Immature Big Boy

I must admit, Alona is a woman of her word. Although the pace of the lessons these days has been lightning-fast, she often pulls Lanlos aside under the guise of "supervising his work," and when time permits, she even provides him with one-on-one tutoring.

Of course, every time this happens, the resentful gaze of Lansan always makes him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Thanks to the precision of the Keystone, which transcends mortal standards, Lanlos's progress in studying the Arcane has been like riding a rocket. In just two weeks, a series of practical 1st-circle spells have been etched into his mind. In terms of learning speed alone, it is practically cheating.

Then again, he is essentially tracing patterns using a projection and then archiving the high-completion memory. Although he drains his mana pool every day, memorizing one spell per day is indeed an exaggerated pace. Moreover, the cycle of mana consumption and recovery is causing his body's magical affinity to increase bit by bit, while his mana recovery rate and maximum capacity are slowly growing.

This clearing behind the mountain has almost become Lanlos's private territory. Thanks to the radiance of the Sunwell, the night is not pitch-black, so he likes to stay here whether he has something to do or not. It allows him to relax in the quiet while quietly improving his strength.

However, he is unaware that this behavior of his makes it impossible for the many people who want to observe or approach him to find an opening.

In today's class, Alona did not lecture the students on Arcane knowledge; instead, she guided them to explore professions like Enchanting, Inscription, and Alchemy. According to her, the incantations in Enchanting and Inscription share the same principles as the Arcane, and Alchemy's analysis of the properties of various materials is of great help in casting spells.

A qualified spellcaster does not need to be an expert in these things, but they must understand them.

In her words, to understand is to grasp the source of a mage's power, which is to understand the connection between all things in this world and the Arcane.

After all, theoretically, the Arcane is a power capable of creating all things.

This also allowed Lanlos to see the change in Fastherin's educational approach. In the past, professional knowledge like Alchemy and Inscription was something apprentices signed up for on their own. Perhaps it is because Lanlos's questions about fundamental education were taken seriously after Alona publicized them, leading these professional courses to become a standard that every apprentice must study and be tested on.

Hmm, if the apprentices knew that I was the culprit, I wonder if I would survive until the next day.

Precisely because of this, over the past few weeks, Lanlos has become increasingly comfortable calling Alona "Mentor." It is not just because of her strength; her knowledge and attitude have truly won him over.

However, despite his respect, Lanlos has not followed the requirements to pursue professional studies... Shamefully, the only living expenses he has were borrowed from Lansan...

Flipping through his empty pockets, Lanlos let out a heavy sigh. As the saying goes, a single penny can stump a hero; life without money is truly difficult...

Whoosh!

A sudden, light rustle came from the bushes behind him, and in an instant, Lanlos's lazy gaze turned sharp.

Under the moonlight, a lengthening shadow crept closer to the boy's feet. Accompanied by low growls, pale fangs and sharp claws emitted a cold shimmer in the dim shadows.

A Mana Spring Lynx.

Lanlos's initially tense nerves relaxed. The lynx is smaller than a cheetah; although both are carnivores, the former has a very small appetite, usually feeding only on wild rabbits, mice, and occasionally even fruit to cleanse its palate. It is also rumored that lynxes occasionally catch Mana Wyrm to snack on...

In short, they are relatively docile and are animal companions well-loved by students on Sunstrider Isle.

Furthermore, the relationship between elves and nature is quite harmonious, so in most cases, a Mana Spring Lynx will not actively attack an elf.

Although the area behind the mountain is not large, many creatures still inhabit it, and Lanlos has encountered these little cuties quite often these days.

However, the one he encountered today seems a bit off.

With a gentle smile, Lanlos took a piece of dried meat from his pocket and moved forward.

"Hiss!" Letting out a highly threatening low growl, the lynx stared fixedly at Lanlos, who had frozen in place, its golden vertical pupils radiating a clear warning.

His brow tightened, the listlessness in Lanlos's eyes slowly vanishing as he carefully scrutinized the creature's posture.

However, the next moment, an extremely faint beastly cry rang out from the nearby jungle, like a young cub calling for its mother—panicked and fragile.

"Roar!" The previous hesitation vanished instantly. The lynx's innate instincts captured the cub's cry much faster than Lanlos could. Worry and rage drove it to abandon its hesitation, and it lunged forward like lightning.

With a wild beast attacking him, Lanlos naturally could not remain idle. He shifted his feet to dodge the direct pounce, and as he whispered, the flow of the surrounding air accelerated several times over.

An invisible energy fluctuation shot out from Lanlos's fingertips, reaching the lynx's feet the very moment it attempted to pursue him.

A seemingly small but abrupt force instantly broke the lynx's momentum. With a startled cry, it tumbled headlong into the mud. A dull thud followed, and one could almost feel the pain just by hearing it.

However, a single Mage Hand was not enough to scare off this lynx. Its eyes, filled with ferocity, seemed to burn, forcing Lanlos to channel his mana once more.

As the lynx scrambled to get up, a translucent stream of light instantly submerged into its body. After a brief moment of stagnation, a wave of exhaustion surged over it like a tide.

Its limbs went limp, and the lynx collapsed straight to the ground. Its eyelids felt as heavy as lead; it tried to stay alert, but it was powerless to do so.

