt out something about the bronze golem. Tess walked over to the counter and put the ring on her finger. She summoned a robe from within.

The steam has now dissipated. Gwen could see an aging old man staring at another work of art. He was almost a dwarf, with dark skin and strong arms. He was skinny and skinny, with a bulbous head bobbing back and forth on his skinny neck.

Even now, the old man was shaping glowing statues, metal deformed where his hands touched, this and that, as if it were clay instead of heated iron.

"Do you like it?" a sound that sounded like the clatter of nails echoed through the blacksmith's shop. "That big event took me almost a month. ”

He was referring to an intoxicating work.

Gwen didn't know whether to bow or say some prayer she didn't know about, so she curtsied. Her actions seemed to please the old man, and he walked slowly around her, scrutinizing every inch of her like a critic of an art museum.

"They're cute," Gwen replied as she watched her grandfather walk around. She grabbed the overstimulated boy with her iron handle, praying that Percy wouldn't ** in front of their grandfather.

"I started doing it a year ago!" says Surya announcing that your mom is refusing to let your brother take over the family business. So I started doing what I had always wanted to do. ”

Gwen turned to look at Percy, who shrugged.

"So you're Helena's daughter. "Yes, I remember you," Surya began to say that you were so old. ”

"Now you're a giant!" Su Ya smiled.

Gwen also chuckled politely, hoping to establish some kind of rapport with the strange old man.

"Lovely little calf, perfect shape. "Surya keep checking I remember your father was a short bastard and your mom had a fat ass, you were so lucky. ”

"Thank you, Grandpa," Gwen began to realize her mother's compulsion on body image.

"Okay, okay," the old man continued, "are you a model?"

"It's not grandpa, I'm an assistant. ”

"Really? Are you okay?"

"I'm a lightning summoner, grandpa. ”

"Nothing, really?" he raised his bushy white eyebrows, and it felt like seeing a caterpillar come back to life in his face. "Are you sure you're Helena's daughter? Moyer likes to hang out, you know. Helena is an ungrateful person, but your father has lied to me countless times about that poor and stupid girl. ”

Suya's candor made Gwen nervous. All she can do is smile and nod her head, hoping she won't say or do anything to anger her parents.

"Still, he's a quasi-elementalist. Surya rubbed her chin and looked at Gwen again, as if it were a newly discovered and very interesting work of art Did your mother want to sell you to the highest bidder?"

"Not successful," Gwen replied earnestly. The man knew his daughter well.

"Hey. Su Ya said with a smile. Gwen and he giggled, what did they tell you about me?"

Gwen wondered if she should lie, but she decided not to.

"They told you I'm a madman, right? A real madman?"

"Actually, they didn't even mention you, grandpa. ”

Gwen unnecessarily delves into their relationship in her answers, hoping that the idea of a lovely granddaughter will bring some form of filial affection.

However, despite her best efforts, her grandfather fell into an angry trance.

"Typical... Typical... Ungrateful children, I have given them everything ... Uh-huh... Call me crazy......"

Gwen realized that she had better lower his blood pressure before he blew the washer.

"Percy and I are together. "Gwen and her brother stepped forward, like a show, your dearest grandson!"

"Uh-huh!" Surya grunted in exasperation, still grunting angrily.

Percy punches Gwen in the ribs.

"Oops! you let the master go!" Gwen turned, and saw Tess approaching with a concerned face. "His mind sometimes derails and it can take hours to recover. ”

Gwen watched as the woman walked sideways to her grandfather's side.

"Su Ya ~ Su Ya, do you want to have a drink?

Gwen watched as her grandfather's face slowly relaxed, anger pouring out of him like molten bronze in a crucible. The wrinkles on his face finally relaxed. He looked up, noticing the world around him once more.

"What? Oh, Tess, yes, of course, give me some water. ”

Whew, Gwen relaxed.

"Tess, are you also grandfather's apprentice?"

"Yes, I'm his metamorphosis apprentice. Mel is his magician. ”

"Oh," said Gwen to Melissa, and the woman went to fetch some water for the old mage.

"Thank you for taking care of him," Gwen replied earnestly. Having never cared for anyone in her life, she could not imagine the trouble of caring for an elderly and frail person.

"Pamper him, darling. Theresa winked at Gwen, he was cuter than you know. ”

Gwen turned to Percy expectantly.

Her brother's face told her that he couldn't possibly hug his grandfather and that it was up to her to hug him.

"What do you want?" asked Tess.

"Just water, thank you. ”

"I want a glass of lemonade. Percy held up his hand.

"Of course, I'll be back," Tess pecks Surya on the forehead as you keep interrogating him. ”

"Mel, Tess, and I are totally professionals, you know," Surya regained her senses, explaining as she walked Gwen out of the workshop and towards the infinity area under the back balcony, not at all like your father. ”

"Of course, Grandpa. Gwen followed in a dignified manner, watching him decide between a wicker sofa and a small outdoor dining table. He chose the cutlery set because it gave both Gwen and Percy a seat.

"Well, why are you here?" your father was vague on the subject," Surya began.

Grandpa said sweetly, "I want to ask you some questions. "I want to see you. ”

Her statement made Surya's cracked lips smile.

"Is that all?"

"But ... In fact, there was an even more terrible reason for my visit. "I need funds, grandpa," Gwen admits along with magical items. ”

Percy almost spat out the lemonade he was drinking. He looked up at his sister and wondered if she had come all the way to beg. If so, why is he here?

"Won't Helena give you pocket money?" Suya looked at Gwen suspiciously. "Is your father bankrupt or what's wrong?"

