"I never realized there were these... here in the room," Ronan began, looking at the smoke-like figures in Orion's hand, unsure what to call them.
"Dust Sprites," Orion finished his sentence, speaking calmly. "Once you've stayed here long enough, you'll naturally come into contact with them. They're very shy. It took me fifteen years of being here before I could start interacting and communicating with them."
Fifteen years...
Ronan pursed his lips.
Indeed, there are no unearned geniuses in this world.
Orion's advancement to a third-level wizard before his soul age reached fifty, along with his renowned title "Four-Metal," wasn't solely due to his exceptional talent. It was also heavily aided by the abundant top-tier resources from the Silver Ring.
Ronan had narrowly survived the crisis with the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society because of a World Stone coordinate, gaining access to the seclusion room and limited use of the legacy imprint space as an exception.
During his time here, Ronan already felt a rapid improvement in his abilities across the board. It was undoubtedly a sanctuary for a wizard's solitary retreat.
Orion, however, had been living in this place for at least fifteen years.
Ronan felt a mix of emotions, then spoke, "Whatever you feel like."
Orion nodded slightly and made a sound as soft as a mosquito's hum, conversing with the Dust Sprites in a language Ronan didn't understand, like a strange whisper.
Soon, the Dust Sprites, following Orion's instructions, dispersed like smoke.
"If you wish to talk to them, remember to keep your voice low, or you'll frighten them. They understand our language, but communicating in their elven tongue is much smoother. On the fifth shelf up to the left behind you, there's an introduction to the Dust Sprites' language. If you're interested, you can learn it quickly."
Orion spoke to Ronan as someone who had been there before.
Though he was teaching Ronan, it didn't feel unpleasant. Instead, he exhibited a level of refinement Ronan had never sensed in anyone else.
Just then, the Dust Sprites returned, bringing more of their kind.
Several winged little figures stacked together, carrying a teapot, cups, and a tray much larger than themselves, wobbling precariously, as if they might topple at any moment.
Orion softly reminded Ronan, "Don't try to help them, or they'll get upset and ignore you for a long time. Dust Sprites are the caretakers of this loft. They love serving us. Just be mindful of what you need and wait patiently. If you build a good relationship with them, they might even share some of the loft's hidden secrets with you."
Ronan watched as the Dust Sprites busily arranged everything on the table. They brought steaming tea, sugar cubes, cream, honey, salt, and snacks like scones and fruit tarts, setting up a rather splendid afternoon tea.
Listening to Orion, Ronan couldn't help but comment, "You really know a lot about them."
Orion quietly watched a gray-winged Dust Sprite clumsily pour water into his cup and replied, "Of course, I've spent more time with them than anyone else in the Ring."
Ronan sensed a profound loneliness in Orion's words. It seemed that the expectations placed on him by the Ring's leaders were not entirely positive.
Ronan could imagine—a solitary young wizard, day after day, year after year, confined in this narrow, silent room, with nothing but meditation and training, occasionally speaking to the Dust Sprites hidden in the floorboards and shelves.
"What's happening outside now?" Ronan asked casually, stirring the sugar in his red tea with a silver spoon.
In truth, he wasn't entirely disconnected from the outside world. Though he was "confined" here and couldn't leave, he still had communication devices and occasionally contacted Bennigo, Clemens, and others.
Sitting face-to-face with Orion, he thought it might be good to start a conversation to break the quiet and slightly awkward atmosphere.
"What aspect are you referring to?"
"The Ancient Witch Resurrection Society."
Orion paused, then answered, "After the Resurrection Society's wizard list was published, the hunt missions have been ongoing. Some wizards from other forces got involved, and incidents of bloodshed and conflict happen daily."
From Orion's brief description, Ronan picked up on one word—"chaos."
The situation with the Ancient Witch Resurrection Society had spiraled out of control.
The resources of forces damaged by the Resurrection Society had become "prizes" in many eyes. Some forces, under the guise of eradicating the remaining power of the Resurrection Society, began looting on others' territories. Some even openly "disguised" themselves as the Resurrection Society, brazenly committing murder and robbery...
The six major forces—no, it's now five, as Orion mentioned, the Thorn Palace had officially disbanded last month.
