Ruger was surrounded by a sense of fulfillment, genuine fulfillment from deep within, rather than endless busyness. From the outside, the two looked like twins, but inside, they were completely different. Fulfillment brought happiness and satisfaction, a lasting pleasure. Busyness did not necessarily do the same.
Day after day passed, and the neighboring island remained quiet.
Occasionally, when Ruger thought of Big Guy, he would look up for a moment amid his fulfilling days. He could not help reflecting that most of those demon-hunting incidents had been caused by Wizard Apprentices. The Merit Stones earned that way were pitifully few.
Their waters were not particularly powerful to begin with, and the islands were all on the small side. Powerful Wizards would not come here, making it a paradise for Wizard Apprentices.
That much had been apparent from the Trade Island he had visited before.
As his thoughts wandered, Ruger found himself thinking of the God of Wizards again. One day, this God of Wizards would lead the Faith Wizards through a transformation, bringing them to new heights.
At that thought, Ruger looked at the Spellbook in his hands. What was he doing right now? Making himself stronger.
But sometimes, making the right choice seemed to bring additional opportunities to grow stronger.
He wondered whether Kurt would surpass him someday.
A Faith Wizard who followed the path of faith while maintaining his own unique insights and ideas, and who could view and understand this God of Wizards rationally, ought to win that great being's favor.
So Ruger thought, but in the end, he drew that wonderful sense of fulfillment close around himself once more and looked at the book in his hands.
Strictly speaking, he had also ventured onto the path of faith and could be considered half a Faith Wizard.