At dawn the next morning, the first light pierced the thin mist like scattered gold, spilling over the training grounds of Baruch Manor. A thin layer of dew still clung to the bluestone slabs, cool underfoot and carrying the freshness unique to early morning.
A slender yet upright figure already stood on the training grounds. Linley wore a practical short outfit, and the Coiling Dragon Ring rested against the skin of his chest, giving off a faint warmth that seemed to flow through his veins into every limb. Following Doehring Cowart's instructions from the day before, he sat cross-legged on the bluestone slabs in the center of the grounds, his eyes half-closed and his back straight as a pine, as though his entire being had merged with the earth around him.
"The true essence of magic lies in resonating with the elements, not forcing them to obey." Doehring Cowart's spectral figure slowly appeared before Linley. His hair and beard were white, and his moon-white mage's robes fluttered in the morning breeze. A faint earthen-yellow halo surrounded him, and his gentle voice carried unquestionable authority. "You were born upon the earth and grew up upon it. The blood of the Baruch Clan flows through your veins. The earth elements are already your closest companions. Open your mind. Do not resist. Feel their breathing, and listen to their whispers."
Linley did as instructed, slowly closing his eyes and sinking all his attention deep within. At first, he perceived only the wind whistling past his ears, distant birdsong, and the faint sound of dew dripping from leaves. He tried to grasp those so-called earth elements, but the harder he deliberately searched, the less he found. Instead, ripples spread across the lake of his mind, leaving him unable to settle.
"Be patient. Haste makes waste." Doehring Cowart's voice came at just the right moment, carrying a faint smile. "To sense the elements, you must treat them as friends, with reverence and patience, rather than rushing for results. The more impatient you become, the farther the elements will stray from you. Try emptying your mind. Think of yourself as an ordinary stone, or a plant rooted in the earth."
Linley drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest, suppressing his restlessness. He stopped deliberately searching for traces of the earth elements and simply felt the weight and solidity of the bluestone beneath him, sensing the steady pulse of the earth. Gradually, his consciousness seemed to grow weightless, floating like a feather and merging with the world around him.
After an unknown length of time, Linley finally perceived something different.
It was an exceedingly faint yet substantial presence, as though it clung to the bluestone, hid in the cracks of the soil, and permeated the morning air. He could "see" countless tiny earthen-yellow motes, like sleeping sprites, swaying gently with the breeze and shimmering with soft light.
Found them! Joy surged within Linley, nearly breaking his concentration. Like startled rabbits, the earthen-yellow motes were about to scatter without a trace.
"Steady your mind!" Doehring Cowart barked. "Do not disturb them. Just watch quietly and feel their presence."
Linley hurriedly gathered his thoughts and held his breath, allowing the earthen-yellow motes to move freely through his perception. He could sense no malice from them. They even held a hint of affection, circling and playing around him like curious children.
The days passed in this fashion.
Every morning, Linley appeared on the training grounds on time, sitting quietly cross-legged to sense the earth elements. At first, he could catch only a few scattered motes; later, he could gather hundreds and thousands of earthen-yellow motes around himself. At first, he could make the elements linger only briefly in his palm; later, he could guide them to flow slowly through every part of his body. His rate of progress astonished even Doehring Cowart.
"What a genius!" Doehring Cowart watched Linley, who was enveloped in an earthen-yellow glow, his eyes filled with gratification. "Back then, it took me three whole months of sensing the earth elements before I could barely draw them together. You have reached this point in just ten days. Such talent is unparalleled across the ages!"
Linley merely smiled shyly, without growing arrogant or complacent. He knew that his rapid progress came partly from the talent in his blood, but even more from Doehring Cowart's patient guidance. This Saint-level Magus, who had been trapped in the ring for five thousand years, shared his lifetime of experience without reservation, sparing Linley countless wrong turns.
Another twenty days passed. A full month had gone by since Linley began practicing magic.
That morning, Linley sat cross-legged on the bluestone as usual. More and more earthen-yellow motes gathered around him, gradually condensing into a dense halo. His eyes were tightly closed, his brow slightly furrowed, and his face intent.
"Follow the method I taught you. Guide the elements together and trace the magic rune," Doehring Cowart's voice sounded beside his ear. "The first-level spell Earth Spike is the most basic offensive spell, and its rune has the simplest structure. Remember, every stroke must be precise. There cannot be the slightest deviation, or the magic will go out of control."
Linley focused intensely, drawing the earthen-yellow motes along the path Doehring Cowart had taught him and slowly tracing a sharp rune. At first, its lines were crooked, and it collapsed the instant it took shape. Undiscouraged, Linley tried again and again.
Sweat slid down his forehead and dripped onto the bluestone, spreading into a small damp patch. His arms trembled slightly, and the drain on his spiritual energy left him weary, yet his gaze grew ever more determined.
After countless attempts, a perfect, sharp rune finally took shape within his consciousness.
"Now! Pour in your spiritual energy and release the spell!" Doehring Cowart's voice held a hint of excitement.
