Soron sat to the left of Hayek, wearing his usual gray robe and his face calm as water.
Today, however, his eyes, usually weary and bloodshot, were unusually bright and clear, as if some mysterious force had washed away the dust of years.
Yuni was seated to the right, her silver hair was now intertwined with a few strands of pale purple, like a flowing galaxy.
Different from usual, today she looked remarkably spirited.
The wrinkles on her face seemed to have faded significantly, making her appear at least ten years younger.
Hayek gently swirled the amber liquid in his glass, gazing thoughtfully out the window before speaking casually:
"Old friends, it seems Allen has finally made a move."
Soron picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and raised an eyebrow:
"Ralph, that kid?"
"Yes, just a few days ago."
Hayek sighed:
"She told him about that path."
Yuni’s body stiffened slightly, her gaze wandering into the distance as if she saw some ancient image.
Her thoughts drifted back to memories over a hundred years ago:
The pink-haired girl always dressed in a sapphire dress, with eyes forever gleaming with confidence, darting through the corridors of the Crystal Tower like a whirlwind.
Wherever she went drew envious glances from countless apprentices... At that time, Allen was so dazzling, so... arrogant.
"Another one unwilling to be ordinary..." Yuni murmured, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, yet full of complex emotions.
Hayek shook his head, took a sip of wine, and his expression softened slightly with the memories:
"Ron, that kid... is indeed somewhat special, bears some resemblance to her back then."
"Resemblance?" Soron raised his eyebrows, a hint of vigilance in his eyes: "You mean, he also has more... special talents?"
Hayek did not answer directly but turned to Yuni on the other side: "You taught him Elemental Magic, how does it feel?"
Yuni’s fingers gently caressed the rim of the cup, her eyes slightly closed, as if reminiscing:
"That kid... truly stands out, rare in the School over the years, and has that peculiar... affinity."
She carefully chose her words, avoiding saying too much.
Soron nodded in agreement:
"Indeed, I’ve never seen a student who grasped things so easily, as if he was born knowing those complex principles of Magic Construction. Moreover..."
He paused, lowering his voice: "His spiritual structure is somewhat special, very... solid."
Hayek took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair, his gaze becoming deep:
"Even so, I am still worried that history might repeat itself, that path... is too dangerous."
Yuni lightly shook her head, looking out the window at the forest gradually devoured by darkness.
Her thoughts once again drifted back to the past:
After the failed impact, Allen’s face full of pain, yet her eyes remained stubborn.
Even with half of her body submerged in the river of death, she still showed no sign of regret.
"She did indeed succeed halfway."
Yuni said softly, with a barely audible hint of envy:
"Were it not for that..." She didn’t finish, but those present understood the implication.
"Precisely because she succeeded halfway, it caused her even greater sacrifice."
Hayek’s expression became grave, his voice deep:
"Half her body stepped into that realm, yet unable to fully cross the threshold... that pain, I’m afraid, is even harder to bear than outright failure."
Soron sighed softly: "And then there’s that... accident."
He carefully chose his words: "Had she chosen the conventional path, signed that contract, she wouldn’t have..."
"She was too proud." Yuni interrupted, her voice carrying a faint trace of pain.
In her eyes appeared the scene again — Allen returned from the Abyss exploration, covered in blood.
One arm was nearly torn apart, and her waist and abdomen had a spine-chilling large hole, with internal organs clearly visible...
Yet those eyes remained filled with stubbornness and discontent...
Hayek gently nodded: "Pride... indeed. But what true genius is not proud?"
A brief silence enveloped the room.
The three wizards each immersed in their memories, as the darkness outside swallowed the last trace of sunlight.
"Now the question is." Hayek finally broke the silence:
"How should we deal with this situation?"
"No matter what, it’s too late to discuss these now." Soron said calmly:
"Since Allen has already informed Ron about the Path of Truth, according to the Witch King’s mandate, we can no longer interfere with his decision."
"The Witch King’s mandate..." Hayek muttered, his gaze turning profound.
The three fell into silence again.
In the world of the wizards, the "Witch King’s mandate" is the highest level of restraint.
Formed in the Court of Truth, which is collectively composed of some Witch Kings, not even Great Wizards dare to violate it lightly.
"Mandate Article Seven: ’Any cultivators intending to attempt the Path of Truth must not be subjected to any form of interference or coercion, including but not limited to surveillance, contract enforcement, will manipulation, etc. Violators will face the sanction of the Court of Truth.’"
Soron quoted word by word.
"Not only that." Yuni supplemented:
"The mandate also requires us to, within our capabilities, ensure that the ritual process of the attempter is not disturbed by outside interference, and provide necessary protection."
Hayek let out a long sigh:
"I certainly understand the mandate’s requirements.
With Ron’s talents, if he truly succeeds, he may very well become a Great Wizard in the future, or even higher.
Such a genius naturally deserves special attention and protection from the Court of Truth."