Though the figure was not tall, among a group of knights, his bearing stood out in particular.
"Wizard Nova."
Leo had not expected to encounter Nova aboard a knightly vessel.
Nova, standing on the ship, shifted his gaze slightly toward Leo and said, "Danville, we meet again. It seems you have grown quite well at the Esmond Gathering."
"Your mental energy is already nearing a wizard's standard."
"It seems you chose Potionology as your discipline. There is a faint scent of herbs about you."
"Have you also studied Battle Mage Studies? You have taken potions from the Battle Mage system; your physical body clearly bears signs of potion-based modification."
For a moment, Leo felt chills crawl down his spine.
He had not expected Nova to see straight through his entire path of growth after merely one meeting.
Other than Arcane Hand, which Nova had not judged, he had basically discerned everything else.
Nova was several hundred meters away from him at that moment.
Yet with a single glance, he could see through Leo's approximate level and abilities.
Leo said helplessly, "Wizard Nova, a wizard as sharp as you truly makes one's heart tremble."
Hearing this, Nova smiled and shook his head. "You think it is impressive that I can see these things?"
"It is nothing extraordinary. When you have walked a little farther down the path of wizardry, as I have, you too will be able to see at a glance the cultivation path of Wizard Seedlings like yourself."
Leo shook his head.
To reach the realm Nova described, even with the Compendium Manual's help, Leo truly felt it would not be so easy.
Moreover, for some reason, Nova gave Leo a very strange feeling.
According to the counter sprite at Woodpecker Hut, he had only become a wizard a few years ago.
Yet in Leo's eyes, Nova seemed like an old man who had lived through long ages. His breadth of knowledge was difficult to describe merely as genius; Leo could only attribute it to his love of reading.
"Come aboard." As Nova spoke, he lightly waved his right hand toward Leo.
A pair of bird wings sprouted from either side of Leo's shoes.
The wings began to flap, and Leo rose into the air.
Leo's body stiffened somewhat in midair at first.
After all, he was flying so high. If he fell, even a Prossian's physique would suffer injury.
However, Leo did not dwell on it for long. He soon landed on the ship and stood before Nova.
The instant he touched the deck, the bird wings at his shoes immediately dissipated.
Leo looked at Nova.
At close range, what Leo felt most keenly was the gap between their mental energies.
If Leo's mental energy was a cup of water, then Nova's was a long river. They were simply not on the same level.
Nova said, "Well? Compared to our first meeting, can you see more clearly what I am capable of now?"
Leo shook his head and said, "Not only can I not see through you, but because I have grown stronger myself, I have discovered that the gap between us is only growing wider."
"Being able to understand that the gap has widened means you are improving rapidly."
Nova said it without concern.
At that moment, a rough male voice rang out. "Nova, is this a student from your Gathering?"
Two figures in long robes stood beside Nova.
One was slender, with her face hidden beneath the hood of her robe.
The other was a burly man with regular features and an expressionless face, like a stone that never smiled.
It was this burly male wizard who had spoken.
"No, merely a Wizard Seedling I knew before."
Upon hearing that Leo was a Wizard Seedling, the burly man lost interest in him.
His gaze swept over the badge on Leo's chest. His eyes flickered slightly before the reaction vanished.
No matter how highly Leo ranked among this batch of Wizard Seedlings, he was still only a Wizard Seedling—hardly worth mentioning.
The burly man said, "Nova, let us return to the matter we were discussing."
"Regarding my research experiment..."
Nova and the burly man began discussing it.
Once Nova began the discussion, he seemed to completely forget that Leo was standing beside him. He neither introduced him nor paid him any attention.
Standing to the side, Leo did not feel awkward at being ignored. Instead, he took the opportunity to listen to the experimental subjects wizards usually discussed.
Though he listened carefully, Leo could only vaguely understand that their discussion concerned a phenomenon involving something called "photoreactive materials."
The Compendium Manual also showed no reaction to the subject they were discussing.
Clearly, simply listening to their discussion did not provide enough knowledge for the Compendium Manual to form a Codex.
Still, it was rare to encounter wizards of Nova's caliber engaged in discussion, so Leo did his best to listen. Whether he gained much or little, there would be something to gain in the end.
While the two discussed matters, the slender wizard beside them occasionally chimed in as well.
Through the discussion among the three, Leo learned the other two's names.
The slender wizard was a woman named Fula.
The burly male wizard was named Kamon.
"Wizard Danville."
At that moment, Aifel's voice came from nearby.
"Regarding the hunt for the sea monster, we are preparing to hold a discussion. I wonder whether you are free now."
Leo thought for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "All right, I will come over now."
Leo's thoughts were already gradually failing to keep up with the discussion among Nova and the other two. There would not be much to gain from continuing to listen.
Aifel led Leo to a room within the cabin.
Besides Leo, there were three others present. Two were seated, while one stood.
Of the two seated people, one wore a white wizard's robe, while the other wore silver-white armor.
The standing man was John, dressed in silver-white armor.
When John saw Leo, his expression was complicated.
Aifel said, "Wizard Hughes, Kairila, this is Wizard Danville."
"Wizard Danville, these two are the main participants in this sea monster hunt. Wizard Hughes, like you, is a Wizard Seedling from the Tower of Dawn."
"Kairila is my deputy."
Kairila glanced at Leo and said, "Aifel, I told you before. You may have found wizards, but if they have not condensed a Spiritual Seed, not only will they be unable to help us, they may even become a burden."
Compared with Aifel, this knight named Kairila had a rather brusque attitude toward Leo.
When John saw Kairila's attitude toward Leo and Hughes, he failed to notice the fleeting delight that flashed across his face.
Nor did he notice that whenever Leo was looked down upon, he would unconsciously feel pleased inside.
Aifel said, "Kairila, you should know that most of the time, the ones willing to accept our knight order's missions are Wizard Seedlings like these."
Kairila slammed her large hand onto the table and said roughly, "Fine. They cannot compare to true wizards, but they will do. They are indeed a little stronger than the ordinary knights on our side."
Before you continue