Chapter 163 – The Brutal Falcon Training

"What a magnificent creature… Falcons are said to be the birds of the G.o.ds, but is also a bird of prey. Even a bird of this kind that is raised since childhood by its master will still yearn for freedom than be a loyal dog. "

Elkson observed the creature from the windowsill.

“You mean, it's impossible for a falcon to obey orders?” Liszt frowned, he had originally planned to train Blessedcurls to be loyal and obedient to him.

“They can form a bond with the person who raised it, but it is impossible to force them to recognize a master without making it surrender. Domesticating a magical beast falcon involves forcing it to change its nature by brute force.”

“How do you change it?…..How do we train..?..”

"Endurance!"

"Endurance?"

"Yes, endurance is very important. To defeat the falcon's haughty behavior, the creature must not be allowed to sleep and must be kept hungry. To change its heart, we must break its habits. After that, it won't escape even if let out."

Elkson flexed his many years of falconry experience in front of Liszt.

The falconer planned to take 40 days to come up with a training method for the Falcon, which includes tools,steps and different methods of dealing with the creature,all of which aimed to try to break the heart of the falcon and make it a string puppet of its master.

After listening to Elkson's words, especially the means of domestication, Liszt felt inexplicably baffled.

When a falcon is without sleep, it loses its soul.

The whole training process was ,in truth ,just repeatedly torturing the eagles.

Liszt couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Elkson, are falcons really trained like this?"

The question surprised Elkson and made him laugh, "Baron Liszt, the falcon is just a beast. Humans domesticate beasts either to eat it, ride it, or to plow the fields. They are all used as tools. The use of falcons is just a more complex tool."

"Is there no moderate approach to do it? "

Liszt thought of how he has been treating Stupidwoman. But it was different, Stupidwoman was cared-for, as she was no ordinary beast.

Besides, there was a great smoke reward at stake.

“I apologize, Sir,” Elkson said peacefully. “I understand your point. It is true that the method of taming falcons is cruel, but compared with the benefits, this cruelty is nothing. The falcon is just a beast. If you don't tame it,sooner or later, you will have to fight it yourself and it will only cause you trouble. “

 Liszt thought about the whole situation for a while.

But in the end, Liszt took away the goodness in his heart and responded, “Well, starting tomorrow, Blessedcurls will be given to you for training.”

“It also requires your cooperation. It is best that you take five hours a day to train it with me. Only then can it surrender to you.”

Blessedcurls was screaming on the windowsill.

It had no idea at all that it's destiny is about to go downhill.

Liszt took a deep breath and suddenly changed his mind: “Mr. Elkson, I think we can afford to wait for a day or two. You can instead help me make crystal lamps. Mr. Glanny finds it difficult to make crystal lamps in a short time . “

Half of him was hoping that Blessedcurls could enjoy two more days, and the other half hoped to speed up the progress of the thorn sprite worm mission.

"If that is what you want Sir, I'd be happy to oblige."

—–

Elkson met with Glanny that night.

Elkson have Glanny a warm greeting: “Glanny, it's a pleasure to meet you again. It's been six months since we last met. Several times I wanted to visit Moss Town, but things were delayed.”

Glanny showed no emotion,  “I wouldn't write to you at all if it weren't for Baron Liszt needing a falconer.”

“I apologize if you have a negative preconception of me. I regret it. But Baron Liszt wants us to work together to finish all the crystal lamps as soon as possible.”

“Working with you? What a joke!”

Liszt wanted the two mages to meet, but seeing that it wasn't going well, he interjected, "Mr. Glanny, be rest a.s.sured that your reward is not small. I just hope to hasten the process. The crystal lamps and black pearl magic equipment must be finished soon."

“I don't think working with him can speed up the work, after all, not all mages know how to make a magical equipment."

Elkson kept smiling: “Great Mage Glanny, I agree that your technique is very good, but please don't degrade me so much. Working with comrades is good and even if my technique is not good enough, we're just here to make crystal lamps. Moreover, Baron Liszt has already said that he will pay me separately and I, therefore, will not rob you of your business. “

Glanny only stared him down.

Liszt said impatiently, “Well, this matter is settled, now, let's start the dinner.  Mr. Elkson, I hope you will be happy being with us here in Flower Town for a few days. “

Elkson smiled, “Thank you for your hospitality. I took a stroll around Flower Town earlier and I already love the beautiful scenery and people here, as well as its flouris.h.i.+ng facade.”

