The total cost of Leo's purchases came to 2 gold and 95 silver. To round it up to an even three gold, he added five silver's worth of papers and chalks to his order.
With the transaction complete, he was left with 18 gold coins. He carefully placed the crystals and stands inside the magic box, then grabbed it in one hand while carrying the folded table in the other. Without delay, he set off toward his basement.
On the way, he made a brief stop in an alley, far from his actual destination. He pulled up his cloak, concealing his face, and activated his mana crystal. Then, with a practiced motion, he cast Veil of Deception and False Aura, ensuring that no unwanted presence could identify him. Instead of heading straight to his hideout, he took a winding path through multiple alleys, doubling back a few times to be certain no one was following him.
When he finally arrived, he took a careful look around. Seeing no signs of anyone watching, he slipped inside and went straight to the basement. The room was shrouded in darkness, so he conjured a small Light Ball to illuminate the space.
First, he organized his supplies. He placed the table near the wall, set the magic box on the opposite side, and took out a piece of chalk. Flipping through Advanced Enchantments, he found the diagram for Watcher's Bane and carefully sketched it onto the wall near the door. Then, he drew another magic circle on the floor, connecting it to the one on the wall with a single straight line. Once the structure was in place, he retrieved a stand and embedded the higher-tier mana crystal at the center of the floor diagram.
He glanced at the crystal. Although it was labeled as high-tier, he had no idea how to tell the difference between mana crystals yet.
Before activating the spell, he copied the entire diagram onto paper and attempted to cast it manually. While the enchantment would ultimately be powered by the crystal, he preferred to learn each spell himself, even if it was unnecessary.
With his experience in controlling C rank magic, this D rank spell wasn't difficult to grasp. After about three hours of practice, he had a solid understanding of its mechanics. Once he was confident, he bound the crystal to the magic circle and activated it. Within minutes, the diagram glowed softly, and Leo could feel the spell's presence pulsing through the room.
Next, he moved on to Shimmering Dome. This one was far more complex, requiring three supporting crystals, which meant he had to extend three separate lines from the main circle to accommodate them. The drawing alone took an hour.
When it came time to learn the spell, however, things didn't go as smoothly. He spent an hour trying to control the spell's mana flow, but he failed repeatedly.
His stomach growled, interrupting his focus. With a sigh, he reached into his bag and pulled out a meal box—one his mother had given him before he left. He sat down and ate, letting the warmth of the food chase away some of his fatigue.
After resting for a bit, he resumed practice, spending several more hours until he was almost able to cast Shimmering Dome properly. Then, he bound the three crystals to the spells and activated them. The magic circle on the floor flared to life, its lines extending outward—three connecting to the mana crystals and the last linking to the circle acting as the separate protective barrier.
Leo took a step back and surveyed his work. Everything was in place.
"I need a lamp down here," he muttered, noting the dim lighting.
Before leaving, he arranged his papers and chalk neatly on the table. Since he still had time, he flipped through Advanced Enchantments once more, searching for spells that could serve as a trap or a lock for the door.
After a few hours of reading, he found two promising enchantments.
The first was simply called Lock, the same spell used on his magic box.
The second was Mana Surge Snare—a dangerous trap that stored raw magical energy. When triggered, it released a sudden surge of mana, disorienting anyone up to C rank caught within its blast. Weaker targets, particularly those below F rank, wouldn't just be stunned—they could take severe damage or even die outright.
Leo took out his watch—six o'clock.
He wanted to learn and apply the new spells as well, but he lacked both the time and the extra mana crystals needed. In just two hours, Elna would be arriving at his house, so he set aside his plans for later. Carefully, he placed the remaining crystals back into the magic box, locked it, and stepped out of the basement.
After securing the door behind him, he made his way back to the magic shop. Without wasting time browsing, he went straight to the mana crystals section and purchased two more high-tier crystals for one gold coin, bringing his total funds down to 17 gold.
With the extra supplies, he headed straight home.
…
Leo paced back and forth in his room, his thoughts tangled. This wasn't the first time in his life that a girl was coming over, but it was the first time in this world—and he hadn't told his mother or sister anything yet.
Uncertainty gnawed at him. Should he say something? Would it be better to explain after Elna left? The weight of indecision kept him restless, his steps never ceasing.
Before he realized it, time had slipped away. At ten minutes to eight, Leo made his way to the door, standing there in silence. Five minutes later, he spotted a lone figure approaching from the distance. A girl. Elna.
She was wearing a dress, crafted from black fabric, its dark tones softened by delicate white lace tracing the hem and sleeves. The bodice fitted snugly, cinched at the front with fine white ribbons threaded through brass eyelets, creating a striking contrast against the deep fabric. The short, puffed sleeves, edged with intricate white lace, framed her shoulders elegantly, while a modest neckline was adorned with a simple onyx pendant.
The layered skirt flowed gracefully, with fine white embroidery weaving subtle patterns across its surface. Thin white ribbons cascaded down its length, breaking the darkness with elegant detail. Paired with polished black boots and matching gloves, the ensemble carried a refined air—steeped in the elegant, layered fashion of the era yet effortless in its beauty. She also wore a black top hat.
As Elna approached, Leo's gaze locked onto her, his thoughts swirling. 'Isn't this a bit too much?'
"Hello," Elna greeted, her voice light.
"Hi," Leo replied, still unable to tear his eyes away from her outfit.
Noticing his lingering stare, Elna's eyes fluttered with uncertainty. "Is something wrong? Do I look weird?"
Leo quickly shook his head. "No, it's just… not something you'd usually wear for a visit like this."
Elna's face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry… I've never been to anyone's house before."
"Never…?"
