Chapter 256: 007: Strive

The Shadow Tower, Grand Lecture Hall, First Lesson.

Today marked the first magical course for the new batch of apprentices who had arrived in the Wizard World. In this novel and unfamiliar realm, the apprentices were brimming with curiosity about everything, arriving early to secure their seats in the lecture hall. The large classroom was packed to the brim.

After the bell tolled, the sound of footsteps echoed. Soon after, a middle-aged man clad in a cloak entered the classroom. His expression was stern, devoid of humor, and rigidly formal.

The chattering apprentices fell silent in unison, and the classroom was instantly enveloped in somber quiet.

The wizard raised his hand, and with a sudden “boom!”, a flame ignited in his palm. This miraculous display caused an uproar in the classroom.

“Wow!”

“Magic, it’s magic!”

The children’s eyes widened in astonishment, their excitement for this new world growing even stronger.

After the flame dissipated, a piece of chalk appeared in the wizard’s hand. He held it and moved to the blackboard at the back of the classroom, where he drew an oval shape. Then, with a gentle blow towards the oval shape, the design began to transform and depict an image on its own.

In a matter of moments, a picture appeared on the blackboard. It resembled a certain type of plant, irregularly oval-shaped, somewhat akin to a potato.

The wizard turned to the children behind him and asked, “Does anyone know what this is?”

“A potato!”

“A yam!”

“A squash!”

Answers came flooding in from the children.

The wizard shook his head. “None of these.”

After a brief pause, he provided the answer: “This is a type of magic plant that grows in the Wizard World. I need you all to remember it well—the name, and everything associated with it. Start by remembering its name: it’s called—”

After a slight pause, the wizard continued, “Muggle!”

“Muggle?”

“What a strange name!”

“Is it edible?”

At this moment, the apprentices in the room still hadn’t grasped how this unfamiliar term would resonate in their lives. Their wide, innocent eyes were filled with curiosity.

The wizard went on, “Next, I will explain the first and most important trait of this magic plant. Listen closely.”

“We have conducted extensive studies on Muggle plants, provided them with valuable resources for growth, and created indulgent elemental environments to nurture them. After repetitive trials and continuous research, we’ve arrived at this conclusion—”

“No matter how precious the resources we give to Muggles, in the end, the only thing we can grow is a stronger Muggle, not any other type of magic plant.”

“A Muggle is always a Muggle. Showering it with rare resources won’t grow a Dragon Tongue Fruit.”

The apprentices were partially able to grasp this concept, but they dutifully etched the wizard’s words into their minds, deeply engraving them into their souls.

After a brief pause, the wizard transitioned into today’s theme: “The same effect is widespread in the Wizard World. A Fire Dragon Lizard nurtured the best it could still remains a Fire Dragon Lizard; a Big Eating Flower will never bloom into Sunset Grass; the offspring of a dog can only be a dog, the progeny of a rat can only be a rat.”

“Everything is determined by destiny. From the very beginning, fate is predestined. It does not permit change, nor can it be changed.”

“Remember destiny, accept destiny!”

“This is the lesson I must teach you today. It is the first rule you must learn upon entering this world!”

The wizard declared.

…

White Castle, the Tavendish Family Council.

After Avery finished explaining her “personal matter” and simultaneously put forth her demands…

The vast council chamber fell silent for a fleeting moment, then…

“Are you mad?”

“Do you understand what you’re saying, Avery?”

“You’re saying you want to marry…”

“A Muggle?”

The elders of the Tavendish family were utterly stunned, as if their ears had deceived them. The family’s purest-blooded lady, the heir to the next generation of the family, had just stated that she intended to enter into a legitimate marriage with a Muggle?

Insanity, surely!

Avery frowned.

Although she had anticipated that this would not proceed smoothly, the overwhelming tide of objections still weighed heavily on her like a mountain.

But she did not back down. Instead, she took a deep breath and firmly stated, “I am not discussing this with you. My marriage is my own personal matter. Whomever I choose to marry—no one can…”

“Are you mad?”

Before she could finish, an elder sitting on one side interrupted her. It was the chief elder, Landot.

Landot spoke bluntly: “There is no negotiation on this matter. We won’t interfere with who you feel affection for or share a bed with, but marriage? Absolutely not.”

