Days melded into one another as he immersed himself in the knowledge and focused on seeing the force arrows.
However, a deep furrow creased his brows five days later.
Unlike Vivian’s theories, he understood with a grimace that he couldn’t apply this one.
’The author imagined this concept to explain gravity’s interactions with matter. The arrows were never meant to be seen.’
His shoulders slumped, and he bit his nails at the failure.
’Is it really impossible?’
He paced, holding his hands behind his back as his mind raced for a solution.
A sudden knock shattered his train of thought a second later. Voice dripping with annoyance, he gripped the handle and pulled it open.
His eyes narrowed into slits at Gaston and Nathan, the disgusting duo he shouldn’t have let live, yet that had the gale to disturb his training.
"Me? Nothing? It’s you who’ll want to stop that foolish arcanist you call a mentor."
Gaston snickered, yet he noticed the trace of suppressed anger flashing in his eyes.
"When we told him about Elena’s method to reach the seventh tier, he rushed to Jadevale to declare the city’s independence."
He gazed at Nathan’s pale face and the deep worry dancing in his eyes in confusion.
"Why should I care? He said he had Orion and his king’s Enjoy reading on NovelHub - your free online novel platform."
"Do you have any idea about how hard it is to manage a kingdom compared to a neutral city-state? The taxes, diplomatic relationships, trade routes, and requirements to defend it! Everything will change, and we’re not ready yet!"
He frowned, scratching his hair as the man’s boiling anger caused his shoulders to tremble.
’What can I do? He already left anyway.’
His eyes slipped to his closed bedroom door, glinting with urgency and frustration.
’It’s the last day for Hecate and Soma, too. I can’t leave.’
He clicked his tongue, refocusing on the duo.
"Orion will talk him out of his stupid idea. I don’t have time to waste with you."
As he grabbed the door to slam it on their noses, he peered into Gaston’s eye, a potential solution to his earlier problem rumbling in his mind.
Eager to ask, he raised his palm and channelled abyssal dark mana on it.
"Do you see arrows pointing down?"
He increased the gravity to push downward, hope sparkling in his eyes.
"Arrows? I wonder... It’s an interesting question."
He rolled his eyes at the bastard, his head sinking to the left in annoyance.
"Understand my answer however you want: I can see anything the world has to show."
With these words, Gaston’s tall figure turned.
He watched him leave, surprised to see Nathan rush behind him and angry at the mysterious answer. What could he do with it aside considering it a no not to raise his hopes for nothing?
’Weird bastards. Never come to my room again.’
He slammed the door shut, munching on his lips. Feet as heavy as lead, he went to his bedroom.
Inside, he scanned the teleportation circle and the glinting material sprawled on it.
’Come on. Time is running thin.’
His breath caught in his throat as a deep panic seized his rumbling mind.
Despite his strong facade when they interacted, Soma, Hecate, and their citizens had to make it. Not only to delay Selene’s construction but also because their plea resonated with him on a deeper level.
He gritted his teeth, remembering their gratitude and the benefits he got by promising their freedom.
’Walk out and claim your freedom!’
He scrutinised the circle, almost activating it to check on them.
As if to answer him, mana hummed in his ears and the ancient symbols he had drawn on the ground brightened in his eyes before the smell of...
’Gah! Why did they use this bathroom?’
He pinched his scrunching nose, shaking his head to dismiss the discomfort as delight stretched his lips into a warm smile.
A second later, a blinding light flashed, letting Carmilla’s gothic dress flutter as she walked out.
He outstretched his hand.
His hand froze on its way, and dread rocked his frame in a cacophony of wooden noises as her cracking voice echoed.
"H-How? Where are your two leaders?"
He stuttered, unable to believe it. How did Selene discover their plan? Did they mess up out of carelessness, or did the pride elf swallow his promise and force them to reveal everything?
Questions crashed into his mind like tidal waves as Carmilla moved aside.
Lips stretching into a smirk unbefitting for the situation’s gravitas, she leaned forward and placed her hand over her mouth as another flash of light brightened the room.
"Hahaha. I’m joking. Here they are!"
"Sigh. I told you not to make this joke."
"Hahaha! Look at his face! Serves him right for burning my fur."
Hecate rolled her eyes while Soma slapped his legs in boisterous laughter.
"Bunch of... of I don’t know! I earnestly cared for you and feared you met trouble. And that’s what I get for it?"
He pointed an accusing finger at them, his relief to see them melting like ice under their burning joke.
"Oh really? Come here. I’ll help you recover."
In a show of surprise and confusion, Hecate’s red dress blurred as she hugged him like a big sister would.
"You kept your promise and helped us escape. Thank you, and forgive Soma. He’ll never grow up and only grows old."
He felt her emotions through her shuddering back. The prospect of working for Selene had terrorised her, and she could finally breathe in relief now that she had arrived at a safe place.
More werewolves and vampires walked out of the circle and offered him grateful nods before the last one reported solemnly.
"I hastened the corroding spell. The bathroom will crumble in a minute, erasing all tracks but the remnants of the materials."
Soma nodded, patting his shoulder with a gleeful smile.
"Selene will waste some time investigating, but I doubt he’ll think about a rare teleportation circle. We’re officially safe, thanks to you."
He pulled back from Hecate, a little uncomfortable even if he couldn’t feel the physical contact.
"Stay on guard and cast anti-detection and divination spells if you know any. We’re never safe enough when dealing with archmages."
"That’s my speciality. He’ll never know where we hide so long as no one rats on us."
Hecate clenched her fists, her scarlet eyes reflecting her confidence.
With a sigh of relief, he explained to them that Shepard had left earlier today and that they could use his room in the meantime.
"I can leave in peace now that you returned safely," he said, whipping the magic circle clean before walking to the door. "Enjoy your freedom, and don’t bother speaking with someone named Gaston. You’ll pop a vein in frustration."
"Where are you going?"
Hecate’s voice echoed her worry, her intuition screaming that he would do something dangerous.
"To Skullcove. Today, I’ll become the pirate king!"
He raised his fist, giggling as he stepped out under the duo’s confused gaze.
On his way to the Gate, he observed the lively campus and the many summoned busying themselves learning magic and... weird things related to their classes.
Still, he enjoyed the fresh evening air and smelled the scent of soil on his way.
When he finally reached it, he asked the mage to set the coordinates to Oceanview, the city closest to his destination.
After the familiar hum filled his ears and the mana engulfed the colossal doorframe, he leapt through it, fists shaking in excitement.
This time, he embarked on a personal journey to get the mythical tendons, but more importantly, to relax and explore the world!
’Even if the Tide Caller scares me a little...’