At the door to the room.
"I choose the path of the Hunter."
"I'm sorry, my lord. Please forgive my willfulness."
Although he had made the choice he desired, Berg's face was filled with unease. He even lowered his head, not daring to look at Xian.
Because he knew that choosing the orthodox path of a knight was what a qualified attendant ought to do, an opportunity that countless people dreamed of yet never received.
But inheriting his father's last wish was one thing. He still needed at least a year to advance to knighthood. How could he shoulder the responsibility of protecting his lord during that year?
He no longer wanted to have the sword knocked from his hand so easily by enemies in front of his lord. He hoped that would be the last time! "Do what you want to do. That is by no means willful, and I believe you can go farther on the path of a Hunter and bring me greater glory."
"Just as we agreed long ago: you offer me your loyalty, and I protect your path toward strength. That is my responsibility."
Xian spoke calmly.
At those words, the youth clenched his hands tightly. Tears seemed to glimmer in his brown eyes.
"Your Highness, thank you for saving me from the wolf pack and taking me in as your attendant to guide my path."
"I, Berg Chu, swear before the gods that even if one day I lose my human form and become a beast, I will remember my lord's kindness and forever, forever feast upon the flesh and blood of his enemies!"
At midnight, a full moon hung high in the deep night sky, spilling down countless threads of silver light.
At the top of the clock tower.
A petite silver-haired girl stood beside an enormous bronze bell, gazing at the moon in the sky.
She wore a white dress, her silver hair flowing like a waterfall in the night breeze, shimmering with ripples woven from moonlight.
The wind lifted a corner of her skirt, revealing slender, jade-like ankles.
Her heterochromatic red and gray eyes reflected the full moon. One hand rested lightly on the slightly rusted bronze bell, its snow-white fingertips stained with a faint green patina.
Tap, tap, tap.
At that moment, footsteps came from the spiral staircase. Hearing them, the girl stopped gazing at the moon and turned to stand respectfully at the side.
"Good evening, Your Highness."
After the Black-Haired Youth stepped onto the upper floor, the girl lightly lifted the hem of her white dress and bowed with the utmost respect.
"Ilith, you look beautiful today."
Looking at the girl before him, radiant beneath the moonlight, Xian's black eyes flashed with a hint of amazement. He extended his right hand, palm up, before her.
Ilith's pretty face reddened slightly at the sight, but she slowly placed her hand in Xian's palm.
Xian then bent down and gently kissed the back of her hand.
A hand-kiss greeting. One of the books he had read today was Noble Etiquette.
"Your Highness, today happens to be a full moon, the best time to practice the Moonlight Meditation. Please begin your visualization immediately."
Ilith spoke softly.
"Alright."
Following Ilith's instructions, Xian sat cross-legged in the best spot on the upper floor, directly facing the full moon in the sky.
"Your Highness, this is a potion that can help you begin the meditation technique. Please drink it."
Ilith took out a pale blue potion and handed it to Xian.
Viscount Hughes had bought it years ago when she had first begun studying magic. He had bought an entire crate, but she had sensed magic after using only three or four bottles, so the rest had been piled in the storage room ever since.
Xian hesitated for a moment before gulping down the potion.
After all, Ilith had no reason to drug him.
Tsk, it actually tasted pretty sweet, like he was drinking a mild dessert wine.
After drinking the potion, Xian felt his mind inexplicably empty out, while his emotions became as calm as still water.
"Remember the appearance of the full moon in the night sky."
"Close your eyes, relax your breathing, and listen to the wind's whispers."
"Picture the full moon you just memorized within your mind."
The girl's soft, kitten-like voice sounded beside his ear, and Xian followed its instructions step by step.
He tried his best to picture the full moon in the night sky amid utter darkness.
With more than a decade of experience in Absent-mindedness during class, he unexpectedly found it easy.
"Your Highness, imagine your soul leaving your body. Imagine yourself standing alone on the full moon, looking down at the pitch-black continent and at your own body."
Ilith's guidance continued.
Xian continued to follow her instructions, and what he felt now was quite strange.
It was as though his soul had truly left his body, giving him a free, ethereal sensation.
Soon, his consciousness gradually grew hazy, and all he could remember was that bright moon.
On the clock tower, Ilith watched Xian, who was utterly motionless and even breathing slowly. Shock flashed through her flawless ruby-like eyes.
Because this was precisely the sign of successful meditation.
Back then, it had taken her an entire week to meditate successfully, and even then, her teacher had praised her as an unprecedented genius in the world of mages!
Her teacher had claimed that if not for her Heterochromatic Eyes, she would certainly have been taken to the sacred land of all mages—the Star Tower—to study the world's most profound magic.
Yet His Highness had needed only one hour. This could no longer be described as mere genius. He could practically be called the world's beloved son!
"Is this the blessing brought by the faith of 1.4 Billion people?"
Ilith looked at the white title above Xian's head—"Heir to a Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens"—and a trace of complexity flashed through her beautiful eyes.
Having read every book in the entire library, she knew very well that the faith of intelligent beings was itself a form of power.
"A world where Heterochromatic Eyes are not seen as an omen of misfortune... I really want to see it!"
The girl looked at the spot on the back of her hand that had been kissed and murmured to herself.
This was the first time someone had called her beautiful, and also the first time she had received a hand-kiss from the opposite sex.
The first ray of dawn pierced the night, and the distant horizon gradually paled with the light of morning.
Buzz! Accompanied by a melodious chime beside his ears, Xian slowly opened his eyes.
He felt as though he had had a dream. He had wandered alone upon the moon for a long time without seeing anyone, able only to gaze in loneliness at distant Blue Star, like the opening screen of some social media app.
"Your Highness, congratulations. You learned the Moonlight Meditation in only one night. Before you, I had never heard of anyone capable of doing so."
Ilith stood before him and spoke softly.
"So I do have some talent on the path of magic?"
Xian asked as he worked his sore, numb legs.
"Your Highness, please extend one finger and try to focus all your mental energy on your fingertip."
Rather than answering, Ilith continued.
Xian did as she said. Before long, he felt a cool sensation gather from throughout his body at his fingertip.
Then, a faint white speck of light, as weak as a firefly, appeared at his fingertip—Blank Magic.
A hint of satisfaction flashed across Ilith's face at the sight.
"Your Highness, a mage needs talent in many aspects, so I cannot guarantee that you are a magical genius. However..." The girl changed the subject.
"At least when it comes to meditation and accumulating magic power, even elves, the darlings of magic power, absolutely cannot rival you," Ilith said decisively.
"In this regard, you are a super genius unique in the entire world!"
Before you continue