On the morning of the third day after Linley left, Wharton woke before dawn as usual.
The room was dark, with only a sliver of gray light seeping through a crack in the window. He sat up, did fifty sit-ups in bed, then got up and began his basic training. Push-ups, squats, wall sits-he did each exercise until he could do no more, rested, then started again.
Sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped onto the floor. The warmth in his chest grew more noticeable as he exercised, as though a small fire were burning inside him. After three months of persistence, the feeling had gone from an occasional occurrence to a constant presence.
The numbers on the panel increased a little every day:
[Overall basic fitness proficiency: 7.3%] [Strength increase: +32%] [Endurance increase: +28%] [Coordination: +21%] [Dragonblood Bloodline activity: steadily increasing] [Current effects: recovery speed +15%, fatigue accumulation -12%]
The numbers weren't high, but considering he was only three, his progress was already far beyond that of an ordinary person. Wharton knew this was the result of the panel's assistance and his own persistence, as well as a sign that his Dragonblood Bloodline was beginning to awaken slowly.
After finishing his physical training, he sat cross-legged and began to meditate.
The red points of light were as active as ever. For three months, he had meditated for two hours every day. The mass of Fire Element Magical Power in his chest had grown from the size of a soybean to that of a walnut, and its color had changed from pale red to bright crimson. Although he still couldn't cast magic, the total amount was already close to the standard for a magus of the first rank.
[Total Fire Element Magical Power: 0.95 standard units] [Purity: above average] [Progress remaining to first-rank spellcasting standard: 5%]
Almost there. One more month at most, and I'll have enough to cast first-rank fire magic. But Doehring Cowart had said he couldn't learn specific spells before the age of six, so Wharton wasn't in a hurry. He focused on accumulating and refining his magic power.
An hour later, he stopped meditating, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. He had used up a fair amount of spiritual energy, but it was still within his limits.
Outside the window, it was already broad daylight. Wharton wiped away his sweat, changed his clothes, and opened the door to go downstairs.
Hiri was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. When he saw him come down, he smiled. "Young Master Wharton, you're up this early again today."
"Mm." Wharton sat down at the dining table. "Is big brother coming back today?"
"He should be." Hiri ladled oatmeal into a bowl. "Three days for the trip to the royal capital: one for the test and two for the journey there and back. He should arrive today."
Wharton nodded and quietly ate his oatmeal.
He knew Linley would succeed. Supreme talent in two elements and spiritual energy eighteen times the standard-that kind of talent was among the best on the entire Yulan Continent. The Ernst Institute would definitely accept him.
The question was... what happened after he was accepted?
According to the original story, Linley would report to the Ernst Institute in three months and begin his journey as a magus. Wharton, meanwhile, would have to stay in Wushan Town for another three and a half years, until he turned six and could have his bloodline concentration checked and take the magic test.
Three and a half years was neither a long time nor a short one.
"Missing your brother?" Hiri asked when he saw him staring into space.
"I am," Wharton said. "I want to know the test results too."
"Don't worry. Young Master Linley is smart and hardworking. He'll definitely succeed." Hiri sounded certain. "Even if he doesn't, he can come back and keep training. He'll still be a formidable warrior someday."
Wharton didn't respond. He knew Linley would definitely succeed.
After breakfast, Hogg came out of his study and glanced at Wharton. "Don't fall behind on your lessons today."
"Mm."
Hogg went out into town. Wushan Town had suffered two disasters, and the rebuilding work wasn't finished yet. He went to check on its progress every day. After Hiri finished cleaning the kitchen, he began sweeping the living room.
Wharton went to the backyard.
Since Bebe had left, the courtyard of the old house had been much quieter. He sat down beside the bluestone slab where Linley usually fed Bebe and looked at the hole in the corner of the wall-the one Bebe used to crawl out of.
If all had gone well, Linley should have formed an Equal Contract with Bebe by now and be on his way home.
Wharton reached out and touched the slab. The stone was cold, and there were several tiny tooth marks on its surface, left by Bebe gnawing on it.
He sat there for about half an hour, then got up and began his reading lesson for the day.
Hiri had given him a new book-A Brief History of the Yulan Continent: Children's Edition. It was thick, but the print was large, and it had illustrations. Today they were studying the chapter on the four great empires.
"This is the O'Brien Empire, in the far north. It's cold all year round, and its people are fierce..." Hiri explained, pointing at the map.
Wharton listened attentively, tracing the place names on the page with his finger. A notification popped up on the panel:
[Geography study] [Proficiency: +0.02%] [Currently learned: distribution of the continent's major countries]
Progress was slow, but it accumulated every day.
