Since parting at the entrance, Kuken seemed to have vanished into thin air.Leoric and Freya wandered through the maze for so long, encountering the battle remnants of two other contestants and their golems. Kuken, however, remained elusive, as if he had disappeared completely.

  But he emerged at the eleventh hour, casually dispelling the invisibility spell on him and stepping out of the air. He took the iridescent ring from Freya's hand but didn't immediately put it on his finger.

  Leoric was stunned. He had never anticipated such a twist. He had considered the possibility that Kuken might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for him and the Minotaur to weaken each other. He had also pondered whether Kuken had encountered a powerful monster and been sent back to Spiritshade City. He had even envisioned Kuken suddenly appearing to snatch the ring.

  But he had never imagined that Freya would hand the ring over to Kuken.

  The Minotaur's roar echoed from behind. The monster had recovered from the blinding light's shock. It noticed the new presence in the room but didn't give it much thought.

  Minotaurs weren't intelligent beings. Most of the time, their thoughts were incredibly simple.

  Since there was another person, it would just swing its axe once more.

  Leoric stood frozen, unaware of the danger lurking behind him. As the Minotaur's axe was about to sever his neck, Kuken nonchalantly raised his hand, holding up the ring, and uttered a single word.

  A beam of iridescent light shot out from the ring, hitting the Minotaur's forehead dead center and instantly piercing through its massive head. The Minotaur's enormous body swayed and fell backward with a thud.

  Kuken didn't glance atLeoric; his expression was indifferent, devoid of any triumph. As if reluctantly, he slowly put the ring on his left index finger, and with a ripple in the air, his figure disappeared instantly.

  A silver portal sliced through the air, and two robed wizards stepped out. They placed their hands onLeoric and Freya's shoulders and recited a spell. In the blink of an eye, they were back in the wizard school of Spiritshade City.

  The exam was over. Kuken emerged victorious, winning the iridescent ring and earning a spot in the Arcanist School. Ubahn and Fiji, the unlucky duo who had encountered each other first, engaged in a chaotic battle that left them both weakened. Even after receiving clerical treatment, they remained feeble and listless.

  Leoric, despite his ultimate defeat, was awarded second place due to his prolonged resistance. Throughout the process, he remained silent, saying nothing.

  He couldn't understand why Freya had betrayed him.

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  Freya liked him; he was sure of it.Leoric wasn't narcissistic enough to believe that every woman in the world was in love with him, but after half a year of spending time together, he trusted his judgment—Freya was a simple girl with no deep schemes or complicated thoughts. She liked him, and he knew it wasn't something she could fake.

  So, why? If betraying him wasn't Freya's will, was it her father's idea?

  Mr. Monica, Freya's father, had shown great interest inLeoric's performance. IfLeoric had successfully secured first place and entered the Arcanist School, with Freya's connection, the Monica family would benefit ifLeoric achieved something remarkable in the future. It was a straightforward matter.

  "Leoric…"

  Freya softly called out toLeoric, her eyes filled with fear, shame, and helplessness.Leoric silently looked at her, his face devoid of anger.

  In life, one must be able to play the game and accept defeat gracefully. Blades and bullets are unpredictable; one must accept defeat when gambling. Before the outcome is determined, one must strive with all one's might; but once defeated, once the result is set, whether it's a look of sorrow, anger, or reluctance, none of it will alter the facts. So why not maintain one's dignity and leave some room for each other? Why ruin the last bits of fond memories with frustration?

  Leoric didn't want to do anything meaningless.

  "A reason," he said, looking at Freya, "give me a reason."

  Freya lowered her head.

  "You know my personality; I prefer straightforwardness,"Leoric said, lifting his face to gaze at the azure sky, trying to avoid looking at her, "was it your father's idea?"

  "Uh-huh," Freya whispered.

  "The reason?"

  Freya hesitated, "Fulia," she finally murmured, "Father plans to arrange a marriage between the Kuken family and ours, marrying Fulia to Kuken…"

  "I see."

  Leoric nodded slightly, "Goodbye."

  Since the matter was made clear, there was no need for further discussion. Perhaps Freya's approach to him had been a conspiracy from the start. The Monica family wanted to ensure Kuken's victory by any means necessary. Perhaps Freya was unaware of the plan until the last moment; perhaps she genuinely likedLeoric but had to obey her father's authority; perhaps she liked him but wasn't as attached asLeoric thought. Any of these could be possible, yet none seemed entirely right.

  But did it matter now?

  Leoric wasn't interested in digging deeper to uncover the details. The matter was over.

  It was all over.

  Strangely, he didn't feel much heartache. Shouldn't one feel pain when betrayed by a loved one? Or had he never truly considered Freya his lover in his heart?

  Freya was beautiful, andLeoric naturally liked pretty girls; they had a lot of fun together… But now, when he reflected on it, everything seemed too smooth, too uneventful.

  Perhaps, love that hasn't been tested can't be considered genuine.

  A smile can erase all grievances; this is the magnanimity of great men.Leoric couldn't be so detached. Fuming with anger and shouting curses would only resemble the desperate barking of a homeless dog, whichLeoric despised. He could only choose to walk away.

  "Goodbye, Miss Monica,"Leoric bowed slightly, addressing her formally instead of using her nickname, "I must say, I'm glad to have met you and spent these pleasant six months with you. Now, I should leave. I wish you… I wish you happiness."

  Yes, wish you happiness.

  Leoric turned and walked out of the school quickly, ignoring Freya's calls behind him. The exam was over, and the fifth-year graduates who passed walked out of the campus, transitioning from students to official wizards.

  Freya chased after him, butLeoric walked faster and faster until he was out of the school gates. Freya, still a student, couldn't follow him beyond the gates; the guards stopped her. The little girl called out, butLeoric didn't turn back; his figure gradually faded away.

  Although they were still in Spiritshade City, they would probably become strangers forever, never to meet again.