ã€ŠThe Rebirth Chronicles of a Wizardã€‹


 Chapter 1: Welcome to Another Realm!

    Amid the indifferent stares of the guards, Leoric and his elder sister, Leovena, ventured into Spiritshade City. The Shadowfell knew neither sun nor moon, nor did it boast any stars; its sky was forever shrouded in gloom. Above the city, a colossal, spherical light source, conjured by magic, gradually dimmed, heralding the onset of evening.

    "Today''s harvest was quite bountiful," Leovena chirped cheerfully to Leoric. "Your eyes are as sharp as ever; you even spotted that elusive shadow ring snake."

    "Mm," Leoric replied, his mind elsewhere, looking decidedly weary. Slung over his shoulder was a gray cloth sack, bulging with mysterious contents.

    "Are you hungry?" Leovena inquired. "Let''s hasten home. Mom must have dinner waiting for us."

    Leoric nodded silently, trailing behind his sister and picking up the pace.

    They traversed the market, turned into an alley, and continued straight ahead. As they passed the abode of the mute old man next door, Dahuang, the bald dog, emerged from the yard, barking at Leoric and Leovena.

    Leovena smiled, extending her hand to beckon the dog. Dahuang trotted obediently up to her, rubbing against her legs. She gently stroked his head, and the dog closed his eyes in bliss.

    Leoric absentmindedly reached out to pat Dahuang on the head before proceeding past Leovena toward their own yard. Leovena watched him with a slight frown, giving the dog another pat before following him inside.

    Their mother had indeed prepared dinner and awaited the siblings. Their father sat nearby, tallying the day''s accounts, his relaxed demeanor a testament to a prosperous day of business.

    "You''re back," their mother greeted them as she fried steaks, filling the air with an enticing aroma.

    "Mm," Leoric responded softly, depositing the sack beside a chair.

    Once their father finished tallying the accounts, the family of four gathered around the table for dinner. Their mother''s culinary skills were exceptional, and the steak was delightful. Everyone had toiled hard all day and had a hearty appetite, except for Leoric, who seemed preoccupied despite eating well, chewing and swallowing mechanically.

    Their father, being rather carefree, noticed nothing amiss, but their mother did. She glanced at Leovena questioningly, who shook her head slightly, indicating she was unsure of what troubled Leoric.

    "It must have been a tiring day," their mother said gently to Leoric. "Gathering materials is arduous work."

    Leoric shook his head, then nodded. "Yeah, kind of tired," he admitted. "Guess we walked too much today."

    His mother nodded, reaching out to brush the hair from his face. "If you''re tired, go to bed early. Tomorrow, you and your sister can rest at home."

    "Huh?" Leovena looked puzzled. "Don''t we need to tend to the shop tomorrow?"

    "We''re closing for the day," their mother said with a delighted expression. "Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary."

    "Oh," Leovena smiled.

    Leoric quickly finished his steak, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, "I''m a bit tired. I think I''ll go rest now."

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "Sleep early," their mother advised. "Make sure to cover yourself with the blanket."

    In their modest merchant''s household, space was at a premium. The siblings shared a bedroom with bunk beds, with Leoric occupying the top bunk.

    Lying on his bed, Leoric stared blankly at the ceiling.

    The door creaked open, and someone entered. Leoric felt the bed vibrate slightly and saw Leovena climbing the wooden ladder to the top bunk, leaning over to gaze at him.

    "Are you alright?" she asked.

    "Yeah, just tired," Leoric replied.

    Leovena touched his forehead, relieved to find no fever. "It must be the shock from that shadow ring snake today," she suggested. "Rest well. I''ll help Mom wash the dishes."

    "Okay."

    Leovena carefully tucked the blanket around Leoric, knowing he had a tendency to kick it off while sleeping, then quietly descended the ladder.

    "Leovena."

    She turned back as she was about to leave the room.

    "Yeah?" she asked.

    "A few days from now, it''s your birthday, right?"

    "And yours too," Leovena smiled. "We''re twins¡ªyou always say that. Are you secretly preparing something for me?"

    "It should be you giving me a gift," Leoric joked.

    "Don''t worry, you won''t miss out. Sleep well," Leovena chuckled softly and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.

    Enveloped in darkness and silence, Leoric lay alone on his bed, staring at the black ceiling, lost in thought.

    A few days hence would mark his and Leovena''s seventh birthday.

    Unconsciously, he realized he had resided in this other world for nearly seven years now.

    As a former avid reader of online novels, Leoric was no stranger to the concept of "transmigration." These days, transmigration was all the rage¡ªone could accidentally step into an uncovered manhole and, instead of fearing injury, find oneself in another world or ancient times. There, one might descend from the heavens, crash through a roof, and land atop some villain attempting to assault a maiden, only to awaken and have the grateful maiden throw herself into one''s arms.

    Leoric had always possessed a strong mental fortitude, both before and after his transmigration, in his previous life and in this one.

    Having good mental fortitude meant remaining calm in unexpected situations¡ªor perhaps it could be seen as being slow to react; it amounted to the same thing, depending on one''s perspective. After years of honing this skill, even if a masked robber wielding a gleaming knife suddenly appeared before him, Leoric would calmly shake hands and inquire, "How''s your day going? Need any sponsorship?"

    So, when he found himself abruptly transported from his computer screen to the realm of D&D, Leoric wasn''t the least bit surprised.

    Upon arriving in this new world, the first order of business was to assess the situation. Transmigration came in various forms: high-level transmigration involved both body and soul traveling to another time or place, effectively adding an unknown individual to the population; mid-level transmigration involved only the soul, resulting in possession; low-level transmigration involved neither body nor soul taking over, leading to reincarnation as an infant.

    Unfortunately for Leoric, his physical form hadn''t been robust enough to survive the journey, and his soul wasn''t resilient enough to possess another body. Thus, he found himself in the lowest form of transmigration¡ªreincarnation as an infant.

    Seven years had passed.

    Being an infant had its advantages¡ªchief among them the ability to adapt slowly to the new environment without experiencing culture shock. Life was simple: eat, sleep, and let others care for everything. Compared to waking up at seven in the morning, toiling until nine, and struggling to earn a meager salary, Leoric felt he was residing in paradise rather than the mortal realm.

    But children inevitably grow up.

    Over these seven years, Leoric hadn''t squandered his time. He listened intently to everything he could, learning about this new world. He was a quick learner.

    Clearly, this was a fantastical realm teeming with deities, elves, dragons, and magic¡ªthough the first three remained uncertain as he hadn''t witnessed them firsthand, the latter was undeniable.

    After all, his family ran a shop selling magical components.

    Today, Leoric and Leovena had spent the day outside the city gathering various materials for spells. Their customers were the wizards of Spiritshade City.

    Leoric wasn''t content with a mundane existence. Since his transmigration to this fantastical world, he aspired to make a name for himself. He certainly didn''t want to spend his entire life as a small-time merchant like his father¡ªit would be too lamentable.

    In his previous life, he had devoured many online novels set in such worlds. With dragons, magic, and elven beauties, it was a dream come true. Leoric dreamed of becoming a legendary hero, surrounded by beautiful women.

    It was a pleasant dream, but Leoric was beginning to realize that it might remain just that¡ªa dream.

 Chapter 2: The Aspiration for Strength

    He racked his brain, trying to recall the online novels he had devoured in his former life, only to realize that his present predicament was direr than any he had ever read. To emerge as a hero, one required immense power. Though this fantastical realm wasn''t wholly governed by the law of the jungle, the weak could never claim the spotlight. In Leoric''s memory, not a single fantasy novel featured a physically frail protagonist rising to heroic status.

    Heroes were always those endowed with great might¡ªpotent wizards, skilled swordsmen, or even chosen ones of deities. Therefore, he had to become strong. But the path to strength was fraught with challenges.

    Attaining power wasn''t a simple feat. Running a shop and peddling goods wouldn''t transform him into a powerhouse. He needed to learn, train, embark on adventures, and choose a career path. Over seven years of keen observation, listening, and analysis, Leoric had garnered considerable knowledge about the world he now inhabited. There were numerous adventurous professions here¡ªwarriors, wizards, paladins, clerics, druids, bards, and more. It sounded like a realm where one could pursue their passions, but it was far from that.

    Everything was complicated because he resided in Spiritshade City.

    "Cursed City of Shades," Leoric muttered, his brow furrowing as he lay on his bed.

    Spiritshade City was an extraordinary city¡ªa floating metropolis that hovered in the air, militarized with a rigid hierarchy. Most importantly, it wasn''t situated in the Material Plane but rather in the Shadowfell.

    The Material Plane, or the Prime Material Plane, was the mortal realm where humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and other races coexisted. The Shadowfell, however, belonged to the Outer Planes, akin to the Abyss where demons dwelled or the Nine Hells where devils reigned.

    Originally, there were no humans in the Shadowfell¡ªSpiritshade City was a settlement of immigrants.

    Legend had it that around two millennia ago, the Netheril Empire thrived in the Material Plane, boasting a splendid magical civilization. Wizards crafted countless wonders, one of which was the floating cities, including Spiritshade City, once known as "Shadowdale."

    A catastrophe struck, causing the Netheril Empire to crumble almost overnight, with nearly all floating cities crashing¡ªexcept for Spiritshade City.

    Before the disaster, the lord of Spiritshade City orchestrated a grand magical experiment, breaching the planar barriers and relocating the city from the Material Plane to the Shadowfell. After a period of exploration, they returned to the Material Plane.

    What they witnessed upon their return was devastation¡ªthe once-great empire lay in ruins.

    The wizards of Spiritshade City divined that a ferocious creature called Fomorian had annihilated the Netheril Empire.

    Revenge was inevitable, but since the Fomorians were potent enough to obliterate the mighty Netheril Empire, and with most floating cities crashed and wizards decimated, Spiritshade City couldn''t confront them alone and retreated back into the Shadowfell to regroup.

    They planned to amass strength and seek vengeance, but something went awry. This time, when they ventured into the Shadowfell, they encountered an insurmountable obstacle, thwarting any further attempts to return to the Material Plane, despite the wizards'' relentless efforts.

    Thus, Spiritshade City became an isolated outpost within the Shadowfell. Aside from its inhabitants, there were no other humans, elves, or dwarves¡ªonly endless shadow creatures.

    As an isolated island, self-sufficiency was paramount. The city operated under semi-military management, with essential supplies rationed. Items sold in stores held little value, and each store catered to a stable clientele. For instance, Leoric''s family served the limited number of wizards in the city who required specific spell components. Prices were fixed, and market expansion was impossible, so profits barely sustained basic needs.

    This was dire indeed.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Spiritshade City was a semi-militarized, hierarchical city. Its ruling class consisted primarily of wizards and clerics. Classes like paladins and druids were nonexistent, and never would be. There were some warriors, rogues, or bards, but their status was lowly.

    In Spiritshade City, wizard schools and temples abounded. Wizard schools admitted students regardless of background but imposed exorbitant tuition fees; temples didn''t charge fees but required noble lineage, excluding commoners from the clergy.

    Leoric had no desire to become a cleric, so that avenue was closed to him.

    The most promising option was to become a wizard.

    But how could he afford the steep tuition?

    Spiritshade City enforced rigorous elite education. As the city lord proclaimed, "We need, and only need, elites." The wizard school admitted students annually without a set quota, accepting anyone who could pay. The course spanned five years, with roughly a hundred new students enrolling each year. However, only ten students graduated annually¡ªa dropout rate of ninety percent.

    Those who failed to graduate were relegated to civilian life, unable to attain wizard status, and the tuition was forfeited.

    Leoric''s family had been small merchants for generations, operating a spell component shop. They had some savings, though Leoric was unaware of the exact amount. But if all the savings were expended, perhaps he could gain entry into the wizard school.

    Yet Leoric knew his parents wouldn''t take such a gamble unless they were insane. While becoming a wizard would elevate the family¡¯s status, the ninety percent failure rate was too risky.

    Failure meant losing everything, as the wizard school didn''t refund tuition.

    That''s why many commoners, knowing that their children could escape low social status by becoming wizards, rarely risked their life savings on wizard schools due to the enormous stakes involved.

    Leoric couldn''t fault his parents; he could only bemoan his fate. "If I had to be reborn here, why not as the offspring of a king or lord? Why must I be a merchant¡¯s son in Spiritshade City?"

    Born into a merchant family with meager social standing and limited financial resources, what could he do?

    If he were in the Material Plane, Leoric might consider fleeing Spiritshade City to seek opportunities elsewhere, perhaps encountering a reclusive old wizard willing to take him as an apprentice. But this was the Shadowfell, where venturing beyond ten miles outside the city meant facing death at the hands of lurking shadow monsters.

    Rising above his station seemed like a distant dream.

    Despite his thoughts, life had to continue. Initially, Leoric struggled with his new identity, haunted by memories from his previous life. However, over seven years, he adapted to his surroundings, family, and daily interactions with his parents, sister, and the mute neighbor and his bald dog.

    Life carried on peacefully, while Leoric pursued his dream of becoming a wizard. But realistically, what could a six-year-old boy from a merchant family, albeit mentally an adult, achieve in a closed, semi-militarized city? Not much.

    Could he sneak into a wizard''s abode with a fruit knife and threaten him for magic training? Leoric lacked confidence in his stealth and deception skills. Though he believed that transmigrants often possessed protagonist-like traits, he couldn''t take the risk.

    Leoric wasn''t willing to gamble with his life.

    As a member of a merchant family, he couldn''t expect luxuries. Hardships forced children to mature early. By age five, Leoric was already assisting his father in collecting spell components daily, alongside his sister Leovena.

    Spiritshade City was perched atop a floating mountain. Potent wizards had severed a mountain peak, inverted it, and enchanted it to hover, constructing the city on the flattened summit. The mountain''s surface area spanned about fifty square miles, with thirty square miles dedicated to the city, and the rest to farmland, kilns, mines, and forests. Although there was no sun in the Shadowfell, magic nurtured trees to grow swiftly and robustly.

    Leoric''s family owned a small plot outside the city, cultivating plants like shadow orchids, saffron, licorice, and peas, which they processed into spell components. At first, his father accompanied them, but later, Leoric and Leovena worked independently while their parents managed the shop.

    These materials were inexpensive and common, yielding minimal profit. To earn more, they sought rarer items like live crickets or spiders. Today, Leoric spotted a shadow ring snake in the grass¡ªan endemic species of the Shadowfell, harmless despite its menacing appearance. Its tongue and skin were valuable components for higher-level spells.

    Leoric picked up a stone and crept towards the snake, crushing its head. Startled, the snake lashed out, striking Leoric in the face. Leovena rushed forward, wielding a stick to fend off the snake and support Leoric. Despite its injuries, the snake attempted to flee but was ultimately captured and slain by the siblings. Leovena happily tucked the snake away.

    "At least thirty coppers," she said. "Perfect for your birthday present."

    Her casual remark cast a shadow overLeoric''s heart. Retaining his past memories, he hadn''t taken his current life''s birthday seriously until now. Hearing Leovena reminded him that his seventh birthday¡ªand seven years in this world¡ªwas approaching.

    Looking at his tools and the bag on his shoulder, did he truly have to spend his life as a merchant in Spiritshade City?

    He refused to accept this fate. He needed to seize any opportunity to rise above his circumstances.

    But where would that opportunity come from?

 Chapter 3: The Enchanting Sister

    Leoric tossed and turned in a melancholic haze, his restlessness extending deep into the night. Seven long years of contemplation had yielded naught; what difference could one sleepless night possibly make? The only consequence was that he overslept, awakening far later than his usual time.

    When he finally stirred, his head felt as heavy as a stone, and the faint touch of fever lingered. Gazing out the window, he saw that the artificial sun of Spiritshade City had transitioned from its crimson dawn to a mid-morning blaze, likely around the tenth hour.

    Clambering out of bed, Leoric shuffled into the living room, where he found his sister Leovena engrossed in sorting through the spell components they had gathered the previous day. Peas awaited grinding into powder, saffron needed drying, licorice roots required slicing, and the captured spiders had to be kept alive in bottles, essential for casting Spider Climb spells ¨C the spider must be swallowed whole, still wriggling.

    The unfortunate shadow ring snake had been gutted, its tongue carefully wrapped in paper, and its skin meticulously peeled away. The meat was set aside in the kitchen, destined for a soup later.

    Leoric''s family ran a spell component shop, reminiscent of an ancient Chinese pharmacy, with all manner of peculiar ingredients that demanded meticulous organization within tiny drawers. Customers would arrive to purchase them by the ounce or pound ¨C for this world knew no units like jin or liang. Leoric and Leovena often assisted their parents with this tedious task.

    Leoric didn''t begrudge the work, despite its monotony. After all, if he aspired to become a wizard, familiarizing himself with these materials early on could only be beneficial. However, the repetition over time had dimmed his initial enthusiasm.

    "Up already?" Leovena greeted him without averting her gaze from her task. "Breakfast is on the table."

    "Where are Mom and Dad?" Leoric asked, curiosity piqued.

    "They went out shopping," Leovena replied. "It''s their tenth wedding anniversary."

    Leoric observed Leovena''s radiant countenance and felt perplexed. "Why are you so delighted about their anniversary?"

    "I just am," she said simply.

    Leoric shrugged, unable to contest her sentiment. Girls seemed to place immense significance on such milestones. In his former life, his second girlfriend had ended their relationship because he couldn''t recall the exact date they first met, claiming it proved he didn''t value their relationship. Though Leoric believed he did care, he had no choice but to let her go when she insisted.

    Banishing these irrelevant thoughts, Leoric turned his attention to breakfast. Dining alone could be tedious, but life required some joy ¨C if not naturally occurring, then one must create it.

    As he sipped his milk, Leoric watched his sister, finding solace in this simple pleasure amidst his otherwise mundane existence.

    (Version One: Leovena and Leoric were twins, with Leovena emerging first, thus claiming the title of elder sibling. Despite her tender age, her beauty was undeniable, and all agreed she would blossom into a stunningly attractive woman.)

    (Version Two: Leovena and Leoric were not blood-related. According to their mother, Leoric was originally her sister''s child, orphaned shortly after birth when his biological parents perished. Their mother took him in as her own. Since both were born on the same morning, it was impossible to determine who was older, but Leoric, having arrived later in the household, was considered the younger sibling. During those early days, Leoric had been newly reincarnated and barely aware of his surroundings. He had no memories of his biological parents and thus regarded his adoptive parents as his true family. By their mother''s account, Leoric and Leovena were technically cousins, but...)

    "Sister, are you certain we''re not twins?" Leoric inquired.

    "Are you feeling unwell?" she responded.

    "No, I''m serious. We were born on the same morning, right? And don''t you think we resemble each other?"

    "Many people share birthdays; does that make them twins?" Leovena continued her work without looking up. "And regarding our resemblance, aren''t you embarrassed?"

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    "Embarrassed? Why should I be?"

    "You''re a boy, yet you look like a girl. Isn''t that embarrassing?"

    "I don''t look like a girl!"

    "I''m a girl, correct?"

    "Yes."

    "And we look alike, right?"

    "Well... yes."

    "So, you resemble me ¨C a girl. Therefore, you look like a girl."

    Her flawless logic left Leoric speechless. Even if he wished to argue, he could find no retort.

    Truthfully, Leoric and Leovena did bear a striking resemblance, leading many to assume they were twins. It wasn''t that Leoric appeared feminine, but rather that Leovena embodied a unique blend of beauty and strength.

    Leovena was indeed exquisitely beautiful, even at her young age, and everyone foretold that she would mature into a breathtakingly gorgeous woman. Leoric wholeheartedly agreed. But beauty took many forms ¨C coquettish, petite, cute, gentle ¨C and Leovena combined gentleness with a subtle aura of vigor.

    In fact, Leoric adored her deeply, more than anyone else.

    Frankly, Leoric harbored a profound affection for his sister ¨C an "older sister complex," so to speak. While some idolized their parents, others preferred younger or older romantic interests, Leoric firmly believed in the allure of an elder sister. Having been an only child in his past life, he had always yearned for a beautiful older sister. His favorite tales involved intricate sibling relationships.

    If asked which plotline he despised most in novels, he would undoubtedly declare, "I hate those stories where siblings end up together after discovering they''re not related." In short, Leoric was an unabashed "sister-lover."

    Now, having been reborn, despite other aspects of his new life being less than ideal, having a beautiful older sister brought him immense joy ¨C even if they weren''t biologically related. Growing up together had forged a bond as strong as that of true siblings. Leoric, however, respected boundaries ¨C he would never dream of acting on his feelings toward a seven-year-old girl, especially since he himself was also only seven.

    He could wait until they were older, he thought mischievously.

    Overall, Leoric and Leovena shared a harmonious relationship, their bond unwavering and supportive.

    Living with the consciousness of an adult trapped in a child''s body for seven years had been arduous. Leoric had to be cautious not to reveal anything out of place, lest he be deemed a freak and subjected to scrutiny. The only times he could relax were when he was alone with Leovena.

    Leovena was a remarkable sister ¨C kind, considerate, and intelligent, always wearing a sweet smile. She never lost her temper, no matter what Leoric did wrong. She was also the only one privy to Leoric''s dream of becoming a wizard.

    In Spiritshade City, aspiring to be a wizard was considered a noble pursuit. Leoric''s ambition wasn''t something to conceal; it was admirable. However, given his unusual background, he feared that revealing too much might lead to unforeseen consequences, perhaps even being used as a test subject by wizards. Furthermore, knowing their financial situation, he realized his parents couldn''t afford to send him to wizard school.

    But spending so much time with Leovena inevitably led to slips of the tongue.

    "Do you want to be a wizard?" Leovena once asked.

    "Yeah."

    Since Leovena knew, there was no need to hide it. Every child dreamed of becoming a wizard.

    "It''s tough to become a wizard," Leovena remarked.

    "I know, it''s just a thought."

    "But it''s not impossible," she said. "Haven''t you heard of the ''Decider''?"

    Yes, the Decider.

    The Decider was a legend known throughout Spiritshade City. It was said that somewhere within the city, a mysterious figure observed children and adolescents, identifying those with exceptional arcane talent. This person would secretly take them away for rigorous wizard training, bypassing the need for formal schooling and tuition fees.

    No one knew the true identity of the Decider. Some speculated it was a high-ranking archmage, others thought it was one of the twelve princes of the city lord, or perhaps the deputy mayor, Lord Hojaana, or even the city lord himself, Telamont. Speculation was rife, but certainty eluded them.

    For Leoric, however, it remained just a legend. He had never encountered anyone who had actually been chosen by the Decider. Even his parents couldn''t confirm whether anyone in their family had ever been selected.

    Even if he did possess extraordinary magical talent, relying on such a whimsical tale was unrealistic.

    Leovena understood the slim chances of such hopes materializing and never mentioned it again. When Leoric inquired about her dreams, she merely smiled and said,¡°I just hope to live a happy life.¡±

    ¡°What does happiness mean to you?¡±Leoric pressed.

    Leovena shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. Maybe someday I¡¯ll figure it out.¡±

    Indeed, growing up in Spiritshade City, especially in a merchant family, it was wise not to expect too much from the future.

    ButLeoric wasn¡¯t ready to give up.

    After a hearty breakfast,Leoric felt comfortably full and lay back on the sofa, watching Leovena work diligently. He wasn¡¯t particularly industrious, especially with his parents out and the weather so pleasant. He planned to either nap or play outside, rather than help with chores.

    But his beautiful sister was hardworking, as always.

    ¡°Saffron goes in drawer seventeen¡­¡±

    ¡°Agave in drawer thirty-one¡­¡±

    She murmured softly, placing each item in its designated spot.Leoric lounged lazily, admiring the diligent little girl as she moved about, imagining how stunning she would be as an adult. The warm sunlight streamed through the window, bathing everything in a cozy glow.

    Life seemed quite pleasant indeed.

    Until someone rushed in, disrupting Leoric¡¯s moment of peace.

 Chapter 4: Bad News, Fever, and a Tender First Kiss

    The door burst open, revealing Castro, a familiar middle-aged neighbor from Leoric and Leovena''s street. They often exchanged nods and greetings, but today, he was out of breath and frantic.

    "Leovena, Leoric," he panted, his voice trembling with urgency. "Something terrible has happened!"

    And indeed, it had. What was meant to be a celebration¡ªtheir parents'' tenth wedding anniversary¡ªhad turned into a nightmare. Fate had dealt them a cruel hand, crossing their path with two wizards known for their fiery tempers.

    These wizards, it seemed, harbored some unspoken grudge or simply loathed each other''s existence. Regardless, their animosity simmered for years. On this fateful day, their paths converged in the marketplace, and a trivial encounter sparked a fierce argument.

    Arguing might have been one thing, but their dispute escalated into a duel¡ªa wizard''s duel, far more spectacular and devastating than any sword fight. The collateral damage was catastrophic, claiming the lives of Leoric''s parents among others.

    Leoric knew little of the circumstances surrounding their deaths; the scene had been sealed off before he could investigate. Nearby witnesses had also perished, while those farther away were silenced under strict orders.

    Spiritshade City, as mentioned before, was a place of rigid social hierarchy, ruled jointly by wizards and priests. Wizards wielded secular power, while priests controlled religious faith. Together, they stood at the apex of society, with merchants like Leoric''s parents occupying a humble rung just above servants and slaves. The other victims were similarly low-ranking¡ªmerchants, craftsmen, and ordinary townsfolk, none belonging to the upper echelons.

    When high-ranking individuals caused the death of many lower-ranked ones, the law turned a blind eye. This system mirrored the class-stratified society of ancient China''s Yuan Dynasty, where privileges increased with rank.

    Yet, something about this incident felt amiss. Spiritshade City, despite its strict hierarchy, was diligently policed, operating under a semi-military regime. Public brawls were forbidden, and wizards, despite their immense power, generally adhered to the rules. Priests, on the other hand, were more prone to misconduct.

    In Spiritshade City, only one deity held sway¡ªShar, the goddess of night, and her clergy were the sole priests allowed. Shar was a cunning, somewhat mad deity, and her priests mirrored her traits. Backed by their goddess, they stood alongside wizards as the ruling class, often disregarding laws and causing chaos.

    A duel between two priests might have been more understandable, but two wizards? It was almost unthinkable, unless both had lost their sanity simultaneously.

    Speculation was futile now. The deed was done, and as children of commoners, Leoric and Leovena could only do what was within their power¡ªarrange their parents'' burial with the help of neighbors and await the official resolution.

    The administrative machinery of Spiritshade City moved swiftly. By late afternoon, the verdict was announced, unsurprisingly lenient. Each family received eighty gold coins as compensation, and the offending wizards faced minimal internal punishment. After all, they were wizards, high-ranking individuals, while the deceased were mere commoners.

    Thus, just three days shy of their seventh birthday, Leoric and Leovena lost their parents, receiving eighty gold coins in return.

    Leovena took the bag of coins from the government official, her expression blank. She closed the door, locked the coins in a cabinet, and whispered, "Revenge." Then, she broke down in tears.

    Shortly after, Leovena fell ill. Overwhelmed by grief and catching a chill, she developed a fever that evening. She tossed and turned, unable to find rest. Initially, Leoric wasn''t overly concerned, but as time passed, his worry grew. He approached her bed and found her face flushed, her forehead burning hot.

    "She''s running a fever," he murmured, his first instinct to seek out a priest at the temple. But in this magical world, there were no doctors; only magic could cure ailments, and it wasn''t expensive. Alternatively, he could buy potions from specialized shops, also reasonably priced.

    Yet, he remembered the curfew in Spiritshade City. As a commoner, he wasn''t allowed outside after dark. Even if he reached the temple, the priests of Shar conducted their rituals at night and wouldn''t attend to patients.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Damn it, what now?

    Drawing on his past life''s knowledge, he recalled that fevers required cooling measures. One method involved medication, which he didn''t have. The other involved physical cooling¡ªusing wet towels soaked in cold water or alcohol to reduce body temperature.

    His father had enjoyed drinking, so there was some alcohol at home. Leoric filled a basin with cold water, soaked a towel, folded it, and placed it on Leovena''s forehead. He retrieved two bottles of alcohol from his father''s room, opened them, and poured some onto another towel, preparing to wipe her body.

    Neither in his past nor present life had Leoric cared for the sick, and the suddenness of the situation made him clumsy. After soaking the towel in alcohol, he realized he hadn''t undressed Leovena yet.

    He set the towel aside and began unbuttoning her clothes. Though inexperienced, he had seen girls undressed before. Leovena, delirious with fever, offered no resistance. Soon, she lay naked before him.

    In Spiritshade City, without moonlight, the dim glow from the street lamps filtered through the window, casting a soft light over Leovena''s body. Her skin appeared like flawless jade, glowing softly with an irresistible charm.

    Due to the fever, Leovena shifted restlessly. Every movement subtly changed the play of shadows across her body, like ripples on a still lake.

    As the shadows danced, Leoric''s gaze drifted downward, noticing the smooth curve of her waist, the gentle rise and fall of her flat belly, and further down, between her legs, a hint of pink.

    "Beautiful," he whispered, admiring her briefly. At seven years old, Leovena''s body was still undeveloped, retaining a naive beauty rather than the allure of maturity. Leoric harbored no real desire for young girls; having seen adult women in his past life, he felt no attraction.

    He began wiping her body with the towel, meticulously applying the cooling method he''d heard about but never tried. After carefully wiping her twice, Leovena seemed to feel the coolness, her body becoming less feverish and her breathing steadier.

    Relieved, Leoric continued to apply the alcohol, covering every inch of her skin. He moved from her neck and shoulders to her still-flat chest, lingering there, imagining its future fullness, before moving down to her abdomen.

    After wiping her abdomen, Leoric gently parted her legs, carefully applying alcohol to her sensitive inner thighs. Unlike adult women, Leovena''s body remained hairless, pure and innocent.

    "I wonder if you''ll grow up to be a true snow bunny?" he chuckled softly.

    After several rounds of wiping, Leovena''s breathing became steady and deep. Her tossing and turning ceased. Exhausted, Leoric checked her forehead¡ªit was no longer burning hot. The crisis seemed to have passed.

    He wrung out the towel, hung it up, sealed the alcohol bottles, covered Leovena with a blanket, and emptied the water from the basin. Returning to the room, he found Leovena sound asleep.

    Feeling tired himself, Leoric prepared to climb into his bunk when he heard Leovena murmur his name. Startled, he leaned closer. "Leovena?"

    "Cold," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

    Concerned, Leoric reached under the covers and felt her body¡ªit was indeed cold. They had shared a bed before turning five, and he knew Leovena tended to be cooler than him. According to his memories, normal body temperature was around 37 degrees Celsius, while Leovena''s was usually around 36. Tonight, she was even colder, her fingers slightly icy.

    Had he overdone the cooling? Uncertain, Leoric noticed Leovena shivering, curled up tightly.

    "Alright, seems like I need to become the eco-friendly, silent, safe, and warm human heater," he thought wryly.

    He quickly stripped off his clothes and slid into the bed, wrapping his arms around Leovena. His higher body temperature provided immediate warmth. Feeling the warmth, Leovena instinctively snuggled closer, clinging to him like a koala. Her body emitted a milky scent mixed with the alcohol from earlier, creating an intoxicating aroma.

    It was indeed a very cold night. Leoric waited until his hands warmed up, then gently stroked Leovena''s back, slowly moving down to massage her small buttocks. "Feels good," he whispered in her ear. "You''re mine, sister."

    Though it felt strange for a mentally twenty-something-year-old man to call a seven-year-old girl "sister," the word brought Leoric a sense of comfort.

    He tenderly caressed her entire body, using his warm palms to chase away the cold. Gradually, Leovena stopped trembling, her teeth ceased chattering, and she clung toLeoric, burying her face in his neck, her breath fragrant against his ear.

    His ears had always been sensitive, often targeted during playful moments with his girlfriend. Even after reincarnation, this sensitivity remained.

    Unable to indulge in such sensations,Leoric gently adjusted Leovena¡¯s position. The streetlights dimmed, plunging the room into darkness. In the faint light, Leovena¡¯s face appeared serene, her long eyelashes casting shadows, her nose delicate, and her lips exquisite.

    Unable to resist,Leoric bent down and kissed her lightly on the lips.

    Her lips were dry and rough from dehydration, unlike their usual softness. Despite this, the sensation was unique and captivating.

    Lost in the kiss,Leoric finally pulled away. ¡°This is our first kiss,¡± he whispered to the sleeping girl. ¡°I want you to be my sister and my lover.¡±

    Leovena didn¡¯t hear.

    Getting up,Leoric fetched a glass of water, sipped some, and then returned to kiss her, transferring the water into her mouth. Leovena, thirsty, parted her lips, allowingLeoric to slip his tongue inside, exploring her mouth, tasting the sweetness within.

    Eventually, they both drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 5: A Glimmer of Hope

    When Leoric awoke, the sunlight pierced his eyes with a painful brilliance. He squinted, struggling to adjust to the light that, in truth, wasn''t all that intense. After a few moments, he opened his eyes fully and discovered he was lying on the lower bunk ¨C Leovena''s bed, covered with her blanket adorned with pink teddy bears.

    Leoric''s memories of this blanket were vivid. Before their sixth birthday, they had shared a bed and a blanket. But after that milestone, their mother had decided it was time for them to have their own spaces. She had installed bunk beds and bought new blankets for each of them. Leoric still remembered the day they went shopping with their mother. Leovena had fallen in love with the pink teddy bear blanket at first sight, while he had chosen a more conventional checkered pattern without much thought. In reality, he had secretly liked the pink teddy bears too.

    But why was he here, in Leovena''s bed?

    Leoric''s thoughts swirled as he recalled the events of the previous night. It all seemed like a dream ¨C the sudden loss of his parents, Leovena''s fever, him wiping her body and holding her as she drifted off to sleep. Everything felt surreal, as if last night had been nothing more than a nightmare.

    Yet, he was indeed lying in Leovena''s bed. So, it couldn''t have been a dream, could it?

    Leovena was not beside him; her bed was empty. Leoric sat up, naked, his head still a bit fuzzy. As his wits slowly gathered, he noticed his clothes neatly draped over a chair by the bed.

    He dressed quickly and stepped out of the bedroom. Leovena was nowhere to be seen, but he could hear sounds coming from the kitchen. A glimmer of hope flickered within him ¨C could it be that last night had just been a terrible dream? Were his parents still alive?

    He rushed into the kitchen and saw a seven-year-old girl wearing an apron. His heart sank.

    "Good morning," Leovena said without turning around, fumbling with breakfast preparations that were usually their mother''s domain. She wasn''t very skilled at it yet.

    Remembering the previous night, Leoric felt a pang of guilt. He worried that Leovena might question why he was sleeping in her bed, naked no less. He could always claim it was because she was cold, but that would still be awkward.

    However, Leovena seemed oblivious or simply didn''t care. Perhaps because they had shared a bed until they were six, sleeping together again wasn''t a big deal to her.

    Leoric breathed a sigh of relief. Seven-year-olds were still quite innocent, and he had been overthinking things.

    Still, the fact that it was Leovena preparing breakfast instead of their mother meant it hadn''t been a dream.

    Leovena''s first attempt at breakfast resulted in slightly burnt eggs, but Leoric didn''t mind.

    They ate in silence. Leovena remained quiet, which made Leoric uneasy. He wondered if she was upset about last night. But her face showed neither anger nor sadness, just a calm indifference, as if nothing had happened.

    Now, the house only had two occupants ¨C two children who were just days away from turning seven.

    Leoric looked at Leovena. Maybe it was their twin connection, or perhaps his combined thirty years of experience from both lives, but he suddenly understood what Leovena was thinking: revenge.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Upon waking up and finding herself naked in bed with Leoric, Leovena had been surprised but not overly concerned. At seven years old, gender distinctions were still vague ¨C people were either men, women, or children. For Leovena, the real focus was on revenge.

    Having lived with Leovena for nearly seven years, Leoric knew her well. She was gentle, peaceful, obedient, and full of grace. Yet beneath that calm exterior lay a strong and stubborn spirit. Her sweet smile masked a deep inner strength, something Leoric admired greatly. But...revenge wouldn''t be easy.

    Especially given the vast difference in status. Their enemies were two wizards, reportedly nobles. Due to official secrecy, the siblings couldn''t even find out their names or appearances. And even if they could, how could two merchant children exact revenge on two wizards?

    "We need to save fifty-seven gold coins within three years," Leovena said after they finished breakfast, breaking the silence.

    "Why?" Leoric asked, puzzled.

    "Because the tuition for wizard school is two hundred gold coins. We have sixty-three gold coins already," Leovena explained, carefully packing the shadow lily powder she had ground the day before. "And the minimum age for admission is ten."

    Leoric would soon turn seven, meaning they had three years until he reached ten. With the original sixty-three gold coins plus the eighty from compensation, they still needed fifty-seven more.

    "You want me to become a wizard?"

    "Isn''t that what you''ve always wanted?" Leovena asked, her expression neutral, as if stating something long considered. "Two merchants can''t take on two wizards, but if one becomes a wizard, there''s hope ¨C or would you prefer to become a priest?"

    Leoric naturally preferred becoming a wizard.

    Thanks to their deceased parents ¨C though it sounded disrespectful, it was the truth ¨C Leoric''s dream of becoming a wizard finally had a glimmer of hope in the darkness. But it was just a glimmer.

    Fifty-seven gold coins might be a small sum to some, but for their small business, it was a fortune. As far as Leoric knew, before their parents died, the shop barely made a few gold coins annually. Now, with just two children running the shop, earning fifty-seven gold coins in three years seemed impossible.

    "I''ll figure something out, don''t worry," Leovena assured him.

    But Leoric knew she was trying to comfort him. What could she possibly do? They had no relatives or friends to borrow money from. In his seven years here, Leoric had never seen his parents interact with any relatives. Their friends were equally poor.

    Just when this glimmer of hope seemed about to fade, Lady Luck finally smiled upon him.

    According to the customs of the City of Shadows ¨C derived from ancient Netheril Empire traditions ¨C the thirtieth day after a loved one''s death was a day of remembrance.

    It was a sunny day as Leoric and Leovena visited the cemetery. Their parents were buried together, not to save space or money, but simply because their bodies had fused together after being incinerated by a powerful fireball spell.

    Leovena gently placed white flowers on the grave, while Leoric stood silently beside her, staring at the familiar names on the tombstone. Due to his past life memories, Leoric hadn''t truly regarded these parents as his own ¨C until now.

    As tears quietly streamed down his face, he realized his mistake. They had raised him, cared for him, spoiled him, and looked after him for seven years.

    In his previous life, Leoric had parents too, but their relationship had been strained. They fought constantly until they finally divorced. After graduating high school, Leoric had escaped the cold war at home and never looked back.

    So Leoric had always believed he had little emotional attachment to his parents, in both lives. But losing them made him realize that some bonds were more complex than he had imagined.

    Kneeling down, Leoric touched the tombstone with his fingertips, tracing the engravings of their names. "Mom, Dad," he whispered, "I''m sorry."

    "Don''t be sad, Leoric," Leovena said softly, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "They''re watching us from Shar''s divine realm, hoping we live happily."

    "I just remembered something," Leoric said after a moment of silence.

    "What?"

    "A proverb."

    "What?"

    The phrase was spoken in English, Leoric''s language from his past life, which Leovena couldn''t understand. To her, it sounded like meaningless noise. Not wanting to explain further, Leoric stood up to leave.

    Then he heard a voice behind him.

    "Well said."

    Leoric froze, every hair on his body standing on end.

 Chapter 6: Coincidence?

    The voice was hoarse, low, and barely audible, as if it emanated from the throat of a dying old man. Yet, in this foreign world, who among the elderly could possibly understand Chinese? If it had been just a random utterance, Leoric might have dismissed it. But one phrase lingered - "Well said" - spoken in fluent Chinese.

    Turning slowly, Leoric''s eyes met those of a bald, hunched old man, clutching the leash of an equally aged, bald dog. It was the mute neighbor, a figure shrouded in mystery.

    Leoric recalled his parents'' stories about the neighbor, who hadn''t always been silent. Once a talkative soul, he had become mute after his wife''s death, followed by a fall on the day Leoric and Leovena were born. A high fever had robbed him of his voice, and since then, he had retreated into seclusion, rarely acknowledging the world around him.

    In the seven years they had lived next door, Leoric had seen the old man fewer than a hundred times. The only constant was the bald dog, a daily fixture in Leoric''s life. Their encounters were marked by mutual indifference, the old man often acting as if Leoric were invisible. It wasn''t disrespect; there was something unsettling about him that made Leoric keep his distance.

