Judy raised her head after a while. She looked around her and noticed the crowd of students and a few magus teachers watching them.
They had attracted a lot of attention.
She noticed them earlier, but this was the first time she noticed how many they were.
"Shoo! The play is done. You can all leave!" Judy shouted.
The students walked away. It was a shocker for them. For the first time in their lives, they learned that swords could be combined with magic.
The magus teachers who were watching stared at her in a daze. They turned their heads to Henry and saw the calmness in his gaze. He was a genius. He was a god. He could do anything.
That was the impression he gave them.
His wisdom encompassed a lot of branches of magic.
Trago was in the crowd and took a sharp breath.
He saw Henry reach the second class. He knew what kind of a genius he was. He used his understanding of the various principles of magic to improve his magus class.
And while watching earlier, Trago noticed Henry purposely drained a lot of mana.
Draining a lot of one's mana could easily damage a magus' foundation, but it was a fast way to advance. The depletion stimulated the body to absorb more mana and then sequentially break through to the next class.
It was an extreme way, but if one was confident and knew what they were doing, it was a plausible and the best way to improve the body's absorption of mana.
Trago understood this as someone who handled magic circuits daily. He understood that the body was, in a way, a magic circuit.
It was much more complex compared to the magic circuits he was able to touch.
Henry and Felicia walked back to their apartment.
Felicia was in a daze throughout their walk. She remembered Henry's lessons, and they kept repeating in her mind. She couldn't forget them even if she wanted to.
He said many things that struck her soul. His wisdom was so high she could not even comprehend some of the things he said.
His teachings to Judy were much more substantial than what he taught her. She didn't know why, but she felt sad. Was it because she was not good enough?
"First, why are you sad?" Henry asked.
He noticed her sad expression. She lacked the usual joy and positive personality she exuded. It was like she was back to her previous self after the hobgoblin incident.
"Master, am I not good enough?" Felicia asked.
Since he asked, she decided not to hide it from him. She wanted to know it immediately so she could work harder.
"No. That's not the case. Why are you asking that?" Henry asked. He stopped walking, and so did Felicia.
The duo stood on the path and faced each other.
"You taught her more meaningful things…"
Felicia became embarrassed. She realized she was like a child. She turned redder, knowing that Henry was also her son.
"That's because she wouldn't see me again. That was her only chance to learn from me. I taught her all immediately. As for you, I can teach you slowly and impart my knowledge clearly. She might get lost, but with me here, you wouldn't."
Henry smiled and patted her head.
Throughout, he saw her as a junior. Her status as his mother was always at the back of his mind, and he didn't see her as that lately.
Her worry tugged on his heartstrings. She was the only light he had in this world, and his heart ached to see her feeling down.
They were a master and a disciple, but some things would always be the same.
"Is that so? Hahahaha…" Felicia smiled and laughed at herself.
She ridiculed herself. She thought of it wrong.
However, she became happy again. Furthermore, she became happier compared to before.
Henry patted her head one last time. He resumed walking, and Felicia tiptoed behind him.
…
The night shuffled away, and the following day came.
Henry looked out of the balcony. There were hundreds of students walking everywhere.
"First, should we leave soon?" Henry asked.
He thought about it clearly. He didn't take the chance to steal the object before. He could have because the Principal left.
The next chance was impossible to predict.
It might be tomorrow or a few years later.
He couldn't wait. He finally taught Judy. His mind was free to take the object.
"Do you not need to do anything anymore in the academy?" Felicia asked.
"Nope. I've repaid the resources they gave us, repaid them for teaching me about some things, repaid them for giving me the chance to use their magic circuit, and repaid them for safekeeping an object of mine."
There was nothing left for him to accomplish.
"I'm all ears, Master."
…
Henry left the academy that night. He used the tunnel. It was abandoned, and no one was watching it.
Presumably, the academy assumed that no one would be using it except those who knew about it. Thus, there was no problem if it was still there.
It was very convenient for Henry. It would be impossible to leave the academy's gates without being seen as there was a large field around it.
Reaching the city from that route would also reveal that he was from the academy.
The tunnel was perfect.
Henry came out of the other side. He gazed at Virtue City in the distance and smiled.
Life magic was not just about healing, light, or holiness. It also had a special function…
Because of the cloak Henry wore, he didn't catch anyone's attention as he entered the city. He walked along the empty alleyways and avoided direct eye contact with anyone.
He arrived at the City Guild.
He entered and sat on a chair, then closed his eyes.
Within Henry's body, all of his mana swirled. They turned golden and wrapped around his soul.
Slowly, his soul left his body. It was invisible to the naked eye, but he was there. He saw everything around him clearly like he was standing with his eyes open.