In the blink of an eye.
Three hours passed.
Outside the Wizard Tower, Ian watched the two wizards leave.
Then he received Horton's summons.
Inside the room, Horton sat on the sofa, his gaze seeming to waver over something.
"Teacher."
Ian entered, his voice low.
Horton raised his head and slowly said, "One piece of good news, one piece of bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Surprise flickered in Ian's eyes.
This was the first time he had heard Horton speak in such a tone. In the past, Horton had essentially always just informed him directly.
It seemed that their journey into the demiplane had indeed drawn them closer together.
"The bad news," Ian said.
"The bad news is that Flint School and Darkriver School have formed an alliance. They intend to drive our school, along with Grayrock School, out of Veridian Forest," Horton said.
Ian's eyes widened.
Without a doubt, this was bad news through and through.
"Then what's the good news?" Ian pursed his lips, finding it hard to imagine what good news could outweigh this.
"I'm planning to take the school and leave Veridian Forest!"
Horton spoke in a deep voice, calmly uttering words that were enough to shake the entire school.
"Leave?"
Ian was stunned. It was an option he had never considered.
"Yes." Horton stood and walked to the Wizard Tower's window, looking down at the school below. "The reason I came to Veridian Forest was for the Veridian Secret Vault. Now that I understand the so-called secret vault was actually an Academy legacy—and that it is a Body-Refining Wizard legacy—there is no meaning in my remaining here!"
He turned to Ian. "I intend to head for the City of Elements. There, I will try cultivating body-refining wizardry. When the right opportunity