The wind, carrying the scent of fresh grass, swept across the plain.
Charlotte landed with Lilia in this wide-open space— a place with rolling low hills in the distance and not a single thing to block their view nearby.
The sky was as clear as if it had been washed by water, sunlight spilling across the lush green grass and refracting a gentle halo.
It was the perfect place for a beginner to learn Magic.
Charlotte turned, his gaze falling on Lilia’s face, which was flushed with excitement. In a soft voice, he asked, “Lilia, may I ask you a question?”
“Hmm?” The girl blinked her crystal blue eyes, still shining with the joy of flight. “If you have anything you want to ask, Charlotte, just say it.”
Charlotte shook his head slightly, his tone slowing as if he were telling a simple story. “It’s a simple question, like the ones teachers used to ask when we were little—What kind of person do you want to become in the future.” He paused, his gaze growing serious. “Lilia Karen, why do you want to learn Magic?”
This question was simple, but Charlotte knew most people wouldn’t have an answer for it.
Sure enough, Lilia was taken aback, her excitement fading a little as she furrowed her brows and fell into brief thought.
Charlotte watched Lilia’s momentary confusion, then clapped his hands to pull her attention back from her thoughts.
“Lilia, there are many reasons to learn Magic. I never judge others for their purpose in learning Magic, nor does it affect how I see them.
Some people think learning Magic is cool, some learn it to kill, some learn it to make a living… all those answers are valid.
Not everyone needs some lofty goal for studying Magic—like unraveling the origin of the world or discovering the truth of Magic. Those are just empty words.”
Lilia listened, dazed, then slowly nodded. Her gaze drifted to the distant sky, and her voice held a faint trace of sorrow that was hard to notice. “I study Magic for my mother.”
“Your mother?”
“Mm.” The girl’s gaze floated toward the depths of the clouds, as if piercing through time itself. “Before she passed, Mother told me how much she wished she could live to see the day I became a great mage… But, sadly, she couldn’t wait that long.”
“So you’re studying Magic to fulfill your mother’s last wish?”
“Not entirely.” Lilia turned, her eyes shimmering. “I want to become an amazing mage like my mother, and I want to enter Kalishi Academy—Mother left something there, and I want to look for it.”
“I see. No wonder you want to enter Kalishi Academy. Professor Cecilia is truly an outstanding Magic teacher at Kalishi Academy.”
He had once read Cecilia Karen’s papers. That mage, who spent her whole life pursuing the pinnacle of Ice Magic, had longed to create a unique Ice Magic system for the Karen Family, but sadly passed away before she could accomplish it.
“I understand how you feel now.” Charlotte’s eyes grew incomparably serious as he spoke each word clearly. “From now on, I will teach you everything I know, until you can pass the Kalishi Academy entrance exam.”
“Alright!” Lilia nodded vigorously, fighting spirit blazing in her eyes as she respectfully called out, “Teacher Charlotte! I’ll give it my all!”
Seeing this, Charlotte took out a finely crafted rosewood box from his cloak. Its edges were inlaid with a rim of silver, radiating understated luxury.
He handed the box to Lilia. The girl hesitated for a moment, then quickly accepted it with both hands, her fingertips brushing the warm, smooth surface as curiosity filled her heart.
“Open it and have a look.” Charlotte smiled as he gestured.
Lilia carefully lifted the lid. Inside lay a Mage’s Staff.
This staff wasn’t made from any ordinary magic wood, but from a rare Magic crystal. Every carving on it looked meticulously etched, and Silver Vine wound around the handle. At the end was a crest—the emblem of the Mistmoon Family.
“This is my gift to you. I made this staff myself. I used it for a few years. There’s a Magic Array in the staff that activates with just a trace of Magic Power. It can help stabilize your Magic Power when it becomes chaotic.”
Lilia’s blue-green eyes sparkled with starlight. “Thank you! This staff is so beautiful…”
Charlotte said, “Once you get into Kalishi Academy, I’ll make you an even better one. This staff is actually a bit small.”
At those words, Lilia subconsciously compared it to the mage’s staffs she remembered. Most were about 1.2 meters long—the standard size.
Over time, staff styles had diversified: her father, as a Magic Swordsman, used the Blue Rose Sword as his medium for casting spells; but most mages still preferred staffs, since they were easily recognized and the craftsmanship was already industrialized.
Magic gear shops in all major cities sold them, and they were easy to replace if damaged.
Thinking about it, Lilia also found it odd. Mages often used magical tools to enhance their Magic Power, but she’d never seen Charlotte use any—not even once. And now he’d given his staff away.
“Charlotte, you gave me your staff. Do you have a spare?” Lilia asked.
“Staff? Hehehe, I don’t need one.” Charlotte was full of confidence, and with good reason.
Most mages used a staff to enhance control over Magic Power, reduce energy loss, manipulate elements, or speed up spellcasting. But Charlotte simply didn’t need any of that.
He could do without any improvement from a staff. He didn’t even need to chant to cast simple spells; he could simultaneously wield multiple elements in an instant.
“That’s true.” After studying with Charlotte these past days, Lilia finally understood why her father was so astonished when he saw Charlotte use Magic.
Charlotte was a complete anomaly. Though he seemed to be a Third-tier Mage on the surface, his true strength was far beyond that.
The mage rank system meant nothing to someone like Charlotte.
“Alright, close your eyes. But I won’t teach you any Magic just yet. I want you to first feel your Magic Power. Relax. Don’t resist.”
Charlotte spoke to Lilia.
Lilia immediately nodded obediently and slowly closed her eyes.
On the quiet plain, only the sound of summer wind brushing against the grass remained, gently enveloping the two of them.
After that, there was nothing but the soft touch of the summer breeze on the tranquil open ground.
In the next moment, Lilia suddenly felt a vast yet gentle surge of Magic Power sweep over her, like an endless ocean wrapping her up.
That was Charlotte’s Magic Power, unleashed without reservation. It was pure and strong, yet suffused with a comforting warmth.
“Now, borrow my Magic Power…”
“Feel the existence of Magic Power. No need to rush. I’ll make sure your first experience is wonderful.”
Lilia’s mind seemed to enter a new world, surrounded entirely by Charlotte’s Magic Power.
The Magic Power here didn’t resist her at all; it felt as though it belonged to her, and she could shape it at will with her heart.
So warm… It was like lying in a bundle of soft cotton.
Lilia’s own Magic Power was drawn forth as well, surging through her body. For the first time, she could feel this power flowing within her, so comfortable she nearly fell asleep.
“Alright, now use what you’ve learned and try casting a spell.”
Lilia focused, following Charlotte’s guidance as she silently recited the Magic runes in her mind.
Gradually, she felt a light force gathering in her palm, following Charlotte’s Magic Power, slowly taking shape and growing stronger.
A crystal blue Magic Array appeared on her hands.
“Charlotte, I did it! I really did it!” Lilia looked at the Magic Array coiling around her hands in delight.
Seeing how Lilia condensed her Magic Power, Charlotte couldn’t help but marvel. Truly, elves were a race blessed by Magic.
“A very excellent and beautiful Magic Array, Lilia. Congratulations. You’re now officially a First-tier Mage. As long as you learn a few more spells, I believe that among First-tier Mages, there will be very few who can defeat you.”