Arknights' Lock of Heaven

“Yeah,” Xia Yu replied as she followed behind the little sheep, “I was too lazy to think of a code name, so I just used my own name.”

“I see,” Little Lamb said thoughtfully, “I heard from Miss Sharp that everyone on Rhodes Island has their own code name, and it took them a long time to come up with one for themselves…”

"Wouldn't it be strange if it wasn't your real name?"

“Of course not,” Xia Yu sighed, pushing the Lion Scorpion next to her forward. “You see, her code name is Lion Scorpion. Actually, people like me who use their real names as code names are a minority.”

"I see," the lamb said, relieved, and then looked at the lion scorpion.

"Miss Lion Scorpion, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"You... hello..."

After holding it in for a long time, the lion scorpion finally managed to utter three words before vanishing into thin air.

Xia Yu and Xiao Yang were left staring at each other blankly.

“I’m sorry,” Xia Yu gave the puzzled little lamb an apologetic smile, “Lion Scorpion is a little shy.”

"It's because of the effects of Ore disease."

To be precise, this is the normal reaction of the lion scorpion. This child usually communicates with people using notes, and it is only the exception that someone like Xia Yu can exchange a few words with her.

"Oh, I see," the lamb paused for a moment, then quickly waved its hand, "You don't need to apologize, it was my fault for being so rude..."

"By the way, what code name did you give yourself?" Xia Yu asked, quickly changing the subject as things got increasingly awkward.

"Ah, the code name," the little lamb said shyly, "is, it's Eyjafjalla, the name of a volcano."

“Volcano,” Xia Yu continued, “I remember you’re a volcanologist, Eyjafjalla, right? That’s a really simple and easy-to-understand code name.”

“Yes, my parents were both volcanologists, and I inherited their theories,” Eyjafjalla nodded, leading Xia Yu into the reception room. “Ah, senior, would you prefer tea or coffee? And Miss Manticore?”

"I still prefer tea," Xia Yu calmly took a cup of hot tea from thin air and placed it in front of her.

“The Lion Scorpion prefers coffee,” he said, retrieving another steaming cup of coffee from the void and placing it beside him.

The manticore appeared silently beside him and quietly picked up its coffee.

She was already used to Xia Yu's ability to pull out all kinds of food and drinks from anywhere.

"Eyjafjalla, what about you? Do you prefer tea or coffee?"

"This, is this senior's Originium Arts?" Eyjafjalla excitedly stepped forward, leaning forward to look at the hot tea in front of Xia Yu. Even the Manticore was startled by her outburst of enthusiasm.

"Wow, that's amazing. There's absolutely no trace of spellcasting or the structure of the incantation. Were these teas prepared in advance? Were they stored in some kind of space? Even the heat is locked in, so what about the rest? Are all other constants prohibited?"

“Um,” Xia Yu turned her head slightly away, avoiding Eyjafjalla’s inquisitive gaze.

How could he explain this? The Gate of Babylon has absolutely nothing to do with magic or anything like that…

“Hey Eyjafjalla, don’t get excited,” Xia Yu waved her hand, “You have to understand, not everyone is as proficient in all kinds of knowledge as you…”

“My Originium Arts are entirely innate,” Xia Yu said with a serious face, “I only know that I can do this, but I don’t know why I can do it, you understand?”

"Oh, I see..." Eyjafjalla sat back down in her chair regretfully. "Then there's nothing we can do..."

After all, there are far too many people like Xia Yu in this world; not every country has universal compulsory education like Letania.

Just like Frostnova, her Originium Arts are powerful enough, right?

But as a child who grew up on the snowy plains, it's already good enough that she knows how to use her Originium Arts. As for the principles... she never had the opportunity to learn them.

Originium Arts are entirely innate, with the exception of those inherited through bloodlines, but most of the time it depends on luck.

Perhaps you were born into nobility and your talent was limited to using something like a refrigerator, or perhaps you were just a commoner but once you wielded a staff, you became a sorcerer like Eyjafjalla with top-tier destructive power.

Nobody knows for sure.

"Eyjafjalla, what's your favorite drink?"

“Black tea…” Eyjafjalla answered dejectedly, then suddenly realized, “Oh, how rude of me, how could I let the guest prepare this…”

“Strictly speaking, we’re not guests,” Xia Yu waved her hand and said casually, “Isn’t this Rhodes Island’s office?”

"Ah, this...this..."

Eyjafjalla was clearly confused.

This is indeed Rhodes Island's office. Logically speaking, the two Rhodes Island operators should be the hosts, while I, who am about to join Rhodes Island, am the guest.

