“Silas? What happened to you? How did you lose your arms?” A concerned elderly man abruptly entered the room, his expression a mix of shock and sorrow upon witnessing Silas’s condition.
Silas, renowned as one of the kingdom’s finest magic combat instructors, was revered by many at the magic academy. New instructors aspired to emulate his skill and expertise.
“Headmaster Ashcroft…?” Silas’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected visitor. He looked to the elderly man, a sense of gratitude mixed with curiosity.
“I’ve heard about your condition for some time now, from Teacher Rowena, Instructor Silas.” Headmaster Ashcroft nodded solemnly, taking a seat beside Silas, who lay on the bed, his face etched with sadness. He continued, “Upon returning from that distant place, both of you recounted much of what transpired during your journey… including the grievous injury that left you incapacitated.”
“I wanted to visit you earlier, but as you know, managing the affairs of the academy and handling the recruitment of new talented mages keeps me occupied.” Headmaster Silas apologized to Silas for not seeing him sooner.
“It’s quite alright, Headmaster Ashcroft. Your presence now means a great deal to me,” Silas responded politely, aware of the demands on the headmaster’s time. He understood that if not for his pressing responsibilities, the headmaster would have visited sooner.
Headmaster Ashcroft held a position of great importance as the principal of the Windfall Kingdom’s magic academy. His time was considered invaluable, to the extent that even the king had to schedule appointments to meet with him. Silas wasn’t surprised to hear about the headmaster’s demanding schedule.
As he looked at Silas’s distressing state, Headmaster Ashcroft couldn’t help but seethe inwardly. ‘The individual who inflicted this upon Silas must be exceptionally ruthless. But the question remains: who could Silas have provoked so severely that they didn’t hesitate to sever his arms, rendering him a cripple?’
‘I must uncover the identity of this perpetrator who dared to harm such a vital instructor of the magic academy. If news of this incident were to spread, it would irreparably tarnish the reputation of our academy.’
Instructor Silas wasn’t merely an instructor; he was the preeminent combat instructor at the magic academy. Finding a replacement for him seemed an almost insurmountable task.
The weight of the situation settled heavily on Headmaster Ashcroft’s shoulders. The absence of Instructor Silas would undoubtedly raise questions among the students, many of whom held him in high regard. ‘If news of Silas’s condition spreads within the academy, it could lead to chaos. He has so many admirers; they won’t remain silent.’
After a brief silence, Headmaster Ashcroft fixed Silas with a stern gaze. “Silas, I’ve inquired Rowena about the person responsible for your current state. However, she refused to divulge their identity. So I ask you now, who did this to you?!”
Silas regarded the headmaster with an odd expression. He wanted to reveal the truth, but he had given Rowena his word not to disclose Yuan’s involvement. He understood that if the academy sought retribution against Yuan, it could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Silas had witnessed Yuan’s formidable strength, and he couldn’t fathom the depths of his wives’ abilities. He was certain that even Headmaster Ashcroft would be powerless against them.
With a long sigh, Silas shook his head. “Headmaster Ashcroft, please forgive me, but I cannot reveal ‘his’ identity to you. It’s better if only a select few know about ‘him.’ I don’t wish for any harm to befall this academy. I’ve already lost my arms, and I don’t want to be the cause of further tragedy.”
Headmaster Ashcroft regarded Silas with a furrowed brow, pondering the implications of his words. ‘Is this person truly so formidable that Silas hesitates to reveal anything about them? How could someone of such strength exist in a remote village like Pinebrook?’
“So, you choose to keep his identity hidden, then? Is this person truly that powerful?”
“Powerful doesn’t even begin to describe it. Despite lacking mana, I couldn’t even perceive his movements. That boy… he… he didn’t take me seriously at all. He toyed with me effortlessly, defeating me with seemingly no exertion. He’s a monster!” Fear trembled through Silas’s body, vividly recalling Yuan’s face.
The memory of that moment, when Yuan severed his limbs, sent shivers down his spine. He perspired heavily, as if he had just awoken from a harrowing nightmare.
The room fell into a somber stillness, Headmaster Ashcroft’s gaze fixed on Silas’s grievous condition, a palpable sense of pity coursing through him.
“Though my limbs were severed and reduced to ashes, there is still hope for their restoration with the aid of a potion…” Silas’s voice, tinged with sadness, broke the silence, his gaze fixed on the vacant spaces where his arms once were.
Headmaster Ashcroft nodded in acknowledgment. “Indeed, you can regenerate your limbs. However, it comes at a steep cost. There exists a solution, but it’s quite dear, and I know of a source that can facilitate the process. It won’t be cheap.”
