Time flowed seamlessly as days melted into weeks, and weeks into months. Spring had departed, and as summer neared its end, fall was already at the doorstep.
Adam was so buried in his research that he barely realized the passing of time. His life had gotten monotonous, to say the least. However, the hope and yearning in his heart that one day his research would bear fruits kept him going.
He would wake up in the morning, work at Berger's, attend the academy, and then return home. When at home, he would always be cooped up in his laboratory either researching or practicing mindfulness.
On this day, the youth was sitting cross-legged on his bed as a barely visible vortex of mana swirled around him. He slowly opened his eyes which seemed deeper than before.
"The Five Elemental Codex is truly a supreme mana extraction technique!" He clenched his fists, feeling the pure mana coursing through his veins.
Before this, he used to practice the mana extraction technique given by the academy. It was the most basic of techniques, so he could clearly tell the difference when he shifted to the Five Elemental Codex.
The more he practiced this technique, the purer his mana became. He could feel it in his body. The pure mana, which was the fusion of the five fundamental elements, was slowly changing his body from the inside out.
He felt healthier than ever. His strength and speed had increased drastically. But the biggest difference was, he could feel the five elements that pervaded the air.
It was difficult for him to notice this before. But ever since his advancement to the Neural Stage, he could see it.
Adam sensed the mana channels that were slowly but surely being created inside his body. He could feel the mana traveling through these channels, further consolidating them. It wouldn't take him long to take the next step.
After all, he had already formed his spirit sea.
"Becoming a Rank 2 Magus at the age of twenty…" the youth mused to himself. "I wonder how shocked the old man will be."
Suddenly, he felt a presence outside his door. Activating his Sphere of Resonance, he learned that it was his butler.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"You may come in, Barry."
The following moment, the middle-aged butler opened the door and stepped inside. He first bowed respectfully before saying, "My lord, your friends have arrived. They're waiting for you downstairs."
"Hmm?" Adam was puzzled. "What day is it?"
Hearing that question, Barry couldn't help but sigh. Since the last few months, his master had been so engrossed in his studies that sometimes he would even forget to eat. Not being able to recall the day of the week was also nothing new.
"My lord, it is the beginning of the weekend," the butler replied, his voice laced with slight concern. "Forgive me for overstepping, my lord, but perhaps… you should tone down your research activities. Anything, when overdone, is bad for health."
Sensing the genuine distress in his tone, Adam smiled. He got up from his bed and walked toward the door. He placed a hand on his butler's shoulder and patted him. "You're right, Barry. I'll keep that in mind."
Barry displayed a grateful smile. "Very well, my lord."
The pair walked down the stairs and arrived at the living room where Edward and Lisa were playing with Valerian.
"Shall we leave?"
"Yeah, let's go." Edward got to his feet and walked out of the house. Meanwhile, Lisa gently grabbed Valerian in her arms and walked out as well.
Adam glanced at Barry and instructed, "I might not come back home tonight. So don't wait up for me." With that said, he too left the house.
"My lord, are you heading to the library?" The middle-aged Buttler hurriedly asked.
"Yep!"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Another all-nighter?"
"…Something like that."
Barry gazed at the youth's departing back speechlessly. In the end, he rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Haa… you just don't listen."
…
As the trio walked through the bustling streets of South Ward, they were greeted by colorful stalls selling exotic goods from all over the Southern Federation.
The air was filled with the aroma of spices and they could hear the endearing laughter of children playing about. Such a scene involuntarily made them relax.
This was their home, a city where elves, dwarves, gnomes, and humans mingled with one another harmoniously. It was truly a sight to behold.
"The time for the team mission is soon approaching," Lisa suddenly said as she gently cradled Valerian in her arms. "Do you guys have anything in mind?"
The curriculum of Clover Academy was divided into two sections - theoretical and practical. The former took place during the first half of the academic year when students were taught arcane knowledge by the professors.
Whereas the latter took place during the second half of the year. The students would use all the knowledge they had learned and apply it in real life in the form of team missions.
This was the same for all five years that a Magus spent at the academy.
For the last four years, the trio had taken up missions that had allowed them to travel to many places in the Southern Federation and help out the people or organizations that had arranged said missions.
The final year would also be the same. The only difference was, this would be their last mission. After completing this team mission, they will have finally graduated.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Thinking of this, Edward had a reminiscent look in his eyes, "Five years went by in the blink of an eye, huh?"
"Yep." Lisa nodded with a faint smile. "It feels like only yesterday that all of us met at the auditorium, participating in the academy's entrance examination."
Adam too couldn't help but smile in nostalgia, thinking of all the things he had done at the academy in the last five years.
Thinking back to how weak and ignorant he was back when he was still a fifteen-year-old kid journeying with the traveling party on his way to Moon City, he couldn't help but feel accomplished at how far he had come.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he suggested, "Our last four missions have been quite hectic. How about we take things slow this time?"
"Do you have anything in mind?" Edward asked curiously.
"Yes." Adam nodded. "Shall we take the mission to guard the prospective young students from all over the Federation and guide them to the academy?"
"Oh, not bad!" Edward nodded in approval. "That would indeed be pretty relaxing."
Lisa agreed as well. "Sure, we can do that. That's one of the easiest missions available, anyway. So, it's no big deal."
"Great!" Adam beamed. "It's decided then."
About fifteen minutes later, the trio finally arrived at their destination. In the near distance, they could see a towering structure reaching toward the sky. The tower's height was comparable to the Royal Palace in the North Ward.
This building was the greatest collection of knowledge in the Southern Federation.
The Savant Tower!
