Rien opened the door to the laboratory and called out, "Old Joe, I'm here."
Jonah Evans, who was engrossed in etching a complex magical array on the large desk, did not look up. Without needing to hear Rien's voice, he already knew who it was. For, the only person who would enter without knocking was Rien.
Rien, well aware of his mentor Jonah's passion for magical research, chose not to disturb him and quietly took a seat next to the magical array, watching Jonah's meticulous work. Jonah's golden hair shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight, casting an almost otherworldly glow.
Suddenly, Jonah seemed to sense something. He paused in his intricate carving of the array, turned, and fixed his gaze upon Rien, his expression filled with faint surprise.
Rien, equally caught off guard by Jonah's reaction, raised an eyebrow. "Old Joe, what are you staring at? Get back to your array."
Jonah released the magical mark from his hands, slowly speaking. "Has Lord Anasen helped you find a meditation technique that matches your talent? You've actually ascended to the rank of a first-tier mage?"
Jonah's tone carried a hint of astonishment.
Rien shook his head, quickly fabricating a reason. After all, he couldn't reveal the ancient tome's secrets. "No, it wasn't my father who found it. I bought it from a small stall. Recently, I discovered it was a legacy stone, which granted me this meditation method."
Jonah nodded thoughtfully. "Well, you're quite lucky. With a meditation technique that matches your talents, that rare gift of yours will start to truly manifest."
He then picked up a delicate teapot and poured two cups of hot tea. "Moreover, I can sense the magic within this laboratory subtly gathering around you, emitting a joyful hum. A full-spectrum magical affinity is truly the darling of magic."
Jonah handed one cup of tea to Rien, who took it without hesitation. Indeed, after mastering the Five Hearts to Heaven technique, his magical power seemed to grow slowly even without active meditation.
Jonah walked to the window and gazed out at the bustling students below. He turned to Rien and asked, "What's going on today at the academy? It seems unusually lively."
Rien took a sip of his tea and replied, "Hmm... It's probably because of my duel with Damon Mick. Otherwise, I wouldn't know of any other event at the academy."
At the mention of Damon, Jonah seemed to ponder something for a moment but then returned to normal. He was well aware of the situation with Damon and Sophia.
"Did he challenge you to a duel because of Sophia? And you accepted? You don't seem the least bit concerned."
Rien nodded. "Something like that. But why should I worry? It's him who should be concerned."
Jonah chuckled, admiring Rien's confidence. "Good. Confidence is the first key to victory. Now, let's begin our lesson."
Jonah took a white stone from a nearby cabinet and placed it between them. "Today, I will teach you about the 'Anti-Magic Stone,' its uses, and its true nature..."
As Rien listened intently to Jonah's explanation, word spread throughout the academy that Rien and Damon would duel the following day.
"Did you hear? Rien and Damon are going to duel over Sophia!"
"I've heard. Your version is outdated. I heard that Rien and Sophia have already secretly pledged to each other. The other day, her rejection was just because she was shy."
"What?! Even the purest flower of the Sidiya family has been picked by Rien? He's such a scoundrel, leaving us with nothing but goddesses!"
Some clever students even set up betting pools, with the odds of Rien defeating Damon set at 1:15. The odds were ridiculously large.
After all, most students at the academy had never seen Rien in action. They had no idea of his combat abilities. They only knew he was a mere magic apprentice, nothing more. There was no way he could compare to Damon, who had spent years immersed in the first-tier intermediate warrior rank.
The entire academy felt like a festival, full of excitement, for the entire morning.
At noon, Rien walked out of the Mage Tower. Magical education wasn't about passive listening—it was about practice. A teacher can guide you in, but the real work is up to the individual.
So, after Jonah finished teaching him about the Anti-Magic Stone and handed over a few of his own developed magical skills, Rien left the laboratory.
The Stan family carriage was waiting at the academy entrance as expected. Upon seeing Rien exit, the coachman quickly set out a stepstool to help him get in.
Once on the carriage, Rien asked the coachman, "Dreyk, what's going on in the capital these days? Any interesting events?"
Dreyk, driving the carriage, responded, "Master, there hasn't been much excitement lately. However, in a week, there's an auction at the Anderson Auction House. I've heard that some truly rare items will be up for sale."
Rien sat back in the carriage, lazily crossing his legs. Though magic was fascinating, too much study led to weariness. He found himself longing for the days when he used to watch videos of beautiful women on his phone.
Thinking of this, Rien suddenly sat up. "Ah, though I can't watch videos, isn't it better to see them in person?"
"Perhaps, if the moment is right, I can even engage in deeper conversations… Slurp."
Rien wiped his lips as he indulged in a brief moment of pleasure.
But he had other matters to attend to this afternoon, so he suppressed his excitement and said to Dreyk, "Dreyk, take me to the Relic Bazaar. I want to take a look."
"Yes, Master."
Dreyk acknowledged and turned the carriage toward the Relic Bazaar on the western side of the capital.
Rien's goal at the bazaar was simple. He needed to lay the groundwork for the skills, meditation techniques, or breathing methods he planned to use in the future. He needed to legitimize the gifts the ancient tome had bestowed upon him.
The Relic Bazaar was a perfect choice. After all, every year, people found rare combat techniques, magic, and other treasures there. Plus, he had the ancient tome's energy signature to guide him. This was truly a stroke of luck for Rien.
When the Stan family carriage arrived at the Relic Bazaar, a wave of commotion ensued.
"Look! It's the Tiger Mark! It's the Stan family's carriage!"
"Indeed, but which member of the Stan family is it? I can't believe someone from the family would come to a commoner's market like this."
"I'm going to offer myself. If the Stan family notices me, my family will never want for food again!"
"Are you an idiot? That's most likely the young master, the notorious troublemaker. If you go offer yourself, you're asking for trouble!"
Dreyk, as usual, skillfully set up the stepstool for Rien.
As Rien stepped off the carriage, the crowd surged around him, causing him to quietly sigh. He had hoped that arriving in the carriage would allow more people to notice his visit to the bazaar, ensuring that there would be more witnesses in the future.
But it seemed he had underestimated the influence of the Stan family name on common folk. Even as a notorious troublemaker, Rien was still the object of their eager attention.
Dreyk stood protectively behind Rien, drawing his sword and shouting at the approaching crowd. "What do you think you're doing? If you offend young master Rien, you won't even have enough lives to pay for it!"
"Where are the market officials? Why aren't they maintaining order?"
Dreyk's vigilant eyes scanned the crowd, fearing any potential danger from spies or assassins.
Just as Dreyk finished speaking, the market manager hurriedly rushed over, bowing in apology. "Young master Rien, forgive me. As soon as I heard you were coming, I rushed here without a moment's delay."
Dreyk, seeing that Rien wasn't angry, spoke calmly. "Quickly disperse the crowd. If there are spies or assassins from other nations here and something happens to young master Rien, you will be held accountable."
"Yes, yes," the manager replied quickly, signaling to the guards to clear the crowd.
Fortunately, there were no assassins in the crowd. Had Rien ventured out today without any bodyguards, it could have been a dangerous situation.