Trish slowly sipped her tea and continued explaining:
"Nevertheless, the inheritance of a wizard’s bloodline cannot be ignored.
From the time one becomes an Official Wizard, the probability of descendants inheriting aptitude and special talents is much higher than that of ordinary people.
By the time one reaches Great Wizard status, close kin are almost certain to inherit some of the aptitude and talents, producing at least a few Official Wizards each generation. This is also why Wizard Clans form."
Ron nodded thoughtfully; the pattern of bloodline inheritance is common among various extraordinary professions.
"So, despite being separated by countless generations from the ancestor Witch King, the offspring of the Crown Clan can still produce far more exceptional talents than ordinary Great Wizard Clans."
Trish’s tone carried deep envy:
"It’s said that the most outstanding members of the Crown Clan can receive the attention and blessing of the Witch King, making their position in the Crystal Tower unshakable."
"I never expected there to be such legends behind the Crystal Tower."
Ron sighed softly, filled with longing for this extraordinary center of the Central Lands.
"Speaking of which." Trish gave a slight smile, a trace of cunning flashing in her eyes:
"I’ve seen a few ancient enchantment tomes on my master’s bookshelf. If you’re interested in that subject, maybe I could try to secretly copy some for you in the future."
This suggestion made Ron amused; he certainly didn’t need Trish’s help in that way.
"No need to take such risks." He said casually, "If I’m genuinely interested in enchantment, I will naturally seek out the related books myself."
Trish nodded, a hint of admiration in her eyes.
If Ron had agreed just now, that wouldn’t have been like him at all...
After a moment of silence, the brown-haired girl’s expression suddenly became somewhat playful, a side Ron rarely saw:
"I have a proposal."
"What proposal?" Ron’s curiosity was piqued by her expression.
"How about we make a friendly wager?"
Trish tucked her brown hair behind her ear and lazily leaned back on the sofa, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation:
"Let’s bet on who will become an Official Wizard first."
Ron’s eyebrows rose in surprise at this sudden challenge, but it quickly stirred his competitive spirit:
"Oh? What’s the wager?"
"Whoever becomes an Official Wizard last agrees to one condition from the person who becomes one first."
Trish proposed, her lips curving in a confident smile: "How about it, dare to accept?"
Ron squinted his eyes, gently stroking his chin, considering the possible motivations behind this proposal.
Trish has always been a savvy person; she must have her reasons for proposing such a bet.
But regardless, the bet itself is intriguing and could motivate both of them to strive harder.
"Ha, you have quite a bit of confidence in both me and yourself."
After a moment of thought, Ron chuckled softly: "I accept, but since we’re each on different paths now, how do we confirm who reaches the goal first?"
Trish’s smile deepened, as if she had anticipated he would accept. She pulled a small crystal orb from her pocket and placed it gently on the table:
"This is a pair of Magic Resonance Balls, given to me by Master Corina. Each of us will hold one; once someone becomes an Official Wizard, the magic power fluctuations will automatically trigger a resonance, allowing the other side to sense it."
Ron reached out and picked up the crystal ball, examining it carefully.
The crystal ball’s surface was smooth as a mirror, with a mass of silver mist gently swirling inside.
He used ’Extraordinary Recognition’ to conduct a detailed check, ensuring there were no hidden malicious effects. Satisfied, he nodded:
"A very fair proposal, I accept the wager. The design of this resonance ball is quite exquisite."
"Made by the master herself." Trish’s voice carried a hint of pride:
"Once the magic power fluctuations reach the standard of an Official Wizard, it will immediately activate."
The two exchanged smiles, the spark of competition in their eyes.
After a moment of silence, Ron got up and walked over to a cabinet, retrieving a delicate box.
The box was made of dark brown wood, carved with intricate leaf patterns on its surface, its edges inlaid with a circle of silver thread, exuding a faint wave of magic power.
"I have a gift for you too," Ron said, his voice deep:
"I originally planned to give it to you according to our initial plans, a few months later before your departure, but I didn’t expect it to come in handy so soon."
He opened the box, revealing a short magic wand of about thirty centimeters lying inside.
The wand was made of emerald-green vines with a translucent green leaf embedded at the top, emitting a gentle glow.
As the box opened, a refreshing scent of greenery wafted out, evoking the fragrance of a forest after rain.
"This is..." Trish’s eyes widened, her breathing noticeably quickening, clearly astonished by this exquisite gift.
"Your farewell gift." Ron placed the box in front of her:
"The main materials are Ailan’s Leaf of Life and a few major vines, which can amplify the effects of natural magic. Your Forest Elf bloodline should resonate well with it."
Trish reached out to touch the wand but hesitated just before contact, withdrawing her hand with a slight frown:
"This... is too precious; I can’t accept it. The Leaf of Life, even if Ailan has advanced to an ’Ancient Tree Fairy,’ should still be quite rare, right? And the creation process must be extremely complex."
Her eyes lingered on the wand, filled with both longing and hesitation.
Ron understood her feelings—gifts in a wizard’s world often come with certain expectations or exchanges, especially such a valuable gift.