Returning to the castle, Rhett went directly to his room.
Holding the Moonlight Potion, Rhett fell into deep thought.
He considered that since the [Real Simulation] allowed him to bring back his mental power, perhaps he could use a "nested doll" method: consuming the Moonlight Potion during the simulation and then bringing back the benefits.
Repeating this cycle a few times could greatly accelerate his progress, couldn’t it?
It seemed like a no-brainer, but Rhett’s only concern was the way to accumulate Fate Points.
Whether it was by defeating enemies above his rank, advancing in strength, or producing offspring, none of these tasks were easily accomplished.
After a moment of indecision, Rhett frowned and shook his head. He still had other important matters to attend to, so it was best to conserve his Fate Points for now.
He carefully stored the Moonlight Potion in a hidden compartment in his room.
Descending the stairs, Rhett searched for Riley but couldn't find him inside Deep Rock Fortress. Closing his eyes, he sensed an unusual fluctuation of elemental energy in the castle's garden and smiled—so that’s where he was.
Standing tall with a wooden stick serving as his wand, Riley mimicked a real magician’s movements, sending a Water Arrow straight ahead.
At the first tier, water magic was limited to simple spells like Water Arrow, making it relatively weak compared to other elemental magic.
But upon reaching the second tier, Riley would be able to learn Water Bind and Water Spear—the former offering excellent control, and the latter being a stronger version of Water Arrow.
“Ahem.”
Rhett lightly cleared his throat.
Hearing the familiar sound, Riley knew immediately who it was. He stopped his practice and turned around, surprised.
“Father? You’re back. I was just thinking about discussing something with you.”
As Riley approached, Rhett’s curiosity was piqued. He was eager to hear what his son had to say.
Once Riley was close, he looked around to make sure they were alone before speaking in a hushed tone, “Father, I’ve noticed something strange about Thales…”
...
Rhett couldn’t help but chuckle internally—Riley, his most intelligent son, was indeed sharp and quick to pick up on Thales’ unusual behavior.
But Rhett still didn’t plan to reveal the whole truth, so he downplayed it. “Thales has always been shy and reserved. Maybe he’s just been feeling a bit off lately. Let’s keep an eye on him. He might return to normal in a few days.”
Riley, sensing his father wasn’t inclined to pursue the matter further, nodded thoughtfully and changed the subject. “Father, was there something you needed?”
“When I was on a mission at the front lines, I came across a mid-tier meditation technique. You should give it a try,” Rhett said, pulling out the Furnace Meditation book without mentioning the Grand Magus’s relic.
He didn’t want to risk drawing unwanted attention to the relic in the future, even if the chance was slim.
Despite the slight inconsistency in his story—he had returned over a month ago and was only now presenting the meditation technique—Rhett trusted his son to understand.
Riley, being a smart young man, knew when to ask questions and when to keep quiet.
Riley’s eyes widened in disbelief before lighting up with joy. He eagerly accepted the book, carefully inspecting it. After confirming its authenticity, he looked at Rhett, brimming with excitement.
“I’ve tested it. It’s three times more efficient than a lower-tier meditation technique,” Rhett said with a smile, holding up three fingers.
“Father, with this meditation technique, I could reach the late stage of the first tier by spring!” Riley’s eyes sparkled. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken him until mid-next year to break through, but now, with the increased efficiency, he was confident of an earlier breakthrough.
“Good. Keep at it. I hope you’ll break through soon,” Rhett encouraged him, then excused himself and left.
On his way back to the castle, Rhett activated the system and selected [Real Simulation].
【Do you wish to activate Real Simulation? Each day simulated will consume 1 Fate Value.】
Once again marveling at the high cost of the [Real Simulation], Rhett nonetheless chose “Yes.”
After the spatial ripples settled, Rhett knew the simulation had begun.
He quickened his pace back to Deep Rock Fortress.
This was a decision he had just made.
Thales’ room was on the third floor. When Rhett arrived at the door, he found Thales inside, reading a book.
Thales enjoyed quiet moments, and reading had always been his peaceful companion.
“Father, you… you’re here,” Thales said, blinking in surprise as he put down the book on commerce he had been studying.
Rhett saw the book and sighed softly. Of his three sons, the eldest, Tucker, had talent for fighting spirit, and Riley had talent for magic.
Only Thales had no aptitude for either.
Although this was quite normal, as most people in the world were ordinary, it still weighed on Rhett.
Rhett smiled and entered the room, getting straight to the point. “Thales, do you want to train? Do you want to become a magician?”
Seeing Thales freeze for a moment, Rhett repeated his question.
“Of course I do,” Thales responded without hesitation.
Becoming a magician had been Thales’ dream for as long as he could remember.
He had read countless books that described the wonders of alchemy, something he yearned to study.
But only by becoming a magician could one delve into the mysteries of alchemy, and with his lack of talent, this dream had always seemed out of reach.
Yet now, hearing his father’s words, Thales wondered if he was dreaming. He pinched his cheek in disbelief, looking adorably puzzled.
Rhett chuckled and produced the bloodline potion. “Drink this, and you’ll gain the talent of a magician. But the process is painful, and you’ll need to endure it.”
Since this was just a simulation, Rhett didn’t waste time with explanations and omitted the possibility of death.
His main goal was to test whether Thales could withstand the side effects of the potion.
Though Rhett doubted the odds were in his favor, he needed to know for sure.
“Drink this and gain magical talent? Is this… a bloodline potion?” Thales exclaimed. He had heard of bloodline potions before and had even dreamed of consuming one.
“Yes!”
With his father’s confirmation, Thales stood up from his chair, trembling as he approached. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Thank you, Father. I’m willing!”
Thales took the potion without hesitation and gulped it down.
Half an hour later.
Bang.
A spray of blood splattered across Rhett’s face. He stood there, stunned. Despite knowing it was just a simulation, the scene before him was painfully real.
His heart clenched as he watched, a pang of sorrow in his eyes. With a sigh, Rhett muttered, “As expected, it didn’t work. I’ll have to find another way.”