Without hesitation, Linley poured all the spiritual energy within him into the rune. In an instant, it burst with dazzling earthen-yellow light, turning into a streak that sank into the earth beneath his feet.
"Bzz-"
A faint vibration sounded. The ground before Linley suddenly split, and a sharp spike of earth shot up through the crack. Half a meter tall, it gleamed coldly and came to a steady stop in midair.
"It worked!" Linley's eyes flew open, shining with excitement. Looking at the spike of earth he had formed, he felt an indescribable joy surge within him. This was the first spell he had learned, and his first step on the path of magic.
"Good! Good! Good!" Doehring Cowart repeated the word three times, his eyes brimming with gratification. "You learned first-level magic in just one month. Such talent is exceedingly rare even in the magic academies of the Puang Empire! Linley, you truly have not disappointed me!"
Linley stood, watching the slowly dissipating spike of earth and sensing the lingering magical fluctuations within him. The corners of his mouth could not help lifting slightly. He could feel a completely new power seemingly residing within his body-a power belonging to magic.
Just then, an exceedingly faint rustling came from the bushes at the edge of the training grounds.
The sound was so soft that Linley probably would not have noticed it had he not been concentrating so intensely. He whipped his head around, a flicker of wariness crossing his eyes, and demanded in a low voice, "Who's there?"
Doehring Cowart's spectral figure also turned toward the sound, his brow creasing slightly as his perception instantly spread outward.
The bushes stirred gently, and several withered yellow leaves drifted down. Then a tiny black figure darted out like lightning and stopped on a nearby wooden stake.
It was a mouse the size of a palm, black as ink from head to tail. Its fur was as sleek as fine silk, carrying a faint sheen in the morning light. It was a little smaller than an ordinary mouse, but its tail was exceptionally long, almost the length of its body. Most striking were its blood-red eyes, which held an alertness and cunning out of proportion to its size.
Tilting its little head, it curiously surveyed the two people and one soul on the training grounds. Its crimson eyes darted about without the slightest fear.
"A shadowmouse?" A figure strode in through the entrance to the training grounds. It was Hillman, who had just finished patrolling the manor. He recognized the unusual mouse at once, surprise flashing in his eyes.
After a month of training, Hillman's strength had also stabilized at the ninth-level peak, and his perception of his surroundings far surpassed what it had once been. He could clearly sense a familiar presence from the little shadowmouse-the very presence of the Shadowmouse Couple he had rescued in the Dark Forest that day. Presumably, the little one had only recently been born and was so curious that he had sneaked out of the nest and run all the way to Baruch Manor.
Hearing Hillman's voice, Bebe showed no fear. Instead, as though he recognized him, he gave a soft "Squeak, squeak," tilting his little head as if in greeting.
Then his gaze landed on Linley-or, more precisely, on the Coiling Dragon Ring at Linley's chest. His tiny nose twitched as though something had drawn him, and curiosity flashed in his crimson eyes.
"This little fellow..." Doehring Cowart's spectral figure had also noticed Bebe, surprise flickering in his eyes. After carefully sensing him for a moment, he exclaimed in wonder, "He actually carries a faint trace of a divine beast's aura! He is no ordinary shadowmouse. There must be an extraordinary secret hidden in his bloodline!"
Before his words had faded, Bebe suddenly gave a clear "Squeak, squeak," as though he had made some decision. He leaped, his tiny body tracing a graceful arc through the air as he sprang toward Linley.
Linley instinctively reached out to catch him. Unexpectedly, Bebe did not dodge, but landed securely in his palm. His body was furry and slightly warm, and his tiny paws scratched lightly against Linley's palm, making it tickle.
At the same time, the Coiling Dragon Ring at Linley's chest suddenly shone with a dazzling earthen-yellow halo. Its glow played against Bebe's jet-black fur, producing a strange resonance. A gentle energy flowed from the ring and slowly enveloped Bebe's body. Bebe narrowed his eyes in comfort and purred contentedly, affectionately rubbing his little head against Linley's fingers.
"Interesting." Doehring Cowart watched with keen interest, stroking his beard as he said with a smile, "You and this little shadowmouse seem to share quite a bond. It looks as though he has chosen you as his master from now on."
Looking at the well-behaved Bebe in his palm, Linley felt an inexplicable sense of closeness rise within him. He gently stroked Bebe's sleek fur. The little fellow raised his head, looked at him with crimson eyes, and gave a cheerful "Squeak, squeak."
Hillman stepped forward, a gratified smile appearing in his eyes as he watched the affectionate interaction between boy and mouse. He knew that from this moment on, Linley had gained a close friend who would accompany him for life, a companion who would fight by his side and travel the Yulan Continent with him.
And this seemingly chance encounter would become the starting point of their journey together toward the pinnacle. In the near future, they would write a legend of their own.
In the bushes beside the training grounds, the Shadowmouse Couple poked out their little heads. Watching Bebe interact affectionately with Linley, gratification flashed in their eyes before they quietly withdrew. They knew their child had found a master to whom he could entrust his life.
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