Ryo hadn't intended to stay in the capital for more than a few days. Yet somehow, almost two weeks had passed. Between meetings with various noble houses, royal officials, and an ongoing series of ale tastings he'd somehow been roped into judging, leaving had proven difficult.

  "Another missive from the Academy," Elena announced, dropping a sealed letter on the table where Ryo was eating breakfast in his palace quarters. "That's the third this week."

  Ryo didn't even look up from his porridge. "Let me guess – urgent meeting, vital research opportunity, something about 'duty to knowledge' and the 'advancement of magical understanding'?"

  "Almost word for word," Elena confirmed, sitting across from him. "They're getting persistent."

  "Persistent is one thing. Annoying is another." Ryo finally picked up the letter, breaking the wax seal with his thumb. His eyes scanned the contents before he snorted and tossed it aside. "Now they're offering me my own research tower. Complete with, and I quote, 'accommodations suitable for one of your stature.'"

  "Most mages would kill for that kind of offer."

  "Most mages haven't lived multiple lifetimes watching how institutions work." Ryo pushed his empty bowl aside. "The moment I step foot in that tower, I'd be trapped in endless meetings, committees, and political games. No thanks."

  Elena leaned forward. "You realize they won't give up, right? The Academy isn't used to being refused."

  "They'll adjust." Ryo stretched, looking out the window at the capital's skyline. "We should head back to Millbrook soon. I'm getting tired of fancy food and fancier politics. I miss my tavern."

  "Actually..." Elena's hesitation made Ryo turn to look at her. "There's something you should know. I received a message from Turner yesterday. Anna's been getting letters."

  Ryo's casual demeanor slipped slightly. "What kind of letters?"

  "Academy recruitment. Apparently, they've decided if they can't have you, they'll settle for your apprentice." Elena pushed a piece of paper across the table. "Turner copied the latest one. It's... persuasive."

  The letter was indeed masterfully crafted – promises of resources beyond what a small town could provide, access to ancient magical texts, structured training from renowned masters. Everything a knowledge-hungry young mage like Anna would want.

  "Clever," Ryo muttered. "They know I won't join them, so they're going after someone I care about instead."

  "It gets worse. Turner says three different Academy representatives have visited Millbrook. One brought demonstration texts that apparently had Anna 'bouncing off the walls with excitement.'"

  Ryo's expression darkened. "They're trying to use her as leverage."

  "Or they genuinely see potential in her," Elena countered. "She is talented, and you've been training her. Maybe this is a real opportunity."

  "It's both." Ryo stood up, decision made. "We're leaving today. I need to handle this personally."

  Four hours later, they were in a royal carriage heading back to Millbrook. Ryo had declined all pending invitations with brief notes, including one to the king himself, citing "urgent matters requiring immediate attention." The palace staff seemed almost relieved to see him go – his presence had upended the capital's carefully balanced political ecosystem.

  "You're worried," Elena observed as they traveled. "More than you're letting on."

  Ryo watched the landscape pass for several moments before answering. "The Academy isn't just after knowledge. They want power – specifically, my power. If they can't get it directly, they'll try indirectly. Through Anna."

  "You think they'd use her against you somehow?"

  "Not against me, exactly. But they'd use her connection to me, study her, try to understand how I've been training her." Ryo's fingers tapped a restless pattern on his knee. "And they don't understand what they're meddling with. The magic I've been teaching Anna isn't like their structured spellwork. It's deeper, more fundamental."

  Elena frowned. "Is it dangerous?"

  "All real power is dangerous," Ryo replied. "But with proper guidance, it's manageable. With improper guidance – like Academy masters trying to force it into their existing frameworks..." He left the sentence unfinished.

  They reached Millbrook three days later, arriving just as evening was settling over the town. The tavern lights were already lit, and the sounds of conversation and laughter spilled out into the street. Ryo felt something in him relax at the familiar sight.

  Inside, the tavern was busy but not crowded. Turner was behind the bar, serving drinks with surprising competence. Anna moved between tables, her animated conversation with customers interrupted by occasional glances at a book she kept tucked under her arm – definitely not a tavern ledger.

  She noticed them first, her eyes widening. "Ryo! You're back!" She bounded over, excitement radiating from her. "You won't believe what happened while you were gone! The Academy sent – "

  "I know," Ryo cut her off, more abruptly than he'd intended. He softened his tone. "Why don't we talk about it after closing?"