But I've lived here for quite a while, while they only arrived today...

So the question is, who is the guest and who is the host?

"Alright, no need to worry about it so much," Xia Yu said, taking out a cup of black tea from thin air. "I prepared all these drinks for people to drink, didn't I?"

Eyjafjalla stared at the empty space where Xia Yu had just taken out the black tea, and reached out to take the teacup.

She was never good at dealing with people, yet she achieved such success in her early twenties, having devoted almost all of her time to academics.

Not only is she a volcanologist, but she has also demonstrated extraordinary talent in advanced Originium Arts and high-energy spell casting.

With just this volcano skill, you can easily obtain a war sorcerer's weaving skill in any country.

But no country would ignore her academic achievements and simply treat her as a powerful sorcerer.

“Speaking of which, I also have a gift for you from a colleague who studies Originium, just like you,” Xia Yu said, pulling a notebook out of thin air and handing it to Eyjafjalla. “Her achievements in Originium research are no less than yours.”

Eyjafjalla reluctantly moved away from the void where she could never sense any spells, and then plunged headfirst into the notebook that Xia Yu handed her.

Seeing her engrossed in the activity, Xia Yu leisurely sipped her tea.

He has other things to do and can't linger in this city for too long.

After reading some of the notes left behind by the Doctor, Eyjafjalla would definitely want to head to Rhodes Island immediately.

These notes were originally given to the Doctor by Kal'tsit for his rehabilitation, but Xia Yu got a copy.

It's for this moment.

In the living room, only the sound of Eyjafjalla turning the pages of a book remained.

Xia Yu even took out a stack of small cakes and placed them next to her black tea.

Yes, lion scorpions are also present.

It wasn't until the sun was setting that Eyjafjalla, noticing the change in the surrounding light, looked up in a daze.

"Ah, it's already this late..."

She lowered her head awkwardly, rubbing her hands together nervously. "Senior, I'm so sorry, I was really... extremely rude..."

"It's alright, it's alright, I'm a scholar," Xia Yu said, putting on a world-weary look. "I'm used to it on Rhodes Island."

"I'm so sorry," Eyjafjalla said, blushing as she apologized again.

"It's really okay. I knew what was going to happen when I gave you this notebook."

"You scholars are all the same, that's normal."

"I would say I admire you guys quite a bit. I definitely wouldn't be able to read through these notes."

“Ah, a notebook,” Eyjafjalla exclaimed, holding up the notebook as if it were a priceless treasure. “Senior? Whose work is this? Why has it never been published before? This perspective on Originium… is truly novel!”

“Doctor,” Xia Yu said helplessly, seeing Eyjafjalla’s puzzled look, “Her codename is Doctor, as for her real name…”

"She was always hiding behind a mask, so I didn't even know what she looked like, let alone her real name."

"However, she recently had an accident and is currently suffering from amnesia. It's hard to say how much of her former knowledge she still remembers."

“Amnesia…” Eyjafjalla seemed to have suffered a major blow. “How could this be…”

As a scholar, she couldn't imagine what she would be like if she lost her memory.

“That’s one of the reasons I came to pick you up,” Xia Yu said with a smile, revealing the doctor’s true intentions. “As her friend, I’m really worried about her current situation.”

"But I don't have many options. Perhaps talking to a scholar who shares similar research interests might be helpful?"

95 Kind Little Lamb

Yesterday's deception was very effective.

Looking at Eyjafjalla, who had already packed her luggage, Xia Yu felt a little remorse for her deception for two seconds.

Yeah, just two seconds.

This kid is really something... getting ready to hit the road without even asking about the upcoming itinerary...

"I'm really embarrassed to say I've lived here for so long," Eyjafjalla exclaimed, blushing. "You rented such a luxurious house just for me..."

“This wasn’t rented…” Xia Yu said quietly, “It was borrowed from an old friend of hers by Kal’tsit, the head of the medical department…”

He only found out last night; it was when he and Lionscorpion were discussing whether Rhodes Island's budget was really sufficient that Lionscorpion told him.

Otherwise, Kal'tsit wouldn't have wasted so much money.

“I see,” Eyjafjalla nodded. “Minister Kal’tsit has a wide network of connections.”

She knew exactly who lived in this neighborhood.

Borrowing a house isn't something that can be done with just a regular relationship.

Most people would be lucky to exchange even a few words with them.

"Connections..." Hearing this, Xia Yu's lips twitched. "Do you know that Rhodes Island's idea to recruit you was first proposed by her?"