Matthew

"It worked, someone did it."

"It's an Astral Star. The first Astral Star has successfully condensed."

"Who? Who was it?"

"Who else could it be? The commotion came from Class Leader Matthew's room."

"Heavens! How long had it been? Not even half a day, right?"

"Lord Matthew truly had astounding talent. No wonder the wizard valued him so highly."

Noisy discussions, astonished cries, and disbelieving shouts mixed with the sound of footsteps, surging like a tidal wave toward Matthew's room, the source of the noise.

That room was also on the lower level, but it was situated somewhat higher up, closer to the stairway. Even the mildew stench seemed a little fainter there.

Li Ang pushed open his creaking, broken wooden door. A foul gust reeking of sweat, mold, and rot hit him in the face, making him suppress another fit of coughing.

He braced himself against the damp, icy cabin wall and looked up.

The narrow passageway was already packed solid with an excited crowd.

Everyone craned their necks, their burning gazes fixed on the door that had just opened.

Matthew slowly emerged from inside.

His face still bore the pallor of excessive concentration, but his eyes shone with startling brightness, burning with an unprecedented, almost fanatical pride and arrogance.

He raised his chin slightly and surveyed the people gathered around him. The corners of his mouth pulled upward uncontrollably into a smug curve.

"Lord Matthew, you succeeded."

"Congratulations to Class Leader Matthew on condensing his first Astral Star."

"Class Leader Matthew's talent is unparalleled. This honor is well deserved."

"Please look after us in the future, Class Leader Matthew."

Kavi's burly body shoved through the crowd like an iron tower. He was the first to rush before Matthew, his face piled with a fawning smile so excessive it was nearly grotesque. His booming voice sounded as though he were shouting commands on deck.

"Big Brother... no, Class Leader Matthew! You're incredible. I knew you would be the first to succeed. You've brought honor to our Carlson Family."

He placed particular emphasis on the words "Carlson Family," while his gaze swept meaningfully over Li Ang's pale face at the back of the crowd.

Matthew nodded reservedly, savoring the pleasure of being surrounded like the moon among stars.

He deliberately raised his right hand and spread his fingers slightly, as though still relishing the wondrous sensation brought by the newborn Astral Star in his Mental World, one that contained a faint trace of magic.

That pose made it seem as though he had already grasped the key to the path of wizardry.

"It's only the first Astral Star. Hardly worth mentioning."

Matthew's voice was not loud, yet it clearly drowned out the surrounding clamor, carrying a deliberately affected indifference.

"Lord Selenst taught me well. I was merely lucky enough to take the first step. If everyone meditates diligently, you can succeed as well."

His gaze swept across the crowd, but beneath that "encouragement" lay an undisguised sense of superiority.

His eyes eventually passed over the shifting heads and landed precisely on Li Ang at the end of the passageway.

Li Ang leaned against the cabin wall, his back slightly bent as he fought back his coughs. His thin figure looked especially frail in the dim light.

A cruel smile crept onto Matthew's lips.

He pushed aside the people still flattering him, then strode straight toward Li Ang with Kavi and his followers, like a victorious general inspecting his territory.

The crowded passageway automatically parted for him. Everyone held their breath and watched, while an air of eager anticipation filled the space.

"Well, well."

Matthew stopped in front of Li Ang and looked down at him from above. He dragged out his words, his voice filled with undisguised malice and mockery.

"Isn't this our noble young master of the Carlson Family? Why are you hiding here alone? Don't tell me... you condensed an Astral Star too and wanted to share your experience with us?"

Kavi immediately burst into a crude laugh behind him.

"Hahaha! Class Leader Matthew, you think too highly of him. With how sickly this weakling is, he coughs for ages after taking two breaths of our 'fine' air. He still wants to focus on meditation? Keep dreaming! I bet he can't even imagine what a Mental Core looks like."

The apprentice candidates around them also let out suppressed laughter and whispered among themselves.

Though they were, like Li Ang, minor nobles who ought to have supported a fellow noble, the current circumstances led most of them to choose kicking the fallen while currying favor with the powerful, enjoying the momentary thrill.

Li Ang covered his mouth and broke into another heart-rending coughing fit. The pain in his lungs made his vision go dark, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He raised his eyes and met Matthew's gaze, which plainly said, You're finished. He panted weakly without speaking.

Matthew seemed to greatly enjoy Li Ang's miserable struggle.

He bent down slightly, drew close to Li Ang's ear, and whispered word by word in a voice only the two of them could barely hear, "Young Master Li Ang, how does it feel?"

"Is this moldy ship's hold much more 'comfortable' than your flower-scented bedroom at home? Did you think you were still that lofty young master? Wake up! Look around. Who rules the lower deck of this ship now? Who deserves a future?"

He straightened, and his voice suddenly rose, ringing through the entire passageway with the proclamation of a victor. "The opportunity your father squandered his entire fortune to buy ended up benefiting us brothers! Do you know what that means?"

"The Carlson Family is finished. And you, you useless piece of trash, don't even have the right to set foot on the steps of the Wizard Tower! In half a month, crawl back to your shabby little country estate like a stray dog and wait to die."

Those vicious words stabbed into Li Ang like poisoned daggers.

Matthew watched Li Ang's body tremble faintly with rage and illness, and a twisted delight rose within him.

He wanted to crush the last scraps of Li Ang's dignity beneath his feet.

He smugly raised his hand, seemingly intending to slap Li Ang again and utterly humiliate his former young master.

Now!

A trace of resolve flashed through Li Ang's eyes. He stopped suppressing himself and let the deadly itch deep in his throat erupt completely. He coughed violently, his body hunching over in agony.

Yet at the same time, all his focus instantly poured into the depths of his consciousness, forging the most direct connection with the three sheets of Gale-Sailing Canvas suspended high above the mast.

His will issued an invisible command.

"Move!"

A wild gale howled into existence around the Gale-Sailing Canvas.

The enormous wizard ship lurched violently to the right, as if it had been brutally rammed by some invisible deep-sea monstrosity. The tilt was far greater than during Li Ang's earlier test.

"Ah! What's happening?"

"The ship is capsizing!"

Cries of alarm and screams instantly replaced all the previous mockery and flattery, exploding through the narrow passageway.

The unprepared crowd toppled about like wheat stalks swept by a gale, tumbling into a heap.

Matthew, who had raised his hand and leaned forward to deliver the final blow to Li Ang, bore the brunt of it. The smug sneer on his face was instantly replaced by utter terror.