Chapter 39


    vin chuckled with ease. "Didn''t the Commander hold a Spar in your honor at the Cobalt Peak?


    How has it ended so soon?"


    "It should be over by now." The maiden''s garments fluttered as she moved with a light step,ing


    to vin''s side and sitting upon the stone bench.


    She sat quietly, gazing at the night sky brimming with stars. Her demeanor was graceful, akin to a


    blooming tulip, rich and fragrant.


    Celesse, the pride of Cobalt Strike, was one of the five illustrious Golden Protégés. She was also


    the object of countless Protégés'' admiration.


    Normally, she would hide her stunning beauty behind a veil, seldom showing a smile. But tonight,


    she had removed her veil, revealing her true face. Her skin was like silk, her eyes like deep pools of


    autumn, her nose sculpted, her lips moist and red, and her teeth like pearls. She possessed a


    beauty that could take one''s breath away, like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.


    vin gazed upon Celesse''s perfect profile, pleased for her. "Congrattions on advancing to an


    Advanced Mage. Are you happy?"


    Celesse tapped her fingers lightly, her lips pursing slightly. "I was quite happy when I broke through,


    but slowly, my heart has calmed. In truth, it''s nothing to be proud of. We Mages are like the stars in


    the sky, countless, all striving to shine. Every star that thinks itself bright will eventually find another


    that shines brighter."


    "That''s precisely why this world is so full of wonder, isn''t it?"


    Celesse''s smile was gentle, brightening the dark night. Only in front of vin, would she be so


    rxed and casual. "Thank you for the Combat Magic you sent me. Without it, I wouldn''t have


    advanced so quickly."


    "That Combat Magic is quite demanding. I only gave you the first phrase. Now that you''re an


    Advanced Mage, you might try the second phrase." vin produced the Grand Arcanum of the


    de.


    "I haven''t truly practiced the first phrase; I''ve only drawn new insights from it."


    "Why not practice it?"


    "It resists me."


    "What?"


    "It''s just a sheet, but there''s a strange feeling in the words... it seems to resist me."


    vin was surprised. Resistance? Could it be that the Grand Arcanum of the de''s mysteriesy


    not in the tome itself, but in the words within?


    "Where did you get this? This set of Combat Magic should be Master-level, or even higher." Celesse


    hadn''t practiced it, but she had studied it carefully.


    "The old man gave it to me before he left."


    "Where did he go?"


    "I wish I knew. He left without a word." vin shrugged.


    "Since it''s a gift from the old man, it belongs to you now." Celesse pushed the Arcanum back to


    vin. "Its techniques are profound and unique, unlike any standard Sword Skill of Cobalt Strike.


    When you have mastered it, you could give me some insights."


    "Alright."


    "Were you just practicing Combat Magic?" Celesse had been watching vin for a while. The


    boiling lightning, the robust Shockwave Cobra, and the intense brilliance, all formed a stunning


    picture. She could hardly believe this was the vin she knew.


    vin hesitated. "I killed Nysah and Ogmundr."


    "The herb gathering that happened some time ago?" Celesse was calm.


    vin briefly recounted the events in the forest. "I traded the Gold-Veined Bronzesword of Ogmundr


    for a set of Combat Magic."


    "The Gold-Veined Bronzesword is one of the treasured des of Botanic Haven. If those


    mercenaries show off too much, Botanic Haven might trace it back to you."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll just say I found it. I''m scarred from head to toe. I''m not afraid of anyone."


    Celesseughed softly, shaking her head. "Do you want to know what was said at the Spar today?"


    "Apart from some encouraging words, what else could there be?" viny back on the stone.


    "The Commander asked what gift I wanted, and I said to release you from your servitude and


    promote you to Senior Protégé."


    "Really?" vin sat up again, just havingid down.


    "The Commander didn''t agree, nor did he refuse. He might be seriously considering it. Since it


    involves the Grand Elder, the Commander has to be mindful of his dignity."


    Celesse had strived to reach Advanced Mage in hopes of helping vin escape his servitude. At


    the Spar, when the Commander asked her what she wanted, she spoke without thinking. But she


    didn''t expect the Commander to hesitate, and the other Elders to remain silent. Of course, it wasn''t


    the Commander who punished vin, but the Grand Elder. The Commander''s hesitation and the


    other Elders'' silence suggested that the Grand Elder still harbored resentment over the past and


    was not willing to let go.


    N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    It''d been eight years! Eight long years, and they still couldn’t forgive him?