“Let’s stop here.”
Because he had encountered Airella ahead of schedule, and the knights lurking around their hideout eyed them like hungry wolves, Lin Yue changed his plans.
After spending a night, Lin Yue decided to set off for Avelina immediately.
At least in Avelina, personal safety was somewhat guaranteed.
If he ran into danger in the wild, with his current strength, he might not even survive.
“Eh? You don’t even know basic magic?”
Airella spoke inside the small tent they had just set up.
“Uh, that’s about right.”
Lin Yue fiddled with a small wand, replying with some embarrassment.
Airella took a deep breath and, with a tone that said she didn’t know what to do with him, said, “Listen up. Magic is basically guiding the mana in the air and transforming it into all sorts of powers.”
“So, the key is the process and efficiency of gathering mana. First, you need to understand the different meanings between spells…”
“I know all that, but…”
As someone from the modern world, he simply couldn’t imagine what it felt like to gather mana.
Basic magic was just things like Fireball—it’s not like he couldn’t say the words.
It’s just, nothing happened when he shouted, and he had no idea what mana even was, so he had no clue how to learn.
“Hmm… Well, I can’t blame you. After all, you come from a family of warriors… By the way, why did you want to study at the Magic Academy? Even though the academy has warrior training, they only teach up to Tier Three at best.”
Did I have a choice?
Obviously, he couldn’t say that out loud.
“Who knows? Maybe I just felt magic could do more things.”
Lin Yue glanced at the sky, feeling it was about time to rest, and said, “We’ve already entered Avelina territory. We should reach the academy tomorrow. Let’s rest early tonight; one push and we’ll get there.”
…
After Airella fell asleep, Lin Yue quietly crawled up from his bedding and walked toward a nearby water source.
“Fireball!”
No reaction at all.
“Fireball Promax ultra!”
Obviously, that didn’t work either.
Why…
Other transmigrators get cheats or golden fingers to help them level up.
Why is it, for me, as if I have to figure everything out on my own…
Sure, I like playing games on hard mode, but this is a matter of life and death.
Just as Lin Yue was feeling discouraged, a sound sliced through the air from afar.
Whoosh!
Like a shooting star, a girl whose pupils shone like amethysts rode a broom through the sky.
The light was dim, so Lin Yue couldn’t see who she was.
But Lin Yue felt as though she had been watching him all along.
The sensation lasted a few seconds before the girl quickly flew away.
“Fly…”
Suddenly, Lin Yue found inspiration.
What if he gathered energy in his palm, like Iron Man?
In an instant, a warm current surged from his dantian to his arm.
Could it be!
“Fireball!”
Boom!
…
The next day.
“Ah…”
Lin Yue lay completely sprawled atop the silver wolf Riel, utterly drained of strength and energy.
“It’s normal to lose control the first time you use magic. Just rest a while and you’ll be fine.”
Airella seemed to be in a great mood, humming a song as she rode Riel at her leisure.
So I really overdid it and wrung myself dry…
Lin Yue raised his hand and gazed at the sky.
Still, the feeling of using magic—it’s not bad at all.
Before long, they arrived at the main gate of Avelina Magic Academy.
The magnificent white magic tower pierced the clouds, and the huge archway above was engraved with obscure magical runes that emitted a faint halo.
Looking at the scene before him, Lin Yue couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
This was the place he’d entered countless times in the game, and now it finally appeared before him, real and tangible.
“We’re here.”
Airella jumped down from Riel’s back and patted the silver wolf’s head.
“Riel, you can go back for now. I’ll summon you when I need you.”
The silver wolf growled lowly, nuzzled Airella’s palm with its head, then turned and ran into the nearby forest.
“Lin Yue, you also… huh?”
Airella turned her head, only to find Lin Yue had disappeared.
…
“Ha… It really is different in person.”
It felt so good to meet these old acquaintances with his own eyes.
Lin Yue stroked every building here, as if he’d left traces in these places in a previous life.
As for Airella… she would handle the entrance exam herself.
He didn’t have to worry.
Because Lin Yue Hawk had been invited directly, there was no need for a magic test—he just had to take the written exam.
