In her private library, Helen Su sat unusually properly at her desk, leafing through a weighty tome of magic. Around her, hundreds of magical books floated in the air—some closed, some open, some displaying a particular page of text or diagrams, awaiting selection. When the Legendary Mage required one, it would fly autonomously before her, automatically open to the specified page, and adjust its angle to present the contents in the most readable manner. Her brow furrowed as she rapidly scanned the pages, occasionally scrawling a few corrections on the sheets before her.

  Though nominally a private library, the space housed seventy rows of bookshelves, each seven meters tall, crammed with magical texts of every description, rivaling the scale of a ducal library in a sovereign nation. A beam of light shot down from a curved crystal in the domed ceiling, leaving a large spot of light at the focal point of the semi-circular library. Helen Su sat directly within this spotlight.

  The library's partially open door was gently pushed ajar, and a dwarf archmage with graying hair and beard tiptoed inside. Seeing the Legendary Mage hard at work, the archmage softened his steps even further, then called out in the gentlest, calmest voice possible, "Your Highness..."

  "I'm busy!" Helen Su snapped back irritably, without even glancing his way.

  The dwarf archmage startled, but recalling the importance of the message he had to deliver, he weighed his options and finally whispered, "Your Highness, Duke Solam's son has arrived. He is awaiting your audience..."

  Smack!

  Helen Su slammed her hand down on the desk, cutting off the rest of the dwarf's words. She finally looked up, her face frosted with displeasure, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I said, I'm busy! Let him wait!"

  "But..." The dwarf archmage swallowed the rest of his sentence. Only after gently closing the library door behind him did he softly mutter, "Alright, let him wait. Let Solam's son wait. He's only been waiting three hours, and the time you specified was two hours ago."

  Suddenly, the library door flew open, and a magic book nearly half the height of the dwarf archmage shot out, slamming thud against his back. He felt his insides churn violently and nearly passed out. Only then was the dwarf archmage certain that Helen Su was truly occupied with something incredibly important—important enough to risk grievously offending Duke Solam.

  Another full hour passed before the dwarf archmage was summoned. He rushed back into the library. The Legendary Mage, looking slightly weary, tossed him a sheet of paper densely covered in writing and instructed him to follow it, before heading off towards the reception area herself. As the displeasure from having her work interrupted still lingered on the Legendary Mage's beautiful face, the dwarf archmage maintained his most humble posture and repentant expression as he watched her depart. Only then did he carefully read the paper, quite curious about what matter Her Highness deemed so critical.

  It was a meal plan, listing one hundred and twelve ingredients and twenty-eight dishes, with portion sizes precise down to a tenth of a gram, and meal times specified to the minute. The plan was for Richard, yet it covered only a single month. A mere one-month meal plan for Richard had taken the Legendary Mage over four hours of prime planar time to prepare?

  After seeing this paper, the dwarf archmage, who had previously thought Richard might at best become a junior Rune Scholar, now felt the title "future Saint Rune Scholar" held a distinct possibility of success. After all, getting a Legendary Mage to spend hours of her precious time personally tailoring a monthly meal plan was a privilege an ordinary Rune Scholar could never hope for.

  In a small, lavishly decorated drawing-room, the young man stood with his hands clasped behind his back before the floor-to-ceiling window, admiring the magnificent view of Ice Floe Bay. Although it was spring, the north remained cold, and scattered ice floes could still be seen on the sea's surface, mingling with the fleets entering and leaving the harbor like small white sails. They might be merely large chunks of ice, or they could conceal massive floating icebergs beneath. Though Deepblue was an ice-free port, for half the year ships still had to navigate with caution to avoid colliding with these drifting behemoths.

  From the window, the imposing Everwinter Mountains stretched far into the distance on the right, their steep sea cliffs and majestic peaks enclosing the northern side of Ice Floe Bay. The southern shoreline was much gentler, the terrain undulating slightly, covered in vast expanses of dense coniferous forest. A deep-water harbor nestled on this southern coast. Despite the season, more than half of its twelve berths were occupied by ships, including a mana-powered ocean vessel nearly a hundred meters long and over thirty meters high. People bustled to and fro on the docks, and long lines of various cargo vehicles snaked along, showing no signs of an off-season slowdown. A busy port signified prosperity, opportunity, and immense wealth.

  On the distant horizon, a fluttering flag dimly appeared, followed by numerous masts, indicating the arrival of another colossal ocean-going ship.

  The young man gazed at the harbor, the faint smile constantly maintained on his face vanishing, replaced by a thoughtful expression. Besides him, only Minnie was present in the drawing-room. The girl was curled up in an armchair, flipping through a magic book, though she seemed rather distracted. Waiting here for four tedious hours had long surpassed her limit. Yet, considering the close ties between their families, she was the only suitable person to keep the young man company; his own attendants would certainly not be permitted entry here.

  "Truly a magnificent view!" the young man suddenly exclaimed in admiration.

  Minnie replied coolly, "Randolph often says the same."

