The garden's interior was even more exquisitely crafted than it appeared from outside. Its flowerbeds were carpeted with blossoms of every color, kept in full bloom year-round by magic, fresh and vivid, with tiny droplets of water beading along the edges of their petals.
Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened. In less than ten minutes, Rafada disabled more than half the Magic Devices in the garden and returned safely to the pair.
The boy's steps were light as he passed through the flowers, a few scraps of leaves clinging to the hem of his white Mage Robe. Rafada even excitedly flashed an "all done" gesture toward Renato's hiding place, an innocent smile in his gray eyes.
Yet as she watched the white-haired boy return unharmed, Klauthsura's expression grew even graver. She warned him telepathically:
"Renato, you need to pay extra attention to this human mage named Rafada. Remain vigilant at all times."
Renato narrowed his eyes at the boy a short distance away, who was brushing leaves off his shoulder as he led the way. Then Renato turned his head, leaned close to the female dragonborn's ear, and whispered as quietly as he could:
"What's wrong? Is there something off about his behavior?"
"According to the extensive data on human mages recorded in the Library, Rafada's actual spellcasting performance far exceeds the level a human mage of his age should possess. This is highly abnormal."
"Take the speed and precision with which he dispelled those alarm spells, and his grasp of practical spellcasting..."
"Klauthsura, perhaps you're overthinking this." Listening to her, Renato pressed his lips together before replying with a hint of reflection, "Humans may be mediocre as a group, with an average level below that of many other races, but we have no shortage of exceptional geniuses who far surpass those