The Book of Hibernation

That year Winter Ji was about 14 years old, and Jin Ye asked him to stand beside the wooden post, pointing to the top of his head, and carved a mark on the wooden post with a knife.

Winter Ji went out and met human children in nearby villages. Human children were taller than him at the age of eleven or twelve.He asked his mother curiously, would the pure blood elf child be smaller, how tall were you when you were 14 years old?

Jin Ye answered his question very seriously.She went to the study and brought four books, one was general knowledge about the history of the Silent Tree Sea, the other was the basic physiology of humanoids in the eastern half of the continent, the other two were the notes of doctors in the tree sea tribe, one was anatomy, A study of hybrid humanoids.

After about ten days, Winter Thistle was finally able to summarize the answer to her own question: the growth period of elves and semi-humans is similar, so when Jin Ye was 14 years old, she should have the signs of a girl, not a child.However, after puberty, the difference between pure-blooded elves and half-humans appears. In comparison, elves have the longest period of youth and maturity, followed by mixed-blood half-humans. Their youth and maturity are very short, and they will quickly enter Middle age, while human infancy, adolescence, and young adulthood are not long, and the time is relatively average.

Winter Thistle asked a question out of curiosity, but did not get an answer until ten days later.Because Jin Ye did not answer his question in a general way with one or two sentences, but seriously gave Dong Ji an extra class, teaching him all the knowledge points he knew as much as possible.If she encounters details that she doesn't quite understand, let Dong Ji read the book by herself.

As far as he could remember, Dongji had only gold leaves around him. Although they would occasionally go to nearby villages and towns to buy things, he only met outsiders once, and he didn't know how those people usually live.Little did he know then, that mothers in human families generally did not teach their children this way.Of course, the mother in an elf family is usually not either.

However, this character of Jin Ye did not make Winter Thistle suffer.Later, when he grew up, he was glad that he had a very rich childhood.

For nearly 20 years, he had no other relatives, no friends of the same age, and only Jin Ye by his side, but he never felt bored, let alone felt restrained.I am afraid that in the eyes of others, this is somewhat unbelievable.

Looking back now, I'm afraid it's because the gold leaf is too "rich".When the child asks her a question, what she gets in return is not a few comforting answers, but a long-form teaching on the history of human biology and physiology and medicine... I can't finish learning Dongji, and I struggle every day because I don't understand a certain content. Worry, how can there be time to feel bored or lonely.

Then Lilana and Ryan came to their home, and the two briefly turned into four, though one of them was just a baby.

Not long after getting along, Jinye and Lilana died of illness one after another, and there were only two people left in the secluded house.

Winter Thistle's identity suddenly changed, no longer a child and apprentice, but the head of the family.He wants to teach young children like Jin Ye taught him.

At first, he did the same thing as Jin Ye.It's not that he deliberately imitated his mother, but that he has no other experience.

At that time, little Ryan was already able to speak fluently, and he naturally wondered why he and his brother looked different.Winter Ji felt that the time had come, so she began to explain to his younger brother the physiological similarities and differences and historical evolution of elves, humans, half-humans, and various humanoid creatures... But he failed, and his younger brother couldn't listen at all. After the general concept, Ryan's attention drifted to the door.

Lane is also very curious about magic, and every time he shows curiosity, Winter Thistle tries to teach him.Winter Thistle gave up after several visits. He gradually understood that Ryan didn't really want to learn magic. He just liked to see those wonderful effects, rather than mastering them himself.

Also, Ryan has been unable to master the arcane text, teaching one and forgetting two.Winter Thistle once wondered whether it was the slow development of human children's IQ, but after observing it, he felt that it should not be the reason.Don't think that Ryan can't learn magic knowledge, but he can get up before dawn, take the anti-rust paste made by his brother to the market and sell it, and use the money he gets to buy some necessary daily necessities.He never runs around for fun, and never buys snacks randomly. If there is any money left, he will definitely collect it and get it back.

At that time, Ryan was young, and he occasionally encountered unfriendly older children when he went out, but he cleverly used the self-made sling to defeat them. He was not injured and led the older children to the village office. , Let the adults come forward and teach them a lesson.

