He estimated the progress in his mind:
"Once the Scholar Star is lit up, my learning efficiency will leap qualitatively.
At that point, whether it’s theoretical research or skill cultivation, both can advance at a faster pace."
More importantly, lighting up the Scholar Star will bring him one step closer to a complete Wisdom Constellation.
According to the records in "Star Eater’s Ravings":
When the Hermit Star, Scholar Star, and Observer Star form a Three-Star line, it will create a complete "Wisdom Triangle," echoing each other, with the Hermit Star at its core for amplifying abilities.
At that time, what he obtains will not just be the special abilities of a single star, but a constellation-level amplification of wisdom.
......
The next morning, Ron was sorting through the Otherworld technology documentation provided by Cassandra.
The Tri-Element Communication Crystal placed at the corner of the table suddenly lit up autonomously.
The flickering blue light appeared particularly striking in the morning light, indicating that someone was actively calling him.
"Lady Allen?"
He was somewhat surprised.
According to past conventions, he was always the one to initiate contact with the master, rarely did Lady Allen initiate communication.
When the elderly lady’s face appeared in the projection, Ron immediately noticed the abnormality in her expression.
There were slight red marks at the corners of her eyes, clearly she hadn’t slept well the previous night.
"Ron, I think we need to have a candid conversation."
Lady Allen’s voice was much lower than usual, mixed with a rare tremble:
"Regarding some of my choices, I feel you have the right to know the whole truth."
She took a deep breath, as if preparing herself mentally for what she was about to say:
"Just like I said last night, I have concealed too much from you, and this deception is causing me an increasingly heavy guilt."
Ron maintained a quiet listening posture:
"Back then, when I chose to pass on ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ to you, it wasn’t entirely because I appreciated your talent and character."
Lady Allen looked straight into Ron’s eyes, her voice carrying deep apology:
"Though these indeed were important factors, there was an even more crucial reason, Cassandra needed a counterbalance."
"Both Cassandra and I were students of Master Yuter, we were once close like sisters."
Lady Allen’s voice became ethereal, as if reminiscing distant memories:
"But when she began cultivating ’Star Eater’s Ravings’, I could clearly sense her transformation.
That desire for conquest and devouring, was slowly eroding her originally gentle character."
She paused briefly, pain flashed in her eyes:
"More complexly, when I failed in advancing to the Dark Sun Level, it was Cassandra who helped me through the hardest times.
She offered me precious healing rituals, arranged a comfortable recuperation environment, even took on most of my medical expenses."
"She even once said to me..."
Lady Allen’s voice grew weaker:
"’Allen, you’ll stand up again one day.
I’ve seen your future, you will nurture a student powerful enough to change the world. And this student will be the hope of our entire civilization.’"
Ron’s pupils slightly contracted.
This didn’t seem like simple words of comfort, more like some kind of prophecy or carefully designed hint.
With Cassandra’s wisdom and means, she had enough ability to influence others’ choices through seemingly casual words.
"So, when I met you..."
Lady Allen’s voice almost turned into a whisper:
"I truly thought this was fate’s arrangement, thought Cassandra’s ’prophecy’ was coming true.
I chose to pass on Cassandra’s long-prepared ’Star Eater’s Ravings’ to you, partly influenced by her words, and partly hoping to repay what I owed her."
"But as time went on, I began to realize maybe from the very start this was her carefully designed trap."
Deep fear flashed in the old lady’s eyes:
"She might have foreseen our meeting long ago, knowing what choices I would make. And I was just a piece on her chessboard."
This possibility sent unprecedented chills through Ron.
If Lady Allen’s speculations were correct, it meant his entire growth trajectory was within her calculations.
From initially meeting Lady Allen, to obtaining the Meditation Technique, and entering the Central Lands, every step might have been proceeding according to her script.
"Even more terrifying is, I’m starting to doubt whether my feelings for you were influenced by her."
Lady Allen’s voice carried a tremble:
"As a master, my concern and guidance for you should be genuine.
But now I can no longer distinguish if these feelings come from the heart or were guided by some sort of suggestion."
The room plunged into a long silence.
Ron gazed at the elderly lady’s old and painful face in the projection, complex emotions surged within him.
Anger, disappointment, sympathy, and a deep sense of powerlessness.
In this Wizard’s world, even seemingly sincere relationships might be manipulated by the will of those in power.
And those pawns like them, cannot even be certain if their emotions and choices are real.
"Madam."
Ron finally spoke, his voice unnervingly calm:
"Why are you telling me this now, what do you want?"
"I want liberation."
Lady Allen answered directly, her eyes revealing near-desperate light:
"Not just for myself, but for you.
If our mentor-student relationship truly is the product of manipulation, continuing it will only trap us deeper, unable to extricate."
She took a deep breath and made a difficult decision:
"So, I’m willing to proactively sever the Favor link between us once you ascend to Dark Sun Level.
This way, regardless of what happened before, at least your future won’t be influenced by me."
Hearing this proposal, Ron’s emotions became more complex.
Lady Allen’s honesty truly surprised him.
But in this world full of intrigue and manipulation, even honesty could be another form of chess game.
"I understand your choice, Madam."
He finally said calmly, his tone neither angry nor overly forgiving:
"At least you are willing to tell me the truth, which is better than remaining in the dark."
But deep within, Ron started reexamining his entire life trajectory.
If even his starting point might have been designed, what choices truly belong to him?
This thought induced deep fear in him, not of death, but the fear of his free will being stripped away.
"Perhaps this is the essence of this world."
He coolly analyzed in his heart:
"In the face of absolute power, so-called free choice is merely an illusion.
True powers can not only control the present, but also design the future, making the pawns believe they are making choices, when in fact they are merely acting according to a set script."
This realization intensified Ron’s desire for power.
Only when he’s strong enough can he break free from this controlled fate, can he truly master his own life.
And before that, he must carefully survive in this dangerous chess game.
Accumulating power while finding breakthroughs of opportunity.
After the communication ended, Ron sat alone in the study, gazing out at the towering spires of the Central Lands outside the window.
Those buildings symbolizing power and knowledge appear so magnificent in the morning light, but now to his eyes they bear a sinister hue.
Every tower might conceal countless secrets and schemes; every seemingly chance encounter might be a meticulously designed game.
In this world full of manipulation and calculation, he must learn to view everything with a colder eye.