During the crisp autumn season, both inside and outside the domain, there was a serene and peaceful atmosphere. In the Dawn Wizard's Tower, witch apprentices were receiving guidance from Targarys, the Supreme Archmage of the High Elven Saphery White Tower Mage Council. The Supreme Archmage briefly assessed the magical levels of these witch apprentices before beginning targeted instruction.
After agreeing to Ryan's request, he immediately devised distinct teaching plans for Veronica and Teresa.
For Veronica, who casts quickly and focuses on large-area damage, Targarys significantly expanded her spell knowledge. She memorized most spells from the fire and light schools, and he also provided on-the-spot training, exposing the Garlon witch, who came from a humble background and never had the opportunity to learn such powerful spells, to many high-level spells.
Veronica thus learned her first major spell—Meteor Shower, which can summon a cluster of flaming meteors covering about 500 square meters, completely annihilating all life within.
Veronica's second major spell learned was Barrier of Bolts, which can create a defensive barrier about five meters high and fifteen meters wide, completely blocking all ranged attacks, including artillery, within this area.
Two weeks of intensive instruction significantly advanced Veronica's magical abilities, giving the Garlon witch enough knowledge to absorb over several years.
Then there was Teresa. After an assessment, Targarys found that Teresa had a very solid foundation in magic, having received excellent instruction from Aurora since childhood. Although not particularly adept, she could already use all ice and psychic school spells, provided she had enough mana.
Teresa's issue was that she knew how to cast many spells but didn't understand the principles behind them. Limited by her sorceress status, some magic was beyond her comprehension or ability to learn. She could only use the spells innate to her bloodline or those compatible with it.
Thus, Targarys didn't push Teresa to learn new spells but focused on enhancing her casting power and mana control. He trained her not to rely solely on instinctual casting but to learn to enhance and control all her current spells.
In short, Targarys aimed to teach Teresa how to manage her mana, knowing when to conserve it during casting and when to unleash it.
Under Targarys's guidance, the sorceress also experienced a qualitative breakthrough in her casting abilities.
Another day of lessons ended, and Targarys, expressionless, leaned on his staff and departed. The two Garlon witches sat in the classroom of the Dawn Magic Tower, facing each other and smiling wryly.
Today, Veronica was dressed in a light-red split dress with glowing floral patterns, her long, straight legs as usual encased in black stockings, and she wore black pointed high heels. After Targarys left, the sweet-faced Garlon witch slumped over the table, depressed: "I feel like I've wasted over ten years studying magic. I bet even if I study magic for another two hundred years, I won't match up to a single finger of Archmage Targarys."
Teresa, dressed in a black lace-edged spiraled ink-stain long dress, differed from Veronica as she wore no stockings, only black laced high heels. Sorceresses and witches vary; she always disliked wearing stockings. Hearing Veronica's complaint, Teresa's face stiffened: "If Archmage Targarys hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have known I was using a hundred units of mana to cast a fifteen-unit spell. I always thought that was how the spell was cast, but Targarys pointed out eight mistakes in my casting after just one look."
Silence filled the room, the weight of Targarys's teachings impacting them heavily, making them feel as if all their magical knowledge was wrong.
They also knew how big a favor it was for Ryan to have the Supreme Archmage Targarys teach them. Both witches had been frantically absorbing magical knowledge from Targarys, enhancing themselves.
Ryan was already a sanctified human hero. If they remained stagnant, they might become redundant one day, especially now that Ryan had connections with high elves who could send an elven mage to advise him, making them truly obsolete!
"Instructor~" At that moment, the door opened, and a formal witch, Catherine, dressed in a red robe, appeared timidly at the doorway: "There's important news."
"Important news?" Veronica sat up from the table: "What's the important news?"
"That... Elector Count Boris Todbringer of the White Wolves and Grand Master (Grand Captain
) Axel Gries of the White Wolves Knightly Order have arrived." Catherine knew her instructors were in a bad mood recently, so she spoke softly.
"Oh, what does that have to do with me? If Lord Boris and Lord Axel have arrived, Ryan will naturally receive them." Veronica responded casually.