    Now, here he stood in the cemetery, speaking Leoric''s native tongue. "Well said," the old man repeated, his voice sending shivers down Leoric''s spine.

    Uncertainty gripped Leoric, his mind racing with possibilities, even the dark thought of murder to eliminate a potential threat. But Leovena remained unperturbed, unaware of the old man''s words and dismissing them as meaningless sounds from a mute.

    "Good day," she said, bowing slightly.

    The old man remained silent, his cloudy eyes locked on Leoric, making him increasingly uneasy. Sensing the tension, Leovena tried to lead Leoric away, but the old man suddenly stepped forward.

    Leoric watched him intently as the old man raised his hand and gently patted Leoric''s head three times. Then, clasping his hands behind his back, he turned and walked away, the dog trailing behind.

    For a moment, Leoric was lost in thought, puzzled by the gesture. The taps had left him slightly dizzy but otherwise unharmed. Surely, the old man couldn''t possess some mythical martial arts technique, like the Bone-Dissolving Palm, could he? That required striking the body, not the head.

    In a daze, Leoric didn''t realize he was being led out of the cemetery by his sister until the cool breeze outside cleared his mind. He began to piece together the puzzle.

    First, the old man was likely another time traveler from Earth, perhaps even from China, explaining his fluency in Chinese and understanding of Leoric''s words.

    Second, his parents had mentioned that the old man became mute after a serious illness the year Leoric was born. This reinforced the idea that the old man had also traveled through time that year. Unlike Leoric, who had reincarnated, the old man must have inhabited a new body directly, leading to his muteness due to unfamiliarity with the local language.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "If so, what does he want now that he knows I''m also a time traveler?" Leoric pondered. "Does he want to kill me to keep it a secret? No, unlikely," he quickly dismissed the thought. "He''s too old to bother with such things."

    Then, what did the three taps on the head mean? Could the old man be trying to take Leoric as a disciple?

    Wait, a disciple? Three taps on the head, hands clasped behind the back - it sounded familiar, like a story from his childhood...

    Journey to the West...

    One of the Four Great Classical Novels, Journey to the West was etched in Leoric''s memory. In the story, a monkey sought immortality and received three taps on the head from his master, signaling a secret midnight meeting where he gained profound teachings.

    "This old man must know this story since we''re both from China. Is he trying to take me as a disciple?" Leoric wondered.

    It seemed unlikely that this frail old man could offer anything of value. But perhaps, out of kindness, he might name Leoric as his heir, given his advanced age. Though his house appeared shabby, appearances could be deceiving.

    "What are you thinking about?" Leovena tapped Leoric''s head lightly. "You''re smiling to yourself."

    "Nothing," he replied.

    Back home, life in the City of Shadows resumed its usual rhythm. Their days were filled with running the shop, trading goods, preparing materials, eating, and finally, sleeping.

    Since their parents'' death, Leoric had taken advantage of Leovena''s fever to sleep beside her, fulfilling a small comfort. Despite her lack of curves, her smooth skin was soothing to hold. Since then, Leoric often claimed it was too cold to sleep alone and joined Leovena under her blanket. She didn''t seem to mind, treating him like a mischievous younger brother.

    Each night, Leoric took liberties with Leovena while she slept. The Shadowfell, ruled by the goddess Shar, had no sun, making nights bitterly cold. As a girl, Leovena naturally felt the chill and found warmth in Leoric''s embrace. Over time, she grew accustomed to it.

    After a long day, Leovena was exhausted and went straight to bed. Leoric, already hidden under the covers, pulled her close. As his hand moved toward her chest, she pushed it away.

    "Don''t play around, I''m tired," Leovena said.

    Leoric retreated momentarily, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. Once Leovena fell asleep, he resumed undressing her, removing her pajamas completely. He preferred her without clothes.

    Leovena didn''t resist, having grown accustomed to his touches. She snuggled closer to his warm embrace and drifted deeper into sleep.

    Once sure Leovena was sound asleep, Leoric quietly slipped out of bed and left the house, heading towards the old man''s place.

    The street was deserted, illuminated only by dim magical lamps that flickered with each step. Reaching the old man''s door, Leoric found it unlocked and entered cautiously.

    Inside, it was pitch black, filled with a strange, medicinal smell. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, barely making out the room''s outline.

    "You''ve come?" the old man''s raspy voice startled Leoric, despite his preparedness.

    Whether this encounter would bring fortune or disaster, Leoric had decided to take the gamble. Turning around, he bowed slightly. "Sir," he said.

    They conversed in Chinese, feeling no need to hide anymore. Though Leoric hadn''t spoken Chinese in seven years, it flowed naturally, like his native tongue.

    "Hmm," the old man nodded, lighting a lamp with a snap of his fingers. Magic was ubiquitous in the City of Shadows, even in everyday items like lamps and heaters.

    "Now that you''re here," he croaked, "sit down. We have much to discuss."

    Indeed, they talked for hours, well into the night. When Leoric emerged from what was now his master''s house, dawn had already broken.

 Chapter 7: The Enigma of Talent

    Character Introduction: Tian Bohuang is a character in the martial arts novel "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" by the renowned Hong Kong writer Jin Yong. He possesses superior skills in Chinese martial arts and sexual prowess.

    The old man''s background was far more intricate than Leoric could have ever fathomed. In truth, he had partially guessed right, yet missed the other crucial half.

    Indeed, much like Leoric, the old man too had traversed the vast expanse from China. However, unlike Leoric, who hailed from the People''s Republic of China, the old man belonged to the illustrious Great Ming Dynasty.

    To put it simply, the old man was a Ming dynasty figure. More precisely, he was a notorious rapist of that era, renowned and infamous in equal measure. His reputation was so pervasive that even someone from centuries later, like Leoric, was familiar with his name. For he was none other than Tian Boguang.

    In Leoric''s former life, there were precious few who had not heard of this name.

    "Tian Boguang?" Leoric exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You are that Tian Boguang?"

    "Which Tian Boguang?" the old man growled. "Is there another one?"

    "Oh no, I just wanted to inquire if you know Linghu Chong," Leoric clarified.

    "Linghu Chong?" The old man pondered for a moment. "Yu Canghai''s eldest disciple from the Huashan Sect? I''ve heard much about him, but never met him. They say he''s quite the drinker."

    "And do you know Yi Lin?" Leoric pressed on.

    "Who''s Yi Lin?" the old man inquired.

    "A young nun from the Hengshan Sect," Leoric explained.

    "Pah!" The old man spat. "Why would I know any nuns? Bad luck, bad luck."

    Indeed, in ancient China, encountering a nun was believed to bring misfortune, especially among travelers. Leoric wasn''t certain of the origin of this superstition, perhaps it was a means to shield nuns from harassment. Over time, it became deeply ingrained in society, and Tian Boguang clearly subscribed to this belief as well.

    Of course, Leoric neglected to mention that Yi Lin wasn''t just any nun; she was also exceedingly beautiful. Had he included that detail, Tian Boguang might have dismissed the notion of bad luck.

    It was evident that this Tian Boguang was indeed the same character from "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer." Somehow, instead of crossing paths with Yi Lin and subsequently Linghu Chong, and then facing castration at the hands of Monk Buji¨¨, he had somehow found his way to this magical realm before those events unfolded.

    As a Ming dynasty individual, Tian Boguang was woefully unprepared for such a journey compared to Leoric. He had no exposure to the myriad of online novels and thus lacked any mental preparation for time travel. Upon his arrival, he was bewildered and clueless, knowing nothing of magic or fantasy, even suspecting he had landed in some sort of demonic underworld.

    Another unfortunate aspect was that Tian Boguang had directly inhabited an elderly body, unlike Leoric, who reincarnated as an infant and had ample time to learn and adapt.

    However, these were not the most dire circumstances.

    For a rapist, what could be the ultimate goal? Undoubtedly, it was something akin to "roaming the land with a staff, saving the world with love" ¨C or, more bluntly put, seducing every beautiful woman that existed.

    But Tian Boguang, upon arriving in this new world, found himself in the body of a seventy-year-old man. Leoric even wondered if he might be impotent. Possessing full criminal intent yet virtually unable to act upon it ¨C could there be a more tragic fate for a rapist?

    Setting aside Tian Boguang''s tragic predicament, let''s delve into his next course of action.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Quite simply, as Leoric had anticipated, he intended to take Leoric as his disciple.

    Tian Boguang was not only a rapist but also a skilled martial artist. According to Jin Yong''s "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," Tian Boguang was regarded as a mid-tier martial artist, possibly even upper mid-tier, though certainly not top-tier, given his eventual castration by Monk Buji¨¨.

    Thus, he could impart two types of knowledge to Leoric: firstly, martial arts encompassing sword techniques, hand-to-hand combat, internal energy cultivation, pressure point strikes, and lightness kung fu; secondly, his specialized skills as a rapist, which included the arts of the bedroom.

    Both areas piqued Leoric''s interest ¨C he could utilize martial arts to attain power and the bedroom arts to establish a harem, precisely what he desired. However, after thoroughly examining Leoric''s physique, Tian Boguang sighed deeply.

    "What?" Leoric inquired.

    "Your occipital bone isn''t high enough," Tian Boguang replied.

    "So what?" Leoric retorted.

    "It signifies that you lack the aptitude for martial arts," the old man sighed. "What a pity, I finally find a successor, only to discover he''s worthless."

    "Hey, hey," Leoric protested. "Who are you calling worthless? Just because my occipital bone isn''t high doesn''t mean anything. Do you think you''re Nanhai E Shen?"

    "Who''s Nanhai E Shen?" Tian Boguang asked.

    "He''s... also a rapist, as famous as you... well, not quite as famous," Leoric admitted.

    In short, the old man believed Leoric lacked potential in martial arts but decided to give it a try nonetheless. He imparted all his knowledge to Leoric.

    Although Leoric doubted that the height of the occipital bone had any bearing on martial talent, it turned out that the old man was right this time. Leoric was indeed not a martial prodigy.

    Tian Boguang''s most renowned skill, as depicted in "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," was his lightning-fast sword techniques. He boasted that at his peak, he could deliver seven strikes in an instant.

    But no matter how hard Leoric tried, he couldn''t manage more than two strikes in the same amount of time.

    Failing at sword techniques, they moved on to hand-to-hand combat ¨C with equally disappointing results. Once again, Leoric exhibited his lack of martial talent. Since Tian Boguang was known for his swordsmanship, his unarmed combat skills were mediocre at best. Given an inadequate teacher and an untalented student, the outcome was foreseeable.

    "Forget it," Tian Boguang snapped. "Let''s try internal energy cultivation."

    Internal energy was considered the cornerstone of martial arts. Mastering it would facilitate the learning of other skills. Leoric agreed. Although Tian Boguang wasn''t particularly proficient in internal energy, he still possessed a solid foundation. It took Leoric a week to memorize the breathing techniques and chants, and he began practicing meditation to circulate qi through his meridians.

    Once again, the old man''s assessment proved accurate. An individual of average talent should feel qi within half a month, while Tian Boguang himself felt it after just seven days, describing it as "a warm little mouse running around inside." But it took Leoric three months to barely sense qi, likely due to self-suggestion.

    In other words, Leoric was worse than an average talent, possibly even inferior to Guo Jing from wuxia novels.

    This was truly disheartening.

    As for pressure point strikes, they were virtually unlearnable. This technique required not only memorizing the locations of various acupoints but also channeling internal energy to block the flow of qi. Given Leoric''s slow progress in internal energy cultivation, he lacked the necessary power. Using external force to strike acupoints would only injure someone without achieving the desired effect.

    The only slightly encouraging aspect was Leoric''s aptitude for lightness kung fu, thanks largely to Tian Boguang''s effective teaching. For a rapist, lightness kung fu was vital. Throughout history, famous rapists were always masters of agility. Tian Boguang''s nickname, "Ten Thousand Miles Solo," attested to his prowess in this area, far surpassing lesser practitioners like "Grass Skimmer."

    Although Tian Boguang noted that poor internal energy limited endurance during prolonged chases, short bursts of speed were sufficient for evading danger. If relentlessly pursued, one could only chalk it up to bad luck.

    Overall, while not a complete washout, Leoric''s martial arts training yielded meager results. Tian Boguang was frustrated but resigned himself to ordering Leoric to memorize all the internal energy techniques and fighting forms, hoping for a sudden breakthrough akin to Guo Jing.

    Fortunately, the arts of the bedroom seemed unrelated to the occipital bone, and Leoric excelled in this domain. Tian Boguang praised Leoric''s physical endowment, remarking on its impressive size compared to what he had witnessed.

    Leoric remained silent, secretly amused. In reality, it wasn''t his exceptional endowment but rather Tian Boguang''s lack of experience. Humans in this world tended to be larger and develop faster, resulting in naturally larger features.

    Thus, while struggling with martial arts, Leoric displayed remarkable talent in mastering the skills of a rapist. Within two years, he had learned nearly everything from Tian Boguang¡ªmixing aphrodisiacs, seduction techniques, sweet-talking girls, disguise methods¡ªall down pat.

    The only problem was the lack of practical experience. All knowledge remained theoretical.

    The reason for this was simple: not unwilling, but unable.

    Because Tian Boguang was now a man stripped of his martial abilities.

 Chapter 8: The Dragon-Slaying Technique

    Leoric and Tian Boguang found themselves in a predicament that could be generously described as being strangers in an alien realm; less charitably, they were two lost souls drifting in a harsh, unyielding world.

    It was evident, however, that Tian Boguang had fallen even further from grace.

    Prior to his transmigration, Tian Boguang had been renowned as one of the most formidable young martial artists, albeit with a dark reputation as a notorious rapist. But now, devoid of his physical body, he found himself trapped within the frail frame of an elderly man well over seventy years old.

    All the painstakingly honed internal energy, swordsmanship, and other martial arts skills he had once possessed were now lost to him. Everyone knew that martial arts demanded rigorous training from a tender age. Some extreme techniques, like the Golden Bell Cover or Iron Shirt, even necessitated celibacy and purity ¨C virtues that Tian Boguang would never contemplate embracing.

    In short, for a septuagenarian, the prospect of rekindling a martial arts career was virtually impossible. Over the course of seven years, Tian Boguang diligently practiced meditation and cultivation in solitude, to no avail. Had any wuxia novel ever featured a character achieving greatness in their seventies? Never.

    Thus, Tian Boguang''s promising career as a rapist came to an abrupt end.

    As for Leoric, despite his youth, his physical constitution was far from ideal due to his low occipital bone, rendering him a martial arts dud. Together, these two embodied the perfect example of "having the desire but lacking the means." Elsewhere, perhaps they could have ventured out at night in search of opportunities, like encountering a solitary beautiful woman. However, in the semi-militarized and isolated city of Shadowdale, the risks of committing crimes were prohibitively high.

    So, they remained confined, living as recluses.

    When Leoric turned nine, he had absorbed nearly everything Tian Boguang had to teach. One fateful day, the old man summoned Leoric to his chamber, announcing that he would impart the ultimate skill ¨C the crowning jewel of his arsenal.

    Leoric was a mix of curiosity and excitement. Any technique deemed the pinnacle by Tian Boguang was bound to be extraordinary.

    Yet, reality proved to be a letdown.

    In truth, Tian Boguang''s final move was not bad ¨C it was quite impressive, to be honest.

    But it left Leoric utterly disheartened.

    "This technique is known as the Jade Harvesting Scripture, a secret art of the Tian family," the old man declared passionately. "Master this, and your path as a rapist will broaden and smoothen, leading you to become the greatest flower thief of all time."

    It sounded intriguing.

    "The Jade Harvesting Scripture, handed down from the ancient Yellow Emperor, possesses countless miraculous attributes. It enables you to engage with multiple women in a single night without fatigue, extends your lifespan, preserves your youthful appearance, and even grants you ascension to godhood like the Yellow Emperor."

    After much verbiage, the core had yet to be revealed. The old man was adept at selling snake oil... But the Jade Harvesting Scripture? It sounded rather lecherous. And "handed down from the Yellow Emperor" ¨C according to Leoric''s knowledge, many works were attributed to this ancestor, including medical texts like the Huangdi Neijing and various sexual practices...

    Given the sleazy demeanor of the old man before him, Leoric could guess what the Jade Harvesting Scripture entailed.

    And he was right.

    The legendary Jade Harvesting Scripture was essentially a method of absorbing female yin essence to bolster one''s own strength ¨C a specialized skill for rapists. This ability allowed them to absorb true yin during intercourse, enhancing their vitality and prowess with each encounter. This skill was particularly useful for emperors with numerous concubines.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    But Tian Boguang had already instructed Leoric in this technique; it was merely a matter of finding opportunities to practice it. Now, presenting the Jade Harvesting Scripture as something novel seemed redundant.

    In reality, the Jade Harvesting Scripture differed from ordinary yin absorption techniques. Instead of absorbing true yin, it targeted internal energy.

    It was a specialized technique for absorbing the internal energy of women who possessed martial power.

    According to Tian Boguang, mastering the Jade Harvesting Scripture meant that whenever he engaged with women possessing internal energy, he could siphon their powers, transforming them into his own ¨C a perverted version of the Absorbing Star Great Law or the Northern Dipper Divine Skill.

    Both the Absorbing Star Great Law and the Northern Dipper Divine Skill were esteemed as supreme martial arts. Jin Yong portrayed Ren Woxing using the Absorbing Star Great Law to dominate the martial world, while Duan Yu relied on the Northern Dipper Divine Skill to swiftly ascend to the ranks of a top martial artist. Only the Sunflower Manual, practiced exclusively by eunuchs, surpassed them in potency.

    Furthermore, for someone like Leoric, who lacked martial talent, this skill was more practical than any high-level martial art. No matter how powerful a technique, it required ample internal energy to be effective. Even if given the Six Pulse Swordplay manual, he couldn''t generate sword qi without internal energy. Similarly, knowing the secrets of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms would be futile if his strikes lacked force. In contrast, the Absorbing Star Great Law and Northern Dipper Divine Skill allowed one to swiftly become an internal energy expert by siphoning others'' power, as exemplified by Duan Yu. Once internal energy was strong, even simple moves became deadly.

    Thus, dubbing the Jade Harvesting Scripture his ultimate technique was justified. By systematically targeting weaker martial artists first and then progressing to stronger ones, Leoric could become a great martial artist ¨C or rather, a great rapist ¨C if he played his cards right and had some luck.

    However, the problem was... they were on Toril, not Earth, in the Shadowfell''s Shadowdale, not the martial world of Ming China. There were no female martial artists here for Leoric to absorb internal energy from...

    As an avid reader of web novels and based on his observations over nine years, Leoric was convinced that this world had no concept of internal energy. All martial artists here focused solely on external strength, completely neglecting internal cultivation.

    This rendered the revered Jade Harvesting Scripture akin to a dragon-slaying technique ¨C impressive but useless in a world devoid of dragons.

    Just as Leoric''s hopes seemed dashed, the old man spoke once more.

    "Not so fast," the old man declared.

    "Cut the crap, you''re not funny," Leoric muttered inwardly but politely inquired, "What do you mean, Master?"

    The old rapist wore a smug expression as he explained his reasoning, nearly causing Leoric to burst into laughter.

    Tian Boguang, after mysteriously finding himself in this fantasy world and inhabiting an elderly body, felt incredibly frustrated. Although his martial skills were gone, his discerning eyes remained sharp. He could tell if someone had trained in internal energy. After ten years of observation, he had concluded that warriors in Shadowdale did not cultivate internal energy. However, he had discovered another aspect that gave him hope for the Jade Harvesting Scripture.

    "I have a momentous secret to share, something I''ve observed over ten years," the old man whispered conspiratorially. "There are people here called wizards who wield magic."

    Leoric nearly stumbled at this revelation. Something so obvious to him had taken Tian Boguang ten years to figure out? And he considered it a momentous secret?

    Ignoring Leoric''s reaction, the old man continued. His point was that since no one here cultivated internal energy, the original purpose of the Jade Harvesting Scripture was unattainable. However, magic existed in this world, wielded by wizards (including sorcerers, clerics, and other spellcasters), so perhaps the scripture could be adapted to absorb their magical energies.

    It was a clever idea, albeit impractical in the world of Faer?n, unlike in games like Diablo or Heroes of Might and Magic where mana could be likened to internal energy.

    In Faer?n, magic functioned entirely differently. While internal energy was stored within the practitioner, magic drew its power from an external source known as the Weave. Wizards invoked spells by combining gestures, incantations, and material components to channel energy from the Weave. High-level wizards weren''t necessarily stronger internally but were more adept at tapping into and manipulating the Weave.

    Thus, comparing internal energy to magic was futile. Despite Tian Boguang''s intelligence, his limited understanding as a Ming-era person, coupled with his unfortunate circumstances, led him to misinterpret the workings of this world. Without the ability to test his theories, he clung to false hopes.

    Leoric was deeply disappointed until the old man produced another item.

 Chapter 9: The Legacy

    Money, piles of it, gleaming gold coins catching the eye. Despite the overcast sky and the chilly wind that hinted at impending rain¡ªa rain that never seemed to fall in the City of Shadows¡ªLeoric felt as though the sun was shining brightly, with not a cloud in sight. It was the best weather he had experienced in the ten years since his reincarnation. Even the grotesque old man standing before him seemed somehow more endearing.

    "Is this for me?" Leoric asked, barely containing his excitement.

    The old man smiled, his wrinkles stretching out like a map of time. "What use do I have for it? Naturally, it''s for you," he said. "After all, we were master and disciple. Before I depart, I must leave something for my apprentice."

    "Before you go?" Leoric was taken aback. "Where are you going, Master?"

    "To the underworld, though I wonder if there''s even a King Yama here," the old man replied with a laugh.

    "Master..." Leoric began, but the old man raised his hand to stop him.

    "I''m done for," he sighed. "I know my own body; it won''t be long now. Kid, bury me next to Old Huang. Remember to burn some paper for me during the festivals."

    Old Huang was the bald dog that had passed away the previous year. Leoric stood there, speechless, his mind racing back over the past two years under Tian Buguang''s tutelage. He realized he hadn''t truly appreciated his master. Perhaps it was because whenever he thought of Tian Buguang as the infamous ¡°Unavoidable¡± thief, it was hard to muster any respect.

    But then again, Tian Buguang had been kind to him. He had taught Leoric sword techniques and internal cultivation, though due to Leoric''s lack of talent, it had taken him two years just to get started. He had imparted the Jade Harvesting Technique, which seemed utterly useless, like a dragon-slaying skill with no dragons to slay. And he had taught Leoric a full set of professional skills for being a lecher, though they remained theoretical and untested.

    What could Leoric complain about? Compared to Tian Buguang, he was incredibly fortunate. He hadn''t been thrust into the body of a seventy-year-old man in his prime but had instead gotten a fresh start from infancy, effectively gaining an extra twenty years of life. Nor had he suddenly become crippled, losing his ability to pursue happiness as a thief, ending up aimlessly drifting through life.

    Leoric knew that if Tian Buguang hadn''t crossed over, his fate wouldn''t have been much better. According to the records of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer," he would have been beaten by the protagonist Ling Huchong, castrated by a ruthless monk, and forced to become both a monk and a eunuch. Such a life would have been unbearable for Tian Buguang.

    Was it destined that his life would be nothing but a tragedy, ending in such a bleak manner? Perhaps this was what people called fate.

    "And what is my fate?" Leoric pondered deeply.

    Four days later, Tian Buguang passed away. He had no children or friends, and after living alone for ten years pretending to be mute, any connections he once had were long gone. Leoric buried him next to Old Huang, near the graves of his parents, as per his wishes.

    In the City of Shadows, civilian housing belonged to the government, and citizens only had indefinite usage rights. If one had descendants, they could continue living there; otherwise, the house would be reclaimed by the government. Soon after Tian Buguang''s death, another family moved in.

    The money Tian Buguang left Leoric was all the savings accumulated by his previous incarnation and generations before him¡ªnot much, exactly fifty gold coins. Combined with the small amount Leoric and Leovena had saved over the past three years, there were now one hundred ninety-seven gold coins in their home cabinet. This figure was absolutely precise because Leovena counted it every week.

    They were only three gold coins short of the tuition fee for the wizarding school, and Leoric was nine years old, with a year until he turned ten. It seemed a glimmer of hope was gradually turning into dawn.

    Over the past two years, Leoric had trained under Tian Buguang. Although this wasn''t something dishonorable, it certainly couldn''t be openly discussed due to the secrecy surrounding their origins. They had to keep it hidden from everyone else. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble might arise? If everyone in the City of Shadows knew that Leoric and Tian Buguang were from another world, the consequences would far exceed Leoric¡¯s imagination.

    Perhaps they would be captured by high-ranking officials and experimented on like lab rats. Or perhaps locked up in a zoo, charging one silver coin per visitor. Forget it, these were all ridiculous thoughts. In any case, this was a secret that must never be revealed, not even to his sister Leovena.

    Easier said than done. During the day, Leoric worked with Leovena collecting materials and running their store. At night, after Leovena fell asleep, he would sneak out to Tian Buguang¡¯s place to practice sword techniques and internal cultivation. His sleep was severely lacking. Despite his dreams of future glory, the daily grind was exhausting. More importantly, how to avoid detection by Leovena, who shared his bed, was a significant challenge.

    Leoric always waited until Leovena was sound asleep before leaving, but if she woke up in the middle of the night and found him missing, it would cause problems. Returning to separate beds might help maintain the secret, but Leoric cherished the warmth of holding Leovena too much to give it up.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Unfortunately, Leoric was proven to be hopeless at martial arts. Otherwise, he could simply learn the acupressure technique to put Leovena into a deep sleep each night, ensuring she stayed asleep until morning without any issues. With his current level of qi, however, he dared not risk hitting Leovena¡¯s pressure points carelessly, as it could lead to permanent disability.

    Of course, besides acupressure, there were other ways to ensure Leovena slept soundly. Among the professional skills Tian Buguang taught Leoric was the art of concocting aphrodisiacs. These weren¡¯t strictly limited to love potions but included things like knockout gas¡ªa more advanced form of sleeping draught. Just a few breaths of it would put someone into a deep sleep, unaffected even by collapsing buildings.

    Leoric learned this quickly, and the ingredients weren¡¯t hard to find. Making them was also simple, and he had already secretly stored several bottles at home. But he didn¡¯t dare use them. These drugs ultimately harmed the body. Occasional use might be harmless, but prolonged exposure could damage the nervous system. Even regular sleeping pills weren¡¯t good for health, let alone potent substances like knockout gas.

    Leoric definitely didn¡¯t want to use knockout gas on Leovena every night, only to discover years later that it had turned her into a vegetable. Such risks were unacceptable.

    After much deliberation, he decided to fabricate a story.

    "Hey, Sister," Leoric found an opportunity to casually mention, "did you know that the mute old man next door used to be a wizard?"

    "Really?" Leovena looked genuinely surprised.

    "Yeah, he told me himself... well, wrote it down on paper. He claimed that when he was young, he was a wizard, but after getting injured in battle, he lost his magical abilities and retired."

    This story was rather clumsy but not entirely baseless. The City of Shadows operated under the principle of ¡°elitism.¡± Its population numbered around twenty thousand, with three thousand soldiers including wizards, priests, and warriors¡ªall elite fighters.

    To maintain combat effectiveness and city operations, the City of Shadows frequently waged war against monsters in the Shadowfell. Every year, armies were dispatched to raid and plunder, capturing intelligent creatures to work as slaves or train as mounts, such as shadow horses or sea serpents. Useless monsters were summarily executed.

    Casualties were inevitable. While the City of Shadows was powerful, the monsters of the Shadowfell were formidable opponents. Soldiers who died in battle were finished; those who became disabled and lost their fighting capabilities were discharged and sent home.

    Every year, new graduates from wizard schools and priest temples joined the army, while others either died or retired.

    Using this as an excuse, Leoric claimed that the mute neighbor had once been a wizard who, after sustaining injuries in battle, lost his magic and was discharged.

    As for what exactly ¡°losing his magic¡± meant...

    "Sister, haven¡¯t you noticed he¡¯s mute? A wizard who can¡¯t speak spells is useless to the army."

    "But... I seem to remember Dad saying he became mute after falling while walking when we were born. Not because of battle, right?"

    "Maybe he already had vocal cord damage before, and that incident worsened it completely..."

    Since Leovena couldn¡¯t verify this with the military, Leoric fabricated the story and quickly changed the subject.

    "Anyway, enough about that. There¡¯s good news."

    "What?¡±

    "He thinks I have potential as a wizard and wants to take me as an apprentice, teaching me magic every night."

    "But isn¡¯t he already mute and unable to use magic?¡±

    "Well, I doubt I¡¯ll learn much, but there¡¯s always experience to share,¡±Leoric said. ¡°Oh, and this needs to stay a secret, okay?¡±

    "Okay."

    Thus, the matter was covered up. With the excuse of ¡°learning magic,¡± Leovena paid no mind to Leoric¡¯s frequent visits to the old man. Even when she saw Leoric bringing back a bag of gold coins, she didn¡¯t question it, treating it as perfectly normal. This made Leoric both curious and relieved.

    Most gratifyingly, Leovena never questioned Leoric about his progress in ¡°magic studies¡± or demanded proof. Otherwise,Leoric wouldn¡¯t know how to explain. He couldn¡¯t tell her the truth: ¡°Actually, I¡¯m from another world, and the old man next door is too. I¡¯m learning how to be a thief, not a wizard.¡±

    And if Leovena nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m from another world too¡­¡±

    That would really be awkward for Leoric.

    After Tian Buguang¡¯s death, life returned to how it was two years ago. Days passed quietly, Leoric and Leovena continued to run their little shop, selling spell components. If everything went smoothly, they should be able to save enough money. During his free time,Leoric practiced the internal cultivation techniques Tian Buguang had taught him, but despite three years of effort, he still couldn¡¯t chop through a small tree with a single palm strike¡ªa feat even the slightly slow-witted Guo Jing could achieve.

    Alas, thinking about this filled Leoric with sorrow.

    The only achievement from three years of hard practice was that he no longer needed much sleep. While ordinary people required seven to eight hours of sleep to feel refreshed,Leoric needed only two hours of meditation and breathing exercises to remain energetic throughout the day. At least this was something to be proud of.

    As for the lecherous skills and the ultimate technique, Jade Harvesting, they remained untested.Leoric didn¡¯t want to take the risk, especially with entry into the wizarding school looming. There would be plenty of opportunities later.

    Leoric still spent nights cuddling with his sister, undressing her gently after she fell asleep, admiring her flawless body, and then falling asleep beside her. Seemingly craving the warmth of embracing each other on cold nights, Leovena never got angry even when she woke up naked, merely scolding him playfully.

    Girls developed faster than boys. By the timeLeoric turned ten, his body showed little change, but Leovena had noticeable signs of growth. She was now half a head taller than him, her chest beginning to develop, her hips fuller, accentuating her slender waist. Occasionally wearing her mother¡¯s white dress, with her long black hair flowing freely, she exuded a certain charm, no longer the child she once was.

    Leovena had grown up¡­ When could he finally taste her?Leoric wondered. Ten was still too young. In his previous life, anyone under fourteen was considered a minor, and touching them was illegal. Though there were no such laws in the City of Shadows, ten was still too young.

    ¡°Wait until the first coming-of-age ceremony? That should be about right,¡±Leoric calculated.

    The customs in the City of Shadows were peculiar, with thirteen marking the first coming of age and eighteen the second. This tradition dated back to the Nerath era, which puzzledLeoric.

    Regardless, days slipped by one after another.

    Spell components were handed over the counter, silver and copper coins exchanged, and converted into gold coins stored in the cabinet. Finally, in 1368 DR, during the Green Grass Festival (a holiday between April and May),Leoric donned his black wizard robes and became a first-year student at the City of Shadows¡¯ wizarding school.

 Chapter 10: A Parting Gift

    Stepping through the gates of the Wizard Academy marked the dawn of new dreams for both Leovena and Leoric. In Soulshadow City, the path to vengeance and distinction lay solely through the art of wizardry, a beacon that shone brightly for Leoric, promising him a life of eminence.

    Yet, this was but the first stride on a long journey. Entry into the Wizard Academy did not automatically bestow the title of wizard; only those who endured until graduation could claim that honor. They were mere apprentices, or at most, aspiring mages.

    The curriculum stretched over five arduous years, but few ever tasted the sweetness of graduation. The Wizard Academy, adhering to Soulshadow City''s unwavering philosophy of elitism, boasted an attrition rate that was as harsh as it was unforgiving.

    Though the academy did not discriminate based on one''s origin, the exorbitant tuition fees ensured that its halls were filled predominantly with the scions of wizarding families or the high society. Those hailing from humble beginnings, like Leoric, were as rare as a comet''s appearance, gracing the academy once every decade or so.

    For the common folk, the Wizard Academy represented a chance to transcend their lowly status and ascend the social ladder. Yet, even within the realm of wizardry, hierarchy prevailed. Magic was not a gift bestowed upon all; it demanded talent, immense talent. Paying the hefty sum of 200 gold coins for tuition did not guarantee a graduation certificate. Instead, the academy subjected its students to rigorous final exams at the end of each of the first four years. A council of high-ranking wizards from Soulshadow City would assess their performance and expel the bottom ten students without refund, their dreams shattered. If they survived these trials, an even more grueling graduation exam awaited them in the final year, where half of the remaining students would be culled.

    Of those who endured, the top student, the very cream of the crop, would advance to further studies. Those with excellent grades could secure decent positions in the government, while those with average grades had to seek employment in the military or serve as assistants to high-ranking wizards.

    Many commoner families, though yearning to send their children to the Wizard Academy in hopes of a better life, struggled to amass the 200 gold coins. It was a sum that eluded them even after generations of frugality. And even if they managed to save enough, if their child lacked magical aptitude and performed poorly, their investment would be naught but a cruel jest.

    Yet, Leovena exuded confidence in her younger brother. Or rather, if she had to choose, she believed Leoric possessed the potential to become an extraordinary wizard.

    "You must work hard," Leovena whispered to Leoric as they lay in bed"You must work hard," Leovena whispered to Leoric as they lay in bed the night before his enrollment.

    "Mm, I know," Leoric replied, nodding as his hand surreptitiously unbuttoned her pajamas.

    Soulshadow City operated under a semi-military regime, and the Wizard Academy was no exception. Once enrolled, students were confined to the dormitories, with monthly visits home as their only reprieve. Without special permission, stepping outside the school''s gates meant immediate expulsion.

    Which meant, after tonight, Leoric would have to navigate the dormitory alone. The comfort of hugging his beautiful sister every night would be reduced to a fleeting monthly reunion.

    It was a heart-wrenching prospect.

    As a kind and considerate sister, Leovena reminded Leoric of various things he needed to be aware of, oblivious to the fact that her pajama buttons were being quietly undone. When she finally realized, Leoric''s hand had already found its way to her chest, caressing her budding breasts.

    Leovena tried to resist, but Leoric enveloped her in his arms without hesitation, his hand still firmly cupping her breast, wandering freely.

    "Sister, they''re so soft," he whispered in her ear.

    Leovena blushed, her strength sapped by his embrace. "Stop it," she murmured, feeling an instinctive shyness despite her vague understanding of romance.

    Though she had awoken in Leoric''s arms almost every morning for the past three years, she had never been so blatantly violated before, leaving her momentarily flustered.

    Ignoring her protests, Leoric pinned her down, resting one arm under her neck while his other hand moved from her chest to unbutton the rest of her pajamas. Soon, her body lay exposed, emanating an enticing fragrance. For as long as she could remember, Leovena had carried a faint, milky scent.

    "Sister, I''m going to school tomorrow," Leoric said softly, his face nestled against her snow-white neck.

    "Mm-hmm."

    Leovena''s neck was incredibly sensitive. Feeling Leoric''s hot breath, a tingling sensation spread through her body like wildfire, weakening her further. She could only murmur in a daze.

    "Once I''m at school, I won''t be able to hug you like this every night," Leoric continued. "So, before we part, I want to leave you with a memory to cherish."

    "What kind of memory?"

    "I want to give you a gift," Leoric said.

    "A gift? What gift¡­ mm."

    Before she could finish her query, Leoric lowered his head and kissed her, pressing his lips against hers. Startled, Leovena instinctively tried to push him away, but she was too weak and pinned down to succeed, instead being held tighter.

    On the night their parents perished, Leovena had burned with fever. While caring for her, Leoric had seized the opportunity to steal her first kiss. But Leovena had been unaware at the time. Though they slept skin-to-skin every night, Leoric had never kissed her again after that.

    So, in Leovena''s mind, this was her first kiss.

    Leoric''s fiery lips sealed hers, their mouths locked in a passionate embrace. He gently pried open her teeth with his tongue and greedily sucked on her soft tip, one hand cradling her neck while the other roamed her body like a serpent, caressing every inch of her skin, leaving no intimate area unexplored.

    Her body was in the throes of development, and psychologically, she was maturing. Though not yet a woman, she was no longer an innocent child. Under Leoric''s provocation, Leovena''s body responded honestly. Her resistance waned, her eyes closed, and she lay limp in his arms, enduring his touches and kisses. Her lips, which had been resisting, surrendered quietly, her soft, slippery tongue protruding, allowing Leoric to kiss and suckle, savoring the sweetness of her saliva.

    After what felt like an eternity, Leoric lifted his head, ending the long, deep kiss. "Did you like it, sister?" he whispered in Leovena''s ear, nibbling on her rounded earlobe, making her body shiver involuntarily. "This is my gift to you."

    "Aww, it''s so annoying!" She pouted, her eyes tightly closed, her long lashes fluttering. "I didn''t like it at all!"

    Her words lacked conviction, and Leoric didn''t take them seriously, especially since her body''s reaction spoke volumes. Her current "dislike" was clearly insincere.

    "Oh, you didn''t like it?" Leoric feigned disappointment. "I wanted to leave you with a memory to cherish¡­ Since you don''t like this gift, then I''ll give you another one."

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "Ah¡­"

    Before Leovena could protest, Leoric leaned down again, but this time his target was not her lips but her forehead.

    He kissed her forehead, then her eyebrows, nose, and cheeks, moving downward without kissing her lips again. He lingered on her snow-white, slender neck, sticking out his tongue to gently lick the delicate, smooth skin.

    This was a sensitive spot on Leovena''s body. As her breathing quickened, Leoric''s lips left her neck and kissed her shoulders, her delicate collarbones, and finally settled on her chest.

    "Sister, you have mosquito bites on your chest."

    "What?"

    "Look, such big bites ¨C definitely from a super, super big mosquito, one bite on each side, symmetrical."

    Leoric reached out to fondle the soft flesh on Leovena''s chest, teasing her. At ten years old, though not fully developed, she already felt full and plump in his hands. He wondered how irresistible she would be when she matured.

    "Wow, sister, it''s not just two bites," Leoric said, as if discovering a new continent. "It''s four bites."

    He lowered his head and sucked on a pink nipple, his wet tongue circling the small pink areola. The inexperienced girl could hardly withstand such provocation. Leovena''s eyes were half-closed, her mouth emitting unconscious moans, her nipples hardening like tiny cherries budding, firm and full in texture.

    "Sister, why is there a small red bite on top of a big white bite¡­" Leoric mumbled as he tasted her breasts,  "I know, it must have been bitten by a pair of mother and daughter mosquitoes."

    "Wh-what mother and daughter mosquitoes¡­"

    "A mosquito mom with her mosquito daughter, biting you together on your chest,"Leoric explained.

    "What..."

    "Only female mosquitoes bite, male mosquitoes don''t,"Leoric educated his sister on biological knowledge. "As for why I said it''s a mother and daughter, look, there''s a big bump below, and a small red one on top..." He stuck out his tongue to flick the pink bud. "It''s obvious, the mosquito mom must have brought her daughter out for practice. When they saw you, the mom came up first to set an example and bit a big bump, then let her daughter come up to practice, so the daughter bit a small bump on top of the big one. It''s called the mother-daughter chain bump..."

    "You... you bad boy!"

    Her light reproach and anger did not deter his further advances. "It smells so good, sister,"Leoric looked up with an innocent expression, "and it tastes sweet, delicious."

    He used his mouth and hands to playfully fondle the two soft mounds, employing various seductive techniques he had learned from Tian Boguang. Leovena''s starry eyes were half-closed, her gaze hazy, her teeth tightly biting her lower lip, her body involuntarily arching backwards, trembling violently, and looking incredibly seductive.

    IfLeoric wanted to take his sister''s body at this moment, Leovena would have been completely defenseless. However,Leoric''s goal tonight was not that.

