The entire drawing room was covered by a layer of black luminous mist, sealing shut every window and crack, as if draped with a veil of dark gauze.
This bizarre sight left Wulin rather amazed. He reached out curiously and ran his hand across the dark veil — his palm passed through a shimmer of light, which quickly solidified again behind him.
Wulin played with it to his heart's content, and the look he gave Leilin grew considerably more reverent.
During the journey, he had learned from Janey and Jamus that Leilin was a full
For someone like Wulin, who had spent his entire life in the small town of Botte, a Knight was already a figure of great importance — and a Wizard? That was something one only heard about in legends.
In truth, Wulin had always fantasized about becoming a Wizard himself, wielding the power of lightning, flame, and ice.
Because if he became a Wizard, perhaps — perhaps — he could win Janey's hand!
But sadly, all his hopes had been dashed by a single offhand remark from Leilin: "You don't have the talent for it."
Leilin had in fact secretly examined Wulin's aptitude. His soul talent was very poor — around first rank, belonging to the very worst tier of Wizard potential, the kind that could only ever amount to a lifetime apprentice.
However, so long as someone possessed even the barest Wizard aptitude and received proper instruction, becoming a Wizard Apprentice was not out of the question! And even a Wizard Apprentice held considerably more prestige than a Knight.
The trouble was, training a Wizard Apprentice required far more effort and energy than training a Knight. Leilin was no longer in the leisurely days of Botte Town — how could he be willing to waste his own time on it? And so Wulin's request had been refused without a moment's hesitation.
Even so, Wulin remained thoroughly fascinated by the mysterious power of Wizards.
"Alright, I've sealed this place off. You can say whatever you need to — nothing will leak out."
Leilin spoke abruptly.
Upon hearing his words, a bitter smile appeared on Janey's face: "As expected, nothing gets past you, Lord Leilin."
"Eh? Janey, didn't you just come to visit and see us?" Only now did Wulin catch on, and he blurted out — only to be immediately silenced by a single look from Leilin. He quieted down and began to listen to Janey's account.
"Ever since obtaining the Dragon Blood Blossom bud, my father's condition has improved greatly. He went from being bedridden to getting up and handling affairs on his own, and his spirits are much better too…"
A trace of joy appeared on Janey's face, but it faded almost as quickly.
"But the good times didn't last. My two uncles, while Father was still recovering, once again convened a family council meeting to try to force him off the position of patriarch…"
"I came here today to seek help!"
Janey stood up and bowed formally to Raylin. "As long as you, my lord, are willing to help my father through this crisis, we can offer anything! Including myself!"
"Janey! You—" Wilin, who was at her side, was so anxious he was scratching his ears and beard, but there was nothing he could do.
"Heh heh…"
After listening to Janey's words, Raylin remained unhurried, pondering for a moment. Just when Janey was beginning to think all hope was lost, he finally broke into a cheerful smile.
"I have no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the Augustus family, but I will pay a visit three days from now…"
A dozen minutes later, having obtained what she wanted, Janey departed. Although Raylin had not explicitly promised to support either side, the goodwill of a formal Wizard was something no family could afford to ignore.
But what she did not see was the cold sneer that crept across Raylin's lips after she left.
"Hiding so much, and still expecting me to help you. Do you really think I'm some kind of fool?"
The fact that Janey's two uncles dared to act so brazenly meant they must have obtained some powerful guarantee and strong backing — strong enough to force the original patriarch's line to seek outside help. And that kind of support and guarantee, Raylin was seventy percent certain, had come from none other than Siegfried himself!
Under these circumstances, the desperate Janey and her father had placed their only hope in Raylin, even going so far as to use Janey herself as bait and bargaining chip!
"Heh heh… Did you think I would rashly intervene for the sake of Wilin's happiness? I'm afraid not. His happiness — even his life — in my eyes, are nothing more than playthings…"
Raylin glanced at Wilin, who was still standing by the door, and an amused smile played at the corner of his lips.
……
Three days later, Raylin was dressed in a black noble's formal attire resembling a suit. He paid a visit to the Augustus family, with Wilin in tow.
"Lord Raylin, it is such an honor to meet you in person!"
Upon receiving the servants' report, Janey and her father, Marquis Augustus, came out to greet him immediately.
Raylin smiled and studied the Marquis. The noble had a head of radiant golden hair, and on his face one could still find many features resembling Janey's. At the moment, he wore a warm and courteous smile.
Behind him, two rows of servants bowed respectfully, assuming the most sincere posture of welcome.
"Mm." Raylin gave a restrained nod and walked inside shoulder to shoulder with the Marquis, even positioning himself a half-step ahead.
