Chapter 237: The Road Ahead
The throttle twisted beneath his palm. Wang Yu rubbed his chin thoughtfully as the alchemical engine roared to life.
Before him stood a crude, undecorated steampunk motorbike. He had crafted it himself using the Chariot under Avia's direction.
Ever since awakening this ability, Wang Yu had become something of a walking industrial lathe. His fine control over his body was so absurdly precise that even modern engineering seemed pedestrian by comparison.
"It... actually worked?" Wang Yu wondered uncertainly. After all, while he had physically assembled this machine by hand, he was a complete novice when it came to alchemy. Even with Avia's step-by-step guidance, he couldn't say with confidence whether the thing would even run.
The test rig held the motorbike aloft, its twin wheels spinning at a furious pace. Within the alchemical engine, mana coursed through sigils Avia had inscribed and transformed into hybrid wind and fire magic—an arcane imitation of pistons, cylinders, and the pulsing heart of combustion.
"What an intriguing concept. By rerouting magical force through specialized structures, it refines the mechanism by which energy is harnessed—it's far more efficient and practical. A promising design," Sieg remarked, examining the prototype with keen interest.
A learned professor with encyclopedic knowledge, Sieg had watched Wang Yu produce the metallic parts and fuse them together. He already had a clear understanding of the principles behind the machine, and a firm grasp of what this test run meant.
"It's a success," Avia confirmed, extending her mental energy to inspect the alchemical engine's magical resonance. She nodded. "I saw you forge every piece with my own eyes. Everything looks sound. I have to admit, your ability is perfect for alchemy. We'll be counting on you a lot more."
Wang Yu grinned and flashed her a thumbs-up. "Looks like I should brush up on some alchemical theory if I want to keep up with you."
He was genuinely impressed. Avia had managed to take his vague, half-remembered ideas and turned it into a working design with her formidable talent.
That thought rekindled his itch for speed: the thrill of seeing the landscape flash by, the roar of an engine. For all the magic and monsters of this new world, some things never changed.
"Give it a go."
Catching the gleam in his eyes, Avia smiled and patted the motorbike. With a small nudge of power, she released it from the rig and lowered it to the ground.
"Let's."
Wang Yu swung onto the saddle. His fingers curled around the throttle. It was unrefined, sure—but there was something satisfying in its heft and honest simplicity. There was no needless flair. It took only moments to find his balance. And with a twist of his wrist...
Magic surged. Fire and wind roared within the engine, pushing energy into the spinning wheels. The tires shrieked against the earth as the motorbike jumped to life.
VROOOOM!
He didn't hold back. There were no delicate parts to handle, no complicated electronics to fry—just raw alchemy and iron will. He cranked the throttle all the way. With a thunderous growl, the motorbike tore forward.
It raced through the forest trail in a blur of noise and speed. Trees whipped past him. The wind sliced against his cheeks. He could feel the power thrumming through him.
There was no suspension system, not yet. The terrain was wild and uneven. The entire bike bounced madly, its seat hammering Wang Yu's backside like a drum. Any ordinary rider would've been knocked unconscious or split in half by now, but he was no ordinary man. He was a knight. His body could take it.
"This is fast," he shouted against the wind. "Not quite as fast as me at full sprint—but it can keep going at this speed indefinitely. And this is only a prototype!"
He laughed, lips curled in a wide grin. The joy was real. This—this was fun. Despite being in a brand-new world, he was reliving an experience from Earth—or something very close to it.
His sharp vision scanned the forest. Magical beasts lurked in the shadows, concealed among trees and brush. But as the motorbike howled past, they slunk away, alarmed by the unnatural noise and commotion.
"Hah! Didn't even think of that. This probably looks like some kind of fast-moving magical beast with insane strength, huh? Not something you'd want to pick a fight with."
He roared through the woods. At this speed, with so many obstacles in his way, a human rider back on Earth would be kissing a tree trunk before long. But Wang Yu's superhuman reflexes let him slip between branches, over rocks, and through danger entirely untouched.
Even so, his luck couldn't last forever. He tore through a wild thicket—only to find that the path ahead ended abruptly. A wall of tangled vines and roots had overgrown the trail, forming a dense barricade.
It was hardly surprising. These forests had no caretakers. Magical vegetation could shoot up overnight, blocking well-trodden paths in the blink of an eye.
"Guess it's time for me to turn back."
He lifted his right hand and flicked his wrist. Blood welled up naturally from his arm, called forth by Blood Tempest. Thread-thin strands lashed out at the knot of vines ahead.
Upon contact, the blood began to spread through the tangle. Wang Yu snapped his fingers and triggered Cursed Fire.
The blood ignited, fuel for a fire that consumed life itself. Ethereal green flames roared down the strands, reached the vines, and exploded in a flash.
The vines vanished in a pile of ash.
Wang Yu leaned into a turn as the motorbike streaked by.
The path was too narrow for a proper U-turn. Any ordinary attempt would end with him in a tree or dashed against rocks, but Wang Yu wasn't ordinary.
If there wasn't a road, he could easily make one himself. He leaned low, brushing a hand against the earth. The Chariot's power flowed down into the soil. Rocks and dirt stirred, compelled by his will.
