Chapter 70: The Purpose of the Elemental Beads
Upon waking, Sein was startled to find himself sandwiched between two attractive women, one on each side.
Although their attire suggested nothing untoward had occurred the previous night, Sein’s hands had somehow found their way to rest on each of their soft mounds.
Marlena had gone off somewhere, so there were only the three of them in the tent.
Sein carefully withdrew his hands and straightened his disheveled robe. He then cast a simple yet practical spell on himself—Cleanse.
It had become one of his most frequently used spells since his arrival in the Sand World.
With no knowledge of hydro magic, “Cleanse” was the only spell he could use to keep himself clean.
As Sein got up, Faye and Leena were also roused from their slumber.
The moment Sein stood up, Leena opened her eyes and rose to her feet too. Faye, however, was reluctant to get up.
In the harsh Sand World, everyone had their responsibilities.
To avoid being stranded in this foreign plane indefinitely, these magic initiates needed to swiftly fulfill the tasks assigned by the full-fledged black mages. Thïš êššëñçë ïš šëçürëlÿ ëmbëddëd ïn n0v&lb¡n★
“The vice dean and the others are primarily relying on senior initiates and Quasi Mages to carry out the mission. After all, intermediate and junior initiates who have come over can only serve as cannon fodder,” Faye commented.
“The set up of the coordinate generators in both camps is about seventy percent complete. It should take another two months to finish,” she added as she changed into fresh clothes.
“What exactly is the purpose of the elemental beads we each received?” Sein asked curiously.
Once Faye was ready, Sein and his group set out to find Zorro.
During the journey, Sein mainly conversed with Faye, but a significant part of his attention was on Leena, who remained silent.
He suspected that Leena was doing the same.
By the time they reached Zorro, he had already completed the modifications on Sein’s crystal ball.
The communication range of the crystal ball had been reduced to only a third of its original capacity.
Nevertheless, it was sufficient to cover the camp's perimeter and maintain tenuous communication between the two camps.
Sein brought up a question that had been on his mind. “Zorro, is there a chance of failure in setting up the coordinate generators?”
Senior initiates and Quasi Mages were among the first to become aware of the camp’s situation.
Recent incidents, such as the senior initiate blocking others outside the camp to demand elemental beads, as well as Faye’s reaction that morning, had raised some concerns for Sein.
In response, Zorro cast a cautious glance outside the tent to ensure no eavesdroppers were nearby before replying in a hushed tone, “There is indeed a chance of failure. The estimated success rate is around sixty percent.”
Zorro explained further, “The shifting quicksand environment of this world constantly alters the coordinates of the two camps, making it challenging for us to set up the coordinate generators. While we send initiates out daily to survey and collect data, this effort only has a limited effect.
“Whether the coordinate generators, when successfully activated, will create a passage allowing a full-fledged mage to pass between the two worlds depends not only on our efforts and some luck but also primarily on our mentor and the vice deans on the other side of the space-time rift.”
“The vice dean and the others must have had specific intentions and goals when investing heavily in sending us here. Therefore, there’s no need to be overly pessimistic. The final passage should be feasible. Collecting elemental beads is just a precautionary and alternate plan for us,” Zorro reassured.
His comforting words helped dispel the lingering doubts in Sein’s mind.
However, Sein did not mention the black key that Master Morsidor had left for him. According to his mentor, it was a backup plan specially reserved for Sein in case the coordinate generators failed.
Master Morsidor had probably done that out of concern that the other full-fledged black mages might prioritize senior initiates and Quasi Mages during rescue operations, potentially overlooking intermediate initiates like Sein.