“Stop.”
Just as Lin Yue wanted to wander around some more and maybe find a good free place to stay, a very familiar voice sounded in his ear.
This voice, could it be…
Ah, as expected, it’s her.
“Sister, did you run into someone you know… oh, it’s him.”
What a narrow world—he didn’t expect to run into these two sisters here.
The Valiana sisters stared directly at Lin Yue, one filled with hostility, the other slightly confused.
How should he face these two…
Lin Yue didn’t want to cause any trouble at this juncture.
It had already been over a month since the marriage alliance incident; running into them now was just awkward.
He wondered what had happened to the two of them after they returned…
While Lin Yue was lost in thought, Isabella suddenly interrupted in a tone of utter disdain: “What are you staring at, scum…”
She crossed her arms and looked proud and haughty—just like a pampered young lady.
With her identity reversed, she finally found an outlet for the restraint she’d held during the engagement.
“Ah, apologies to you both. I was just thinking about something and spaced out.”
There was no trace of apology on Lin Yue’s face; his expression didn’t even change.
Isabella was clearly displeased by his nonchalant attitude.
What she hated most was Lin Yue’s spoiled, playboy manner, as if nothing in the world could concern him.
“Sister…” Bella whispered in a voice only the two sisters could hear.
“Mm.”
Following her sister’s cue, she spoke, with a trace of mockery, “I didn’t expect to see you here at Avelina Magic Academy, where geniuses gather and elites meet.”
“Must be thanks to your family’s influence, Lord Hawk. Congratulations…”
Isabella feigned surprise, covering her mouth sarcastically.
“Oh, I forgot you’ve already been kicked out of your family. My apologies.”
So word had already spread about him being driven out of the family.
But how many people actually believed it was another story.
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow but didn’t reply.
He could tell that the disgust and disdain in her tone was real, but there was little true hostility.
It felt more like she just wanted to vent.
“If I’ve ever offended you before, I hope Miss Bena and Miss Bella can forgive me, I…”
“Don’t call us that.”
Isabella grew angrier when he shortened their names.
“We’re not close. Put away that disgusting face of yours; it’s annoying just to look at.”
Beside her, Isabella watched calmly, though a glint of something flashed in her eyes.
Lin Yue finally apologized, but his tone was so flat, it was like talking about the weather: “Mm, I overstepped. I apologize to you both.”
His apology was too casual, lacking any sincerity, and sounded perfunctory.
Seeing his stubborn indifference, Isabella grew even angrier and was about to escalate things, but her sister interrupted her just in time.
“Sister, this is the academy. I know you dislike him, but it’s best not to cause a scene.”
Hearing her sister, Isabella closed her eyes, wearing an expression of distaste, as if unwilling to look at Lin Yue’s annoying face again.
Ha, I’ve really been thoroughly hated.
Lin Yue glanced at the sisters, then remembered something important and said, “Excuse me, ladies, I must take my leave…”
With that, he turned and left.
…
The Valiana sisters watched Lin Yue’s departing figure in silence.
“Sister, I still feel something is off.”
“You’re overthinking it… he’s nothing but a good-for-nothing scoundrel.”
Isabella didn’t deny it.
Watching Lin Yue walk away, she sounded almost relieved: “But thanks to him, we don’t have to worry about that marriage alliance for a long time. We’ve got enough time now to prove we can become powerful magicians ourselves…”
Because of what happened that day, the Valiana family was enraged and stopped searching for suitable matches, letting the sisters enroll first and reconsider the matter later.
Isabella knew well that if the two of them couldn’t become famous magisters, their ultimate fate would likely be to become bargaining chips.
For herself, and for her sister, she had no choice but to become stronger.
Just a little more, and one of them would have become a caged canary.
Isabella fell silent, gazing at her sister, her thoughts unknown.
“To become powerful magicians and prove ourselves…”
She looked up at the sky, a trace of reluctance in her eyes.
“Sister, what’s wrong?”
Isabella noticed her sister’s odd mood but didn’t know the reason.
Isabella merely picked up her wand and walked in the direction Lin Yue had gone.
“It’s nothing… We still need to do the mana test, let’s go.”