He had studied this field extensively before giving up, marking teleportation circles as impossible fantasies. After all, how could a small circle replace the humongous Gates they used?
However, it was because he studied the field that he understood the intricacies and viability of the design.
After recovering his bearings, he sternly explained, "I don't want to know where you found this design, and I don't care. It is unrecorded knowledge. If anyone ever found you possess it, you won't need to meet the archmages. They'll find and erase any trace of you!"
However, instead of the panicked gaze he expected from Adam, he only saw him grin.
"That's why you recorded it?" He said playfully. After their exchange, he understood what drove Shepard. It was not power in itself but knowledge. That's why he shared the circle, unafraid of the consequences.
In response, Shepard narrowed his eyes dangerously, then burst into a fit of laughter. "Hahaha. I guess I'd better not show it to anyone either!" He said, unable to keep his severe facade anymore.
"Be ready. I'll take you tomorrow to see the first archmage." He said before transforming into a mass of smoke and leaving the room, carried away by the wind.
"Things turned out better than I expected," Vikram said, smiling wryly and feeling less guilty about accepting the potion's recipe.
"Nothing is done yet, but we are on the right track," Adam answered, clenching his fist in victory before adding, "I need to prepare for tomorrow. When will the materials be ready?"
"I'll give them to Arun tomorrow. You can get them from him." Vikram said, smiling upon imagining his son's progress.
With a friendly nod, the duo returned to their dorm, leaving Vikram alone to ponder Shepard's revelations.
Upon reaching their room, Adam swiftly closed his eyes to enter the dream place to train and think about the upcoming meeting.
Lying on his bed, he couldn't help but frown after an hour.
"I have nothing to trade for the sigil..." He said in discouragement.
He counted on Shepard to get him a sigil before knowing their importance. Sadly, things didn't go according to plan, leaving him entirely out of tricks.
He scratched his head in frustration before saying, "I have two chances. I'll just ask what they want directly and try to obtain it."
With a sigh of frustration, he shifted his focus back to training, determined to perfect his mage's hand mana technique by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Julius sat on his bed, clutching his gladius as he continued his cultivation practice. Thanks to the increase in the weapon's tier, he could refine life force faster than before. However, he still progressed at a snail's pace.
"When will we focus on getting a cultivation technique..." He muttered, his eyes glowing with sadness. He understood that his big brother couldn't divide his attention anymore. But he wanted to progress, too.
Chasing the depressing thoughts away, he focused on cultivation until five in the evening.
Upon hearing the bell ring in the distance, he shook Adam awake to continue with their busy schedule.
Despite running at top speed, they sadly failed to meet Elysia. The teacher seemed to leave her class faster than her students, for reasons they didn't know.
Instead, they entered the enormous tower in which the library was located.
"Welcome back. Are you here to return the books you borrowed?" Jean greeted them with a smile.
"Yes, and I'd like to borrow an encyclopedia on magic beasts' anatomy and one on humans," Julius replied, handing over the alchemy books borrowed using Shepard's golden tickets.
Taking the book, Jean suggested earnestly, "No problem. I suggest using a golden ticket for the magical beasts' encyclopedia; they're the best."
Julius gazed at his big brother, awaiting his instruction, only to see him shake his head, looking at Jean, his eyes burning with suspicion.
He could basically borrow any book using the golden ticket. Why would he waste it on an encyclopedia? He found the librarian's suggestion really weird. More importantly, how did he know he still possessed one?
As suspicion took root in Adam's heart, Jean's words cut through the tension with a hint of amusement. Despite the levity in his tone, his emerald eyes gleamed with a sharpness akin to daggers. "Everyone knows," he remarked to Julius, "that you held onto a ticket from your last visit. Your friend couldn't resist boasting about it the last time he borrowed a fire spell book, hahaha."
Thanks to his improved physique, Julius noticed the slight change while Adam nodded in understanding, dropping his suspicion and planning to teach the boy how to keep his tongue in check.
"I won't use my ticket," Julius responded, gazing suspiciously at Jean, who nodded and went to fetch the encyclopedias.
Then, he came and presented two books. "That's the best ones I have." He said, his smile reaching his ears as Adam read the titles.
"Common tier one and two magical beasts' anatomy index and basics of the human body workings..." His gaze burned with the flame of anger as he said. "Is he taking us for fools?"
But before Julius could complain, Jean's voice cut the air sharply. "Remember the rules? You can't borrow any book containing knowledge above your tier. I'm trying to help you, really." He said, hinting he was doing the boy a favor.
His words managed to calm Adam down as he remembered them. "Take the one on human anatomy. Don't want to study weak beasts." He tasked Julius, feeling annoyed by the stupid rule.
After leaving the library, Julius made his way towards the Battle Monster Club, eager to explore why it piqued his big brother's interest so much.
Unbeknownst to them, the librarian's gaze lingered on their departing figures, a frown marring his features as he contemplated their encounter.
"I almost messed up... A slip of the tongue was enough to trigger his suspicion." He muttered, clenching a round gem. He had wanted to force him to use his ticket on something that wouldn't make him grow stronger, but it almost backfired.