Chapter 15: More Tricks and a Question of the Soul

Many people spend their entire lives without ever coming into contact with advanced magic.

Some are willing to commit the most heinous acts, even betraying loved ones, just to learn it, losing all sense of humanity in the process.

Nicholas William understood these truths. He was also self-aware enough to know that he didn't have a close relationship with Dean Bruce, so being rejected was normal.

But he didn't want to be jilted; otherwise, as the only son of the Lord of Notting City, why would he humble himself like this?

"Dean, if you agree, I can give you a treasure!" Nicholas gritted his teeth and played his trump card. "It's a treasure not only capable of storing items in space but also of spatial teleportation. In addition, every month, I can offer you a hundred thousand gold coins as a token of my respect."

Hearing these benefits, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. [As expected of the city lord's son, offering triple the money Joan did! But what level is this treasure?]

Though thrilled inside and eagerly anticipating the treasure, Dean Bruce maintained a calm exterior. "Do you think such things can tempt me?"

Nicholas's breath caught, his face full of bitterness. Helpless, he replied, "I was naive. With your immense power, willing to teach advanced magic, how could you care about such mundane things as money?"

After a brief pause, Nicholas continued, "As for the treasure, it's one of the top treasures in our family. If it's not to your liking… Dean, tell me what you want. I'll do everything in my power to get it for you!"

Hearing Nicholas willing to offer so much, Dean Bruce furrowed his brow and shook his head, thinking to himself, [Sycophants are terrifying! I didn't expect to find them even in another world. I must never become like that!]

Seeing Dean Bruce shake his head, Nicholas thought his offer had failed to sway him, and despair started to set in.

Just as Nicholas was about to leave, Dean Bruce suddenly asked, "Is avoiding being jilted your only reason for wanting to learn advanced magic?"

Nicholas shook his head. "No, avoiding the breakup isn't my ultimate goal."

After a moment, Nicholas's expression grew serious. "This engagement was something my father worked hard to secure for me. That's why I don't want to be rejected. I don't want to see the disappointment on my father's face."

Hearing this, Dean Bruce was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Nicholas to be not a sycophant but a deeply filial son instead!

Dean Bruce's eyes gleamed with a hint of calculation as he spoke softly, "I don't usually teach magic to just anyone. But since you're so filial, I'll give you a chance. However, whether I accept you as a disciple will depend on your sincerity."

"Sincerity? Of course, I'm sincere!" Nicholas William, despite his young age, had been exposed to the intricacies of court life from an early age. He immediately grasped the underlying message in Dean Bruce's words. "Tomorrow morning—no, I'll have the gifts and this month's 100,000 gold coins sent over right away!"

"Dean, from this day on, I'll treat your words as divine guidance and follow them without hesitation!"

Dean Bruce didn't take Nicholas William's words too seriously. His real hope was that Nicholas would turn out to be the protagonist of this world, using his unique opportunities and talents to extract more magic from the fabricated incantations.

If that happened, Dean Bruce could exploit the system for rewards, boosting his own strength—that was the real goal.

Of course, appearances had to be maintained. Dean Bruce nodded, maintaining a calm demeanor. "It's good that you have this determination. I hope you can successfully grasp advanced magic and not disappoint your father."

Nicholas William clenched his fists in excitement, looking up at Dean Bruce with eyes full of hope.

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of advanced magic he might learn.

Dean Bruce remained composed as he asked, "My teaching method is different from others. I will only give you the incantation. Whether you can comprehend and master advanced magic will depend entirely on your own talent."

"What?"

Nicholas William was visibly startled. He was about to question this approach when he remembered the scene of Joan Michelle casting magic during the beast tide. Hastily, he asked, "Dean, is this how Joan also learned her advanced magic?"

"Exactly," Dean Bruce affirmed with a nod. "This is my teaching style. If you can't accept it, then I won't force you to stay."

Nicholas William's body trembled, and he blurted out, "If Joan could do it, then I can definitely accept it too. Even if I fail to learn advanced magic, it would be because of my own shortcomings, not yours!"

There was no way he would let this opportunity slip through his fingers after finally convincing Dean Bruce. He would regret it for the rest of his life if he did.

"Get up," Dean Bruce said as he helped Nicholas to his feet. "Now, tell me, what type of magic are you interested in learning? Offensive, defensive, or perhaps support?"

Ritual magic and natural magic are broad categories, or foundational classifications, from which various subtypes emerge based on the magic's intended use or effect.

Of course, Nicholas William wasn't familiar with these theories—if he were, Joan Michelle wouldn't have been so easily fooled.

Nicholas's eyes lit up. He had initially thought Dean Bruce would decide which magic to teach him, but he hadn't expected to be given a choice in the type of magic he wanted to learn. He eagerly responded, "I want to learn offensive magic!"

With this answer in mind, Dean Bruce fell silent, racking his brain to recall famous quotes or lines from the Bible from his previous life on Earth.

After all, you couldn't just pick any random sentence to trick someone—crafting a convincing lie required careful thought.

Nicholas, assuming Dean Bruce was contemplating which spell to teach, didn't dare make a sound. He stood there quietly, afraid to disrupt Dean's concentration.

After a long pause, Dean Bruce finally found a suitable phrase to use as the incantation. He turned back to Nicholas, maintaining a calm demeanor as he spoke. "The spell I'm about to teach you is a sixth-tier magic, almost comparable to a super-tier spell."

"A spell that can rival super-tier magic?" Nicholas William was ecstatic, unable to suppress his joy. His hands clenched and unclenched in excitement, and after several attempts, he finally asked, "Teacher, what is this spell?"

Dean Bruce smiled slightly before replying, "The spell is called The Interrogation of the Soul. I'll teach you the incantation now, and I hope you can grasp it quickly."

Pausing for a moment, Dean Bruce, under Nicholas's hopeful gaze, solemnly recited, "This water, blacker than ink, flows ceaselessly. I see in it many souls, filthy and naked, furiously tearing at each other, biting and clawing until their bodies are nothing but shreds."

As Nicholas softly repeated the incantation, a frown began to form on his face.

Tricking someone wasn't a one-step process. Dean Bruce knew better than to rush things—he needed to give Nicholas some time alone to ponder the phrase. Waving his hand, he said, "Go home now, and take your time meditating on this incantation."

Before Nicholas could respond, Dean Bruce brushed past him and headed straight back to his quarters, thinking to himself, [Living in the academy wasn't a problem before, but now that I've gained some reputation among the students, maybe I should find another place to stay. Otherwise, constant requests for teaching could become quite bothersome.]

Meanwhile, Nicholas William didn't move. He stood frozen in place like a statue, turning the phrase over and over in his mind, still puzzled. "Other incantations are always something like 'Great Wind God, grant me power,' so why is the one Teacher gave me so strange? Is this really a magical incantation?"