[In the tenth year, you are still immersed in the library.] [The ocean of magical knowledge is deep and boundless, and you never tire of it.] [After a long period of exploration and practice, you have reached Level 12.] [Furthermore, you discover that you are exceptionally sensitive to the fire element.] [Its power slightly surpasses that of other elements.] [Therefore, you shift your focus to fire magic.] [Under your day-after-day focused research, Fireball underwent a qualitative change.] [Fireball (Entry) → Great Fireball (Proficient)] [The volume of the Fireball has nearly doubled, its core temperature is higher, and its explosion radius is wider.] [When a scorching Great Fireball condenses in your palm, it can even make the entire library feel a few degrees warmer.] [However, you know deep down that a mage cannot just be a scholar in an ivory tower.] [Combat experience, adaptability, and intuition for danger—none of these can be gained from books.] [You long to temper yourself through actual combat, truly transforming knowledge on paper into combat power.] [You tried to request sparring matches from the guards in the castle.] [But the results were discouraging.] [The guards either used “duty calls” as an excuse or looked you over with eyes full of slight contempt.] [“Little Ray, it’s not that we look down on you, it’s just…”] [“You should head back to the library.”] [You were helpless, yet you could understand their thoughts.] [Thus, you pinned your hopes on Miss Lily.] [However, she has been increasingly busy lately, rarely returning to the castle.] [You plan to wait for her return and personally ask her to arrange some combat training opportunities, or allow you to follow the patrol team on some low-risk missions.] [This wait lasted for several months.] [Two months later, on a certain night, Miss Lily finally returned to White Dew Castle, looking travel-worn.] [As night fell, you finished your day’s meditation and spell practice.] [The longing for combat in your heart intertwined with worry for Miss Lily’s state, making you feel somewhat uneasy.] [You decided to head over to the main building to check, even if it was just to offer greetings through the door.] [The moonlight was dim as you walked along the familiar path toward the area where Miss Lily’s room was located.] [The surroundings were unusually quiet; you couldn’t even hear the footsteps of the usual night patrol guards.] [Sensing that something was wrong, you immediately took out your cloak and put it on.] [Just as you were advancing cautiously—] [Swoosh—!] [A sharp sound of something piercing the air attacked from your side-rear!] [In a life-or-death moment, driven by instinct, your body jerked violently to the side!] [Puchi!] [Sharp pain radiated from your left shoulder!] [A pitch-black short arrow was deeply embedded in your shoulder.
The arrowhead was icy cold, carrying a burning sensation that spread instantly.] [Poison!] [“Huh?
You actually managed to react?”] [A slightly surprised, raspy voice rang out from the shadows.] [Immediately after, a figure landed lightly on the corridor carpet, silent and soundless.] [You immediately cast an Appraisal spell on him.] [Target: “Assassin Professional,” Level: Approx.
LV 16, Threat Level: Extremely High] [Level 16!] [Four levels higher than you, and a natural enemy of mages!] [“Who are you?
What are you doing here?”] [You endured the sharp pain in your shoulder and asked sternly, while the mana in your body circulated frantically.] [“What else would I be doing here?”] [He didn’t take you seriously at all, spinning a scimitar around his fingertips.] [“The Master ordered no disturbances, so I’ll have to ask you to take your leave first.”] [“Wait!
I’m just passing by!”] [You never intended to get involved in any family disputes.] [After all, what could a child like you change?] [Most importantly…
this would truly cost you your life!] [But the assassin didn’t listen to a word you said, walking toward you with a cruel grin.] [Left with no choice, you had to launch the first attack!] [“Enhanced Dynamic Vision!”] [“Great Fireball!”] [Stacking buffs before attacking—an eternal truth.] [The Great Fireball whistled out, flying straight for the assassin’s face!] [At the same time, you struggled to raise your left hand, and sharp Wind Blades flew out, sealing off his escape routes to the left and right!] [However, the gap in level and combat experience was fully revealed at this moment.] [The assassin’s figure flickered like a ghost, passing through the gap between the Fireball and the Wind Blades by a hair’s breadth.] [“Trivial tricks.”] [Before his voice even faded, the scimitar in his hand flew out, aiming straight for your throat!] [The spinning scimitar pierced right through your body, and your head flew off.] [But a look of confusion appeared on the assassin’s face.] [He focused his gaze and saw the “you” who had been “beheaded” ripple like water, quickly becoming transparent and finally dissipating into the air.] [It was an illusion!] [The moment the assassin appeared, you knew you had zero chance of winning in a head-on fight.] [So you unhesitatingly played your trump card: Illusory Heart!] [Next!] [“Corrosive Arrow!!!”] [Seizing this opportunity, you directly urged twelve arrows to attack him!] [The assassin excels in speed and evasion?] [A single arrow might not be able to touch him, but twelve arrows in a hemispherical formation covered every possible space he could dodge into!] [This nearly drained all the remaining mana in your body; it was impossible for him to dodge.] [“Argh—!”] [With a short and shrill scream, the battle came to an end.] [You leaned against the cold wall and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.] [Excessive blood loss, plus the arrow poison…] [The world before your eyes began to turn gray.] [“I still…
can’t survive…”] [“Damn…
I don’t want to die here…”] [Over these years, surviving had almost become your obsession.] [To live, you had put in so much effort…] [But now…] [You didn’t even live to reach adulthood.] [Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern: parents, magic, and…] [You struggled to turn your neck, looking toward the higher floors of the main building.] [“Lily…”] [Unknowingly, you—who always prioritized survival and self-interest—actually felt such deep concern for another person’s safety.] [Living together day and night for these ten years had already allowed Lily Chris to occupy a very important place in your heart.] [Thoughts of unwilling resignation supported your gradually blurring consciousness.] [Just as your consciousness was about to sink completely into darkness, that familiar warm current emerged once again!] [Unyielding Recovery triggered!] [“Go on…”] [“Live on…
in my place.”] [You murmured, and with this final strength, you painfully raised your right hand, a wisp of flame condensing at your fingertips.] [Three Great Fireballs flew out from your palm one after another, whistling as they shot into the night sky outside the castle!] [They exploded like fireworks in the silent, dark night.] [Using this as a warning signal, the guards would definitely see it.] [You exhausted everything, and your arm fell limply.] [Accompanied by endless worry, you died…] […]