Graduation and Slaughter

"Linley and An are both applying to graduate? The twin brothers together?"

"I heard Linley is already a Level Seven Mage in two elements! An only has the wind element, but he probably isn't much weaker."

"A seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage? Wouldn't that put him among the top three in the entire history of the Yulan Continent?"

Discussions broke out in every corner of the academy. As the four friends from Dormitory 1987 walked along, people kept turning to stare. Yale held his head high and puffed out his chest, as though he were the one graduating. Reynolds looked around excitedly.

"Number Two, Number Three, you two are really going to shake up the whole academy this time," Yale said. "Vice Principal Delante came to see me personally yesterday and asked when you planned to take your graduation tests. I told him you hadn't decided yet, and he got so anxious his beard practically stood on end."

An smiled without saying anything.

He was actually already a Level Eight Mage. But after discussing it with Linley, he had decided to display only seventh-level strength during the graduation test. A seventeen-year-old Level Eight Mage would be far too shocking and invite unnecessary trouble. Seventh level was already impressive enough. In the original story, it made Linley the second-greatest prodigy in the Yulan Continent's history, a distinction more than sufficient to draw the attention of every major power.

The graduation tests were scheduled for three days later.

The tests took place in the open grounds the academy normally used for experiments. When An and Linley arrived, more than thirty magic instructors were already gathered there. Vice Principal Delante had come in person, along with several old professors who rarely appeared in public.

"So many people?" Linley murmured.

An glanced around. "They're all here to watch."

Yale and Reynolds stood to one side and gave them thumbs-up.

The examiner was a gray-haired Level Seven Mage named Kane. Looking at the nearly identical twins before him, he sighed with feeling. "I've taught at Ernst Academy for forty years, and this is the first time I've seen twins apply to graduate together. Who will go first?"

"I will." Linley stepped forward.

Kane nodded. "You may demonstrate magic of any element. We'll judge your strength based on the spell's level and power."

Linley smiled faintly and began silently reciting an incantation.

Air currents swirled around him, and azure wind essence gathered into a pair of translucent wings. His feet left the ground, and he slowly rose into the air. Then he flew freely through the sky, turning, diving, and circling with smooth, effortless movements.

"Flight Spell!" Vice Principal Delante sprang to his feet. "Seventh-level wind magic!"

The surrounding magic instructors erupted in an uproar.

A seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage was second only to the prodigy who had reached seventh level at sixteen more than eight thousand years ago in the entire history of the Yulan Continent.

After Linley landed, Kane drew a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly. "Linley Baruch, seventeen years old, seventh-level wind mage. You also have exceptional aptitude for the earth element. Has your earth magic reached seventh level as well?"

Linley nodded. "My earth magic is also at seventh level."

Vice Principal Delante's face flushed with excitement as he hurried over to Linley. "A genius! An absolute genius!"

The silver-haired old professor beside him also approached. "Excellent. Of the ten greatest prodigies in history, six became Saint-level Magi, and four became Level 9 Great Mages. With your talent, as long as you suffer no major setbacks, your chances of becoming a Saint-level Magus are extremely high."

Linley smiled modestly and stepped aside.

"Next, An Baruch," Kane called.

An stepped forward.

Every gaze settled on him. Linley's seventh-level mastery of two elements had already stunned them. What level would his younger twin brother have reached?

Without another word, An also began silently reciting an incantation.

Azure wind essence gathered around him. He performed a difficult spiraling ascent in the air, then landed steadily.

"Flight Spell-seventh-level wind magic!" Kane's voice carried unmistakable shock.

A buzz of conversation rose around them.

An stood calmly in the testing grounds without demonstrating magic of any other element.

"An Baruch, seventeen years old, seventh-level wind mage," Kane announced. "Having reached seventh level at seventeen, he is likewise the second-youngest Level Seven Mage in the history of the Yulan Continent, tied with Linley."

Vice Principal Delante took a deep breath to contain his excitement and approached An and Linley. "You two must stay at the academy for a few more days. I'll invite the finest painter and the finest sculptor to create portraits and sculptures of you for the academy. This is the greatest honor Ernst Academy has known since its founding!"

An and Linley exchanged a glance and nodded.

The results of the graduation tests spread through the academy at astonishing speed, then reached Fenlai City and the entire Holy Union.

"A seventeen-year-old seventh-level mage in two elements! A seventeen-year-old seventh-level mage in one element! Twin brothers!"

The news flew to every corner of the Yulan Continent as though it had sprouted wings.

