"Lin Luo? Lin Luo?"

A faint, youthful fragrance brushed Lin Luo’s senses. He opened his eyes to see You Xun’s pink lips hovering startlingly close. Startled, he nearly stumbled backward, making You Xun jump too. Instinctively moving in opposite directions to regain balance, their faces almost collided.

You Xun hastily stepped back. "What are you doing? You scared me! I thought something was wrong—you were just sitting there spacing out!"

Her fingers subconsciously touched her plump pink lips, as if checking whether her first kiss was still intact. *Shouldn’t have leaned in so close to check on him,* she thought, *or even considered healing him.*

"Sorry. I was lost in thought," Lin Luo said, standing up.

"Lost in thought?" Feier’s puzzled voice cut in. Tall and curvy, she stood nearby, her face shaded by her hat brim under the sunlight.

Lin Luo flipped his palm open, revealing a crystal-clear fruit.

"What... what is this? It’s so beautiful. So tempting," Feier murmured.

"Lin Luo, what’s gotten into you?" You Xun scolded. "You’ve been acting all weird and distracted since earlier. We’ve wasted so much hunting time and caught nothing. What if we lose the bet?"

"Patience," Lin Luo said, pacing a few steps uphill for effect before turning. "I made that wager last night for a reason—*this* fruit."

"This fruit?" You Xun frowned.

Lin Luo turned to Feier. "I can help you awaken your latent magic. Become a true mage."

"Eh? Really?" Feier’s eyes sparkled with hope.

*Hiding my identity while helping her... no elegant explanation comes to mind.* Lin Luo decided blunt honesty would work better on this busty woman. "Exactly. After awakening, Feier eats this fruit. Her magical aptitude will soar. With a mage on our team, how could we fail to hunt?"

"Lin Luo?" You Xun pressed a hand to his forehead. "Are you feverish? ‘Awakening Feier’? ‘Aptitude-boosting fruit’? Nothing you’ve said since your daze makes sense!"

"I—I’m telling the truth!" *Damn. Just obtained this treasure, almost kissed You Xun... got carried away. No plausible lie ready. Even the truth would sound insane now.*

"Nonsense!" You Xun snapped. "Awakening only comes through divine guidance, like—" She froze mid-sentence. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait! Did a god guide *you* just now?"

"Eh?"

"The Goddess showed you how to awaken Feier, didn’t She? Just like the Goddess of Light guided me yesterday!" You Xun gazed at him with pure, earnest eyes. "I knew it. You’re reliable, Lin Luo. You’d never joke about this. Right?"

"Ah... close enough." *She even crafted my excuse for me.*

"Then... how do I awaken?" Han Lianfei asked. *You Xun and Jiang Xiang awakened. In this world, the impossible is possible.*

"I know an initiation ritual. It draws out hidden talent. If you have the gift, you’ll awaken. If not... no ritual can force it."

"Lin Luo!" You Xun clasped her hands over her heart, praying for his forgiveness. "This ritual *must* be divine! Admit it, or you insult the gods!"

"Ah—yes! Some... ancient god..."

You Xun nodded reverently. "Of course. That god forbids you from naming Him. I understand. I won’t pry again."

"B-But..." Feier fidgeted, hands resting nervously over her chest. "What if I’m not mage material?"

*You’re plenty ‘material’,* Lin Luo almost blurted.

"Does the ritual harm the body if it fails?" You Xun pressed.

"No risk."

"Then try it, Feier?"

"Mm!" Han Lianfei clenched her tiny fists. "I *will* awaken! With Xiao Lin Luo guiding me!"

Beneath the shade of a great tree, the trio prepared.

*She’s taller than me in those heels,* Lin Luo noted, stealing a glance at Feier.

*Stay calm. You’re the God Emperor. A mere girl’s touch won’t unsettle the one who grasps cosmic truths.* He steadied his breath.

"Now... for the awakening ritual, Feier." He forced his voice level, turning his head away. "Please... lift your skirt."

"EHHH?!" Both girls flushed crimson.

"Lin Luo! What are you saying?" You Xun cried. "You’re not that kind of guy! Don’t tell me *this* is divine guidance too!"

"Lin Luo..." Feier twisted her body away, gripping her robe’s fabric. "You can’t be serious."

"Misunderstandings!" Lin Luo rushed to explain. "Female awakenings require channeling energy *below the navel*. The ritual *must* touch that spot directly—robes block the flow. You know this, You Xun!"

You Xun’s eyes widened in realization. "Oh! Feier’s wearing a one-piece robe... lifting the skirt *is* the only way. Lin Luo, you should’ve explained first! I thought you were being a pervert!"

"Eh? I..." Feier’s face burned cherry-red.

"Feier, look at Lin Luo’s face," You Xun urged. "See how pure he looks? Boys like him don’t lust after girls. Trust me—I know these things. I’ll stay with you."

*‘Know these things’? From what dubious novel, miss?!*

Yet Han Lianfei seemed swayed.

"O-Okay..."

Han Lianfei—wealthy daughter of Mystic City—had always lived a lively social life, blessed with beauty and privilege.

*But who am I truly? What makes me different from the sea of flawless girls? I’m prettier than most... yet countless others shine brighter. What is my true will? What makes me... unique?*

In that instant, Han Lianfei’s eyes shifted. The polished, personality-free beauty flickered. An otherworldly glint surfaced—a flicker of madness.

The madness of a mage awakening.