    Reluctantly, he released the already erect bud and wrapped his arms around Leovena''s waist, kissing her flat abdomen and then moving downwards...

    He gently spread apart Leovena''s slender legs and found that on the slightly raised jade-like skin, a few tender light-brown hairs softly grew. This slightly disappointed Leoric, who had always believed that women''s private areas should be smooth and clean for beauty and aesthetic appeal. Unfortunately, in the world, naturally hairless women are few and far between, and girls often begin to grow hair as they enter puberty. However, this was not a big issue.

    In the world before his time travel, there were various shaving tools and depilatory creams; now that he was in a fantasy world, a world with deities and magic, it should be possible to concoct potions similar to depilatory creams. Although Leoric didn''t know how to do it at the moment, he was about to enter wizard school to study, and concocting magical potions was originally a required course for wizards. At that time, he could flip through the relevant materials, which he expected would not be difficult.

    The soft and sparse light-brown hairs naturally could not conceal the pink slit below. Moreover, due to the earlier teasing, the slit, which should have been tightly closed, was now slightly open, exuding transparent slippery fluid, like the sparkling dew on the grass in the morning.

    The lewd and seductive scene would be unbearable for any man, and Leoric felt his penis swell. "Patience, patience!" He admonished himself in his heart, knowing that the sweetest fruit should be savored at its ripest. Although he would have to wait a few more years, there was no other choice. If a person cannot even exercise self-control in this matter, there is no hope for them to achieve anything in life.

    Leovena was only ten years old, and her body was only beginning to develop. Although she already had a hint of femininity, she was still just a child. If he rashly violated her, he might not enjoy much pleasure but cause more harm and pain. Moreover, boys'' bodies develop even later. Although Leoric had a total of over thirty years of life experience from both his past and present lives, and possessed both practical and theoretical knowledge of sleeping with women, as well as personal guidance from the great libertine Tian Boguang, he still found it imperfect to use his current ten-year-old boy''s body to seduce his sister. Although it wasn''t impossible, it wasn''t perfect.

    Seducing his sister had been Leoric''s dream for a long time. Now that he had the opportunity to fulfill this dream, he must not rush it but strive for perfection and a lifetime without regrets.

    Tonight, he only wanted to leave Leovena with an unforgettable gift. The real physical intimacy would have to wait until the time was right. Moreover, what Leoric wanted was not just to enter his sister''s body and indulge his desires. Desires are easy to satisfy, but love is difficult. If his sister could not fall in love with him and willingly become his lover, then what was the point?

    The siblings had been close since childhood. Since their parents died, they had depended on each other, going out together during the day and sleeping together at night, almost inseparable. They had no other relatives or many friends, and each other was the closest person in the world to them.Leoric, who harbored ulterior motives, had always been in love with Leovena, and Leovena also liked Leoric very much.

    But this liking was not love.

    Of course, a ten-year-old girl could hardly understand what true love was. It didn''t matter;Leoric could wait. As a perfectionist, necessary patience and waiting were inevitable.

    What he wanted was not just a sister but also a wife, a lover, and a friend.

    Leoric placed his hands on Leovena''s thighs and spread them apart. He saw the narrow labia closed tightly, revealing only two small pink petals of delicate fat. A tiny bud slightly poked out. He resisted the urge and lowered his head to gently lick with his tongue.

    Leovena gasped and grabbed the sheets with both hands. She felt her brother''s tongue was agile and soft, tickling the place it licked like feathers, both itchy and refreshing. In no time, the slit was already gushing with transparent thin vaginal fluid, which flowed down the groove from the perineum, abundant like water spurting from a spring, with a slight fragrance, like mint.

    "No... stop..."

    Retaining the last vestige of consciousness, the little girl instinctively felt this was very shameful, but this slight resistance was quickly overwhelmed by the overwhelming pleasure.Leoric had rich experience from his past life and had been taught by Tian Boguang. He deeply loved Leovena and moved with utmost tenderness, determined to let the little girl enjoy the wonderfulness and joy.

    Leovena panted, her sweet and charming moans escaping from her mouth in low voices, her whole body uncontrollably trembling. She didn''t know when her legs had lifted up and wrapped around Leoric''s neck, her waist arched, striving to match his movements. The pleasant tingling sensation had spread throughout her body, gathering more and more, both comfortable and uncomfortable, like constantly accumulating floodwaters urgently seeking a breach to break through.

    As if an electric current rushed into her brain, Leovena screamed loudly, feeling like her soul was about to leave her body, her body suddenly tensing up, waves of spasms invading like tides, rendering her unconscious.

    It didn''t know how long it took before the little girl finally woke up. She found Leoric had climbed up and was holding her in his arms. "Bad boy... you bullied your sister..." She hit him feebly, "What were you doing just now?"

    "A gift for my sister,"Leoric said, "Do you like it?"

    "But it felt so strange..."

    "Do you like it or not?"Leoric pressed.

    "No... I don''t!"

    "Still don''t like it? Then I''ll have to try something else."Leoric pondered and moved his hand over Leovena''s body again, scaring the little girl into changing her mind.

    "I like it... I like it."

    "Hmph, that''s more like it."

    Leoric reached for a square cloth and carefully wiped away the flood of fluid from Leovena''s private area. The little girl had just experienced her first orgasm in life and was now completely limp, without a shred of strength, and could only let him do as he pleased. "Bad boy... how could you do such a strange thing to your sister..." She persisted.

    "Strange thing? No, I didn''t do anything strange."

    "You licked me there just now... isn''t that a strange thing... Confess, where did you learn this?"

    "Oh, that... it was the mute old man next door who told me before. He said it could help girls relieve fatigue and have a good dream. I saw how hard sister worked during the day, so..."

    Leovena was actually confused. Although she instinctively felt that this was wrong, she couldn''t quite put her finger on what was wrong. Moreover... it had felt really comfortable just now, especially at that last moment, like her brain went blank and she felt like she was floating away.

    "From now on... don''t bully your sister like this again, do you understand?"

    "Why not, I saw that sister really liked it."

    "Just no, it''s strange..."

    "Mhm."

    Casually agreeing,Leoric naturally wouldn''t take such a request seriously. However, let''s worry about the future when it comes. The memento he left Leovena tonight should be enough. As usual, holding his naked sister in his arms,Leoric fell into a deep sleep.

 Chapter 11: A Simple Admission

    The following morning, Leoric strode into the wizarding school, his backpack slung over one shoulder, carrying a few simple personal belongings. The heavy iron gate closed silently behind him, casting an eerie sensation, as though he were being confined within a somber concentration camp.

    Attending school was nothing new to him, yet the wizarding academy in this fantastical realm stood in stark contrast to any earthly university. If one were to draw a comparison, it would be to the schools of witchcraft and wizardry depicted in the tales of Harry Potter, bearing an uncanny resemblance to this mystical place.

    It must be noted that though the tuition fee of two hundred gold coins was exorbitant, it was by no means squandered. Within the wizarding school,

    student was bestowed with their own dormitory, complete with a bedroom, living room, and bathroom. By their third year, they could even claim their very own laboratory.

    Three sumptuous meals a day were provided gratis in the cafeteria, boasting an array of dishes to tantalize one''s taste buds. During their tenure at the school, students were mandated to don uniforms¡ªspecifically, wizard robes¡ªthe cost of which was included in the tuition. Upon his arrival, Leoric was presented with five sets of sleek black wizard robes and five gray cloaks.

    The robes bestowed upon the first-year students were admittedly not of the highest quality, yet their tailoring was passable. They lacked enchantments or blessings, but when compared to ordinary robes, their most distinctive feature was the myriad of small pockets sewn discreetly within.

    These pockets served as repositories for storing spell components. In this world, magic was bifurcated into divine and arcane realms. Most arcane spells practiced by wizards necessitated certain materials as conduits to cast effectively, with only a few exceptions.

    Thus, wizards preparing for adventures or battles always carried an extensive assortment of materials, meticulously sorted and stored within the small pockets of their robes. The placement of each material was a matter of personal preference, but all wizards had to commit to memory the exact location of their items. For in the throes of combat, grabbing the wrong component could spell disaster.

    One of the fundamental skills for a wizard was the ability to swiftly and accurately retrieve the necessary components from the myriad pockets in their robe. In the crucible of battle, life and death often hinged on a moment''s notice, a race against time. Whoever could extract the right material with alacrity and cast their spell first held a decided advantage.

    As a wizarding school, students were not only issued robes but also wands and spellbooks. A wand, in essence, was naught but a half-person-tall stick crafted from oak. Like the robes, the wands bestowed upon first-year students were not of high quality. Contrary to many fantasy novels Leoric had perused, wands were not indispensable tools for casting spells in this world. In tales like Harry Potter, wizards were incapacitated without a wand, but here, many preferred the tactile sensation of casting barehanded. Nonetheless, the school adhered to tradition and bestowed a wand upon each student.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Spellbooks, however, were indispensable tools for wizards¡ªmore specifically, for the preparation of spells. To cast a spell in this world, preparation was paramount. Without a spellbook, a wizard could not establish a connection to the magical network, could not extract power from it, and thus could not prepare spells.

    For wizards, a spellbook served as a key to unlock the magical network, albeit not the sole key.

    Clad in black wizard robes, gripping a wand, and clutching a spellbook, Leoric gazed at his reflection in the mirror. "Hmm, I now bear the semblance of a wizard," he mused.

    With his gear in order, it was time to immerse himself in rigorous study.

    First-year students primarily delved into the rudimentary principles of magic and fundamental wizard training. Courses encompassed Magic History, Elemental Studies, Potion Making, Planar Theory, Principles of Magical Mechanics, and more¡ªa diverse and bizarre tapestry of knowledge. Fortunately, the majority of the content was foundational, with the deeper mysteries reserved for later studies, rendering the learning process manageable.

    The veritable challenge lay in Dragon Language Studies.

    In this world, wizards'' incantations were articulated in Dragon Language, for dragons, inherently endowed with the ability to cast spells, possessed a language that intrinsically connected with the magical network. Mastery of Dragon Language was indispensable for one who aspired to become a wizard.

    Leoric was not exceptionally proficient in languages, yet he was competent. However, Dragon Language was profoundly intricate¡ªits grammar rules labyrinthine, its vocabulary vast, and many words possessing strange pronunciations that seemed to defy human vocal cords.

    Leoric''s classmates, predominantly hailing from wizard families, possessed solid foundations forged through early exposure. Furthermore, Leoric''s talent and aptitude in the arcane arts were merely average among his peers. He even discerned a few sorcerers among their ranks.

    Sorcerers, akin to dragons, possessed innate spellcasting abilities. It was believed that those with dragon blood or divine lineage could ascend to the ranks of sorcerers. Generations of intermarriage among the wizards of Shadowdale had occasionally produced such prodigies, almost as though they were genetic mutations.

    While sorcerers were not necessarily intellectually superior, they were natural conduits for arcane energy¡ªthey instinctively spoke Dragon Language, sensed the magical network, and could effortlessly tap into it after minimal training, without the need for a spellbook as a key.

    However, innate talent did not guarantee success. Even the most talented individuals required rigorous training to avoid mediocrity. Sorcerers also harbored weaknesses, often being overly emotional and lacking in rational thinking and logical analysis¡ªsome harshly likened them to women.

    Despite their innate advantages, sorcerers were still dispatched to wizarding schools for systematic training under the elite philosophy of Shadowdale.

    Nonetheless, being born with an innate understanding of Dragon Language and a natural affinity for the magical network bestowed significant advantages, especially in the nascent stages.

    Fortunately, diligence could compensate for deficiencies.

    Although Leoric''s internal cultivation results were not impressive, three years of arduous practice were not entirely in vain. While others required at least eight hours of sleep to avoid being overwhelmed by the challenging Dragon Language, Leoric could maintain mental clarity with mere two hours of meditation, enabling him to study with greater efficiency.

    By dedicating six extra hours to study each day, despite his weaker foundation and average talent, Leoric managed to uphold good grades.

 Chapter 12: Sister

    On the final day of his first month at the wizarding school, Leoric eagerly anticipated the long-awaited holiday. Students at this esteemed institution were mandated to reside on campus and were forbidden from leaving without express permission; there were no seasonal reprieves, neither winter nor summer breaks.

    The only respite they enjoyed was the last day of each month, when they were granted the liberty to venture beyond the school grounds and savor a taste of freedom.

    For Leoric, this meant that during his arduous five-year journey to graduation, he would only catch a glimpse of Leovena once a month. The remainder of the time, he was left to grapple with intricate incantations, peculiar spell components, professors with stern visages, and classmates who were predominantly aloof and distant.

    Hailing from a humble family of small merchants, Leoric found himself at a significant disadvantage in the rigidly hierarchical world of Shadowdale. This disparity made it an uphill battle for him to forge camaraderie with his peers.

    Thus, this day held a special significance for him.

    Aware of Leoric''s impending return, Leovena had meticulously prepared a lavish lunch well in advance. Since their parents'' untimely demise, Leovena had shouldered the responsibility of nourishing their small family¡ªjust the two of them. A paragon of intelligence, she had swiftly honed her culinary skills, often conjuring up exquisite dishes through sheer ingenuity and self-taught methods. Leoric had initially harbored intentions of assisting his sister, but it soon became evident that his presence in the kitchen was more of a hindrance than a help.

    As he sat at the table, engrossed in Leovena''s gentle inquiries about his school life, a warm sensation enveloped Leoric, as if she were enveloping him in her care, embodying the essence of a protective older sister. Though difficult to articulate, this profound emotion was palpable in her actions.

    Overcome with affection, he leaned in and planted a swift kiss on Leovena''s cheek.

    Taken aback by his spontaneous gesture, Leovena momentarily faltered, her train of thought derailed. Gazing at Leoric, she smiled tenderly and ruffled his hair. "You naughty boy, always playing tricks on your sister."

    "But it felt like an eternity since I last saw you," Leoric protested, "my longing for you was so overwhelming that I couldn''t resist."

    "It hasn''t been that long," Leovena replied gently, "just a month."

    "To me, it felt like a decade," Leoric insisted.

    From the moment of their birth, the siblings had been inseparable, never spending a day apart. Now, even though a month was a relatively short span, the separation felt interminable.

    "After today, I won''t see you again for another month," Leoric lamented, his gaze fixed on Leovena.

    A tinge of melancholy crept into Leovena''s expression as well. Since their parents'' passing, they had no other kin or friends in Shadowdale; they were each other''s sole source of solace and support.

    "Be good at school," she urged, her voice tinged with a note of finality.

    As twilight descended, Leovena retreated to her bath, while Leoric, adhering to his usual routine, sneaked into her bed and burrowed beneath the covers, awaiting her return.

    However, an unexpected twist unfolded.

    Emerging from the bathroom, Leovena toweled her long tresses dry as she entered the bedroom. Spying the lump beneath the covers, she knew Leoric was ensconced within, and with a shake of her head, she delivered a playful yet firm pat to the quilt.

    "Come out."

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Leoric peeked out, his eyes pleading. "Sister."

    "Return to your own bed," Leovena instructed.

    "Why?"

    This news struck Leoric like a bolt of lightning, and he struggled to come to terms with it. For the past month, lying alone in his dormitory bed, despite its plush comfort and immaculate cleanliness, he had been plagued by insomnia, feeling an emptiness without the warmth of his sister beside him.

    At last, the end of the month had arrived, granting him the respite to return home and rekindle his sweet dreams...

    "We''ve grown up," Leovena explained, her tone resolute, "and it''s no longer appropriate for us to share a bed."

    "There''s no such rule," Leoric argued, his voice tinged with desperation, "I... I love you, Sister."

    "I love you too, but we''re older now, and it''s just not feasible."

    "What inconvenience? I know¡ªyou don''t like me anymore!"

    Leoric resorted to his tried-and-true tactic of playing the adorable younger brother, albeit with a hint of exaggeration... and surprisingly, it still held some sway.

    "Don''t say that, how could I not love you..."

    "You obviously don''t. Before, you let me hug you every night. Now, it''s only one day a month, and you refuse..."

    "You were younger then. Now you''re a student, a budding wizard. You can''t keep clinging to your sister''s bed."

    "There''s no law stating wizards can''t embrace their sisters... And after just one month, why has my status plummeted so drastically? No! No! No!"

    As he spoke, Leoric began to writhe and throw a tantrum on the bed. Faced with his unreasonable antics, Leovena reluctantly conceded.

    "Fine, fine, I surrender. We can sleep together, but no more shenanigans, alright?"

    "What do you mean by shenanigans?" Leoric feigned innocence, his eyes wide with curiosity.

    "You know exactly what you did last time... If you keep it up, I''ll toss you out the window!"

    "Wow, it''s freezing out there, I might catch a cold."

    "So behave yourself! Otherwise, I''ll throw you out, and you''ll be a block of ice by morning."

    Leovena attempted to maintain a stern demeanor, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, betraying her amusement.

    "Okay, I understand."

    Having secured a relatively satisfactory outcome, Leoric obediently agreed. Seizing the moment while Leovena''s guard was down, he reached out from beneath the covers and pulled her onto the bed.

    "Sister, it''s late, we should get some sleep."

    Enfolding his beautiful sister in his arms, inhaling her familiar scent, Leoric felt as though he had been transported back in time. He sighed contentedly, "Sister, I missed you so much."

    Leovena''s smile softened, "I missed you too, little guy. I worry about you every day at school."

    Though they addressed each other as siblings, born on the same day and at the same time, their pecking order was unclear. Yet, Leovena always assumed the mantle of the elder sister, affectionately dubbing Leoric "little guy," and he gleefully played along.

    "It''s okay, I just really missed you."

    "Mmm, good, let''s sleep. I''m exhausted."

    Leovena appeared weary, the weight of managing the household at ten years old evident in her demeanor. Previously, she had Leoric''s assistance, but now the burden fell solely on her shoulders¡ªhousework, cooking, gathering materials, processing, selling¡ªall tasks she handled with unwavering determination.

    The soft glow of the streetlamp filtered through the window, casting Leovena''s face in a gentle shadow, accentuating her beauty and serenity. A hint of resilience lingered in her expression, honed through years of independence. Leoric sat up in the darkness, gazing at his sleeping sister, a slight frown marring his brow.

    Initially, he had planned to tease Leovena tonight, granting her another moment of sweetness. However, given her unwavering stance, it seemed an unlikely prospect. Leoric had no desire to defy her wishes outright.

    As Leovena had said, they were siblings... and sibling intimacy was viewed as incestuous, a taboo universally condemned in any civilized society. Whether in China or abroad, ancient or modern, all enlightened cultures strictly prohibited such unions. In the enchanting realm of Faer?n, this moral principle held true as well.

    Leoric was acutely aware that Shadowdale was not a bastion of virtue, harboring countless evils beneath its orderly fa?ade. Even within Shadowdale''s borders, the notion of sibling incest was unthinkable.

    But Leoric loved Leovena.

    Leovena''s declaration today, though abrupt, was not entirely unexpected. Due to their parents'' untimely demise and the lack of proper guidance, she possessed only an instinctual understanding of moral norms, sensing that such closeness between siblings was inappropriate. Especially those "shenanigans" that were never meant to be.

    This couldn¡¯t be hidden forever; as she grew older, Leovena would naturally understand that siblings couldn¡¯t be as intimate as ordinary lovers. Although she wasn¡¯t fully aware now, it was only a matter of time.

    Of course, part of the allure lay in the forbidden nature of sibling love. Otherwise, loving one¡¯s sister would be no different from loving any other woman.

    All in all, it was a headache.

    Leoric sighed, kissing Leovena¡¯s face. "No matter what, I will have you," he whispered, sliding under the covers and holding her waist. With her soft, warm body in his arms, a sense of security enveloped him, soothing his tension, anticipation, and anxiety from the past month. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.

 Chapter 13: An Unexpected Disappointment

    Life at the Wizard''s Academy was relentlessly demanding. Leoric, with his shaky academic foundation, struggled to keep pace with the rigorous curriculum, his struggle compounded by the aching void left by the absence of Leovena in his arms. Sleep had become a rare luxury, with late nights and early mornings sustained only by his rudimentary internal energy.

    Returning home, he found solace in the familiar embrace of his beautiful sister, lying in his arms on his familiar bed. Finally, Leoric could rest peacefully and thoroughly.

    According to Tian Boguang, once one''s internal energy reached a profound level, even the desire for deep sleep would vanish, as the inner breath circulated autonomously, rendering one unusually alert. Leoric was far from such a realm, and given his limited talent, he doubted he would ever attain it. This thought brought him a semblance of relief; he wasn''t a martial genius, after all. Otherwise, the inability to indulge in lazy mornings would have been a source of great distress. For what was life without simple pleasures?

    Sleep, to humans, was not merely a means to dispel fatigue and restore energy; it was an immense delight. The soft bed, the warm quilts... and the tender embrace of a beautiful maiden¡ªa delicate, gentle paradise.

    When Leoric awoke, the early hours of the next day had already dawned. A faint glow outside the window indicated it was roughly 5 AM.

    Leovena still slept, somehow having curled up in Leoric''s embrace, presumably seeking warmth. Dressed in her pink pajamas, her face pressed against his chest, she looked like a docile, obedient kitten.

    Leoric dared not move, lest he wake her. Though awake, he lay still, admiring his sister''s sleeping form. Fortunately, it was still early; he had until 8 AM to return to the academy, so there was no need to rush.

    From this angle, he could only see the back of the little girl. Leovena''s hair, long, fine, and straight, cascaded down like a flowing waterfall of purest black, revealing glimpses of her snow-white neck and shoulder skin¡ªincredibly seductive. It was a pity the pajamas covered most of her beauty; otherwise, he could have beheld her smooth, jade-like back, her charmingly curved waist and hips, and her slender, elegant legs¡ªa sight sure to shake one''s resolve.

    Leoric regretted forgetting to remove Leovena''s pajamas the previous night; it was a colossal oversight.

    As he lamented, Leovena stirred fuzzily, rolling over and facing away from him, continuing her slumber. As she turned, Leoric caught a glimpse of two soft, pink mounds peeking out from her pajamas, along with two faint red dots¡ªundeniably real.

    He cautiously turned on his side, peered over, and saw that a few buttons on the front of her pajamas had loosened sometime during the night, revealing the alluring sight within. Two snowy breasts, not yet fully developed, lay peacefully together like two loving sisters.

    "Ugh, she''s seductive even when asleep... I can''t take it!"

    Leoric, who had long coveted his sister''s body, could not resist this silent temptation. Suppressing his excitement, he gently turned Leovena over, laying her flat on the bed. The little girl murmured fuzzily, protesting the disturbance to her dream, but did not wake.

    With the pajamas already partly unbuttoned, her breasts were exposed when she lay flat. Perhaps sensing the chill of the outside air, tiny goosebumps appeared on the tender skin of her breasts, and her pink nipples stood erect.

    "Ugh, tempting me again... I''ll indulge you then."

    Blaming the sleeping girl, Leoric began to further invade his sister without hesitation. He lowered his head and enclosed one pink nipple in his mouth, gently licking it. Leovena''s nipples were beautiful, firm and full, devoid of any spots or bumps, as enticing as fresh cherries.

    Despite being asleep, Leovena''s body responded honestly. The little girl began to twist and turn uncomfortably, trying to evade the assault, but it was futile. Leoric slipped his arms under Leovena''s waist, holding her tightly, his face pressed against her abundant, fragrant chest, alternately sucking on her two proud nipples.

    "So fragrant!"

    Leovena had always had an enticing milky scent, sweet and particularly intense on her chest. Leoric savored her nipples and breathed in her aroma, feeling as if he had returned to his happy infancy.

    Soft moans emanated from Leovena. Though still asleep, she instinctively responded. Her breathing became heavier, her senses still hazy, but she vaguely sensed her body being touched and played with.

    "No... don''t..."

    This muffled protest was ignored by Leoric, who was immersed in the enchanting breasts. Even if the sky fell, he wouldn''t have cared at that moment.

    "It''s only been a month, but they seem to have grown so much. Sister''s body is so wanton, deliberately tempting me..."

    Sucking on a nipple while muttering his comments, Leoric conveniently blamed the other party. This behavior was akin to that of a rogue, but since he was currently just a young boy, it somehow suited him. Moreover, in such situations, reason did not apply.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Wave upon wave of pleasure flooded his mind, and Leovena gradually regained consciousness, realizing her situation and blushing furiously. She tried to push Leoric away, but a stronger surge of electricity shot through her nipples, causing her whole body to tremble. Her eyes glazed over, her lips parted in a gasp, unable to speak, nearly fainting.

    "You... you just know how to bully your sister."

    After some time, Leovena regained her senses. Seeing Leoric still obsessed with her breasts, she felt anxious, angry, her voice tinged with tears.

    Leoric was immersed in the warmth and softness of her breasts, as if this was the entire world, and everything else had ceased to exist. Hearing his sister''s voice was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, causing him to break out in cold sweat. He hastily released the pink nipple and looked up to apologize profusely.

    "Sister, I''m sorry... I..."

    Though he genuinely wanted to apologize, he found he couldn''t continue. The deed was done; words couldn''t change that. In Leoric''s heart, Leovena was perfect, and he never wanted to defy her or make her angry. But just now, he had indeed bullied her while she slept.

    He couldn''t say to Leovena, "Sister, your body is too beautiful, and I couldn''t resist the temptation..."

    Such words would only make her angrier.

    Although Leoric wasn''t inexperienced with girlfriends, none of that seemed applicable now. He quickly climbed up and, at a loss, hugged his sister, wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

    "Sister, I... I just like you, so I wanted you to feel good again like last time..." Leoric struggled to find words, "Because, because I saw how much you liked it and enjoyed it last time... so I... Sister, please don''t be angry anymore, okay?"

    As he stumbled through his explanation, he was suddenly embraced by a pair of snowy arms, cutting off his words in astonishment. Leovena pressed her blushing face into his neck and shyly closed her eyes, saying, "Just... don''t ever bully your sister like this again, okay?"

    "Uh-huh..."

    "Never again..."

    "Uh-huh..."

    "From today... From tomorrow onwards, never bully your sister like this again."

    "Uh-huh..."

    Stupidly agreeing, Leoric looked at Leovena''s shy face and suddenly realized, "From tomorrow onwards" ¨C didn''t that mean...

    He lowered his head and kissed his sister''s delicate forehead. "Yeah, I got it."

    Understanding did not equate to agreeing; they were two entirely different concepts. However, Leovena couldn''t afford to dwell on that now. Her naturally sensitive constitution easily aroused her desires, and after experiencing that soul-stirring pleasure once, it was hard to let go.

    Just this once... Just one last time...

    Rationally speaking, this was extremely dangerous and wrong. She recognized that such excessive intimacy with her brother was inappropriate and should be immediately severed, never entertaining the thought of "just this once." Physical pleasure, like a drug, could be addictive, and what seemed like a slight retreat now often preceded ultimate downfall.

    Leovena, blessed with an innate intelligence, grasped this effortlessly. Her demeanor the previous night had already attested to her understanding. Yet, humans are not mere vessels of rationality; they crave justifications for their indulgences and escapes. Though she was a naturally astute and resolute young girl, driven by a quest for vengeance, shouldering her family''s burdens since childhood, and always presenting herself as a stalwart sister, at her core, she was still just a tender ten-year-old.

    However, for Leoric, this was precisely his heart''s desire.

    As he concurred, he lowered his head and captured his sister''s lips in a kiss. In stark contrast to the awkwardness that had marked their encounter the night before entering the academy, Leovena was markedly more proactive this time. Her delicate tongue deftly slipped into Leoric''s mouth, while her long arms enveloped him.

    Leoric kissed his sister, his hand already intimately familiar as it wandered to Leovena''s chest, cupping those two soft, tender mounds and shaping them between his fingers. The pink buds at their tips brushed against his digits, growing increasingly firm, inflaming the young girl''s desires, causing her to moan softly.

    It was high time...

    Last time, he had used his lips and tongue to bring pleasure to his sister. This time, he yearned to explore a different avenue, using his fingers. Leoric was ever the calculator, always in search of novel experiences. Besides, if he used his lips and tongue to serve his sister, while he wouldn''t be averse to it and would indeed derive pleasure, he wouldn''t be able to kiss her or play with her exquisite breasts simultaneously. He would miss the sight of her ecstatic expression, a loss too great to bear.

    His fingers traced a slow path downward, gliding over the high mounds of her breasts, traversing the flat expanse of her abdomen, slipping through the sparse patch of hair, until they finally reached the sweet, enticing crevice. The wet, slippery sensation that met his fingertips told him that Leovena was beyond control, her juices flowing like a bountiful spring.

    "Sister, let''s savor this moment once more," he whispered. Leovena blushed deeply, her eyes tightly shut, daring not to meet her brother''s gaze.

    Leoric initiated his exploration with his middle finger, gently caressing the damp, warm crevice. Soon after, his index finger joined the fray. The two fingers worked in tandem, gently parting the fleshy folds, feeling the increased moisture flowing forth, dampening the sheets beneath them, rendering them slippery.

    "You''re so wet, sister," he murmured, licking her earlobe and gently blowing into her ear.

    Just as he prepared to venture further, his fingers, nestled between the girl''s legs, suddenly encountered a warm sensation, as if a torrent of wet fluid had surged from within her. The quantity was unmistakably substantial.

    Strange, had she reached her climax so swiftly?

    Leoric was somewhat taken aback. Though Leovena possessed a sensitive constitution, she shouldn''t have been so easily satisfied. Moreover... the sensation on his fingers felt off. It wasn''t the clean, slippery feeling he expected, but rather sticky, as if it were...

    Realization dawned on him, and he swiftly threw off the blanket, sitting up to assess the situation. His sister, who had been teased into a trance, felt the hot fingers abruptly still. Her senses slowly returned, and she half-opened her eyes to gaze at Leoric.

    "What''s wrong?"

    Leoric examined his fingers, stained with a dark red liquid. Between Leovena''s long, slender legs, he could faintly discern a similar dark red hue. A faint scent of blood lingered in the air.

    Leovena also noticed the blood on Leoric''s fingers and was frightened. She sat up in a panic, "Ah! What... how..."

    Leoric wasn''t as shocked as she was, for he understood what was transpiring... However, he was genuinely disappointed.

    As a girl, this day was inevitable. It was a hallmark of maturity and development. From this point onward, she would endure similar situations monthly, unless she were with child.

    Leoric embraced his sister, kissing her frightened face. "It''s alright, sister, it''s alright, don''t be afraid," he soothed. "You''ve started your period."

 Chapter 14: Study Hard and Make Progress Every Day

    For Leovena, the news was a delightful breeze, signaling her official passage from childhood to girlhood¡ªthough still a distant echo of womanhood. Yet for Leoric, it was a tempest of disaster.

    Ordinarily, matters pertaining to girls followed a predictable, punctual rhythm. As this event coincided with the turn of the month, barring any unforeseen twists, the same scenario was poised to unfold at the same time next month.

    Leoric''s predicament stemmed from the fact that he was granted but one day of respite each month¡ªa school regulation as unyielding as stone.

    He yearned to curse the architect of this rule, but dared not, for it was the Lord of the Haunted City who had decreed it.

    The Haunted City, an ancient entity nearing two millennia of existence, had nested in the Shadowfell for over seventeen centuries. Throughout these epochs, the title "Lord of the Haunted City" referred to a singular figure¡ªa man whose lifespan stretched beyond two thousand years.

    Tarramant Tanshuer, the Lord of the Haunted City, was both its founder and ruler. Once a Grand Arcanist in the magical empire of Netheril, he had single-handedly conjured this floating city. Indeed, many such cities graced the skies in the Age of Netheril, each Grand Arcanist boasting one of their own. Furthermore, it was he who devised the potent magic to traverse planes, relocating the entire city to the Shadowfell and thus narrowly escaping the calamity that devoured Netheril.

    In the Shadowfell, Tarramant''s reign over the Haunted City continued unabated. As a formidable wizard, he employed arcane means to extend his lifespan almost indefinitely, ensuring that even after two thousand years, he still sat upon the throne, his gaze ever watchful over his subjects.

    This method of near-infinite lifespan extension was also bestowed upon his twelve sons. Born in the era of Netheril, before the Haunted City''s exile to the Shadowfell, the twelve sons of the Lord of the Haunted City were each over seventeen hundred years old. They assisted their father in governing the city, each overseeing a distinct facet of power, and were collectively revered as the Princes of the Haunted City.

    Like their father, the twelve Princes were paragons of excellence, ranking among the finest in magic, martial arts, scholarship, governance, and political intrigue. Alas, due to their father''s enduring vitality, the Princes of the Haunted City were destined to remain "princes" forever, never ascending to the title of "lord."

    The Lord of the Haunted City''s rule was as unwavering as a mountain.

    The Haunted City was a realm of rigid hierarchy, its layers of power stacking like the steps of a pyramid, with the Lord perched at the very apex. Within this city, none dared to challenge or resist him. Even Rivalan Tanshuer, the Archbishop of the Hall of Shadows, the Chief Priest, and the preeminent representative of the goddess Sel?ne in the Haunted City, accorded the Lord the utmost respect¡ªat least on the surface.

    Indeed, by name alone, one could discern that this Chief Priest of Sel?ne belonged to the same illustrious lineage as the Lord of the Haunted City. In truth, he was one of the twelve Princes, the eldest son of the Lord. Once a wizard like his father, deeply entrenched in the mysteries of arcane magic, he had, after the city''s exile to the Shadowfell, embraced the church of the goddess of the night, ascending to the rank of Chief High Priest in the Haunted City.

    Unlike the Earth Leoric had known before his time travel, in the fantastical realm of Faer?n, deities were very real. They bestowed divine spells, stripped powers, safeguarded their followers, punished transgressions, manifested miracles, and intervened in the mortal realm. Consequently, faith in this world was unyieldingly strong. The Haunted City, trapped in the Shadowfell and unable to return to the Material Plane, left Leoric uncertain of the beliefs in other cities, but within the Haunted City, everyone was a devout believer.

    The Haunted City revered only the goddess of the night, Sel?ne, and every soul was a disciple of hers. Even Leoric and Leovena, at least nominally, venerated the goddess Sel?ne and would visit the temple to offer prayers during festivals.

    This was a world where deities walked among mortals, a realm where nearly everyone was a believer.

    Thus, in this world, the authority wielded by religious leaders was immense. Much like the Pope in medieval Europe, Rivalan, as the Chief Priest and highest representative of the goddess in the Haunted City, commanded supreme authority and honor.

    Yet even Rivalan could not rival the Lord of the Haunted City.

    Within the Haunted City, all residents, besides worshiping the goddess of the night, held the Lord in equal awe and reverence. In the minds of all, the Lord of the Haunted City was the supreme leader, an infallible being, the font of all confidence, the arbiter of value, and a near-deity.

    Even Leoric, a time traveler who had immersed himself in this environment for a decade, had absorbed the aura of the Haunted City. His dissatisfaction with the Lord was confined to muted grumblings, never daring to voice a curse aloud.

    In summary, due to this unexpected twist of fate, Leoric''s plan to seduce his sister was doomed to failure.

    After hastily cleaning up the bloodstains, the two got up in a rush. After breakfast,Leoric hurried back to school and managed to arrive before eight.

    What one fears most often comes to pass.Leoric''s fear unfortunately materialized: every month when he returned home at the end of the month, he would always bump into Leovena''s "those days." The little girl''s body was incredibly regular.

    It was said to be a sign of good health... Well,Leoric naturally hoped Leovenawas healthy, but he was still quite dejected.

    What made him even more dejected was that because of this, not only had his plan to seduce his sister completely fallen through, but even the privilege of hugging his little sister and dreaming of a sweet sleep was revoked. Leovenahad a mild case of mysophobia, feeling and bloody during these days, and was unwilling to let her brother get close.

    "Go sleep in your own bed, okay."

    "But I''ll be so cold sleeping alone..."

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    "You''re lying. You''re like a little furnace."

    "Then let me keep you warm, you''re cold too..."

    "You''re too hot, making me sweat. I don''t want you."

    No matter howLeoric pouted, begged, and pleaded, his sister firmly kicked him out of the bed and sent him away.

    To be honest, withLeoric''s strength, it would have been easy to force his way in if he really wanted to; even if he didn''t use force, with a few flirtatious tactics, given Leovena''s sensitive constitution and inherent charm, it wouldn''t have been difficult to make her surrender willingly. But strangely enough, despiteLeoric''s uncontrollable desires , whenever he met his sister''s gentle yet firm gaze, seemingly mixed with a hint of pleading, he couldn''t bring himself to force her in the slightest. He could only sigh, pick up his pillow, and obediently return to his top bunk.

    "Good night, sister."

    "Uh, good night."

    Well, it was heartbreakingly disappointing. Judging from the current situation, the plan to deflower his sister at the age of thirteen was simply impossible to achieve. Unless the school announced a sudden holiday for everyone, there would only be a chance after graduating in five years.

    Of course, if he were to be eliminated in the year-end exams, he could pack up and go home early¡ªbut that would be embarrassing, not to mention that Leovenawould likely be disappointed beyond measure. As a man, if he ended up like this, it would be better to find a wall and bump his head against it than to have the shame of trying to hook up with his sister again.

    Since there was temporarily little progress to be made with his sister,Leoric might as well see if there were any other worthy targets. From his previous life to this one, spanning over thirty years,Leoric had never intended to be a righteous man. Men in this world, no, accurately speaking, male creatures, all hoped for a harem of concubines. If there were any exceptions, they must be saints, andLeoric had no intention of becoming one.

    His sister was naturally the best¡ªbut that didn''t mean his eyes would only be on her for the rest of his life. Otherwise, why had he worked so hard to learn from Tian Boguang just for his sister? It would have been a waste of effort.

    However, saying that was one thing; actually putting it into practice was quite another challenge...

    The Haunted City had no laws limiting marriage to one wife, and love between men and women was a personal freedom. As long as you had the skill, no one would care how many beauties you flirted with¡ªof course, flirting with someone else''s wife was a different matter.

    However,Leoric is basically confined to the wizard school now, with only one day off per month, which he must spend with his sister. In other words, his options for hunting for beauty are extremely limited, confined solely within the wizard school.

    And within the wizard school... there isn''t much to choose from, really.

    Technically speaking, wizards are also humans, and among humans, there are both men and women. It seems that there are no hermaphrodites in the Spirit City. Given this, the wizard school should logically have not only males but also many females. Yet strangely enough, despite the Spirit City having absolutely no gender discrimination, female wizards are really, really rare. It''s unclear what the reason is.

    During casual conversations with Tian Boguang in the past, Tian once expressed his great disappointment in the quality of women in the Spirit City.Leoric fully understands his perspective. Imagine, from the aesthetic standards of a person from the Ming Dynasty in China, seeing a group of women with blonde hair, blue eyes, high noses, and deep-set eyes, they would naturally consider them incompletely evolved monsters or demons.

    As a modern person with ideals, morals, culture, and discipline,Leoric has received education on the Three Represents and advancing party spirit. Naturally, he cannot be as uninformed and tasteless as Tian Boguang. Spring has flowers and autumn has moons, summer has cool breezes and winter has snow. As an excellent rogue, one must appreciate the beauty of different types of women.

    The problem is, even if one knows how to appreciate, there must still be a sufficient number to appreciate...

    In terms of students, the wizard school has five grades, with an average of about seventy to eighty students per grade. After subtracting those who drop out, die unexpectedly (learning magic is very dangerous), are enrolled by name only, and so on, there are about three hundred students in total.

    Among these three hundred students, there are only a dozen or so females, which means they only account for about five percent of the total.

    Using a rhymeLeoric heard in his previous life that was popular on college campuses, "Not only is the quantity insufficient, but the quality is also poor." The five percent ratio should have madeLeoric sigh, but after carefully inspecting the quality, he was even more devastated... No, he fled in panic.

    If one turns their gaze towards the professors, the result is even more terrifying. AlthoughLeoric isn''t too interested in mature women, raping a beautiful female teacher seems to have been the dream of every male student at one point. There are indeed a few female professors in the wizard school, but... if the female teachers you see every day are pale like dead people, with eyes gleaming like ghostly flames, surrounded by an eerie aura like grievance spirits, and their arms sticking out of their sleeves are dry and bony... if you can still harbor evil thoughts at this point, then you truly deserve admiration and respect flowing like a river, unable to be stopped.

    "Are all the women willing to become wizards dinosaurs?"Leoric groaned in frustration.

    Complaints aside, they are ultimately of no help to reality. Anyway,Leoric scanned the wizard school and didn''t find a single worthwhile target. Since that''s the case, he might as well prioritize his studies and behave as a good student.

