Chapter 61: Plots Chapter 61: Plots "Young Master Dale, I have bribed the spatial master to teleport you, your girls, and the pink-haired one close to each other. I’m sure you’ll succeed this time in turning her eyes toward you," Ravel said with his usual calm, expecting praise for his effort. Dale’s face instantly drained of color. "What the fuck, Ravel! I don’t want to be within a hundred kilometers of her!" he barked, voice trembling with irritation and a hint of fear. "Go back and tell him that only my girls and I are fine—go tell him now!" Even as he spoke, a shiver crawled up his spine, the memory of Lily’s cold gaze flashing in his mind. The instinctive dread that woman gave him still hadn’t faded. Just recalling her sent a chill deep into his marrow. He had even ordered Ravel to inform Zeira about his unwillingness to coax Lily again. When Ravel relayed that message, Zeira’s expression darkened. "Tsk. That girl is probably too attached to that boy," she said, clicking her tongue in annoyance. "Ravel, I suppose the spatial master knows the location of those 3-star beasts? If yes, then you know what to do." Ravel gave a silent nod before cutting the connection. Similar schemes were already in motion, but most of the attention was on Lily. A few lesser academies, however, some even had their eyes on Leo—each trying to bribe the same spatial mage for an advantage. The mage, realizing this was a profitable chance, accepted every offer. After all, no one would ever truly know what he did... or what would happen once they were all in the wild. Leo strolled through the bustling city streets, the evening sun casting long shadows against the cobbled path. He was searching for a new dagger—his old one had dulled, its edge chipped and worn. The blade had served him well, a 30-silver, low-green quality weapon—but its time was over. When he emerged from the weapon shop, a faint metallic scent still clinging to his hands, he carried a single dagger this time. Not a pair. The purchase had cost him 50 silver coins, but it was worth every one. The weapon gleamed faintly under the sunlight—its edges razor-sharp, the lower end serrated like a beast’s fang. The handle, carved from hardened bone, felt solid and cold to the touch. The shopkeeper had promised that with mana infusion, its piercing power would increase, and the blade would never dull until it broke completely. Leo found that believable. As he walked down the street, feeling the weight of the dagger on his hip, a sudden pressure washed over him—heavy. It was a familiar aura. "That old man..." Leo muttered, narrowing his eyes. When he turned, sure enough, Brant was standing there, hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Quite the way you remember me," Brant said in a tone that carried both amusement and authority. "Though I suppose it’s my fault for not giving you my name earlier. People call me Professor Brant. And you?" "Leo," he replied simply. "Nice to meet you, Professor." Even as he spoke politely, Leo’s gaze was steady, cautious. He didn’t yet understand why this man showed such persistent interest in him—but offending him wasn’t an option. Brant radiated power. The kind that couldn’t be faked. "So," Leo said, his tone turning practical, "what’s the matter this time, Professor Brant?" Brant chuckled softly, the lines on his face deepening. "Straightforward as always. Very well, I’ll get to the point—you’re being targeted." Leo’s expression hardened. His hand subconsciously brushed against his dagger’s hilt. "Targeted?" he asked quietly. "From the way you said that, I assume it’s not because of my talent." "That’s correct," Brant replied, his voice calm but heavy. "You’re being targeted because of your little girl. Spirit Caller—one of the rarest and most coveted talents. In some places, it’s even considered superior to Beast Taming itself. Naturally, people want that power tied to their bloodline. And since she doesn’t belong to any great family..." He let the rest hang in the air. Leo’s eyes turned cold. He knew exactly what "integrating her into their family" meant. They didn’t want Lily—they wanted her womb, her bloodline, her gift. The thought alone ignited a quiet fury inside him. That would never happen. "And since you’re telling me this," Leo said evenly, "I assume you have something else in mind?" Brant’s smile returned, though it was softer this time. "Of course. Where there are too many bad people, someone has to balance the scales. Though I won’t claim to be good, I will... help you." Leo could guess what he meant. He remembered the token Brant had given him before. Clearly, the professor still wanted him and Lily to join Aurelius Beast Academy—and helping him now would plant a seed of goodwill. He studied the man carefully, then said, "I suppose being a ’good person’ doesn’t just mean offering obvious information, right?" Brant’s grin widened. He liked this boy’s sharp tongue."Feisty, aren’t you? You’re right. Here—take this." He waved his hand, and two shimmering items materialized from his metal ring, floating in the air before Leo. The mana surrounding them pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. "Interested? Join Aurelius Beast Academy, and I might teach you myself," Brant said, his tone carrying an unspoken promise. "But beware—only those with a high Soul Rank