"I don't want to," Gwen replied in a humble whisper, I'd rather work for an income if possible, but I didn't know how. ”

"Understandable. Suya thought about Gwen and her situation, and admitted that in her position, he didn't want to owe her mother a debt either.

"What about your uncle? I only have the lion's share left. Didn't he live in a new house in Kiribilli?"

Gwen explained what had happened the last time she had passed by the estate.

Su Ya grumbled cynically.

"People who climb up......" he sighed, for so many years, my children have been social climbers with no way out. ”

"Well, Richard did a great job. He was honored by the four families of the Prince family......"

"I hear you. Surya looked at his granddaughter, who did not look like himself at all. She was tall and thin, with her mother's hazel eyes and dark hair. "You're the reason Richard got this position. What do you know about Alexia de Botton?"

"We are acquaintances," Gwen lied to say she was my mentor. ”

Surya pondered the news in her mind, while Gwen waited silently.

Tess and Melissa are back with snacks again. Surya took the opportunity to introduce his apprentice appropriately. The two girls are twins who are stumbled upon by Surya while selling his artwork. One is a shapeshifter and the other is a wizard. They fell in love with the master's craft, and Surya was glad to have them as his resident students. In this world, the convent of this craft is more binding than the blood in the womb, so the girls become Sulya's eternal companions.

As for Percy, Sulia said a few nice words to the boy and then said nothing. With Helena insisting that Percy attend Prince, which meant serving four families, which involved leaving Sydney, it was impossible for Percy to take over the family business. In any case, Percy must wake up first, and the chances of an evoker and an abandoner spawning an enchanter are truly slim.

"So, which way are you going?" said Surya, continuing to interrogate Gwen about her wishes.

"I can't say for sure, but what I do know is ......"

Gwen told him that she wanted to finish high school, join the military, and join the government. This is typical of what any high-achieving Mags wants, but it is realistic and Gwen has potential.

"For this, you need money and goods. Surya finished.

"Yes, Grandpa," Gwen affirmed.

"Why do you think I'm so generous? After all, we've only met twice, once when we were kids, and now again. ”

Gwen felt her professional acumen tingle, and her grandfather's tone hinted that she was willing, though he wished for a more plausible excuse. Therefore, the degree of his "help" will depend entirely on her sincerity.

"I have this..."

Gwen opened her hand, and it was the glittering chromatic scale that the snake had given her. It shimmers in a rainbow of colors in the sun.

Surya exploded from where he was sitting, clutching her hand.

"Where did you get that?!" he said disbelievingly, spit falling on her palm.

Gwen didn't say anything. She could feel a tingling in her heart, and it was totally effective.

Surya swallowed.

"Is it yours?"

Gwen nodded.

"Who gave it to you?"

Gwen remained silent.

Surya considered his options. He was clearly keeping a secret from his granddaughter. From his expert's point of view, this thing belonged to at least an ancient man. These scales are an extremely rare material, usually appearing only once or twice every decade after extensive conquest or cleaning. Considering the recent news cycle, Suya can make an educated guess about its origins. If so, why would Gwen have it, and why couldn't she say it?

Either way, he was seduced.

A questionable source for wizards who have obtained rare ingredients is the standard for the misheril checkered glyphs. If every serious craftsman is plagued by materials of dubious origin, whether it is the grey market under the tower or the obsidian exchange, the industry will hardly exist. The more a magician works on expensive and exotic materials, the more their craft grows. Skilled in Surya's skill, there is nothing that can expand his spells, except for the black area material.

Hoping that the temptation was enough, Gwen closed her hand and cut off Surya's longing gaze.

"Will you do it?" she proposed to me with long eyelashes.

"Nothing, I want to do it," Surya grumbled angrily. He sees his granddaughter in a new light. She's not here to beg - no, she's here to negotiate! A strange smile touched the old wizard's lips, and he found himself smiling, though he suspected he was being tricked. How old is that girl now? Fourteen years old? No, at least 16 years old like that. Her mother never knew how to manipulate, and Helena was an open hand that rudely demanded more.

"What do you want to make it look like?" Su Ya said carefully.

"Something defensive. In terms of protection and defense, I am lacking. ”

"Hmm......" Su Ya pondered her choice. This scale has the characteristics of all the main elements, which means that it is possible for him to create something unique and highly specialized. "How's your shielding going?"

"Resistance to solid shells is very weak. ”

"Alright," Suya said, I can make you an elemental conversion item with a built-in shield tuning. You can create any elemental shield as if you had affinity. But this affinity will be minimal. ”

Gwen carefully considered the pros and cons of the proposed effect. One of the most important aspects is the advent of the Forge Water Shield, which is almost permanent and self-regenerating, or an earth shield that can withstand hard-point attacks.

"Think about it," Surya suggested, and personally, I suggested using a passive term. The event item prevents you from casting other spells, so its use is limited. ”

"Oh," Gwen replied disappointed. For a moment, she thought she had found a crook who broke the rules.

"A passive project is just as effective. It can increase your resistance - in this case, all primary elementals, 80% of all mages, if you are a magician, it would be fun if you could use elemental conversion to resurrect the existence of various elements. I used to know a mage who could combine the four elements together – a plant mage, wouldn't it be great?"

At the mention of "magician", Gwen looked at her grandfather in embarrassment. A fierce struggle unfolded in her mind about truth and deception. Should she tell him the truth? She didn't want to waste her time creating an item that didn't take advantage of all her magic school.

Gwen had a hesitant look on her face.

"What, you're a magician?" Surya muttered, an unlikely hypothesis popping into his head. As a magician, he is very sensitive to the particles of magic of different genres. Gwen was stunned, knowing that his suspicions were right. ”

"You're lying to me!"