Funeral

Lewin Andrew.

Strength: 7th-Level Warrior.

Potential: Saint Realm Limit.

A 7th-Level Warrior was already considered a notable figure in the Fenlai Kingdom. Liewen felt much more confident about hunting in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

The next day, Liewen left Welin Warrior Academy and headed for Fenlai City.

Today was the day of the magic aptitude test, held at the Church of Light.

The Church of Light stood on Greenleaf Road and was the tallest building in the eastern district.

The square before the church gates was nearly filled with carriages. Several hundred people had gathered near the entrance, all children here for the magic test and their families.

The people waiting in the square were clearly divided into two circles.

One consisted of Fenlai City's nobles, dressed in splendid clothes and chatting animatedly.

The other consisted of commoner families from Fenlai City, as well as minor rural nobles who had come from elsewhere, like Linley.

The nobles of Fenlai City mostly looked down on those in Linley's circle. Their gazes were full of contempt as they pointed and whispered among themselves.

Several white-robed clerics emerged from the church. Under their guidance, everyone entered the church in an orderly fashion for testing.

On the Yulan Continent, mages were symbols of status and power. Mages of the same rank held a higher position than warriors, and whether one possessed magical talent largely determined one's future.

Liewen spotted Linley and Hillman. Pretending to be a parent who had brought a child for testing, he followed behind them into the church.

Beyond the church doors lay a vast hall paved with marble.

Huge crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The hall was spacious enough to hold several hundred people without feeling crowded.

Representatives from the various magic academies and clerics responsible for testing sat within the hall.

The children went one by one to the testing area in the center of the hall.

The test had two parts. The first used a crystal ball to measure elemental affinity and determine which type of elemental magic a child was suited to learn.

The other tested spiritual essence within a magic formation, determining whether the child had the potential to become a mage.

As Liewen watched the children undergo their tests, he recalled that he had once been tested here as well.

His results had shown superior affinity for Light Element, while his spiritual essence had been twice that of his peers—not enough to meet the standard for becoming a mage.

I wonder what the results would be if I took the test now, Liewen muttered inwardly.

His potential had already improved greatly. His results would surely be better than before.

At last, it was Linley's turn. The crystal ball lit up with a dazzling radiance.

The brighter the light, the higher the elemental affinity. Linley possessed exceptional affinity for wind and earth elements, as well as moderate affinity for fire.

As for spiritual essence, Linley's was sixteen times that of children his age.

After meeting Doehring Cowart, Linley had begun cultivating magic. He was already a Level One Mage, so passing the magic test was no problem.

As soon as Linley finished his test, recruitment teachers from the various magic academies surrounded him, offering all sorts of generous terms in an attempt to recruit him.

In the end, however, Linley still chose the Yulan Continent's number one academy, Ernst Institute.

Witnessed Linley entering Ernst Institute. Potential enhancement attempts +1.

"Allocate points!"

Lewin Andrew.

Strength: 7th-Level Warrior.

Potential: Lowgod.

Potential enhancement attempts: 0.

Liewen was very satisfied as he looked at the changes on the system panel.

According to the system's prompt, the next witness event would occur eight years later, when Linley carved the stone sculpture "Dream Awakening."

Those eight years would be the years Linley spent studying and improving at Ernst Institute.

Under Doehring Cowart's guidance, Linley would begin learning stone carving.

Doehring Cowart's Flat Blade School method of stone carving was highly effective at improving spiritual essence. With the Flat Blade School, Linley's spiritual essence would advance by leaps and bounds, and he would become one of Ernst Institute's two great geniuses alongside Dixie.

Over those eight years, Linley would meet Yale, George, and Reynolds, three roommates as close as brothers. He would also meet Delia, his future lover, and experience a failed first love.

After his first love ended, Linley would pour the pain of romantic failure into a stone sculpture and carve "Dream Awakening." Through it, he would emerge from the shadows of heartbreak, while his spiritual essence would also break through, allowing him to become a Level Seven Mage.

"There are still eight years. Let little Linley grow properly during that time." After giving Linley, surrounded by the crowd, one final glance, Liewen turned and left the church.

In order not to alter Linley's path of growth, Liewen decided to avoid involving himself in events related to Linley whenever possible. During these eight years, he too needed to cultivate diligently and grow stronger.

Liewen left the church and walked along Greenleaf Road. Before long, he saw the Andrew Family estate.