At that time, Winter Ji realized that this younger brother might be smarter than him in some respects.My younger brother doesn't learn magic, it's definitely not because of the retardation of human IQ.Knowing this, he changed his approach with the little one.

The two are still dependent on each other, and Winter Thistle still won't feel monotonous and boring.

From childhood to now, he has long been used to this kind of life: one person concentrates on his own affairs, and at the same time, another person is with him, and he often communicates and relies on each other.

Neither interfere with each other nor be alone.

However, as Ryan grows up day by day, Winter Thistle realizes that the lifestyle that suits her may not necessarily suit Ryan.Ryan is a vibrant human teenager who should live in a human-dominated city-state and society.

It wasn't all because of Ryan that Winter Thistle left home later.He himself was gradually infected by his younger brother's curiosity and enthusiasm, thinking that maybe he could leave here to find some new possibilities.

until today.

Winter Thistle realizes to her surprise that her lifestyle hasn't changed.What he needs has not changed.

He needs a stable environment to do interesting research, and he needs to have someone around him all the time.

This person was a mother when he was a child, a younger brother later, and now... He almost thought it would be Aldin from Harbor City.

Mother left him involuntarily.The younger brother left him voluntarily.

As for Aldin...

===================

"I'm done," Kanai said across the workbench.

His voice interrupted Winter Thistle's musings.

Winter Thistle took a small silver cup from him.The mouth of the cup was covered with thick mist, and the contents inside could not be seen.

The Winter Thistle places the silver cup into the center of a spider-shaped cast-iron instrument, with a small analytic circle at each "spider foot".Winter Ji activated the magic circle, checked roughly, and said, "It's all right. Just leave it to me. It will probably take two or three days."

Kanai said: "It would be great if you could make more of this potion. It would be best if everyone involved in the escort got a copy."

Winter Ji shook her head: "Unfortunately, this is impossible. You are a mage, and you can complete the extraction of your own elements, but others may not be able to do it. If someone else does this, it will take longer .Besides, each subject has a different physique, so spells cannot be completed in batches. If I were to do all of them, it would probably take four or five days for one person. There are dozens of people in total, and I cannot guarantee that every It was a complete success once, and counting the time for inspection and rework...the departure date is not far away, so there is not so much time."

"Of course, I also know it's impossible," Kanai smiled. "More importantly, even if they have enough time, they may not be willing to accept this spell."

Winter Thistle finished the magic circle inspection, raised her eyes, and looked at Kanai through the messy instruments on the table.

"Why are you looking at me like this?" Kanai said, "You don't need to feel guilty, it's not hurting me. If nothing happens, the spell props you make won't affect anyone; , it will be the last turning point. This is the meaning of its existence.”

"But..." Winter Thistle asked hesitantly, "Is it really necessary? I heard that the Arcane Federation sent two mages, and there are so many temple knights... Is it necessary for you to go?"

"Of course it is necessary," Kanai said.

Winter Ji frowned, didn't speak for a while, and lowered his head to do what he was doing.

A few days ago, when Kanai was studying the literature borrowed from the academy, he discovered a high-level arcane item.He had a long discussion with Winter Thistle, and finally asked Winter Thistle if he could make it happen.

Winter Thistle thought about the effect of the spell carefully, and immediately understood what Kanai wanted to do.

He refused, but when he refused, Kanai smiled instead: So, you can indeed do it.

He was right, a winter thistle could do it.What Kanai wants to achieve is a high-level arcane art at the theoretical stage, which involves multiple schools and requires the integration of different spells. As a refiner, Winter Thistle is good at another type of skill besides enchanting objects. It is high-level arcane chimerism.

When embedding spells, Winter Thistle doesn't need to be proficient in casting every spell involved. If he can't, he can find someone to cast it or use ready-made spell storage items.After the entire development process was complete, he had to make it available to Kanai and easy to use.

So, he planned to put that mosaic spell into a rune or a scroll, or combine it with a catalytic potion to make a magic potion.

In this way, Dong Ji continued to work silently.Kanai read the book for a while, picked up the crutches, and slowly moved to the door of the laboratory.

