Explosions, screams of rage, the sound of bricks and tiles shattering and collapsing…
The sounds of battle had resounded nearly all night, only ceasing just before the break of dawn.
On Holy Rye Street, Colin's residence.
Colin slowly walked out of the master bedroom, arrived at the large terrace on the second floor facing Rite Street, and slightly leaned forward, resting on the white stone balustrade of the terrace as a light breeze lifted the hair from his forehead.
At this moment, the sun had not risen from the ground, yet the world was no longer engulfed in complete darkness.
Apart from the lights that shone from his location, the flames on the distant Rite Street had not yet dimmed, tinging the sky with a slight reddish glow.
A while passed.
At the same time Renee had prepared breakfast and was knocking on his door, a sliver of golden light quietly emerged on the eastern horizon.
"It's time to leave," Colin took a deep breath and silently turned around.
He had packed all his necessary belongings last night, now only needing to have breakfast before setting off to meet at the Yista School's base.
Before long.
As the dawn sky blushed with red, Colin finished his breakfast.
"Master, have a safe journey."
At the doorway, Renee, pulling Demi along, wished him well together.
"Mmm," Colin nodded, without saying much. With a thought, his toes left the ground, hovering slightly.
The morning breeze fluttered his hair ends, and the rising sun cast a golden rim around him as his gray wizard robe swayed gently.
"Master."
Just as he was prepared to fly away, Renee suddenly called out to him as if remembering something.
Colin turned his head, puzzled.
Renee fumbled for a moment, then took out a coin purse from her person and handed it to him.
"What's this?"
"It was forcibly given to me by a wizard who visited last night. I wanted to return it to him, but afterward…"
Renee explained the reason.
As he caressed the gray coin purse in his hand, Colin frowned slightly.
"Mulan's Magic Stone?"
After pondering for a moment, he stored the coin purse in his storage ring.
He was not so pedantic.
Mulan was already dead; the coin purse naturally became ownerless… and rightfully his.
"Take care of the house."
After doing this, he instructed Renee.
The next second.
Whoosh!
He no longer hesitated, flying swiftly towards the direction of the Yista School.
Behind him, Renee silently watched Colin recede into the distance.
Only when he was no longer in sight did she retract her gaze, slowly patting Demi's head and entering the house with her.
…
"Ding-dong—"
Outside a white house, Colin pressed the doorbell of the small courtyard.
He had originally planned to head directly to the Yista School, but Renee had given him an unexpected gift, adding a fair amount of Magic Stones to his possession.
Therefore, he came here to Lillian's place, intending to repay the Magic Stones he had borrowed.
"Junior Brother Colin…"
Before long, Lillian stepped out of the house, looking at him in surprise.
"Good morning, Senior Sister Lillian," Colin spoke, about to state the reason for his visit, but then he heard Lillian ask.
"Weren't you at home last night?"
"I was," Colin shook his head, confused.
"Did you know about the battle on Rite Street last night?" Lillian was also puzzled,
"Last night when I went to check on Rite Street, I happened to pass by where you live. I called out a few times with no response, and Nado resisted letting me land, so I left…"
"Were you at home last night?"
"At that time, a wizard from the Yista School had called me to help, and only the maids were at home. I ordered them to hide well… Perhaps they did not hear your voice," Colin was slightly startled, and hastily explained.
"I see…" Lillian nodded, silent for a moment before asking, "Do you know about last night's events?"
Colin nodded.
"Um," Lillian paused, then advised, "Divine beings are cruel and cunning, you have just advanced recently. When you go to the Southern Sea Domain, you must be careful."
"Okay."
"Um… Did you come to see me for something?"
Colin finally found the opportunity to explain his intention, reaching into his storage ring and handing the Magic Stones to Lillian.
"Senior Sister Lillian, I've come to repay the Magic Stones I borrowed from you."
Lillian was momentarily taken aback, looking up at him in surprise before accepting the Magic Stones.
Seeing this, Colin felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest, inexplicably feeling a bit lighter.
Having no debts is indeed a relief… this truth is unerring.
After chatting with Lillian for a while, he then hurried off to the Yista School's base.
…
"Lord Colin."
"Lord Colin…"
Upon arriving opposite the Yista School, many apprentices participating in the Alus Association were already present, and they all greeted him as they saw him arrive.
Colin nodded in response, moving to the instructor's location… he was the only one here now.
The other accompanying wizards had yet to arrive.
Among the apprentices.
"Lex, where is Mulan?"
A short and plump wizard apprentice came to Lex's side, asking in a low voice.
"It's still early, perhaps wait a little longer and they'll come; don't worry," Lex reassured him.
"Mulan isn't afraid of missing such an important day today?"
Next to Lex, another wizard apprentice complained as well.
"Now that you mention it, did you hear that sound last night?"
"Are you talking about the voice of the Nois City Lord?" Lex responded instinctively, having just learned this information from his own instructor this morning.
"So that was the voice of the Nois City Lord…" The surrounding apprentices all expressed their amazement, as the Nois City Lord was, without a doubt, a highly unattainable figure to them.