“Mister Mara, now that I do have the talent, can I become your student and study wizardry?” The unpleasant travel in the parallel world affected his mindset greatly, but it did not change his will to become a wizard.
Mara put away his Talent Sphere and smiled, “I’m an apprentice myself so I’m not qualified to teach you. However, I came to the Old Earth to look for talents for the academy. You’re one, and since you’re willing to step onto this path, you can follow me and leave for the academy tomorrow. The White Coral Floating Island Academy isn’t big, but it has good fame among all wizard organizations from the south. They’ll not let a talented one down.”
Angor hesitated upon hearing those words.
He had to leave here and go to the unknown academy?
He already expected something like this, but he still could not make up his mind when it finally came to it.
Could his teacher hold on until he made enough progress to come back?
Additionally, Angor agreed to his brother to accompany him to the succession ceremony, which was tomorrow as well. When would they meet again?
Angor’s expression darkened. He did not even realize that he had been fumbling around his thumbs—a gesture showing that he was faltering over something.
Of course, Leon was reluctant to let his brother go. However, he still stepped up and put an arm around Angor’s shoulders as he whispered to him, “Don’t you worry. You heard Mister Mara. It was just an academy, a school. Like how you go to the Waterford Exclusive School every spring. It won’t take too long. I’ll wait for you in the manor.”
“But…” Angor hesitated.
As his brother, Leon already knew what Angor was trying to say.
“If you’re still worrying about old Jon, when I go to Waterford this time, I’ll find the best doctor there is to help him. I’ll keep him alive and wait for you to save him, even if I have to spend the last coin in the family.”
Angor did not reply. He was the only one knowing the fact that the world’s consciousness was rejecting Jon, not some kind of disease. No one could save Jon except a wizard.
As Angor was still faltering, Mara, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke up.
“You can’t leave your teacher behind?”
“I can’t.”
Mara was not sure why Angor was so committed towards Jon. Jon was just a child’s teacher, not Angor’s lifelong mentor, nor a close family member. Mara could not understand the tight bond between them.
Mara gave Angor a thoughtful look before he said, “Back at the Crimson Auction, I once spent my two-years’ saving on a magic scroll called the Ice Coffin of Healing. It cannot cure your teacher, but it will sustain your teacher’s life temporarily, only for five years. What do you say?”
Five years? Angor’s pupils became larger. He could do many things in five years. He did not think he could actually become a wizard in such a time but… it would give him a chance, give him hope.
Before Angor could answer, Leon walked up and bowed to Mara. “I don’t really know about the wizarding world, but there is no free lunch in my world. As Mister Mara said, wizards are human beings too, and humans can never escape being bound by relationships and favors. Now, Mister Mara is willing to use the valuable item on Jon, but what do you expect in return?”
Leon’s words cleared Angor’s mind. Mara was just a guide. Talents were rare, yes, but as a talented one himself, Mara should not be caring for Angor too much. So… when Mara offered to use his Ice Coffin of Healing scroll, what was he expecting?
Mara looked at Leon up and down with a little bit of approval in his expression. “In five years, it is almost impossible for Angor to become a wizard, so my scroll could be considered used for nothing. However, I can still give it to you, as long as Angor accept my condition.”