Kanai didn't want to leave, but because the time was up, the nurses sent by the clinic came to him.Dr. Pate sent two students of a certain age to check on Kanai's condition regularly and urge him to take his medicine, but they couldn't enter the laboratory and had to stand at the door.

Under normal circumstances, Kanai should be resting in bed in the room, and the doctors will take care of him at any time, so he doesn't have to poke his crutches to stand up.But he insisted on coming to the laboratory, and the doctor couldn't help it.He agreed that it was not easy to get a good medical treatment.

After a while Winter Thistle heard the clack of her cane on the floor.Kanai came back after dealing with the doctor.It seemed that he still didn't intend to go back to the house to rest.

Kanai sat back on the bench opposite the workbench.He picked up the book, but he didn't start reading right away, but said to Dong Ji: "Don't hold back, just say what you have to say."

Dong Ji only raised his eyes: "It's useless to say it, you won't listen."

"Then I'll tell you. You think I'm only doing this to be brave, to appear useful."

"It's useful for Aldin to recognize you." Winter Thistle added.

Kanai chuckled: "You finally said it. So you thought so..."

"Isn't it?" Dong Ji asked, "From my point of view, you obviously feel very insecure, and you are afraid of being rejected by him."

Kanai rested her forehead in one hand: "After getting along with my brother, your personality has become more and more subtle. Am I adding another elder out of thin air..."

Winter Thistle was keenly aware that he was deliberately changing the subject.

Winter Thistle said: "Just like you never betrayed Aldin, he never betrayed you, right? He cares about you very much, and you should feel it yourself. You are his only family member, even if you are sick, you cannot replace him. Now that you're done, even if your leg never recovers, he probably won't dislike you. Even if you lie in the house every day and can no longer contribute a little bit to the Ten Sail Street Chamber of Commerce, Aldin is still your brother. But even if he is willing to accept you like this, you yourself are not willing to accept it, right?"

Kanai sighed heavily: "You speak really badly now."

"It was you who made me speak up."

Kanai put down the book in his hand, sat up from the bench pillow, and leaned forward: "Winter Thistle, you misunderstood me. Although you only misunderstood part of it."

"Which part?" asked Winter Thistle.

"I need to join the escort team, not to make myself appear useful, let alone to please Aldin. It's because I have to go. Temple knights and other mages are indeed healthier than me, but I can do things they can't do."

Judging from Kanai's tone, he should not be blunt, but that there are reasons that Winter Thistle did not think about.

So Dongji quietly waited for him to speak.

Kanai said: "I can use your spellwork without hesitation - you haven't decided whether to use a rune or a potion, so it has no name for the time being. Others can neither do nor will. .”

"You're back again now," Dong Ji said, "This was originally your idea, of course others wouldn't..."

Kanai interrupted him: "No. Even if I tell them this idea, even if I give them the finished product you made, when the situation is critical and they have to use this method, they will use it without hesitation Is it?"

Winter Thistle originally wanted to say "Normal people wouldn't use it".But he still wanted to hear Kanai finish, so he didn't express his thoughts.

Kanai said: "I also said just now. In this operation, your 'work' is not an ordinary item, but a last resort. It is the last chance. And I am the same , I can play the same role as it. If it were someone else, they wouldn't be able to do it."

Winter Ji pondered for a moment, then said: "I understand what you mean. You are right, most people can't do it. If it were me, I would definitely hesitate. Then why do you believe that you can do it?"

Kanai smiled wryly: "Two reasons. First, after I join the escort team, whether I return safely or...use your work, the prestige of Aldin and I in the chamber of commerce will increase, which will have a great impact on our future. There are real benefits."

"What's good for you? It's just good for Aldin." Winter Thistle said bluntly.

Kanai did not refute this sentence, and went on to say: "The second reason is even simpler... You have met my teacher, and you can talk to him, right?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"I don't know if he has nagged you about me. He had high hopes for me, and I failed him. I am not a very good mage, I don't have any academic works, I don't know how to use catalysts, let alone I can brew them, I don’t enchant weapons, I don’t develop any magic items, I haven’t designed any innovative spells, and I can’t even understand complex analytical circles... Ha, of course, I don’t understand at all , I can only understand the simple detection effect, but I can't analyze anything too deep."