    Time is a strange thing. It can pass slowly, making each day feel like a year, or it can pass quickly, making time fly like an arrow. Putting aside his lust for Shan Jia,Leoric buried himself in his studies, and before he knew it, a year had passed.

    Although he can''t be said to be exceptionally talented, he''s not bad and can be considered above average among his classmates. Moreover, the body of a ten-year-old boy actually houses the soul of an adult, and the more than ten years of formal education he received in his previous life are not entirely useless.

    Knowledge of astronomy, geography, biology, and chemistry is basically obsolete due to the change of world. This is a magical world with gods and magic, and even physical laws may not be fully applicable. But at least one thing is universally true.

    Mathematics.

    One plus one always equals two, no matter where you are, with the numbers only differing in writing and pronunciation. In China, it''s one, two, three, four, in England, it''s one, two, three, four, and in this world, it naturally has its own writing and pronunciation, but the fundamental rules remain unchanged.

    To become a wizard, it is naturally very necessary to study mathematics well. Although on the surface, the fearsome power of wizards is magic, which seems to have nothing to do with mathematics, if a wizard doesn''t have a solid foundation in mathematics, he won''t be able to learn any magic. And let''s not even mention studying magical runes, seals, and the like, for which a profound understanding of plane geometry and analytic geometry is essential.

    Just like on Earth, pure mathematicians may seem to have no practical use. But whether it''s rockets launched into space, submarines diving underwater, planes, missiles, tanks, cannons, or computers, televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, without a solid foundation in mathematics, they would all be unrealistic fantasies.

    Leoric is very good at mathematics¡ªbut the real key doesn''t lie here.

    The true value of mathematics lies in training one''s logical thinking ability, which is the most fundamental element of becoming an excellent wizard.

    The soul and insight of an adult, coupled with the logical analysis skills developed through more than ten years of systematic education, all compensate for his lack of foundation in magic compared to his classmates. And the fact that due to years of persistent internal martial arts practice, he only needs two hours of sleep per day is an even greater advantage.

    At the end-of-year exam,Leoric ranked within the top twenty. This result is naturally not exceptional, but it''s not too bad. At least, he can continue to advance to the second grade and learn more advanced arcane knowledge, rather than packing up and leaving in disgrace like the bottom ten students.

 Chapter 15: Learning Magic

    Time flew by swiftly, as if it were but a blink of an eye, andLeoric had already ascended to his fifth year at the academy.

    Just the day before yesterday, he celebrated his fifteenth birthday in this world. It was also Leovena''s birthday, but since it wasn''t a holiday, he couldn''t go home to be with his sister.

    Soon, just this final year left.

    In his first year,Leoric studied the basic theories. It was from his second year onward that he officially began to delve into magic.Leoric''s grades started to improve at a faster pace from then on, especially when he reached his fourth year and began practical training. During the year-end exams,Leoric soared ahead and secured the fourth rank in his class.

    Of course, due to annual eliminations, various accidents, voluntary withdrawals, and other reasons, the number of students in his grade had dwindled from over a hundred at the start of their enrollment to fifty-seven now.

    By the time they graduated at the end of the fifth year, this number would be reduced by at least half, if not more. Perhaps, only no more than twenty students would graduate. Of course, withLeoric''s current grades, there was no need to worry about being eliminated.

    The reason forLeoric''s rapid progress in his fourth year wasn''t because he excelled in practical battles¡ªin fact, he was far from it. In his past life, he was basically a law-abiding citizen, and in this life, he was the child of a law-abiding small businessman. He rarely even engaged in physical fights, and his only experience with slaying existed solely in games and novels.

    All of this was still thanks to his half-assed internal cultivation.

    The curriculum at the wizard school was relatively reasonable. The first year was dedicated entirely to learning basic theories. From the second to the third year, students learned more advanced theories while undergoing minimal magical training to master some simple spells. Upon reaching the fourth year, if one hadn''t been eliminated, they could already be considered a basically qualified magic apprentice.

    The magical theories that needed to be learned were already ingrained in their hearts. What was needed next was a vast amount of practice, specifically training in spellcasting.

    As a fourth-year student at the wizard academy, the standard daily schedule was as follows.

    After eight hours of sleep, students would wake up at 6 a.m.

    From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., they would spend an hour preparing their magic. Every wizard in this world did so without exception. Magic couldn''t be cast casually and effortlessly; it required ample preparation after sufficient sleep¡ªtypically one hour. Of course, this was the usual case. Some wizards with exceptional talent or strength could shorten this time to some extent.

    From 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., breakfast was served. Spiritshade City was semi-militarized, and the wizard academy was also semi-militarized. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were served at fixed times, quantities, and qualities. If one missed a meal, they would have to go hungry for half a day.

    From 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., which was approximately two and a half hours, was dedicated to spellcasting training. Students practiced the spells they prepared in the morning in laboratories, playgrounds, corridors, corners, and everywhere possible. They researched, discussed, pondered, analyzed, and compared, carefully examining whether each pose of their spellcasting movements was correct, whether each syllable of the incantation was perfect, and whether their communication with the magical network was smoother than the day before.

    From 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., lunch was served.

    After lunch, most students were free to do as they pleased, but a handful of diligent students seized the opportunity to take a nap. From 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., after another eight hours of rest, the students would wake up.

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    From 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., dinner was served.

    From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., there was another hour dedicated to preparing magic.

    Next, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., before lights out, there was another hour for students to practice their spellcasting skills once more.

    This was a typical day for a fourth-year student. The crucial part was the eight hours of sleep. Magic was an extremely subtle and profound art. To prepare magic correctly, one had to do so when their mind was the clearest, otherwise, things could easily go wrong, and even injury or death were possible. Therefore, sufficient sleep had to be ensured, which was generally eight hours for most people. Of course, some people were naturally more energetic and might be sufficient with six or seven hours of sleep, but this was an extremely rare exception. Among wizards, who were known for their frail constitution, such individuals were even rarer and could be ignored.

    So, even the most diligent students only had two opportunities for spellcasting practice each day. Moreover, forcing oneself to sleep for sixteen hours in a day was actually very difficult, violating normal physiological rhythms. To adhere to such a schedule long-term, some powerful hypnotic drugs were inevitably needed. According toLeoric''s observations, the top three students in his grade during the fourth-year final exams all took strong sleeping pills like candy.

    All medications had side effects. Occasionally taking them might be okay, but doing so long-term would undoubtedly greatly harm one''s health, potentially leading to numerous future problems. This remindedLeoric of his high school days when, near the college entrance exams, many students crammed and studied, taking large amounts of stimulant drugs to save sleep time. They could stay awake all day with just three or four hours of sleep. Now, in Spiritshade City, these same students took drugs to help them sleep. Although the methods were different, the underlying purpose was the same, achieving similar results in different ways.

    Frankly speaking, using drugs to forcibly alter the body''s normal physiological rhythms was essentially squandering one''s life. Everyone understood this, but in reality, there were often helpless circumstances where one had no choice but to do so. During the college entrance exams, it was crucial for students, almost determining their future, so they would endure even at the cost of ten years of their lifespan. Similarly, students at the wizard school played this way because their graduation exams were also extremely crucial.

    If one ranked first, they had a chance to attend a more advanced and covert secret school, rumored to be headed by Mr. Hajek Horner, the deputy mayor of Spiritshade City. There, they would be taught more profound, sophisticated, and magical skills, entering the true power core of Spiritshade City. Even if one couldn''t win first place, they should still strive for a good grade to have a chance to work in the government or be taken under the wing of a powerful wizard, leading to a promising future.

    If one could only graduate with average grades, they might end up as a low-ranking officer or even a soldier in the military, possibly dying heroically in battle against creatures from the Shadow Realm at any moment. If they performed even worse and were eliminated in the graduation exams, they would have to go home in disgrace. The 200 gold coins they spent on tuition and the five years of arduous training would all be for naught, leaving them with nothing but tears.

    With such intense and brutal competition, it was no wonder everyone resorted to methods that bordered on self-harm or suicide.

    ButLeoric was different. While others needed eight hours of sleep, he only needed two hours of breathing exercises. Therefore, the opportunities for spellcasting practice he had each day were not two, but four or even five.

    Practice makes perfect; this saying was dead-on. With more than twice the training and practical experience of his classmates,Leoric quickly rose from a novice to a top performer. After all, no matter how outstanding one''s arcane talent or scholarly background, it couldn''t match several times more practical experience.

    AmongLeoric''s classmates, there were plenty of geniuses. In fact, after years of elimination, those who remained in the school could basically be considered talented, especially those who ranked in the top ten, of course, excludingLeoric.

    Among these individuals, some were born with the ability to sense the existence of the magical network, some could memorize lengthy and complex spells after hearing them just once, some could imitate extremely bizarre and cumbersome spellcasting movements after seeing them just once, and there were even super weirdos who could comprehend deeper magic without any guidance. For example, Kuken, who topped the exams last year, was almost inhuman.

    Leoric, with his not-so-outstanding talent, managed to outshine everyone and secure the fourth rank, proving once again that practice was the sole criterion for testing truth... Well, this was going too far.

    In short, after countless times of thanking Tian Boguang in his heart,Leoric entered his fifth year and began his final-year sprint as the fourth-ranked student in his grade.

 Chapter 16: Testing Ones Mettle?

    After witnessingLeoric''s rapid progress firsthand, even the usually stern and stone-faced old professors couldn''t help but break into smiles, praisingLeoric as the fastest-improving student they had ever seen and commenting on his natural talent for becoming a wizard.

    Leoric chuckled internally. What talent? If he really had talent, would he need to get up every night to practice those complicated, lengthy, and tongue-twisting spells? He should be able to glance at something and instantly retain it.

    Regardless, the professors and classmates now looked atLeoric with warmth, respect, or even fear, no longer ignoring him as an insignificant newcomer upon his enrollment. After all, in Spiritshade City, strength was the foundation of everything¡ªthe source and guarantee of wealth, honor, and social status. WithLeoric''s current performance, as long as nothing unexpected happened, he could at least smoothly enter the governmental sector and become an aristocrat, if not topping the graduation exam and entering the legendary mysterious school.

    No one wanted to offend this rising star of the future.

    In fact,Leoric suspected that someone might already know the secret behind his soaring grades. Needless to say, at least the professor in charge of distributing magical materials should have noticed something.

    Everything students needed in school was free, or rather, already included in the tuition. As wizards, they naturally consumed a lot of magical materials. Although they didn''t have to pay, they had to pick them up from a designated place. There was no limit on quantity; they could take as much as they wanted, but it had to be registered.

    The professor in charge of distributing and registering magical materials might seem dull , with a lifeless expression all day, like someone suffering from senile dementia¡ªbut ifLeoric thought so, he''d be the one suffering from dementia.

    Leoric could assert that this old professor must have noticed that he was taking far more magical materials than others. Following this clue, it was easy to discoverLeoric''s secret.Leoric even wondered if there were magical devices like cameras installed in every dormitory.

    But it didn''t matter. The cultivation of internal energy, unlike martial arts, couldn''t be seen from the outside. Even if someone were secretly monitoringLeoric''s life, they would only see him lying on the bed, hands flat on his abdomen, motionless until he woke up an hour or two later, full of energy and vitality.

    If asked,Leoric could simply say that he was born that way, always sleeping little and waking up quickly. There were all kinds of strange people in the world. Since some could glance at something and instantly retain it, and some could cast spells innately without learning, why couldn''tLeoric have superhuman energy?

    Compared to this issue, whatLeoric thought about most was what to do after graduation.

    It was indeed terrible that the entire City of Shades was blockaded in the Shadow Realm and couldn''t return to the Material World. Life would be too dull if one had to live in just one city, especially a gloomy one. However, just because Spiritshade City couldn''t return to the Material World didn''t mean none of its inhabitants could.Leoric already knew that wizards with sufficient power could easily travel between planes and return to the Material World.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    At least characters like the Lord and Prince of Shades couldn''t move the entire city back to the Material World, but returning alone was effortless for them.

    Leoric really wanted to see the Material World.

    Besides, the most important thing was revenge. Two wizards had dueled in the street years ago, killingLeoric''s parents, which was the direct reason for him entering the wizard school.

    The problem was that the duel in the market more than four years ago had been classified as confidential by the high-ups in Spiritshade City, and outsiders couldn''t know the details. As a student who hadn''t even graduated, not even a formal wizard,Leoric couldn''t find out the names of his enemies, let alone seek revenge, no matter how discreetly he inquired.

    To seek revenge, he needed a higher status and position.

    Whether it was to go to the Material World or seek revenge, he needed greater power and a higher status; otherwise, it was all empty talk.

    And that required him to perform well in the graduation exam¡­preferably coming in first.

    It was very difficult.

    One had to admit that there were indeed absolute geniuses in the world, difficult to match even with internal energy, which was akin to a cheat code.Leoric had been somewhat lucky to come in fourth last time. The three people ahead of him were all powerful, and defeating them all would be extremely challenging.

    Such a headache.

    An excellent wizard needed not only solid theoretical knowledge and exquisite magical skills but also abundant practical experience.

    Some things could never be learned in classrooms and libraries.

    In Spiritshade City, there was a simple standard for evaluating a wizard''s strength: "the layer of the Magical Web one can touch."

    A wizard''s power did not come from within but from the Magical Web. After resting sufficiently, a wizard prepared magic by mentally connecting to the ubiquitous magical network, extracting the necessary power, shaping it into various magics, storing it, and releasing it when needed. Using an Earth analogy, a wizard was like a musketeer who daily extracted materials from a warehouse (magical network), formulated them into bullets of various calibers (magics), and fired them on the battlefield.

    The Magical Web was also layered. The deeper one went, the closer one got to the core, and the stronger the power contained. If a wizard could touch deeper layers of the Magical Web and extract stronger power, they could shape more powerful magics.

    Therefore, "the layer of the Magical Web one can touch" could serve as a simple criterion for judging a wizard''s strength. It remindedLeoric of English proficiency tests he had taken before, which were also graded. Passing certain levels roughly indicated corresponding proficiency.

    However, just as English proficiency levels couldn''t accurately reflect true English ability, this criterion of "the layer of the Magical Web one can touch" was also intended only as a "for reference only" standard.

    A wizard who spent all day in libraries and laboratories, even if they could touch the fourth or fifth layer of the Magical Web and cast very powerful magics, could easily be defeated by a wizard with only second- or third-layer access but rich practical experience.

    Spiritshade City naturally wouldn''t cultivate bookworms. What it needed were true talents.

    Therefore, starting from the fourth year, wizard school students had to go out with the military for...well, not looting, but "military exercises."

    These exercises weren''t frequent in the fourth year, probably once a month. But they became more frequent upon entering the fifth year, basically once a week.

    The calendar in this world was slightly different from Earth''s. A year still had 365 days, divided into twelve months, but each month had only three weeks, and each week had ten days. So initially, whenLeoric heard terms like "Eighth Day" and "Tenth Day," he was startled, but he got used to it over time.

    Today,Leoric was participating in one such "military exercise."

 Chapter 17: The Dangers of the Shadow Realm

    The Shadow Realm, by its very name, is not a place of kindness. In fact, among the various planes of existence in this world, the Shadow Realm may not be the most terrifying or the most bloody and violent. Nor is it known for its scenic beauty¡ªbut it is undoubtedly the most treacherous.

    Standing on the high tower of the Wizard''s Academy, one can see only a grayish sky when gazing outward with strained eyes. On the surface, the Shadow Realm appears to be nothing more than an endless gathering of shadows, with vague outlines of land, mountains, rivers, and abyssal depths barely discernible within layers of dark mist. Overall, aside from being darker and colder, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, the Shadow Realm doesn''t seem particularly remarkable.

    Yet beneath this unassuming exterior lies the most treacherous peril.

    The Wizard''s Academy offers a course on "Plane Studies," which details the conditions of various planes. As the home of Soulshade City for over a thousand years, the Shadow Realm is naturally a focus of this course, with extensive information available.

    Compared to other planes, the Shadow Realm is most closely linked to the Material Plane. In fact, one could say that the Shadow Realm is a distorted reflection of the Material Plane. Long, long ago, the Shadow Realm was but a semi-plane extending from the Material Plane, narrow and simple, before gradually expanding into its current vastness and becoming more independent. Nevertheless, it remains very closely connected to the Material Plane. Textbooks describe this connection as "interlaced and fused" or, put another way, intertwined.

    Breaking through spatial barriers to traverse planes is originally a very difficult task. However, traveling between the Shadow Realm and the Material Plane is much easier. This is precisely why the Lord of Soulshade City was able to transport the entire floating city here. While his immense magical powers and abilities certainly played a role, the natural close connection and weak barriers between these two planes were also key factors.

    Try asking him to move Soulshade City to another plane, and he''d be exhausted and unsuccessful.

    People accustomed to the Material Plane won''t feel too alienated once they enter the Shadow Realm. As mentioned earlier, aside from the absence of sun, moon, and stars, the natural environment here is very similar to that of the Material Plane, with mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, and seas all present, albeit shrouded in deep shadows and mist.

    Besides natural landscapes like mountains and rivers, one might even catch glimpses of artificial structures such as towns and forts¡ªbut these are all illusions. Since the Shadow Realm originates from the Material Plane and is its distorted reflection, these illusions are not surprising.

    In short, it looks like a desolate, lonely, and eerie wasteland. With a few more earth mounds, a couple of tombstones, some magical sounds of grieving spirits, and constant chilling winds, it would be a stereotypical land of the undead.

    That said, if it were truly a land of the undead, it would actually be safer. Although undead beings are full of resentment, fierce, and terrifying in appearance, most of them lack intelligence or even rational thinking, driven solely by negative energy and acting on instinct. Their movements can be described as clumsy, slow, and weak-minded. As aspiring wizards of Soulshade City, if one is afraid of such useless creatures, then all those years of studying in the academy have been in vain.

    Except for a very small number of high-level beings, most undead, no matter how powerful, are not truly formidable opponents. If one encounters high-level undead like liches or vampires, which possess both great power and clear rationality, there''s no need to panic. Stay calm and try negotiating with them. As long as there''s intelligence and communication, there''s always room for negotiation. With no deep grievances between them, why must they fight to the death?

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    If one has too few bargaining chips, is too weak, lacks the qualification to negotiate, and can''t escape, then there''s nothing more to say. One can only wait to die.

    The enemies in the Shadow Realm are far more troublesome than undead.

    Within the deep shadows and mist, countless strange and monstrous creatures hide. On land, there are six-legged horses and three-headed dogs. In the forests, there are black apes like½ð¸Õ and four-armed gorillas. Underground, there are swarms of fierce rats with sharp teeth like knives. In the water, there lurk huge squid and sea serpents. In the air, there are screaming owls and shadow eagles with poisonous claws. Not to mention legendary creatures like shadow dragons.

    As indigenous inhabitants of the Shadow Realm, they can generally hide their forms in the shadows and mist, making them hard to detect and ready to attack suddenly. If one says they lack intelligence, they are treacherous and cunning beyond belief. If one says they have intelligence, there is never any room for peaceful communication.

    Moreover, they generally harbor hostility towards Soulshade City, probably due to its status as an immigrant settlement. Upon seeing people from Soulshade City, they often attack in groups, fierce and ruthless.

    Beyond the fierce monsters ubiquitous in the shadows and mist, even more terrifying is the "Dark Abyss."

    The Dark Abyss resembles a "black hole" or a "spatial trap." No matter how treacherous the shadow creatures are, they can still be dealt with through conventional means. The Dark Abyss, however, is intangible, appearing and disappearing randomly with no discernible pattern. Any being that steps into the range of the Dark Abyss instantly disappears without a trace, truly facing a fate worse than death. According to professors at the academy, since the Shadow Realm originated from the Material Plane and has not been independent for long enough, the plane is still in an unstable state, leading to these spatial rifts.

    Fortunately, the Dark Abyss, though terrifying, appears infrequently, covers a small area, and lasts only briefly before disappearing. Thank goodness for that; otherwise, all creatures in the Shadow Realm would be swallowed up.

    In summary, this is an extremely terrifying place.

    As the only human city in the Shadow Realm, surrounded by countless formidable enemies, Soulshade City has stood firmly in this treacherous land for over a thousand years. Besides the protection of the goddess Shar, it relies on its immense strength.

    The once-glorious Netheril Empire boasted a brilliant magical civilization and created countless miracles.Leoric heard from professors at the Wizard''s Academy that with the empire''s fall, the magical civilization was destroyed, and various exquisite and miraculous arcane arts were nearly lost and forgotten. Even seventeen hundred years later, the magical skills in the Material Plane are still far inferior to those of the Netheril era.

    Soulshade City is different. As the only floating city to survive the catastrophic disaster of that era, it is the last inheritor of Netheril''s magical civilization. Various exquisite magical skills that have long disappeared in the Material Plane are still passed down and developed from generation to generation in Soulshade City.

    Soulshade City is built on an upside-down mountain peak, which floats in the air and moves around due to some powerful magic thatLeoric is not yet qualified to understand. The ground-dwelling monsters can do nothing to Soulshade City, and even those that can fly cannot approach the city. The military permanently stationed on the city walls, equipped with rows of magical cannons and giant crossbows, are not mere decorations. Any being daring to enter within a ten-mile radius will immediately face overwhelming magical bombardment. If they manage to enter within a five-mile radius, they will also face a hail of arrows, turning them into porcupines.

    Besides strict defense, offensive actions are also necessary. To ensure and enhance the military''s combat effectiveness, to provide students of the Wizard''s Academy and trainee priests of the temple with practical experience, to seize more slaves to ensure the city''s operation and development, and for... love, peace, and justice...

    In short, Soulshade City periodically dispatches squads to sweep the areas near the city, euphemistically called "military exercises." Additionally, there are large-scale expeditionary operations, usually involving the entire city''s military forces launching a sudden raid after detecting a concentration of monsters. These operations generally occur once a year.

    Today,Leoric is participating in one of these squad military exercises.

 Chapter 18: The Attack

    Since Spiritshade City floated in the air, airships were indispensable for the military to travel back and forth for battles.

    In this strictly hierarchical city, everything was graded. For instance, whenLeoric was a first-year student, the robes, staffs, and other equipment issued by the school were all low-grade. Now that he had risen to fifth year, his treatment had improved accordingly. Not only had his wizard robe and staff been replaced with high-grade ones enhanced with various blessing spells, but he also wore a magical necklace around his neck and a magic ring on his left index finger. Even the gray cloak he wore had magical protection against arrows. As for the floating boots on his feet, they were issued uniformly by the military before departure, allowing brief levitation to prevent anyone from accidentally falling off the airship and dying.

    The airships were similarly divided into high, medium, and low grades. The top-tier airship was like a space fortress, albeit with theÒÅº¶ of not having multiple turret designs. It was rumored to be entirely crafted from pure refined gold, exuding a majestic aura that commanded awe and reverence at first sight. It belonged to the Spiritshade City Lord and usually parked in the plaza in front of the palace, rarely used. The next tier was akin to the size of a destroyer, with only a few equipped in the entire military, making it one of the strongest weapons, typically used only during the annual large-scale expeditions.

    The next tier down was rather humble, resembling flying ships equipped with some magical crossbows, and that was it. The hull was mainly iron and wood, with crucial parts forged from refined gold and secret silver. They were abundantly equipped in the military and served as the main transportation. After all, the Shadow Realm differed from the Material World, lacking substantial mineral deposits, making metallic items relatively scarce and rare.

    The worst kind was the oneLeoric was currently riding on¡­ what an airship! It was merely a large flying raft!

    Since it was the lowest-level "military exercise," the military naturally wouldn''t deploy superior weaponry and equipment. Having such a flying raft as transportation was already something to be grateful for.

    Anyway, they were already on the way back, and they would return to Spiritshade City within half an hour.

    This "military exercise," though routine, had yielded decent results. In a vast mountainous region, they had discovered a group of Shadow Minotaurs, about forty to fifty in number, all captured alive and now being escorted on several airships behind them.

    Shadow Minotaurs were intelligent, communicative, cowardly, obedient, and possessed immense strength, making them ideal slave material. They were widely used in Spiritshade City''s mines and workshops. However, the name "Shadow Minotaur" always madeLeoric chuckle.

    The so-called Shadow Minotaurs were unique creatures of the Shadow Realm, unrelated to the Minotaurs of the Material World, except for the two curved horns on their heads. When Spiritshade City entered the Shadow Realm, its residents encountered many native creatures of this realm. Since these strange creatures didn''t exist in the Material World, the residents didn''t have corresponding names for them in their vocabulary and struggled to refer to them.

    Later, a senior official suggested, and the government issued a decree to uniformly name the creatures of the Shadow Realm. The naming method was simple: if it resembled a creature from the Material World, it would be named the same. For instance, this monster with curved horns on its head was directly named Minotaur¡ªbut since it was indeed different from a Minotaur, "Shadow" was prefixed to it, becoming Shadow Minotaur.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Shadow Minotaur, Shadow Mouse, Shadow Six-Legged Horse, Shadow Three-Headed Dog, Shadow Dragon¡­ Honestly, it was quite unimaginative. WheneverLeoric thought of this, he couldn''t help but laugh. Had the ancestors of Spiritshade City lacked talent in naming?

    However, pondering this was meaningless. After all, it had been over a thousand years, and everyone had already gotten used to it. Even if someone could come up with more suitable and pleasant names now, they couldn''t replace tradition.

    Leoric naturally didn''t care about these things as they were none of his business. What he was thinking about now was that tomorrow was the end-of-month holiday again. What gift should he bring back for Leovena this time?

    Just as he was contemplating, he suddenly felt a bright flash in front of him. Looking up, he saw several points of bright light flickering through the vast shadowy mist.Leoric''s heart tightened slightly. The airship leading the way was sending out a warning signal to the whole team, indicating that they had encountered enemies.

    Odd.

    They were already close to Spiritshade City and shouldn''t have encountered large groups of shadowy creatures. But if they had only encountered a few scattered monsters, the vanguard would have swept them away without needing to alert the entire team.

    Everyone else on the airship also saw the lights and their faces immediately became serious.

    The squadron that came out for this "military exercise" consisted of ten airships, each with a high-ranking military officer sitting in command, two soldiers as deputies, and six to seven "interns." The interns included students from the wizard school and apprentice priests from the temple. OnLeoric''s airship, including him, there were six interns: four wizard school students and two apprentice priests.

    The commanding officer was a black-robed wizard who sat still in the only chair on the airship, his hood pulled low, hiding his face in the shadows. Judging from the skull decoration on his staff and the eerie aura surrounding him,Leoric could deduce that his area of expertise was necromancy. During the previous military exercises, he had cast a wide-range fear spell that terrified the Shadow Minotaurs into trembling and kneeling, confirmingLeoric''s suspicion.

    Only a necromancer could wield a fear spell with such mastery.

    Seeing the warning from the airship ahead, the black-robed wizard slowly stood up and looked into the dense mist ahead, with two greenish, ghostly lights flickering in the shadows under his hood, presumably his eyes.

    "Prepare!" he said in a low, hoarse voice that clearly reached everyone''s ears.

    The two deputy soldiers immediately guarded on the left and right, shielding the six interns behind them.Leoric began to concentrate, the magic he had prepared this morning floating into his mind.

    It was a bit troublesome, he thought. Since they were on the way back, this military exercise was nearing its end. Although everyone had prepared magic before departing, they had almost used it up in the previous battles. For a wizard, once the pre-prepared magic was depleted and he couldn''t cast spells on the spot, he was like a rifle without bullets, completely losing his offensive capability.

    Although there were apprentice priests in the team, their situation was similar to the wizards. A priest''s magic, or miracles, must be requested through prayer to the deity and granted by them, also with a limited quantity¡ªtoo many granted miracles would overflow the priest''s body. At this point, these apprentice priests'' miracles should also be nearly exhausted.

    If the attacking enemy had seized this opportunity, calculating their return route and laying an ambush here¡­ then they might indeed be in trouble. Hopefully, it was just a coincidence, a chance encounter¡­

    Just as he was thinking, another "bang" sounded, and a white light rose from the mist ahead, blooming in the sky and turning into a rain of colorful dots.Leoric nodded slightly; this was a signal to Spiritshade City, requesting reinforcements.

    It seemed they were really in trouble.

    The airships behind also accelerated to catch up and joinedLeoric''s airship in forming a crescent formation, preparing to meet the enemy.

    Leoric wondered who the enemy ahead was.

    As if specifically answeringLeoric''s question, another "bang" sounded, and a flare popped. This time, it wasn''t a request for reinforcements from Spiritshade City but clearly a message to the rear troops. In the gloomy mist, the flare bloomed in mid-air, transforming into the shape of a mask.

    A black cloth mask.

    Leoric''s heart tightened slightly, and he heard his companions beside him gasping.

    The black mask was the holy emblem of Mask, the god of shadows and thieves.

    Were the enemies under Mask''s command?

 Chapter 19: A Cloud of Suspicion

    In the multiverse, with very few exceptions like the Material Plane, most realms are inhabited by deities, often more than one.

    In the Shadowfell, besides the Goddess of Night, Shar, there resides another deity: Mask, the God of Shadows and Thieves.

    In the grand scheme of things, there is always a hierarchy of power, and deities are no exception. Shar stands among the most powerful and highest-ranking deities in existence, while Mask pales in comparison.

    However, even in his inferiority, Mask remains an unattainable being compared to mortals.

    What complicates matters further is that the relationship between Mask and Shar is far from amicable¡ªwhich is normal, as few evil deities get along. Fortunately, both deities share a penchant for subtlety and cunning, preferring intricate schemes over direct violence. As such, despite their discord, they maintain a veneer of peace.

    Conversely, beneath this false harmony lies endless underhand struggle.

    Neither deity is alone; they both command legions of followers. It''s impossible for Shar''s followers to attack Mask''s Shadowfort, and equally implausible for Mask''s minions to raid Shar''s Lost Temple. Such overt actions are unacceptable to both sides.

    But if the followers of these two deities happen to encounter each other in the wild and can swiftly eliminate the opposition without escalating into a prolonged battle, disposing of the bodies and later denying any involvement, pretending it never happened... then, they wouldn''t mind engaging in a small skirmish.

    Wraithcity, undoubtedly belonging to Shar''s realm, has crossed paths with Mask''s followers before. Yet, this encounter carries a peculiar aura. What brings Mask''s minions near Wraithcity? Spying on enemy territory? Or plotting something else? Could they be specifically ambushing this small detachment? The last possibility seems unlikely.

    With battle already underway, pondering over these questions serves no purpose. Magical lights and sounds continuously erupt from the shadowy mist ahead, signaling an intense clash. The airship whereLeoric is stationed, along with several others, maintains a crescent formation, advancing together. In the distance to the side, fireworks-like lights shoot skyward, indicating Wraithcity has received the message and dispatched reinforcements.

    Although it''s known that the enemies are Mask''s followers, the specifics remain unclear. Mask''s subjects in the Shadowfell lack independent organizations like Wraithcity, residing instead within the deity''s divine realm, including devotee spirits and tamed shadow creatures.

    If it were shadow creatures, they might be easier to handle. Devotee spirits, however, pose a challenge. Devotee spirits are the new forms taken by the souls of the deity''s mortal followers after death, within the divine realm. They are neither fully alive nor ghosts but possess tangible forms often stronger than they were in life. Lower-tier devotee spirits cannot leave the divine realm freely or they will dissipate¡ªso any devotee spirit encountered in the wild must be of higher rank.

    Two apprentice clerics have already begun chanting spells. Having reserved some strength during the "military exercise," they can no longer hold back. Shamefully, these two ignore their companions, casting their last spell on themselves.

    Frankly, expecting a cleric of the Goddess of Night to put others before themselves is as unrealistic as expecting a pie to fall from the sky.

    The airships have advanced into the battlefield, revealing the enemy''s figures. Fear turns to reality; the enemies, hooded and clad in leather armor, their faces covered in black cloth, are unmistakably Mask''s devotee spirits. The God of Shadows and Thieves favors this attire for his followers.

    Though lacking airships, they possess natural flight abilities and were often skilled thieves in life, making them difficult to¶Ô¸¶ (here translated as "confront") amidst crossbow and magical attacks. Fortunately, their numbers seem limited¡ªonly four or five, manageable. In the blink of an eye, one is struck by a magical crossbow bolt, screaming as they fall headfirst to their doom from such a height.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    OnLeoric''s airship, a robed mage gently waves his staff, the skulls at its tip clacking together, causing a chilling sound that makes one''s teeth ache. A translucent shadow barrier suddenly rises, encasing the entire airship like a giant bubble. Two soldiers remain, one on guard while the other prepares a spell.Leoric and the other interns need only protect themselves.

    Oddly, the soldier pulls out a mixture of talcum powder infused with silver dust¡­ Is he using a spell to detect invisibility?

    As soon as the thought crosses his mind, the spell is cast. As the talcum powder scatters, several short figures suddenly materialize from the shadowy mist surrounding the airships, hooded, clad in leather armor, faces covered, wielding short blades and poised to strike. Simultaneously, similar assassins emerge around other airships, heading straight for their respective commanding officers.

    Mask''s devotee spirits, skilled in stealth, used decoys to engage upfront while the main force hid within the shadowy mist, sneaking to the rear. The fleet''s first four airships are equipped with magical ballistae, but the six following are merely flying wooden rafts with weak armaments, a vulnerable link.

    Judging by their small numbers, this doesn''t seem like a premeditated ambush; they might have been engaging in some secret activity near Wraithcity and were unexpectedly encountered. Now, heading straight for the high-ranking officers, they likely aim to capture hostages for a negotiated retreat. Otherwise, even if they manage to assassinate the officers, Wraithcity''s reinforcements will soon arrive, leaving no escape for these Mask''s devotee spirits.

    Like their deity, Mask''s followers are selfish and cunning, unlikely to undertake suicidal attacks. They wouldn''t resort to mutually assured destruction. Wraithcity emphasizes elitism, investing heavily in cultivating high-ranking officers, whom they won''t easily sacrifice. Therefore, capturing officers could likely lead to an agreement between the two sides. Similar incidents have occurred before.

    Besides, they bear no deep grudges against each other.

    As expected, once their presence is revealed, the attackers no longer hide, charging forward. Their movements are swift; in the blink of an eye, three devotee spirits board the airship.

    Upon stepping onto the airship, they immediately sense something is off. The shadow barrier cast by the robed mage, though harmless, feels like a viscous liquid. Intruders find themselves trapped in a muddy space, their movements slowing down.

    Seeing the enemies aboard, the mage remains calm despite mages'' aversion to close combat. He points, firing a gray beam from his fingertip at the lead attacker. Meanwhile, two red beams streak toward them, cast byLeoric''s classmates using magic missiles.

    Mages generally avoid wearing armor or carrying shields due to the inconvenience it causes for spellcasting, leaving them vulnerable on the battlefield, particularly when enemies close in. Fortunately, magic missiles are simple, quick spells¡­ though their power is weak¡­ When cast by a high-ranking mage, they can be impressive, but from two apprentice wizards, they barely make an impact.

    The foremost devotee spirit hit by the mage''s gray beam staggers and collapses, though not dead, as their face still contorts in anger, likely just drained of strength. Two magic missiles accurately strike another, thudding against their chest, but they merely pause briefly before continuing their assault unaffected. Behind them, the third devotee spirit follows closely, their proximity suggesting a collision, but it''s an effective covering maneuver.

    There are six interns on this airship. The two apprentice clerics, having cast their final spells on themselves, hide far away, offering no help. Of the four wizard students, besidesLeoric, the other three are only in their fourth year. Two have already used their magic missiles, presumably exhausting their prepared spells and losing combat effectiveness.

    As forLeoric, he had exhausted most of his prepared spells earlier¡­ Actually, he still has one left, but he''s reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary.

    Fortunately, these interns don''t need to fight; they''re here for military training, gaining combat experience under army supervision. In real emergencies, the soldiers handle it.

    The soldier who dispelled invisibility steps back to create distance, reaching into his pocket for materials to cast the next spell. Another soldier draws a warhammer from his waist, blocking the two devotee spirits.

    They cooperate seamlessly, clearly well-trained.

    The robed mage waves his staff, chanting, as the skulls on its tip suddenly snap open, revealing sharp white teeth and exhaling a dense cloud of black mist. Clearly, a powerful necromancy spell is about to be unleashed.

    Necromancy is among the most ruthless of magical schools, often resulting in instant death if not resisted. Mask''s devotee spirits rarely practice magic, but recognizing the situation, they prepare to counter. However, the black mist rapidly transforms into a terrifying face¡ªclosed eyes, sunken nose, and disproportionately large mouth. As the eyes suddenly open, the surrounding air grows icy cold, and the face lurches forward, its massive mouth snapping shut on the head of one devotee spirit.

    With a sickening "crack," the face bites off half the man''s head, brain matter splattering, the body falling on the airship, limbs still twitching. It''s a revolting sight

 Chapter 20: Crisis and a Gift

    Reinforcements from Spiritshade City arrived swiftly, bringing the battle to a close. Most of Musk''s wizard fell in battle, and a few captives were taken for interrogation. It was indeed strange for anyone to be probing around near Spiritshade City, and they had to get to the bottom of it.

    After counting heads, they found they had suffered almost no real losses, with only a handful of soldiers injured. Overall, it had been a close call but merely a minor incident. The whole team returned to Spiritshade City smoothly, disembarked from their airships, returned equipment like hover boots to the military, and the trainee priests went back to the temple, whileLeoric and his classmates returned to the wizard school.

    Leoric didn''t take the encounter too seriously; they had returned unscathed. As for revealing that he could now touch the second layer of the Magical Web, it wasn''t a big deal and was bound to happen sooner or later.Leoric''s rule was never to dwell on what had already happened.

    Returning to the school at 3 PM,Leoric rested before getting up to prepare his magic books. Afterwards, he left his dormitory and headed to his own laboratory.

    Students in their third year and above had their own laboratories. WhenLeoric first heard the name, he thought it was a place for physical and chemical experiments, filled with beakers, flasks, and test tubes. Later, he learned it was more complicated than that. A wizard specializing in necromancy might have skeletons wandering around their lab, with organs hanging on tables and walls like a slaughterhouse. A wizard adept at conjuration might have magical circles, runes, and other-dimensional creatures hopping around in cages. A wizard fond of illusion would have a bizarre lab where anything strange could happen, like stepping into another world¡ªmost of which were illusions.

    In line with Spiritshade City''s "elite" philosophy, from the fourth year onward, all wizard school students had to choose their own specialized field of study. Spiritshade City''s wizard training emphasized mastery over breadth, valuing experts over generalists. There were only two types of people who knew everything: geniuses and mediocre failures.

    According to prevalent theory, magic was divided into eight schools: Abjuration, Conjuration, Evocation, Necromancy, Illusion, Enchantment, Transmutation, and Divination. Every student entering their fourth year had to choose one of these eight as their specialized field of study.

    Of course, choosing a specialized field didn''t mean abandoning other schools completely. Different schools of magic were based on different principles and often conflicted with each other. Therefore, based on thousands of years of experience, to prevent accidents, once a wizard chose a school of magic to specialize in, they consciously abstained from studying another one or two schools to avoid conflicting and going insane with magic, losing their lives in the process.

    Leoric didn''t dare to take risks. After much consideration, he chose Transmutation as his specialized field and stopped attending lectures by professors from the Necromancy and Evocation departments, which he didn''t like either.

    However, this mandatory specialization was only widely implemented in Spiritshade City. According to professors, in the Material Realm, wizards didn''t have such strict rules. Most of them studied whatever they pleased, valuing versatility over specialization. They even believed that having a broad range of knowledge was the right path, and specializing in one school was narrow-minded.

    Influenced by Spiritshade City''s education and culture,Leoric naturally believed that specializing was the right way. Being a jack-of-all-trades was useless. Those Material Realm wizards were just plain dumb.

    Leoric''s specialized field of Transmutation, also known as Alchemy, excelled at transforming and changing the states of things, involving a lot of physical and chemical knowledge. SoLeoric''s lab was indeed filled with beakers and flasks. With a white lab coat, he could pass as a scientist.

    In his lab,Leoric loved making various magical potions. When he had free time, he would take out the aphrodisiac recipes that Tian Boguang had taught him, improving them with his magical knowledge, which worked quite well. Making magical potions was a basic skill for wizards, almost everyone could do it, but wizards specializing in Transmutation were often better at it.

    Actually, the most famous aspect of Transmutation wasn''t making potions but creating Golems and puppets. However, that was advanced skill, somethingLeoric couldn''t yet achieve. The next was creating magical items, and the easiest was making potions. Of course, this was a general statement. Many complex potions required very advanced skills.

