Chapter 230


    “Just recently achieved,” vin confirmed.


    “Advanced Mage? You’ve broken through?” Lucan eximed, surprised. “When did this happen?


    How did I not know?”


    Felir and Dainis exchanged looks of astonishment. Advanced Mage? Had vin advanced without


    a whisper? Such a prodigious pace was astounding!


    Damanughed heartily, pleased. “Excellent! He wasn’t mistaken about you.” He had been told that


    if vin reached Advanced Mage within half a year, there would be no more dissent within the


    family. Now, with the breakthrough achieved, vin''s potential to be an Archmage someday


    was clear, and Daman would return with good news.


    “Let’s not linger here. Let’s enter the city,” Balder beckoned the caravan.


    Lawren, ever the diplomat, quickly resumed his smile. “Ah, if you''re friends of vin, then you are


    friends of ours. Forgive my earlier conduct, pleasee in.”


    The Mollen family’s caravan entered the ancient city. Their wagons wereden with food, clothing,


    and vital herbs, just the first of many shipments meant to help Stormcast through the impending


    winter, to rebuild homes, and to restore the city to its normal rhythm.


    Lawren had never expected vin to enlist such a formidable alliance for aid and realized he had


    underestimated vin''s influence and resources. He secretly gave Dainis and Felir strict orders to


    keep a close eye on vin, ensuring they wouldn''t be caught off guard again.


    The siblings began to keep vinpany, offering him warm greetings and friendly conversation.


    vin managed their attentions with ease, while meandering through the town, checking on how


    the people were faring, assessing the mood of the popce, and inspecting the condition of the city


    walls.


    As evening approached, the siblings grew anxious. vin seemed guarded, and they couldn''t pry


    any useful information from his lips. Felir had considered trying to coax some words from Balder,


    but the rotund fellow was even more sly, chuckling and talking a lot, yet revealing nothing of


    substance.


    "vin, someone is looking for you," Oda told vin as soon as he entered the town hall.


    "Who is it?"


    "A beauty!" Oda said, pulling him along with a grin.


    Felir and Dainis exchanged nces, following vin. Dainis joked, "Which maiden has followed


    you here?"


    "A fine beauty indeed! Hurry, she''s just arrived!" Oda urged vin to move faster.


    "Why the excitement?" vin asked with a chuckle, shaking his head.


    In the courtyard, Helna emerged from the house, leading ady d in white by the hand, her smile


    radiant.


    Thedy was dressed in snow-white garments, with an aura of frost swirling around her, her long


    hair cascading down like a waterfall, smooth and graceful. Her silhouette was wless, a sight


    stunning enough to take one''s breath away.


    "Lady Mari, my brother is here," Oda announced, dragging vin back.


    Mari? Why had she returned? vin wondered.


    Mari quickly pulled away from Helna and strode over to vin, seemingly overwhelmed by the


    presence of Helna. "Where do you live?"


    "Over there," vin pointed to a simple dwelling ahead, with just a couple of rooms.


    "Who lives next to you?"


    "No one."


    "I will," Mari stated, moving her belongings straight into the adjacent room. She wasn''t one for


    socializing with crowds.


    Helna nodded in satisfaction, convinced that there was indeed something between the two. Now,


    they seemed set to live together.


    Oda winked at vin, making a fist as if to say, “Come on.”


    vin didn''t quite understand what had just transpired, and why Mari had settled in so promptly.


    Balder grumbled, "That room was supposed to be mine."


    "Who is she?" Dainis asked, puzzled by the enchantingly beautiful woman. So lovely and pure, she


    seemed like a maiden straight out of a mystical realm, not someone who could have been raised by


    any ordinary family or organization. How could such a woman be associated with vin, and even


    move into his courtyard so boldly?


    "She’s the Botanic Haven Elite Protégé from Cobalt Strike, Mari," Lucan added as he followed


    them in.


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "Is that Mari?" The siblings were shocked. They certainly knew of Cobalt Strike''s Mari, the


    sole Protégé of an Elder from Botanic Haven. But something didn''t add up. Wasn''t vin just a


    servant before? How did he suddenly have so many friends?