  When the young man turned back, his face already bore an impeccable smile. "I am Stevenson, and he is Randolph. The greatest difference between us is that I will only say this much, while he will only say that."

  "You make it sound impressive," Minnie stretched lazily, her newly developed, attractive figure unintentionally displayed with a hint of allure. Her eyes didn't leave the magic book, but Stevenson's words had captured some of her attention. "However, Stevenson of Duke Solam's house is, I hear, a Dragon Sorcerer. While exceptionally rare, that seems to have little connection to being a Rune Scholar!"

  The curve of the young man's smile didn't waver. "That is precisely why I seek Her Highness Helen Su's personal guidance. Master St. Croix is not incapable of making me a Rune Scholar, but it would require abandoning my bloodline abilities. I believe Her Highness possesses the power to overcome this dilemma."

  Minnie gave a slight nod. Indeed, sorcerers, spellcasters who relied primarily on innate bloodline powers, were already quite rare among mages. Generally, the number of spells they could master was very limited, but their power far exceeded that of mages of the same rank. Dragon Sorcerers were among the rarest and most potent branches of sorcery; even the most basic Green Dragon bloodline held the potential to reach the level of Grand Magus. To forsake the path of a Dragon Sorcerer to become a Rune Scholar was truly a difficult choice. On the other hand, it underscored Stevenson's unique standing. Within the Holy Tree Dynasty, Stevenson was widely acknowledged as the most promising individual of the Solam family's next generation.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Master might not agree to take you. You're too old," Minnie stated bluntly, as was her habit.

  "Her Highness will certainly accept me, because I am paying my own way," Stevenson countered with equal bluntness, elegantly shutting Minnie down.

  Seeing Minnie look slightly vexed, Stevenson added, "After I become Her Highness's student, there will be many things I need to consult you about. For one, I know very little about Deepblue."

  He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, I feel our relationship could absolutely be deepened, linked more intimately through another form. For instance, a marriage contract."

  Minnie stiffened, looking up sharply at Stevenson. She opened her mouth to say something but forced herself to hold back. Her chest heaved rapidly, calming only after several deep breaths. She lowered her legs from the armchair, sat up straight, and adopted a businesslike tone. "This is the first time we've met. We can hardly claim to know each other, let alone harbor any affection. Don't you think it's rather premature to say such things?"

  Stevenson smiled. "My dear Miss Minnie, as direct descendants of prominent families, you should know that our marriages do not require affection. Mutual tolerance is already a fine outcome. What binds us are family and interests, not to mention our shared pursuits.

  "As for understanding, I assure you, I already know quite enough about you. In his bid to successfully propose to you, Randolph gathered every piece of information he could find. Naturally, after recent events, someone delivered the same intelligence to me. As for myself, I trust you have heard things, and there will be ample time in the future for you to learn more.

  "Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the Neo Marquisate and the Solam Duchy need to form an alliance, one necessarily cemented by marriage. Within the Neo family, there is currently no better candidate for this union than yourself. Therefore, if you do not choose me, would you truly prefer to marry one of my brothers?"

  "I don't have to marry anyone!" Minnie retorted coldly.

  Stevenson smiled calmly. "Now that's dishonest. If you were to do that, you would have to leave the Neo family. And without the Marquis's support, I doubt you could afford your tuition fees, even though they are merely a fifth of mine. Besides, I've heard Her Highness strongly dislikes people owing her money."

  Seeing Minnie fall into contemplation, Stevenson shrugged. "And, you see, I'm not an entirely disagreeable person. As for you, Miss Minnie, if I required a wife, it would be difficult to find a better candidate. I suggest you consider my proposal carefully, though there's no need for an immediate decision. The greatest virtues of us mages are reason and composure."

  Just then, Helen Su's voice came from outside the drawing-room. "Those are indeed virtues of mages, true enough. But mages aren't sorcerers. Sorcerers are fundamentally quite mad."

  Helen Su drifted into the drawing-room, depositing herself directly into the main armchair, then tugged a nearby crimson silk cord. With a pleasant chime, a side door opened, and six attendants entered single file, carrying dedicated red tea tables, incense burners, and, inevitably, a dazzling golden basin filled entirely with the Legendary Mage's snacks.

  After settling herself comfortably, Helen Su ordered, "Go fetch Blackgold!"

  An apprentice immediately dashed off, returning moments later with the Ash Dwarf Archmage hurrying behind him. Blackgold's full name was Blackgold Savjek Stormhammer. The Stormhammers were a major Ash Dwarf clan, large enough to have established their own kingdom. Blackgold, however, was a peculiar Ash Dwarf, disliking strong spirits but possessing an equally profound insight into ores and jewels. His unique magical talent, fanatical love for collecting gold coins, and exceptional appraisal skills had ultimately secured him the high position of the Legendary Mage's financial officer.

  Taking a sheet of paper handed over by the dwarf and glancing at it, Helen Su's perpetually taut little face gradually relaxed. Only then did she remember Stevenson still standing there in the drawing-room. She nodded towards him. "You must be that Stevenson, right? Not bad. No need to stand, sit down!"