The old mage did complain about something about Kanai.However, Winter Ji didn't know until today that Kanai even had difficulty reading the magic circle.For a mature caster, this is indeed a bit too much, just like a general who doesn't know how to read a tactical sand table.

Kanai spread his hands: "For example, the magic defense system of this mansion. I didn't do it. If it fails, I can't fix it."

"Well, I can see it," said Winter Thistle.Based on his observation and judgment, these should be the services that their brothers paid for other mages to provide them, and Kanai just had the authority to manipulate them.

Kanai continued: "I am only good at force field spells and ray attack spells. It can be said that I am very good at it. When people mention me, they will say that I am a battle mage. This is because they look at the face of the chamber of commerce. Respect me. In fact, there is no difference between me and a warlock. Warlocks can only use fire elements to attack, while I can only use force fields as tower shields and rays as spears. When you were in the dungeon of the city hall, I don’t know if you noticed ...I cast spells much faster than other mages."

In fact, Winter Thistle didn't notice.He was so frightened and miserable then that he paid no attention to anyone other than Aldin.But based on his knowledge of Kanai, he could imagine the situation at that time.

Kanai said: "Although I am fast, those mages are actually better than me. They have written books, can invent all kinds of new gadgets, and continue to expand the boundaries of the arcane field. They are not living to learn knowledge, but to Contributing knowledge. As for me, I am only good at quick casting and attacking targets. I am not very good at other things.”

Winter Thistle asked, "Didn't you become like this because of Aldin?"

This made Kanai startled for a moment, and then laughed again: "It can be seen that after the previous incident, you have a lot of resentment towards Aldin."

Winter Thistle just smiled.

Kanai said: "It doesn't matter why I am like this. The important thing is that I am very good at offensive magic, and I can use it very quickly. That's what I do."

"I understand," Winter Thistle nodded, "However, I hope you won't use what I made."

"Of course. Thank you for your good words." Kanai sat back on the pillow with satisfaction.In the past few days, his spirit has improved a lot, but he is still obviously weaker than before.

After being quiet for a while, Kanai suddenly said: "Winter Thistle, you are really interesting. Although you asked me a lot of things and acted reluctantly, you actually cooperated with all my requests and did not Say a word to Aldin."

Winter Ji said: "I promised you not to disclose, so I will definitely not disclose."

"I always feel that you have other selfish intentions."

Winter Thistle is carving arcane glyphs into a crystal.Hearing Kanai's words, he paused the movement of his hands.The operation is delicate and requires concentration.

"Do you think I hate you?" said Winter Thistle.

"That's not true. I believe that you don't want to let the monster escape again, and you are afraid of endless troubles. After all, that thing was originally trying to capture you. But..." Kanai stopped and thought, "Forget it. I I can't tell. Anyway, I just think you have other selfish intentions. Anyway, it doesn't get in the way, and it doesn't affect the overall situation. It's up to you."

Kanai stopped talking, changed into a comfortable position, and continued to read the book just now.

Winter Ji lowered her head, and didn't take the initiative to continue this topic.

Maybe Kanai was right.Winter Thistle thought to herself.

Before Kanai said this, he didn't realize it himself.Now he feels that he may indeed have selfish motives.So he agreed to Kanai's request to make the spell item for Kanai and let him take it to the escort team.

He wants his work to be successful.As a spellcaster, it was difficult for him to refuse this temptation.

But also because of another aspect of selfishness, he hoped that Kanai would take the initiative to give up his thoughts, not to join the escort team, and not have the opportunity to use his works...

In two days, Winter Thistle will give Kanai what he wants.

Then Kanai would suddenly change his mind and go to the clinic to stay.Aldean would certainly agree.

After five days, the Western Suburb Workshop will deliver all enhanced armors.At the same time, the construction of the closed prison car with both magical prayers and arcane defense will be completed and handed over to the temple for inspection.

After ten days, all necessary supplies and transit paperwork are guaranteed to be in place.The escort team will officially set off to the Great Day Temple in White Lake City.

Calculated according to the calendar of the eastern countries, that day should happen to be the first day of winter.