Liszt felt himself blush.

He originally thought that all mages were like Glanny, but now he knows that among mages, there are also elegant and n.o.ble figures.

By the time the dinner began, the town officials joined in.

The atmosphere was more lively, and Elkson's witty, humorous and erudite self quickly won the crowd. Glanny, on the other hand, with his cold face, drank and ate on his own, looking out of place in the banquet.

——

Two days have pa.s.sed.

With the addition of Elkson in the group, the production of crystal lamps has accelerated. By the morning of the third day, ten crystal lamps were successfully produced.

Also by then, the crystal lamps have been installed in the castle.

“Mr. Glanny,your next task is to build the Black Pearl magical equipment as soon as possible.” Liszt has long regretted choosing him to make the magical equipment. However, integrity is vital, so he did not change his way of engagement with Glanny.

Glanny's expression was still calm, yet his eyes were filled with pride: “What name are you going to give it? It will be an excellent magic weapon, therefore, it must have a name that fits its temperament so that I will not have wasted my magic creating such!”

“I've thought about it. The name is Calm Pearl.”

“Calm Pearl?” Glanny thought for a moment, and said politely, “It's better to call it Storm Eye. This is more imposing than Calm Pearl and more in line with its use.”

Storm Eye?

Calm Pearl?

Liszt had to admit in his heart that the name he came up with was indeed inferior to that of Glanny's. But Glanny's att.i.tude greatly displeased him,  “Just Calm Pearl, nothing else, Calm Pearl!"

Chapter 164 – The Key to the Evolution of the Thorn Worm

Liszt sent Glanny away so he wouldn't see what he was about to do.

He closed the door of his study, waved his hand so the smoke mission would appear.

"Complete the task and your reward will be a potion from the fast-growing thorns. "

"Potions!"

Seeing this from smoke snake task made Liszt's pupils dilate, for his dream was that the fast-growing thorns would result to a potion. It was a wise decision for him to not cut-off the thorns before. Potions are definitely more valuable than the thorns.

Things were timely as he was also in the elite knight level and could use some potion. 

It seemed like a rain came right on time to water his cold heart and refresh him.

The smoke slowly changed in front of the eyes, forming a new snake text: “Task: A thorn sprite worm's violent thirst for evolution requires five thorn varieties. A battle of fate has began, and as its master, you should lend a helping hand to provide the thorn worm varieties. Reward: a sprite."

Liszt's pupils widened again.

“The thorn worm serial mission has finally come to the final stage. My first sprite is a thorn sprite! I thought it was unlikely of it to evolve on its own.. I didn't expect it to be the most advanced new thorn species. However, there are no new thorn species in Flower Town. Looks like we have to source outside. “

There was no doubt in his thoughts.

Liszt called on his own knights, Philip and Xavier. They were his first knights to practice their qi, and therefore are the most promising to breakthrough to earth knight level. Liszt kept his eye on their training.

 “Philip, Xavier, I have a task for you.”

Both their young faces have been tanned from the sun. Their eyes no longer showed indifference but rather of perseverance. "We are willing to work, Sir!"

“Philip, you are to take a trip to Coral City and tell Captain Harpagon to scatter the caravan, look for thorns, but not just ordinary thorns. I want the unusual thorns species.”

Philip responded smartly, “Understood!”

“Xavier, you will follow the Thorns Caravan. The task is the same, to go looking for unusual thorn species. In addition, let Marcus know that I need him.”

“As you wish.”

Xavier called on Marcus who was training serf children.

“Sir, I was told you were looking for me?”

 “Come with me.” Liszt took Marcus directly to the wormhouse on the second floor, and showed him the fattening thorn worms, “Mister Marcus, you are my most trusted person. Look at these sprite worms, what can you tell about them? “

Marcus rarely saw sprite worms.

He was someone who is more interested in n.o.bles, and therefore has not searched information about Sprite Worms. This, however, did not mean that he knew nothing about them. After seeing the thorn sprite worm, he stumbled on the idea, “Sir, this thorn sprite worm … has it entered the fattening period?”