Leo wanted to ask more, but something about the way she looked just then made his heart race slightly. He turned away abruptly, hoping to hide the reaction, and gestured toward the entrance.
"This way."
Without another word, Elna followed him inside.
…
Lisa, Rosie, and Eliza froze the moment Leo walked in with a girl. The two groups stood there, staring at each other in silence.
Before the awkwardness could settle in, Elna bowed slightly.
"Hello, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Lisa blinked once, then quickly stood up, clearly caught off guard.
"Welcome! Sorry, Leo didn't mention we were expecting a guest."
Leo scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Ah… yeah, my bad. I forgot." He gestured toward the girl beside him. "this is Ms. Arryn. Ms. Arryn, meet my family. This is my mom, my sister Rosie, and Miss Eliza, who lives with us under… special circumstances."
"she is my classmate, and she's here so that... we can study," Leo said, struggling to find the right words. He had no idea how to explain illusions and spells to his family, and as a result, the atmosphere grew even more awkward.
"Okay... should I prepare dinner?" his mother asked, looking at Leo.
Elna waved a hand politely. "No, thank you. I already ate."
Leo quickly guided Elna to his room and shut the door behind them. He could hear his family's hushed whispers outside but chose to ignore them.
Elna hesitated by the doorway, unsure of what to do next, when Leo gently pointed toward the bed. Taking his silent cue, she walked over and sat down. Leo then eased into his chair, and after a minute of silence, he finally spoke, curiosity lighting his eyes.
"Ms. Arryn..."
"You can call me Elna," she replied, a hint of defiance in her tone.
"Alright, Elna," he continued, "Doesn't your family worry about you being in someone else's house this late?"
Elna's expression darkened. "My mom and dad are dead." Her voice carried a deep sadness.
Leo's eyes widened. He swallowed hard, then said, embarrassed, "Sorry… I didn't mean to upset you."
She shook her head. "It was a long time ago."
"A long time ago…" Leo echoed, frowning.
'But she's young… Has she been living alone all this time?' The atmosphere became awkward again.
Deciding not to press the subject, he shifted gears. "So, do you have anything specific you want me to teach you?"
Elna looked up, her eyes burning with determination—something Leo had never seen from her in the class. It was as if he was looking at an entirely different person.
"I want to be able to cast spells like you," she said firmly.
Leo opened his mouth to respond, only to realize he had completely lost track of his own thoughts. Why was it so hard to form a simple sentence right now?
Elna raised an eyebrow at his silence, her expression shifting with curiosity. The look snapped Leo back to reality. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
'What's the matter with me?'
Taking a steadying breath, he placed a hand under his chin, forcing himself to focus.
"Well, first of all, you need to understand that magic circles have a limited mana capacity. If you push too much mana into them, they'll collapse. That means one of your options is to improve your mana control, not increasing it."
"Controlling my mana will improve the spell?"
He nodded. "That's what I've learned through experience. The better you control your mana, the stronger and more stable the spell will be. If your mana inside the circle is disorganized, it won't function at full potential."
"Is that all?"
"No, there's one more thing. You know about soul shaping—how it aligns with your chosen path, right?"
"Yes."
"The more your soul is shaped in tune with your path, the stronger your connection to it. That's what I believe, though I can't say I fully understand it yet."
Elna listened carefully, nodding as she absorbed his words.
"In the end, you just need to practice. Focus more on your mana. Try to feel it when casting a spell—every little detail."
Without hesitation, Elna pulled a few sheets of paper from her pocket.
"Do you want to take off your hat?" Leo asked, hoping to make her more comfortable.
Elna hesitated, gripping the brim of her hat with both hands and pushing it down slightly instead.
Leo blinked, confused. Had he said something wrong? Just as he was about to ask, realization struck him—she was an elf.
"Oh, uh—just if you want to," he said quickly. "And, uh… don't worry, I don't have any problem with elves. Actually, I think they're kinda… cute."
The last word slipped out before he could stop it.
'Damn. What did I just say?'
His hand shot to his face, as if that could somehow undo his words. This was torture. After a moment of panicked thinking, only one thing came to mind.
"I'm sorry."
Elna stared at him, her eyes slightly widened—not in shock, but something softer, almost amused. Then, without a word, she took off her hat and handed it to him. A beautiful smile spread across her face.
Leo took the hat, his mind blanking for a moment as he looked at her. Without the hat, her long black hair cascaded freely, framing her delicate features. But what truly caught his attention were her ears—pointed and elegant, about three times longer than a human's.
Thump.
His heart skipped a beat.
Spinning around in an instant, he placed the hat on his desk, forcing himself to focus. But only one word echoed in his mind.
'Damn.'
…
Lisa, Rosie, and Eliza each had completely different reactions to what they had just seen.
Lisa's lips curled into an amused smile, her eyes glinting with mischief. She crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, as if she were watching something entertaining unfold right in front of her.
Rosie, on the other hand, was frozen in place. Her jaw hung open, eyes wide in pure disbelief. She blinked a few times, but the scene replaying in her head still didn't make sense. It was like her brain had stopped working altogether.
Then there was Eliza. Unlike the others, she wasn't smiling or shocked—she was upset. She tried to hide it, pressing her lips together and puffing out her cheeks like she always did when she was frustrated. Her tiny hands balled into fists at her sides, but she forced herself to stay quiet.
To her, Leo wasn't just some paladin—he was her knight in shining armor. Her hero. He had saved her mom, and that made him special. She knew all the paladins had helped, but that didn't matter. In her heart, Leo was the bravest and strongest of them all. He was supposed to be like the knights in the stories she loved—noble, kind, and always doing the right thing.
But now… he wasn't acting like a storybook knight at all!
Her cheeks puffed out even more as she sulked. 'Heroes aren't supposed to do things like this!'