The doorstep of Dormitory 1987 was nearly worn through. Visitors came in an endless stream: younger students from the academy, nobles from Fenlai City, and envoys sent by the major powers. Unable to endure the constant interruptions, An and Linley moved into temporary lodgings at the Wardley Hotel, arranged by Yale.

The four brothers sat together in a private suite at the hotel.

"Number Two, Number Three, you're both in high demand now," Yale said with a laugh. "A Cardinal from the Radiant Church wants to meet you, the king of the Fenlai Kingdom wants to make you dukes, and even the four great empires and the Dark Alliance have sent people over."

Reynolds clicked his tongue in wonder. "I saw several strangers outside the academy gates yesterday, skulking around. They were probably gathering information."

Yale frowned. "Number Two, Number Three, what do you plan to do? With so many powers trying to recruit you, which one will you choose?"

An considered for a moment. "There's no rush. Let's meet the Radiant Church's people first. We're on Holy Union territory, after all, so we can't snub them. As for the others, we'll turn down whoever we can."

He had barely finished speaking when the hotel manager knocked and entered. "Young Master Yale, Young Master Linley, Young Master An, Cardinal Gilmer of the Radiant Church has arrived."

In the reception room, Cardinal Gilmer sat smiling in the seat of honor. Beside him were three white-robed priests and three temple knights-Marcus, commander of the Glory Knights, and his two deputy commanders.

"Linley, An, and young Yale." Gilmer rose to greet them warmly. "I heard that both of you passed your seventh-level mage graduation tests. Seventeen years old, one with two elements and one with a single element-there has never been another pair of twins like you in the entire history of the Yulan Continent. I'm proud that the Holy Union has prodigies such as you."

"You're too kind, Lord Gilmer," Linley said modestly.

Gilmer went straight to the point. "Linley, An, would you be willing to join the Radiant Church? With your talent, I can guarantee that you, Linley, will immediately become a white-robed priest, and the same goes for An. Becoming Cardinals in the future would be no problem either. If you don't wish to be bound by restrictions, you may instead join any kingdom under the Holy Union. Ducal titles and vast fiefs-you may take your pick."

Linley glanced at An.

An shook his head slightly.

Linley said to Gilmer, "Lord Gilmer, thank you for the kindness you and the Church have shown us. This is an important decision. We'd like to return to Wushan Town and discuss it with our father before deciding."

Gilmer's smile did not change. "Of course. But I hope you remember that you are people of the Holy Union. As long as you don't join any of the other five major powers, the Church will have ample patience to wait."

"We understand," Linley and An said together.

Gilmer nodded in satisfaction and left with his entourage.

Over the next few days, envoys from the four great empires and the Dark Alliance came one after another. An and Linley politely turned them all away, saying they needed to return home and discuss matters with their father. But these visitors refused to give up. Some lingered outside the hotel, while others followed them in secret.

Danger was also quietly drawing near.

On their way back from Fenlai City to Ernst Academy, the carriage carrying An and Linley suddenly stopped.

"Aah!" Several screams rang out, and the seventh-level warriors guarding them collapsed.

An and Linley exchanged a glance and lifted the carriage curtains at the same time. Three men in green stood ahead of them. Their leader, a scar-faced man, was watching them with a smile.

"Young Masters Linley and An, we mean no harm. Our master merely wishes to invite you both to visit the Dark Alliance." The scar-faced man's tone was casual, but his gaze was sharp.

An quickly assessed their strength. The scar-faced man was at least a peak ninth-level expert, and the two behind him were ninth level. They had no chance of winning a direct confrontation.

Bebe poked his head out of Linley's arms, fury filling his little eyes, but Linley held him down.

"All right, we'll go with you," An said. "But don't hurt innocent people."

The scar-faced man smiled. "Straightforward. Don't worry. We're only after you."

Just as the scar-faced man was about to act, an icy voice rang out from a distance. "Members of the Dark Church dare to make a move on our Holy Union's territory?"

Six men in black emerged from hiding. Then an old man in black robes and a barefoot, long-haired old man dressed in coarse linen slowly approached.

The scar-faced man's expression changed. "Vice Tribunal President? An Ascetic?" He gritted his teeth, knowing he would gain nothing here, and gave a couple of dry chuckles. "Since the Radiant Church's people have arrived, of course I'll show you due respect. Linley, An, until we meet again."

With that, he swiftly vanished with his two subordinates.

The black-robed old man approached An and Linley and managed a rare smile. "You two must have had a fright. Come back to the Holy Capital with us. No one will dare touch you there."

The Ascetic glanced at An and Linley, his gaze as gentle as a spring breeze. He nodded slightly but said nothing.

