With Finn reunited, there was no reason to linger in Blaze Sun City. After gathering their belongings, the trio set off on their return journey.
Aboard a luxury cruise ship, Kael stretched his limbs, savoring the crisp sea breeze. "A rare moment of peace," he mused, leaning against the railing after emerging from meditation. Amelia soon joined him, their conversation flowing easily—a testament to the bond forged through recent trials.
From a distance, Finn watched them banter, muttering under his breath, "Since when are they so close? What sorcery did Kael use? Amelia never spares a smile for anyone…" He shook his head, equal parts baffled and impressed.
The endless blue expanse stretched around them, seabirds wheeling and crying overhead. Kael and Amelia continued their quiet exchange, occasionally laughing, while Finn lounged nearby, eyes roving the deck in search of new "scenery." The scene radiated tranquility.
Yet unseen by the trio, a nondescript cabin door creaked open. Two shadowy figures emerged, their gazes locked on Kael.
"Tsk tsk, young Kael seems to have acquired that item…" The first speaker—a wiry, unremarkable man who blended into crowds like smoke—chuckled darkly.
Toms!
The master thief who'd claimed to wander the continent in pursuit of "art" now stood aboard the ship. Beside him, clutching a crystal ball and sporting a wispy goatee, was Vesper.
The pair had clearly abandoned their supposed travels, instead tailing Kael with calculated intent.
"Just as I suspected," Vesper snickered, his grin oozing mischief. "My Grand Divination never lies. The artifact is in his hands…" His laughter carried an inescapably slimy edge.
"True. Credit to your Grand Divination, old lech," Toms sneered. "Who'd have guessed Moonlight Twilight was with Kael?"
"His staggering talent during enrollment tipped me off," Vesper preened. "A few… subtle inquiriesthrough divination confirmed he's our man."
"Should we enlighten him about the artifact?" Toms rubbed his chin.
"No. Let fate unfold. Our young prodigy isn't ready for such truths… yet." Vesper's voice dropped ominously. "One day, though…"
Unaware of the scheming duo, Kael reveled in the sea breeze, chatting amiably with Amelia as the ship vanished into the horizon.
Days later, the vessel docked at Flamehaven Isle's port.
"Finally! Another day aboard and I'd have puked," Finn grumbled, leaping ashore first. The voyage had bored him—endless chatter between Kael and Amelia, zero eye candy.
"Time flies with good company," Kael remarked, stretching lazily.
"We've been gone nearly a month," Amelia noted. "The Arcane-Martial Tournament starts in two. We must prepare."
"Can't wait!" Finn flexed, confidence surging as a Tier 6 warrior.
Kael smiled. Zorath the Silent had tasked him with securing a top-three finish. Last tournament's champions—Ethan (warrior academy) and the wandering prodigy Dylan (mage academy)—loomed as formidable rivals, especially three-time champion Ethan.
Amelia, who'd skipped the previous tournament, now teetered on the edge of Tier 7. Her debut promised to shake the standings.
Of course, while improving oneself, others were progressing too. A genius like Ethan could transform dramatically within a month, defying all conventional logic. To dominate the top position for three consecutive years at Yanhua Academy, where talents gathered like clouds, he must possess skills surpassing all others.
After discussing the upcoming Magic-Martial Grand Tournament for a while, Kael and the other two went their separate ways. Before parting, Amelia invited Kael to spar with her daily at the training grounds. Kael readily agreed, prompting Finn to make exaggerated facial expressions again.
"Perhaps I should visit the old man first," Kael thought of Ethan.
The elderly mage remained one of the people he trusted most in this world.
Without bothering to return to his dorm, Kael hurried toward the small cabin in the back mountains of Yanhua Academy where Ethan resided.
As he approached the foothills, Kael sensed intense magical fluctuations. The ambient mana felt violently agitated - clear signs of Ethan conducting another magical experiment. The old man excelled at alchemy, precisely the field not covered by The Book of Immortality. Consequently, Kael couldn't comprehend the purpose behind Ethan's constant clanging and tinkling.
"Master, I'm back!" Kael called out. He'd bid Ethan farewell before his departure.
"Quit your yammering, brat!" Ethan roared, clearly irritated at having his critical experiment interrupted.
Knowing his mentor's explosive temper, Kael obediently waited outside. After some time, Ethan finally emerged holding a small violet flask, moving with deliberate slowness.
"Didn't I tell you not to bother me unless necessary?" the old mage grumbled loudly. Yet a glimmer of amusement flickered in his eyes - the boy's visit likely signaled hitting a bottleneck. After all, breaking through to Level 6 Mage posed a significant hurdle.
"Hmm?" Ethan nearly dropped the violet flask. "Mid-stage Level 6?" Despite merely a month's separation, Kael had vaulted from peak Level 5 to mid-Level 6. The progress was staggering.
Kael nodded confirmation.
Ethan fell silent. This disciple truly defied all reasonable expectations.
"Wait!"
Ethan scrutinized Kael intently, his eyes suddenly flashing with peculiar light. "Your... your body!" he exclaimed in astonishment. The changes in Kael's physique were extraordinarily subtle - even with Ethan's discerning vision, only meticulous examination revealed their uniqueness.
"My body?" Kael's pulse quickened. His physique had been altered by the Ice Marrow. Could there be complications?
Ethan circled Kael, his eyes roving over the boy's form with feverish intensity - the predatory gaze of a researcher evaluating prime experimental material.
"Master..." Kael shuddered under the unsettling inspection.
"Fool boy, don't you realize your current physical condition?" Ethan tsked, brimming with astonished curiosity. "What exactly have you ingested?"
Kael truthfully recounted his consumption of the Millennium Ice Marrow.
"Millennium Ice Marrow? That explains it!" Ethan's fingers drummed against his chin. "Your physical constitution now rivals that of a third-tier warrior. Every bone and inch of flesh in your body has been reforged. Even your elemental affinity has reached extraordinary levels..." The old mage's lips curled in a deliberately ominous smile. "This state would be instantly recognizable to any perceptive master. Best remain vigilant - many Shadowwing Mages specializing in anatomical... experimentation... would find your enhanced vessel particularly fascinating."