"Ms. Rosaline, are you really giving this to me?" asked Vale doubtfully. Although a low-quality magic radiation stone might not be too valuable to someone as strong as Ms. Rosaline, but something like this was still too great to be a gift.
"Of course, it is for you. You have to use it well, I want to see you pass the annual test," Ms. Rosaline replied.
"I'm not only will pass the test, but I promise to you to become the top 10," Vale promised.
With the magic radiation stone from Ms. Rosaline, Vale could create the proper plan to complete the [Chain Quest 2] with more confidence. That's right, Vale had no intention to ignore the [Chain Quest 2] the system gave him. The magic radiation stone from Ms. Rosaline made Vale's progress to apprentice magus stage two was assured. However, he intended to go further.
After taking the magic radiation stone and making a promise to Ms. Rosaline, Vale left her office. He hid the magic radiation stone and carefully went back to his room.
The sky became dark again, and Vale was writing something on a small table in his room. His eyes focused on the letter, and his right hand continued to write word by word. After 5 minutes, he finished the letter.
"Finally, it's finished," Vale breathed a sigh of relief. He folded the letter and put it in an envelope. He then wrote the name of the recipient.
"This way, my plan can be executed." Vale took the envelope and walked out of the room.
The night wind blew against Vale's body. The youth ignored the low night temperature and continued walking towards somewhere. In an alley, a man in shabby clothes was waiting for Vale's arrival. A few moments later, Vale arrived, approached the man, and handed him the envelope he had brought along with some coins.
The man's name was Jerome. He was someone who worked for free for the Academy. He had been working for free for 7 years. To earn money, he became a well-known messenger boy among the students. Vale asked Jerome to deliver the letter to someone.
The letter contained a challenge to a student who Vale thought had good magic spelling. He used the magic radiation stone as a bet. Of course, he also wrote his identity as a black-masked man.
As for Jerome, the man was blind. Although he could still remember the academy's layout and distinguish people from their voice, Vale was sure that Jerome didn't know his identity. Vale had to be careful if someone asked about the identity of the black-masked man through Jerome.
To declare himself the king of magic spelling, the black-masked man would have to challenge people with good magic spelling, including Kirilenko, an apprentice magus stage three, and a senior student who was two years older than Vale.
Kirilenko was famous for being able to defeat his enemies quickly. In addition, he was also the pupil of Mr. Eldon Caprine, so Vale speculated that Kirilenko might have a magic radiation stone that was given to him by his teacher. Even though Kirilenko had the magic radiation stone, Vale predicted that Kirilenko would not refuse the black-masked man's challenge. Kirilenko was probably thinking of beating the black-masked man and getting an extra magic radiation stone.
"The challenge letter strategy could only be used because of the magic radiation stone that was given by Ms. Rosaline," Vale muttered. Upon reflection, Vale felt the plan to approach Ms. Rosaline was a massive success.
"Most humans cannot escape their emotions, and magus are no exception."
***
A puff of smoke filled the room, Kirilenko who was resting while smoking a cigarette was interrupted by a knock on the door. He turned, glancing curiously at the door. Who could visit him at this night? He slowly got up, put the cigarette on the table, and walked towards the door. When Kirilenko opened the door, he saw Jerome, a messenger boy known to many of the students.
"Do you have a letter for me?"
Jerome didn't answer, he just handed Kirilenko an envelope. Kirilenko took the envelope, he then looked around the envelope. There was no sender's name, only the recipient's name, namely Kirilenko.
"Do you know who sent this envelope?"
Jerome shook his head.
"Then you can go," after saying that, Kirilenko entered his room, he did not forget to close the door. Kirilenko then took a comfortable sitting position, thereafter, he opened the envelope.
"Challenge letter?" Kirilenko said.
A smile could be seen on Kirilenko's face.
"Which fool would make a magic radiation stone as a bet?"
Despite his words, Kirilenko intended to accept the challenge. However, he was quite confident in his abilities in magic spelling. The students, who could beat him in magic spelling, could be counted on one hand.
