Advancement Magic (3K)

The moment she launched the attack, He Wei Ni Ya felt regret.

Because it was too rushed, really too rushed.

Just as Bai Wei said, everything He Wei Ni Ya did today was to tell the person lurking in the shadows that if he didn't act, he would have no chance. Because he couldn't snatch the person under Finnis's watchful eye, and even if He Wei Ni Ya failed in the end, the music and the score wouldn't fall into his hands.

So, it was He Wei Ni Ya who forced him to show up before the Seven Sound Festival countdown.

She knew that the other person was definitely keeping an eye on her.

So when He Wei Ni Ya saw the figure hiding in the shadows and spying on her, her first thought was that guy, and she immediately launched an attack on him.

But when she launched the attack, she suddenly realized that it was not a good time; she was not ready.

With three days left until the Seven Sound Festival holiday, she could use those three days to prepare thoroughly, at least learning all the private scores Ariana had given her.

But now, she has taken the initiative.

We've alerted the enemy.

It can only be said that her conversation with Bai Wei just now greatly affected her thoughts, preventing her from making the right judgment immediately.

Since that's the case, I'll just give him a quick chase, then pretend I can't catch him and let him go.

He Wei Ni Ya thought this, but she soon realized that the person she was chasing seemed to be... somewhat panicked and disoriented.

Without retaliating or using magic, he simply ran, leaving a trail of footprints of varying depths in the snow, looking quite panicked and disheveled.

This allowed He Wei Ni Ya, who was empowered by magic, to easily close the distance.

Could the person targeting her be that weak?

He Wei Ni Ya became suspicious, so she raised her staff again and aimed it at the other person's feet.

Then, with a "bang," a secret technique shot out, and the man fell to the ground in the snow.

He Wei Ni Ya caught up with him easily and pressed her staff against his forehead before he could look up.

"Who are you?" He Wei Ni Ya asked coldly.

The other person slowly raised their head, allowing He Wei Ni Ya to see that incredibly familiar face, and she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"Auger?"

Auger sat properly in the snow, and He Wei Ni Ya, who was standing beside him, moved her wrist holding the staff slightly, and the wound on Auger's leg healed quickly.

He kept his head down and spoke in a voice barely audible, "Th-thank you."

He Wei Ni Ya raised her eyebrows, clearly displeased, and said, "Why are you thanking me?"

"... Thank you for treating me."

"Do you think I need to hear this from you?" He Wei Ni Ya poked Auger's head with her staff. "Shouldn't you tell me what you were doing there?"

"I, I... I came to give you this." Whether it was from the cold, the pain from his injury, or something else, Auger's body trembled slightly, but he still managed to take a book out of his pocket and stammered to He Wei Ni Ya, "I think you must be in a hurry, so, so, so want to give it to you as soon as possible."

He Wei Ni Ya looked at the book in Auger's hand.

The book is titled "The Lost Score," and it has a seal that reads, "This book is prohibited from being taken out of the library and is not allowed to be read by students below the fourth grade."

This is the book she asked Auger for during the day.

She was silent for a moment, then took the book and tapped his head with her staff. "That's not what I was asking you. You could have just come to me when you got here, why did you run away when you saw me?"

Auger kept his head down and didn't say anything.

This surprised He Wei Ni Ya, because Auger had never failed to respond to her before.

So she narrowed her eyes slightly, deciding to provoke Auger: "What? You know I've been affected by the Caressing Technique, so you think I'm no longer clean, so..."

Auger immediately raised his head, his face filled with terror. "No, no, no, how could I think that!"

"Then why did you run away when you saw me?!" He Wei Ni Ya asked angrily. "Don't you already hate me? Don't you no longer consider me a friend?"

No, that's not how it is.

"Then why?!"

"No, I just, I just..."

"Just what?" He Wei Ni Ya pressed. "Speak up, are you afraid to say it?"

"I just..." Auger's face flushed red, "I just heard you were leaving!"

He Wei Ni Ya was slightly taken aback. "What?"

Auger realized he had said the wrong thing and lowered his head again.

This time, however, he didn't remain silent. Instead, he said in a very low voice, "I... I saw you coming out with that senior from the Second Academy. I... I didn't mean to. I just wanted to give you a book, but I saw you, and then I heard from other people that you're leaving the Third Academy after the Seven Sound Festival, so... so..."

His voice grew softer and softer until it finally became an extremely soft "I'm sorry".

He Wei Ni Ya glanced at Auger, then at the book in her hand, and then leaned to the side and sat down next to Auger.

Auger was startled and instinctively turned his head to see He Wei Ni Ya's almost perfect profile, with an even more perfect smile.

"So that's what happened. Did you think I wouldn't come back?"

Auger somewhat stunned. "No, isn't that right?"

"Of course not," He Wei Ni Ya said. "I came back right after the Grand Ceremony."

"The Grand Ceremony must continue..."