  Stevenson chose a sofa on the periphery and sat down properly, his expression unusually serious, even slightly pale.

  Helen Su continued reading the document intently, speaking somewhat distractedly, "A Dragon Sorcerer, eh? Good, very rare. What kind of dragon bloodline?"

  "Red Dragon," Stevenson replied respectfully, his face growing even paler.

  Helen Su's gaze swept over a line of small text, underlined by Blackgold to indicate importance. After reading it, a few rays of sunshine broke through the lingering gloom on the Legendary Mage's face. She explained with uncharacteristic patience, "I've bullied many dragons, killed quite a few too. Over time, I've acquired an aura that intimidates them. Since you have draconic blood, being near me will undoubtedly make you uncomfortable."

  "You are truly admirable!" Stevenson said, and this was genuinely heartfelt. The effect Helen Su possessed, akin to a Reverse Dragon Fear, wasn't natural; it was the accumulated result of dying dragons' curses. The curses themselves couldn't truly harm Helen Su, of course, but the Reverse Dragon Fear wasn't meant to aid the Legendary Mage in combat; it served as a warning to other dragons. Dragons could sense her approach from a hundred kilometers away. Just how many dragons had to fall for such an aura to form around this woman?

  The last few paragraphs of the document were heavily marked by Blackgold, with emphasis added and even several lines of fine annotations. It was a list of goods—Duke Solam's tuition payment for Stevenson. As her eyes reached the final lines, the Legendary Mage's face bloomed like spring flowers, radiating sunlight. She desperately wanted to laugh but managed to restrain herself in front of her new student. A Legendary Mage's decorum was, after all, quite important.

  "Um... Stevenson, was it! Come, sit closer. These fruits aren't bad, you can try some!" In her excellent mood, the Legendary Mage felt magnanimous enough to share her snacks. After all, according to the list, Duke Solam had paid the full sponsorship fee, not the agreed-upon half.

  Stevenson moved closer as instructed but tactfully refrained from touching her snacks, even though several items genuinely tempted him to disregard everything and take a bite.

  After reviewing the list several more times, Helen Su reluctantly handed the paper back to Blackgold. Only then did she finally look up and regard Stevenson seriously. "How's Solam doing lately? Reached Legendary rank yet? Though, he should be Legendary by now, right?"

  Stevenson immediately sat up straighter; he had been waiting for this question. "Father successfully advanced to the Legendary realm at the end of last year, becoming a Spellbreaker Shadowguard."

  A Spellbreaker Shadowguard was a warrior possessing both formidable physique and shadow powers, highly resistant to various forms of magic, even completely immune to many low-tier spells. While their absolute attack power might not be overwhelming, their rapid attacks and swift movements rivaled high-level rogues. Relying on masterful skill, they could close the distance in the shortest time and stick close to their opponents, making them the bane of spellcasting classes, hence the title "Spellbreaker."

  In Stevenson's consideration, as fellow Legendaries—even though Solam had only just advanced—his class held a significant advantage, potentially making him a dangerous opponent for Helen Su. Despite this, Solam had still paid double the agreed sponsorship fee. This combination of formidable power and humble attitude should, Stevenson thought, convince Helen Su to treat him as a core disciple. Though even now, Stevenson didn't understand why his father, having already agreed on a price, would voluntarily pay such a vastly greater sum.

  Hearing that Solam had become Legendary, Helen Su was indeed taken aback. "He advanced as a Spellbreaker Shadowguard?" she pressed.

  "Yes, I can confirm this."

  Helen Su's expression froze for a moment, then she burst into laughter. "He actually chose Spellbreaker Shadowguard instead of Holy Judgment Warrior, which suits him best! That Solam! Seems that beating I gave him back then really left some psychological scars, serious ones! Heh heh, does that fool think becoming a Spellbreaker Shadowguard lets him get revenge on me? Looks like I need to teach him another, deeper lesson, so he understands that even as a Legendary expert, he must always remain humble before me! Oh hahaha! No, I really can't wait!"

  The Legendary Mage had always been decisive and swift. Even as she spoke, she stood up, ordered her attendants to prepare her things, and strode towards the drawing-room's terrace. It appeared she wasn't willing to delay even a minute, intending to fly directly south to challenge Duke Solam immediately.

  Only after stepping onto the large, deep-red tiles of the terrace did Helen Su remember something. She turned back to Stevenson. "You're my student now! But I'm busy with something important, no time to teach you. I'll be back in ten days. Get familiar with Deepblue in the meantime. If you need anything, just ask Minnie. I'm off!"

  Helen Su transformed into a massive, burning meteor and shot into the sky. Stevenson remained frozen, halfway between sitting and standing, like a comical statue, utterly dumbfounded. He opened and closed his mouth several times, wanting to call her back, but ultimately dared not make a sound.

  Now he finally understood why Duke Solam had been willing to pay double the tuition fee and had specifically instructed him not to reveal that he had already become Legendary.