Even the Silver Ring had absorbed a small portion of the Thorn Palace wizards.
The regions around the five major wizard forces were in chaos, and the turmoil continued to spread further.
In the chaos, powerful wizards rose, gaining respect and fame, while well-known wizards fell, their souls journeying to a peaceful resting place.
"Before coming here, I met Rufus."
Orion suddenly mentioned, looking at Ronan.
Ronan paused, his mind instinctively conjuring an image of a figure covered in exposed flesh.
"I fought him."
"He mentioned you."
"What did he say about me?"
Ronan took a sip of his tea, asked nonchalantly.
"He was curious about whether you were alive."
Orion stated calmly.
"And the outcome of your fight?" Ronan asked directly, knowing it wasn't the most polite inquiry.
Orion was silent for a moment, then spoke, "Rufus practices the ancient blood magic inherited from the Crimson Tower, and he's strong. This turmoil has been a catalyst for his rapid growth. Neither of us used our full strength in the fight. The current outcome is meaningless. The real contest will be in three years."
Ronan's eyes flickered, "The Helamsk Prodigy Seat competition?"
"No one will miss this event."
Orion looked Ronan in the eye, "You won't either, right?"
Ronan shook his head, not speaking.
Though he desired to go, whether he could smoothly advance to the third level in three years remained uncertain.
"Interested in a duel?"
Orion suddenly asked, Ronan's hand paused mid-air with the teacup.
A faint tension seemed to rise between them, the budding combat intent startling the Dust Sprites into hiding.
Moments later, Ronan extinguished the spark of conflict.
"Sorry."
Ronan shook his head, setting down the teacup. "My body has some issues, and I'm not fit for casting or combat right now."
Ronan knew Orion was interested in his three-domain fusion spell that had effortlessly killed Ignatius, and the power of his Frost Hydra Bloodline.
This was why Orion and Rufus regarded him as an equal opponent.
But with the unresolved issue of the "Hecarto's Residual Will" in his consciousness space, Ronan couldn't tap into the power related to the Ancient Frost Hydra without risking a backlash. So, he had to decline Orion's offer.
Though he himself was curious about Orion's combat prowess.
"Alright."
Orion showed a slight hint of disappointment but said nothing more.
Their conversation ended, and they quietly enjoyed the afternoon tea.
"They're quite useful. Leaving the house in their care is reassuring. If you get along well with them, I suggest you take a few with you."
After some time, Orion stood up, bid farewell to the Dust Sprites on the table with his fingers, and calmly left the seclusion room.
This time, it seemed he came specifically just to meet Ronan.
"He probably doesn't have many friends either."
Ronan watched Orion leave, then thought for a moment, retrieving a book from the fifth shelf up on the left behind him—"Secrets of the House Elves."
Flipping through a few pages, Ronan uttered strange, slightly awkward whispers, attracting the Dust Sprites, who cautiously peeked out from the table gap, only to vanish into smoke upon meeting his gaze.
Ronan chuckled, set the book down, and turned to enter a gray door.
Orion's visit was a minor diversion. The peaceful routine of life continued.
Sometimes, Ronan lost track of time.
He felt as if he'd been forgotten in this remote corner.
Orion hadn't returned since that visit, and the only one who occasionally visited was Borbi, delivering resources every few days.
Ronan developed a habit of keeping a diary, but unsure of the exact dates, he used another method to mark his entries.
---
[.Rune Reading Progress: Two Hundred. Mental Power Progress: 64%. Preparing to condense the third mental power crystal, Borbi delivered resources for advancing to late second-level wizard two days ago. I asked how long until the 'Southern Wizard Genius Gathering,' but he wouldn't say.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Five Hundred Twenty. Mental Power Progress: Stuck at 64%, unable to continue growing without condensing the third mental power crystal. Writing this entry because 520 is a special number worth commemorating. Unfortunately, I have no partner to share it with, but wizards don't need partners, and women only hinder my casting speed. Good news—after studying over five hundred first and second-level runes, I can finally make sense of the runes in the mirror dagger and silver comb. I'm now attempting final modifications to the [Silverization] rune. I can also decipher more runes in the Universal Pearl; further optimization of [Multiple Mirror Light] might be possible. I've named the core rune in the dawn-level silver staff [Stasis] and am beginning its initial analysis.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Seven Hundred Three. Mental Power Progress: 66%. Successfully advanced to late second-level wizard, the third mental power crystal has been condensed. Upgraded and optimized [Silverization] rune solidified successfully, with satisfactory results. Good news—[Detection Spell] proficiency advanced to master level, derived ability—[Eye of Truth], capable of seeing the flow and arrangement of energy particles during spell casting. More exploration is needed for its applications.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Seven Hundred Fifty-Four. Mental Power Progress: 68%.
