Doubts

Shff! Lilia suddenly straightened up.

Her being selected as one of the three "expendables" was hardly a compliment. Much like Bennett, she was an apprentice whose chances of advancement were slim, but who had built a fair degree of power after long years as a third-level apprentice. Lilia had no real family backing; her strength relied entirely on an ice-based spell of her creation. Even so, no matter how powerful an apprentice became, they were still an apprentice. If even the slightest chance at advancing to a Formal Wizard appeared, Lilia wouldn't hesitate to seize it.

Although her appearance was youthful, it was an illusion achieved through wizardry. In reality, she was probably the oldest of the three apprentices here.

Lucian, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes, not particularly thrilled by Bennett's promise of a potential path to advancement. After all, "opportunities" like these were often riddled with grave dangers.

Lucian knew he didn't lack opportunities; he lacked time. His improved meditation technique, combined with his fourth-rank aptitude, suggested a clear path forward. By simply focusing on mental cultivation and solidifying enough spirit sigils, he would eventually advance. Compared to Bennett and Lilia, whose situations were desperate, Lucian wasn't in a hurry to take extreme risks.

Still, he put on a facade of interest, even though inwardly he remained highly wary. He doubted that Bennett would genuinely share an opportunity as crucial as advancement without some ulterior motive.

And so, he mirrored Lilia's interest, albeit more calmly.

Seeing that both of them seemed drawn to the idea, Bennett smiled and gestured with his hand. A dense array of words materialized in mid-air, forming a meticulously crafted contract.

Lucian scanned it swiftly, ensuring there were no hidden clauses or traps. Satisfied it was only a standard confidentiality contract, he marked it with his spirit imprint. Lilia had done so even faster. With all three imprints set, the contract triggered a connection with a presence far off, beyond this plane.

Whirr—

A slight ripple of space appeared, from which a terrifying aura emerged. The contract itself transformed into a single eye that hovered mid-air, emitting an aura that made the hairs on Lucian's neck stand on end, as though a godlike figure was watching him.

"Contract sealed," intoned a voice that seemed to echo from the depths of his mind. The eerie presence faded away, but Lucian could still feel a residual gaze. He sensed that violating this contract would result in annihilation by the distant being who had overseen its creation.

"This level of contract is far stricter than anything Greybone Academy enforces… No wonder they call it the Eye of Justice."

Lucian's mind raced, but seeing the calm expressions on Lilia and Bennett's faces, he pushed his shock aside. Turning to Bennett, he said, "Well, the contract's set, so there's no need to worry about us breaking it. Time to share what you've learned, don't you think?"

"Of course. I've no desire to have the Eye of Justice annihilate me across space and time," Bennett replied with a smile before lowering his voice. "I suspect that near Cossay Island lies a hidden realm connected to the fey—a legendary Fey Sanctuary."

"Fey Sanctuary?" Lucian pondered the term, noting it was merely a combination of "fey" and "sanctuary." Lilia, similarly puzzled, looked thoughtful.

"In the era of the Wizard Empire, humans, fey, and other intelligent races warred for control of the magical realm. The Fey Sanctuary was a refuge the fey created as a last resort, a safe haven," Bennett explained, his voice laced with persuasion.

He picked a book off the nearby shelf and opened it to a specific page.

"In the Fey Sanctuary, there were fields of enchanted plants. Unlike humans, the fey have a natural affinity for cultivating plants that wizards could never hope to grow artificially."

Lucian took the book Bennett handed him and skimmed the page. The general information matched Bennett's account, though Lucian still found this alleged Fey Sanctuary questionable. Ruins, hidden realms, and so-called sanctuaries were all notoriously attractive to Formal Wizards. Given that Wizard Herli had scoured Cossay Island thoroughly and that Bennett had received this information from his own family, the notion seemed increasingly dubious.

Lucian sensed a wave of unease building within him. The wizard's abrupt departure from Cossay Island hinted at something unspoken. Yet Bennett appeared thoroughly confident, and, bound by oath, he was unlikely to lie without facing severe consequences. He might be withholding key details, but Lucian doubted Bennett would risk his life to outright deceive them.

Moreover, the presence of Half-Fey raised more questions. What exactly were they after?

Herli the Formal Wizard, two unknown companions, and the mysterious Half-Fey lurking around Cossay Island… Lucian felt like these elements were tangled into a massive web of uncertainties, an intricate snare surrounding him from all sides.

The path forward was obscured—a single misstep could mean triumph or oblivion.