"But, Lord Ryan's foster parents, the Normans, have also arrived. They are currently guests in the castle, and Lord Ryan asked me to call you and Councillor Trovick." Catherine continued.
"I'll be right there!" Veronica leapt up as if electrified, her high heels clacking as the Garlon witch dashed out the door and disappeared in a flash.
"?? Foster parents?" Teresa hadn't quite grasped the situation. After a moment of thought, she understood what was happening. The sorceress quickly stood up: "Ryan's foster parents have arrived?! Wait for me!"
Teresa also rushed out following Veronica.
...
Ten minutes later, in the castle's second-floor reception room.
Laughter filled the room, radiating joy. Ryan's eyes were slightly red; he tried hard to keep them wide open as he held his foster father's hand: "Father, it's been so long, really long."
Elector Count Boris laughed heartily, stroking his brown beard somewhat smugly as he spoke to Ryan: "Baron Theodric of Nordland, who's preparing to attend your wedding, wasn't ready to depart so soon. Since Lord Norman was nearby in White Wolf City on official duties, I brought him along."
"Thank you very much." Ryan couldn't stop nodding, feeling both happy and emotional.
"Knight Norman is preparing to retire. He's already passed the lordship of Otten to your cousin (his nephew by marriage), and he'll retire in White Wolf City, serving as an instructor dedicated to our Lord Ulric." Grand Master Axel Gries of the White Wolves laughed as he spoke.
The Grand Master of the White Wolves, a bald man with a long white beard, exuded an imposing aura like a massive beast from the dark forests of winter. Tall and robust at over 1.9 meters, his amber eyes sparkled like a giant Husky's.
The Grand Master, nearly a hundred years old, had met Ryan before, but never expected that the young White Wolf knight, who had left Nordland at only the beginning of legend, would become a sanctified warrior.
Each time Axel regretted Ryan's conversion, thinking such a powerful figure should have fought alongside the White Wolves in the name of Ulric. However, since Ulric had decreed his approval, the White Wolves had no further objections.
Everyone turned their gaze to the "bald" Norman, wondering how they missed having such a formidable son themselves.
Norman was a slender, red-nosed old man, almost completely bald, but very spirited. His small eyes looked proudly at his foster son, continuously downplaying his pride despite it being evident. He patted Ryan's robust shoulder, asking about various household matters, to which Ryan patiently responded.
Ryan felt as if he had returned to his childhood.
On the cold nights in Nordland, Norman always liked to take his foster son, dressed in armor and a wolf fur cloak, wearing a wolf fur hat, into the forest for hunting. Ryan remembered being a small boy in a warm sheepskin coat and high boots, following in Norman's steps, learning hunting skills and how to earn Ulric's approval from his foster father. Always behind them was a wolfhound, whom Ryan remembered was named Huang, a name he had chosen.
Whenever Ryan recalled these memories, his lips would unconsciously curl into a smile; his childhood was rather happy.
However, time is always cruel. The middle-aged White Wolf knight of those days was now old, his hair mostly white, his previously erect posture now stooped. Time had quietly taken everything from Norman, who could no longer battle effectively. The warhammer that had once been an extension of his arm now felt increasingly heavy. Aware of this, the White Wolf knight gradually stepped back from the battlefield, passing the lordship to Ryan's cousin (his mother's nephew) and moving to White Wolf City for retirement. He could still serve as an instructor for a few more years before fully retiring.
"Father... I..." Ryan's eyes reddened, uncertain of what to say: "Have you... always been well?"
"I've been very well! You don't need to worry about me, my boy. Back in Nordland, I hear about your deeds and exploits every day. Today you kill this one, tomorrow that one, even Skarsnik's Red Eye Eigel fell by your hand. You truly are my son!" Norman kept patting Ryan's shoulder: "I thought my life was set, but you've done so well, I'm proud of you, truly. Now, I'm here for your wedding."
"Thank you~" Ryan could only nod, his emotions choked up, feeling as if
he were in a different life.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and a voice full of surprise entered the room.
"Uncle Norman! Aunt Sally!"
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