The Eve of Chaos, the Noble Knights Gradually Descend into Madness

Hearing the word "health," Leo fell into thought.

Generally speaking, with spiritual energy, wizards rarely fell ill.

Leo asked in confusion, "Can Battle Mages help wizards suffer fewer illnesses?"

"Not by directly reducing illness, but by improving a wizard's immunity and vitality, thereby reducing the occurrence of disease. As vitality rises, the body becomes tireless, and the mind grows clearer as well," Nova said. "Therefore, although Battle Mages are unsuited for combat, many things within this discipline can actually help other wizards obtain health and earn Magic Stones."

"Like the Withered Wood Potion you drank. In the eyes of some wizard apprentices, it is a potion in demand far exceeding supply."

"Though it is relatively weak in battle, this discipline's value does not lie in combat. Its advantages in other areas are actually considerable."

Nova's words completely refreshed Leo's understanding of Battle Mages.

Leo said thoughtfully, "Thank you for your instruction, Wizard Nova."

Leo agreed with some of Nova's views.

But there were also views he did not agree with. Although Battle Mages had simple combat logic, simple did not always mean weak.

Still, he had to admit that the monotonous fighting style of Battle Mages was indeed easily targeted.

However, Leo had never planned to focus all his energy on the Battle Mage system, so it did not affect him much.

Nova said, "This should not have been brought up by me, but by the mentors of your Gathering. However, Esmond Gathering currently has no Wizard Esmond, so it is only natural that you would develop such deviations in thought."

Nova's words made Leo realize the difference between a Gathering with mentors and one without.

Whether it was Sally, a novice teaching assistant, or Tesla, who had some experience as a teaching assistant, their understanding of Battle Mages was limited to it being an unpopular combat discipline.

Yet when it came to a mentor like Nova, he immediately saw the strengths and weaknesses of Battle Mages.

It was rare to find a mentor willing to speak with him, so Leo tried asking, "Wizard Nova, when I used Arcane Hand earlier, I needed to keep casting new Arcane Hands in order to switch forms."

"I want to know whether Arcane Hand can directly switch forms while in use, instead of casting a new Arcane Hand."

Nova said, "When it comes to learning, you really are thick-skinned."

Leo smiled shyly.

Nova then answered, "Arcane Hand itself does not possess that ability. However, its advanced version, Advanced Arcane Hand, is a spell that can switch forms after being cast."

"It is just that Advanced Arcane Hand requires a rather massive amount of spiritual energy. At the very least, you need to condense a Spiritual Seed."

Leo said, "Thank you for your guidance, Wizard Nova."

Nova then returned to his small group of three.

Kamon said, "Nova, this Wizard Seedling named Danville is quite good. Now that Esmond Gathering no longer has a mentor, why not simply take him in as a student of your own Gathering?"

Hearing this, Nova shook his head and said, "He did indeed exceed my expectations, but only that much... In the world of wizards, there is no shortage of students who can make my eyes light up."

Nova rejected Kamon's suggestion.

Leo was indeed quite outstanding, but in Nova's eyes, Leo's value was still insufficient.

Even though Leo already belonged to the very best tier among the current batch of new students.

Nova still felt it was not enough.

Night fell.

Aifel once again sent someone to ask Leo whether he would be having dinner.

This time, two knights had been sent: one was John, and the other was Kairila.

Compared to before, Kairila's attitude was now exceedingly respectful. When facing Leo, she directly lowered her head, treating him as a wizard.

As for John, for some reason, he gave off a hazy, unfocused feeling, making Leo instinctively glance at him.

John looked directly at Leo and said with a smile, "Danville, hello."

Compared to before, John seemed to no longer bear any resentment. He appeared bright and cheerful.

Yet this brightness gave Leo the feeling that something about his state was strange.

It was as though John had not actually woken up, and had spoken those words in a muddled daze.

Leo said, "Knight Kairila, thank you for the invitation, but I have food prepared myself."

Seeing Leo refuse, a trace of disappointment flashed through Kairila's eyes. She had often tried to curry favor with wizards like Leo.

Yet most of these wizards were like Leo, pursuing only the exploration of truth.

Other than exchanging ideas with fellow wizards, such wizards often regarded interpersonal relationships unrelated to research with great indifference.

Kairila left with John.

The two returned to the deck, and Kairila said, "John, what a pity. It seems it will be difficult to build a friendship with your fellow student."

John said, "I understand, Vice-Captain Kairila. I'll go eat first."

Kairila watched John's departing back. Suddenly, she clutched her head.

At that moment, Kairila suddenly felt as if a voice were whispering inside her mind.

"Slaughter, rampage, madness."

"Your heart longs for these things."

"The time has come to prove your strength."

"As a knight, you must wield the longsword in your hand and drive away those hateful wizards!"

Kairila rubbed her head, finding the inexplicable thoughts that had arisen in her heart utterly baffling.

Drive away the wizards?

She would have to be insane to have such thoughts!

Kairila shook her head, driving away the sudden mad thoughts.

Not far away, Nova inconspicuously glanced at Kairila and John. Then, with a thoughtful expression, he lightly tapped his fingertips against his book, as though pondering something.

Inside the cabin.

Holding red wine and chewing on a steak, Aifel shook his head and said, "These wizards really are difficult to deal with. It is as if they do not know how to enjoy life at all. Clearly they possess great strength, yet they always like to study those dull, tedious spells of theirs."

"Perhaps only such a temperament can make someone a wizard."

Aifel shook his head.

In the past, he had been deeply disappointed that he could not become a wizard.

But after becoming a knight, he found that failing to become a wizard was not so bad. At the very least, he did not have to become a bookworm who did not know how to enjoy fine food, fine wine, or beautiful women.

The only thing Aifel envied about wizards was their formidable power.

Aifel muttered, "Compared to them, I would rather deal with nobles from mortal kingdoms."

"John, what do you think?"

Although Aifel was dissatisfied with John's attitude toward wizards, he was very pleased with John's noble bearing.

To Aifel, someone who maintained noble restraint and arrogance like this was easy to manipulate.

John said, "Wizards are inferior to knights. I have always believed that."

Hearing John say this, Aifel jumped in fright. "John, don't speak nonsense. Although wizards are indeed somewhat strange, we knights absolutely cannot compare ourselves to them."