    Making magical items was more complicated than making potions and couldn''t be considered until one could touch the second layer of the Magical Web.Leoric was thrilled to discover his recent breakthrough and, thinking it was almost the end of the month, decided to make a gift for his sister, Leovena.

    Making magical items required absolute concentration.Leoric was so engrossed that time flew by unnoticed. Finally, he completed the last step, tucked his creation into his pocket, and walked out. It was already dawn outside.

    Walking through familiar alleys to his house, he heard soft noises in the kitchen. Leovena was preparing breakfast. KnowingLeoric came back regularly at the end of each month, she closed her shop that day and waited at home.

    Opening the door and walking into the living room,Leoric found the house neatly tidied up. Leovena wasn''t obsessive about cleanliness but loved neatness. If she saw any mess, she had to clean it up immediately; otherwise, she wouldn''t sleep well at night. She had been like this since childhood.

    Hearing footsteps, Leovena poked her head out from the kitchen. "Breakfast will be ready soon," she smiled, "Just five minutes."

    Leoric responded and sat on the sofa.

    Leovena''s timing was spot on. Five minutes later, they were sitting at the table enjoying milk and fried eggs.

    "Happy birthday, sister,"Leoric said, taking out the gift from his pocket and giving it to Leovena. Their birthdays had been a few days ago, butLeoric couldn''t come home then, so he was giving her the gift now.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    It was a silver earring, made of ordinary silver with a plain design shaped like a spider. Women in Spiritshade City often wore earrings or studs, and Leovena was no exception. However...

    "Why is there only one?" Leovena asked, "Where''s the other one?"

    Like earrings, studs should naturally come in pairs since people have two ears.

    "Uh, well, there''s only one,"Leoric said awkwardly. It wasn''t intentional; making such magical items was very exhausting. He was lucky to have made this one today. Making another one would require at least ten days of rest, which was too late.

    Leovena smiled and didn''t ask more. She examined it closely. "Why a spider?" she asked curiously, "Do you like spiders?"

    Leoric didn''t like spiders, and neither did Leovena. However, before his transmigration, in his previous life, one ofLeoric''s girlfriends also loved wearing ear studs, her favorite pair being just like this.

    Recalling that memory,Leoric made this earring.

    Leovena didn''t ask more. She was always quiet, smart, and well-behaved, never saying anything unnecessary or asking unnecessary questions.

    "I enchanted it with a small magic,"Leoric explained, "If you wear it often, you''ll feel warm, and you won''t feel cold at night."

    "Really?" Leovena was delighted. "I heard that being able to create magical items means you can be considered a true wizard."

    Leoric smiled. Leovena was right, but actually, the earring was only a quasi-magical item¡ªmeaning it only worked within Spiritshade City. Once outside a certain range, it lost all its magic. WithLeoric''s current abilities, he couldn''t create a true magical item yet, only substitutes like this.

    Should he tell his sister about this? Nah, she barely left Spiritshade City.

    Leoric hesitated briefly before deciding not to explain further. Perhaps it was his vanity; letting his sister think he was already at the level of a formal wizard wasn''t a bad thing.

    "Help me put it on," Leovena said, smiling brightly.

    Leoric took the earring from Leovena''s palm, lifted her hair that had fallen down, tucked it behind her ear, and carefully placed the silver earring on her right earlobe.

    "Does it look good?" Leovena asked, walking to the mirror to admire herself.

    Leoric nodded vigorously.

    Fifteen-year-old Leovena was no longer the innocent little girl she once was. Like her deceased mother, she was tall, about 5''6" (coincidentally, this world''s measurement units were very close to Earth''s imperial system, so they could be used interchangeably), roughly 1.72 meters, just half a head shorter thanLeoric. Today, she wore a light blue shirt, paired with light gray pants and silver-white long flat boots, making her legs look even longer and straighter, with a shapely butt.

    Her dark, long hair flowed freely, loosely tied back with a pale yellow ribbon that draped over her shoulders, adding a hint of allure to her vigorous demeanor.

    From Leoric''s perspective, all he could see of Leovena was her back, her chest hidden from view¡ªbut wasn''t his sister looking in the mirror? The craftsmanship of Spiritshade City was highly advanced, having invented glass-making and silver-plating techniques early on, resulting in mirrors of exceptional quality that clearly reflected Leovena''s front, her towering, impressive breasts makingLeoric involuntarily swallow.

    Wow... probably a 34D...

    As Leoric was mentally estimating his sister''s bust size, Leovena finished examining herself in the mirror. "Little brother, it''s such a nice day today, let''s go for a walk," she suggested.

    Leoric naturally had no objections.

    Spiritshade City wasn''t particularly large, and a good portion of it was off-limits to commoners like Leoric and Leovena, including the royal palace, noble residences, military bases, and wizard schools. As for the residential areas for commoners and merchants, they were quite crowded, so naturally, they ended up at the market.

    Generally, men don''t enjoy shopping with girls. But accompanying his beautiful sister was a different story altogether.

    Spiritshade City had a dedicated commercial district where Leoric''s family''s shop was located. Commercial areas everywhere in any world are more or less the same¡ªrows of shops displaying a dazzling array of goods, teeming with people.

    Leovena wasn''t particularly fond of shopping; she mostly enjoyed leisurely strolls and chatting about school. After some time,Leoric casually glanced up and caught sight of a pale yellow dress in a nearby boutique, its style quite charming, piquing his interest.

    "Sister, that dress looks really pretty," he said.

    Leovena followed the direction of Leoric''s finger and shook her head slightly. She had never been fond of dresses, perhaps due to the nature of her work that required efficiency, favoring neutral-toned, practical clothing. Her wardrobe was mostly filled with shirts and pants, like the outfit she was wearing today.

    With her slender, upright figure, delicate face, and sharp features, paired with her masculine attire, she exuded a heroic charm, resembling a handsome young man.Leoric adored Leovena''s attire, but deep down, he believed girls should also have a softer, sweeter side.

    Every girl should own a few dresses, especially if she has long, slender legs¡ªnot wearing one would be a waste.

    "Sister, I think you''d look really pretty in a dress too. Why don''t you try it on?"

    After Leoric''s repeated requests, Leovena entered the shop, asked the shopkeeper to bring down the pale yellow dress, and went into the fitting room to change. After trying on several dresses, she eventually chose a pink one, paid for it, and walked out with Leoric.

    "Why are you so happy?" Leovena asked curiously, noticing the perpetual smile on her brother''s face.

    "Well, because I''ve never seen you in a dress like this before. Just now, you looked so gentle and beautiful, so I''m happy,"Leoric replied.

    Leovena chuckled. "You little thing."

    "It''s a pity I can''t make clothes myself,"Leoric said with regret. "Otherwise, I''d make you an enchanted dress. That would be even better."

    Although Leovena wasn''t a wizard and hadn''t attended wizard school, she had run a magical materials shop for many years and was familiar with basic magical knowledge from listening toLeoric''s conversations. However, she wasn''t well-versed in the finer details. Upon hearing his words, she casually asked, "Couldn''t you just buy a dress and enchant it later?"

    Leoric shook his head. "Making magical items requires doing everything in one go, preferably by oneself. Enchanting while creating is easier. Buying a ready-made dress and then enchanting it is more difficult. I... can''t do it yet."

    Leovena looked atLeoric, smiling indulgently. "It''s okay," she whispered. "I''m sure you''ll be able to do it soon. I''m looking forward to your dress."

    Leoric silently nodded.

    The two strolled casually out of the commercial district. "Didn''t you say that fifth grade would have a lot of practical training?" Leovena asked. "Be careful, magic can be dangerous."

    Practical training naturally wouldn''t involve just one person training against a wall; often, it involved students sparring with each other to gauge each other''s abilities. But Leovena''s worries were unnecessary.Leoric chuckled, "Don''t worry, sister. During practical training, we''ll be in a special magical duel barrier. At most, we''ll get hurt a little, but there won''t be any real danger..."

    His words were cut short as Leoric suddenly froze. Leovena, puzzled, looked up and saw him standing still, lost in thought.

    "What''s wrong?"

    Leoric waved his hand, signaling her to be quiet. Leovena''s unintentional reminder had seemingly stirred up a long-buried unease in his heart.

    Magic... harm... resisting magic...

    That''s it, that''s it...

    No wonder those three soldiers from the military exercise yesterday had looked at him that way... It wasn''t because he could touch the second layer of the magical grid¡ªwhat was so surprising about that? The real reason was the dark silver beam he had reflected back.

    Leoric felt a slight chill down his spine, unsure if it was from tension, worry, or excitement. Although he hadn''t fully grasped the intricacies, he had a vague sense that he seemed to be caught in¡ªor would soon be caught in¡ªthe center of a vortex.

 Chapter 21: The Prospects of a Guinea Pig

    Yesterday, during the military exercise, Musk''s sorcerer lunged towardsLeoric. The soldier wielding the warhammer ¨C he must have been a Shaar priest ¨C fired a beam of dark silver light from his hand, strikingLeoric, only for it to rebound.

    The situation was undoubtedly peculiar, but with lives at stake,Leoric had no time to ponder it. He cast a Stonebolt just in time, hitting the enemy square in the face, later learning that the blow had even blinded him. What luck! After returning to the Haunted City in a flurry, and then back to school, he was too busy preparing gifts for his superior to give it another thought.

    But now, reflecting on it, there''s something deeply suspicious, something worth exploring.

    The priest obviously wasn''t attackingLeoric; it made no sense and was unnecessary. Not only were they unaffiliated and harbored no grudges, but even if he had a vendetta againstLeoric, he could simply sit back and let Musk''s sorcerer handle it. Besides, ifLeoric were injured during the exercise, the priest would also face disciplinary action from the military.

    Judging by the circumstances, it was evident that the priest intended to cast a protective spell onLeoric, ensuring he wouldn''t be harmed by the sorcerer. Strangely, the spell failed, or rather, was resisted byLeoric.

    "Could it be because I''m from another world, not a native of this realm, so I''m immune to its magic? Or is it due to my long-term practice of internal martial arts?"

    The thought flashed, but he quickly realized it was wrong. At school, he often sparred with classmates and had been hit by magic several times. If he truly possessed this ability to resist magic, he would have discovered it long ago.

    Wait¡­ there''s a difference here.

    Magic is a broad term, divided into Arcane and Divine magic. Sorcerers study Arcane magic, while priests pray for Divine magic. Although they seem similar on the surface, the differences are vast, though there are some fundamental similarities in their principles.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Leoric''s encounters at the sorcerer''s school were all Arcane magic. He could be injured by Arcane magic and had no special resistance to it, proven time and again.

    But yesterday, it was a priest casting a spell on him ¨C could it be thatLeoric has an extraordinary resistance to Divine magic?

    Yet, that didn''t add up either. Yesterday''s Divine spell, though unknown toLeoric, was clearly protective in nature.Leoric didn''t understand Divine magic, but even with basic magical knowledge, he knew such spells couldn''t be resisted.

    It violated fundamental magical principles.

    Classification varies based on criteria. In terms of function, magic is divided into Arcane and Divine; based on effects, it can be roughly categorized into Offensive, Protective, and Neutral magic.

    Neutral magic doesn''t directly affect opponents, like turning a stone into mud or enchanting a sword with flames. The effectiveness of such magic largely depends on the caster''s skill.

    Offensive magic aims to injure, destroy, or suppress opponents, targeting both their bodies and minds ¨C naturally provoking an instinctive resistance from the opponent. Just as you''d instinctively tense your muscles if punched.

    Magic, though powerful, isn''t omnipotent. Necromancy''s Arcane spells, for instance, many claim instant death upon contact, but they''re just claims. Even legendary killers like Finger of Death could potentially be withstood by an exceptionally strong opponent. Similarly, mind control magic may fail against a steel-willed adversary.

    Opponents vary, so Offensive magic often entails various risks and uncertainties.

    Protective magic differs, as it mostly consists of blessings, enhancements, protections, and strengthenings, posing no negative effects on the receiver, thus logically unresistable. For example, if someone casts a spell to create an invisible armor around you to shield you from harm, how could you resist that? Unless you actively try to dispel it.

    But when that beam of dark silver light hitLeoric, he felt a dull pain in his chest and some difficulty breathing¡­ and then rebounded the Divine spell. This was wrong.

    The only explanation was thatLeoric''s constitution was extremely unique, defying magical norms. He couldn''t resist Arcane magic but could resist Divine magic ¨C not only Offensive but also Protective spells, treating them all as attacks to resist.

    Damn, if this were true, whenever injured in the future, he couldn''t even rely on a priest''s healing magic, stuck solely on potions? That was too cruel.

    Wait, this wasn''t the time to think about it; it was a future concern¡­ The real issue now was: knowing he was such a freak and had been discovered, what was next?

    Would someone drag him into a laboratory tomorrow, cage him like a guinea pig for experiments?

    Leoric couldn''t help but shiver.

 Chapter 22: The Iridescent Dragon and the Great Rift

    Leovena noticedLeoric''s pale complexion and assumed he was tired, suggesting they return home. Throughout the journey,Leoric furrowed his brow in deep thought, uttering not a single word.

    The prospect of being caged made it impossible for him to feel happy. However, he saw no need to burden Leovena with these worries, not wanting the little girl to be concerned.

    The day passed swiftly. The next morning,Leoric rose early, prepared his magic, and made his way back to the wizard school.

    The streets were deserted, with few people around.Leoric walked leisurely, almost within sight of the towering main building of the wizard school. Suddenly, an inexplicable palpitation in his heart madeLeoric stiffen. As an aspiring wizard, he keenly sensed a powerful magical fluctuation above him.

    Could someone be planning to sneak attack him?

    Having spent a long time in the wizard school,Leoric instinctively felt wary. He reached into his pocket, ready to pull out his magical materials. The spell he prepared in the morning was already faintly looming in his mind, ready to unleash.

    With a hiss, the void above split open, and two people dropped down, landing just ten steps away fromLeoric.

    Leoric was on guard.

    Both were tall and had blonde hair. The one on the left looked like a young man, with a radiant smile and eerily iridescent eyes that glinted with rainbow hues, dressed in a white robe. The one on the right seemed to be his follower, still with a childlike innocence in his appearance, but trying hard to look serious. He wore a thick black leather armor¡ªso thick that it looked like a cotton-padded jacket, making him look quite bulky.

    After landing, the two looked around and turned back, spottingLeoric. The young man walked over with a smile, tappingLeoric lightly on the shoulder.

    "Hey, good morning."

    Leoric was around 5''11", not tall but not short, yet the young man was still half a head taller. Strangely, despiteLeoric''s usual reluctance to let strangers touch him, especially as wizards were inherently cautious, seeing the young man approach with such a radiant smile made him feel like he was meeting an old friend, unable to summon any suspicion.

    "Excuse me, is this Spiritshade City?" the young man asked.

    Leoric nodded, "Uh-huh."

    "Which direction is the palace? Can you tell me?"

    Leoric had never been to the palace, but he knew the general direction and pointed. The young man nodded, "Thanks." He turned to his companion and headed in the directionLeoric indicated.

    Leoric stood there, momentarily stunned, feeling a slight dizziness in his head as if something was circling around in his thoughts, yet he couldn''t recall what. Looking up, he saw that the figures had disappeared and returned to the wizard school.

    Once inside the school, seeing the familiar environment and feeling the cold wind,Leoric''s mind suddenly cleared.

    What was wrong with him just now? Could he have fallen under some kind of mind control magic without realizing it? He hadn''t seen the blonde youth casting any spells.

    While highly skilled archwizards could cast spells subtly and discreetly, the young man looked no older than twenty. How could he be such a powerful wizard¡­ No, they weren''t from Spiritshade City!

    Upon realizing this,Leoric was shocked. Residents of Spiritshade City, having lived in the Shadow Realm for over a thousand years, had been influenced by the shadow essence of this plane, generation after generation, affecting their physical appearance. Since Spiritshade City was free from natural disasters and human calamities, with abundant resources and advanced healthcare, the population growth remained stagnant due to the residents'' generally decreased fertility caused by the shadow essence.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Moreover, the residents of Spiritshade City generally had dark or gray hair and eye colors. He had never seen anyone with blonde hair, let alone eyes like rainbows.

    They were outsiders¡­ The Shadow Realm only had Spiritshade City as a human settlement. So, they came from the Material Realm?

    But Spiritshade City had stood firmly in the Shadow Realm for a thousand years, withÑÏÃÜ city defenses and countless powerful magical barriers. These two had obviously sneaked in, which explained their unfamiliarity with the paths¡ªbut how did they bypass so many magical barriers without alerting the guards?

    And what were their intentions by heading to the palace?

    Leoric felt uneasy. He seemed to have fallen under some kind of magic just now, unwittingly giving directions. If these two were indeed invaders and caused trouble, he might get blamed for it, which would be troublesome.

    He was already worried about being captured and used as a test subject, and now this unexpected disaster was beyond frustrating.

    There was nothing he could do but accept his fate. Could he escape from Spiritshade City? That was impossible.

    Just as he was shaking his head in disappointment, a deafening roar echoed, makingLeoric feel like the ground was shaking beneath his feet, as if an earthquake had struck. But Spiritshade City floated in the air; earthquakes were impossible here. Extremely powerful magic could create localized earthquake-like effects, but who would dare to use their own city as an experiment? They''d be hung and burned to death.

    The roar and tremors came from the north, where¡­ the palace of Spiritshade City was located.

    Damn, what he feared had come true. Those two blonde guys were indeed enemies, causing such a commotion. Now, he was most likely to be implicated. He hoped he wouldn''t be accused of colluding with foreigners¡­

    Students poured out of dormitories and laboratories, gazing toward the northern sky. It was filled with colorful lights, like countless fireworks exploding simultaneously, beautiful and extraordinary, as if celebrating a festival. But insiders knew that this was no fireworks display; it was a myriad of powerful magics weaving and bombing each other.

    A dozen beams of light rose from various corners of the wizard school, spanning the void and rushing towards the palace. The professors had sensed the strong enemy''s invasion and rushed to assist. At the same time, a transparent hemispherical shadow shield rose, enveloping the school to prevent it from being affected by the war.

    Who were those two blonde guys, daring to stir up trouble at the palace of Spiritshade City? Although the various shadesoul princes were usually busy with important matters and didn''t live in the palace, at least the city lord Teramant and the deputy city lord Hojehana were definitely there. Both were top-tier archwizards of Spiritshade City, akin to deities. To provoke them was suicidal.

    While his thoughts wandered, a clear sound echoed through the air, and amidst the colorful lights, a massive figure appeared¡ªa pink dragon with countless sparkling iridescent points on its body, resembling a morning star. In its right claw, it seemed to hold a person, probably the companion in the ultra-thick leather armor, given their round appearance.

    The dragon roared and sprayed a conical beam of seven-colored rainbow light, which instantly dispersed into a giant rainbow shield covering itself and blocking all incoming magical attacks. With its huge wings unfurled, it prepared to soar away. Suddenly, a silver door opened in the void above the dragon''s head, and a wizard clad in a gray robe stepped out, raising his staff and pointing it at the dragon''s back.

    A bright green beam shot out from the top of the black staff, hitting the dragon''s back directly. The dragon roared, and the rainbow shield covering its body shattered in one hit. Numerous magical attacks took advantage of this moment to bombard it from all sides, mixed with hundreds of magic arrows fired from magical crossbows.

    Even deities might not escape unscathed from such a torrent of attacks. The dragon roared continuously, and countless wounds instantly appeared on its body, spraying pink blood. Fortunately, dragons were the toughest and most resilient creatures in the world. Despite the relentless bombing, it survived, beating its wings and breaking open a massive black hole in the void. The dragon soared into it and disappeared.

    The attackers did not pursue. The pink dragon had forcibly broken through the spatial barrier and had already ed to another plane, impossible to catch now.

    The smoke cleared, and the dust settled. Spiritshade City returned to calm, at least on the surface. The shadow shield over the school lifted, and the participating professors returned, most looking somewhat disheveled.

    Having witnessed such an intense battle, the students felt unsatisfied and buzzed with excitement, discussing the various magics they saw, the origin of the pink dragon, and the gray-robed wizard who appeared through a teleportation portal and disintegrated the dragon''s rainbow shield with a single strike.

    "That was Mr. Hojehana," a student suddenly exclaimed excitedly. "My father once took me to a banquet where I met him. I saw his staff with a winged serpent on the top, his unique emblem."

    "Wow!"

    For these wizard students, Hojehana was also an admired icon. Like the city lord, Hojehana was an exceptionally talented grand artificer. He had served as the deputy city lord of Spiritshade City since the Netherese era and was known as "the City Lord''s Hand." Often, his orders were equivalent to the city lord''s wishes, making him akin to the city lord''s embodiment.

    Legend had it that he was also the headmaster of a secret higher wizard school.

 Chapter 23: The Valentine

    A series of unexpected incidents hadLeoric''s heart pounding with anxiety. But strangely, days passed and nothing happened. Neither was he taken away to be experimented on like a lab rat, nor was he questioned about collaborating with outsiders and targeting them. Everything remained the same.

    This, however, madeLeoric even more tense. But as time went on, coupled with the increasing workload of his fifth-grade studies, he gradually put it out of his mind.

    Soon, more than two months had passed.

    Through numerous practical trainings,Leoric''s progress was rapid. When he meditated, he could now stably connect to the second layer of the Magic Grid, no longer feeling as raw and obstructed as he did in the beginning. He could almost clearly see the intertwined silver threads in the void and accurately know which thread to draw power from to shape his magic.

    However, he was still some distance away from touching the third layer of the Magic Grid. Whenever he tried to delve deeper, he immediately felt an unbearable headache, as if his head were splitting open, and he almost fell to the ground rolling in pain. After a few painful lessons, he temporarily abandoned this hope.

    Haste makes waste; this is true for everything in the world.

    In fifth grade, there were almost no lectures from professors. To learn new magic, one mainly relied on themselves to search in the library. During these two months,Leoric gradually mastered more magical techniques, which were all recorded in his magic book and could be reviewed whenever needed. Overall, everything was going smoothly.

    What he desired most now was probably to get the first place in the graduation exam.

    After witnessing a spectacular and dazzling battle that day,Leoric deeply felt how far he was from a true great wizard. Although he was too far away to see the details of the battle, Mr. Hogarthana''s final strike left a deep impression on everyone.At that time, the dragon exhaled a rainbow-like glow, which turned into a colorful shield enveloping itself, steadily resisting magical attacks from all directions, like a giant rock standing firm in the midst of towering waves. When everyone thought there was nothing they could do, Deputy Lord Hogarthana soared into the sky and defeated the nearly indestructible rainbow-colored shield with one strike, securing the victory.

    Afterwards,Leoric specially went to the school library to search for books and almost flipped through all the volumes under the "Dragons" category before finding information about that pink dragon.

    It was an Iridescent Dragon, an extremely rare species, which many believed only existed in legends and stories. Iridescent Dragons did not dwell in the Material Plane but scattered across various Outer Planes, often closely associated with deities. It was rumored¡ªjust rumored¡ªthat in ancient times, there were long-term and large-scale deity wars, and Iridescent Dragons would be invited by deities to participate. Their pink, enormous figures often appeared on the battlefield.

    As everyone knows, dragons are natural spellcasters, and their dragon language naturally contains the power to connect to the Magic Grid. But this does not mean that every dragon is a skilled great wizard¡ªin fact, quite the opposite. Perhaps because their physical bodies are already incredibly powerful, dragons do not particularly enjoy delving into magic. Most of the time, they prefer to sleep in their caves. Even when they have to fight, they tend to prioritize using their innate terrifying breath and sharp claws. Due to lack of interest and training, although dragons are natural spellcasters, they are generally not excellent wizards and only know a small amount of magic, which they use for fun.

    But Iridescent Dragons are the exception. This species of dragons particularly enjoys studying magic and can often be considered accomplished great wizards. Like the one they encountered this time, although exhaling rainbow glow is an innate ability of Iridescent Dragons, transforming it into a rainbow shield for protection rather than harm is a very skilled magical technique.

    However, speaking of it, Spiritshade City is so tightly defended, filled with powerful beings, many of whom are ancient creatures over a thousand years old, older than many dragons. Even if an Iridescent Dragon came, it should have been killed on the spot.

    The Iridescent Dragon they encountered this time seemed especially powerful. Under such intense attacks, even Hogarthana had to personally intervene, yet it still managed to escape, which was quite impressive.

    Leoric could basically conclude that the blonde-haired teenager who asked him for directions that day was this Iridescent Dragon in disguise. It''s not uncommon for dragons to change into human form, but he didn''t even bother to find out the way before rushing to Spiritshade City and causing such a big commotion. What was he trying to do?

    Spiritshade City generally only operates in the Shadow Realm, while Iridescent Dragons prefer not to live in such dark and lightless places. The two sides should have never had any dealings, let alone any grievances.

    Forget it, it''s basically unrelated to me. Since no one knows or blames me, why bother thinking about it.

    Besides searching for information about Iridescent Dragons,Leoric also found the magical technique Hogarthana used to defeat the rainbow shield. It''s almost impossible to accurately identify a magic just by glimpsing it from afar, especially forLeoric, who is not yet an experienced wizard. But this situation was special because there are not many magics that can "defeat a rainbow shield with one strike." Considering the circumstances at that time, it was not difficult to deduce which magic Hogarthana used.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    If he guessed correctly, it should be Great Disruption, a powerful magic that can instantly shatter layers of magical defenses and even destroy magical items.

    Leoric wondered when he would possess such unparalleled power. Looking at these, and then looking back at what he had learned in the past four years: being able to throw a small pebble and make it explode was already the current upper limit of his abilities¡ªit was really depressing.

    The moreLeoric learned, the more he felt inadequate. Although the courses at the Wizard School became more difficult each year, they could still only be considered the basic stage. If one is not satisfied with being an ordinary wizard and wants to truly achieve something, besides more practical experience, deeper learning is very necessary.

    For example, being able to enter that legendary higher academy.

    WithLeoric''s grades, if he strives hard, there is still hope.

    However, reality is always so peculiar. When you want to look around for beautiful women, you find yourself surrounded by dinosaurs and can only bury your head in studies; and when you prepare to study hard and make progress every day like this, you occasionally look up and find that beautiful women have quietly appeared around you.

    Her name is Freya.

    Freya Monica.

    Freya is two years younger thanLeoric, in third grade. Their acquaintance was purely coincidental.

    One midnight,Leoric was practicing the newly learned Flight Spell in a secluded corner.

    As the name suggests, the Flight Spell allows wizards to briefly fly up and down in the air like birds. Being able to use the Flight Spell signifies a huge breakthrough, meaning that the wizard has touched the third layer of the Magic Grid.

    Just this morning, after reviewing several magics he had already mastered,Leoric couldn''t resist taking another risk, concentrating his mind and meditation, trying to delve deeper into the Magic Grid.

    He felt invisible pain, not from his body but from his consciousness, clear and intense. Like the previous times, but to a lesser degree. It seemed that the hard training over the past two months had some effect.

    Enduring the pain, he tried to slowly sink his consciousness into the abyss of darkness¡ªof course, this "sinking" is just a metaphor. The pain intensified, coming in waves like tides. Finally, whenLeoric thought he couldn''t bear it anymore, light seemed to appear before his eyes.

    He saw the silver threads intertwining into a dense three-dimensional network again. Unlike what he had seen before, the entire network was brighter and more dazzling, as if silver-white flames were burning faintly within it.

    Leoric had finally touched the third layer of the Magic Grid.

    Of course, being able to initially touch it and being able to smoothly and stably draw power from it to shape magic are two completely different things, but this was still a very welcome progress.

    The meditation didn''t last long, and the pain came again, plunging him into darkness.Leoric didn''t know how long he had been unconscious, but when he woke up, he felt pain all over his body, as if every joint had been dislocated, and he didn''t even have the strength to lift a finger.

    Forcibly connecting to deeper layers of the Magic Grid when one''s abilities are insufficient naturally leads to this overload reaction. Fortunately,Leoric had practiced internal skills for many years, day in and day out, and had achieved some success. Although it couldn''t be used to break rocks, it was still useful for healing.

    After resting for half a day, he got up, took out his magic book, and flipped to a page. It recorded a magic he had wanted to learn a long time ago: the Flight Spell.

    Being able to fly freely like a bird is the dream of all humans, especially forLeoric, who comes from a non-magical world.

    Leoric carefully studied the information on the Flight Spell, prepared the necessary materials for casting, then fell into a deep sleep and automatically woke up two hours later. He felt full of energy and vitality, so he began to resumed his meditation, diving deep into the third layer of the Magic Web. With great effort, he extracted the necessary power from the network that seemed to burn with silvery-white flames and carefully shaped it into the required magic.

    He needed a place to test it out.

    Despite his excitement,Leoric remained level-headed. If anyone saw him cast the spell of flight, they would immediately know he had reached the third layer of the Magic Web.Leoric didn''t want to reveal this secret so soon.

    So, it must be a hidden spot.

    Unlike other spells he had learned before, flight required a vast open area. His dormitory and lab, though private, were too confined and he might easily bump into the ceiling.

    In the end, he had to wait until midnight, sneak out, and find a remote corner to practice.

    He took a feather from the inside pocket of his wizard''s robe, gently brushed it over himself, recited the incantation, and the feather turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared.Leoric felt his feet gradually lift off the ground, and he began to float.

    Just floating wasn''t true flight yet.Leoric had learned Levitation earlier, which also allowed him to float¡ªbut only float, moving vertically up and down like an elevator.

    Only soaring freely counted as real flight.

    Leoric concentrated, imagining himself moving forward to his left. To his delight, he found he had actually done it. With just his thoughts, he could control his body to float and move in any direction, albeit slowly.

    He could really fly! It felt amazing.

    Just as he was fully concentrated on maintaining the spell and enjoying the joy of soaring, a soft round of applause came from behind him.

    Leoric''s heart skipped a beat, and the spell nearly slipped out of his control. It was midnight, and everyone should be asleep in their dormitories. Who could be applauding behind him?

    Who was it?

    Leoric whispered a word, gently landing himself, canceling the spell of flight, and turned around.

    And there he saw Freya.

 Chapter 24: Acquaintance

    It was night, and the corner was shielded by several buildings.Leoric couldn''t make out her features clearly, only judging from her silhouette that she was a petite female wearing a wizard''s robe.

    Students at the academy all wore unified black wizard robes, with their names and grades embroidered in white silk on the left chest. Fortunately, although Spiritshade City valued hierarchy, it wasn''t as extreme as the Japanese animeLeoric had watched in his past life. At least within the wizard academy, lower-year students didn''t need to address upper-year ones with respectful titles like "senior" and endure their bossy commands.

    "Third year, Freya Monica... Such a beautiful name,"Leoric read the text embroidered on her chest. The white silk thread stood out vividly in the darkness. "Good evening, miss."

    "Good evening, Mr. Lannister," she smiled. "It seems I''ve disturbed your practice. I''m sorry... I couldn''t help but applaud at such a magnificent magic."

    Leoric nodded, his mind racing. Freya, who was now standing before him, had witnessed his levitation spell. As a third-year student, she naturally wasn''t his competitor, but there was no guarantee she wouldn''t spill the beans.

    Kill her to silence her?

    The foolish thought flickered briefly before being immediately rejected. Come on, aside from whether he could cleanly get rid of her or not, if he did, he would surely be found out immediately. This was the world of magic, and many professors at the school were proficient in prophecy. All they had to do was cast a spell on a crystal ball to know thatLeoric was the murderer.

    What to do...

    Just asLeoric was contemplating, she had walked up to him. "Mr. Lannister?" she called out in a low, puzzled voice. "Are you alright?"

    "Oh, I''m fine,"Leoric said. "Nice to meet you, Miss Freya. What are you doing here so late?"

    "I''ve been having insomnia," she frowned cutely. "I never had this problem before, but recently, it''s been getting worse. I often can''t sleep and can only come out for a walk."

    Insomnia?

    "That''s terrible. Insomnia is indeed very painful,"Leoric sympathized. "I used to have insomnia too, although it''s cured now, so I can understand how you feel."

    In fact,Leoric had never suffered from insomnia, neither in his past life nor in this one. Since practicing internal martial arts, he had never had trouble sleeping again.

    "Really? How did you cure it?"

    Leoric chuckled and pointed to the small garden ahead. "Would you like to sit over there for a while?" he invited. "The view tonight is quite nice."

    Leoric and Freya sat side by side on the bench in the garden.

    Although there was no moonlight, with the help of the distant yellow streetlight,Leoric could clearly admire her delicate beauty and graceful figure. As a little girl who had just turned fourteen (whichLeoric found out later), her development was astonishing. Despite wearing a loose wizard robe, it couldn''t conceal her curves. Judging by sight, her bust size was about 32B, which was decent for her petite frame (about 1.6 meters tall).

    Like most women in Spiritshade City, her black long hair had slight natural curls, and her face was delicate, radiating the innocence of a young girl. What captivatedLeoric the most was her small mouth, with corners slightly upturned as if always bearing a mischievous smile.

    How strange, such a pretty girl and already in her third year, yet he had never noticed her before. It seemed he had been scared by those ugly girls around him in his freshman year and forgotten to observe the new students in the school afterward.

    Well, never mind that.

    Leoric felt a little attracted and considered getting her.

    In his past life, he wasn''t exactly a lecher, but he had slept with a few girlfriends; in this life, as a fifteen-year-old virgin with rich theoretical knowledge but no practical experience, he had both theory and practice combined... Why hesitate?

    Freya seemed completely unaware that she was sitting next to a lecher, or perhaps she was still anxious about her persistent insomnia. Of course, this was completely worth worrying about. If it wereLeoric, he would be a hundred times more anxious, perhaps even to the point of contemplating suicide. For wizards, insomnia meant they couldn''t prepare magic smoothly the next day. Without magic, were they still wizards? No, they were just useless.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Leoric casually chatted with her and soon extracted the information he wanted. Freya was a girl without much guile, of course, she was only fourteen after all.

    "So, you''re the second daughter of the Monica family?"

    "Yeah, I have a twin sister, Fulia, who''s an apprentice priestess at the goddess'' temple."

    Spiritshade City had a history of over two thousand years. Logically, such a long time should have produced many aristocratic families, but in reality, there weren''t many. The rules of Spiritshade City were strange, or rather, strict, and could even be said to be power-oriented.

    Only wizards or priests could be nobles.

    TakeLeoric as an example. His full name wasLeoric Lannister, with Lannister being his family name. As long asLeoric could graduate successfully and become a full-fledged wizard, the Lannister family would leap to noble status. Even Leovenawould then enter high society and be respected.

    But ifLeoric passed away, and the Lannister family had no other wizards or priests, the entire family would degrade to commoners.

    Due to the infestation of shadowy essence, the residents of Spiritshade City generally had poor fertility, and becoming a wizard or priest wasn''t something one could aspire to easily. It required great talent and diligence. Therefore, some noble families, after just a couple of generations, had no successors and degraded to commoners. And in this world, it was always easier to go down than up. Degradation was simple, but it was much more difficult to climb back up.

    The Monica family had existed since the establishment of Spiritshade City. Although sparse in numbers, they had endured for a long time, which was quite remarkable.

    However, by this generation, the Monica family seemed to be encountering a bit of trouble. According to Freya, there were no males in their generation, only her and her twin sister, with no collateral relatives either.

    In such cases, the usual solution was to take in a son-in-law, whose offspring would inherit the family name and title of the mother''s line, thereby maintaining the continuity of the family. Otherwise, if the daughters married and took their husband''s surname, the original family would be extinguished without successors.

    In recent generations, although the Monica family had produced one or two wizards each generation, their achievements were mediocre, only securing jobs in the military. Freya said that according to their father''s expectations and arrangements, her sister Fulia was serving as an apprentice priestess at the Sharr Temple, while she herself entered the wizard academy. It was evident that they bore the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the family, or at least, that was what their elders expected.

    The ruling class of Spiritshade City was made up of wizards and priests, so their father had let the two sisters take different paths. It was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately, plans often go awry.Leoric didn''t know how Fulia was doing at the temple, but at least her sister at the wizard academy had developed insomnia this year due to excessive pressure. If this continued, she would surely be eliminated by the exams.

    Leoric had never suffered from insomnia, so he didn''t have experience in curing it¡ªbut what did it matter? Remember, he was now a skilled potion brewer.

    Brewing a magic potion to treat insomnia shouldn''t be difficult, right?

    WhenLeoric suggested this, Freya shook her head. It wasn''t that she was worriedLeoric would tamper with the potion (actually,Leoric did plan to), but because...

    "After discovering my insomnia, I bought calming potions and even went to the temple for a priest''s treatment, but nothing worked."

    Leoric furrowed his brows slightly. It seemed the situation was quite serious, likely caused more by mental anxiety, so relying solely on medication and divine healing was ineffective.

    "Don''t worry,"Leoric assured her. "The potion I brew is not like the plain water you buy in stores. It''s much more effective. Actually, I used to have severe insomnia too, just like you. The potions in stores didn''t cure me either¡ªbut I cured myself."

    "Really?" She was skeptical.

    "Of course,"Leoric''s tone was absolutely certain. "Last year''s final exam, I got a perfect score in potion-making."

    "I heard about it," she nodded. "Everyone says you''re the fastest-progressing student since the establishment of Spiritshade City Wizard Academy. Now many people are betting on you to get that opportunity."

    Leoric chuckled bitterly.

    He knew he wasn''t exceptional in any way, except perhaps for having a bit of self-awareness. When it came to talent, he was far from outstanding. His current achievements were largely due to sacrificing sleep for more practice. Just becauseLeoric wasn''t a genius didn''t mean they didn''t exist. Those ranked ahead of him¡ªthey were born sorcerers. Beating them would be an uphill battle.

    Well, he''d worry about that later. "Where''s your dorm?"Leoric asked. "The potion should be ready in about three days. I''ll deliver it to you then."

    She smiled brightly and toldLeoric her address. "Chatting outside has made me feel much better. I should be able to sleep tonight," she stood up, "Thank you, Mr. Lannister."

    "Just call meLeoric," he said. "I''m really glad to meet you."

    "Me too," she replied with a slight curtsy, "Well, I should be going now."

    "Let me walk you back,"Leoric offered.

    "Thanks, but you don''t have to," she said. "I already feel bad for keeping you from practicing magic... Oh,Leoric, was that Levitation you were practicing earlier?"

    She winked mischievously atLeoric.

    Leoric hesitated for a moment before realizing what she meant. "Yeah, Levitation," he said. "I learned it a long time ago. I''m a bit rusty, so I was just testing the waters."

    What he had actually been practicing was Flight¡ªFlight and Levitation, despite their similar names, were worlds apart in difficulty. Levitation allowed only vertical movement, while Flight permitted free-range soaring. As a third-year student, she should have been able to tell the difference.

    This little girl was smarter than he had thought.

    "Oh," she turned back after a few steps, "If I have time in the future, can I ask you some questions? I''m having a lot of trouble with Transformation magic, and I heard it''s your specialty."

    "You''re more than welcome, Freya,"Leoric said.

 Chapter 25: The Sleeping Potion

    Leoric admired intelligent girls, because he wasn''t particularly smart himself.

    But they couldn''t be too intelligent either, for the same reason.

    In the end, whatLeoric meant was that he had started to like this girl named Freya.

    At six o''clock on the third afternoon, he had prepared the calming potion, carefully pouring the light green liquid into a transparent crystal bottle and placing it in the inner pocket of his wizard''s robe.

    Following the directions Freya had given him last time,Leoric found her dormitory. The door was closed, so he knocked gently.

    A melodious yet emotionless voice replied, "Miss Monica is studying and does not receive visitors¡ªunless your name happens to beLeoric Lannister, in which case, please come in."

    Leoric pushed the door open silently.

    Upon entering, he saw her sitting at her desk in loose white pajamas, intently transcribing a scroll. This task wasn''t difficult for a third-year student, but it required constant concentration and could not be interrupted, or all her efforts would be wasted.Leoric remained silent, finding a chair and sitting down to watch her attentively dip her quill into ink and swiftly write on parchment.

    One by one, characters glowing with red light appeared on the parchment, only to fade away, leaving behind faint ink traces. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead; clearly, she was at the most crucial stage of the transcription.Leoric observed silently, intending to assess her abilities.

    While transcribing magical scrolls was a basic skill, it could reveal one''s level of proficiency.

    She wrote the last character.