[.Frost Spear] advanced to master level, deriving an extraordinary domain.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Eight Hundred Sixty-Seven. Mental Power Progress: 75%.
Good news—[Ice Ball] reached second-domain resonance. So fast. The Ancient Frost Hydra Bloodline continues to be effective. I'm now an undisputed ice magic prodigy!]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Nine Hundred One. Mental Power Progress: 78%.
Good news—[Frost Ray] also reached second-domain resonance.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Nine Hundred Seventy. Mental Power Progress: 80%.
Good news—[Ice Blade Spell] reached second-domain resonance. The fusion of three domains is more complete. I'm attempting to integrate a fourth ice domain. I can foresee [Hecarto's Death Gaze] giving the Southern wizard prodigies a little shock.
If I get an invitation to the seat competition.]
[.Good news—[Dispel Power] finally advanced to one-domain resonance. The [Disintegrate Ray] spell found on the 573rd shelf of the loft's bookshelf was very enlightening.]
[.Good news—[Particle Stream] reached second-domain resonance.]
[.Good news—[Ascetic Body Tempering] master-level proficiency broke one thousand, [Ancient Power] rune advanced to intermediate level.]
[.Good news—The residual will of Hecarto in the consciousness space has been almost completely worn down. The bloodline's hidden danger is temporarily eliminated. I can attempt further bloodline fusion and experiment with the [Mirror Soul] spell idea.]
[.Good news—Casting [Mirror Soul] spell with blood containing the Ancient Frost Hydra Bloodline was more powerful than I imagined. If I can reach master-level proficiency with this spell, my trump card should increase by one.]
[.Bad news—My mental power growth has hit a plateau. I don't know the exact time, but I feel like I've been stuck at 88% for a long time. Most of the potions Borbi brought to enhance mental power have developed resistance.
When Borbi comes next, I'll discuss this issue with him.]
[.Bad news—Borbi believes the root of the problem might be my soul's aptitude. My power growth speed is too fast for a wizard of my aptitude level. The impurities in my soul have become a barrier to progress. I need combat experience to refine myself, but I... can't leave yet.]
[.Good news—[Basic Meditation] master-level proficiency broke one thousand. Mental power underwent second purification, passing the plateau phase.
Bad news—Time is running out before the 'Helamsk Prodigy Seat Competition.' I don't want to miss it.]
[.Rune Reading Progress: Three Thousand Fifty-Two.
Mental Power Progress: 101%.
Bad news—I've finished all the rune books on the loft's bookshelf.]
[.Bad news—The space energy seed in the consciousness space has disappeared.]
[.Bad news—Advancing from second to third-level wizard requires external methods to enhance soul power. The poorer the soul aptitude, the more resources are needed for enhancement. I consumed both soul-enhancing potions Borbi brought, but still haven't felt the opportunity to advance to the third level. Kirstie is continuing to help collect more.]
[.Bad news—I'm still obsessed with studying the ancient Mirror Court's space and mirror rune spells. But without the space energy seed's support, my research has hit a bottleneck.]
[.I wish I could enter the Mirror Court secret realm again. Many of my ideas could be validated, and I might gain more inspiration.]
[.Good news—I've finally befriended a female Dust Sprite. She's very pretty, only the size of my thumb. I've named her Arrietty.]
[.Bad news—Today, the age displayed on my character panel changed to twenty-one.]
[Good news—
I can leave.]
The quiet seclusion room loft was bathed in the soft light of the illumination crystals, like white gauze.
Before a smooth silver mirror, a tall, slender figure in a silver-gray robe meticulously trimmed himself.
Beautiful chestnut brown hair and beard fell with the sound of scissors, landing on the warm wood floor.
