A few minutes later, the grand hall was empty save for Leilin and Biji.
Leilin and Biji sat facing each other, a small round white table between them, laden with an assortment of pastries and fragrant flower tea.
Biji held a sweet pudding cake in her hand, but she looked completely without appetite.
"Is that so? You've already advanced to an Official Wizard so quickly?"
Her face still held a dazed expression as she picked up a steaming cup of flower tea and took a sip.
"Congratulations, Leilin! And thank you for coming to save me!"
"It was nothing. After all, you're my friend!" Leilin said with a smile.
"Yes! Good friends!" Biji repeated unconsciously, her gaze somewhat unfocused.
"What do you plan to do now?" Seeing her state, Leilin asked with some concern.
"Now?" Biji lowered her head in thought. "I don't plan to return to the academy. I want to travel for a while, and perhaps one day return to the family..."
After speaking, she looked at Leilin with a hint of expectation. "Could I become your follower?"
Once a wizard reached Official status, it was customary to take on a few followers. After signing a Soul Contract, the follower would swear absolute loyalty to their master. In return, the master was expected to provide knowledge and resources for advancement whenever possible.
Out in the wider world, a follower could even represent their master to some degree.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible!" Leilin considered for a moment, but still refused Biji's request.
"I still have a major trouble on me, and besides..."
Although Leilin didn't finish the sentence, Biji understood. A follower needed to possess a certain level of strength to be of help to their master in the future.
Leilin was already a First-level Wizard, and with his talent, this was definitely not his endpoint. Because of this, the quality of his followers certainly couldn't be too poor; otherwise, training them would be pointless.
Biji's spiritual talent wasn't very good, and she was still only a Second-rank Apprentice. Leilin estimated that, barring any special circumstances, her limit in this life would be the Third-rank Apprentice, which would be of no use to him at all.
"I see! I was just speaking idly..." Biji managed a forced smile.
Looking at her like this, Leilin suddenly felt a slight headache. "That man! Feile! What do you intend to do about him?"
"Him..." Biji fell silent for a time.
After a long while, she finally spoke in a low, distant tone. "He entered the Purple Gold Flower Family, and with both Green Spirit Water and the Rainbow Potion, he's likely advanced to Official Wizard as well. What can I do?"
"When the time is right! I will make him pay the price!"
Leilin thought for a moment and decided to give Biji some hope and assurance.
Of course, the timing and method were still up to him. After all, Leilin had no intention of getting himself trapped just to kill one person.
Even if Feile had advanced, he was currently just a novice wizard and no match for Leilin whatsoever.
Moreover, among the dozen or so First-level spells recorded in the Book of the Great Serpent, several could ensure his death without a sound, and outsiders would absolutely never connect it to Leilin.
Biji's eyes reddened, and bean-sized teardrops fell directly down her cheeks.
"Thank you! Thank you, Leilin..."
She cried as she threw herself into Leilin's embrace. His expression was gentle; his left arm encircled Biji, while his right hand lightly patted her back.
Then, without Biji noticing, Leilin's right hand formed a strange gesture.
A stream of grey-black gas was drawn from Biji's back, which Leilin directly caught in his hand.
Several hours later, after declining Earl Selena's earnest invitation to stay, Leilin departed from the Traille Castle alone.
Before leaving, as promised, he left the Green Spirit Water as compensation for the Traille Family.
In return, Earl Selena officially pardoned Biji before the entire clan and even seemed to harbor intentions of naming her as the successor.
Leilin had walked a considerable distance away when he looked back at Traille Castle. With his keen eyesight, he could still see a solitary white figure standing before the fortress, maintaining the farewell posture from earlier.
"I hope the potions I left will be of use to her!"
Before parting, Leilin had also given Biji several vials of the new Azure Potion he had concocted, explaining their effects to her. As for their origin, Leilin had told a small lie, claiming he had stumbled upon them during some purchases.
Though with his current strength as a First-level Warlock, he could absolutely protect an improved formula, he still preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble.
For him, Biji and his current life as an apprentice in the Black Bone Forest Academy were but a small scenic spot along his climb to the summit.
He could pause briefly for this view, but he would not stay here permanently.
He still wished to keep climbing ever higher, to see more of the landscape.
Or perhaps, only after he had thoroughly reached the absolute peak would he recall the beauty of the journey and descend once more.
But until that time, he held no regrets!!!
"Most matters are settled. Perhaps it's time I chose to leave the Marsh Duchy and travel along the South Coast?"
The Liliteer Family was, after all, a major clan with immense strength. The Traille Family couldn't even compare to a fraction of their power.
Leilin did not believe that after advancing to First-level Warlock, he could directly challenge and overthrow that family.
Furthermore, in the end, Slay, the Headmaster of the Black Bone Forest Academy, would certainly be drawn into any such conflict. He was a Second-level Wizard—an existence Leilin currently could not match in direct confrontation!
As the representative of the family faction within the Black Bone Forest, Slay would absolutely intervene!
After much deliberation, Leilin felt that only one path remained open to him: to defect from the Academy.