Liewen had not intended to enter, but he saw white cloth hanging from the estate gates and carriages stopping there one after another.

The carriages were all large, clearly belonging to nobles, but they were entirely black, utterly different from the usual luxury of aristocratic carriages.

Well-dressed noblemen and noblewomen stepped down from the carriages one after another and entered the Andrew Family estate.

All of them wore black clothing.

The moment Liewen saw this, he understood. The Andrew Family was holding a vigil for Joseph.

A few days ago, Liewen had heard the news that Joseph had died of illness.

According to the traditions of Fenlai Kingdom nobles, when a noble died, their children had to keep vigil for seven days. Then, a priest of the Church would preside over the funeral, and the deceased would be buried in the noble cemetery.

After Joseph's death, the Andrew Family had not informed Liewen to come keep vigil, so he had not gone. But now that he was already at the gates, he could not simply leave. Father and son they might have been, and he had to at least pay his respects.

"Count Juno of the Fenlai Kingdom has arrived—"

"Viscount John of the Fenlai Kingdom has arrived—"

"Marquis Nobo of the Fenlai Kingdom has arrived—"

Each time the Andrew Family's attendant received a noble, he called out into the estate.

Liewen walked to the gates.

The attendant recognized Liewen and froze, unsure whether he should announce him.

Helen and Danton certainly would not welcome Liewen, but it was only natural for him to come pay respects to Joseph. As a mere attendant, he did not dare make the decision, nor did he know whether he should stop Liewen.

While the attendant was still hesitating, Liewen walked into the Andrew Family estate.

Joseph's coffin was in the estate's main hall, draped in black velvet.

Helen and Danton knelt beside it. The nobles who came to pay their respects stepped forward one by one, bowed to Joseph's coffin, then offered words of comfort to Helen and her son. The mother and son returned the gesture and said, "Thank you."

The moment they saw Liewen, Helen and Danton's expressions darkened. Their eyes were filled with hatred as they looked at him.

Helen said coldly, "What are you doing here? Still unwilling to give up and trying to claim the Andrew Family's wealth? Let me tell you, don't even think about it!"

Liewen could not be bothered with them. He bowed to Joseph's coffin and prepared to leave.

"Liewen, you came."

Liewen turned and saw a tall elderly man.

"Greetings, Marquis Nobo." Liewen greeted the old man.

Marquis Nobo was Joseph's friend, an Eight-ranked Warrior of high standing in the Fenlai Kingdom.

Back then, he had been the one to test Liewen's warrior talent.

Marquis Nobo's gaze shifted between Liewen and Helen's mother and son, and he sighed inwardly.

How could he not understand inheritance disputes among nobles?

He knew of Joseph's arrangements before his death.

Although he was Joseph's friend, he was still an outsider and could not say much about the matter.

Marquis Nobo patted Liewen on the shoulder, then walked aside.

Liewen headed toward the gates.

Just then, another noble arrived to pay respects.

"Duke Paterson of the Fenlai Kingdom has arrived—"

Paterson?

Liewen looked toward the newcomer. The man had long golden hair, hawk-like eyes, and a straight back that naturally carried an aristocratic air.

Paterson was the younger brother of Clayde, king of the Fenlai Kingdom, and a 7th-Level Warrior.

Liewen had not expected Paterson to appear. The Andrew Family was only a mid-ranking noble house in the Fenlai Kingdom, while Paterson was part of the highest nobility.

There were circles even among nobles. At Joseph's funeral, those who came were mostly mid-ranking nobles or lower. Only Marquis Nobo was one of the highest nobility.

But Marquis Nobo had come because of his personal friendship with Joseph.

Liewen did not dwell on it.

Paterson would have some part to play in Linley's growth, and Liewen had no intention of interacting much with him. The two passed each other.

Paterson was also somewhat surprised to see Liewen, and he glanced at Liewen's departing back.

Paterson walked to the coffin, bowed first, then leaned close to Helen and asked in a low voice, "Why did that brat come?"

"I don't know. Perhaps he still hasn't given up."

"Don't worry. With me here, he won't be able to stir up any trouble."

Paterson looked around. For the moment, no other nobles had come to pay respects. At Helen's signal, Danton went to receive Marquis Nobo and the other nobles, leaving only Paterson and Helen beside the coffin.

Paterson quietly took Helen's hand.

"I missed you."

A faint blush appeared on Helen's still-charming face as she whispered, "I'll come find you tonight."

"No. I'll come find you—here."