Corina twirled the mask in her hand and explained lightly:
"Lady Allen perhaps simply thought your potential was greater, and thus chose to go all the way in one step."
Ron remained silent for a moment, digesting this information: "Are you trying to give me a warning?"
"It’s not just a warning, but also giving you a chance to consider carefully in advance."
The silver-haired witch continued:
"Everyone has the right to choose their own path, but such choices should be based on a full understanding of all possibilities."
She pointed again to her own distorted face:
"If you wish to climb to higher levels, this might be what you look like in the future, or possibly even worse."
The witch raised a hand covered with scales and slowly traced it through the air:
"The abyss grants power, but also brings a curse. Those taints and distortions will follow you like a shadow for a lifetime."
"Yet thanks to Trish’s ’favor,’ the taints and distortions on me are much better than before. This is also the reason I strive to cultivate her, the ’favor’ brought by an excellent student far surpasses any healing potion."
Corina looked toward what was probably the west outside the wall, continuing:
"I plan to return to the Crystal Tower in the Central Lands after Trish has promoted to Advanced Apprentice and completed the upcoming bloodline altar trial. The resources and research environment there are far superior to this marginal school."
Her gaze returned to Ron:
"With the talent and progress you’ve shown, I believe you will also step through the gates of the Crystal Tower in the near future."
When Trish becomes an Advanced Apprentice, she plans to take her directly to the Crystal Tower, rather than compete for the school-promised ’Key’ Potion with them?
Ron was a bit puzzled, about to ask something.
Corina saw his expression and could roughly guess what he was thinking:
"It seems that since you just advanced to the top ten of the sequence, no one has notified you of the hidden details."
"The Candidate Wizard sequence is held every ten years, but the Key Potion needed to break through to Official Wizard is allocated by the upper Crystal Tower with only one bottle."
Her voice carried a rare emotional fluctuation:
"Waiting in the marginal school or heading earlier to the resource-rich Central Lands—this choice is not difficult. The earlier Trish breaks through to Official Wizard, the sooner she can bring greater ’favor’ to me, which is beneficial to both of us."
Ron mentally noted this key information.
Every ten years, one bottle of Key Potion, which means that only one person in each sequence of Candidate Wizards can obtain the opportunity for an official breakthrough.
In the midst of casual conversation, Corina also revealed more information about the Crystal Tower, and some advice regarding the upcoming bloodline altar trial.
To Ron, this information was undoubtedly a valuable reference.
As the discussion neared its end, Corina put the mask back on, concealing her horrifically distorted visage.
"Your bloodline modulation techniques and magic potion-making are quite excellent."
She said, her voice regaining that metallic calmness:
"If there is an opportunity in the future, I wouldn’t mind cooperating with you more deeply. Of course, the premise is that you can stand out in the Crystal Tower."
After saying this, Corina turned around, and the tightly shut stone door automatically opened at that moment.
Ron respectfully bowed and took his leave, and when he exited the underground level, he felt the burden on his shoulders grow a bit heavier.
In the entrance hall, a brown-haired girl was waiting for him, her eyes full of complex emotions:
"It seems the teacher told you a lot."
Ron nodded and did not reply, as he was not in the mood for small talk at the moment.
"Then head back soon, it’s late." Trish escorted him to the door, softly speaking:
"Your performance today was truly stunning, Ron. I think... I underestimated you before."
Ron smiled softly: "Then let’s cooperate well together in the bloodline altar."
"Mm... you’ve always been a reliable companion."
Walking on the way back, his thoughts kept revolving around Corina’s distorted face and the secret information she revealed.
The allure and danger of the abyss, the double-edged effect of special meditation techniques, and the scarcity of resources and competition in the Candidate Wizard sequence... these are all realities he must cautiously face.