The trio silently left the academy after the incident with Kevin and Professor Hemingway. Adam took out a healing potion from his earring and gulped down half of it. Then, he poured the other half on his wrist.
Steam started to emit from Adam's injured wrist, followed by sounds of bones cracking back in place. The youth grunted in discomfort as he saw his wrist slowly begin to heal.
A few moments later, his wrist had completely healed. He rotated his wrist and nodded, smugly stating, "As expected of me. Kekeke, my healing potions are a work of miracle."
Seeing Adam return to his usual self, Edward and Lisa's moods were lifted a little. However, they still seemed very low and didn't utter a word. Adam looked at them and pursed his lips.
"You guys are so depressing. What's happened has happened. Why dwell on the past?"
Edward seemed to have lifted his spirits somewhat. He glanced at Adam and sighed. Then, he glanced at Lisa and was taken aback.
Lisa, who had been clenching her fists all this while, was trying her best to not break down in front of the two boys. But it proved to be quite difficult for her.
Seeing this, Adam exaggeratedly winked at Edward and gestured, as if saying, 'Now's your chance, don't disappoint me!'
Edward was initially confused, and then seriously nodded his head. His face blushed slightly as he gently patted Lisa's shoulder and warmly said, "It's alright. You don't have to—"
However, he was immediately cut off as Lisa couldn't take it anymore and finally broke down. She buried her face in her palms and sobbed incessantly. "I'm sorry… It's all my fault… Forgive me, Adam…. Because of me…"
Edward panicked seeing his friend cry, he didn't know what to do. He turned to Adam, asking for help, but realized that the youth was nowhere to be found.
What the! Where did he go? Edward was dumbstruck.
Suddenly, Adam's voice rang inside his mind. This is a good opportunity for you, Ed. So you deal with her. Bring her to our usual spot. I'll see you there. You got this!
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Rank 1 Spell: Mind Whisper!
This son of a… Edward clenched his fists, helpless. Edward knew Adam very well. He could tell that Adam was running away because he couldn't handle Lisa crying.
Edward then glanced at Lisa who was still sobbing, and tried his best to calm her down.
…
In the southeast direction of the South Ward, atop a mound, stood a large tree that overlooked the city. A few months back, Adam had brought the elven twins here and had drinks with them.
This was the place where the youth usually came with Edward and Lisa to relax and enjoy the view of the city.
Currently, he was sitting on one of the highest branches of the tree and absentmindedly gazing at the ships sailing in the Aurei River. He was thinking back to what had transpired earlier with Professor Hemingway.
The reason Adam embarked on the path of a Magus was because he wanted to live a better life. As a child, he hated living in poverty and having to bow his head. He thought once he became a Magus, he would never have to feel that way ever again.
But today, he had to lower his head and submit to Hemingway in front of so many people.
Adam was reminded of his past when he had to lower his head and beg others to give him handy jobs. Thinking of this, his hands involuntarily clenched tightly.
Submitting to Hemingway didn't sit well with him, but he knew in his heart that that was the right thing to do. Because had he protested, things would have gotten troublesome for him. Still, he couldn't come to terms with it.
He scoffed bitterly. "Huh, I told them not to dwell in the past and here I am doing just the opposite."
Adam ruffled his hair vigorously and grumbled. "Ugh, I hate this shitty feeling!"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})He took out a wine gourd from his earring and cheered himself up. "One day I'll become so strong that I'll never have to go through such a thing again. Hmph, just you wait!"
Only after chugging half the gourd, did he calm down. "Puahh! That's the stuff!"
While he was enjoying the wine, Edward and Lisa had already arrived at the foot of the tree. They climbed up and sat down beside Adam.
Lisa, who had now returned to her usual self, didn't ask him why he had suddenly vanished so suddenly. Instead, she silently looked at the view.
Seeing her, Adam chuckled. He then took out another gourd and handed it to Lisa. She grabbed the gourd, uncorked it, and took a large mouthful. Only when she'd had enough, did she pass it on to Edward.
