Passing By

A hushed silence fell over the duel grounds.

The battle had ended so abruptly, so eerily. The entire fight had lasted less than thirty seconds. Just one shouted word, and then Apollo was engulfed in flames.

Some of the onlookers, especially the first-level apprentices, new recruits, and even a few second-level apprentices, felt chills running down their spines. The sweat trickling down their backs was a clear sign of how shaken they were. When they looked at Lucian, their gazes now held a mixture of awe and fear.

This was Apollo Cabot—the most promising among the second-level apprentices, a force able to contend with third-level apprentices when wielding his enchanted weaponry. If Lucian could so easily kill Apollo, then ending their lives would be as effortless as squashing ants.

Among the crowd, a few seasoned third-level apprentices, and even some of the stronger second-level ones, looked at Lucian with newfound wariness.

"Was it sonic magic… or a curse?" murmured some of the more knowledgeable third-level apprentices, noting the oddity of Lucian's attack. Regardless, they all recognized the spell as both deadly and unexpected.

The suddenness of the spell, combined with its near 150-pawa power output, made it lethal even if one were prepared. And if one were caught off guard, even a seasoned third-level apprentice would be vulnerable.

Acknowledging Lucian's strength, many third-level apprentices quickly abandoned any thoughts of targeting him, choosing instead to walk away. They had no desire to provoke someone of equal standing without sufficient benefit.

Yet not everyone felt that way.

Norian, who had already crossed swords with Lucian in the past, watched from the crowd. He felt a mix of regret and unease. He had openly antagonized Lucian before, meaning reconciliation was now impossible.

Lucian's power weighed heavily on his mind. While Lucian didn't yet pose a threat, this was only because he currently lacked powerful enchanted items. Once Lucian overcame that weakness, he could potentially challenge even Norian himself.

As he watched Lucian stand over Apollo's smouldering remains, Norian realized he might soon have a formidable adversary on his hands. Scowling, he gave a fleeting glance to Yellen beside him, before striding away.

To him, angering a once-dying third-level apprentice for Yellen's sake had once seemed inconsequential. But now, the thought of quarrelling with a powerful apprentice—one that could genuinely threaten him—felt far less appealing. Lucian had to be dealt with, yet the cost of doing so would need to be borne by someone else.

Meanwhile, Yellen stood frozen in the crowd, feeling numb. His gaze was fixed on the sole figure still standing in the arena, a look of confusion clouding his eyes.

Lucian stood tall and composed, his hands concealed under his cloak. The lingering smoke and Apollo's charred remains cast an aura of mystery around him. His calm, steely gaze, combined with his display of intelligence and strength, gave him an air that demanded reverence.

This is a true wizard! Yellen thought, his heart conflicted.

Yet as he stared, he felt a pang of regret—hadn't he initially been offered the chance to be Lucian's student?

How had things turned out like this?

If only I hadn't made that decision back then… Yellen couldn't help but wonder. He was practically a talent on the cusp of a fourth-class qualification, and now, everything he longed for belonged to someone with a lowly first-class qualification.

"Come to my lab at 2 p.m." A cold voice, sharp as a serpent's hiss, slithered into his ear.

Yellen shuddered, instinctively clutching his abdomen, where he could feel the eerie pulsing of something writhing inside. He knew this would be the third time he would be "put to use."1

The first time had cost him his left hand; the second had left him with something crawling within him, an alien presence constantly stirring in his abdomen.

Now… what would this third task bring?

A wave of dread washed over Yellen, and he didn't even notice Norian's departure.

Unbeknownst to Yellen, Lucian was heading toward him, his path clear as other apprentices stepped back respectfully to give him space. Lucian walked with a steady pace, each step full of calm determination.

But Yellen, lost in thought, didn't move. He merely stood there, exposed in the middle of Lucian's path.

As Lucian drew closer, Yellen looked up, his mind racing. Should I lower my head?

But just as he hesitated, Lucian passed by him without a second glance, even slightly angling his body to avoid brushing against him.

The gentle breeze stirred by Lucian's passing brushed Yellen's face, filling him with an unexpected chill. He realized that Lucian likely had no idea who he was—that he was the student who had once walked away.

After all, Yellen had never actually met Lucian before he chose another mentor.

He glanced back and saw Carrie, her face alight with happiness as she clapped her hands and cheered for her mentor.

Bitterness twisted Yellen's heart as he watched Carrie. He hated to admit it, but her progress with that unique bow-and-arrow spell showed that she was now far ahead of him and most of their peers.

Seeing Lucian pat Carrie's head affectionately only made Yellen's heart ache more.

The most "intimate" moment he shared with his mentor was when he had been lying on the cold, hard stone of an operating table.2

Bowing his head, Yellen slipped away from the crowd with a stagger in his step. None of the other apprentices paid any attention to the departure of this insignificant "new blood."

Even Lucian was unaware that the boy he had almost brushed against was the student who had once declined his mentorship.

Now, he and Carrie walked away from the crowd, both letting out a sigh of relief.

"Nervous?" Lucian asked, chuckling as he noticed Carrie's big gulp of air.

"No! Not at all!" Carrie protested, trying to act tough.

But after a moment's hesitation, she looked at Lucian, her eyes full of concern. "Mentor… your injuries…"

"It was just a bit of trouble that others tried to exploit," Lucian replied lightly, shrugging. "So I thought I'd settle things decisively."

After today, he was certain that those prying eyes would vanish, at least for a while. He had reestablished his presence within Greybone Academy.