    A dazzling red light spread from the tip of her quill, soaking the entire parchment as if in blood. Then the red light slowly dimmed, restoring the parchment to its original pale yellow hue, though faintly tinged with silvery sheen.

    Flawless,Leoric judged internally. Freya''s basics were very solid. She hadn''t made any common or uncommon mistakes during the transcription, something few fifth-year students could claim.

    This couldn''t be summed up simply as "careful" or "cautious." It was also a rare talent for a wizard.

    Her father had indeed shown insight in choosing to send her to wizard school. The only miscalculation was not considering her mental endurance.

    Freya sighed deeply and stood up, stretching her arms.

    "Finished?"Leoric asked with a smile.

    She jumped, rememberingLeoric was in the room. "Oh!" she apologized hastily, "I was so engrossed..."

    "Concentration is an excellent quality for a spellcaster,"Leoric smiled warmly and held up the bottle, "Combined with good sleep, you''ll become an outstanding wizard."

    Her eyes sparkled with joy. "Is this the potion that''s very effective for insomnia?"

    "Exactly,"Leoric said, "I guarantee you''ll have the sweetest dream tonight..."

    "A dream like never before," he emphasized.

    Freya took the conical crystal bottle, examining the gently rippling light green liquid under the lamp.Leoric noticed her eyes were also light green, very beautiful.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    "I hope there''s nothing else in it?" the little girl said, a smile curling her lips.

    "The ingredients of magical potions are usually complex,"Leoric replied, "but their effectiveness is unquestionable."

    She pondered, andLeoric waited silently. Then she drank the light green liquid slowly.

    "It tastes good," she said, "sweet."

    "I added a bit of sugar."

    "It''s just my favorite," Freya said, placing the crystal bottle on the desk and walking towardsLeoric, stopping when they were less than half a foot apart, looking up at him.

    Freya was petite, a full head shorter thanLeoric. FromLeoric''s current vantage point, he could clearly see there were no clothes underneath her loose white pajamas. Following the line of her long, white neck, his gaze slowly shifted downwards, getting lost in her enticing cleavage...

    "Your gaze makes me uneasy," she whispered softly, "I''m wondering if it''s too impolite to receive guests dressed like this..."

    Leoric reached out, wrapping his arms around her slender, soft waist, feeling the two bouncy mounds pressed against his chest. Then he lowered his head, kissing her forehead, her eyebrows, her cheeks, her neck, and her delicate, elegant collarbones, savoring the delicate fragrance of her body.

    Freya closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering slightly, her cheeks flushing, her breath quickening, as if nervous or afraid, but she didn''t resist at all.

    "I''ll give you a dream like never before,"Leoric said, kissing her tender, petal-like lips.

    From her clumsy and inexperienced reaction during the kiss,Leoric immediately judged it was her first. His tongue slipped in quietly, but Freya was at a loss, instinctively clamping her teeth shut, refusing the male intrusion.

    Leoric held her waist with his left arm, his right hand quietly dropping to lift her pajama hem, sliding slowly up her thigh, across her flat stomach, and finally climbing up a soft hill.

    The other day,Leoric had estimated her bust size as 32B, but it turned out to be wrong; it should have been a C. The soft flesh was held in his palm, changing shapes with his grip, but it always felt like it was about to overflow.

    Between his fingers, he could feel the pink diamond gradually hardening.

    Leoric gently twisted it, and she gasped softly, her mouth slightly open, allowing the man''s tongue to slip in.

    Although she was a virgin unversed in love, Freya learned quickly, not inferior to her talent in magic. At first, she was at a loss, not knowing how to respond, just allowing the man to probe his tongue into her mouth, teasing her lightly, but soon she understood, returning his kiss with equal enthusiasm; her body had become numb and weak at some point, as if all her strength had been drained, and she could barely stand withoutLeoric holding her waist.

    Their lips and tongues entwined, finally separating reluctantly after a long time.

    "Did you like it, Freya?"Leoric asked softly, his right hand playing with her breasts for a while before slowly moving down, clinging to her smooth, satin-like skin to her stomach, and then continuing slowly downwards...

    "This is what kissing feels like..." Her voice sounded dreamy and ethereal, "So nice... Oh, don''t touch there..."

    Leoric didn''t speak, just holding her tighter, his fingers slowly moving downwards. To his delight, everything they touched was smooth and hairless.

    "So you''re a little white tiger?"Leoric kissed her cheek, biting gently on her delicate earlobe, blowing into her ear.

    "Little white tiger?" She didn''t understand whatLeoric was talking about.

    But she didn''t need to understand.Leoric didn''t answer, just continued teasing her earlobe, kissing behind her ear, a sensitive spot for many women, and Freya was no exception, her breathing becoming noticeably heavier and more labored. Inside her pajamas,Leoric''s fingers had reached that hidden crevice and the tiny red bean, feeling the warmth and moisture.

    The young girl''s body was sensitive and delicate. Just a gentle touch of his fingertips made her feel like she had been electrocuted, her whole body jerking violently, her legs instinctively clamping together, resistingLeoric''s fingers'' further intrusion. "Stop teasing me, please..." she begged, "I can''t take it... Ah..."

    Leoric pretended not to hear, continuing to stroke the smooth, full area, his fingers slowly rotating, probing downwards, feeling the warmth and lubrication, already damp.

    She had completely lost all her strength, barely supporting herself from collapsing to the ground, her cheeks burning red and hot.

    "Actually...Leoric, do you know, my father..." She muttered incoherently, "Actually, my father made me like you a long time ago..."

    Leoric stumbled, his whole body stiffening, his already soaring desire diminishing slightly. "What?"

    She didn''t notice the man''s reaction, hugging him more warmly and tightly, as if trying to merge their bodies into one. She was panting inLeoric''s ear, her breath fragrant.

    "But I really like you," she said, "I like you."

    Leoric scooped her up in his arms and kicked open the bedroom door.

 Chapter 26: Rewards and Punishments

    Tian Boguang once taughtLeoric that the professional skills required to be a lecherous rogue could be summed up in two steps. The first step was to get a woman into bed, and the second step was to make her want to stay in your bed forever. According to him, the first step was the most crucial, the most troublesome, and the most technically challenging. Once the first step was accomplished, the second step became relatively easier.

    Unfortunately, the old man''s research subjects were women from the Ming Dynasty in China, so his conclusions were once again inapplicable in this world. In this westernized world, sexual attitudes were a hundred times more open than those in the Ming Dynasty. The result was that getting a woman into bed was extremely easy. A chaste young lady throwing herself at a man was something Tian Boguang could never have dreamed of, butLeoric was currently experiencing just that. Of course, it depended on the target; only young men received such treatment. Old men like Tian Boguang, not the one from before his time travel, could only dream about it.

    Correspondingly, making a woman want to stay in your bed forever was much more difficult.

    Leoric couldn''t remember how many positions he changed into that night, tossing and turning in bed for hours. In the end, as he pressed against the soft, pink flesh of Freya''s chest and slowly withdrew from her body, lying down in the most comfortable position on the soft bedding, he didn''t want to move a muscle.

    Freya gently nestled inLeoric''s arm, as docile as a kitten, with tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes. Her naked body was pure and flawless, looking especially seductive under the tranquil lighting. Her round, firm thighs, and the mysterious garden that had just been ravaged, were adorned with spots of virgin blood.

    The bedroom fell silent, only their breathing gradually calming down.

    "Did it hurt?"Leoric whispered.

    She shook her head slightly, but the tiny movement caused her brows to furrow, elicitingLeoric''s pity.

    He had been in this world for fifteen years. Although his body was just reaching adulthood, mentally, he had been starving for a long time due to his previous memories. Although there were beautiful sisters, he could only look but not touch, making his desire even harder to bear. Encountering Freya this time and hooking up with her smoothly, he couldn''t help but lose control.

    At first, he remembered that she was a virgin and tried to be as gentle and considerate as possible. But once he really entered her body, feeling his swollen member enveloped by warmth and tightness, he immediately fell into a frenzy of ecstasy, throwing all reason to the wind.

    Leoric had mixed some aphrodisiac drugs into the calming potion he prepared for Freya, and the effect was quick. Combined with the ample foreplay beforehand, when he tore open the little girl''s pajamas and spread her legs, he found that the pink slit was already wet with desire, indicating that she was completely aroused. Fortunately, although Freya was a virgin, she didn''t suffer too much pain when she was deflowered. Of course, the subsequent hours of crazy lovemaking were still too much for her virgin body to bear.

    Leoric carefully held Freya, using one arm as a pillow under her head, letting her face rest against his chest. "I''m sorry," he apologized softly, "I was too crazy just now..."

    Freya shook her head slightly, but it triggered a new wave of pain.Leoric saw her bite down on her lower lip, tears streaming down her face.

    "I like you," she whispered, "from the first moment I saw you."

    Leoric kissed her, "I feel the same, Freya. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I liked you."

    She smiled sweetly. Every girl loves to hear sweet talk, especially after making love. This is an eternal truth, regardless of the world or the person.

    Perhaps this is the only eternal truth in the multiverse.

    "Maybe I should visit your father sometime,"Leoric said, "I think he must be a wise elder."

    "He''s an outstanding prophecy wizard," Freya said, "Our family has a long history of talent in this area. Almost every generation... or every few generations, produces an outstanding prophet."

    "And this generation?"Leoric asked with interest, "You?"

    "I do have some," she smiled shyly, "But Flia is more talented than me."

    "Oh, what a pity,"Leoric said. To unleash prophecy talent, the path of arcane magic would be more suitable. Now that Flia had gone to the temple to become an apprentice priest, it couldn''t be said to be a waste of talent, but it wasn''t the best choice.

    "Originally, my father planned to let my sister go to the wizard academy and me to the temple."

    "Why did you change your mind then?"

    "Because my sister insisted on going to the temple. She said she hates arcane magic and wizards."

    "Well, there''s nothing we can do about that,"Leoric said, "Everyone has their own aspirations, and they can''t be forced."

    Freya fell silent.

    NowLeoric knew that Freya''s father wanted his two daughters to enter the wizard academy and the temple respectively. Originally, it was considered that the older sister would become a wizard and the younger sister a priest. But the older sister insisted on embracing the gods. So now the older sister went to the temple, and the younger sister was now in the wizard academy¡ªor more accurately, in bed, in his arms.

    Leoric became interested in this unseen old wizard. Before making love, Freya had casually mentioned, "Actually, my father made me like you a long time ago..." That meant Freya''s father must have noticed him a long time ago and had the intention to court him, even using his daughter as bait.

    Spending such a high price must have its own motives.Leoric wouldn''t be so naive to think that he possessed some kind of royal aura that could make people submit and join his family at first sight. One can be unkind or unrighteous, but one must never lack self-awareness.

    What exactly was his plan?

    Leoric was just a merchant''s son without any power. Of course, he had good grades and should be able to join the aristocracy after graduation, but that alone didn''t seem worth such a high-stakes courtship. There were several others with better grades thanLeoric.

    The Monica family valuedLeoric so much that they obviously believed he would rise to prominence and achieve far more than just being an ordinary wizard. To paraphrase a saying from Earth, they believedLeoric would be a top-performing stock.

    That must be it...Leoric couldn''t think of any other reason.

    Freya said that the blood of the Monica family carried the talent for prophecy. Perhaps Freya''s father, this proficient prophecy wizard, foresaw in his crystal ball thatLeoric would have a brilliant future?

    It sounded pleasing, althoughLeoric knew it couldn''t be true.

    He still remembered when he was in the fourth year, the professor of prophecy had told the students with certainty, "Almost nothing is impossible in this world. As long as you are strong enough, slaying dragons or even gods is not an impossible fairy tale. The only exception is clearly predicting human destiny."

    "Can''t even the gods do that?" a student asked.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    "Even the two goddesses of fate, Tymora and Beshaba, cannot do it," the professor said unequivocally.

    "Not even the Lady of Loss?"Leoric suddenly asked.

    The classroom fell silent. The Lady of Loss was the honorific title for the goddess of the night, Shar, whom Spiritshade City worshipped.

    The professor hesitated visibly before saying, "No," gazing deeply atLeoric, "No being can predict your destiny, Lannister."

    Leoric was still amazed when he recalled how impulsive he was at that moment, asking such a question. He must have been out of his mind. But what he remembered more clearly was the professor''s gaze.

    He believed the professor wasn''t lying. No being, including gods, could predict the fate of mortals. Freya''s father, no matter how skilled a prophecy wizard he was, couldn''t predictLeoric''s future.

    So, what exactly did the Monica family, or more accurately, Freya''s father, base their high regard forLeoric on?

    "What are you thinking about?" Freya asked softly.

    "About how many more times you can endure it,"Leoric teased, lightly grabbing her hand and guiding it over his chest, abdomen, and finally to his erection. "Feel it?"Leoric whispered in her ear, "It still wants more."

    Freya gasped softly, "But..." she couldn''t believe it, "Didn''t we just..."

    "A virgin''s yin essence is very nourishing."

    Obviously, she didn''t understand whatLeoric was talking about. This was the jargon of Chinese lecherous rogues, something a young witch from Spiritshade City couldn''t possibly understand.Leoric didn''t elaborate, rolling over and pinning her down again.

    Freya resisted weakly, "It hurts," she looked pitiful, "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

    Leoric didn''t respond,Leoric remained silent, his weight pressing down on her as he spread her legs apart and placed something hot and solid between them, just shy of full penetration. Instead, he let her clamp down tightly around it, savoring the soft, fragrant embrace.

    "Am I too heavy for you?"Leoric asked her.

    She smiled radiantly, her eyes sparkling with affection. For a moment,Leoric seemed mesmerized by her beauty. "I love the feeling of being pressed down by you," she said. "It''s like being protected, giving everything to you, with no more worries in my heart."

    "I promise to give you a dream tonight like never before,"Leoric replied.

    "Mm-hmm," she murmured, her long lashes fluttering as she closed her eyes.

    With Freya in his life,Leoric''s daily existence became filled with color and vitality. The wizard school was an indifferent place, never interfering with students'' personal lives, whether they had girlfriends or not. As long as both parties were willing, even a sexual orgy in the school''s central plaza might go unnoticed.

    Leoric''s treatment proved remarkably effective, as Freya''s insomnia never returned. In fact, every night she would sink into a deep sleep, exhausted yet dreaming sweetly, only to wake up the next morning radiant and beautiful beyond compare.

    As a third-year wizard, Freya had begun learning to wield simple magic. Typically, the first thing she would do after waking up was wash up, followed by retrieving her magic book to prepare for her studies. Before becomingLeoric''s girlfriend, this was her routine. However, things had changed slightly now.

    InLeoric''s dormitory bedroom, a man and a woman lay naked and entangled in bed. Even though it was already nine o''clock in the morning, there was no sign of them getting up. The school provided only single dormitories, so sleeping together could be a bit cramped... but stacking up worked just fine.

    Leoric leaned against the headboard, leisurely flipping through a book about the Abyssal Plane. Meanwhile, Freya knelt between his legs, her pretty face bent down, soothing his morning erection with her warm, moist mouth.

    "Mm..."

    Freya was petite with a small mouth and lacked experience, so despite her efforts, she couldn''t fully engulfLeoric''s member. She could only take in half of it before feeling out of breath. Frowning, she had to spit it out, holding it gently with her soft hands and slowly rubbing it, occasionally flicking her tiny tongue over it.

    Being served so tenderly by a beautiful woman was naturally a delightful experience, but it alone was not enough to satisfy a man.Leoric put down his book and stroked Freya''s hair. "You have to take it all in," he said. "No slacking off."

    "But it''s too big," she pouted, cutely complaining. "Can''t it get a little smaller?"

    "Get smaller, huh?"Leoric nodded. "Actually, it can."

    He patted Freya''s smooth shoulder, gesturing for her to move aside momentarily. Reaching into his wizard''s robe draped over the bedhead, he pulled out a small handful of slightly silvery iron filings. With a rub of his thumb and forefinger, a tiny white light point condensed on the tip of his forefinger. He then pointed at his crotch, and the white light point shot out accurately.

    Freya watched in astonishment as the once formidable object, hit by the white light, instantly shrunk. Although it was still stiff and large, it was now about half its original size.

    Perhaps... she could try to take it all in now. She wondered what it would feel like.

    Her face turned crimson with embarrassment at her own thoughts, but this didn''t last long. She lovedLeoric, and she was willing to do anything to make him happy. There was nothing to be ashamed of.

    However, her wizardly instincts made her realize something... "Did you use a shrinking spell?" she asked, looking up uncertainly. As a third-year student, she hadn''t learned this spell, though she had heard of it.

    Moreover... she had never heard of anyone using a shrinking spell for this purpose...

    Leoric nodded. "Shrinking spell," he said, chuckling mischievously. "So you should know that this spell doesn''t last long. I estimate it can only stay like this for about five minutes, after which it will revert to its original size... Freya, looks like you have to hurry up."

    No further words were needed. Freya immediately lowered her face, tightly enclosing the newly shrunk member with her warm, wet mouth, striving to swallow. Although she lacked experience, she could clearly sense fromLeoric''s reactions that when the burning heat pressed against her throat, he seemed particularly pleased.

    Adjusting her breathing, she finally managed to almost fully engulf it, then slowly spit it out and swallow it again, repeating the action faster and faster.Leoric had said the spell''s effect would only last five minutes, so she had to seize the moment.

    Since living withLeoric, she had been enveloped in a fiery desire, almost always being "teased" every day. Moreover, every morning, she had been given a new task byLeoric, which he called the "Morning Bite."

    "Can I skip it today...?" she pleaded.

    "No way,"Leoric refused outright. "It''s a lover''s duty."

    "I''ve never heard of such a duty for lovers..."

    "Well, that means there''s still a lot for you to learn,"Leoric nodded matter-of-factly while fondling her soft breasts. "It''s okay; we have plenty of time, we can take it slow."

    In short, atLeoric''s request, Freya reluctantly accepted this imposed duty and began performing the "Morning Bite" every morning. She was a clever girl who learned quickly, including the skills to please a man in bed. However, some things were still too challenging for her.

    Every Morning Bite ended in failure. Her small mouth simply couldn''t accommodate the massive object, nor could she satisfyLeoric. Inevitably, the result was always being pinned down by the man and receiving a sensual "punishment" for her failure.

    She hoped today would be successful.

    She vigorously moved her small head up and down, her soft tongue occasionally flicking out to lick and even deeply swallowing, allowing the burning, scorching dragon to reach her throat. Although it made her feel like suffocating and nauseous, hearingLeoric''s increasingly heavy breathing above her filled her heart with overflowing joy.

    It should be almost done, she guessed.

    But at this point, the five minutes were almost up. Freya felt the object in her mouth restlessly stirring, gradually growing and returning to its original size. She hurriedly grasped the base with her small hand, as if trying to pinch it tightly to prevent it from swelling further, while speeding up her actions.

    Unfortunately, things didn''t go as planned. WithLeoric''s current abilities, the shrinking spell could only last about five minutes. Once the time limit was exceeded, the object suppressed by the spell would revert to its original size. Freya didn''t waste time, but her oral skills were still insufficient. It seemed she would fail again this time.

    No, she couldn''t...

    She suddenly lowered her head, deeply swallowing the gradually enlarging, burning dragon until her lips touched the man''s abdomen. She felt her throat spasming due to the foreign object''s intrusion, and her vision blurred and darkened. Yet, she didn''t retreat but swallowed deeper instead.

    The effect of the shrinking spell completely disappeared, and she felt it rapidly expanding, as if about to burst her small mouth. Breathing became difficult, her consciousness gradually dissipated, and she lost sight and hearing, feeling as if she were floating in the air. Suddenly, waves of burning liquid rushed into her throat. Freya instinctively swallowed, her consciousness gradually fading until she knew nothing more.

    When Freya awoke, she found herself being held inLeoric''s arms. She struggled to sit up, feeling something sticky in her mouth and something clinging to the corner of her lips. She wiped it away with her hand and found creamy white liquid on her back of the hand.

    Freya was not unfamiliar with this substance, although she had always accommodated it with her body and never tasted it before.

    So... this was the taste...

    Slightly salty with a hint of sweetness and fishiness. If Freya had been born by the sea in the Material Realm, she might have thought it tasted somewhat like raw fish. However, in a place like Spiritshade City, even nobles could rarely taste fish. Freya found it unappealing but didn''t feel much else.

    "I succeeded," she smiled atLeoric, looking very pleased, like a little fox that had just stolen some honey. "I brought you out."

    Leoric stroked her soft hair. "Yes, very impressive."

    "Did you like it?"

    "Of course, I did."

    "So... when I failed before, there were punishments; today I succeeded, is there any reward?"

    "Of course, there is,"Leoric said, suddenly rolling over and pinning her down, looking down at her.

    "W-what are you doing?" She struggled, though it was in vain.

    "Rewarding you,"Leoric said, kissing her lips. Freya felt something hot touching her inner thigh, moving.

    "This reward... feels like a punishment..."

    "Exactly,"Leoric said matter-of-factly, "It''s both a reward and a punishment."

    At this point, what else could Freya say? All she could do was endure the new round of storm and chaos obediently.

 Chapter 27: Training in Concentration for Spellcasting

    After another satisfying moment,Leoric finally let her go. They lay in bed, embracing each other, staring at the gray ceiling.

    "You''re so mean," Freya panted, "Always bullying me."

    Leoric''s fingers gently traced the patterns on the girl''s bare back. "Hmm, but it seems like you came to me willingly to be bullied."

    "I didn''t."

    Leoric chuckled and lifted Freya''s chin. "Tell me, when did you start liking me?"

    "Who likes you?"

    "An honest girl is a good girl,"Leoric said.

    "Alright, alright, I admit I''ve always liked you a little bit... just a little," Freya pressed her face againstLeoric''s chest, listening to his heartbeat. "It was when I first came to the school, in my first year. One afternoon, I was coming back from the library and passed by the square. I saw a boy sitting on the steps..." Her voice trailed off, and her face turned crimson. "He had long hair, hugging his knees, with particularly slender fingers. He seemed to be in a daze, staring at the distant sky, not knowing what he was thinking. The pigeons from the school were pecking at breadcrumbs at his feet, and a few even jumped onto his robe, but he didn''t seem to notice. He just stayed in that daze..."

    "So you liked me because I was in a daze?"

    "No," Freya pouted, "You looked like a log when you were in a daze. What''s so good about that? Anyway... I don''t know how to explain it. But when I saw you that day, my heart started pounding, and I just wanted to keep looking at you..."

    Leoric couldn''t even remember that happening; it was two years ago. If he had been in a daze in the square, that was true, and he had done it often before. He never expected that at one of those times, a young girl who had just entered the school was staring at him from afar.

    And from then on, she liked him.

    "Why didn''t you tell me sooner?"Leoric asked.

    "I was shy," Freya said, "Actually... I''ve thought of so many ways to confess to you, but I was always embarrassed..."

    "Hmm, what ways? Tell me about them."

    "It''s so embarrassing."

    "Come on."

    "For example, I thought about one day blocking your path to the library and saying, ''Leoric, someone said you like me a lot.''"

    "Oh."

    "And then you would definitely say, ''Really? I didn''t know that?''"

    "Yeah, and then what?"

    "Then I would say, ''Yeah, actually, you''ve liked me in your heart for a long time, but you just didn''t know it yourself.''"

    "Is that so?"

    "Yeah, so now I can give you a chance."

    Leoric chuckled and looked at the little girl in his arms. "Is this how you confess?"

    Freya blushed. "Just thinking about it," she said, "It''s more romantic that way."

    Romance.

    No matter what world, what era, or what place, women are always the creatures who crave romance the most. Whether she is smart, strong, or rational, it''s the same.

    "So it was love at first sight,"Leoric said with a soft laugh. Frankly, he didn''t fully believe in love at first sight, but... it wasn''t impossible.

    Love was the most mysterious thing.

    "Not exactly," Freya said, "Actually, since that day, I noticed that... you were different from others."

    "How different?"

    "You''re more mature than them."

    "Them?"

    "The boys at school," Freya said, "Many of them like me, but I don''t like them. They''re all too childish, like little kids who don''t understand anything. But you''re different,Leoric," she lifted her face and looked at him, "Although you''re around the same age as them, you give me a strange feeling. Whenever you''re with other students, you seem like a natural leader. You''re more stable, more mature, and much smarter than them."

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    "My talent isn''t really outstanding."

    "I''m not talking about arcane talent, I''m talking about intelligence. The two are different," Freya said, hesitating on how to phrase it, "It''s just different... I don''t know how to describe it specifically."

    Leoric smiled casually, as if he didn''t take her words seriously. But in his heart, he was secretly on guard.

    The minimum age for enrollment in the wizard school was ten, although not everyone had to enroll at ten, like Freya, who entered at eleven. But generally speaking, the students in the school were all teenagers.

    Teenagers, not yet adults, with immature minds.Leoric was different; he had over thirty years of memories from both his past and present life. Mentally, he was already an adult. Among a group of children, although he carefully concealed it, he would inevitably show some subtle differences intentionally or unintentionally.

    Although Freya couldn''t explain it, she could keenly sense it... Could others also see it?

    He changed the subject.

    Life continued beautifully day by day, of course, one couldn''t always be immersed in sweetness.

    As students at the wizard school, they faced heavy academic pressure. The school wasn''t interested in interfering with students'' personal lives, but it would expel those with poor grades.

    The Monica family was originally a family of wizards, and Freya had received a good basic education before entering the school. Now that her insomnia was resolved, and she was naturally talented, especially in prophecy magic, withLeoric''s timely guidance, she progressed quickly.

    In return, she couldn''t helpLeoric much... But she wasn''t completely helpless.

    For example, she could help train in "concentration" during spellcasting.

    "Magic is a wonderful and profound art, not meant for killing,"Leoric instructed Freya, "But then again, since we''re wizards, we can''t avoid fighting with others, or even facing battles. So, there''s one fundamental skill that must be solid."

    "Gathering materials?"

    "No, it''s concentration during spellcasting."

    On the battlefield, things change in the blink of an eye, and anything unexpected can happen. It''s not like being in school, safe and leisurely. Perhaps just when you''re preparing to cast a spell and recite the incantation, an arrow might suddenly fly in from the side and hit you in the throat, leaving you dying with unclosed eyes. Even if it doesn''t hit the throat but some other non-critical part of the body, the intense pain could still disrupt the wizard''s correct spellcasting, causing the spell''s effect to rebound, which would be equally disastrous.

    Therefore, the ability to "concentrate" is very necessary for wizards. To exaggerate, a skilled wizard should be able to complete the spell casting clearly and accurately even if they''re heavily wounded while casting and chanting, as long as they''re not immediately killed.

    "However,"Leoric continued his long-winded speech, "Physical injury is not the true enemy of wizards¡ªcompared to being suddenly cut with a knife, spiritual attacks are even more dangerous."

    "Spiritual attacks? Do you mean using enchantment or illusion school spells to influence someone''s mind?"

    "No, no, don''t always think about using magic,"Leoric advised his junior. "We are wizards¡ªwell, okay, future wizards. So what is a wizard?"

    "Wizards mean we''re smart, wise, intelligent, and have sharp insights, not that we can throw fireballs or lightning,"Leoric rarely encountered someone willing to listen to his thoughts and feelings, and couldn''t stop talking. "Among the eight schools of magic, in my opinion, the conjuration school is the inferior one. Wizards are not crossbows or catapults. The value of wizards lies not in direct damage but in manipulating the overall situation. Based on this concept, conjuration and necromancy are fundamentally inferior; evocation and abjuration can only be considered adequate, fair and neutral; only the transmutation school thatÅ¤Çú changes the form of things, the illusion school that deceives with falsehoods, the enchantment school that excels in mental control and hypnotism, and the divination school that strategizes and anticipates the enemy''s moves are truly superior magic."

    "But no matter how superior the magic is, it''s still just magic,"Leoric was already immersed in his speech, "The true strength of wizards lies not in magic but in wisdom. Thinking of using magic to solve any problem first is a sign of stupidity and weakness. What we should pursue is solving all problems that magic cannot solve with only our clever minds¡ªof course, without using brute force."

    "But... what does this have to do with the concentration we just talked about?"

    "It''s very related,"Leoric said,"For instance, if you''re facing a wizard who''s about to cast a spell on you, the correct approach isn''t to shoot an arrow at him or slash him with a sword¡ªthat lacks elegance and doesn''t befit our status as wizards. Nor should you use illusions or enchantment magic against him; that too lacks elegance."

    "So what should one do?"

    "It depends on the situation,"Leoric said. "If he''s a husband deeply in love with his wife, you might as well shout, ''I slept with your wife last night, and she was fantastic in bed!''"

    "Oh!" Freya was taken completely by surprise atLeoric''s method. "That''s too outrageous."

    "Outrageous? It''s just a statement, what''s outrageous about it?"

    "But isn''t that despicable? Doesn''t it lack elegance even more?"

    "No, no, you need to adjust your attitude and perspective,"Leoric said. "Despicable? Wrong, it''s wisdom. It''s the wisdom to defeat someone effortlessly and invisibly. Only losers will begrudgingly accuse winners of being despicable¡ªand we should all strive to be winners."

    "But¡­ what if he doesn''t have a wife?"

    "Simple, you can grab his parents and chop off his father''s head with one slash. Guaranteed, he''ll be too emotionally charged to cast any spells."

    "But¡­ doesn''t killing someone violate the elegance you mentioned earlier?"

    "No, it doesn''t. We''re not attacking him directly. If we''re not attacking him directly, then it doesn''t violate elegance."

    "What kind of strange logic is that?"

    "Well, it is what it is¡­ It''s just an example. Now, I''m going to teach you the most effective method to deal with male wizards."

    "What is it?"

    Instead of answering directly,Leoric grabbed Freya''s hand and slipped it inside his wizard''s robe, letting her grasp the blazing hot object within.

    "This is it,"Leoric said. "But remember, you''re only allowed to use it on me."

    Freya, blushing furiously, glanced atLeoric and obediently knelt down, unzipping the black wizard''s robe to allow the restless, scorching thing to leap out. She opened her mouth and took it in.

    "Satisfied?" she asked in a husky, seductive voice. "Now, let''s see if you can still cast spells."

 Chapter 28: The School of Arcanists

    To be honest, this was quite a monumental challenge. Casting spells required immense concentration¡ªbut who could stay fully composed in such a situation?

    Leoric tried several times in succession, but the spells that floated through his mind were fragmented and disjointed, eventually turning into a complete blank. He couldn''t even recall any of the magic he had prepared that morning. Wave after wave of pleasure assailed him, growing stronger with each passing moment, making it impossible to successfully cast a spell under these circumstances.

    "No... I can''t do this anymore," he panted, eventually deciding to give up and sitting back against the headboard. "Slow down... not so fast..."

    "You''re the one who said you wanted to train your focus for spellcasting," Freya replied vaguely. "I''m just helping my boyfriend with his training."

    "Uh... yeah, training... but it has to be gradual..."

    "You didn''t specify that earlier," Freya replied matter-of-factly. "So of course I had to give it my all."

    "Aaaah!"

    Anyway, that was how things stood. But after numerous failures,Leoric gradually adapted and developed some resistance. Eventually, he was actually able to successfully concentrate and complete his magic.

    Freya looked at him in disbelief. "That''s incredible," she remarked. "How did you manage it?"

    "Well, it just goes to show how strong my willpower is," he said.

    "Oh... no, it must be because I didn''t go all out this time," she protested. "Let''s try again."

    "Wow!"

    Life was really wonderful. If it could stay like this forever, it would be like heaven on earth.

    Of course, that was impossible.

    Graduation exams were approaching day by day. There were probably around five months left. It seemed like a long time, but it would pass quickly.

    As they lingered in bed,Leoric and Freya couldn''t help but discuss this topic. "So, what exactly is the background of this so-called Higher School?"Leoric asked Freya.

    There were rumors among the students, but no one could really say for sure, or perhaps they didn''t want to. Freya came from the Monica family, where generations had been wizards. Logically speaking, she should know some inside information.

    "I don''t know much either," Freya nestled inLeoric''s arms. "I think I heard Father mention once that Mr. Hogarthana personally serves as the principal and teaches the ancient magical techniques of the Netheril era."

    Leoric stiffened.

    "The magical techniques of the Netheril era?"

    "Yeah, Father mentioned it like that," Freya replied.

    Spiritshade City was the last vestige of Netherilian civilization, but the wizarding school taught students the new magical techniques discovered by wizards in the Material Plane after the fall of the Netheril Empire, including the eight major schools of magic that were formed later.Leoric had always wondered why the school spent so much time teaching these instead of the presumably more outstanding, subtle, and powerful magical techniques of the Netheril era.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Could it be that the magical techniques of the Netheril era had been lost? That couldn''t be possible. Besides, Lord Spiritshade City, Hogarthana, the twelve Princes of Shadows, and countless other Grand Arcanists had survived from the Netheril era. How could they allow the magical techniques to be lost?

    If what Freya said was true, then this secret Higher School taught the ancient and secret magical techniques of the Netheril era. Presumably, it was too profound and difficult to master, which was why it was not open to ordinary students.

    Only the top graduate of the graduation exams could enter that school.

    "It''s not just the top graduate from the wizarding school," Freya said. "I heard from my sister that the Temple also selects one outstanding student each year to attend that school."

    "The Temple?"Leoric asked in surprise. "Isn''t that school supposed to teach the secret magical techniques of the Netheril era? Why would clerics go there?"

    The Netheril Empire was renowned for its magic, specifically for its arcane magic and wizards. It made no innovative contributions to the divine magic practiced by clerics. The so-called secret magical techniques of the Netheril era referred to arcane techniques, which had nothing to do with divine magic. Why would the Shar Temple send someone to learn this? Could it be that those clerics wanted to switch sides?

    Of course, that was impossible. If the clerics dared to think like that, Shar''s divine wrath would descend upon them first.

    Regardless, "So if I want to get into that school, the only way is to rank first in the graduation exams?"

    "Yes, there''s no other way," Freya replied.

    "Hmm."

    "I heard," Freya shifted into a more comfortable sleeping position, snuggling closer toLeoric, "that the Higher School is called the School of Arcanists."

    "The School of Arcanists?"

    Wizards from the Netheril era were called Arcanists, and the most outstanding among them were known as Grand Arcanists. Lord Spiritshade City and Hogarthana had both held the title of Grand Arcanist. After the fall of the Netheril Empire, the term "Arcanist" gradually faded, and they were more commonly referred to as "Wizards."

    Since this school taught the magical techniques of the Netheril era, it made sense to name it after the ancient title of "Arcanist."

    "The curriculum is longer, I think it''s around ten years," Freya continued, sharing the information she had vaguely heard before. "If you graduate, you''re eligible to receive the title of Arcanist... and there are some special privileges too, but my father wouldn''t say specifics."

    "Has anyone from the Monica family ever attended that school before?"

    "I heard about two," Freya said. "One was a long, long time ago, when Spiritshade City had just moved here. The other was my great-grandfather."

    "Your great-grandfather? Is he still alive?"

    "No," Freya said. "He ranked first and entered the School of Arcanists. But he didn''t graduate successfully... I think it was two or three years later when he was expelled."

    "Wow."

    Leoric didn''t expect that the School of Arcanists had an expulsion system, just like the wizarding school. "They only recruit one student each year... no, two if you count the Temple, and they also have elimination?"

    "More than two," Freya said. "Sometimes, there are special individuals who are discovered to have exceptional arcane talent from a young age and are selected by the Decision Makers for secret training. They can also enter the School of Arcanists."

    "Oh."

    "I don''t know the specifics, but I heard it''s very strict. It''s not elimination based on a percentage; there are certain standards. If you don''t meet them, you''re out.Leoric, think about it. Spiritshade City has been established for almost two thousand years. The School of Arcanists was probably established soon after arriving in the Shadowfell, around seventeen hundred years ago. At least two students can enter each year, but how many Arcanists are there in Spiritshade City now?"

    She lowered her voice. "At most, I estimate there are only two or three hundred, definitely not more than four hundred."

    Leoric nodded silently.

    If what Freya said was true, then the elimination rate at the School of Arcanists was astonishingly high. Assuming there are currently three hundred Arcanists in Spiritshade City, but seventeen hundred years ago, with at least two students entering each year, that totals three thousand four hundred students.

    Out of three thousand four hundred students, only three hundred became Arcanists. That''s an elimination rate of over ninety percent.

    It was indeed difficult to distinguish oneself. Spiritshade City''s commitment to "elitism" was perhaps a bit too thorough.

 Chapter 29: Meeting the Parents

    That was all Freya knew about the School of Arcanists. However, speaking of the graduation exam, she had another piece of news.

    "Did you know that the prize for first place in the graduation exam this time is a Rainbow Ring?"

    "A Rainbow Ring?"

    The top graduate of the exam had always received a decent magical item as a reward, year after year.Leoric naturally knew this rule, but there were still half a year left before the graduation exam. Had they already decided on the prize? This efficiency was a bit too high.

    Plus, what was a Rainbow Ring?

    "It''s from that Rainbow Dragon last time," Freya said. "Remember?"

    Leoric certainly did.

    "That Rainbow Dragon came from somewhere unknown and actually tried to steal the city lord''s airship. It was caught," Freya said. "Even Mr. Aglae Tanshure was injured."

    Leoric knew Aglae Tanshure, one of the Twelve Princes of Shadows, who had always served as the captain of the palace guards. He was injured too?

    That Rainbow Dragon wanted to steal the city lord of Spiritshade City''s airship? It had good taste and unique preferences, worthy of praise. The city lord''s airship was made of pure refined gold, probably the most expensive thing in Spiritshade City. But saying that, why did it come to Spiritshade City just to steal this airship? It always felt a bit strange.

    "That Rainbow Dragon was really impressive,"Leoric praised. "It actually managed to escape."

    "Yeah," Freya agreed. "It seemed to only plan to steal and leave. It initially took human form. After being discovered, it turned back into its true form and fled. If it had used its Rainbow Dragon form right away, it would have been harder to deal with."

    "By the way," she smiled with her lips pursed, "it had a companion who was super funny. I''ve never seen someone so afraid of death. According to my father, he actually wore three leather armors at once. But he still got injured at the beginning."

    Leoric also chuckled, remembering the two people he saw that day. Besides the blonde-haired young man who talked to him, the other older one was indeed wearing something bulky. He thought it was just particularly thick leather armor at first, but it was actually three armors.

    But honestly, although leather armor wasn''t as hard as steel armor, wearing three of them at once should make a normal person''s joints stiff, unable to even walk. That guy seemed to move freely, which was quite an accomplishment.

    "My father said that Rainbow Dragon wasn''t ordinary," Freya said. "It might have deity bloodline because most magic couldn''t hurt it. However, it shouldn''t have come to Spiritshade City."

    "Mm-hmm."

    Leoric understood Freya''s meaning. That Rainbow Dragon might indeed be a very powerful creature, but Spiritshade City was an even more powerful and dangerous place. Even if it was a special Rainbow Dragon and truly had deity bloodline, it wouldn''t fare well here.

    "That Rainbow Dragon was also a powerful wizard or sorcerer, right? But its magic was almost completely suppressed by the city''s ward. In the end, it got injured, and a lot of dragon blood, pink in color, was sprayed out. It was all collected¡ªLeoric, you''ve guessed what the Rainbow Ring is now, haven''t you?"

    "A magical ring made from dragon blood?"

    "Yeah," Freya said. "I heard that Mr. Hojjahana personally did it. He infused the collected dragon blood into a ring and created this ring."

    Dragon blood was a precious magical material that could be used for many purposes. The most common use was to make potent potions. It was rare for someone like Hojjahana to use dragon blood to make a magical ring. "What''s the use of the Rainbow Ring?"

    Freya shook her head, "I don''t know."

    Life at school was plain and uneventful, and soon it was the Month of Year''s End. The Month of Year''s End was the twelfth month of the year in this world, and after it, the Month of Severe Winter arrived, marking the new year.

    However, it was interesting that calendar-wise, the Month of Severe Winter was the first month of the new year but was often considered a continuation of the previous year. Until the Month of Severe Winter ended, there would be a "Midwinter Festival," which was truly regarded as the end of the past year and the beginning of the new year, similar to the "Spring Festival" on Earth.

    After the Midwinter Festival, three months later was the Grassgreen Festival, and the graduation exam would be held before that. In this world, there were five major festivals a year: Midwinter Festival, Grassgreen Festival, Midsummer Festival, Harvest Festival, and Moonlight Festival. The Grassgreen Festival was considered the true beginning of spring.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    This day was also used as the graduation ceremony for the wizard school. Exams had to be completed beforehand, of course.

