Eternal Moonlight

"Is that so?"

Puli eyed him suspiciously, then said happily, "That makes sense. I heard that Hekate is a man, while you're a woman. You definitely can't be him."

Hekate fell silent. Teacher Ivin began the lesson, and Puli quieted down.

As soon as class ended, he vanished into the crowd, giving Puli no chance to speak.

When he returned to his door, Fast was waiting for him. He leaned in mysteriously and said, "The resident of Room 33 next door is no ordinary person. Be careful, Junior."

"Mm. I don't plan on getting involved with her, so don't worry, Senior."

"That's not certain. She might have come for you." Fast looked around. With people constantly passing by, he pushed Hekate toward the door. "Let's talk inside."

Once they were inside, Hekate had Gina make tea.

"Junior, a nursery rhyme has appeared in Lundria recently. It seems to be about you."

Fast cleared his throat and began to sing:

"♪ Hekate~ ♪"

"♪ Carilance~ ♪"

"♪ He is a genius mage~ ♪"

"♪ Professor Emand's approval~ ♪"

"♪ Glantz's star of tomorrow~ ♪"

"♪ Uruk's hope for the future~ ♪"

Hekate's hand trembled sharply around his teacup, nearly spilling the water inside.

"This song definitely isn't about me," he said, suppressing his embarrassment.

Damn it, his brother had actually turned the rumors into a nursery rhyme!

"Huh? But Professor Emand is mentioned in the song. Among Professor Emand's recommended students this year, you're the only one named Hekate," Fast said in confusion.

Hekate said, "Oh, then maybe you misheard it. In any case, the person in the song definitely isn't me."

Fast scratched his head, then seemed to understand. "All right. The person in the song isn't you, but you should still be careful of that girl next door. She most likely came for you because of the nursery rhyme."

"I understand. Thank you for the warning, Senior." Hekate took a sip of tea, pretending to remain calm.

After seeing Senior Fast off, the person next door came to visit.

The noble Fifth Princess, Betty, held a gift as she knocked on the door. Gina went to answer it.

"Hello, I'm Betty, your neighbor. I brought a gift to celebrate us becoming neighbors."

The little girl's face was full of innocent smiles. If one did not know her identity, one might truly be fooled by her age and innocence.

Gina thanked her. "All right, I'll deliver your gift to my master."

Betty asked with a beaming smile, "May I visit your master?"

"I'll go ask. Please wait a moment."

Hekate, who had only just calmed down, felt his hand begin to tremble again.

This princess had definitely heard that nursery rhyme too...

"Let her in," Hekate said.

The tea had not yet gone cold. Gina brewed another cup and placed it before Betty.

"Hello, my name is Betty Sigrid."

She did not mention the most important part—her surname.

Hekate's expression remained unchanged. "My name is Hekate. I'm pleased to become neighbors with you."

"I'm pleased as well." A brilliant smile bloomed across Betty's little face. Then she asked, "Mr. Hekate, which teacher are you studying under now?"

Hekate gave her a speechless glance. She looked adorable, but she was a sly little actress. She clearly already knew all this.

Grants Academy was the Royal Magic Academy. To her, it was no different from her own backyard.

"My current major is Meditation Studies, and I'm studying under Teacher Ivin."

Betty's eyes lit up slightly. "Meditation Studies? It sounds like an interesting subject. Ancient Magic History, my current major, is far too boring. I want to change majors. Could you recommend me to Teacher Ivin?"

Was she really planning to cling to him?

Hekate did not understand. Grants Academy was full of geniuses, so why him?

"I can't influence Teacher Ivin's decisions. Perhaps you can ask her yourself." Hekate wore a helpless yet polite smile.

"All right, then I won't disturb you any longer today. See you tomorrow."

Betty left with a smile.

That night, Hekate continued looking at the stars.

Ivin Anxia is certain that you possess the bloodline of a Legendary Race. Your cultivation speed is too fast; this is not an effect the Corrected Meditation Method could achieve. Her favorability toward you has slightly increased.

Teacher Ivin was so capable that it was not strange for her to notice something unusual.

If I break through several times in one month, will Teacher Ivin think I'm a monster? Hekate wondered hesitantly.

With top-tier Magic Aptitude, Hekate felt that reaching 9-star Apprentice Mage should have taken at least a year. Now, if he was lucky, he could do it in two months.

The Fifth Princess, Betty, learned about your situation through Professor Emand. She was extremely shocked to learn that you had still been an 8-star Magic Apprentice two months ago. When she saw that you were already a 3-star Apprentice Mage today, she was even more shocked, and began considering taking you as her Personal Knight.

So this Fifth Princess had really taken a liking to him. A Personal Knight, no less.

Hekate was speechless.

Being a Personal Knight was indeed a good position for commoners or ordinary nobles, but he did not want to find himself a master.

Besides, it would all be No Chicken Talk in the future anyway. Why the hell would he become a Personal Knight? He did not care for that bit of honor.

The nursery rhyme fabricated by your elder brother Revolen has already spread throughout Lundria's entire noble circle. Everyone treats it as a joke, and few truly care. However, the nursery rhyme has sparked a trace of curiosity about you among the common people of Lundria. Some people want to learn more about you.

Instead of being dragged into trouble by the Fifth Princess's identity, he had been kicked straight into a whirlpool of trouble by his elder brother. What a wonderful big brother he had.

Hekate pursed his lips and exited the Star Speech state.

Over the past two months, both Loria and Edith had written to him, yet his elder brother had not sent a single letter.

"Perhaps Carilance's title would be better inherited by my second sister." Hekate shook his head.

His elder brother was both foolish and petty. If the Calilans family ended up in his hands, he probably would not be able to keep it.

After finishing tonight's Star Speech, Hekate returned to bed and continued meditating to stabilize his magic power.

The next day, Hekate carried out his usual draw.

Duang~

Gift of Fate: You have obtained the Legendary Necklace: Eternal Moonlight. This equipment can alter the magic fluctuations around your body to deceive others.

What a good item!

With this, he no longer had to worry about drawing attention by breaking through too quickly!

Hekate happily accepted the gift. An exquisite, luxurious necklace appeared in his hand. After putting it around his neck, he found that he could indeed alter his magic fluctuations at will.

He could not only reduce them—he could increase them as well!

When Hekate adjusted his magic fluctuations to those of a 10-star High Mage, waves of weakness surged through his body.

This weakness felt exactly the same as when he had traded his lifespan for power yesterday.

Only then did Hekate notice that today's Gift of Fate had not stated the loss. But based on what he had just felt, he already knew that activating this necklace consumed lifespan.

The unstated loss was that the stronger the magic fluctuations he altered, the more lifespan it consumed.

Fortunately, I have the Longevity Talent. Otherwise, that brief moment would have been enough to turn me into a white-haired old man.

Still shaken, Hekate changed his magic fluctuations back to those of a 3-star Apprentice Mage.