"There are four thorn vairites in this row. This thorn sprite worm is not ordinary, and I feel that it  has a strong desire to evolve. I must help it. I want you to visit Tulip Castle, as well as Beer Castle and Gravel Castle. “

"What task do you have for me, Sir?"

“Contact them and ask about their thorns. I am guessing there are thorns in all those three places. At least two thorns must be found in Tulip Castle. If they also have thorns that are not of ordinary species, let me know immediately. I will have these thorn sprite worms to a.s.similate those thorn species. “

Thomas nodded, and then frowned again and asked, “Sir, do you think it's possible for the thorn sprite worm to break through into a sprite?”

"Why not? Nothing is for sure, but there is always a probability. Even if there's only the slightest possibility, I would take it. I need the thorn sprite to take care of the fast-growing iron thorns, understand?"

"I see. I will take my leave now, Sir."

"Take these letters I have written with you."

—–

Marcus then left with the three letters.

Meanwhile, Liszt also kept himself occupied. He went to the thorn bushes with Tremblingwoods, and to Mr. Elkson who was itching to start the training as soon as possible.

The new potion from the fast-growing iron thorns will be called Fast-Growing Magic Thorns.

More fast-growing thorns, more fast-growing thorns, more fast-growing thorns, more fast-growing iron thorns, more fast-growing sprite thorns, and more thorns will benefit them greatly! Now it is about to break through. The benefits of thorns will be much better in the future.

Liszt was riding on the back of a dragon-type horse.

He suddenly came up with a very serious question: “Since I finally have my own raised sprite, does this mean I can change my last name? “

Some n.o.bles do change their surnames for their sprite.

Usually, after having their own sprite, families change their last name to proclaim their glory But greater sprites are rare, so many small n.o.bles learned instead to get lesser sprites and change their last name – a greater sprite's life lasts two hundred years, the lesser sprite's life lasts one hundred years, yet both can give the family several generations of glory.

The Tulip family, which began in the Count's days, evolved the Tulip lesser sprites into tulip greater sprites, and with that had their last name changed from “Watt” to “Tulip”.

The Weed family of Beer Castle has a Weed sprite, and their last name was directly changed to Weed.

The Broken Stone family in Broken Rock Castle also has a sprite, but didn't change their last name. Maybe they were aiming for another sprite species or maybe they were afraid of being criticized for having a sprite as a last name.

"Thinking about it now, I can change my surname to Thorns … Liszt Thorns … Liszt Tulip sounds more n.o.ble-like. Forget it, I won't change my name. I'll just keep my  Tulip surname, keep my distance from Tulip Castle, but continue to reap some benefits from the count.”. 

He arrived at the thorn bushes.

Two guards saw him approach and gave a salute.

Liszt cast his Magic Eyes and observed the thorns. Thorns are the most conspicuous and magical. Moments later, Liszt found new signs of magic in the corner of the bushes, and determined the location of the fast-growing magic thorns.

Fast-growing magic thorns are not that easy to spot. It was smaller than the other worms around it. Even when it wasn't in its seedling stage anymore, it still had a small structure. It grows to maturity in a month when its branches have completely grown out but the plant only reaches calf height.

“It doesn't have chaotic attributes like the black tulip, which is good. I will have a new potion and it will have the magic of fast-growing varieties. This will surely give me a gold production line!”

Liszt touched the fast-growing magic thorn plant, it's spine was small and unsharp, making it completely harmless.

However next to it was the fast-growing iron thorn with sharp stems, as if waiting to kill someone anytime.

“It is an absolute necessity to protect other thorns from this fast-growing devil's thorn. It must be s.h.i.+elded from head to root, or shoveled away to allow the other plants to grow.”

Liszt must come up with plans on how to cultivate the fast-growing magic thorns.

He , instead, came up with another problem, "Fast-growing magic thorns need thorns to increase production, and fast-growing iron thorns also need thorns to increase production. How can I have enough for both?”

One can't have the best of both worlds.

Liszt can only hope that the sprite worm will break through to thorn sprite earlier and will influence the other thorns immediately.

He looked up and saw the hundred acres of thorn plants, thinking of the steady stream of magic potions and high quality wood that would be generated from this place.

“The Sea of Thorns is a bit exaggerated; the Land of Thorns is a bit ordinary; the Forest of Thorns has no creativity … This bush will simply be called the Garden of Thorns. I want to treat this place like a garden!”