  Anna's enthusiasm dimmed slightly, but she nodded. "Of course. I've kept all the letters and books they sent. The theories they're working on are fascinating, especially their approach to dimensional barriers, which actually aligns with what you've been teaching me about reality thresholds, but with a more structured mathematical framework that—"

  "After closing," Ryo repeated, more gently this time. "I need to say hello to everyone first."

  The next few hours were spent reconnecting with the townspeople, hearing their news, and slipping back into the comfortable routine of tavern life. Ryo found himself relaxing more with each familiar interaction – Old Man Turner complaining about his joints, Beth bringing fresh bread and demanding gossip about the capital, the farmers arguing about the same weather patterns they'd been disagreeing on for years.

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  This was real life. Simple, genuine interactions without political maneuvering or hidden agendas.

  Finally, the last customer left, and Ryo found himself alone with Elena, Turner, and Anna. The young mage could barely contain herself, spreading Academy materials across a table – books, letters, even a small demonstration crystal that pulsed with contained spellwork.

  "Look at this!" she exclaimed, opening a heavy tome. "Their theory on mana circulation perfectly explains why your cooling spell works on the cellar! And this—" she held up the crystal, "—contains a complete tutorial on advanced ward construction. Magister Thorne said it's normally only given to third-year Academy students, but he made an exception because of my 'unique learning environment.'"

  Ryo picked up one of the letters, reading between the lines of the flowery academic language. The subtext was clear – Anna had potential too valuable to waste in a small town tavern, studying under an unconventional teacher, no matter how powerful.

  "They want you to enroll," he stated flatly.

  Anna nodded eagerly. "Full scholarship! Room and board, access to the restricted archives, even specialized tutoring from the Dimensional Studies faculty." Her excitement faltered slightly at Ryo's expression. "Isn't... isn't that good news?"

  Turner coughed awkwardly. "I'll just... check on the cellar stock." He retreated downstairs, clearly wanting no part of this conversation.

  Elena remained, her presence a steady anchor as Ryo carefully set the letter down.

  "Anna," he began, choosing his words with uncharacteristic care, "the Academy isn't offering this because they've suddenly discovered your talent. They're doing it because of me. Because they can't get to me directly."

  "That's not true," Anna protested. "Magister Thorne said my understanding of theoretical frameworks is exceptional, especially for someone without formal training. And my practical applications of—"

  "I'm sure you are exceptional," Ryo interrupted. "I've known that since I started teaching you. But the timing isn't coincidental. They started pursuing you immediately after failing to recruit me."

  Anna's expression shifted from confusion to hurt. "So you think they only want me because of you? That I'm not actually good enough on my own?"

  "That's not what I said," Ryo answered, frustration edging into his voice. "You're more than good enough. But they have other motives. They want to study how I've been teaching you, what methods I've used, what kinds of magic I've shared."

  "And that's bad because...?" Anna's voice had taken on a challenging tone. "Isn't sharing knowledge the whole point of magical study?"

  Ryo ran a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. The magic I've been teaching you works differently from their standardized methods. It's more... intuitive, more connected to the fundamental nature of reality."

  "Exactly!" Anna exclaimed. "And combining that with their structured approach could revolutionize magical theory! Magister Thorne said—"

  "Magister Thorne is fishing for information," Elena cut in, her voice calm but firm. "The Academy has been trying to understand Ryo's abilities since he revealed himself. When direct recruitment failed, they found another angle."

  Anna's face flushed with anger. "So I'm just an 'angle'? Not a mage with actual potential? Just a way to get to my teacher?"

  "No," Ryo said emphatically. "You're a talented mage who deserves proper training. But the Academy doesn't understand what they'd be dealing with if they try to formalize what I've taught you. It could be dangerous – for you and for them."

  "How convenient," Anna shot back. "Keep me in this small town, serving drinks and occasionally learning whatever bits of magic you feel like teaching, when I could be at the Academy actually developing my abilities!"

  The hurt in her voice struck Ryo like a physical blow. He hadn't anticipated this reaction – hadn't realized how much the Academy's offer might mean to her. He'd been so focused on their ulterior motives that he'd overlooked Anna's genuine desire for growth and learning.