An and Linley followed the Radiant Church's people back to Fenlai City and moved into lodgings arranged by the Church. In the days that followed, the various powers made no more overt attempts to seize them, but the covert surveillance never stopped.

"It looks like they won't give up until we make a choice," Linley said irritably.

An remained calm. "Just keep putting them off. As long as we don't openly side with anyone, the Radiant Church will protect us. Once we're strong enough, no one will dare trouble us."

Just as the two were discussing their next step, Yale brought them good news.

"Number Two, Number Three, I've found a lead on the saber Slaughter you wanted," Yale said excitedly. "The Lucas Clan has it in their collection. Their clan leader is called Jeb Lucas, a stubborn old man. But..." He deliberately drew out the word. "Now that you're both famous, he probably won't dare turn you down."

An's eyes lit up. Recovering Slaughter, the saber passed down in the Baruch Clan for more than five thousand years, had been his father Hogg's lifelong wish. How happy his father would be if they could bring it home.

That evening, An and Linley went to the Lucas Clan's manor with Yale.

The Lucas Clan's reception hall was lavishly furnished, and more than a dozen nobles of the Fenlai Kingdom had been waiting for some time. There were dukes, marquises, and earls among them, all drawn by An and Linley's fame. Seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mages would become at least Level 9 Great Mages in the future, perhaps even Saint-level Magi. Who wouldn't want to befriend such people early?

Jeb Lucas was a silver-haired old man, his wrinkles etched deep by the years. He forced a smile as he welcomed An and Linley, but a trace of reluctance was plain in his eyes.

After several rounds of drinks, An walked straight over to Jeb and said quietly, "Marquis Jeb, you should know why I've come. Slaughter, the ancestral saber of the Baruch Clan, has been in your clan's collection for several hundred years. Now I hope to buy it back."

Jeb fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Linley, An, you're both extraordinary prodigies. Seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mages are rare in the entire history of the Yulan Continent. I know this saber means a great deal to your clan. But..."

He paused. "This saber is worth a considerable sum. Someone once offered me a million gold coins, and I still refused to sell it. Though our Lucas Clan is ancient, we aren't wealthy. If I simply gave it away, the younger members of the clan would object."

An nodded. "I understand. We're willing to pay six hundred thousand gold coins to buy it back."

Six hundred thousand gold coins was everything An and Linley had-their earnings from sculptures and Magic Crystal Cores, plus some money Yale had lent them. They could not raise any more.

Jeb hesitated.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the door. A servant hurried in and whispered a few words into Jeb's ear. Jeb's expression shifted, and then he stood and bowed deeply to An and Linley.

"Linley, An, the saber Slaughter is an ancestral treasure of your Baruch Clan. That it has remained away from your clan for several hundred years is a failing on our Lucas Clan's part. Just now, Cardinal Gilmer of the Radiant Church sent word that the Church is willing to mediate if you need it. Young Master Yale of the Dawson Chamber of Commerce has also put us under considerable pressure."

He gave a bitter smile. "Actually, even without all that, given your prospects, I ought to take this opportunity to do you a favor. There's no need for the six hundred thousand gold coins. Our Lucas Clan will return the saber Slaughter free of charge."

An and Linley both froze.

Free of charge?

Jeb waved a hand, and two servants carried in a long rosewood case. They opened it, revealing a pitch-black saber lying quietly inside.

The blade was about a meter and twenty centimeters long, slightly curved, and incomparably sharp, gleaming coldly in the candlelight. A dark red gemstone was set into the hilt. Near the hilt, two ancient characters were engraved on the blade-"Slaughter."

An reached out and grasped the hilt. This was the weapon their ancestor had used, the personal saber of Baruch, the first Dragonblood Warrior. It had drunk the blood of Saint-level dragons and slain the Hydra Emperor. It carried five thousand years of the Baruch Clan's glory.

"Marquis Jeb, we will remember this kindness," An said solemnly.

Jeb waved a hand. "You both have boundless prospects. I'll be satisfied if you spare a thought for my Lucas Clan in the future."

An and Linley left the Lucas Clan's manor with the saber Slaughter. As the night breeze blew, they stood beside the carriage, gazing at the rosewood case in their hands without speaking for a long time.

"Linley, we finally got it back." An's voice was a little hoarse.

Linley nodded, his eyes slightly red. "Father will be so happy when he sees it."

Bebe jumped out of Linley's arms and crouched on the wooden case. He touched the saber's hilt with a little paw and squeaked twice.

An carefully placed the wooden case inside the carriage, then turned to gaze at the night sky over Fenlai City. Stars glittered overhead, and moonlight flowed like water.