A swarm of winged Dust Sprites busily ran around, collecting the fallen strands.
At a certain point, the trimming sound ceased.
The Dust Sprites on the ground and in the air immediately dispersed, and the pile of hair on the floor silently caught fire, quickly burning into a pile of black ash.
Among the Dust Sprites, a pretty girl with two pairs of gray wings and a long braid, boldly approached the figure, gently landing on his shoulder, curiously looking into the mirror.
In the silver mirror, a young man with short chestnut hair appeared.
His features were handsome and spirited, his skin fair, and his eyes a deep, tranquil blue, like an infinite calm lake.
The young man's expression was exceptionally calm, exuding a scholarly aura, poised and introspective, giving the impression of both a humble, wise scholar and a discreet, elegant noble.
"Arrietty, would you like to come with me?"
The young man slightly tilted his head, asking the pretty girl on his shoulder in a gentle voice.
The girl showed interest, but hesitated, looking down.
On the floor, a Dust Sprite couple, resembling middle-aged humans, looked at her with complex expressions, waving gently.
"Mm!"
The girl gathered her courage, nodding firmly to the young man in the mirror.
The latter smiled, gently stroking her head with a finger. She leaned in closer, then turned into a wisp of smoke, hiding in the folds of his robe's collar.
With everything done, the young man turned around.
He raised his hand, and the silver mirror behind him melted like water, flowing into his sleeve.
"Unknowingly, it's been three years already..."
Ronan sighed softly.
He glanced around, at the silent books on the shelves, seemingly bidding him a silent farewell.
In these three years, he had almost read every book here. The excellent memory brought by brain development allowed him to easily recall the content of every page from every book on the shelves.
Entering here at nearly eighteen, now twenty-one, transitioning from a boy to a young man.
Sometimes, it felt like three years was a lengthy period.
But looking back now, it seemed like just a blink of an eye, and the person in the mirror had changed.
"Shhh—"
A silver-white spatial vortex silently appeared in the air before him.
Ronan's eyes flickered; he was now extremely sensitive to any spatial energy fluctuations.
"Let's go, Arrietty."
Calming himself, Ronan gently patted his robe's collar, then stepped into the vortex amid the farewell of a large group of Dust Sprites.
On the wooden floor behind him, the Dust Sprite couple waved and wiped tears as they watched him leave.
When Ronan stepped out of the vortex, he found himself not in the dim corridor he had entered three years ago, but in mid-air.
The scorching sun hung in a cloudless sky, golden light pouring down, below was a massive rotating metal ring.
Ronan squinted, shielding his eyes with his hand until his pupils adjusted to the external light. Lowering his hand, he saw the figure facing him under the sun.
Just as three years ago.
Time hadn't left any marks on Kirstie.
She was still breathtakingly beautiful, with a maiden's innocence and a matron's elegance, along with the majesty and composure of a top-tier wizard.
She opened her arms to Ronan, speaking softly, "Welcome back, Damien."
Seventh Ring Tower, at the top.
Ronan stood before the large crystal window, while Borbi, in its parrot form, noisily flew around his head.
Despite having seen Ronan just seven days ago, and being the one to deliver the news of his release, Borbi acted as if he hadn't seen him in three years.
Ronan overlooked the entire Ring, noticing a large metal base at the western end of the seven silver towers, bustling with wizards in Ring robes.
"The Ring is preparing to establish the eighth tower."
Kirstie approached Ronan, explaining calmly, "A lot happened in the three years you were in seclusion. The Thorn Palace is no more. Our Ring welcomed a third-level peak wizard from the former Thorn Palace, intending to make her the eighth Ring Master. The decision was made just two months ago. Oh, by the way, you might have met her before. She was the leading wizard from the Thorn Palace in the second battlefield when the Mirror Court's core secret realm opened."
"Is it her?"
Ronan blinked, recalling Kirstie's words.
A vision of a beautiful plant wizard with hair full of vines and flowers came to mind.
Unexpectedly, she had become part of the Ring.
"How far are you from reaching the third level now?"
Kirstie suddenly asked about something else, inquiring Ronan.
"A lot."
Ronan shook his head.
He knew why Kirstie was asking.
After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How long until the Southern Wizard Genius Gathering begins?"
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