As a Wizard, he naturally had the standing and the right to do so, and the smile on Marquis Augustus's face grew even warmer, as though he didn't mind such matters in the slightest.
Behind them, Veline tried several times to speak to Janey, but looking at her dressed in full formal attire—made up as though she were heading to some grand banquet, her face set in solemn composure—he simply couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
He had to admit that the stately architecture of the Marquis's estate, along with the rows of deferential servants lining both sides, had more than a little frightened the young man.
Upon reaching the reception hall, Marquis Augustus was about to introduce Raylin to his other relatives when he was cut off by a sudden voice.
"Oh my, my dear brother! How could you invite a guest without calling on us!"
Upon hearing this voice, the smile on Marquis Augustus's face remained unchanged, though a trace of shadow flickered in his eyes. He turned to Raylin and made the introduction.
"My Lord! These are my two younger brothers, Lucas and Kemet!"
He then turned toward the two middle-aged nobles who had entered the hall. "This is Master Raylin, whom Janey encountered on her journey!"
"So these are the two uncles who've been harboring ulterior motives and vying for the position of clan head, just as Janey described!" Raylin studied the two middle-aged nobles with keen interest.
Both Lucas and Kemet bore a strong resemblance to Marquis Augustus—after all, they were brothers! But Lucas's eyes were purple, while Kemet's pupils emanated a strange silvery luster, giving them a very peculiar appearance.
What surprised Raylin even more was that from both of these men, he sensed the distinctive fluctuations unique to Wizards. They were both Wizard Apprentices as well!
"Greetings, Master Raylin!" At that moment, both nobles bowed respectfully to Raylin, their manner so courteous that even Marquis Augustus found it hard to believe.
"Respected Master Raylin! My ancestor, Lord Siegfried, officially extends an invitation to you, hoping you might visit his laboratory! Moreover, he wishes to express his gratitude for the help you have given to the Augustus family!"
It was only then that Lucas spoke with a solemn expression.
This invitation immediately brought the faces of Marquis Augustus and Janey behind him crashing down.
In the entire room, perhaps only the simple-minded Veline failed to grasp the significance!
Siegfried—the officially recognized Wizard whose status within the entire Augustus family was supreme—had bypassed Marquis Augustus, the clan head, and instead issued his invitation through Lucas. The message of support could not have been more explicit.
"It would be my great honor!" Raylin nodded mildly, then followed Lucas out of the hall without so much as another glance at the dark-faced Marquis Augustus or Janey behind him.
In their dealings with the mundane world, Wizards were simply this kind of willful people—and the strength they wielded gave them every right to be so!
Before leaving, Lucas and Kemet shot a provocative look at Marquis Augustus, making the already tense atmosphere even more awkward.
"What's going on?"
Willin asked Janeey in some bewilderment. What had just happened had left his mind struggling to keep up.
Although his reason told him he should be following closely behind Lord Raylin, Janeey beside him made him stop almost involuntarily.
"N-no, it's nothing! One of my ancestors wishes to meet Lord Raylin!"
Janeey's smile was painfully forced.
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out. The crystal goblet that had been in Marquis Augustus's hand had been crushed to pieces.
……
Raylin followed Lucas and Kemet to the rear section of the Augustus family estate.
The deeper they went, the tighter the security became, but under the guidance of these two, they made their way unimpeded to the center of the inner courtyard.
"We've arrived! Our ancestor, Lord Siegfried, is inside! Please forgive us for not accompanying you any further!"
Lucas and Kemet led Raylin to the front of a tall white tower, then bowed respectfully and withdrew. Every movement was impeccable, reflecting the refined breeding of great nobility.
Raylin barely paid them any attention. His mind had already been captured by the white tower before him.
"Reinforcement runes, binding runes, Mud-to-Stone! Not a bad combination! And I can sense the dense energy particle aura in the air. It looks like there are at least two elemental energy particle pools built inside!"
Raylin ran his fingers along the surface of the white tower, a look of wonder in his eyes as he spoke his admiration aloud.
This white spire, curved like a horn, was in fact a Wizard's construction!
The cost alone of inscribing runes on its surface and building elemental energy particle pools was enough to astonish Raylin.
"As expected of a Wizard who has lived for several hundred years. If I wanted to build a Wizard Tower like this, I'd need to spend at least half the resources in my Endless Pouch…"
At the same time, Raylin silently sighed to himself.
A private laboratory of one's own certainly had many advantages — not only was it discreet, but it also allowed for all manner of experiments that were best kept under wraps.
But Raylin had always been without a fixed abode, so even if he wanted to build a private Wizard Tower like this, there was simply no way to do it.