    The last day of the Month of Year''s End was originally a holiday by tradition, and students could return to school the next morning. But the school suddenly issued an emergency notice, informing all students that they could leave school as usual but must return before 6 p.m. that night and could not stay overnight outside.

    Moreover, the transparent shadow shield rose again over the school. Students were puzzled and talked among themselves but didn''t know what had happened.Leoric asked Freya, but she didn''t know either.

    Was there another enemy invasion? Or did that Rainbow Dragon, injured and retreating last time, come back for revenge, still feeling resentful?

    However, although the school looked like it was preparing for a big enemy, nothing happened for real.Leoric looked up at the sky and found that it wasn''t just the school; the entire Spiritshade City was firmly covered by the shadow shield. Countless tiny and intricate strange runes appeared and disappeared on the translucent shield wall, flowing continuously.

    "Has Spiritshade City''s ward been fully activated?" He thought to himself.

    What had happened exactly?

    No one could answer this question. Perhaps the professors could, but they had all disappeared. The atmosphere was tense, but nothing had happened.

    Seeing no movement for a while, the students left school in groups and went home.Leoric was about to go home too, but Freya stopped him.

    "Leoric," she said, "will you come to my house today? My father wants to meet you."

    "Hmm?"

    Since he was already dating her daughter, it was only natural to meet the father-in-law.Leoric wasn''t surprised. However... why didn''t they give any notice beforehand?

    "Okay,"Leoric said. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to visit the father-in-law he had never met, "Wait for me at school. I''ll go tell my sister."

    He hadn''t mentioned Freya to Leovena, and he didn''t want to this time. When he got home, he told Leovenathat a classmate invited him over, and since the school required them to return that night, he wouldn''t be coming back today. Leovena didn''t mind much.

    The Monica family was indeed a very old family¡ªand seemed to be in poor financial condition, perhaps because the successive heads of the family didn''t care much about repairing the residence? Anyway, whenLeoric saw the dark, mottled walls covered with messy vines and the rusty iron gate, he thought he was seeing an abandoned old house.

    An elderly servant led him and Freya into the living room and served coffee.

    Leoric was a bit surprised. This was Freya''s own home, but she seemed even more uneasy than he, a guest for the first time.Leoric quietly asked her, and Freya said she had been afraid of her father since she was a child. For more than ten years, she hadn''t dared to look him in the eye when talking to him face-to-face.

    Well, it sounded like she had a strict upbringing.

    Her twin sister, Fulia, wasn''t home today. She was still in the temple learning how to serve the goddess. The temple''s system was different from the wizard school''s, with much looser rules but also less structure.Leoric and Freya could reasonably expect the last day of each month to be a holiday, as it had been stipulated since the school''s establishment, unchanged for millennia; Fulia couldn''t, as no one could guarantee that the goddess wouldn''t issue any new revelations today.

    The goddess Sharr was not a rigorous and stern goddess. She was accustomed to doing as she pleased. The sound of footsteps echoed, and an old man walked in from the inner room. He wore a black wizard robe with an embroidered picture of a long-beaked kingfisher on his chest, whichLeoric knew was the Monica family crest. Freya had said her father was nearly fifty, but he didn''t look that old. There were no wrinkles on his face, probably due to good maintenance. However, as soon asLeoric saw him, he immediately understood why Freya was afraid of her father. He was indeed the kind of person who looked very serious, stern, and meticulous.

    Leoric and Freya stood up together. "Father," Freya said nervously, "this isLeoric,Leoric Lannister."

    The old man nodded slightly without even glancing atLeoric and sat down directly, addressing Freya, "You can leave now."

    Freya, feeling like she had been granted a pardon, quickly fled the room, closing the door behind her.

    "Please sit," the old man gestured forLeoric to take a seat. "I don''t like beating around the bush, so I''ll be direct. Mr. Lannister, I hold you in high regard."

    Leoric bowed slightly.

    "Thank you," he said. "That''s why I''m here, Mr. Monica, to listen to your guidance. And please, call meLeoric."

    The old man gaveLeoric a deep look.

    "After last year''s final exams, many were surprised by your progress,Leoric," the old man said. "Perhaps you''re unaware of the attention you''ve garnered... especially after a certain incident."

    Leoric remained silent, waiting patiently for the rest. It seemed that his unusual constitution that resisted magic had caught the attention of high-ranking officials in Spiritshade City. Freya had mentioned that her father worked in the government and was somewhat of a leader.

    "Since the founding of this floating city, the Wizard Academy has stood," the old man continued. "In its more than two thousand years of teaching history, countless talented wizards have emerged¡ªand you are the most special one among them."

    "Fourth place isn''t exactly outstanding,"Leoric replied cautiously. "And as for rapid progress¡ªI''m aware of a precedent where someone went from thirty-first to first within a year."

    "True," the old man acknowledged, "but their talents far surpassed yours¡ªby a factor of ten, one might say."

    Leoric''s eyelids flickered. "You''re right," he responded. "Obviously, though I lack exceptional talent, I''ve had good luck."

    The old man chuckled.

    "Absolutely," he said. "The Monica family intends to benefit from your good fortune,Leoric."

    "I like Freya very much,"Leoric said. "So, if it makes her happy, I''m willing to put in the effort."

    The old man nodded slightly.

    "However, I have a small doubt,"Leoric looked at the old man''s expression and chose his words carefully. "I''m flattered by your high opinion, but..."

    "But you wonder why I chose you over others?"

    "Yes,"Leoric said.

    "Because I''m a prophecy wizard," the old man opted for the simplest answer. "Freya should have told you that the Monica family has produced top-notch prophecy wizards for generations."

    Leoric fell silent, then bowed slightly. "I''ll do my best."

    The old man smiled. "Actually, I invited you here out of curiosity to see what kind of person Freya''s crush is," he whispered mysteriously. "You know, before you, Freya never liked any boy. She only spent time with her sister. Sometimes I worried they were lesbians."

    Leoric was taken aback by the old man''s seemingly stern yet playful remark. Before he could respond, the old man burst into laughter, patting him on the shoulder.

    "Stay for lunch," the old man invited. "Try the fresh roasted dragon wings."

 Chapter 30: The Return to the Material Plane!

    The so-called "roasted dragon wings" were naturally not the wings of a real giant dragon, but rather those of subspecies of dragons from the Shadowfell, captured and domesticated by the City of Shades. The ones with plump meat were used as food.

    The taste was indeed delightful, somewhat similar to beef but even crispier and more delicious. Freya seemed tense whenever she saw her father, always appearing somewhat uneasy.Leoric, on the other hand, felt much more at ease. Although it was his first visit, he had a wonderful conversation with Mr. Monica.

    He still didn''t know what exactly made Mr. Monica value him so highly... It couldn''t be because he could resist divine magic, which wasn''t really a strength, as it blocked even blessings and enhancements.

    Regardless, he now had high value in Mr. Monica''s eyes ¨C understanding this was enough. As for the rest, they were minor details that could be pondered over time.

    Midway through lunch, footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a servant''s voice, "Miss, you''re back."

    Leoric looked up and saw a girl walking in. Her figure and appearance were almost identical to Freya''s. She wore a tight-fitting purple-black shirt and pants, clearly outlining her curves, a stark contrast to the loose robes of wizards. Over this, she wore a black cloak, and at the bow tie of her chest was a round disk made of obsidian, framed by a purple border. Although petite, she looked very agile and full of vitality, like a young cheetah.

    Obviously, this was Freya''s sister, Fulia.

    Unlike Freya, who felt nervous and terrified upon entering the house, Fulia walked in with a radiant smile. "Wow, roasted dragon wings," she cutely wrinkled her nose, closed her eyes, and sniffed, "It smells so good. I guess it''s from a shadowclaw dragon."

    She walked into the living room and sawLeoric. Her expression froze for a moment.

    "Sister," Freya quickly introduced, "This isLeoric Lannister;Leoric, this is my sister Fulia Monica."

    Leoric bowed slightly and said, "Hello."

    Leoric felt that Fulia was completely different from her sister. Although they looked exactly alike, their auras were vastly different. Freya was innocent and soft, like a delicate and beautiful flower; Fulia, however, was much harder and sharper, more cheerful and full of energy.

    Wow, if I could get both twins into bed, that would be the ultimate dream for a man. Imagine it, two little beauties with the same appearance but vastly different auras, one on each side... No, the ultimate dream should be Sister Sange.

    While lost in his thoughts,Leoric suddenly felt something cold pressing against his spirit. He flinched slightly but didn''t notice anything unusual. Upon hearing Freya''s introduction, Fulia also nodded slightly and curtsied, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Lannister. I often hear about you from Freya."

    Her face was still smiling, but there was no laughter in her eyes as she stared atLeoric intentionally or unintentionally.

    Leoric felt slightly uneasy. "Strange, it''s like she has a grudge against me," he thought to himself, "I don''t remember offending her."

    "Fulia is back," their father spoke up. "Is it a holiday today? Come and eat."

    "No," Fulia said, "I came home to get something. I have to go back to the temple soon." She walked into the inner room and came out after a moment. "I''m leaving, Father, Freya. Take care of yourselves at school. Enjoy your meal, Mr. Lannister. Have a pleasant holiday."

    She walked out the door.

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    The atmosphere was somewhat dull. After finishing lunch in a hurry,Leoric bid farewell. Mr. Monica didn''t try to retain him, but before leaving, he said something strange.

    "Leoric, Freya, be careful when you sleep tonight. Don''t fall out of bed."

    "Huh?"

    Leoric was puzzled by the cryptic remark. Mr. Monica didn''t elaborate further but turned and went into the inner room.

    Leoric and Freya returned to school. On the way,Leoric asked about Fulia.

    "Your sister doesn''t seem to like me very much,"Leoric said.

    "Not really," Freya said, "She''s just not used to seeing strangers. She''s been like that since she was a kid. Besides... she says she doesn''t like wizards very much."

    "You''re a wizard too."

    "That''s different. I''m her sister."

    "Oh."

    "Fulia has always been very kind to me," Freya said, "Even though we''re twins, she treats me like a little sister. When I was bullied as a kid, she would fight for me..."

    "Fight?"Leoric was surprised. He thought fighting was a boy''s thing.

    "Yeah, Fulia is really fierce when she fights. You wouldn''t know," Freya smiled, "She''s usually well-behaved, but whenever I''m bullied, she becomes like a little leopard, fierce as hell. Even boys are afraid of her. After a few times, no one dared to bully me again."

    "I really wouldn''t have guessed,"Leoric said.

    "So, if you treat me badly, she''ll definitely come after you," Freya said.

    Leoric chuckled, "I won''t. I''ll take good care of Freya," he stroked Freya''s hair, "It''s nice to have an older sister."

    "You have an older sister too."

    "Yeah, that''s right. It''s nice to have an older sister."

    The shadow shield still over the school, and nothing unusual happened.Leoric and Freya reviewed and practiced magic, and time passed quickly. Eventually, the artificial sun went out, and night fell. All the students returned to their dormitories to rest.

    The night was very quiet, with nothing unexpected or expected happening. It seemed just like any other day. If there was any difference, it felt like the bed was a bit unstable, shaking slightly more than usual. ButLeoric didn''t pay much attention, as he was engaged in vigorous exercise with Freya ¨C if they were exercising, what was unusual about the bed shaking a bit more?

    The next morning, the first day of 1372 DR (although the residents of the City of Shades didn''t really consider it the beginning of the new year),Leoric woke up from a deep sleep.

    The intense sunlight pouring through the window stung his eyes, making it almost impossible to open them.Leoric felt a headache and frowned, taking a long time to adapt before finally opening his eyes and observing his surroundings.

    Strange.

    He was still in the dormitory, in bed, with Freya sleeping beside him. Nothing was out of place; everything was still in its original position, and the door was closed... But why did he feel like something had changed?

    He carefully observed his surroundings but didn''t notice any changes. Finally, his gaze shifted back to Freya beside him.

    Freya slept peacefully, like a gentle kitten. Her long hair covered half of her face, leaving the other half exposed, looking exceptionally delicate and flawless. In the bright sunlight, even the tiny hairs on her face were clearly visible.

    Wait... Bright? Sunlight?

    Leoric suddenly realized what was wrong. Everything was the same ¨C but the sunlight was unusually bright and dazzling.

    Shar was the goddess of the night and despised all brightness. To avoid offending Shar, the City of Shades, although maintained by an artificial sun, was always cautious, keeping the light dim and hardly emitting any heat.

    But now, sunlight ten times brighter than usual shot straight through the window, illuminating the entire dormitory so brightly thatLeoric couldn''t adapt at first. It was not only bright but also warm. On such a morning, sitting naked on the bed wouldn''t feel cold. Normally, even at noon, the sunlight couldn''t be this intense.

    This was too strange.

    Leoric jumped out of bed, put on his robe, and ran outside. He looked up at the sky and saw that it was no longer gray and overcast but clear blue with white clouds dotted around. The rising sun had just emerged from the clouds, driving away the darkness and radiating brilliance.

    Suppressing his excitement,Leoric quickly drew a small rune on his chest, activating the power of his magical robe. His body slowly rose as if under a levitation spell.

    He ascended to a great height, over 200 feet above the ground, high enough to see the entire City of Shades and even beyond the towering walls.

    He saw majestic mountains stretching far ahead, their peaks sharp like knives piercing the sky. He saw the boundless desert to his left, with rolling waves of sand stretching as far as the eye could see. Finally, he turned around and found a vast lake below the city. The dark blue lake water was clear and gloomy, perfectly still.

    No further explanations are needed, no more doubts to linger.Leoric fully understands what happened last night ¨C this is the Material Realm, the mortal world, the home and habitat of humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and countless familiar and unfamiliar creatures. This is the birthplace of Specter City.

    After drifting in the Shadow Realm for over seventeen hundred years, on the first day of 1372DR, Specter City has finally returned to the Material Realm.

 Chapter 31: The Graduation Exam Question

    Spiritshade City was transported from the Material Realm to the Shadow Realm, and theoretically, it should also be able to return to the Material Realm. The reason it stayed in the Shadow Realm for over a thousand years was reportedly due to an "insurmountable" obstacle.

    As for what that insurmountable obstacle was,Leoric didn''t know, and no one had explained it to him. But now, it seemed that this "insurmountable obstacle" had been overcome.

    After spending fifteen years in the eerie Shadow Realm,Leoric finally saw blue skies, white clouds, mountains, and lakes. Even the desert, which originally didn''t inspire any fondness, now seemed familiar and comforting to him.

    And there was the real sun in the sky.

    Floating two hundred feet above the ground, overlooking the land, his heart swelled with emotion, almost to the point of tears. It was as if he were a wandering son who had finally returned to his familiar hometown.

    Although this was not Earth.

    He greedily looked around, as if trying to etch every scene into his mind. But time was not on his side; the levitation spell attached to his magical robe couldn''t last long. If he didn''t land soon, once the spell wore off, he risked falling to his death.

    Leoric landed and ran into the dormitory, making so much noise that he woke Freya up. "What''s going on?" the little girl rubbed her eyes. "Why are you doing this?"

    "Get up!"Leoric pulled her up without waiting for a reply and put the robe on her. Before Freya could figure out what was happening, she was being dragged out of the dormitory in a daze.

    "Yikes!" The little girl squeezed her eyes shut. "Why is the sun so blinding today? Is it already noon?"

    "It''s not noon,"Leoric said excitedly. "We''re back in the Material Realm!"

    "What?"

    Freya reluctantly opened her eyes just a slit, shielding her face from the intense light. Through her fingers, she saw the azure sky, white clouds, birds flying overhead, and everything bathed in warm, bright sunlight.

    "It''s true," she said, excitement creeping into her voice. UnlikeLeoric, who was familiar with the Material Realm, Freya was born in the Shadow Realm and had no memories of the Material Realm; everything she knew came from books. ForLeoric, the Material Realm was "familiar," but for Freya, it was "novel."

    More people in the school noticed the change and ran out of their dormitories, shielding their eyes from the blinding sunlight while gazing at the sky. Many of the older students, likeLeoric, instinctively activated the levitation spell on their robes and rose into the air.

    "Take me up there to see," Freya pleaded. She was only in her third year and hadn''t mastered the levitation spell yet.

    "I haven''t prepared a spell yet,"Leoric said. His own robe could provide one levitation spell, but it could only be activated once every twenty-four hours, and he had already used it in his eagerness.

    Freya was disappointed, but it wasn''t a big deal. Since Spiritshade City had returned, it presumably wouldn''t go back to the Shadow Realm. They had plenty of time in the future. However, both of them were currently in the school and weren''t allowed to leave without permission, so they could only look longingly at the outside world.

    Not only the wizard school students, but soonLeoric and Freya also heard a piece of news. The lord of Spiritshade City had issued an edict prohibiting any Spiritshade City residents from leaving the city without government approval.

    As for how to obtain approval, the edict stated that the government would further formulate implementation details.

    This was as good as saying nothing, andLeoric was disappointed. He was in his fifth year and had three months left until graduation. He had hoped to become a full-fledged wizard after graduation and roam freely outside Spiritshade City. Now, that seemed unlikely.

    However, things in the world were often unexpected. Just whenLeoric was feeling dejected, the school professor brought some good news.

    "This graduation exam will be held in the desert below our city."

    "The... desert?" The students were startled. We''re wizards, not special forces, so we don''t need wilderness survival training, do we? Wizards generally have poor physical constitutions and grew up in the cold Shadow Realm. Suddenly placed in the desert, they would likely suffer from thirst or heatstroke.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "Yes, in this desert... It''s not about trekking across the desert; it''s about exploration."

    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Exploration was a relatively suitable exam format. Purely theoretical exams couldn''t reflect practical abilities, and a tournament would be unfair. For example, wizards specializing in prophecy are best at strategic planning and reconnaissance but are at a disadvantage in face-to-face combat. Exploration usually comprehensively assesses abilities, often involving setting a goal, such as finding a certain item to bring back or reaching a specific location.

    "So... Oh right, Professor, what''s the name of this desert?"

    The professor raised his eyes slightly and looked at the students. "The Enoch Desert," he said, his voice carrying an inexplicable tone. "This is where the empire once stood."

    Everyone fell silent. They knew that after the fall of the Netheril Empire, its ruins became a vast desert. But they hadn''t expected it to be right beneath their feet.

    This endless sea of sand buried the once magnificent magical empire.

    Time passed extremely quickly, and before they knew it, the date of the graduation exam was approaching.

    The exam question was finally determined: tomb raiding.

    Of course, saying "tomb raiding" seemed a bit inelegant; the official term was exploration. In the Enoch Desert below Spiritshade City, there was an ancient tomb that had been transformed into a maze for the exam.

    There was a preliminary exam first, eliminating most students and retaining only the top four. These four students would then enter the maze from four different entrances, with the goal of reaching the center, where the prize¡ªa rainbow-colored ring¡ªawaited.

    The ring had a teleportation spell attached to it, and putting it on would trigger the magic, returning the wearer directly to the podium in Spiritshade City. As for the other three losers, they would naturally be picked up.

    "A maze? Doesn''t that mean those who specialize in prophecy have an advantage?"

    The prophecy school isn''t good at attacking or defending but has plenty of detection and reconnaissance spells, making it ideal for navigating a maze. But things wouldn''t be that simple; if it were just a simple maze, it wouldn''t be much of a graduation exam.

    "The maze corridors are filled with various monsters. Which ones you encounter will depend on your luck."

    "So, which monsters are included?" A student asked.

    "Nothing much," the professor said casually. "Just some zombies, skeleton archers, goblins, minotaurs, and the like."

    The students'' faces grew paler as they listened. Zombies and goblins could indeed be considered "nothing much." Zombies were terrifying in appearance but clumsy in movement, while goblins were somewhat annoying but cowardly. The problem was skeleton archers and minotaurs.

    Skeletons are one thing; as aspiring wizards, even if they don''t specialize in necromancy, they''ve seen plenty of skeletons. But skeleton archers are troublesome. The biggest weakness of wizards is their inability to wear armor and wield shields on the battlefield; they can only wear robes, making their defense extremely weak. They fear both enemies rushing up to them and enemies shooting from a distance.

    As for minotaurs, they are even harder to deal with. Minotaurs in the Material Realm are different from their cowardly counterparts in the Shadow Realm. They are not only equally strong and sturdy but also fierce, bloodthirsty, and temperamental¡ªand generally don''t understand human language, so you can''t communicate with them.

    Even for fifth-year graduates, facing a minotaur is quite challenging, especially when there might be more than one.

    "Can we bring magical potions?"

    "No."

    "Can we bring magical scrolls?"

    "No."

    With a final glimmer of hope, someone asked, "Can we bring magical items?"

    The professor nodded, "Yes."

    Just as everyone was about to cheer, the professor added, "Only the items issued to you by the school."

    For fifth-year students, the school-issued equipment included a staff, a wizard''s robe, a ring, and a necklace. Although these were indeed relatively decent magical items, they were still too limited.

    "The graduation exam is not a suicide mission," the professor said. "The school will, of course, consider everything for you. Each of the four students entering the maze will be issued a golem."

    "An iron golem?" Someone asked hopefully.

    The professor looked at him and said, "A clay golem."

    The strength and abilities of Golems can be judged just by their names. Earth Golems, naturally, can''t compare to Iron Golems in any way, but they''re better than nothing. Golems are somewhat similar to robots on Earth¡ªclumsy and slow-moving, but durable, making them perfect as shields for wizards. They follow wizards'' commands to the letter, but nothing too complex; otherwise, they won''t understand.

    With an Earth Golem as his shield, even a fragile wizard feels like he''s holding up a large defensive wall, offering him a sense of security.

    "Besides Golems," the professor said, "you''re also allowed to choose an assistant."

    This was good news. Wizards should never fight alone; they should be surrounded by teammates for protection. But where to find an assistant?

    "The final exams for third-year students will be held before your graduation exams," the professor announced. "The four students who enter the maze can select anyone from the top ten of the third-year finals as their assistant."

    Third-year students?

    Everyone felt a bit deflated. Even the top ten from the third-year finals can only barely touch the first layer of the Magic Web and perform some very basic spells. They wouldn''t be much help. Fourth-year students would be much better. With plenty of practical training, their skills improve rapidly. Among the top ten from the fourth-year finals, if you''re really lucky, you might stumble upon a brilliant genius who has reached the second layer of the Magic Web. That would be a huge boost.

    Leoric also found this rule a bit odd, sensing there might be something fishy going on...

    Couldn''t it be specifically targeted at him?

    The thought flashed through his mind, but he shook his head with a smile. He didn''t think he was important enough for such specific attention. Well, regardless, he needed to pick a third-year student as his assistant...

    "Freya," he gently stroked the girl''s hair in their dorm room, enjoying the warmth of her moist mouth, "do me a favor."

    "Hmm?" Freya''s mouth was full, preventing her from speaking clearly, so she could only utter a muffled nasal sound.

    "Come in tenth place in the finals this time," he said.

 Chapter 32: The Exam Begins

    Freya had made rapid progress and was doing well academically. While it might be a stretch to ask for first place in the finals, securing a top five position shouldn''t be a problem.

    She seemed taken aback byLeoric''s request, momentarily frozen, before slowly removing the object from her mouth. "Tenth place?" she asked, looking up atLeoric.

    "Yes,"Leoric said, informing her about the graduation exam.

    "You want to pick me as your assistant?"

    Leoric nodded. "Of course, I want someone who is both capable and completely trustworthy¡­" He lowered his head and gave Freya a gentle kiss on the lips. "And someone who has had ''detailed and in-depth'' understanding with me."

    "Besides," he added, "I think they will all choose assistants with higher rankings. So, if you come in tenth, my chances of picking you will be much higher."

    Freya didn''t say much more.Leoric''s reasoning was reasonable. Freya might not be the best third-year student, but she was the oneLeoric knew best, the most reliable, and the most trustworthy. Moreover, they had been together for so long, sharing daily life and developing a silent understanding, which was also very important in actual combat.

    The power of a wizard did not solely lie in the magic they possessed.

    Plus, Freya had a high talent for prophecy, which would help find the correct path in the maze. Of course, if they encountered a fierce monster, she wouldn''t be much help, butLeoric hadn''t counted on her for that anyway.

    The third-year finals, although important, were far less significant compared to the graduation exam. As long as Freya didn''t fall into the bottom ten and get eliminated, it was enough for her to intentionally hide her strength.

    Freya nodded and fell silent, lowering her head to tuck a few stray strands of hair behind her ear before continuing to "help"Leoric with his "concentration."

    Her skills were getting better and better, soon makingLeoric feel a bit overwhelmed. He gave up on trying to focus on casting spells, closing his eyes and leaning back against the headboard to fully enjoy the moment. Freya was lowered her head, so he didn''t see the hesitance in her eyes.

    There was a hint of unease in the girl''s gaze.

    BeforeLeoric knew it, the graduation exam had arrived.

    The exam was scheduled at the end of Storm Moon (the fourth month of the year). After the exam, students could go straight home. Luggage? The school paid for all expenses during the students'' stay, and of course, all living essentials belonged to the school, so there were no personal belongings to pack. Even magical items like wands, robes, rings, and necklaces had to be returned to the school after the exam.

    Of course, if they passed the graduation exam and became official wizards, whether they joined the government, the military, or entered the Arcanist School, they would naturally receive better equipment. Spiritshade City, which valued hierarchy, would never disappoint in this regard.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    The exam ended at the end of the month, and the next day was Grass Green Festival, considered the true arrival of spring. Everyone in Spiritshade City would go out to celebrate, taking flowers carefully nurtured in temples and sprinkling them in the air, symbolizing the banishment of winter and the welcome of spring. This day was also the enrollment date for the wizard school. Five years ago,Leoric participated in the opening ceremony and put on his wizard robe on Grass Green Festival.

    It was both the beginning of a new school year and the day of graduation. If they passed the exam and became official wizards, they would be overjoyed, happily attending the graduation ceremony while celebrating Grass Green Festival. But if they were eliminated, they would have to return home dejectedly, burying their heads in the pillow and crying.

    Some were joyful, while others were sorrowful.

    Leoric didn''t have to worry about being eliminated. His goal was to come in first place. To achieve this, he had trained very hard recently, even reducing the number of intimate moments with Freya.

    He had become very stable in deeply connecting to the third layer of the Magic Web, clearly analyzing each interwoven silver thread and extracting the power he needed to shape various spells.

    Leoric had never been particularly fond of combat-specific magic, as he always believed that magic was a delicate and beautiful art, not a tool for killing. But for the graduation exam, he had to spend all his time studying spells that might be useful in combat. Besides flight, he had also learned acceleration, deceleration, and spider skin. He really didn''t like the last spell because he had to swallow a small piece of spider skin to cast it. If wizards weren''t so fragile and in desperate need of protection,Leoric would never have learned such a bizarre spell.

    "I will never learn Spider Walk," he vowed silently. Although being a spider-man had once been his dream, the thought of swallowing a live spider whole made him feel nauseated.

    The third-year graduation exam was held a few days earlier, and as planned, Freya successfully came in tenth place, nothing more, nothing less.

    Overall, everything went smoothly. The only was that the exam was scheduled at the end of the month, so he couldn''t go home to hear his sister Leovena blessing in person before the exam.

    Well, he would use his excellent first-place performance as a Grass Green Festival gift for his sister.

    Five years of study would come to a conclusion tomorrow. He felt a faint excitement he hadn''t experienced in a long time, mixed with a bit of nervousness, reminiscent of the feeling before taking the college entrance exam in his past life.

    Let''s work hard.

    The exam was divided into two parts. The first part examined theoretical knowledge and practical spellcasting. A review committee composed of high-level wizards and school professors sat on the stage, observing each student''s performance, similar to a university thesis defense.

    Magic was ultimately a practical discipline, and it was easy to distinguish the levels of proficiency. Soon, the worst half of the students were identified and eliminated at the final hurdle after five years of struggle.

    The remaining eighteen students had also been accurately graded, withLeoric ranking fourth, neither too high nor too low.

    The most exciting and crucial part was about to begin.

    The four winners, includingLeoric, stepped forward. The professor handed each of them a list of the top ten from the third-year finals, with Freya at the bottom.

    AsLeoric had expected, the other three did not choose Freya. Their specialized fields were conjuration, evocation, and necromancy, respectively, and they had completely abandoned the other two schools of magic as per convention. Although this was a necessary compromise, it was also a flaw. Therefore, their common goal was to choose an assistant who could compensate for their deficiencies. Secondly, they wanted a strong assistant.

    They chose the top three, and it wasLeoric''s turn.Leoric pointed to the bottom of the list and read out the name.

    "Freya Monica."

    The little girl stepped out of the crowd, givingLeoric a sweet smile.

    "Let''s begin!" the professor announced loudly.

 Chapter 33: Entering the Labyrinth

    The military''s airships were borrowed once again, but this time, it wasn''t the big wooden rafts; instead, it was the more advanced aerial warships. Mainly constructed of wood, with crucial parts forged from refined gold and secret silver, these ships came equipped with cockpits and numerous giant crossbow turrets.

    Four fifth-year graduates, four assistants, and four clay golems were loaded onto the airships, which then flew towards their destination. Soon, they landed in the desert, not far from Spiritshade City.

    "See that entrance over there?" the professor pointed. "Enter from there. Go forward a hundred feet, and you''ll see four paths with numbers on them. Each of you will take one. The Iris Ring is placed in the center of the labyrinth. You must retrieve it, put it on your finger, and you''ll be teleported back to the school, marking your victory. Inside the labyrinth, all means are allowed, including killing each other. Do you understand?""Yes," replied the four contestants in unison.

    "Alright, then let''s get going. Good luck to you all."

    Leoric and Freya disembarked the airship, accompanied by the seemingly dull-witted clay golem. It was almost noon, and the desert had absorbed the sunlight, making the surface scorching hot. Fortunately, they were all wearing leather boots, so their feet wouldn''t get burned.

    The clay golem, made entirely of clay, resembled a mud man, with a simple leather strip tied around its waist serving as clothing. It was heavy, but presumably due to some pre-existing magical enchantment, it walked on the sand without sinking in. A group of eight people plus four golems entered the entrance, which didn''t seem to be a temporarily dug passage for the exam but rather the original tomb passage of an ancient tomb, sealed off on both sides with enormous rocks. After advancing a hundred feet, they indeed saw four²ípaths numbered one, two, three, and four, each bearing the name of one of the contestants.

    "Alright, we''ll part ways here," said Kuken, who had consistently ranked first in every exam since enrollment, to the other three. "May the night be with you."

    "May the night be with you," replied the other three, each taking their assistant and commanding their clay golem to follow their respective paths. Everyone was cautious, wary of being ambushed by others, although it was unlikely. Everyone knew that anyone who attempted to attack someone else here would only give the remaining contestants the opportunity to take advantage.

    "Let''s go," saidLeoric.

    Freya nodded and commanded the golem to move forward. The clay golem possessed virtually no intelligence and could only obey simple commands mechanically, such as "move forward," "turn left," or "push." If you tried to give it a more complex command like "turn left and go straight ahead," it would likely just stand there, looking blankly.

    They were now deep underground, where it was very dark.Leoric had to activate the magic on his staff, condensing a white orb at its tip that emitted a soft light, pushing back the surrounding darkness. However, its range was limited, only illuminating an area of about ten feet around them.

    Following their pre-planned strategy, after walking a dozen meters and encountering the first turn, Freya looked atLeoric. After he nodded in agreement, she recited an incantation, closed her eyes, and gently patted her forehead. Silver light flowed like water from her palm, penetrating her skin. When she opened her eyes again, her originally dark-brown irises had turned silvery-white.

    This was a relatively simple magic, otherwise, Freya wouldn''t have been able to master it, but it was very useful in the current situation. It allowed her to see the traces of undead left in the air and was not restricted by light. Most undead, contrary to popular belief, didn''t like to spend their days sleeping in coffins; they preferred to be out and about, as long as there was no sunlight.

    The professor had mentioned that the monsters they might encounter in the labyrinth included goblins, zombies, skeleton archers, and minotaurs. Goblins were not to be feared; a simple trick could scare them away, and zombies were also manageable. Skeleton archers were more troublesome. Being underground, it was pitch black, and skeleton archers would definitely be wandering around.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    If they detected the scent of undead, it meant that area was within their range of activity, allowing them to prepare in advance and avoid being caught off guard. That was the purpose of prophecy magic.

    As for encountering minotaurs... they could only place their hopes on the clumsy clay golem.

    The two advanced cautiously, with Freya commanding the golem to clear the way ahead whileLeoric covered the rear, his hand already gripping the materials needed for casting spells, ready to unleash magic at any moment. His other hand held his staff, emitting white light.

    It seemed that luck was onLeoric''s side; they hadn''t encountered many monsters along the way. Just a few goblins, which scattered afterLeoric threw two flash magic spheres at them. Not a single zombie or skeleton archer was encountered.

    Even more surprisingly, they didn''t bump into the other three contestants either, which could have easily led to a fierce battle.

    What was truly troublesome were the constantly appearing paths. Of course, it wouldn''t be called a labyrinth without²ípaths, but the problem was that there were simply too many of them, making the two almost dizzy from turning.

    This wasn''t going to work.

    Just as they were feeling anxious, suddenly, an explosion echoed from the distance, and the rolling waves of energy shook the ground beneath their feet. Being inside the labyrinth, with enclosed walls on both sides, they couldn''t see what was happening in the distance, but judging by the sound, it was clear that a fierce battle was underway.

    Leoric stopped in his tracks and listened intently. His hearing was far superior to that of ordinary people, one of the benefits of practicing internal martial arts. "Ubanen and Fiji," he said to Freya after listening for a while, "they''ve encountered each other."

    The tremors lasted for a moment and then subsided, indicating that the battle was over.Leoric couldn''t tell who had won, but in such an encounter battle between two equally matched opponents, it was almost certainly a draw with both sides injured.

    "It would be best if they both perished,"Leoric thought. Before coming, the professor had already said that all means could be used inside the labyrinth, including killing opponents. One of them specialized in evocation magic, while the other studied necromancy. The former liked to bombard his enemies with spells, while the latter was cunning and focused on delivering fatal blows. Both were attack-oriented and had never gotten along well. Now that they had truly encountered each other, it was inevitable that they would have to fight to the death. However, those who entered this labyrinth were all elites among the students, and the school wouldn''t really let them die, so they had naturally cast protective spells on them. Once severely injured, they would be instantly teleported back to Spiritshade City to be treated by priests.

    It seemed that only Kuken andLeoric remained as contestants. Kuken was the kind of sorcerer who could innately sense the presence of the magical grid, could speak Dragonic naturally, and could comprehend new magic without a teacher. He had ranked first every year since enrolling and was the opponentLeoric least wanted to face.

    "Let''s go," saidLeoric.

    Trying to calm down, the two continued wandering through the labyrinth. It was unclear how much time had passed, butLeoric was starting to feel anxious, and Freya''s face was already drenched in sweat, her wizard''s robe soaked through.

    The paths seemed to go nowhere right, often leading them back to the starting point after wandering for a while, and the monsters were becoming more numerous. Besides goblins, they also encountered seven or eight zombies. Fortunately, Freya detected them early and used a small trick to lure them into a corner, where the clay golem pounded them with its fists, causing these dead people who should have been lying in their graves to lie down again¡ªand presumably never to rise again.

    "It''s broken," Freya inspected the golem and said toLeoric.

    Although zombies moved slowly and clumsily, they were not without threat; at least, they were very strong¡ªeven stronger than when they were alive. The clay golem was not particularly sturdy, and after being hit by these seven or eight zombies, it actually had one of its legs broken.

    The golem''s left leg was twisted, though it didn''t snap due to the clay''s sticky nature, but it seriously hindered its movement.

    "There''s nothing we can do,"Leoric sighed, "but fortunately, I was prepared."

    He commanded the golem to stand still, then knelt down halfway, placing his hands on the twisted part of the golem''s leg and whispering an incantation. A faint blue light emanated from his palms, penetrating into the clay legs of the golem.

    The twisted half of the clay leg slowly rotated and eventually returned to its original state.Leoric stood up and sighed in relief. High-level practitioners of the Transformation School of Magic possess the skill to create golems, a feat thatLeoric currently lacked. However, he could still mend non-critical injuries to a golem using magic.

    But he had only prepared one such spell for repairing golems. He needed to be even more cautious on the journey ahead.

 Chapter 34: The Minotaur

    The maze was vast, but rather than being divided into four separate sections, it was interconnected. After wandering for some time,Leoric and Freya noticed obvious signs of battle in the corridors. The walls bore scorch marks from flames, and the ground was scattered with broken bones and bows and arrows¡ªevidently the remnants of defeated skeleton archers.

    Someone had already been here.

    As they ventured further, they found even more monster corpses along the way.Leoric was about to examine the wounds closely to try and guess who had done this when Freya suddenly called out, "Leoric, look at that."

    Leoric followed the direction Freya was pointing and, with the help of the light from his staff''s tip, saw two tall and bulky figures embraced in the shadows ahead, standing motionless.

    Upon approaching, they realized it wasn''t an embrace but two clay golems locked in combat, seemingly petrified mid-struggle as if hit by a paralyzing spell.

    However, clay golems couldn''t be paralyzed; the spell only worked on flesh-and-blood creatures.

    The battle signs around the golems were evident.Leoric found a half-broken staff¡ªidentical to the one he was holding, the kind issued to fifth-year students by the school.

    The situation was clear.

    Before setting out, the professors had programmed the clay golems to obey only their respective masters'' (including the four graduates and four assistants'') commands via remote mental control. The sudden immobilization could only mean one thing: these two clay golems had suddenly lost all mental contact with their masters.

    Which meant their masters had lost consciousness¡ªpresumably being automatically transported back to Spiritshade City for treatment.

    Great, fantastic, wonderful.

    It was confirmed that they were down two opponents, which was naturally pleasing. It was even more pleasing that the monsters in the maze seemed to have been mostly wiped out by these two unlucky souls. But the biggest challenge remained unsolved.Leoric and Freya spun around and around, growing increasingly disoriented, almost unsure of where they were anymore.

    Ahead was another fork in the road, with two passages on either side.Leoric looked around but couldn''t discern any clues. He was just about to take a chance and choose one when Freya suddenly grabbed his hand and said, "This way."

    Leoric was somewhat puzzled but had no choice but to trust her. As they progressed, Freya seemed to suddenly gain insight or some special ability, almost always clearly selecting the correct path at intersections¡ªalthough there were a few wrong turns that led them in circles.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ToLeoric''s knowledge, divination magic, which could seek guidance from the unknown, was usually only performed by high-level prophecy wizards. Although Freya was talented, she was still only a third-year student and shouldn''t possess such abilities.

    But at this point, he could only trust her. Talent, after all, couldn''t be measured by conventional wisdom,Leoric thought.

    Finally, they entered a passage, andLeoric was delighted to see light ahead.

    In this dark, narrow maze, light could only mean two things: either an exit or their destination.

    And the exit''s light should be bright white, not iridescent and shimmering.

    So this had to be the iridescent ring glowing.

    Finally, they had found it!

    Suppressing his excitement,Leoric signaled Freya to cast the last prepared spell. The closer they got to success, the more cautious they needed to be. Every wizard should understand that one slip could ruin everything.

    A soft pink light emanated from Freya''s hands, turning into mist and drifting towards the iridescent glow ahead.Leoric watched intently for any changes, but he didn''t detect any anomalies.

    No traps were found.

    Freya commanded the golem to advance cautiously. The trap-detecting magic wasn''t foolproof; cleverly set traps could evade detection. Having the golem lead the way served as a sacrifice and shield.

    At the end of the passage was a narrow room, empty except for a square stone pedestal from which the iridescent glow emanated.

    Freya was about to go and retrieve the ring whenLeoric stopped her.

    "Forward,"Leoric commanded the golem.

    Obeying, the golem took heavy steps, thundering loudly as it moved. It took one step, then another, but just as it prepared to take a third, the air ahead suddenly distorted and rippled.

    Out of the empty air, a black oval-shaped hole abruptly opened. A tall humanoid figure emerged with heavy steps from the elliptical darkness.

    The first thing that caught their eye was a huge bull''s head, adorned with a pair of proud, curved black horns on either side. White steam occasionally shot out of its large nostrils. Its mouth was open, revealing two rows of sharp teeth, with slimy saliva hanging from the corners, some already turned into white foam. Its body was covered with reddish-brown hair, and its muscles bulged. It gripped a massive double-sided battle-axe, its blade gleaming coldly, sharp enough to chop off any creature''s head with one swing. It wore no armor, just a dark yellow leather belt around its waist.