Behind the speeding motorbike, the earth churned and rose. A wave of living ground followed him, obedient and swift. At his signal, it surged forward, overtaking the bike, reshaping itself into a smooth path that bent around the curve.
There was no need to slow down. He twisted the handlebars, took the new turn, and streaked back toward where he'd begun.
Minutes later, Wang Yu rolled the alchemical motorbike back into the clearing where Avia and Sieg waited. He braked smoothly beside them.
"Works like a charm. Even in rough, bumpy terrain, it didn't slow me down a bit. I say we make this our new ride."
He gave the bike a proud slap.
"That's good to hear," Avia said. "But this one's still a prototype. I'll add a suspension system next. It'll make it a lot more user-friendly."
She examined the motorbike closely. A few parts had taken damage during Wang Yu's wild ride. Nothing major—but enough to confirm the need for further refinement.
"What a creative design," Sieg mused, watching with a smile. "A simple shift in how magical force is channeled, and you've built something leagues more efficient than a carriage."
Even for someone like Sieg—a dragon, no less—there was something undeniably fascinating about machines like this. Their hum, their potential...
"I'll optimize the structure a bit more," Avia said. "With Wang Yu around, alchemy's practically a breeze now. Most of the time, we won't even need a workshop. We have enough materials left for two more of these. Let's use them for the journey ahead."
She walked up to Wang Yu and poked his arm playfully. Her voice carried just a hint of pride.
Then she set her sights to the broader journey—the one still waiting ahead—and began to plan.
After leaving the kingdom of Aleisterre, Sieg had taken on his true form and ferried them all through the skies. He only stopped once the Lady of the Night's cloaking power had been entirely spent.
Thanks to the dragon's speed, they were now already far from Aleisterre. It was virtually impossible for any pursuers to cross several human kingdoms and cause them trouble.
For now, it seemed they had become wanderers—but from a different perspective, they were free.
"Any thoughts on where we should head next?" Sieg asked with a faint smile. He glanced at Wang Yu and Avia. "We seem to be a little too far from the Lady of the Night and her followers, which means we've lost access to the Prayer Network.
"Before we left its range, though, Charles managed to send me a message—Aleisterre has issued a bounty for us. The reward is quite generous, enough to tempt some to take the risk.
"So, I suggest we avoid heading anywhere near Aleisterre's borders."
He shared this news as calmly as if he were remarking on the weather.
"Oh, I don't really mind," Wang Yu replied casually. "I was planning to leave Aleisterre anyway. I wanted to wander the continent, to see all the strange and wondrous things out there.
"Our original plan was to visit Avia's mother. Earlier, she'd asked Mr. Garcia to protect her. Her aunt—Lilya of the cursebinding spire—took both of them there for protection.
"Avia and I had planned to make a stop there. It's been a long time since she's seen her mother.
"But the tower is too close to Aleisterre. With a bounty on our heads, it's best to postpone that visit—at least until the storm dies down."
He glanced at the young woman beside him, his voice tinged with guilt. He had hoped they could reunite with her mother soon after their escape—but now that seemed unlikely.
"It's all right," Avia said softly, understanding his feelings at once. She shook her head gently. "With Aunt Lilya and Mr. Garcia there, Mother will be safe. Once the time is right, we'll go see her together."
Sieg gave a knowing nod. "Ah, the Witch of Blazes—yes, she's quite a renowned figure. If she's watching over them, then we can rest easy."
"Which brings us to now," he continued. "Since you haven't chosen where to go yet, how about joining us?" As he spoke, he affectionately patted his younger sister's head.
Wang Yu and Avia exchanged a glance. From the look in each other's eyes, it was clear they shared the same thought—traveling alongside someone as knowledgeable and powerful as Sieg was a wise choice.
"I think it's a great idea!"
"Traveling with you would be a pleasure, Mr. Sieg."
The duo accepted the offer without hesitation.
"Wonderful," Sieg said warmly. "My plan is to visit the elven lands first. I have an old friend there. While some of the traditionalist elves can be a bit standoffish, I believe you two will be welcome."
"Elven lands?" Avia's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Do you have something you need to do there?"
"Indeed." Sieg nodded. "Noelle and I haven't heard from our older sister in a very long time. After all these years of hiding among humans with Noelle, it's time I visited Aurelian again.
"Even dragons change with the passage of time. Both Noelle and I have."
His voice grew wistful, tinged with nostalgia.
"My old friend has a way to contact Aurelian. Only the long-lived elves can even hope to compare with a dragon's lifespan."
He paused, then added with a smile, "And of course, there's something in the elven realm that might interest you, Miss Avia. My friend holds some influence among the elves—enough to secure you passage to one of the wonders created jointly by the winged and the elves: a floating mechanical city. It's considered a holy land for alchemists."
Avia's eyes opened wide.
Just as Sieg had guessed, that skyborne metropolis formed from countless alchemical constructs was a place she had long dreamed of. It was the promised land for anyone who loved alchemy.
She never imagined that she might truly be able to set foot on the city that countless alchemists had spent their lives seeking.