Sleep Spell—a confusion rooted in the spirit. Although it does not always put the target to sleep directly, it is very easy to induce mental stupor. Moreover, it is fast to cast, takes effect quickly, and requires high resistance, making it one of the best control spells among low-tier magic.

"Alright, come out." Relieved, Lanlos said without looking back. Clearly, his target was not the lynx that had already fallen asleep.

In the woods, the whimpering of the cub sounded once more, and a dark shadow flashed under the moonlight—it was actually trying to take the opportunity to escape!

I don't look that bad, why is my Charisma so low? The usually gentle lynx had turned ferocious, and now the person involved was trying to run away without even a word of thanks. Lanlos's self-esteem was instantly dealt a massive blow.

Unnamed
Health: 98%
Mana: 41%
Spirit: 73%
Strength 11, Agility 13, Intelligence 14, Constitution 10, Perception 12, Charisma 15

Seeing that the other party was no match for him, Lanlos immediately took action to "persuade" them to stay.

Mage Hand!

The fleeing stranger suddenly felt their ankle tripped by something. Before they could even process it, their body tilted forward uncontrollably. With a cry of surprise, the person crashed hard into the mud.

"Awoo!" The next moment, a small, agile creature jumped out from their arms, letting out a crisp, milky-voiced growl as it rushed to the side of the sleeping lynx.

As expected.

Seeing the kitten-like cub licking the face of the other lynx, the elven mage understood. He then glanced at the stranger's Charisma stat, his gaze gradually turning cold.

Crackle!

Blue and white electricity danced incessantly in his palm. Lanlos held it mere millimeters from the other's cheek, the low-hissing current looking as if it might decide to provide a little "treatment" at any moment.

1st-level spell, Shocking Grasp. While the damage was nothing to write home about, the electrical discharge caused instinctive muscle contractions and paralysis. Though it required touch, once it landed, it easily granted the caster a massive advantage.

"The academy has regulations: unauthorized hunting of any creature on Sunstrider Isle is forbidden. Violating school rules will get you expelled..."

"I wasn't hunting! I, I was just..." Before Lanlos could finish, the culprit who had fallen over nearly jumped up on the spot. It was fortunate Lanlos pulled his hand back quickly, or he would have zapped him flat right then and there.

Emotional. That was Lanlos's first reaction. Watching the handsome face of the youth panic at the threat of being "expelled," the latter felt not a shred of pity.

Charisma 15? That's it? That's all you've got!

"The Mana Spring Lynx is the property of Sunstrider Isle and belongs to the Sunstrider Court. What you are doing is an act of disrespect toward His Majesty the King and a severe infringement upon state assets." With a heart brimming with sour jealousy, Lanlos spoke with stern severity to the youth, whose charisma was double his own. "You have ten seconds to explain. Ten, nine..."

"Wait..." With such heavy labels being piled onto him, the youth felt a sense of suffocation, his head spinning and his breath hitching. Although the magic the other had just displayed could only be considered rudimentary, the oppressive expression and tone made him subconsciously equate the other with class and authority.

What was the authority on Sunstrider Isle? Naturally, it was the instructors. Caught red-handed by such a stern instructor, would explaining only make things worse?

"Five seconds left." Though it was a countdown, the coldness in Lanlos's words left no room for mercy. Likewise, the youth had no time to think.

"I, I just thought they were cute, and wanted to, to take a cub back to raise... I absolutely had no intention of harming them! Absolutely none!"

This kid doesn't look any younger than me, so why is he so naive? Does High Elf education only care about artistic cultivation and ignore social interaction? This excuse is so clumsy I can't even bear to tear it apart.

Clearly catching the shift in the youth's eyes, Lanlos shook his head silently. "You are lying."

"No, I didn't..."

"Well, there's the glaring evidence." Cutting off the defense, Lanlos fixed his gaze on the youth's waist.

Feeling the weight of his stare, the youth hurriedly pulled the ornately carved scimitar at his waist behind his back, his Adam's apple bobbing unnaturally.

"You're a ranger, aren't you?" Lanlos sighed, making the judgment based on the youth's decent agility. While lamenting how unusually worldly-inexperienced this boy was, he recalled what he had learned of Sunstrider Isle during his time here. "The last batch of ranger freshmen enrolled two years ago. Therefore, regardless of anything else, you should know the basic academy regulations: except in the training grounds or with express approval, students are not permitted to carry standard-issue arms."

"And such a fine scimitar at that. Tsk tsk, slicing through a lynx's fur would be child's play."

"No, it's not like that! They said... I only carry the blade for self-defense... I, I never thought about hurting them!" Under Lanlos's reminder, the youth realized with horror that he had nearly committed a grave mistake. If the charge of hunting Mana Spring Lynx were established, he would certainly be disciplined. If his name were to be made public under such circumstances...

Absolutely not!

Seeing the youth's face turn pale, sweat pouring down like rain, and trembling like a leaf, Lanlos couldn't help but offer a self-deprecating smile. Why was he being so aggressive? What kind of skill was it to bully a kid?

"Who are 'they'?"

Silence. A long, drawn-out silence. The youth just stared at Lanlos, seemingly stunned by his "mind-reading" ability.

"You just said it yourself." Even someone with skin as thick as Lanlos's couldn't handle being looked at like that, especially by another man.

"I, they..." After hesitating for a long time, under Lanlos's gaze—which held a wisdom that didn't match his age—the youth confessed the reason he had come here, point by point.