can use these." He watched for Leo’s reaction. Leo remained expressionless, giving nothing away. That told Brant everything. The boy’s indifference wasn’t arrogance—it was confidence. And the fact that he didn’t even flinch at the mention of a high Soul Rank only delighted Brant further. "The chest piece," Brant continued, "is a High Blue-tier Spirit Armour. It can block attacks from three 3-star Beasts in succession. After that, it must be recharged with mana. The neckpiece is Peak Blue-tier—it’ll block one 3-star mental attack before breaking." Leo raised a brow, studying both items. A High Blue-tier chest piece that could withstand three blows was already a lifesaver for the upcoming trial. But still, the idea that the peak-tier neckpiece felt ’lesser’ bothered him. Brant caught the expression and smirked knowingly. "You should understand—mental attacks are far more dangerous than physical ones. You could die standing, never realizing what killed you. People neglect their spiritual defenses, and when faced with a true psychic strike, they die a dog’s death. That’s why elves thrive—they may have fragile bodies, but they are unmatched in spirit warfare." He stopped there, letting the words sink in, his sharp eyes lingering on Leo. Leo frowned slightly, then sighed."Fine... when I choose my academy, I’ll highly consider Aurelius Beast Academy." Brant’s smirk widened, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. The old professor said nothing more, but his silence was louder than any words—he’d gotten exactly what he wanted. But then Leo interrupted. "If you’re giving me such high-level artifacts," he said, narrowing his eyes, "there must be something dangerous waiting for me." Brant chuckled, though the sound carried a strange gravity. "Even I’m not entirely sure what the others have planned," he admitted. His tone turned faintly amused, yet there was a warning buried beneath it. "But be sure of this, kid—once you step into that trial, you’re bound to encounter... interesting things." As his words faded, Brant stepped back—and blurred. Even now, he couldn’t track the old man’s movement or sense the direction he vanished toward. The air itself seemed to ripple and swallow him whole, leaving behind nothing but the faint scent of ozone. Leo clicked his tongue "Tsk... still weak," he muttered, tucking the artifacts into his spiritual space. "I wonder when those Elasian Blooms will blossom." As he walked back through the winding alleys, Brant’s words kept echoing in his mind, each one heavier than the last. "They want Lily..." he thought grimly. "So they probably won’t try anything dangerous with her. That means I’m the scapegoat." He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "A thorough investigation after people die? What a joke. Anyone could claim they were mauled by a beast in an unlucky encounter." His steps slowed. "Lily... there are other Spirit Callers too? No wonder the academies value them so much. Sharing power between spirit and beast—it’s an advantage beyond measure." Then, suddenly, another image crossed his mind—the timid girl who had stood beside Alric. Her nervous eyes. Her trembling hands. "Wait... that girl also had some kind of spirit-related talent. Don’t tell me they plan to send her into combat..." "She’d die alone out there," he muttered. "And not just her. There’ll be others like her—fresh, untested, thrown into a death trap." He frowned deeper, confusion shadowing his face. "What are these academies planning? Half of these kids don’t even understand their own talents yet. They’ll just die like flies. Is this a way to cut down the number of applicants?" He scoffed bitterly. "No, that doesn’t make sense. Talented youths are resources—valuable ones. So what the hell is going on in their minds?" The streets grew quieter as he walked, the air filled with the distant hum of mana lamps flickering on. The chill of evening crept in, brushing against his neck like a warning. By the time he reached their secluded training ground, the sky had dimmed into twilight. Lily was there, still practising with intense focus. Her pink hair glimmered faintly under the mana-lit dusk, and fragments of ruined stone floated and fell around her as she tested her control. Sometimes, she commanded the wind, sharp and cutting. Other times, vines burst from the ground, coiling around debris before snapping it apart. Occasionally, she fused both—creating whirlwinds laced with thorned tendrils that shredded anything caught within. Every motion was precise, yet layered with quiet frustration. She was still exploring her limits, trying to understand her skills. Leo stood silently for a while, arms folded, watching her experiment. Each movement she made stirred faint ripples of mana that tingled against his skin. He couldn’t help but notice something interesting. With all this practice, Leo noticed one thing. The skills that they received from their beast are the fundamental structure of any attack. If it could be expanded, shrunk, or low intensity or high intensity according to the requirement. He didn’t hand any elemental attacks himself, but he figured it out by watching Lily. --- A/N: I am feeling way too sick. The pills I am taking are making my mind foggy, and I cannot concentrate. As soon as I am well, I will start publishing the Chapter at a faster pace.