In recent days, William has had nothing pressing to attend to and has been living quite leisurely. Every morning, Amy would come by to deliver breakfast, which they would then enjoy together at his place.
William attempted to pay Maria for the breakfast, but she refused to accept any money.
After breakfast, William would head to school for his classes. Lately, he’s been attending more frequently, making an effort not to skip even if some lectures are dull and unengaging. He listens intently regardless.
These days, he’s finally learned how to order takeout on his own, and he’s become adept at various forms of mobile entertainment. In the evenings, he joins Wyatt and others online to play computer games, often to their surprise and resulting in raucous cheers for their victories.
One day, absorbed in reading at the bookstore, William learns that Walker has finally been released. The apprentice of Bryant, after a month in jail, had earned his freedom. During that time, he tried to escape but was closely watched by the agents of the thirteenth bureau and caught every time. What should have been a fifteen-day sentence turned into a full month.
Upon his return to Cozy Book Haven, he was surprised to find the place filled with all manner of peculiar Soulmancers.
“William, who are all these people?” Walker asked cautiously. As a novice soul mage, he could see that half of the people in the bookstore were beyond his ability to gauge in terms of strength.
It was terrifying!
William simply replied, “They are all customers here to read books.”
“Forget it, I won’t ask you…” Suddenly, Walker realized that William had also become a Soulmancer, which startled him. “You found a way to become a Soulmancer? It hasn’t been long, and you’re already a novice Soulmancer!”
“Yes, it’s indeed a unique feeling. By the way, what’s your level? I can’t seem to discern your strength,” William said, teasing Walker.
“Me? It shouldn’t be long before I reach the intermediate Soulmancer level. Naturally, you can’t see through my strength,” Walker said confidently. After all, being a junior Soulmancer at twenty-two was no small feat; it was fair to call him a prodigy.
His words caught the attention of the others in the bookstore. What was it for a novice and a junior Soulmancer to brag about here? Those present were masters from major Soulmancer organizations or rich heirs with a legacy of Soulmancers. Since the news of Nelson working at Cozy Book Haven had spread, more and more Soulmancers had been drawn to the place. Eventually, entry to the bookstore required certain qualifications and involved a waiting list.
Therefore, the least skilled individuals reading here today are at the pinnacle of the junior Soulmancer level, and there are three others who are at the intermediate Soulmancer level.
“Who are you?” someone at the peak of the junior Soulmancer level asked Walker, his expression peculiar, “How come I’ve never seen you before?”
“Hello, my name is Walker.”
“Walker? Never heard of you! Which Soulmancer organization are you with?”
Walker, a proud man himself, felt irked by the interrogative tone and replied coldly, “I don’t belong to any Soulmancer organization. What’s it to you?”
On any other day, Nelson would have had them take their quarrel outside, but with William sitting right there, he didn’t dare to create a scene. Most importantly, he wasn’t sure how close Walker was to William.
“How about we step outside and have a little spar?” The junior Soulmancer at his peak cautiously glanced at Nelson, and noticing no sign of disapproval, became somewhat brazen.
After all, the bookstore only had so much space. If just anyone could come in, Nelson would likely get annoyed. He was trying to help Nelson by getting rid of these noisy nuisances, perhaps even currying favor with Nelson.
What an excellent opportunity to showcase oneself!
William, who was also bored, could tell these two were itching for a fight and egged Walker on in a low voice, “Walker, teach him a lesson!”
“Hmph!” Walker snorted disdainfully and said to the junior Soulmancer, “Let’s go! Let’s talk outside.”
Two other Soulmancers stood up inside the store, while the rest buried their heads in their books, indifferent. Someone would handle it,it was necessary to show those Soulmancers without organizational backing that not just anyone could step into this bookstore.
Just as Walker and the others were stepping out of the bookstore, the junior Soulmancer suddenly halted, turned around, and pointing at William, said, “How about you come out and join the talk?”
He said this while still gauging Nelson’s reaction.
Nelson coughed loudly, then turned his head, pretending to see and hear nothing.
So that’s how it was!
Surely, the great mage Nelson had long been displeased with this novice Soulmancer being an eyesore here, but due to his elder’s dignity, he hadn’t spoken up.
Now, this chance to perform might just alleviate Nelson’s concerns.
Yet Nelson could only pretend to be oblivious, this young man really was courting death!
Even to dare provoke William?
Even if one did not know of William’s strength, seeing how close William was with Zoey, one should not have provoked him.
Hmm, no, this young man seems to have arrived only yesterday, named Gavin. William happened to not be at the bookstore yesterday.
It’s over for him! He’s done for!
Nelson didn’t consider William to be kind-hearted. Angering William was akin to seeking one’s own doom.
“The great mage, I’ll go out and make sure nothing untoward happens,” said an intermediate Soulmancer from the store who knew William. Although William wasn’t very powerful, he was aware of William’s good standing with Zoey and Alice and that he was an employee of this bookstore, seemingly also acquainted with Nelson. Shouldn’t he keep an eye on the new, clueless young man to prevent any accidents?
Nelson waved his hand dismissively, “Do as you wish, but you’d better not get involved!”
“This…” The intermediate Soulmancer hesitated for a moment, then sat back down. It seemed the great mage Nelson didn’t want him to go outside.
After Nelson spoke, naturally, no one else dared to leave.
William and Walker followed Gavin and his companions to a secluded grove near the school, where Gavin’s associates quickly dispersed the nearby students.
Walker asked coldly, “What do you want? A fight between Soulmancers?”
Gavin laughed, “A fight between Soulmancers? You think you’re worthy? Do you know how much effort I’ve put in to get to Cozy Book Haven? You two are trash, making noise in there?”
“I’ve been working in the store for a long time, do you understand what ‘first come, first served’ means?” Walker pointed at Gavin, cursing, “What are you? If you want to fight, come at me. William is my bro, he’s not that strong, what skill does it take to bully a novice Soulmancer?”
William had never imagined that Walker would care so much about his situation. It surprised him and, to tell the truth, he was actually a bit touched.
Wow, really? That’s just too dramatic!
He had already gotten Walker into enough trouble before, and today, at the very least, he owed him some form of compensation.