Mage Legend
Chapter 286: Episode 7: Old Ship_4

Chapter 286: Episode 7: Old Ship_4

　　"This is it." Lynch stopped his horse and pointed at a boat moored at Windbreak Pier: "The Shell, seems like there’s no mistake."

　　Even though Zilvra hadn’t seen many Surface World boats, she could immediately tell that the condition of this boat was absolutely bad. The planks of the hull, soaked in water for a long time, were somewhat decayed; the waterproof coatings that were once there had long since worn away; the copper nails used to connect the planks were rusted, clear evidence that no one had cared for this boat; and as for the old man leaning on the railing with a pipe, his face was as wrinkled and cracked as parched earth.

　　Exhaling a few smoke rings, the old man looked at the few people standing on the shore: "Hey, young folks over there, this is an old rickety boat. If you’re heading downstream, cough cough, you’d better line up over there."

　　Lynch revealed a childlike smile and shouted loudly towards the boat: "Uncle Van Dijk, you’d better put on your glasses, how else will you know who’s here?"

　　The old man was stunned for a moment and took two more puffs on his pipe. He pulled out a lens from the oily pocket of his shirt and perched it on his nose, squinting to look at the group of young people outside the boat.

"Child, I’m old and can’t remember who you are," the old man said, shifting the pipe from one side of his mouth to the other, exhaling smoke: "Don’t make this old poor man think too hard, tell me your name quickly."

　　Lynch waved his hand, the plank soared into the air bridging the pier and the deck: "Uncle Van Dijk, it’s me, Lynch. These are my companions. So, is it just you still here?"

　　"Lynch!" The old sailor’s mouth gaped wide, but his pipe remained steadily at his mouth’s edge: "Let me have a good look, child, how many years has it been since we last met?"

　　"About five years, I’d say," Lynch replied: "Time surely flies, but you still seem quite hearty, old sir. So, can you still sail?"

　　Van Dijk patted Lynch’s head; time had gently bent the old man’s back, and now the mage stood a good head taller than him. He looked at the once mischievous kid who used to run all over the boat, now grown into an adult: "Lynch, it’s so good to see you again, and this must be your wife behind you? Wow! The kid’s grown this much too?"

　　"No, no!" Lynch hurriedly said: "These are my companions, just companions." Soka didn’t mind much, but if Zilvra suddenly got angry, who knows what could happen.

　　However, the Drow woman seemed not to have heard Van Dijk, only looked at the ragged pieces on the deck with concern.

　　"I naturally know they are just your companions," Van Dijk leaned closer to Lynch, smiling softly. His facial wrinkles seemed to smooth out entirely for a moment, the joy in his heart swiftly erasing the ravages of time. He then said loudly: "But we can’t sail now, the Shell’s just like me, old and worn with problems everywhere. Besides soaking up the sun here, there’s nothing else it can do."

　　Lynch smiled and said to Van Dijk: "Uncle, as long as you can sail, I have a way." He pulled out a packet of tobacco from his pocket and handed it to the old man: "My mom said it’s better to give you the best tobacco directly rather than pay you boat fare to buy it."

　　Van Dijk quickly accepted it, eagerly sniffing the aroma of the tobacco through the sheepskin bag. He closed his eyes, his mouth subtly ajar, as if he was already enjoying the fine tobacco with his pipe.

　　"Your mom is truly thoughtful!" Van Dijk carefully tucked the sheepskin bag into a pocket near his heart and said: "Once I borrow a suitable boat, we can set sail!"

　　"There’s no need for that." Lynch waved his hand, half kneeling, his left hand with a refined gold palm pressed on the old deck, and his right hand summoned a silver light sphere. "I can fix it right up."

　　Silver light began to spread from his palm, enveloping the old planks which transformed back into robust wood, the rust on the copper nails disintegrating into dust blown away by the wind, cracks sealed up, and even the once faded name "The Shell" became bright and clear again.

　　Under the amazed gazes of everyone, the boat regained its vigor. The old hull seemed to be reborn, as if transported back to when it was brand new ten years ago.

　　"Now, can you sail it?" Lynch wiped sweat off his forehead; it was his first time attempting to alter such a large object: "I’ve repaired the boat, although some parts are smaller than before, there’s nothing I can do about that. I remember when I was young, Uncle, you operated this boat by yourself to go fishing on the Fengduo River, it should be fine now."

　　Van Dijk looked Lynch up and down, curious how the young lad managed this. He patted Lynch’s arm proudly and said joyfully: "Good lad, you’ve really got skills. It seems your abilities have greatly improved. But don’t underestimate your old uncle. Though I’ve aged, I haven’t lost my knack for sailing. So, where do you wish to go?"

　　"Let’s just drift downstream for now. It’s too early to talk about a destination." Lynch laughed happily: "Want my help?"

　　"Go pull up the anchor chain, if it doesn’t budge, call for me. Young man, don’t strain your back, ha ha ha." Van Dijk laughed heartily, holding his pipe, as he walked towards the mast.

　　Lynch didn’t immediately move towards the anchor chain; he stood still with his head down, seemingly observing the deck beneath him. But his Eye of Insight detected something strange on the distant mountain.

　　There was a man camouflaged with leaves, his face painted in colorful designs. He was standing behind a shrub watching the boats below.

　　"Truly amazing, a flash of silver light, and the old boat becomes like new," he muttered to himself, "The Elder will certainly find this discovery interesting." Having said that, he turned around and quickly vanished into the dense forest. The thick vegetation, like a solid wall, posed no barrier in his path.

　　Lynch scratched his head, "Bad luck, thought no one would see, didn’t expect someone in the mountains. With his attire, is he a Ranger of the hills or a Druid of the forest?"

　　Not long after, The Shell set sail amidst Van Dijk’s hearty laughter. It nimbly maneuvered around the large passenger-filled ships, like a sprightly elf on the waves, gliding downstream along the Fengduo River.

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