The Old Mage Airs His Embarrassing Past!

"Don't worry, Master. I don't feel discouraged at all."

Ren answered honestly.

That only made Carter more anxious.

The boy was clearly putting on a brave face!

He had seen too many gifted students sail through their early training, only to be crushed by their first real obstacle and never recover.

To save this promising student, Carter decided to lay it all bare.

The old mage gritted his teeth and began airing his most embarrassing memories.

"Ren, everyone runs into difficulties when learning magic. We've all had our slow moments."

"I'll tell you something: when I was a young apprentice, I was slower than anyone!"

"Other people learned things in days that took me two whole years! A basic shield alone held me up for two years!"

"The Ancient One nearly sent me away back then. But look at me now. I became a senior instructor, didn't I?"

Carter gave Ren a heavy pat on the shoulder, his expression earnest. "So a little setback means nothing!"

Ren stared at him, baffled.

What was the old mage going on about?

When had he hit a setback?

Seeing that Carter was about to continue, Ren hurried to cut in.

"Master, you're right."

"But I've... already mastered the Portal."

"What?!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Carter's hand was still on Ren's shoulder, his expression rigid.

A full ten seconds passed.

Only then did the old mage mechanically withdraw his hand and sit back down.

"You mastered it?"

"Yes. I just learned it."

Ren nodded innocently.

Carter felt his blood surge.

Just learned it?

I dug up my most humiliating memories and threw away my dignity just to comfort you.

And now you tell me you've already cleared the hurdle?!

"If you'd learned it, why didn't you say so earlier?!"

Carter's eyes bulged with indignation. He felt like a clown.

"You didn't ask, Master." Ren spread his hands.

Carter choked on his reply.

He had finally learned his lesson.

If Ren claimed he could tear Dormammu apart with his bare hands someday, Carter wouldn't let himself be surprised.

The old mage drained his cold tea in one gulp, trying to recover some dignity.

"Words mean nothing. Open a Portal and show me."

"Yes, Master."

Ren raised his left hand, the Sling Ring on his finger, and casually traced a circle in front of him with his right.

Crackle!

A ring of dazzling golden sparks appeared at once.

Through it, Carter could see straight into Ren's bedroom, right down to the water glass on the table.

It was flawless!

Carter's eye twitched. "Close it," he said stiffly.

Once the Portal dissolved into sparks, the old mage grew serious.

"Being able to open one doesn't mean you can use it carelessly."

"Space Cutting is terrifying. If your magic slips out of control while you're passing through and the Portal snaps shut..."

"Space will cut your body in half. You'll die on the spot!"

Ren nodded solemnly.

Of course he knew how deadly that move was.

It wasn't just a way to travel. It was a devastating way to kill!

Used properly, it didn't matter how strong someone's defenses were. Space Cutting would sever them clean through.

Now that was a lifesaving technique.

After a few more brief warnings, Carter watched Ren leave. Then he let out a long, weary breath, as if all the strength had been drained from him.

Being the instructor of a prodigy like that was too much for his heart!

The old man sat in his chair and touched his goatee, which he had nearly pulled bare. His face was bitter.

"At this rate, what little I know will last another two or three days at most..."

"If I don't ask the Ancient One for help soon, I'll run out of even Basic Spells to teach him."

Carter sighed, stood, and left the room.

Kamar-Taj covered an area comparable to a small town and had every essential facility.

The sorcerers earned generous salaries for carrying out missions around the world, so the cost of living here rivaled that of major cities outside.

Along the old-fashioned bluestone streets, one could even find internet cafés and Western restaurants.

Still troubled, Carter turned down a familiar lane and entered a tavern he often visited.

The tavern was lively.

Though Kamar-Taj was united, its sorcerers had their own circles.

Kaecilius's faction favored aggressive force, while Wong's faction was conservative and upheld tradition.

Carter was an easygoing member of the conservative faction. He liked to have a few drinks with old friends who also taught newcomers.

He had barely stepped inside.