“Really? What kind of potion is it, and where can I find it?” Silas’s eyes gleamed with hope, his curiosity piqued by Headmaster Ashcroft’s revelation.
“Of course, there are myriad potions in this world, though most remain unknown to the masses.” Headmaster Ashcroft’s smile held a touch of melancholy as he continued, “The one I speak of is the Elven Great Healing Potion. It possesses the extraordinary ability to regenerate any lost limbs. As the name suggests, it is crafted by the elves. However, given the strained relations between humans and the elves, obtaining it is an arduous endeavor.”
Silas’s countenance dimmed at this revelation, understanding the formidable challenge that lay ahead in acquiring the potion, given the strained relations between humans and elves.
The rift between the two races stemmed from the repeated persecution of the elves by humans, often driven by envy of the elves’ otherworldly beauty.
Seeing the sadness etched on Silas’s face, Headmaster Ashcroft sought to offer solace. “You need not relinquish hope of regaining your limbs. An auction is set to be held in the Empire’s royal capital, where it’s rumored that 40 Elven Great Healing Potions will be put up for bidding. With sufficient gold coins, you can obtain one. Considering your crucial role as an instructor at our magic academy, I will spare no effort in securing this potion for you.”
“Really?!” Silas’s eyes sparkled with elation, his gratitude overflowing. “Thank you, Headmaster Ashcroft. I will forever hold this favor close to my heart. Once I’m restored, I pledge to serve the academy with unwavering dedication.”
“It’s fine. I’m only considering the greater good of the academy, and we can’t afford to lose a talented instructor like you, Silas. Can we?” Headmaster Ashcroft’s smile radiated warmth. “As for serving the academy, that can come after you’ve made a full recovery.”
Headmaster Ashcroft’s curiosity persisted. “Can’t you at least tell me the identity of this person?”
Silas’s expression turned somber. “I’m sorry, Headmaster, but I must respectfully decline your request. It’s for the best that you remain unaware of him. His name carries the potential for disaster to befall this academy.”
“I understand…” Headmaster Ashcroft sighed in disappointment. Rising to his feet, he stated, “In that case, I’ll take my leave. There are numerous pressing matters at the academy that require my attention. Remaining here would only add to my workload.”
“Of course. I won’t keep you any longer, Headmaster,” Silas replied.
“Take care of yourself.” With a flick of his finger, Headmaster Ashcroft conjured a magic circle, stepping into it. The circle vanished as soon as he entered, leaving the room empty.
Silas, alone once more, muttered under his breath, a determined glint in his eyes. “It seems that fate has not abandoned me entirely. There is still hope for me to regain my missing limbs, especially now with Headmaster Ashcroft’s assistance… Perhaps, there is still a chance for me to exact my revenge and confront that wretch with my own hands.”
—
Meanwhile, Yuan and his wives hurtled forward in their carriage at an astonishing speed. They had been on the road for over six hours, taking only a brief ten-minute break to let the horses rest and replenish their energy with fresh water before resuming their journey.
“Rose, Julie, Ava, what kind of weapon do you three prefer? I’m curious. I know you were all mages before, relying on wands for your spells,” Yuan suddenly inquired.
He wanted to understand their weapon preferences so he could acquire suitable martial techniques from the system shop that aligned with their individual styles.
Rose, Julie, and Ava took a moment to mull over Yuan’s question, contemplating which weapon would best suit each of them.
After some consideration, Rose turned to Yuan and spoke thoughtfully, “Honestly, I do admire the sword. Yours looks quite magnificent. However, I have a feeling it might not be the right fit for me. I’ve decided to choose the spear as my weapon instead.”
“Very well, a spear it is,” Yuan affirmed. He then turned to Julie, inquiring, “And what about you, Julie?”
With a gleam of excitement in her eyes, Julie promptly replied, “I’ll go with the sword. Unlike Big Sister Rose, I feel more comfortable with it.”
Yuan nodded and directed his attention to Ava, noticing her moment of contemplation. “And what about you, Ava? What kind of weapon do you prefer?”
Ava appeared puzzled, torn between the options. Both the spear and sword seemed too unwieldy for her, potentially slowing her down.
“Could you provide me with a weapon that’s lighter and shorter than a sword? Something easy to handle that won’t impede my movements,” Ava requested after a moment of thought.
Yuan considered Ava’s request and a suitable weapon immediately came to mind.
“How about a dagger? It’s exceptionally light, shorter than a sword, and incredibly easy to wield. It won’t restrict your movement at all,” Yuan suggested, confident that this option would suit Ava well.
“A dagger, huh? Yes, I think that’s a good choice. I’ll go with the dagger,” Ava decided, her uncertainty replaced with determination.