Those Walking on the Edge of a Cliff Always Hope a Hand Appears Behind Them

"No."

The cold reply made Richard shudder.

He could not help saying, "You must know that bit of Dormammu's energy will subtly influence Kaecilius's personality!"

The Ancient One twirled her fan, nodding. "I know."

"Then why..." Richard was baffled.

The Ancient One at this moment was too indifferent, entirely inconsistent with the image of the amiable teacher in his memory.

Richard's questioning made the Ancient One fall silent for a moment. She sighed, "Richard, I have seen Kaecilius's future countless times..."

Richard suddenly understood. He remembered!

The fellow who killed the Ancient One in the future was none other than Kaecilius!

Richard feigned surprise as he asked, "Could it be that Kaecilius turns bad in the future? That he falls?"

The Ancient One nodded silently.

Richard could not see through the Ancient One's inner thoughts, but if it were him,

for a fellow who would kill him in the future, he would definitely strike first and kill him before anything else!

"When Kaecilius first entered, you saw his future, didn't you?" Richard said. "Then why did you still take him in?"

The Ancient One smiled softly. "Because he will be an excellent mage."

"Kamar-Taj will not turn away the arrival of any excellent mage."

"Even though at that time, he had nothing and had given up on himself."

Richard was puzzled. "Then why treat him like this now?"

The Ancient One said hauntingly, "Destiny is set, and it cannot be stopped."

Hearing this, Richard was very surprised. He looked at her with a peculiar gaze. "Does an elder like you still believe in destiny?"

"Ha~" The Ancient One chuckled softly. "Why not believe? The future me has tried countless times, but the result of every effort is a set ending. Is this not destiny?"

"There is a saying in the East that I like very much..." Richard looked earnestly at the Ancient One. "Man can conquer nature!"

"Those walking on the edge of a cliff always hope a hand appears behind them..."

"Not to push them forward..."

"Instead, to reach out and pull them back from the edge of the cliff!"

Saying this, Richard recalled what Mage Marcus had said in the library.

"Mage Marcus once told me this..."

"Mage Kaecilius is a very powerful and kind-hearted mage, and he is deeply respected and loved by this batch of apprentices..."

"I do not believe that someone who can be respected and loved by the majority is inherently an evil person."

Richard suddenly stood up. "We must pull him back, Sorcerer Supreme! Kaecilius is standing on the edge of the cliff right now!"

"Even with all your effort, you cannot change the ending?" the Ancient One asked.

"Man can conquer nature!" Richard shouted this phrase with powerful conviction.

The Ancient One looked at Richard, and after a moment, she suddenly smiled happily. "Perhaps this is why you appeared in this world."

"A variable, a brand-new future."

Standing at the entrance of the main hall, Richard felt a bit dazed.

No!

What on earth did the Ancient One mean?

Didn't she agree to help Kaecilius?

Why did she chase me out?!

That was not playing by the rules!

Richard felt aggrieved for a long time before turning and walking toward the library.

"Hi, Marcus, long time no be."

Familiar with greeting the library administrator Mage Marcus, Richard grabbed a copy of the Kamar-Taj Advanced Magic Compendium and left.

This confrontation with the Hell Dimension invasion had shown him his shortcomings.

That was the magic he mastered was far too little!

Although he could fight, tank, and run now, it was too singular!

He only knew one spell of each category, which left him stretched thin when facing enemies with various complex situations!

Energy Whip was useful, but its binding force could only be considered average!

Holy Sword was also decent, but he wasn't used to using it!

Ikonn's Image was useful, but the mana consumption was truly too severe! Even with Richard's current mana reserves, he could only cast it twice in a short time.

Rings of Raggadorr were very perfect, but after all, he was not the Ancient One and lacked the grandmaster's skill in handling heavy things lightly.

There was also his self-created Richard's Floating Shield spell, whose casting limitations were far too great and not suited for group battles.

Carrying the borrowed Advanced Magic Compendium, Richard opened a portal and returned to Greenpoint Apartments.

By this time, Christine had already returned from work.

Holding a plate of vegetable salad, she walked out of the kitchen and saw Richard standing in the living room wearing a strange outfit, holding a thick book in his hand.

"Richard? When did you get back?"

"And this outfit of yours, it looks kind of weird?"

Richard raised an eyebrow, reached out to pull up his hood, turned sideways, lowered his head, and said in a deep voice, "Hello, madam~"

Finished, he took off the hood and asked, "Mysterious or not? Handsome or not?"

"Emmm~" Christine opened her mouth, wearing a conflicted expression. "Hard to evaluate~"

"Well, it looks like you don't like it," Richard said disappointedly.

"It's very handsome!" Christine hurriedly placated him with praise; a big boy with a lingering childlike innocence needed some positive feedback.

"You look like an assassin!"

"An assassin?" Richard was slightly startled, asking involuntarily, "Doesn't it look like a mage?"

"A mage? Don't mages all have that image of wearing cloaks, holding staves, and having a gloomy and terrifying background?" Christine said, walking over to sit on the sofa and placing the plate holding the vegetable salad on the coffee table.

Richard forcibly salvaged his dignity, emphasizing, "Listen, Clea, I have the image of a battlemage."

"When did you start liking to play cosplay, darling?" Christine asked with amused interest.

"This is not cosplay!" Richard said with a solemn face.

He had already considered it before coming back: today, he would tell his girlfriend about Kamar-Taj.

"Clea, listen, I am now a formal mage, a magician!"

"Oh, well, legendary Mr. Magician, do you want to eat some vegetable salad?" Christine picked up the plate and asked with a smiling expression.

Richard's face darkened slightly. He held the Advanced Magic Compendium upright. "I'm not joking, Clea. Look, this magic book is what I just borrowed from the Kamar-Taj library."

"Your cosplay dedication is truly impressive, darling." After praising him, Christine could not help laughing.

"Well, darling, I hope you won't be scared next!" Richard raised his left hand, and a basketball-sized portal timely opened on his left.

He reached a hand through...

Christine suddenly felt someone patting her shoulder, so she instinctively slapped that mischievous hand away. "Richard, stop messing around~"

A few dark lines appeared on Richard's forehead, and he reminded her, "Clea~"

"What?" Christine asked confusedly.

"I am standing two meters away from you~" Richard said speechlessly.

"So?" Christine hadn't reacted yet.

Richard used his left hand to pat her shoulder again.

Christine was stunned at first, then slowly turned her head to see that familiar hand resting on her shoulder.

Immediately, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open!

"Ah!!!"