A burly white man with a thick beard waved him over, his booming voice filling the room.

"Hey, Carter! You're late today!"

This was Buck, a senior sorcerer with a fiery temper and a straightforward manner.

Carter sat down at the table and poured himself a glass of ale. "Couldn't help it. One of my students took a lot out of me today."

"Hahaha! Spare us the excuses, old Carter!" Buck laughed loudly. "We've all got apprentices. You're the only one who makes a fuss!"

The other old sorcerers at the table joined in.

They were all getting on in years and no longer took high-risk missions. Their favorite pastime was comparing whose apprentices had turned out stronger over drinks.

"This one's different."

Carter took a sip from his glass. "The student I'm teaching this year is a rare genius."

"Hah—"

Gerry, a sorcerer with a handlebar mustache, couldn't help rolling his eyes.

"A genius? Who gets into Kamar-Taj without being one?"

"Take that boy Agul under me. In just six months, he's mastered the Magic Shield and thoroughly learned two theory courses!"

Gerry raised his chin proudly, showing off.

The other sorcerers drew sharp breaths and looked at him with envy.

"The Magic Shield and two theory courses in six months? That really is exceptional!"

"Even Master Kaecilius took more than three months to learn the Magic Shield back then."

"Gerry, you've found yourself a treasure!"

His companions' envious looks were immensely satisfying to Gerry.

He glanced sideways at Carter and asked challengingly, "What were you saying just now, old Carter?"

Carter looked at Gerry's smug face and felt sick.

Six months?

And he has the nerve to show off a result like that?

If you saw what my apprentice could do, you'd probably wet yourselves on the spot!

Carter set down his glass, a smile of utter superiority tugging at his lips.

"Gerry, Gerry. With standards like yours, you're fit to teach ordinary students."

"Six months to learn the Magic Shield, and you treat him like a treasure?"

The table fell silent.

Easygoing Carter had picked a fight?

What had gotten into him?

"Carter, since you've said that much, tell us how impressive your apprentice is!" Buck loved the spectacle and slammed the table.

Carter cleared his throat, swept his gaze across everyone present, and slowly dropped his bombshell:

"My new apprentice is named Ren."

"Guess how long it took him to fully master the Magic Shield."

The old sorcerers exchanged glances.

If Carter was this confident, Ren's result had to beat Gerry's student.

"Four months?" Buck ventured.

"Three at most," another sorcerer said with conviction. "Matching Master Kaecilius's time would already put him among the very best."

Looking at these narrow-minded fools, Carter felt even more disdainful.

He said nothing, merely raising three fingers.

"Three months? Really?!"

Gerry's expression changed. He clenched his teeth with jealousy.

But then...

Carter shook his head. His voice was quiet, yet his words struck like thunder:

"What three months? Three days!"

"He mastered the Magic Shield in three days!"

Boom!

The whole table erupted.

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Three days? You think the Magic Shield is a loaf of bread? Put it in the oven and out it comes?"

"Even the Ancient One couldn't have learned it at such a terrifying speed back then!"

Gerry sprang to his feet and slapped the table. "Carter, you'd make up a lie like that just to beat me? Have you no shame?"

The other sorcerers chimed in, convinced Carter was boasting.

Faced with their doubts, Carter wasn't angry. Instead, he savored the pleasure of knowing just how far beyond their expectations Ren was.

Ordinary people will never understand a prodigy's world!

He leisurely picked up his glass and said:

"I have no reason to lie to you."

"Grand Mage Wong saw it with his own eyes. If you don't believe me, go ask him."

With that, Carter tipped back his head and finished his drink, leaving the revelation to speak for itself.

The old sorcerers stared at one another, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Even Grand Mage Wong had taken notice?

Had Kamar-Taj really produced a monster who mastered the Magic Shield in three days?

Carter listened to their discussion and snorted inwardly.

If you knew that boy mastered Weapon Construction after a single night's sleep...

Would you old-timers have enough heart medicine to go around?