“Teacher, let me walk you out.”
“No need. Go take care of your companion first. If they weren’t important, Heavenly Ruler, you wouldn’t have rushed to me. I’m pretty understanding about that.”
Zokilia shot the Heavenly Ruler a you‑know‑what‑I‑mean look. The Heavenly Ruler followed his suggestion, turned, murmured a line to the guards, and stepped back into the room.
The assigned guards came forward and bowed.
“Please allow me to escort you out. Please follow me.”
“Okay.”
In truth, the Heavenly Ruler was guiding them deep through the palace. The palace was built with a fortress mindset. Without a guide, it was easy to get lost. Having a guard lead them out was to keep them from wandering off.
On the way, the three stayed silent. They only spoke when they reached the palace gate.
“Ahead is the city district. My duty here is done. I wish you a pleasant evening.”
The guard offered his farewell and bowed again.
“Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
Ouyang Shi took one look at the gate, looming like a man‑eating monster. She stopped overthinking and matched Zokilia’s pace.
Silence rose between them again. But the setting had changed, and Zokilia had returned to that smiling, eyes‑narrowed look.
“Miss Ouyang Shi, let me answer the doubt in your heart.”
“...”
“I care so much about you because of your potential.”
“Potential?”
“Yes. I can feel a vast possibility hidden in you. But in this mundane world, that potential can’t become true power.”
“Is that so...”
Ouyang Shi neither agreed nor denied.
“Before you doubt me, allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Zokilia von Gilgines, chief director of Atlantis, the world’s strongest Sorcerer training institute.”
!!!
She’d braced herself, but the man before her stood far above her expectations. It was a level she hadn’t even dared to imagine.
Thinking on it, it made sense the Heavenly Ruler called him “Teacher.” There was plenty of valuable intel in that. Including the fact that the Heavenly Ruler was a student of Atlantis.
But why—why would he set his eyes on someone as ordinary as me?
“You’re thinking why I chose you, right? I already said it. I chose your potential.”
“No.”
Though shocked by Zokilia’s identity, her heart didn’t waver. From beginning to end, Ouyang Ge was what mattered most to her. Nothing outweighed her little brother.
“Eh? No?”
Zokilia’s mouth opened in surprise. After people learned who he was, not once had anyone rejected the olive branch he threw.
“No. I have to take care of my brother. Everything else is secondary.”
“...”
In the girl’s eyes burned unmistakable resolve. Zokilia had seen that look many times—this kind of intent doesn’t bend.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with your brother, but I can help.”
“Even if all his muscles have hardened and he can’t move at all?”
“Heh. Miss Ouyang Shi, your view is too narrow. This world holds high tech you don’t know. Your brother can’t move at all? I have ways to fix that.” His smile suddenly turned radiant, like he already knew he’d won. “The condition is simple. Come back to Atlantis with me. Seeing a fine gem like you buried in a dull place pains me.”
“Can you guarantee it?”
“Heh. Miss Ouyang Shi, are you naïve enough to trust a stranger’s verbal promise?”
“No.”
“Then that’s that. What I’m giving you is a possibility. If you dare to believe me, you might save your brother.”
“...”
She had to admit it—Zokilia’s words were fatally tempting to Ouyang Shi. She’d been bound, shackled by a man named Ouyang Long. If she disobeyed, her brother’s life slipped into danger. She’d endured that all this time. And the man before her offered another choice, a path with far more freedom.
Zokilia’s status was already the strongest assurance, with or without a promise.
“I want to think about it...”
“No problem, no problem. I was only afraid you’d flat‑out refuse. I’ll stay in Radiance until the Magic Exchange Conference ends. By tomorrow’s sunset, I hope for a satisfying answer.”
Unwittingly, they’d reached a fork. The Ouyang Clan’s hotel lay down the right‑hand road. Zokilia knew she wanted the path ahead, so he offered his parting words.
“Lastly, take this.”
He lifted Ouyang Shi’s hand and set the necklace he’d bought earlier into it.
“This...”
“No hidden meaning. I just want this necklace on a beautiful girl, so it can shine at its brightest. Farewell.”
He let go and walked the other way.
She watched him fade into the street’s shadows. Only then did she look at what lay in her palm—the silver necklace reflecting a lovely light in the moon.
“Xiao Ge...”
She tightened her grip on the necklace. In truth, her heart had already decided.
...
The next day was the final day of the Magic Exchange Conference, and of the exchange matches.
Everyone had their eyes on the ultimate prize: a promise from the Heavenly Ruler. The final four, carrying their own motives and others’ expectations, burned with hunger for victory.
“Mom, what should I ask the Heavenly Ruler for after I win?”
In the Ouyang Clan’s prep room, Ouyang Feng spoke lightly to her mother, Ouyang Lijia.
“Xiao Feng, don’t get cocky. Your opponents aren’t easy. Keep a serious mind.”
“Hmph. Whoever it is, my [Blazing Flame] will burn them all!”
At ten, Ouyang Feng had the proper dose of reckless bravado. Ouyang Lijia didn’t deny it. She just smiled and patted her daughter’s head in tacit approval—was that deliberate?
[Now, will the Ouyang Clan’s competitor Ouyang Feng and the Huang Clan’s Huang Shiyao please take the stage!]
“Xiao Feng, let’s go. Show them the pride of the Ouyang Clan!”
“Okay, Mom!”
Buoyed by her mother’s encouragement, Ouyang Feng left the room, full of pride.
