A Brand-New Spell

While Elaine was healing her wounds, Barton slowly walked over to Lynn.

"Child, your name is Lynn, right? Thank you for saving her. Though I haven't seen this girl in years since I was transferred here from Roan City, she has always been my favorite student. Hehe, I was rather strict in class, so she was always afraid of me."

The old man paused and looked at Lynn meaningfully. "However, I can only express my gratitude to you on my own behalf."

Does he suspect I approached Elaine because I had designs on the city lord's daughter?

"You're too kind," Lynn explained calmly. "The situation was critical at the time. Elaine was attacked by the Mana-Sucking Monsters because she was helping treat my injuries, so saving her was only natural. It was only afterward that she told me she was actually..."

Barton nodded slightly, and his gaze softened considerably. "You are an upright and kind young man. Talents like you are quite rare!"

He let out a hearty laugh, looking nothing like a frail old man.

"If you need it, I might be able to help you apply for the Initiate Mage examination." He patted Lynn's shoulder several times. Fortunately, he was not very strong, or Lynn's thin frame would not have been able to take it.

How did he know I was only an Apprentice Mage? Lynn was somewhat puzzled. Though he certainly looked like a novice from the outside, Barton seemed to have already confirmed it as fact.

But he quickly figured it out. A mage's most basic ability was extensive knowledge and a strong memory. As a Magic Association employee, Barton had most likely seen his records. There was nothing strange about that.

Lynn felt a little ashamed. The world's professional ranks were largely similar. For mages, they went from Apprentice Mage, to Initiate Mage, Senior Mage, Elite Mage, and Archmage, or master rank.

Apprentice Mages, like one-star Adventurers, had practically no entry requirements. As long as one could master a single cantrip and prove they possessed magical ability, that was enough.

"But as I recall, doesn't the Initiate Mage examination require mastery of at least one second-circle spell?"

At present, he only knew one first-circle spell, Frost Ring. He was still far from qualifying.

"Oh?" Barton glanced sideways, seeming puzzled. "So you haven't mastered a second-circle spell?"

He stroked the short beard on his rounded chin. "Then I'm even more curious. Without a second-circle spell, how did you escape from those Mana-Sucking Monsters and Strange Vines, while also saving Elaine?"

Lynn's pupils contracted slightly. What a sly old fox. So this was what he was waiting for...

He had deliberately concealed the fact that he knew Frost Ring, because Lynn knew very well that Frost Ring was a brand-new spell that did not exist in this world!

According to the original owner's memories, the Magic Association's book, the Compendium of Spells Below Third Circle, contained every officially recognized low-circle spell in this world.

And Frost Ring was not among them.

Lynn had noticed this long ago. Some of the spells provided by the Codex of Origin were entirely new spells!

This was not exactly a serious matter. Every year, quite a few new spells were added to the Compendium of Spells Below Third Circle.

But he felt that showing off such a thing before someone who appeared to hold a high position in the Magic Association would seem far too deliberate.

It was like how showing off to people your own age could be enjoyable, but doing it before an elder made it feel like acting cute.

I should've just told him... Lynn regretted making things worse through cleverness. Hiding the truth had only made him seem more suspicious, and Barton might even misunderstand something.

"Teacher Barton," Elaine said. At some point, she had already healed her injuries. Her eyes widened as she spoke to Barton earnestly. "You don't know this, but Lynn knows a really powerful offensive spell. And it's a concentration spell that lasts for a long time..."

As she spoke, she recalled what she had just heard and immediately looked at Lynn with surprise. "You're so powerful, but you're only an Apprentice Mage?"

Lynn wanted to cover his face. Not only had she spilled everything about him, she had also directly asked such a devastating question.

It was like a wealthy person seeing your payslip and asking in shock, "You're obviously so capable, but you only make this much every month?"

There was no malice in it, only damage.

Lynn glanced at Barton and found the man studying him with great interest. The old man nodded with a smile. "Little Elaine is the most magically gifted young person I've ever seen. Even she says you're impressive. It seems little brother Lynn has been hiding his true abilities."

He had not actually meant to hide anything... It was just that Lynn was anxious about the special mission and had no plans to draw attention to himself for the time being.

Barton spoke again. "Lynn, have you heard of the White Tower Society?"

Of course he had. It was one of the continent's Seven Towers and the most popular magical organization in the Yaxia Kingdom! The most cutting-edge and innovative magic research institution... Wait, why was he bringing this up?

Lynn looked at Barton's plain white mage robe and suddenly understood.

So this old man was from the White Tower!

Is he planning to invite me to join the White Tower? Lynn felt a faint stir of anticipation.

Sure enough, the old Barton wore a kindly smile as he said, "..."

Before he could speak, Lumi, who had hurried back, interrupted him.

"S-sir, that Gray... he's back!"

Gray had actually returned? Well, he was a three-star Adventurer after all. Those vines probably could not restrain him for long.

"What about the three mages?" Barton asked sternly.

Lumi's face darkened. "He said that by the time he broke free, they were already gone."

Lynn cautiously glanced at the old man, who looked broad and stout, only to see his expression turn as dark as water, thunderous fury seeming to flash in his eyes.

On the continent, spellcasters—or rather, anything connected to magic—naturally held a higher status than other professions.

After all, magic was the primary productive force.

For that reason, the Magic Association had always held the Adventurer's Guild in check.

Those three mages were only Apprentices, but they were still rare talents, and the matter also concerned the Magic Association's reputation.

Barton's expression quickly returned to normal. He said to Lumi, "Go to the Adventurer's Guild again. Question them thoroughly, and invoke the Magic Association's name to make them send people to search for those three children."

He then turned to Lynn. "Lynn, I hope you can help me make contact with that Orc warrior. The Magic Association is short-handed, and I cannot leave for the moment..."

Naturally, Lynn would not refuse. He had things he wanted to investigate as well.

All signs indicated that this was a premeditated scam targeting mages.

Was it meant to strike at the Magic Association? But those Apprentice Mages, put generously, only had promising futures. They were not yet capable of truly damaging the Association's strength.

Either way, as a mage, he might already have been targeted. This concerned his life. How could he not get to the bottom of it?

"Just speak with him at the guild. There's no need to meet that Orc in private. Say I sent you. That fool Harold won't dare make things difficult for you."