"More than a decade ago, a precious ore mine was discovered on the borders of the territories belonging to the De Clare Family and the Gracie Family," Lisa spoke as she blankly stared into the distance.
"This led to an altercation between the patriarchs of the two Magus Families," Lisa continued as her eyes reddened. "My father… he lost his life in that battle against the Gracie Family's patriarch."
When Edward heard this, his fists involuntarily clenched and he was overcome by anger. Adam, however, indifferently listened to Lisa's recount. But that was just on the surface, inside he was livid.
"That night my whole family would have been slaughtered, but the brother of Gracie Family's patriarch proposed a marriage alliance between their two families. They thought it would be a waste to simply kill me, who had an A-grade talent," said Lisa as tears rolled down her face.
"Don't tell me!" Edward's heart tightened as he made a guess. "You are supposed to marry that bastard, Kevin?!"
Lisa nodded with a listless face. "We are to marry each other after we graduate from the academy. This is the only way for me to protect my surviving family members."
Adam glanced sideways at Edward, only to see him seething with anger. Seeing this, he sighed. Ah, love.
"But I never thought that I'd end up implicating you by being friends with you." Lisa wiped her tears and looked at Adam. "Forgive me, Adam—"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})However, the words got stuck in her mouth when she saw Adam nonchalantly digging his nose. She tried her best to stop from flaring up, but Adam didn't seem to care at all.
"Huh? Were you saying something?" Adam flicked the booger off of his finger. "'Cause all I heard was a bunch of gibberish."
"Adam!" Edward angrily called out.
"You shut up!" Adam glared at him. Then he looked at Lisa and reprimanded, "What do you mean you implicated me? I confronted that bastard because I chose to. It has nothing to do with you."
Both Edward and Lisa turned silent.
Adam continued, "Besides, have you never thought about revenge? Or are you just going to simply give in?"
"You think I've never thought of revenge?!" Lisa roared, her eyes reddening from fury. "Every waking moment of my life, I think of nothing but avenging my father. But…"
She clenched her fists and muttered helplessly. "I'm weak… Too weak!"
Seeing her defeated expression, Adam's voice softened. "How strong is the patriarch of the Gracie Family?"
"He's been a Rank 2 Magus for decades now," Lisa replied with clenched fists.
Edward, who was about to offer his family's help, paused when he learned that the man was a Rank 2 Magus.
The youth was thinking of getting his father to step in, but knowing his father, Edward knew that Viktor wouldn't step forward to help as both he and the Grace Patriarch were Rank 2 Magi.
After all, Viktor was a merchant and a very successful one at that. How could he embark on something that wouldn't bring him any benefits?
Now, even Edward felt helpless. And he hated himself for it.
However, Adam raised his head and laughed loudly. "Only Rank 2? Kekeke, it's fine as long as he isn't a Rank 3 Magus."
"Only Rank 2?" Lisa mocked him. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"I will have already become a Rank 2 Magus by the time I graduate from the academy. And even if I don't, I'll have the strength to fight one for sure!" Adam stated with utmost confidence.
Then, he glanced at Edward and smirked. "And this fatty might give all of us a surprise as well."
"Eh? Me?" Edward pointed at himself, looking stupid.
Lisa was enraged, thinking that Adam was making fun of her.
"You B-grade talents are thinking of advancing to Rank 2 by graduation? Are you even listening to yourself? You do know that advancing becomes progressively harder, right? Even I, an A-grade talent, have low chances of advancing to Rank 2 before I graduate—"
"Lisa." Adam firmly clasped her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Do you trust me?"
Lisa's eyes reddened and she bit her lower lip. After a long time, she nodded.
"Good!" Adam looked far into the distance and cracked his knuckles. "And it just so happens that I also have a grudge with that Kevin bastard."
He grinned from ear to ear and coldly muttered.
"When the secret plane fully opens, I will begin my hunt!"
