"You’re advancing to a Golden Mage..."
Veronica sat up, hugging the white sheet, her face a complex mix of emotions. "It’s only been so short a time, how did you do it so quickly?"
"Terrible line, do you want to hear what you’re saying?"
"I’ve actually been quite slow. I could have been faster."
Wayne muttered under his breath, and Veronica continued, "Help me get up and get dressed. I’m going to find mother too."
"You’re becoming a Golden Mage too?"
"Not quite there yet. I’m going to listen in advance and prepare."
"You’re advancing to become a Golden Mage?"
Hefei looked at Wayne in surprise. "I remember last year you were still silver. Did you advance so quickly because there’s something wrong with your body? Come here, let me check you."
"Hefei, people have different physiques. I’m very sure that his body is fine, very healthy..."
Saina leaned against the window sill. Seeing Veronica clinging to Wayne’s arm with a guarded expression, she bit her lip slightly and said with a hint of reminiscence, "Very lively, and very pure."
Hefei rubbed her temples in exasperation, not wanting to say much, and gave Wayne a blaming glance. "Anyway, a checkup is still necessary. Uh, teacher, will you do it?"
Her son’s talent was too exceptional and his Protogenos bloodline’s strength far exceeded Hefei’s expectations. She no longer dared to give rash guidance. As a Legendary Mage, and one of the more powerful among them, Saina was more qualified to check Wayne’s condition.
Under Veronica’s dissatisfied gaze, Saina sashayed over to Wayne and pressed her hands on his shoulders, coaxing him to sit on the couch.
It looked like she was about to climb on top of him.
Wayne sat cross-legged compliantly and telepathically warned Saina not to mess around.
Saina smiled faintly. Given their clear difference in levels, she had no right or ability to examine Wayne. The whole thing was merely a formality.
Two minutes later, Saina finished her performative check, her face flushed, her eyes dazed as she returned to the window and tremulously said, "Check... check is done... he..."
"That’s enough, no need to say more."
Seeing the teacher’s suggestive expression, Hefei was on the brink of collapse. Was it necessary to end up just from touching hands and shoulders, and that too while Saina touched Wayne?
Just how much does the teacher like my son?
Hefei, unaware of Saina’s predicament, couldn’t understand her yearning for Wayne—an intense desire that stemmed from both mind and body. The fact that Saina could maintain her composure to merely touch his hand was already a sign of incredible willpower.
The outside world was too cruel. She missed Chrissy and Wiley. In their trio, she could strut around with boldness, but against Saina, she truly had no recourse.
"Teacher, can Wayne advance to Golden Mage?"
After a while, when Hefei thought Saina had stabilized somewhat, she dared to ask.
Saina took a deep breath, her tone serious. "Wayne is different from us. No, he’s different from all Mages. His Silver Crucifix is exceptionally stable. It’s hard to disassemble and recombine. Set up a quiet room for me, I need to coach him alone."
Really just coaching? x2
Hefei didn’t believe it, neither did Veronica. They were in agreement, fearing what might happen alone in the quiet room.
"You can watch from the side but don’t make a sound or interfere."
Saina relayed this message from Wayne’s telepathic transmission, clearly dissatisfied but still complying with the command.
The four of them went to the basement of the small cabin. Wayne sat cross-legged in the center, and according to Saina’s instruction, took off his shirt. His physique was pleasing to the eye; Saina couldn’t look away after just one glance.
Hefei covered her face with her hand, turned around, and with a karate chop to Veronica’s head, scolded, "Be serious. This is not the time to be ogling a man. You’re already so old, can’t you act a bit more mature and stable?"
After the indirect scolding, Veronica felt ashamed and bowed her head on the spot.
Saina wasn’t listening at all. She frowned at Wayne and telepathically conveyed her helplessness. She desperately wanted to help him break through his bottleneck, but she was incapable. Just the normal physical contact made her mind wander, to say nothing of anything more.
Hefei didn’t dare to act rashly, Veronica wasn’t qualified, and Saina couldn’t make a move. The situation reached a deadlock.
"Let’s just give it a try. I’m not expecting success in one go. If it doesn’t work, I can always go see Mr. Mula." Wayne broke the deadlock.
Saina nodded, directing Hefei to explain the concept of the Golden Triangle and the steps to evolve the Silver Crucifix into it. If something was missed, she would immediately supplement.
Black Forge Hexagram: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Void, Self.
Silver Crucifix: Divine, Life, Void, Self.
Golden Triangle: Life, Void, Self.
"Wayne, you already understand the concept of the Silver Crucifix. I’ve also mentioned the Golden Triangle to you before. I will repeat it here. The so-called Life, Void, Self are..."
From Hexagram to Crucifix Star to the final stable Triangle Star, Mages need to maintain balance at each step. However, during advancement, they must break the balance, disassemble, recombine, and then gain control of the balance again.
"Life" represents the Essence of Life, "Void" represents knowledge, and "Self" represents thought. These are the crux of the Golden Triangle, which must be balanced and only balanced.
They coexist and influence each other; once the balance is broken, the consequences are unimaginable.
Examples include Golden Mages entering the Gate of Truth, where an influx of knowledge fills them, gradually leading to understanding everything. If their thought becomes contaminated, influencing the Essence of Life, they evolve into void beings and become complete monstrosities.
Not just Golden Mages, but even Legendary Mages couldn’t withstand it.
The Void Lord Marshall, The Forgotten from the Asylum, they all became what they are because they lost balance. Not only did their minds go mad, but their bodies also deviated from the human concept.