Here—was the residence of his senior student, the Half-Elf Lillian.
Taking a light breath, Colin stepped forward, and pressed the doorbell entwined with vines.
Ding—
A clear sound echoed.
Colin's expression was serene as he stood patiently at the door, while a breeze stirred the flowers in the yard, fluttering the stray hairs on his forehead.
Shortly after.
The villa's main door suddenly opened.
A petite figure stepped out.
"Colin, my junior... why have you come to find me so late?"
Lillian walked towards the door, her voice tinged with curiosity.
She was not dressed in the School's standard Wizard Robe like usual, but instead wore a plain, white dress, her mid-length golden hair not tied up, cascading down like a waterfall.
On Renee or other girls, this style of dress would undoubtedly be pure and cute...
But on Lillian, it was only childlike cuteness... and fantasy.
Colin's eyes moved slightly.
Where Lillian walked, the originally vibrant flowers seemed to bloom even more brightly, and the next moment, gleaming halos began to light up.
By then, the wind had stopped, and under the gradually darkening Sky, the flowers did not cease to sway. The dreamlike glowing halos slowly lit up, forming a distinct path of light as Lillian moved forward.
Then, like a domino effect starting from the path of light, each flower lit up one after another until the whole sea of flowers was aglow.
"Is there a problem with Betty?"
Amid the glowing sea of flowers, Lillian looked up and asked softly.
"Good evening, Senior Lillian," Colin came back to his senses, shook his head, and responded:
"Everything is smooth at Lady Betty's end."
After saying this, Colin hesitated for a moment, made up his mind, and said:
"Senior Lillian, I've come to ask if I could borrow some Magic Stones from you... um, I'll repay them within half a year, with an interest rate of five percent per month, how about that?"
Indeed, rather than waste time and still take risks in earning money, it was better to borrow some Magic Stones directly from Lillian.
To improve one's strength first and then earn Magic Stones was the most cost-effective choice.
When Lillian heard Colin's words, she clearly paused for a moment.
Brushing a strand of hair from her ear, she asked:
"How many Magic Stones do you need?"
"Three thousand Magic Stones," Colin blurted out.
Since he was borrowing anyway, he might as well borrow a bit more, to have extra just in case.
"Okay," Lillian nodded her head.
Colin was slightly surprised; he did not expect Lillian to agree so readily.
Looking at Lillian's calm face, he felt somewhat embarrassed. Hesitating again, he spoke up:
"Make it ten percent per month for the interest."
Actually, for a loan, a monthly interest rate of five percent was already quite high.
But the favor of lending Magic Stones could not be measured by the Magic Stones themselves.
"No need," Lillian shook her head, "there's no need for interest."
Her voice was soft yet determined, dissipating any thought of objection.
"Okay," Colin pursed his lips, didn't make a fuss, and simply replied.
"Thank you, Senior Lillian," he paused before saying again.
Lillian waved her hand nonchalantly and turned to walk back to the villa.
"Just wait for me a moment."
Her voice carried on the wind, and with her departure, the blooming flowers seemed to sense their owner's absence and began to extinguish their glow step by step.
By the time Lillian had reentered the villa, the garden in front of Colin had returned to darkness.
Coincidentally, the last ray of sunlight at the edge of the Sky also slowly sank into the earth.
Darkness fell.
But Colin's heart was filled with hope, like the dawn's early light.
"Whew—"
He let out a gentle breath, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face.
But quickly, he reined in his emotions, returning to his composed state.
Magic Stones, the biggest problem for the moment, had been resolved.
But as the saying goes, "The journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step"... As long as he hadn't successfully switched his Meditation Method, he couldn't let down his guard for a day.
What's more, for several months after taking the Magic Erasure Potion, he would be without Magic Power... Getting through this would be no simple matter.
Before long, Lillian returned with the Magic Stones.
After receiving them and thanking her again, Colin said his farewells and left.
There was much to be done next; he had to make the most of his time.
...
The next day, inside the School, at Atbolde's residence.
Inside the study.
"You mean to say that you plan to start a three-month seclusion for training from today?" Atbolde spoke slowly.
"Yes, Instructor," Colin answered, pausing before adding:
"So, I came to ask for your help in applying for an exemption from the School's assigned tasks for these few months."
It was true that Atbolde had no tasks assigned to him.
But at the Tin Saint School, for each Apprentice, one or two simple tasks aligned with their level of ability were distributed every month.
Usually, unless there was an exceptional case, these tasks were mandatory.
"I see," Atbolde nodded, stating slowly: "I will apply on your behalf – you focus on your training."
His expression was gentle as if he had no doubts that Colin was trying to skive.
Seeing this, Colin felt somewhat relieved. This was a tricky issue, but Atbolde was much more accommodating than he had imagined.
"Then I won't bother you any longer."
He bid Atbolde farewell and hurriedly left.
He then took the public carriage, heading straight back to his guardian's home.
When the public carriage arrived at the door.
Renee was directing a freight carriage unloading an exotic and large tree.