Time flowed fast, just in the middle of the night; Kirilenko was already preparing to accept the challenge. He wore a white shirt and black pants, clad in the standard academy robes. He then went to practice field number 25. 10 minutes later, when Kirilenko came to the practice field, there wasn't a single person who was still training in the middle of the night.
The moment Kirilenko set foot on practice field number 25; his brow furrowed upon realizing that there was no one waiting for him on practice field number 25.
"Is this a joke? As expected, there's no one who is stupid enough to challenge me with the risk to lose the magic radiation stone," Kirilenko muttered. He intended to turn around and leave, but a voice stopped him from leaving.
"You have come, Kirilenko? Sorry, to make you wait."
Kirilenko turned around; he saw a tall figure dressed all in black to the point of wearing a black mask. The figure had a low and somewhat hoarse voice, Kirilenko couldn't remember a student who had that height and voice.
"Did you use potions to change your voice and height?" guessed Kirilenko.
"You don't need to know," replied the Black masked man.
"In that case. Is that bet still valid?"
"Of course." The black masked man nodded slowly.
"What about the rules?"
"Three magic techniques level 0, whoever threatens the lives of others first, he wins," explained the Black masked man.
Kirilenko nodded slowly; it was a normal magic spelling duel's rule. He walked face to face with the Black masked man. The distance between the two was 5 meters.
The two of them were silent without moving even the fingers, only the sound of the wind blowing could be heard in the field, at that moment. A butterfly flapped its wings between the two people. The butterfly alighted on the ground. Just as the butterfly stepped on the surface, the two apprentice magus started their attack.
"O fairy of the wind, wreak havoc -"
"O fairy of the wind, wreaks havoc on the earth, a blast of anger!"
The black masked man managed to finish his magic spelling faster. A blast of anger, magic technique level 0 that was capable of producing chaotic gusts of wind within a radius of 15 meters. This chaotic gust of wind sent dust flying and forced the eyes of the two-apprentice magus closed.
"Night, destruction, dispel all noise, the light devourer."
The black ball hit Kirilenko and then swallowed him. Kirilenko was now unable to move and see anything. At that moment, the Black masked man approached and said, "Give up, you have already lost."
"I? Lost? I admit you are great, but beat me? Are you sure?' Kirilenko's voice came from behind the Black masked man. The black masked man turned his head to see Kirilenko, who was smoking a cigarette while pointing a hand filled with magic energy at him.
"Illusion? As expected of Eldon Caprine's pupil." Black masked didn't look panicked, but he just looked at Kirilenko calmly.
"You've lost, leave your magic radiation stone to me."
The black masked man raised his right hand. Kirilenko, who saw that was immediately aware of what was about to happen. He thought the black masked man would run away, so he cannot let that happen. However, instead of running away, the Black masked man just snapped his fingers.
At that moment, everything seemed clear. Kirilenko looked at the surroundings in a panic. He stared in disbelief to see that he was still in his original position before the duel began. He quickly reached into his pocket, his disbelieving expression turning to despair. Furthermore, he felt the cigarette that should have smoked was still intact in his pocket.
"Everything is an illusion?" said Kirilenko, who was still in disbelief.
"Right, I won. You can call me Black masked man, from now on, I am the king of magic spelling," said Black masked man proudly. Kirilenko looked strangely at the person who was dressed in all black in front of him.
Kirilenko then exhaled heavily. He reached for the magic radiation stone in his pocket. Subsequently, he threw the stone at the Black masked man. The black masked man grabbed the magic radiation stone and pocketed it. The black masked man walked away from the practice field.
"Wait!" shouted Kirilenko.
"What is it? Don't tell me you want to get this magic radiation stone back."
"No, I just wanted to ask, did you cheat by using magic spelling before the duel started?"
"Did I said the butterfly was the signal for the duel to start?" replied the Black masked man casually. He then continued to leave the place.
Meanwhile, Kirilenko fell silent and regretted his carelessness.
"I was too careless, if this was a real fight I might have died. He made me fall into illusion without making me realize. Who is him?" whispered Kirilenko curiously.