Hogg didn't come back for lunch. Hiri said the town chief had asked to discuss something with him. Wharton ate lunch alone, then returned to his room for a nap-or rather, to continue meditating.
In the afternoon, he went to the training grounds.
Hillman wasn't there, so Rory and Roger were in charge of training. There were fewer children on the field than before. Some families had moved away after the disasters, and some children hadn't recovered from their injuries.
Wharton watched from the sidelines. The six- and seven-year-olds practiced basic movements, while those ten and older were starting to train with stone weights and wooden posts. Sweat, dust, shouts rising and falling-it was all the same as usual.
"Young Master Wharton!" Hadley ran over, his head covered in sweat. "Is big brother Linley back?"
"He should be back today."
"He'll definitely become a magus!" Hadley's eyes shone. "Then Wushan Town will have a magus of its own!"
Wharton smiled. "Mm."
Training continued until evening. As the sun sank in the west, the children gradually dispersed. Wharton was about to go home with Hiri when the sound of hooves came from afar.
A carriage approached from the entrance to town, with Hillman sitting on the driver's bench.
"They're back!" Hiri picked Wharton up and hurried over.
The carriage stopped beside the training grounds. The curtain lifted, and Linley jumped down, holding a little black thing in his arms.
"Big brother!" Wharton called.
Linley looked up, saw them, and smiled. He walked over, nodded to Hiri first, then looked at Wharton. "I'm back."
Wharton studied him. After three days apart, Linley didn't seem much changed, but his eyes were brighter, with an indescribable sparkle.
"How did the test go?" Hiri asked.
Linley pulled a letter from his robes. "I got in. The Ernst Institute."
Hiri drew a sharp breath. "Ernst? The number one magic institute?"
"Mm."
Hiri opened his mouth, as though wanting to say something, but in the end he just patted Linley hard on the shoulder. "Good! That's wonderful! The master will be delighted when he hears!"
The black thing in Linley's arms stirred and poked out its little head-it was Bebe.
"He came along too?" Hiri asked in surprise.
"We formed a contract on the way," Linley explained briefly. "An Equal Contract."
Hiri froze. It took him a while to react. "A contracted magical beast... Young Master Linley, you've gained so much on this trip."
Linley smiled without saying much more.
The three of them headed home. They met several townspeople along the way, and when they heard that Linley had been accepted by the Ernst Institute, they gathered around to congratulate him. Linley responded politely, but didn't stop walking.
By the time they got home, Hogg had already returned and was looking over the account books in the living room. He looked up when he heard the door open.
"Father." Linley walked up to him and presented the acceptance letter with both hands.
Hogg took the letter, opened it, and read it word by word. He read very slowly, then read it through again.
The living room was quiet, save for the crackling of the firewood in the fireplace.
Hogg put down the letter and looked at Linley. "The Ernst Institute, the number one magic institute on the continent."
"Yes."
"Classes start in three months?"
"Yes."
Hogg was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Good."
It was only one word, but Wharton saw his father's hand tremble slightly as he held the letter.
"I'll go prepare dinner. We need some extra dishes today!" Hiri wiped his eyes and hurried toward the kitchen.
Hogg carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. Only then did he notice Bebe in Linley's arms. "This is..."
"A Shadowmouse named Bebe. He's my contracted magical beast," Linley said.
Hogg stared at Bebe for a while. Bebe stared back at him with his little black eyes.
"An Equal Contract?"
"Mm."
Hogg asked no more. He only said, "Treat him well. A contracted magical beast is a partner, not a tool."
"I know."
Dinner was a feast. Hiri had stewed a chicken, roasted a fish, and made Hogg's favorite mashed potatoes. There was even a small bottle of wine on the table-something usually brought out only for festivals.
Hogg poured himself half a glass and gave Linley a little too. "Have a taste. You're growing up."
Linley picked up the glass and took a sip, his face puckering. "It's so bitter."
Hogg laughed. "You'll get used to it."
During the meal, Linley described the testing process. When he said the crystal ball had burst into two colors of light, Hogg put down his chopsticks. When he spoke of his spiritual energy being eighteen times the standard, Hogg took a deep breath. When he mentioned that a representative of the Ernst Institute had personally invited him, Hogg nodded.
"Supreme talent in two elements..." Hogg repeated softly. "Our Baruch Clan hasn't produced a magus in hundreds of years."
"Grandpa Doehring said there were two in the past," Linley said.
"That was even longer ago," Hogg said. "In the last few generations, we've struggled to produce even a warrior. Your great-grandfather was the last Seventh-level Warrior."
The mood grew somewhat heavy. Hiri hurried to change the subject. "All right, all right, today is a happy day. Young Master Linley has done so well; you should be happy, Master."