    Its upper torso barely resembled a human''s, though excessively muscular, while its lower half was entirely bovine legs adorned with two golden ankle rings. Below the rings were hard hooves, split like dark iron blocks.

    It was a minotaur.

    The professors had said they might encounter goblins, skeleton archers, zombies, and minotaurs in the maze. Now it seemed that statement needed revising. Goblins, skeleton archers, and zombies were "possible" encounters, but minotaurs were a "certainty."

    This minotaur was clearly stationed here to guard the iridescent ring. Whoever wanted to take the ring would have to face this minotaur first.

    With a roar that shook the entire room, the minotaur, captured somewhere and imprisoned here for a long time, had been triggered by the preset magic upon someone''s approach. The freed minotaur showed no intention of thanking its liberators; it obviously viewedLeoric and Freya as accomplices of the enemies who had captured it.

    Actually, that wasn''t wrong. It must have been wizards from Spiritshade City who captured it, andLeoric and Freya did, in fact, look similar¡ªdressed almost identically in black wizard robes. Not to mention the minotaur seemed to understand no human language; even if it did, it probably wouldn''t listen to explanations.

    So... there was only one option left.

    "Kill it,"Leoric gave the clay golem a straightforward and clear command.

 Chapter 35: The Unexpected

    The clay golem rushed forward, raising its fist to crush the minotaur, but the latter was clearly quicker. The enormous double-sided battle axe swung through the air, tracing a chilling arc before landing with a heavy thud on the golem''s head.

    If it were any other creature, such a powerful strike would most likely split its skull in two, killing it instantly. But the clay golem was different; it was merely a puppet, devoid of life.

    The battle axe sank deep into the golem''s head, making a dull thud as if cleaving through solid clay. The minotaur felt no cruel satisfaction of bones snapping and flesh splattering, which only fueled its rage further. With a mighty pull, it withdrew the axe, ready to strike again.

    The clay golem moved slowly, its right fist, raised for attack, happening to block the path of the minotaur''s axe. With a lagged sound, the golem''s massive fist was cleanly severed at the wrist and fell to the ground.

    "Roar!"

    "Woof!"

    The roars of the minotaur and the golem mingled together. The golem, devoid of life and sensation, wouldn''t feel pain from its injury. But that didn''t mean it was a heap of clay to be bullied. When created, the clay golem was programmed to enter a frenzy state upon sustaining such heavy damage.

    "Woof! Woof-woof-woof!"

    From its perpetually closed, ugly mud mouth, a muffled growl emerged. The golem''s previously sluggish movements suddenly doubled in speed. Its remaining left fist pounded heavily into the minotaur''s face.

    The minotaur, never expecting the clumsy golem to suddenly become so swift, had no time to dodge. "Crack!" The sound of bones breaking was followed by the minotaur being knocked backward, its face seemingly distorted.

    "Spit!"

    Not a sign of disdain, but to expel the blood and teeth from its mouth, the minotaur regained its composure and prepared to counterattack. But it saw the golem charging at it like a madman, moving fiercely yet without any skill.

    This minotaur was a seasoned warrior with extensive combat experience. Seeing the golem charge, it sneered and sidestepped, raising its double-sided axe to slash diagonally at the golem''s shoulder.

    The axe was both massive and incredibly sharp. If it hit, it would surely sever the golem''s arm. Though the golem was lifeless and insensitive, it still had a humanoid form. With one arm already lost, another chopped off would render it harmless.

    Timing was perfect, yet the minotaur failed to land the blow. Its body seemed suddenly burdened by an invisible weight, slowing its movements. Before the axe could descend, the golem was already upon it, crashing into the minotaur and bringing it to the ground.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    This was no accident; the minotaur had been hit by a spell.

    Leoric hadn''t been watching from the sidelines. At the most opportune moment, he unleashed his last powerful spell. A master of the Transformation school, he excelled at altering the states of things, including the ability to suddenly slow a person''s movements.

    The golem was no longer underLeoric''s control, punching and headbutting whatever was closest to it¡ªin this case, the minotaur. They fought, rolling on the ground, with the minotaur clearly struggling. Its double-sided axe had been dislodged in the melee.

    Fortunately, they were gradually moving away from the platform where the iridescent ring lay.

    Leoric handed his staff to Freya and was about to seize the opportunity to grab the ring. But the minotaur roared, its muscles bulging, its already impressive upper torso swelling even more. With a sweep of its arms, it lifted the golem by the waist.

    Its eyes turned bloodshot, its mouth gaping open, revealing a fleshy tongue as it panted heavily. The golem, suspended in the air, struggled awkwardly, but its arms were too short to reach the minotaur. "Roar!" The minotaur roared again, using all its strength to slam the golem away.

    Leoric was quickly approaching to grab the ring, but suddenly felt a gust of wind. "Watch out!" Freya screamed from behind. As a third-year student, she could only watch from the sidelines, unable to assist much.

    At the last possible moment,Leoric dove to the side, rolling as his back thudded against the wall. Before he could curse, he heard a loud thud, feeling the entire ground tremble as the clay golem was heavily slammed to the earth by the minotaur.

    Before the golem could rise, the minotaur picked up its axe and charged, resembling a Spanish bull seeing a red cloth¡ªwhich it somewhat did. It roared and swung the axe repeatedly. The clumsy golem, once knocked down, struggled to rise and couldn''t defend itself. In the blink of an eye, it was chopped into fragments of clay.

    Dammit, this golem was definitely substandard.

    Leoric cursed in his mind as he watched the murderous minotaur dispatch the golem with a few axe swings, then turn to face him.Leoric felt panicky. In the maze, he had used up most of his prepared spells. Without the golem and facing a frenzied minotaur, fighting was akin to suicide.

    But did he have any other choice?

    The minotaur panted heavily, advancing towardsLeoric.Leoric retreated, gesturing to Freya on the side. The girl nodded and crept forward a few steps. She wasn''t planning to sneak attack the minotaur; she was going for the ring.

    As long asLeoric could get the ring, they could win. Defeating the minotaur wasn''t necessary.

    The minotaur didn''t notice Freya behind it. It looked down on the skinny human in front of it, weighing the axe in its hand, as if calculating how much force it needed to splitLeoric in two.

    Freya had reached the ring, but at the same time,Leoric was cornered by the minotaur.

    With a whoosh, the massive axe sliced through the air.

    At the same instant,Leoric whispered a single word. On his left index finger was a ring, a magical item issued by the school that could store a low-level spell.

    Leoric had stored a Flash spell.

    A blinding white light erupted, causing the minotaur to instinctively close its eyes, slowing its axe''s descent.Leoric seized the opportunity, diving to the side and rolling out from under the minotaur''s feet.

    Years ago, he trained martial arts under Tian Boguang, failing to master swordsmanship and only achieving mediocre "fist and foot skills". After entering the wizard school, he hadn''t practiced anymore, letting it all fade. Except for his lightness skills, which he had honed to perfection, like this rolling escape maneuver.

    Freya reached for the ring, andLeoric hastily got up. "Give it to me!" he said, but the little girl stood frozen.

    Leoric was puzzled. "Give it to me!" he urged, rushing forward.

    Freya shook her head slowly, retreated, and handed the ring to someone.

    Someone who suddenly appeared from the air.

    Kuken.

 Chapter 36: Give Me a Reason

    Since parting at the entrance, Kuken seemed to have vanished into thin air.Leoric and Freya wandered through the maze for so long, encountering the battle remnants of two other contestants and their golems. Kuken, however, remained elusive, as if he had disappeared completely.

    But he emerged at the eleventh hour, casually dispelling the invisibility spell on him and stepping out of the air. He took the iridescent ring from Freya''s hand but didn''t immediately put it on his finger.

    Leoric was stunned. He had never anticipated such a twist. He had considered the possibility that Kuken might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for him and the Minotaur to weaken each other. He had also pondered whether Kuken had encountered a powerful monster and been sent back to Spiritshade City. He had even envisioned Kuken suddenly appearing to snatch the ring.

    But he had never imagined that Freya would hand the ring over to Kuken.

    The Minotaur''s roar echoed from behind. The monster had recovered from the blinding light''s shock. It noticed the new presence in the room but didn''t give it much thought.

    Minotaurs weren''t intelligent beings. Most of the time, their thoughts were incredibly simple.

    Since there was another person, it would just swing its axe once more.

    Leoric stood frozen, unaware of the danger lurking behind him. As the Minotaur''s axe was about to sever his neck, Kuken nonchalantly raised his hand, holding up the ring, and uttered a single word.

    A beam of iridescent light shot out from the ring, hitting the Minotaur''s forehead dead center and instantly piercing through its massive head. The Minotaur''s enormous body swayed and fell backward with a thud.

    Kuken didn''t glance atLeoric; his expression was indifferent, devoid of any triumph. As if reluctantly, he slowly put the ring on his left index finger, and with a ripple in the air, his figure disappeared instantly.

    A silver portal sliced through the air, and two robed wizards stepped out. They placed their hands onLeoric and Freya''s shoulders and recited a spell. In the blink of an eye, they were back in the wizard school of Spiritshade City.

    The exam was over. Kuken emerged victorious, winning the iridescent ring and earning a spot in the Arcanist School. Ubahn and Fiji, the unlucky duo who had encountered each other first, engaged in a chaotic battle that left them both weakened. Even after receiving clerical treatment, they remained feeble and listless.

    Leoric, despite his ultimate defeat, was awarded second place due to his prolonged resistance. Throughout the process, he remained silent, saying nothing.

    He couldn''t understand why Freya had betrayed him.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Freya liked him; he was sure of it.Leoric wasn''t narcissistic enough to believe that every woman in the world was in love with him, but after half a year of spending time together, he trusted his judgment¡ªFreya was a simple girl with no deep schemes or complicated thoughts. She liked him, and he knew it wasn''t something she could fake.

    So, why? If betraying him wasn''t Freya''s will, was it her father''s idea?

    Mr. Monica, Freya''s father, had shown great interest inLeoric''s performance. IfLeoric had successfully secured first place and entered the Arcanist School, with Freya''s connection, the Monica family would benefit ifLeoric achieved something remarkable in the future. It was a straightforward matter.

    "Leoric¡­"

    Freya softly called out toLeoric, her eyes filled with fear, shame, and helplessness.Leoric silently looked at her, his face devoid of anger.

    In life, one must be able to play the game and accept defeat gracefully. Blades and bullets are unpredictable; one must accept defeat when gambling. Before the outcome is determined, one must strive with all one''s might; but once defeated, once the result is set, whether it''s a look of sorrow, anger, or reluctance, none of it will alter the facts. So why not maintain one''s dignity and leave some room for each other? Why ruin the last bits of fond memories with frustration?

    Leoric didn''t want to do anything meaningless.

    "A reason," he said, looking at Freya, "give me a reason."

    Freya lowered her head.

    "You know my personality; I prefer straightforwardness,"Leoric said, lifting his face to gaze at the azure sky, trying to avoid looking at her, "was it your father''s idea?"

    "Uh-huh," Freya whispered.

    "The reason?"

    Freya hesitated, "Fulia," she finally murmured, "Father plans to arrange a marriage between the Kuken family and ours, marrying Fulia to Kuken¡­"

    "I see."

    Leoric nodded slightly, "Goodbye."

    Since the matter was made clear, there was no need for further discussion. Perhaps Freya''s approach to him had been a conspiracy from the start. The Monica family wanted to ensure Kuken''s victory by any means necessary. Perhaps Freya was unaware of the plan until the last moment; perhaps she genuinely likedLeoric but had to obey her father''s authority; perhaps she liked him but wasn''t as attached asLeoric thought. Any of these could be possible, yet none seemed entirely right.

    But did it matter now?

    Leoric wasn''t interested in digging deeper to uncover the details. The matter was over.

    It was all over.

    Strangely, he didn''t feel much heartache. Shouldn''t one feel pain when betrayed by a loved one? Or had he never truly considered Freya his lover in his heart?

    Freya was beautiful, andLeoric naturally liked pretty girls; they had a lot of fun together¡­ But now, when he reflected on it, everything seemed too smooth, too uneventful.

    Perhaps, love that hasn''t been tested can''t be considered genuine.

    A smile can erase all grievances; this is the magnanimity of great men.Leoric couldn''t be so detached. Fuming with anger and shouting curses would only resemble the desperate barking of a homeless dog, whichLeoric despised. He could only choose to walk away.

    "Goodbye, Miss Monica,"Leoric bowed slightly, addressing her formally instead of using her nickname, "I must say, I''m glad to have met you and spent these pleasant six months with you. Now, I should leave. I wish you¡­ I wish you happiness."

    Yes, wish you happiness.

    Leoric turned and walked out of the school quickly, ignoring Freya''s calls behind him. The exam was over, and the fifth-year graduates who passed walked out of the campus, transitioning from students to official wizards.

    Freya chased after him, butLeoric walked faster and faster until he was out of the school gates. Freya, still a student, couldn''t follow him beyond the gates; the guards stopped her. The little girl called out, butLeoric didn''t turn back; his figure gradually faded away.

    Although they were still in Spiritshade City, they would probably become strangers forever, never to meet again.

 Chapter 37: Elder Sisters Dream

    Returning home, it was already dusk. The blood-red sunset hung low in the sky, castingLeoric''s shadow long on the ground. The streets were somewhat deserted; tomorrow was Greengrass Festival, and everyone must be at home preparing for the celebrations.

    Leovena waited for him at the doorway.

    Today, instead of her usual shirt and pants, she wore a pink dress and her favorite bear-themed sandals. Her long hair was held up with a blue butterfly hairpin, revealing a spider-shaped earring on her right earlobe¡ªa giftLeoric had given her last time.

    Their family was never wealthy, and withLeoric attending the Wizardry School and taking all their savings, Leovena, a young girl, had to maintain the household alone. Although Spiritshade City was a place with a high material standard and good welfare benefits, the hardships were evident. Their financial situation was far from satisfactory.

    Now fifteen, at the age where girls love to look pretty, Leovena had almost never bought herself any new clothes or accessories. Most of what she wore were her mother''s old clothes, as Leovena and her mother were similarly sized. This pink dress was the only new piece of clothing she had, bought insistently byLeoric last time.

    Leaning against the doorway, she looked atLeoric and smiled, like a wife waiting for her husband to return from work.

    "Elder sister,"Leoric said softly.

    "You''re back," Leovena smiled, looking very happy, and pulled him into the house.

    The graduation exam from the Wizardry School was a big deal, and the news had spread throughout Spiritshade City. Leovena had already known the results.Leoric had mentioned to Leovena before that he wanted to get the first place in the graduation exam and enter the Arcanist School. However, Leovena didn''t seem disappointed at all; perhaps,Leoric graduating as the second-best was already beyond her initial expectations.

    Among the graduates, the top one went to the Arcanist School for further studies; among the rest, those with excellent grades joined the government, while those with slightly lower grades were recruited into the military. This was the rule of the Wizardry School in Spiritshade City for years. Spiritshade City valued strength and wouldn''t waste elite talent. Tomorrow was Greengrass Festival, a city-wide celebration, and there would probably be nothing much to do. After tomorrow, government officials would likely visitLeoric to inform him of his assignment.

    From now on,Leoric and Leovena, no, the Lannisters, could also join the aristocracy, enjoy various privileges, and become part of the upper class, no longer just two small merchants.

    It must be said that even in Spiritshade City''s two-thousand-year history, such precedents were rare. High tuition fees, strict elimination standards, and the weakness ofcommoner''s child in family traditions and basic education combined to make it difficult forcommoner''s child to succeed through this path.

    Yet,Leoric was not satisfied.

    In the past,Leoric''s dreams were not particularly ambitious; he just wanted to become a wizard, gain power and status, return to the Material Realm, and not be imprisoned in Spiritshade City for his entire life¡ªeventually accompanied by many beautiful women. Now he was an official wizard with good grades, and Spiritshade City had returned to the Material Realm. Unless something unexpected happened, achieving these wishes would not be difficult.

    But five years of study at the Wizardry School had broadened his horizons and deepened his understanding of the world and magic, no longer the newly arrived traveler he once was. Human desires always grow silently.

    When reading martial arts novels before, like "Legends of the Condor Heroes" by Jin Yong, there was a particular scene he remembered vividly. Guo Jing went to Peach Blossom Island and met Zhou Botong, who said that practicing martial arts was the greatest joy in the world, full of endless delight. People were foolish, some loving to read and become officials, some loving gold and jade, and some loving beautiful women, but how could the joy of these compare to even a fraction of practicing martial arts? Therefore, all those who practiced martial arts, whenever they had the chance to learn deeper skills, would eagerly seek them out and compete desperately.

    When he read this scene before, he didn''t quite agree. He thought practicing martial arts was indeed fun but couldn''t compare to money and beautiful women. However, now, although he wasn''t proficient in martial arts, he had glimpsed the door to magical skills and found them truly mysterious and endless as he learned more.

    "If I could enter the Arcanist School... how wonderful that would be."

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Although he knew the fact was unchangeable, he couldn''t help but sigh in his heart.

    Leovena noticed his low spirits and didn''t say much, just accompanied him. "Oh, by the way," Leovena said, suddenly remembering, "I almost forgot. Before you came back, an official came and said that the day after tomorrow morning, they will help us move to the Diamond District, so we should pack up in advance."

    The Diamond District was the aristocratic residential area in Spiritshade City. Now thatLeoric was an official wizard, his social status had risen sharply, and it was no longer suitable for him to live in this civilian area. It had to be said that the efficiency of the Spiritshade City government was high; the notification had arrived beforeLeoric even returned home.

    "Hmm,"Leoric responded somewhat absentmindedly.

    At night, asLeoric was preparing to go to his own bed, Leovena suddenly said, "Leoric."

    "Yeah?"

    "Can you sleep with me tonight?" his sister asked, "I feel cold alone."

    In the past,Leoric would have eagerly agreed, but today, with his low spirits, he couldn''t muster much enthusiasm. However, since Leovena had asked, he couldn''t refuse. He nodded, took off his pajamas, and got into bed.

    Leovena was wearing pajamas, and it was unfortunately the time of the month for girls.Leoric didn''t intend to take off her pajamas, just hugging her from behind, her back against his chest, her head resting on his arm. It had been a long time since he had hugged his sister like this; it had been five years. Her skin was still as smooth as silk, emitting a faint milky scent, but... she had indeed grown up.

    The body in his arms was fully mature. His hands moved gently, feeling the curves beneath, and just hugging her gave him a warm and satisfying feeling.

    For most of the past six months, he had hugged Freya more often. Although she was also a beautiful woman, the feeling was entirely different. Freya was much smaller and particularly restless when sleeping, like a child. WhenLeoric was with her, he felt like a big brother; but with Leovena, he felt much more relaxed, like a child.

    Leovena took off her earring and carefully put it away beside the pillow.

    "Why don''t you wear it, elder sister?"Leoric asked curiously. The earring was a quasi-magical item he had crafted at school. Although it didn''t have much power, it could keep Leovena''s body warm at all times. Leovena had always had a slightly lower body temperature than average, and her skin was always cold, making it difficult for her to sleep warmly at night.

    "It''s nothing," she said with a smile, "If I wear it, I won''t feel your warmth."

    Leoric didn''t say anything, hugging Leovena tightly, so tightly that she felt somewhat breathless. But his sister didn''t speak, just silently enduring.

    "Sorry, elder sister,"Leoric whispered.

    "Why are you sorry?" Leovena smiled, turning over to face her younger brother, "You did well,Leoric, far exceeding my expectations. Father and Mother would definitely be proud of you."

    "You''re a proud person, always have been," his sister continued, "Although you may seem casual, you''re actually very arrogant. You don''t care about things you don''t like, no matter how well others do them; but if it''s something you love, something you value, you want to do it better than anyone else."

    Leoric didn''t speak, burying his face in Leovena''s chest.

    "At first, you wanted to be a wizard because you wanted to rise above the crowd, because we wanted to avenge our parents," Leovena gently strokedLeoric''s hair and whispered, "At that time, I didn''t sense how much you loved wizardry or magic. But later, it gradually became different,Leoric. Haven''t you noticed? When you came home at the end of each month, you started by talking about school events, but later, you increasingly talked about magic, sharing your insights, your progress, and your understanding. Every time you talked about these things, your eyes lit up, and you were full of energy. That vibrant, spirited look made me envy you... and even a bit jealous."

    "Elder sister¡­"

    "It''s nothing," Leovena smiled, "Seeing my younger brother so high-spirited, I''ll always feel a bit envy. To have something you truly love, something beautiful and interesting, to immerse yourself in it, is a very happy thing. Not everyone can have this happiness."

    "What about elder sister''s happiness£¿¡±

    Deep down, there''s always a faint thought lingering, but I''ve been avoiding it. I pursued my own dreams, entered the wizard school, took all my savings, and left my ten-year-old sister to live alone. What if... what if it was my sister, not me, who had become a wizard back then?

    Leovena is so smart; she would have excelled as a wizard too, right? Or maybe, a girl as outstanding as her would shine no matter what she does, given the chance.

    But because of me, she''s stuck being a small merchant, working every day, running the shop, doing these mundane chores day in and day out to make ends meet, waiting for her younger brother to come home at the end of each month.

    Did I steal my sister''s dream? Leovena, what do you really want?

    "I''m happy right now," Leovena whispered. "I know what you''re thinking,Leoric, but those thoughts don''t exist. I''m a simple girl who just wants a simple life. You and I are different. You have dreams, ambitions. You wouldn''t settle for being ordinary, living an unremarkable life. You''re destined to become a hero admired by all. But I''m different,Leoric. I''m content to be by your side, watching you in high spirits, seeing your radiance, watching you from afar on that tall stage, receiving applause from milLeorics. I''m content to wait for you at the door on sunset evenings when you come home."

    "That''s all I dream of."

    "Sister..."

    "If I could come in first, that would be great," Leovena said, "but it''s not the end of the world if I don''t. Things in this world never go exactly as we wish. As long as we''ve tried our best, we can face tomorrow with a smile."

    No regrets after putting in the effort; face failure with a smile. Tomorrow is a new beginning.

    "Mm-hmm,"Leoric murmured half-asleep.

    Though Leovena''s words seemed oddly... unlike something a sister would say to her brother. ButLeoric didn''t notice any of that. His face buried deep in Leovena''s chest, enveloped by her warm, sweet scent, sleepiness gradually overtook him.

    "Sleep tight, dear."

    "Mhm."

 Chapter 38: The Errand Runner

    The next day was the Grass Festival, a celebration that brought the entire city out of their homes.Leoric headed back to the school first to attend his graduation ceremony.

    The exams were over, and the graduation ceremony was merely a formality¡ªno cap and gown photos like on Earth. But the typically efficient Spiritshade City showed a rare case of bureaucratic slowness, with speeches from the principal and professors seemingly going on forever. For a moment,Leoric had the illusion that he had been transported back to Earth.

    The students listened impatiently but dared not leave early.Leoric lost himself in his thoughts.

    As Leovena had said, the exams were past and should not be dwelled upon. What truly mattered now was the future.

    So, what would life be like in the future?

    Traditionally, government officials would knock on his door the next morning, handing him an appointment letter to report to a certain department¡ªthus becoming a civil servant of Spiritshade City. The thought filledLeoric with an extreme sense of absurdity. His least favorite profession in his previous life was being a civil servant, and now, ironically, he had to become one.

    Leoric had graduated from the wizard school and was now an official wizard¡ªmeaning he had gained a certain status, rank, privileges, but also special obligations.

    He had no right to refuse serving the government, only the obligation to obey.

    That was the annoying thing about Spiritshade City; there were few options to choose from. Rather than become a civil servant, was he supposed to join the military? Forget it,Leoric didn''t consider himself a good soldier either.

    Tomorrow morning, he would become a civil servant and move to the aristocratic residential area. It felt like severing ties with his past life and starting anew.

    He felt a bit uneasy about it.

    The graduation ceremony finally ended, approaching noon. Everyone was hungry and rushed out of the school to celebrate the Grass Festival with their families.

    Leoric wandered aimlessly at the back. In a trance, he took the wrong path and wandered into the school park instead of heading for the main gate. He snapped out of it when someone greeted him.

    "Good morning, Mr. Lannister."

    Leoric looked up and saw a young man sitting atop a human sculpture ahead. Dressed in a gray wizard robe with a gray cloak draped over it, his hands casually resting on his knees, he looked relaxed and smiled atLeoric.

    He was an exceptionally beautiful teenager, almost effeminate. Sitting down, it was hard to tell his exact height, but he was at least as tall asLeoric, though much slimmer. Something odd was that Spiritshade City residents, due to their long stay in the Shadow Realm, mostly had black or dark gray hair and eyes, with very pale skin. This teenager had short black hair and bright eyes like shining stars in the night sky, but his skin had a faint gray hue beneath the paleness, making him seem perpetually shrouded in shadow even in midday sun, giving him an eerie aura.

    Yet his smile was like warm sunshine in winter, gentle, sincere, friendly, and playful, making people feel an instant connection.

    "Hello,"Leoric replied, walking closer, "Do you know me?"

    "Of course," the teenager smiled, revealing a set of white, even teeth, "Leoric Lannister, fifteen years old, second place in the graduation exams, right?"

    "That''s me. And you are¡­?"Leoric nodded, guessing the teenager''s identity. By appearance, he was around the same age asLeoric, around fifteen or sixteen, so he must be a student at the wizard school too? But the school-issued wizard robes were all black, while he wore gray.

    "Brennus," the teenager introduced himself, "Brennus Tanshull."

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The name Brennus was nothing special, but the surname startledLeoric.

    The Tanshull family? The ruler of Spiritshade City was named Tarramant Tanshull. Was this teenager¡­?

    Brennus smiled and parted his cloak, revealing an emblem embroidered on the chest of his gray wizard robe: three peaks outlined in black on a red background, with a shining silver sphere atop them.

    Leoric recognized the emblem and thus knew the identity of the teenager before him: Brennus Tanshull, the youngest son of the ruler of Spiritshade City and one of the Twelve Shades.

    Few people in Spiritshade City didn''t know this emblem.Leoric had known for a long time that Brennus Tanshull, the youngest of the Twelve Shades, was the head of the law department in the city government. Most notices issued in Spiritshade City bore the emblem of the three peaks and silver moon at the bottom.

    But the thing was, all twelve Shades were born before the fall of the Netheril Empire¡ªmeaning even the youngest, Brennus, must be over seventeen hundred years old. Yet the one standing before him was a youthful teenager, greatly surprisingLeoric.

    Odd, this was a fantastical world, but there had never been any tales of elixirs of immortality¡­

    Just whenLeoric was suspecting that the teenager was impersonating someone and playing a joke on him, Brennus took out a parchment from his chest and handed it toLeoric.

    Leoric took it, puzzled, and saw it was an appointment letter. It stated simply thatLeoric Lannister, due to his excellent performance, was appointed as a "Special Envoy" by the Spiritshade City government and was to report immediately to Brennus Tanshull, the head of the "Archaeological Studio."

    Archaeological Studio?

    Leoric had lived in Spiritshade City for fifteen years and had never heard of this department. Spiritshade City had been in the Shadow Realm, a place filled with monsters. What was there to archaeologize? Was it newly established? Also, wasn''t Brennus the head of the law department?

    Lastly, what was this "Special Envoy" job about?

    The entire appointment letter seemed odd and unclear, highly suspicious, but the black dragon-Leoric seal at the bottom (the mark of the ruler of Spiritshade City) proved it was issued personally by the ruler and couldn''t be fake.

    Nobody in Spiritshade City dared impersonate the ruler and issue orders unless they were suicidal.

    So, this guy who looked like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old was indeed Brennus Tanshull.

    Leoric couldn''t help but feel nervous.

    "Just a part-time gig," Brennus said casually, noticingLeoric''s confusion. "You know, administrative work is demanding, and we''re understaffed. Everyone has to take on a few extra roles. I''ve always been interested in archaeology, so I took this one."

    But what were you archaeologizing¡­?Leoric suddenly remembered that Spiritshade City was a remnant of the Netheril Empire, and the vast desert beneath the city was the former imperial site¡­ Wasn''t he askingLeoric to follow him to dig up graves and tombs in the desert?

    "So, what will my job be¡­?"Leoric asked tentatively.

    Brennus didn''t answer. He looked up at the sky where the sun was shifting imperceptibly but surely, soon to reach its zenith.

    "Wait a moment," Brennus said.

    Only when the sun was directly above did Brennus look down and handLeoric a sealed letter. "We''ve encountered a problem in our archaeological work recently and need to consult an old wizard¡ªbut he lives too far away. So, we need someone to deliver this letter."

    Great, so it was just to run an errand.

    ButLeoric didn''t mind. He was already prepared for the worst, like digging up graves, so delivering a letter was nothing. Plus, it allowed him to leave Spiritshade City and explore the outside world, which suited him perfectly.

    "All my guys kept making excuses," Brennus grumbled, sounding unlike his image, "So, I flipped through the list and saw Desude had assigned you to me. So¡­" He smiled brightly and shrugged, "Will you help me out?"

    As his subordinate,Leoric had no choice but to obey when Brennus, his boss, personally came to him with a request. "It''s my honor,"Leoric said, bowing deeply.

    Though it was unpleasant to be deferential to someone who looked his age, it didn''t matter much knowing he was actually over a thousand years old. But did he need to personally explain this toLeoric? Or was this just how the prince liked it?

    "Where do I need to deliver this letter?"Leoric asked. Since it was an errand, he needed to know the destination.

    "That''s the tricky part," Brennus spread his hands, "I''m not sure where the old wizard lives, but fortunately, it''s definitely somewhere around Baldur''s Gate. Here''s the map."

    A detailed map was handed toLeoric, not only showing the route from Spiritshade City to Baldur''s Gate but also marking almost all important locations on the Faer?n continent, precise and thorough, clearly a lot of effort had been put into it.

    "When should I leave?"

    "Now," Brennus smiled, "Camels, water, food, and everything else have been prepared for you at the city gate. Please arrive within fifteen minutes¡ªoh, it''s only thirteen minutes now. And here are a few little gifts for you; they might come in handy on the road."

    He reached into his chest and pulled out a tiny blue pouch, handing it toLeoric. He then jumped down from the sculpture, patted his robe, and turned to leave.

    "Oh,Leoric," Brenas suddenly turned around after taking a few steps, "I almost forgot to tell you the old wizard''s name."

    Leoric hadn''t even thought to ask; everything had happened so suddenly that he hadn''t fully processed it yet.

    "His name is... hmm, what was it again?" Brenas tapped his head. "I can''t quite remember... ah, yes, I''ve got it. Lavoc."

    "Lavoc," he looked atLeoric and nodded slightly. "His name is Lavoc."

 Chapter 39: Life is Like a Chess Game

    Leoric had no idea who Lavoc was and didn''t feel like caring at the moment. Suddenly, he had bumped into a Prince of Shades on campus, who was also his superior; suddenly, he had become a civil servant and was being dispatched on a mission to deliver a letter ¨C and he had to leave immediately.

    "I need to say goodbye to my sister!" he protested.

    "You don''t need to," said the officer escorting him out of Spiritshade City, expressionless. "We''ll notify Miss Lannister."

    "Today is Greengrass Festival, I have the right to rest!"

    "Indeed, continuing to serve the Empire on a rest day, your diligence and dedication are admirable."

    "I haven''t signed a labor contract yet! I don''t even know how much I''ll be paid!"

    The officer looked atLeoric like he was a monster, or more likely, he simply didn''t understand what he was saying.

    "At least I need to pack some change of clothes¡­"Leoric insisted weakly.

    "They''re already prepared for you, Mr. Lannister, in that yellow package," said the officer. "Alright, please stand steady, we''re landing."

    Several packages loaded with food, water, clothes, and other supplies were carried down by an airship. The officer handed the camel''s reins toLeoric, saluted, and walked back to the airship.

    "Safe journey, Mr. Lannister."

    The airship ascended and flew back to Spiritshade City floating in the sky, leavingLeoric standing alone in the desert. Although it was still early spring, it was already hot in the desert at noon. His boots protected his feet from the heat, but sweat was already pouring down his face.

    Is¡­ is this it?

    This morning, he was still having a pure breakfast with his sister¡­ Well, he had secretly imagined finding a suitable opportunity to ''consume'' Leovena; twenty minutes ago, he was still wandering around the wizard school in Spiritshade City, feeling lost and headache-y about his future monotonous life; now he was standing in the hot desert, looking at the floating city in the sky, like a majestic aerial fortress casting a huge shadow on the ground.

    He had always hoped to leave Spiritshade City and explore the outside world freely, but this was too sudden and too fast, without any psychological preparation.

    So, what''s next?

    Leoric could fly, and he had prepared for it this morning, wearing a robe and carrying spellcasting materials in his pockets ¨C meaning that even though Spiritshade City floated high in the sky, it wouldn''t be difficult forLeoric to fly up if he wanted to.

    But what would happen if he flew up? Most likely, he would be shot down as an enemy. Prince of Shades Brenas Tanshul had personally assigned this task, and if he dared to return without completing it, he would be either shot dead by the giant crossbows on the city walls or punished for dereliction of duty.

    Forget it, since he couldn''t go back, he might as well complete this trip and return early. Honestly, he didn''t mind the other things; everyone has to work, earn money, and eat. Being a civil servant and running errands were fine with him ¨C but leaving Leovena alone in Spiritshade City madeLeoric uneasy. When she was younger, it was fine, but now that she was fifteen, in the bloom of youth, if some malicious wolf took advantage of his absence¡­ Even if he came back and chopped the guy into pieces, it wouldn''t ease his hatred.

    Get there early, come back early.

    With this decision made,Leoric quickly pulled out the map that Brenas had given him, studied the route carefully, judged the direction, and climbed onto the camel to start his shaky journey north.

    In a room in the palace of Spiritshade City, Brenas leisurely sipped crimson wine while watchingLeoric''s figure fade away into the yellow sand in the crystal ball held in his palm.

    "Well done, Fangado," praised the young Prince of Shades, "sorry for the inconvenience."

    "For the Empire," replied Fangado, a middle-aged man standing behind the prince, bowing slightly with reverence. He wore a finely crafted, very antique black wizard robe embroidered with the emblem of a long-beaked kingfisher on the chest. His skin was also pale, with a faint gray hue.

    For the Empire, sacrificing a few people, even one''s own bloodline descendants, wouldn''t bother Fangado, who was loyal and devoted.

    "Just¡­" He hesitated, as if unsure whether to voice his opinion, "Teacher, the Kukens have fully aligned with the Temple. Isn''t this time¡­"

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    "Some sacrifices must be made," Brenas smiled dismissively, "the greater the cost, the greater the risk, and the greater the reward."

    Fangado understood this principle, but what he really wanted to say was the next sentence.

    "But, Teacher, do you really think he''s the best candidate? In my opinion, he''s probably not even as good as Fiji, let alone the Kukens¡­"

    "He''s certainly not the best candidate," said Prince Brenas, "he''s the least bad."

    "Huh?" Fangado obviously didn''t understand Brenas'' meaning.

    "There''s never the best in this world, but there is the least bad," Brenas curled his fingers and lightly tapped the crystal ball, producing a crisp sound, "to some extent, he''s just an ordinary person ¨C if we talk about talent, there are hundreds of people in the city with similar abilities. But in terms of a certain point¡­ Fangado, believe me, he''s a natural grand arcanist, which is very rare."

    "I think," said the prince, looking at the crystal ball with an innocent smile, "I can foresee his fate."

    "Fate?" Fangado was startled, "Teacher, fate is the most mysterious thing in the world, even the gods cannot foresee it¡­"

    "Look, look," Brenas smiled, "that''s the crucial difference between you and him."

    "What do you mean?" Fangado didn''t quite understand Brenas'' meaning.

    "Fate is the most complex and unpredictable thing, but it''s also the simplest," Brenas leaned back in his wide, soft chair, looking up at the dark ceiling, "the gods possess too much power, causing them to overlook the simplest facts. Only mortals can truly understand mortals, Fangado, remember that."

    "Yes, but Sir Rivalan should have also noticed him. I''m worried¡­"

    "Rivalan the Archpriest?" Brenas sneered, "don''t worry, he''s too¡­ well, to some extent, he''s too kind."

    Fangado''s face showed a strange expression. Rivalan Tanshul, the leader of the Twelve Princes of Shades and the supreme representative of the Night Goddess Shar in Spiritshade City, being described as "too kind" was the biggest joke in the world.

    But looking at Brenas'' expression, he obviously wasn''t joking but seriously stating a fact. Fangado didn''t dare to ask further; he knew that Brenas and his eldest brother had always been at odds, and he didn''t want to get involved in royal intrigue.

    He served only the Empire.

    "But, Teacher, if we can''t deceive Sir Rivalan, what''s the meaning of all this trouble? I don''t understand¡­"

    "Deceive Rivalan?" The young prince asked back, his eyebrows slightly raised, "Fangado, is that what you think? Do you think it''s possible?"

    "It''s indeed difficult," Fangado admitted, "but if we could do it more cleverly¡­"

    Brenas shook his head.

    "Wrong, Fangado," he said, pointing at his student, "tell me, if you have a huge plan and you don''t want it to be interrupted by others, what do you think is the most crucial thing?"

    "Confidentiality," Fangado immediately replied, "using informational superiority to strike at opponents and complete the plan."

    "No, no," Brenas shook his head repeatedly, "that''s an inferior approach, Fangado. Step out of your professional limitations and don''t always see things through the eyes of a seer. We are all seers, but we are also wizards¡­ Alright, Fangado, let me give you an example. You don''t like playing chess, but you''ve at least seen me play, right?"

    "Yes," Fangado replied. He didn''t like playing chess himself, but Prince Brenas loved it very much, and as a student, he naturally saw it often.

    "When playing chess, all your pieces are clearly visible to your opponent, and all your moves are clear to them," said Prince Brenas, "but skilled players always defeat their opponents, Fangado. Why is that?"

    "Don''t delude yourself into thinking your plan is flawless and unknown to anyone," the prince continued. "That''s a pipe dream, impossible unless your opponent is a fool¡ªbut do fools deserve your attention?" He looked at Vangardo and nodded. "We are the chess players, not relying on deception or praying daily that our opponents won''t see our flaws, hoping for success based on their stupidity¡ªno, that''s a fundamentally flawed mindset, Vangardo. What we need to do is ensure that even when our opponent knows everything, they can only surrender in the end."

    "Of course, reality differs from playing chess in some ways," the prince said, rarely in the mood to instruct his student. Vangardo dared not interrupt and let him ramble on. "When it comes to minor details, it''s okay to use a bit of cunning¡ªbut only for details. To think your opponent won''t see through your intentions at all is an insult to both your intelligences."

    "You''re overly confident in your wisdom," Vangardo wanted to say but kept it to himself. The opponent was Prince Brennus, his teacher, and Vangardo wouldn''t dare to offend him.

    Yet he felt the need to offer a reminder.

    "But reality is still different from chess," Vangardo ventured. "In chess, both sides have equal strength, which isn''t the case in reality. And the pieces on the chessboard are lifeless, obeying the player''s commands completely; the pieces in reality are alive... They''re not real pieces, they, uh, teacher, pose risks."

    Prince Brennus applauded lightly.

    "Absolutely," he said. "Vangardo, you''re absolutely right. Life is like a game of chess, yet it differs. In chess, full exposure is necessary, while in reality, you can manipulate details¡ªthis is an advantage; in chess, strengths are equal, but in reality, they''re not¡ªthis is our disadvantage. These two can cancel each other out, so..."

    "So?" Vangardo asked, puzzled.

    "So, there''s a third difference," the prince nodded slightly to his student. "As you mentioned, the pieces on the chessboard are lifeless, while the pieces in reality are alive."

    "Is this our advantage?"

    "No, it''s neither an advantage nor a disadvantage; it''s a variable," said the prince. "Because of this variable, everything becomes interesting."

    Interesting?

    Vangardo smiled bitterly. Often, he struggled to understand his teacher''s thoughts, but he wisely changed the subject. "So, teacher, what should we do next?"

    "Us?" The youngest Prince Brennus glanced at the map hanging on the wall, scanning it. "Malegant is still in Iverasca, let them handle the fighting. We stay out of it. We, of course, continue with our archaeological endeavors... Have they finished digging at Lith Plain?"

    "Finished," Vangardo frowned. "It''s strange; we''ve turned almost the entire desert upside down and found nothing, a complete waste of effort."

    "Indeed," Brennus sighed. "Odd, considering all divinations pointed there... Never mind, let''s move on. Let me take a closer look at the map."