Three days later, at midnight.
At the top floor of the most dilapidated building of the orphanage, within the director’s office, filled with death gas.
Angel and Frode stood by the window, gazing at the only lit room in the opposite building. It was once the orphanage’s library, housing a large collection of fairy tales and picture books from the Tyson family. However, after the orphanage was abandoned, these books were all set ablaze.
Now the reason it is still lit is because it has been temporarily converted into a Soul Sect library.
Angel displayed all the magazines, skin scrolls, and basic training methods related to souls he had read, all through the illusionary realm, placing them in the library.
"How long has Little Sam been in there?" Angel asked softly.
Frode: "Since two days ago, after Little Sam discovered that library, he’s stayed inside, never coming out."
After Frode finished speaking, a look of puzzlement appeared on his face: "Why did you put the soul-related books there?"
"It’s for him to read." Angel’s gaze was directed at the silhouette reflected by the lamplight in the opposite window.
"Since it’s for Little Sam to read, why not tell him about the library at the start? Instead, you let him discover it while wandering?" Frode still didn’t understand.
"Subjective initiative and passive acceptance yield completely different benefits." Angel paused, "Moreover, this involves an apprentice test."
"Apprentice test?"
"Nis wishes to take Little Sam as an apprentice. Before Little Sam officially enters Barbarian Cave, Nis asked me to prepare this test." Angel explained.
Now Frode understood that the so-called apprentice test was akin to the trial the Guide gives to the Talented One.
The illusionary realm of the "Dead by Daylight: Nightmare Orphanage" that Frode currently manages is also a type of such trial.
Though he understood, he still couldn’t grasp it: "I remember that Nis isn’t from the Academy Faction, right?"
If not an Academy Faction wizard, why is the apprentice test about reading books?
"Do you think the apprentice test is simply reading books?" Angel chuckled lightly, "The test hasn’t officially started. Reading books is just a preliminary step in the entire test, also an essential condition."
"Then what is the real test?"
As soon as Frode asked, before Angel could respond, the candlelight in the library dimmed, indicating Little Sam, who had spent two days and nights inside, was finally coming out.
Seeing Little Sam leave the library, a glow flashed in Angel’s eyes, and simultaneously, the book illusion he created in the library vanished, reverting to a dilapidated state.
"The test is about to begin."
After muttering softly, Angel changed the subject before Frode could ask further: "How’s the progress on your side?"
Frode: "I’ve understood the learning method for Soul Tricks, and I’ve almost reached the conditions for practice. I can proceed with the initial practice."
Angel: "I remember that formal learning of Soul Tricks requires choosing a place heavy with death gas?"
Frode nodded: "Yes, the death gas in the orphanage should meet the requirements for learning Soul Tricks."
"Meeting the requirements is possible, but don’t forget that after you finish, Adar and Shanni also need to practice. Moreover, if there’s no death gas left in the orphanage, the ’Dead by Daylight’ trial wouldn’t achieve the best results."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Move to another place. I happen to know a place suitable for practicing Soul Tricks." Angel paused, then said softly: "And it’s also the site for Little Sam’s test."
At this point, Angel shifted his gaze from the opposite building to look into the distant, pitch-black horizon and the undulating mountains.
"Star Lake Castle."
...
Little Sam stood by the rippling lake, gazing at the mottled shadows of the castle in the dawnlight, his expression full of sentiment.
In less than a week, he actually returned to Star Lake Castle.
While Little Sam was in a daze, a cold, small hand touched his wrist: "Brother Sam, I heard from Master Tyson that this is your family’s ancestral land?"
"Just in the past, now it’s already abandoned." Little Sam held Adar’s hand.
"Our orphanage is abandoned too." Adar did not care about the abandonment at all. Instead, she gazed at the majestic castle in the distance with longing: "Brother Sam, can I stay in a large room later?"
Little Sam hesitated slightly and looked towards Angel.
Angel: "This is your territory. You should arrange the accommodation for Adar and Shanni."
Little Sam nodded in response, then looked at the red-clad girl beside Adar. She cast a cold glance at him, and a chill surged in his heart.
Little Sam quickly turned his head, not daring to look any longer.
This girl named Shanni... is terrifying.
Little Sam did not dare to stare at Shanni any longer, so he walked ahead with his head down, leading everyone into Star Lake Castle, arranging rooms for Adar and Shanni where they could see the lake’s shimmering surface.
After finishing arrangements for Adar and Shanni, Little Sam looked at Angel and Frode.
"You don’t need to arrange our rooms. This time, we’re here to help Frode practice. We’ll look around for the best practice site, and we won’t stay in the castle," Angel paused. "As for you, stay in the castle these days and take care of Adar and Shanni."
Frode also smiled and added: "To be precise, take care of Adar. Shanni will be asleep these days; there’s no need to worry about her."
Shanni, being at the peak of death gas, with a violent and impulsive character, could likely lose control in reality and should spend some time in the Wilderness of Dreams.
Little Sam nodded in agreement: "Okay."
"Then we’ll be off first. You stay safe. If you encounter danger, remember not to act rashly, but to think carefully about the solution." Angel, with a meaningful tone, patted Little Sam’s shoulder, then passed by him, and left Star Lake Castle with Frode, disappearing into the forest.
Little Sam felt uncertain in his heart, mumbling quietly to himself: "Encounter danger? What danger?"