Invitation to Become Partners

If someone asked Rhode what he would do if a beautiful elf girl lay unconscious before him—

Rhode would righteously answer that he would protect her and quietly wait for her to wake up.

And now, that very situation had unfolded before him.

Seeing Serie, whom he had sent flying and knocked unconscious, Rhode froze for a moment before immediately coming to his senses and striding over.

"Miss Serie, are you all right?"

Naturally, their Little Ancestor could not answer him. A trace of disbelief still lingered on her adorable face.

"This is awkward."

He should have realized it sooner. The current Little Ancestor was nowhere near as terrifying as she would be in later generations; she was still young and inexperienced. Otherwise, there was no way his magic could have knocked her unconscious.

Looking at Serie, who was so close at hand, Rhode still could not resist.

He reached out and pinched her round cheek. It was soft and smooth, like squeezing an oversized fluffy dumpling.

The feeling was unexpectedly good. He could not help poking it again, thinking, I'm probably the first person in history who dared poke Serie's cheek like this.

Just then, Serie's eyelashes trembled lightly before her eyes suddenly flew open.

Rhode instantly stiffened. His hand was still resting on her cheek.

"Cough, cough." He withdrew his hand as though nothing had happened and asked with concern, "Miss Serie, are you all right?"

Serie's golden eyes were blank for an instant before snapping into focus and locking onto Rhode.

She realized that this damned man had actually dared touch her face—but that was not the most important thing.

This man's magic was absurdly powerful. Because she had let her guard down for a moment, she had actually been knocked unconscious by him.

Embarrassment and humiliation tangled together, but she did not show it. Still, she had to ask what needed asking.

"What were you doing just now?"

Rhode immediately gave a French military salute to prove his innocence. "I did nothing. I was only checking whether you were injured."

"Just Basic Attack Magic..." Serie eyed him suspiciously. Thanks to the Defense Magic she had cast earlier, she was not injured. She had merely been knocked unconscious by the impact of his spell.

The main reason was that she had not been prepared. Otherwise, she would have added another layer of magic to withstand the impact.

"Your Creation Magic is very strong."

After a moment of silence, Serie rose to her feet and spoke slowly.

She brushed the dust from her white robe, then gathered a thread of magic at her fingertip to examine her condition.

She murmured to herself, "The mana consumption is far greater than I expected."

This man had not only perfectly reproduced her magic, but had even made it more powerful.

After a pause, she suddenly revealed an excited smile. "How fascinating! Your magical ability may be able to overturn this era!"

In this Age of Gods, all magic had already been fixed.

Serie could sense that this man's arrival would stir up a new magical storm—one even the gods could not permit.

She impatiently asked, "If I teach you more complex magic, can you 'create' new variations from it?"

Rhode was taken aback. He had never tried this method before and could not guarantee anything, but he still braced himself and said, "I can give it a try."

"In that case, live on the outskirts of the Elf Forest. I'll come teach you magic every day."

Compared with the dangerous world outside, the outskirts of the Elf Forest were relatively safe.

As long as he did not wander around and stay away from the territories of dangerous magical beasts, his life would not be at risk.

Besides, no elf was as idle as Serie—running around every day while still not daring to truly leave the Elf Forest's sphere of influence.

"Like a master and disciple?"

"If that's how you want to see it."

Serie had never taken a disciple before, and she did not mind taking this Human Race man as her first.

But this man's ambitions seemed to go beyond that.

"Then forget it, Miss Serie. I want to adventure through this world. Rather than becoming master and disciple, I'd rather invite you to become my partner."

Becoming this Little Ancestor's disciple and playing out the tale of a rebellious disciple defying his master would certainly be nice, but Rhode still hoped to leave a deeper impression on her.

He stopped pretending. He laid his cards on the table. He wanted to become Sindel.

Serie smiled.

This human seemed more interesting than she had expected.

Her smile carried a hint of amusement as she tilted her head slightly, her smooth golden hair falling like tassels.

"Partner?" she softly repeated the word.

This was the first time she had received an invitation from someone.

Elves were an emotionally detached race. They felt little affection not only toward outsiders, but even toward their own kind.

Much less did they become partners with others.

Serie was the same.

"Do you know what you're saying, human?"

Rhode met her gaze. "Of course I do."

"Interesting." Serie crossed her arms. "Then tell me, why should a short-lived and weak human become my 'partner'?"

"Because of this." Rhode raised his hand, gathering a small orb of light at his fingertip.

But unlike the highly destructive magic from before, this orb merely provided illumination.

This was new magic he had just analyzed and created from Serie's spell.

"This is a new spell I just created. It can provide light in the darkness. I call it the Illumination Technique."

"You..." Serie's pupils contracted slightly. "You analyzed my magic?"

This was light-element magic unique to the Elf race, yet this man had deciphered it with ease and even created new magic on its foundation.

Was it his personal talent? Or was this simply the talent of the Human Race?

"I replicate and analyze your magic, recreate it in my own hands, then rewrite part of its effects to produce new magic. That is my Creation Magic."

As he spoke, the light in his hand gradually changed shape, eventually becoming a crystalline flower of light floating above his palm.

It was a form of magic Serie had never seen before.

"Creation..." she murmured softly, an unprecedented light gleaming in her eyes. "How fascinating."

Rhode smiled faintly. "So, will you become my partner and travel with me? I can create more magic you've never seen before, and you—"

He paused, his tone turning serious.

"Teach me how to survive in this world."

Serie fell silent for a long time before finally letting out a soft laugh. "All right!"

The world outside was dangerous; even she did not dare venture out lightly. But this man was far too interesting, and she had already begun looking forward to seeing more magic from him.

It would be a brief but fascinating adventure—one she would keep recalling throughout her long life.