"It's only a few months." He Wei Ni Ya tilted her head and looked at Auger. "What? Does that mean we won't be friends anymore after I come back in a few months?"

"Of course not!"

"That settles it!" He Wei Ni Ya slapped Auger hard on the back. "Besides, aren't you happy for me that I can attend the Grand Ceremony?"

"Of course I'm happy!"

"Do you think I'll receive the final blessing?"

"You definitely can!" Aug Auger had been stuttering a bit, began to speak fluently. "You definitely can, He Wei Ni Ya."

"Really?" He Wei Ni Ya suddenly looked worried. "But I feel like I'm really much worse than other gold-ranked players."

"How could that be, He Wei Ni Ya? You're the best!"

"Is that so?" He Wei Ni Ya's eyes smiled like crescent moons. "Hmph, I hope the Lord of Holy Sound your opinion, then I'm sure I'll receive the grace!"

After several exchanges, the two seemed to have forgotten what had happened earlier.

They sat there as if they were in Ariana's classroom.

After a long while, He Wei Ni Ya finally stood up from the snow, stretching as she said, "Ahhh, we've been chatting so late again. I have to go back now, otherwise I'll have to spend the night with you again."

Upon hearing the words "spend the night together," Auger's cheeks flushed red again, and he was speechless for a long time.

He watched as He Wei Ni Ya stood under the colored lights, tilting her head and looking at him.

"Auger, the Seven Sound Festival is almost here," He Wei Ni Ya asked. "Do you have a wish?"

"A wish?"

"Yes, didn't you know? On the Seven Sound Festival, if you weave your wishes into a melody and sing it out completely, you will receive the blessing of the Lord of Holy Sound."

Auger was a little stunned. He seemed to have never thought about such a question before, so he stammered and asked, "I... I don't know... So what is your wish?"

"My wish~" He Wei Ni Ya smiled, her eyes narrowed, "I won't tell you."

"Ah."

"But I will perform it at the Grand Ceremony," He Wei Ni Ya's voice trailed off, "And it will be a solo."

"Ah, you, what did you say? I didn't hear you."

"Nothing."

He Wei Ni Ya shook her head, brushing the snowflakes from her hair, and then waved to Auger.

"Going now, and happy Seven Sound Festival!"

With that, He Wei Ni Ya turned and left.

Only Auger remained, standing alone in the dark snow, watching He Wei Ni Ya's figure disappear into the brightly colored lights.

Then, he spoke softly, in a voice only he could hear.

"Why... am I not a Gold Rank?"

No one could hear him, so he turned and walked away, going in the opposite direction from He Wei Ni Ya.

"How pitiful," Bai Wei's voice echoed in He Wei Ni Ya's mind, "A dog that walked into darkness."

"Does Mr. Visas actually have any compassion?"

"Yes, there were two more, but only one was given to him."

"Then where is the other one?"

"The other one was given to a foolish moth that flew into the fire," Bai Wei replied with a smile.

He Wei Ni Ya fell silent, but said nothing, and walked alone into the blazing, fiery splendor.

After saying goodbye to He Wei Ni Ya, Auger hurriedly ran into the library.

He still has to keep watch tonight.

The Seven Sound Festival held no special meaning for him, who had risen from the Seed Zone.

If I had to say, the reward for keeping watch during the Seven Sound Festival is a little more than usual.

However, he had lingered too long at He Wei Ni Ya, and it was already quite late. If the librarian caught him now, he would definitely get a scolding.

Thinking this, Auger quickened his pace.

When they arrived at the library, Auger felt a sudden jolt of anxiety.

Because he saw the light.

Logically speaking, there should be no one here at this time.

... So the administrator found out after all?

Auger forced himself to go inside, and as soon as he entered, he immediately bowed and apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Manager, I'm late!"

But no one answered him.

The room was so quiet that you could only hear your own echo.

Auger looked up and, sure enough, saw no one. There was only a candle and an open book on the table.

As for the person who was reading the book, no one knows where they went.

Has the administrator left?

Auger walked forward with some confusion.

For some reason, he always felt there was a strange smell in the building.

It's like... blood.

Auger was startled by his own thoughts, and then involuntarily recalled the Snowthorn Beast in the Forbidden Forest that had been circulating in the academy these past few days.

He immediately tensed up.

... Could it be that Snowthorn Beast has wandered into the library?

Auger hesitated whether to grab a chair for self-defense, after all, although he was a musician, he didn't even have a staff because of his low rank.

But in those few seconds of hesitation, he walked to the candlelight, glanced at the open book, and was immediately stunned.

Because the title of that book, when opened, was clearly—

"Advancement Magic".

I actually wrote 7,000 words today, that must have been really hard work for me.

I'd also like to recommend this book.

When he came into this world, Sleeping Beauty had not yet been born, the Little Mermaid had not yet met the prince, and the tea party behind the rabbit hole had not yet welcomed a girl named Alice. Then, he arrived—the magician of miracles and wishes.