In the study.
Ryan placed the list on the desk, took out a dagger, and lightly pricked his fingertip.
A drop of blood soaked into the parchment. The writing on it seemed to come alive, its inky strokes twisting like fine threads before forming new words.
Ryan felt an unseen gaze fall upon him. It carried a sense of impartial judgment that made even his soul tremble.
The feeling vanished quickly, but it had been real. The Eye of Judgment watched over every Wizard Contract. Anyone who broke one would face its judgment.
Few Wizards knew much about the Eye of Judgment, but there was always a price for breaking a Wizard Contract with supernatural effects.
Only then did Ryan turn his attention to the changing words. Flecks of blue light glimmered in his pupils.
Notice: Supernatural Wizardry Inheritance detected. Analysis complete. Target: Low-level Wizardry, "Sensory Deprivation."
He paused, then understood. This was Wizard Ethan's true payment. As an Executor, any spoils from the Wizard Freshmen he killed would already belong to him.
On that point, Wizard Ethan had been generous.
After an initial examination, Ryan found the wizardry unusual. It was neither Particle Energy Wizardry nor Supernatural Nurturing, nor did it belong to any other familiar branch. It was an entirely different application of wizardry tied to Supernatural Spiritual Power and even the force of a Wizard's will.
Target: Sensory Deprivation Details: Uses Spiritual Power to affect the target's five senses. Note: This wizardry depends heavily on the caster's Spiritual Power. If the target's Spiritual Power exceeds the caster's by too much, the wizardry may fail and cause backlash of varying severity.
Ryan looked thoughtful. This wizardry might be worth far more than its Low-level Wizardry classification suggested.
"Doesn't seem all that hard to master!"
Two hours later, as dawn began to break, Ryan emerged from the study. Dark, uncanny ripples shimmered in his eyes, carrying a pull that was hard to ignore. Someone with weak Spiritual Power would lose control of their mind and be unable to direct their own body.
Of course, that applied to ordinary people or Wizard Freshmen with exceptionally poor innate Spiritual Power. Against freshmen with somewhat stronger Spiritual Power, depriving them of their five senses would already be an excellent result.
Ryan believed that as his Spiritual Power grew, this unusual Low-level Wizardry would reveal a brilliance far beyond its rank.
The hardest part of mastering it was precise control over Spiritual Power. Once that control clicked, the technique became clear. Without it, learning the wizardry would be extremely difficult.
Ryan might not have had particularly high innate Spiritual Power, but he was exceptionally sensitive to it and remarkably adept at fine control. Perhaps that was a talent of its own.
Target: Ryan Spiritual Power: 7.6 Physique: 6.7 Particle Energy: 3.6 units Wizard Meditation Method: Vast Sea (basic) Wizard Runes: Five Supernatural Nurtured Creature: Harak (low-level) Mastered Wizardry: Fearkindling Fire, Scarlet Heat, Fire Element Particle Energy Wizardry, Sensory Deprivation Wizardry Scrolls: Darkness Deprivation (intermediate), Corrosive Acid (low-level) Wizard Artifact: Shadow Blade of Assassination
In its initial form, the Shadow Blade of Assassination was a short blade barely longer than a dagger. Ryan replaced his old dagger with it and slipped it into the glass bottle containing Green Venom.
Harak flew down from the trees and landed on his shoulder. Beneath the black Wizard Robe's hood, which hid the lower half of his face, his dark eyes held a cold intent to kill.
By dawn, Ancient Forest Mountain had already disappeared.
He had never had much choice. As for the assessment? It no longer mattered.
Perhaps there were just enough Wizard Freshmen left for each of them to claim an Admission Ticket!
I'm going to kill the last person from the Wizard Ship myself. Ryan smiled bitterly. Perhaps after entering the Umbral Wizard Academy, he would even earn a reputation as a murderer!
That no longer mattered. What mattered was completing the task.
The first rays of sunlight fell across him. On the Wizard Array Path, his shadow stretched long and narrow, its shape almost distorted.
The Wizard Mutual Aid Association held its gathering as usual. Since joining, its members had rarely heard of anyone among them going missing or dying.
They were also the only group of freshmen who still dared to go out.
There was strength in numbers. At times, a united group could deter any threat. Most importantly, they could also receive Supernatural Resources promised by the Bailin Family, the Purple Gold Flower Family, and other Wizard Families.
The freshmen emerging from the Ancient Forest Pavilion wore smiles, chatting as they lingered over the gathering they had just attended.
Moss and Anna walked together. In the eyes of the other freshmen, they were already a close couple, comfortable holding hands and embracing in public.
Lafayette and the others looked far less cheerful. They watched from a distance, their faces downcast, each glance cutting into them.
"Anna, you're so beautiful," Moss said gently, his eyes full of affection. "To have won your heart must be the most wonderful thing in the world."
The proud red-haired swan lowered her head shyly and leaned against the white-haired young man's chest. "There are so many people here. Why would you say that now?"
Moss paid them no mind. "Love is meant to be spoken aloud. If no one knows I love you, how can I show that I truly do?"
The Wizard Freshmen who heard him applauded in agreement and praised the couple's love.
Anna gave Moss's chest a flustered thump. After a few more tender moments, they said goodbye and went their separate ways.
"See you tomorrow, Anna. Perhaps it won't be long before my family accepts our love." Moss spoke with deep affection, but as he turned away, mockery returned to his eyes.
Anna felt herself falling for him in earnest. She was truly in love. Her steps were light as she walked toward the Freshman Residence, as graceful as a swan. Her flowing red hair seemed to set the air aflame.
Lafayette and the other freshmen usually escorted her back to the Freshman Residence, but they had left early today. She did not care. How could toads like them hope to win a swan? Showing them even a little kindness was already an act of great mercy on her part.
Suddenly, Anna spotted another figure on the Wizard Array Path leading to her residence. The black Wizard Robe looked familiar. At last, the beauty mark near his eye let her recognize him.
"Ryan, what are you doing here?" Anna frowned, impatience in her voice. "If you want to join the Wizard Mutual Aid Association, I'll tell you plainly: it's impossible. You had your chance and didn't take it. Now it's too late."
"And don't think you can pester Moss into letting you join the Wizard Mutual Aid Association. I won't agree to it."
But Ryan barely reacted. He simply walked toward her at an unhurried pace.
His eyes were too cold, as though he were looking at a lifeless object.
A chill ran through Anna. She instinctively stepped back, then anger flared up. The proud swan snapped, "What are you trying to do? My boyfriend is Moss Bailin. The rules of Ancient Forest Mountain won't allow you to cross the line, either. Have you gone mad?"
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