Chapter 907: Mantle of Pride

“So, did you two have fun traveling?” Adam gazed at his students with a faint smile.

The group was sitting by the pond, right behind the patch of white daffodils. The light of the twin moons caused the pond’s surface to glitter, creating a mystical atmosphere.

“Yes, mentor!” Aiden nodded with a grin. “I got to meet many people and experience all kinds of things.”

“Good.” Adam nodded, gratified.

Taking a light sip from his flat cup—which he always preferred over a goblet—he turned to Arthur and asked, “What about you, Art? How were your travels?”

“…It was alright, mentor.” Arthur forced a smile.

Adam scoffed. “That means it definitely ‘wasn’t’ alright. Quick, spit it out.”

Arthur’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He turned to his friend, Aiden, who was gazing at him with amusement.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and truthfully answered, “I was stuck… for most of my travels.”

“Stuck?” Edward arched an eyebrow. “Like… struck on a tree? Or what?”

Arthur felt even more embarrassed. He spoke in a hushed voice. “In a cave.”

“In a what?” Adam asked again, a slight frown on his face.

“In a cave!” Arthur repeated. Then, he finished the entire wine in his goblet as if wanting to drown his embarrassment.

Beside him, Aiden couldn’t stop laughing.

Adam turned to him and asked with a puzzled expression. “What is he talking about? Did he get stuck in a cave… for years?”

“It appears so, mentor.” Aiden chuckled.

“Let me clarify.” Arthur cleared his throat, interjecting. “It was a rainy day, and I was a victim of a landslide. When I woke up, I found myself trapped in a cage. Left with no way out, I could only venture further in.”

Everybody, except Aiden, paid attention to his story.

“So I kept digging and digging until I found myself in a sprawling catacomb!” Arthur’s eyes shone with wonder as he recounted his journey.

Of course, he concealed all the embarrassing parts.

“I spent a long time there, and found information regarding an ancient city from thousands of years ago!”

He paused for effect, letting slight suspense hang in the air, before continuing, “Thankfully, there were several beasts down there, as well as a source of fresh water. That’s how I managed to survive for two whole years down there.”

Adam arched his brows. “Not bad, Art.”

He paused, gazing at his reflection on the surface of the wine in his cup. “It’s very important for a Magus to be resourceful,” he said, his voice calm yet firm.

Recalling something, he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “Most kids these days don’t even know how to make fire without casting a spell.”

He turned to his two students and asked, “What are you gonna do if one day you’re unable to use spells?”

Aiden and Arthur exchanged glances. Then, the former turned to Adam and muttered softly, “The day we are unable to cast spells… won’t that be the day we stop becoming Magi?”

Adam deeply looked at his students. Then, he turned towards the reflection of the twin moons on the pond’s surface.

“I wonder…” he murmured. “Is it spells that define a Magus? Or is there something beyond… something that makes us more than mere model components?

A brief silence descended over the group. Daryl, who had been silently listening to Adam all this while, couldn’t help but think to himself.

Has he always been so philosophical? Or is he… just drunk?

The people around Adam didn’t know why he said those words. In fact, even Adam didn’t know why he had said those words.

Was it a question directed at his students?

Or to himself?

He didn’t know…

Strange, thought the raven-haired youth.

The next moment, he retrieved two rolled parchments from his earrings and tossed them at his students.

“Here,” he said with a light smirk. “Make good use of it.”

The pair grasped the parchments from the air. Upon unfurling it, they found that it was a map carved on a beast’s hide.

As they studied the markings on the map, their eyes gradually widened with realization.

“Mentor, this…” Aiden found it difficult to form words. “Is this what I think it is?!”

Arthur blurted out, “A map of the Murky Mountains!”

Edward was stunned. “How did you come across that map?!”

Meanwhile, Daryly remained passive. He didn’t know how dangerous these treacherous lands were considered in Uriel, after all.

Adam turned to his childhood friend and spoke nonchalantly, “I made it. I traveled to the Federation a year ago. Then crossed the Murky Mountains on my way back.”

He took a sip from the flat cup, then turned his attention towards his students. “Head to the Murky Mountains and stay there for a couple of months. Or a year, if you like. You’ll learn a lot of things.”

Adam paused, taking another sip. His lips slowly formed a grin. “I assure you, by the time you step out of those treacherous jungles, you will be far stronger than you have ever imagined.”

His students intently stared at the maps, fire blazing in their eyes. They knew that if they had to get stronger, they couldn’t do so by just staying around in one place.

They had to travel, gain experiences, confront obstacles, and overcome them.

Only then would they be able to grow as a person… as a Magus!

“Yes, mentor!” The two replied simultaneously, their tone laced with eagerness.

“What’s in the Murky Mountains?” Daryl couldn’t contain his curiosity and finally asked.

Adam turned to him and chuckled. “It’s like the smaller version of the Mabi Continent.”

Daryl was speechless. “And you’re… sending your students there?”

Inwardly, he asked a different question.

Are you stupid?

Adam lifted his chin and spoke arrogantly, “If they can’t even handle mere monsters and beasts of the Murky Mountains, they have no right to call themselves the Dark King’s students.”

Daryl suddenly felt goosebumps all over his skin. He had to admit… the Dark King wore the mantle of pride quite confidently.

Meanwhile, Arthur and Aiden’s eyes blazed with even more intense fighting spirit.

Adam turned to Edward, who was silently sitting and absentmindedly swirling the wine in the goblet.

“Fatty,” he called out.

“What is it?” Edward arched an eyebrow.

Adam smiled gently.

“Let’s take a walk.”