"Rejected?"
Lady Allen raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes, but she soon added a hint of curiosity:
"Tell me, why?"
Lilia paused for a moment, then continued sorting the ingredients in front of her. Her voice was so soft it was almost as if she were talking to herself:
"Because I already have the best master. Although he’s not by my side now, what he taught me is irreplaceable by anyone else."
A complex emotion flickered in Lady Allen’s eyes. As an experienced elder, she could certainly hear the deep affection inherent in Lilia’s words. This seemingly cold girl still harbored the most precious emotions in her heart.
"A wise choice."
Lady Allen chuckled lightly, with a tone tinged with pride:
"Those mentors at the Jade Tower are knowledgeable, but their teaching style is too bound by tradition. For a student like you, who already has a solid foundation, it could actually limit your development."
She paused, her tone becoming more earnest:
"Moreover, a true master-student relationship isn’t just about the transfer of knowledge, but the communion and resonance of the spirit and ideas. Once such a connection is established, it shouldn’t be easily broken."
Lilia nodded slightly, warmth flooding her heart. Lady Allen always understood her deepest thoughts, and this sense of being understood relaxed her taut nerves just a bit.
"By the way, I have good news to share with you."
Lady Allen picked up the newspaper again, her smile becoming even brighter:
"It’s about that boy Ron. I’m sure you’ll be interested."
Upon hearing the name, Lilia’s body trembled slightly, and her movements paused again. For more than a year, this was the first time Lady Allen mentioned Ron in front of her.
Although she had been quietly keeping track of her former master’s news through various channels, Lady Allen seemed to intentionally avoid discussing this topic in front of her. Perhaps it was to avoid stirring her longing, or perhaps it was to prevent distracting her from her studies.
"What...what happened to him?"
Lilia tried to maintain a calm tone, but her voice betrayed a slight tremor. That cautious anticipation was like someone fearing bad news but eagerly wanting to know what’s happening.
"Take a look at this."
Lady Allen handed her the newspaper, pointing to the bold headline on the front page:
"The headline of the ’Central Lands Academic Weekly’ specifically reports on the outstanding young Wizards emerging from the Crystal Tower recently. Guess who’s ranked first?"
Lilia took the newspaper with trembling hands, her gaze immediately captivated by a photo on the front page.
It was a familiar yet unfamiliar figure—still those deep, night-sky-like eyes, still that calm and composed demeanor, but the aura exuded was much stronger than she remembered.
In the photo, Ron was wearing the official Wizard’s Robe of the Crystal Tower, adorned with various badges representing honor on his chest. His expression remained calm, but the poised demeanor revealed tremendous confidence and strength.
What struck Lilia the most was his eyes. The wisdom and depth contained in them far surpassed the young master she remembered. This was the gaze of a true strong individual, calm and unperturbed after countless challenges and trials.
The title beneath the photo was written in bold fonts:
"Treasure-level Genius Ron Ralph: The Most Notable New Star of the Central Lands"
Lilia’s heart began to race, her blood seemingly boiling in her veins. The term "Treasure-level" was not unfamiliar to her; during her studies at the Jade Tower, she had learned about the talent grading system in the Wizard World. Being rated as Treasure-level meant ranking in the top five hundred in the entire history of wizards!
Forcing herself to remain calm, she started reading the detailed content of the report:
"This newspaper reports: In the recent annual genius rating announced by the Crystal Tower, Wizard Ron Ralph from the Black Mist School was rated as ’Treasure-level,’ becoming the first young wizard in five years to receive this rating. This rating not only acknowledges his outstanding talent in Magic Potion Making and Bloodline Modulation, but also confirms his outstanding academic contributions as an original...
At this year’s Lance Memorial Day celebrations, Wizard Ralph performed excellently in the ’Rainbow Ring’ Bloodline Modulation contest, winning the crown with nearly perfect skills. According to descriptions from onlookers, the bloodline potion he modulated reached the legendary ’Rainbow-level’ effect, a first in the history of the contest...
In addition, Wizard Ralph has also achieved remarkable results in academic research. His paper on the ’Mobile Simulation Battle Device’ was evaluated as an outstanding achievement of the year by the academic review committee, earning over 1200 academic contribution points. The innovative concepts proposed in this paper are believed to have the potential to completely change the way wizards train...
According to internal sources from the Crystal Tower, Wizard Ralph currently holds a position as a Teaching Assistant, and his courses on Magic Potion Making and Bloodline Modulation are very popular among students. Even some senior lecturers would attend as auditors. Students unanimously consider his teaching methods to be ingeniously unique, capable of making the most complex theories simple and understandable...
Most notably, reliable sources reveal that Wizard Ralph has also established a master-student relationship with Princess Eve of the Crown Clan. A mentor recognized by the crown bloodline surely speaks volumes about his academic standing and personal charisma...
The more Lilia read, the more amazed she became, and the brighter the light in her eyes grew. Each achievement filled her with genuine pride and joy, as if she had a share in these honors.
When she read about him becoming the mentor of Princess Eve, a wave of complicated emotions surged in her heart. She felt proud of Ron for gaining such a noble student’s recognition, yet there was an indescribable hint of loss.
"Treasure-level..."
She softly repeated the term, her voice trembling with disbelief:
"A genius ranked in the top five hundred in the entire wizard history... Master Ron, he..."
Her words gradually choked, and the facade of coldness she had struggled to maintain completely shattered at this moment. The once little girl who adored her master re-emerged, her eyes filled with innocent admiration and deep longing.