The flight passed in oppressive silence. While we were busy with tasks and couldn't distract, Lin Lin's situation didn't worry us too much. We mentioned her only a few times and preferred to focus on getting everything done on time. But right now, with no urgent business, we couldn't avoid thoughts of our little friend. And realizing her possible situation weighed on the soul no less than a couple-ton block. Not heavy, but unpleasant.
Upon arrival, without rest, we quickly reached "Clear Sky" and entered without delay. As always, it was empty except for Old Bao at the counter. Hunters from this organization are busy people and mostly take missions online. Rarely do you see any of them in this hall sipping tea.
"Hello, Director Bao. Do you know where Lin Lin is now?" I asked the owner of the place and Lin Lin's grandpa straight away. Who, by the way, wasn't in the hall.
"She went to school. By herself." He smiled a bit sadly and sighed resignedly. After his answer, we girls and I froze with mouths agape. Lin Lin going to school on her own? No way!
"...Something happened?" I asked, already guessing the possible reason. Old Bao sighed again at my question but decided to answer.
"After you somehow got rid of her negative innate talent on your last visit, Lin Lin came home full of joy and started Cultivating. But who knew her talent would be that bad? The element brightness stone showed such a dim glow after testing that it's hard to notice even in the dark." Old Bao sighed again.
"And that's only half the trouble. There are plenty of ways to improve a mage's talent in a specific element: eating flesh of strong monsters with the same element, unique natural treasures, or even heretical methods that groups like the Black Church love. I recently left Shanghai to get her some such natural treasures, and we managed to raise her element glow brightness to good genius level, but..." He involuntarily clenched his fists.
"...Nothing changed. Cultivation was still as slow. Accelerating vessels, Tonics, magic sources—nothing helped. Realizing it was strange, I called in old connections and took Lin Lin to a famous scholar specializing in element studies—Ping Chou Lun. And he, after a week of research, gave his grim verdict: a soul unfit for Cultivation." The counter cracked under his hand.
"As he explained, talent is born from the mage's very essence—his soul. Someone with the innate talent 'Ice Phoenix Wings,' for example, has the corresponding soul coloring, and ice element Cultivation comes easily. Same with Lin Lin. Her negative talent for Cultivation reflects her soul's unfitness for it. No standard methods can help. I even wanted to buy monster souls to indirectly boost Lin Lin's soul via stars. But Ping Zhou Lun said it's useless. Enhancing stars with souls only raises their own spirituality, allowing them to hold more energy. They don't affect the mage's own soul. And it turned out her soul isn't weak at all; apparently, someone already gave her a treasure for boosting it." Old Bao glanced at me, but I didn't pay attention, lost in thought.
Though I worked with Ping Chou Lun for a while to better understand fusion magic essence, I was more his errand boy than a real assistant. So I didn't know such nuances about a mage's soul reflecting innate talents. Nor did Old Bao himself until now. We're alike in that: both Battle Enchantment mages, not delving deep into magic theory beyond our elements.
I have some very specific knowledge, like about Magical Calamities, but I'm no true scholar. And that can be at least partially fixed. In my past life, I was always rushing somewhere and chased only combat superiority. Now, though still hurrying, thanks to my "cheat" and deeper knowledge of this world, I cut corners a lot, freeing up time. Like these three months before the Totem Serpent events in Hangzhou.
So why not spend some on studying magic theory, especially with one of the world's best scholars working for me? Plus, help him improve body enhancement technique by supplying test subjects and testing vetted innovations. Might even advance my soul transfer skills, or at least that component boosting stars from parallel worlds into ours.
As for Lin Lin, now I'm curious: if talent reflects the mage's soul, can transplanting a talent into a person affect their soul? Change it enough to turn a negative talent positive? Or is the reverse influence minimal? I didn't notice special changes in TuTu's abilities after transplanting two talents, and her case should be far less severe than Lin Lin's. Maybe need way more due to minimal reverse soul influence?
Anyway, I already had an idea to fix Lin Lin's situation: just transplant Cultivation to her. Yes, control would drop sharply, but with a suitable talent, that can be largely fixed. And if that doesn't help, I have other ideas. Method doesn't matter; main thing now is find Lin Lin. I'll experiment on criminals later.
"How soon will she be back from school?" I asked Old Bao, still deep in my thoughts.
"In half an hour. You can wait here; I just cooked navy-style pasta. A comrade from my old job taught me the recipe—delicious, you'll lick your fingers." He didn't continue the sad topic and went for lunch. And we weren't against it; we rushed here without eating.
We waited a bit more than half an hour, but didn't notice, the pasta was really tasty. I recalled homeland flavors from my first life, the girls tried a new dish. In short, time well spent.
Finally, Lin Lin appeared in the doorway. School backpack, white blouse with a yellow bow, plaid skirt. Glasses on her nose left no doubt she'd really gone to school. That very school she used to hate fiercely and avoid by all means. Her detached gaze said better than words what I needed to know about her state.
As soon as Lin Lin saw us, life sparked back in her eyes, but panic flared instantly too, and she spun around to run. Ha! Not with her normal body!
Gently accelerating so as not to break the wooden floor, I circled Lin Lin and stood right in front of her. Barely picking up speed and looking down, she predictably crashed straight into me. Catching her was no trouble, then I gripped her shoulders, not planning to let go anytime soon.
"We need to talk." Looking straight into her panic-filled eyes, I said firmly.