Hogg raised his glass. "Yes, happy." He looked at Linley. "Once you're at the institute, study hard. Don't bring shame on the Baruch Clan."
"I won't."
"And don't push yourself too hard. Take care of your health."
"Mm."
After dinner, Hogg went to his study, saying he had something to deal with. Hiri cleared the dishes, and Linley and Wharton went back to their room.
As soon as the door closed, Bebe jumped out of Linley's arms, bounced twice on the bed, then lay down and went still.
"He's tired," Linley said. "He stayed hidden the whole way."
Wharton sat down beside the bed and looked at Bebe. "What does the contract feel like?"
"Like... there's an extra thread." Linley thought for a moment. "I can sense how he feels-hungry, sleepy, happy. We can communicate a little too."
"What has he said?"
"That he's hungry and sleepy." Linley laughed. "But Grandpa Doehring said that when he's a little older, he'll become more intelligent and be able to say more complicated things."
Only then did Doehring Cowart float out. "Wharton, you haven't been slacking off these past few days, have you?"
"No," Wharton said. "I've trained and meditated every day."
"How's your progress?"
Wharton gave him a brief account. His Magical Power was close to the first-rank standard, his physical fitness was improving steadily, and his bloodline activity had increased.
Doehring Cowart nodded after hearing him out. "Not bad. At this rate, by the time you're six, you should have the physique of a warrior of the second rank and enough Magical Power to cast second-rank spells."
"Second rank?" Linley was surprised. "Wharton's only three."
"It looks like little Wharton is a genius," Doehring Cowart said.
Linley looked at Wharton, a complicated expression in his eyes. "Then in the future... will you become a warrior or a magus?"
"Both," Wharton said. "Magi have strong attacks, and warriors have strong bodies. There's no conflict."
"Will you have enough time?"
"Yes." Wharton was quite certain. "I train two hours more than you every day."
Linley paused, then laughed. "That's true. You don't have to go to class or deal with chores around the house."
"So you'd better work hard," Wharton said. "Don't let me overtake you."
"I won't." Linley's expression turned serious. "I'll work hard, very hard."
The brothers looked at each other for a while, then both laughed.
Doehring Cowart watched them, filled with emotion. One of these children had extraordinary talent, and the other had astonishing perseverance. Neither was likely to have ordinary achievements in the future.
"Linley, you'll need to make the most of the next three months," Doehring Cowart said. "The Ernst Institute is full of geniuses. You're talented, but you mustn't slack off."
"I'll also continue teaching you more advanced magic theory," Doehring Cowart said. "Once you're at the institute, you mustn't fall behind in your theory classes."
"Mm."
Wharton listened quietly. He knew Linley was about to enter a period of rapid growth. He would become a magus of the fourth rank in his first year at the Ernst Institute, then take up stone sculpting and trigger the second story arc.
As for Wharton... he still had three and a half years to build up his strength.
"Wharton." Doehring Cowart turned to him. "Your arrangements need to be adjusted too. Starting tomorrow, I'll set aside an hour each day to teach you general magic theory. Although you're a Fire Element magus, many of the basic principles are shared. Once your specific talent is tested at six, we'll find you a Fire Element teacher."
"All right."
"Also, you can increase your physical training," Doehring Cowart said. "Your body can handle a greater load now. Increasing the intensity appropriately will better stimulate your bloodline's growth."
"By how much?"
"Start with thirty percent more and observe the results for a week. If you adapt, increase it again."
Wharton nodded and committed it to memory.
After they talked for a while longer, Linley began to yawn. Three days of travel had indeed worn him out. Doehring Cowart told him to get to sleep early and returned to the ring.
Wharton went back to his room too.
Lying in bed, he thought back over everything that had happened that day. Linley had been accepted and had formed a contract with Bebe. Everything was proceeding according to the original story. Linley would leave in three months, and Wharton would be the only one left at home.
No, he wouldn't be alone. There was Hogg, Hiri, the panel, and Doehring Cowart's occasional guidance.
He closed his eyes and called up the panel.
[Current stage goal: attain the physique of a warrior of the second rank and accumulate the Magical Power of a magus of the second rank before age six] [Estimated time remaining: 3 years, 4 months] [Suggestion: gradually increase training intensity, deepen study of theoretical knowledge, and watch for signs of Bloodline Awakening]
Three years and four months.
Wharton did the calculation in his head. By then, Linley should already be eleven, a magus of the fourth rank, beginning to distinguish himself at the Ernst Institute.
And Wharton would be six, having just had his bloodline tested and preparing to take the magic test.