  "I never meant to hold you back," he said quietly. "But there are things about magical learning the Academy doesn't understand – risks they don't comprehend."

  "Then explain them to me," Anna demanded. "Treat me like an actual student instead of someone you just teach tricks to when you're not busy serving ale!"

  The room fell silent. Elena shifted uncomfortably, clearly wanting to be anywhere else. From the cellar, the deliberate sounds of Turner making as much noise as possible while pretending not to listen were painfully obvious.

  Ryo took a deep breath. "You're right. I haven't been teaching you properly. I've been... holding back."

  "Why?" The simple question contained layers of hurt.

  "Because proper teaching means explaining everything – where the magic comes from, how it really works, why conventional limitations don't apply to what I've been showing you." Ryo looked at her directly. "It means telling you what I really am, and what that means for anyone learning from me."

  Anna's anger wavered, curiosity taking its place. "What you really are? You already told everyone you're a worldwalker."

  "That's part of it," Ryo acknowledged. "But not the complete truth. What I've been teaching you isn't just another type of magic – it's an approach to reality that breaks fundamental rules. And once those rules are broken, they can't be unbroken."

  He gestured, and the air between them shimmered. A small section of reality seemed to fold in on itself, revealing glimpses of... somewhere else. Possibilities, potentials, layers of existence that shouldn't be visible.

  "This is what real dimensional magic looks like," Ryo said softly. "Not the structured spells the Academy teaches, but direct manipulation of reality itself. Once you truly understand this, there's no going back to conventional magical thinking."

  Anna stared at the distortion, her academic anger forgotten in the face of genuine wonder. "It's... beautiful."

  "And dangerous," Ryo added, closing the dimensional window. "The Academy doesn't understand this kind of magic because it can't be systematized their way. If they try to force what I've taught you into their frameworks..." He shook his head. "It could break you, or worse."

  Elena, who had been silent, finally spoke. "The Academy isn't evil, Ryo. They're scholars seeking knowledge."

  "Knowledge without wisdom," Ryo countered. "They'd try to replicate effects without understanding causes, teach theory without comprehending reality." He turned back to Anna. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have proper teaching. You deserve better than scattered lessons between serving drinks."

  Anna's expression had grown thoughtful. "So what are you suggesting? That I just reject the Academy's offer?"

  "I'm suggesting," Ryo said carefully, "that you deserve a real choice. Not one manipulated by the Academy's political agenda, and not one limited by my reluctance to teach properly." He straightened his shoulders. "Starting tomorrow, if you want, I'll teach you seriously. Everything I know, not just the safe parts. Then you can decide whether the Academy has anything to offer that's worth the risk."

  The proposal hung in the air. Anna looked from the Academy materials to Ryo and back again, clearly weighing her options.

  "One month," she said finally. "Teach me seriously for one month. Then I'll decide about the Academy."

  "Deal." Ryo extended his hand, and they shook on it. "But I should warn you – real learning means understanding where the power comes from. My power. And that story isn't... simple."

  "I don't want simple," Anna replied, determination replacing hurt in her eyes. "I want real."

  The tension in the room eased. Turner, apparently deciding it was safe, emerged from the cellar carrying far more bottles than necessary.

  "Well," he announced, "since that's settled, who wants a drink? Sounds like you all could use one."

  Elena accepted gratefully. As Turner poured, Anna began gathering the Academy materials, her movements more deliberate now, less eager.

  "They really were just using me to get to you, weren't they?" she asked quietly.

  "Not entirely," Ryo answered honestly. "You do have exceptional talent. They just have additional motives they're not being transparent about."

  "Politics," Anna said with distaste. "Even in magical academia."

  "Especially in magical academia," Ryo corrected with a smile. "Power always attracts politics, whether it's royal, noble, or academic. One of many lessons they don't teach at the Academy."

  As they shared a late-night drink, Ryo felt both relief and apprehension. He'd committed to teaching Anna everything – not just magic techniques, but the truth about his nature, his origins, the source of his abilities. Things he hadn't fully explained to anyone in this realm.

  The Academy wouldn't give up easily, either. Their first attempt had failed, but they'd try again, perhaps with different tactics.

  But for now, Ryo was back in his tavern, surrounded by people he trusted, in the town he'd chosen as home. Whatever came next, at least he was facing it on familiar ground.