After a pause, he added, “It’s not just because of the family’s high expectations for you. Even if you had failed in the initial competition, it would still be impossible. Marriages must occur between individuals of equivalent status—that is a decision set in stone, destined from the start.”

“Exactly!”

“How could a Muggle possibly marry the pure heir of the Tavendish family?”

“Is marrying a half-blood girl from below not a viable solution?”

Avery’s face turned slightly pale.

But soon, she steadied herself and asked coldly, “Why? Just because he’s a Muggle?”

Landot nodded. “Yes, a Muggle is just a Muggle. This is the ironclad rule we have established from the very beginning that sustains the highest order of this land.”

These were the words Avery had been waiting for.

She sneered, “Fine, fine, fine! By your logic, then why don’t you go drag the person at the top of the Shadow Tower down this instant? What’s his lineage? What’s his identity? Just a mere Muggle daring to stand at that peak—truly audacious!”

She leaned against the table, glaring at everyone, “Go on then! Go question his lineage! Why haven’t any of you confronted him about his background?”

Landot’s face stiffened.

The elders exchanged glances and furrowed their brows, rendered speechless under her sharp rebuke.

Having reached this point, Avery had already decided to go all in. Crossing her arms, she resolutely stated, “Since I’m standing here today, I will achieve my goal. Whether you agree or not, I will make sure you agree.”

After a pause, she added, “I’m fully acting within the parameters of the rules. If the one at the top of the Tower is allowed to stand there, then my marriage is absolutely legitimate!”

Landot frowned. “Why are you so hell-bent?”

He sighed, “This is just a mere ceremony. None of us will interfere with your private life. Why not keep him as a lover by your side?”

“Moreover, we can guarantee that before he dies, no one will force you into a union with anyone else. You can live together, even bring him into the family, or keep him close—it is all acceptable to us.”

“Is it really necessary to break the rules just for the sake of a ceremony?”

Avery shook her head firmly. “It’s absolutely necessary!”

With this marriage, Lynch would gain legitimate status, be able to share rights according to the rules, and—most importantly—

He would be eligible to advance to Second Tier!

The lifespan of a wizard at their current level extends only to five hundred years, whereas Second Tier beings can live for fifteen hundred years and beyond. If Lynch fails to achieve Second Tier qualifications, his life will end after a few centuries. Who, then, will accompany Avery through the remaining thousand years of her existence?

A ticket to Second Tier.

That was the real prize Avery was striving to secure for Lynch, even at the cost of clashing openly with her family.

Landot declared firmly, “This is impossible!”

Avery stood her ground. “Then let’s remain in deadlock!”

Landot burst out, “You…”

The back-and-forth verbal exchanges escalated in intensity, with neither side willing to budge. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and the expressions on everyone’s faces darkened by the minute.

Suddenly, in a timely distraction—

“Knock knock knock!” A series of knocks echoed from the door.

The conference room doors slowly opened, and a young man stepped inside. Appearing to be in his twenties, his cloak bore leaf patterns with the emblem of a snake coiled around a cross prominently displayed on the back.

The young man announced, “Apologies, everyone. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Judge had to personally attend to an urgent matter, so I’ve been sent to participate in the family council on their behalf.”

This was Kevin Tavendish, the Inheritance Apprentice of Green Wizard Calvin.

The noisy conference halted immediately.

“Kevin!”

“Wizard Kevin.”

Kevin essentially served as Wizard Calvin’s spokesperson, and his presence undoubtedly represented the will of the Tavendish family’s most significant backing. His arrival here clearly indicated Calvin’s stance on the matter.

But given the intensity of the conflict, Avery remained unaffected. Whether Kevin or Calvin himself appeared, her stance could not be changed.

Landot immediately spoke up, “Kevin, you’ve arrived at just the right time. Avery has lost her mind; please help us bring her back to reason!”

Wizard Kevin nodded. “My mentor is already aware of Miss Avery’s intentions.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “The reason my mentor sent me is to propose a compromise. First, he supports Miss Avery’s claim in principle.”

Avery’s lips curled slightly into a smirk.

“What?”

“Impossible! How could…”

Landot was visibly shaken, saying in disbelief, “Kevin, do you know what you’re saying? This is…”

Kevin interrupted, “Allow me to finish, Wizard Landot.”

After a short pause, he turned to Avery and continued, “But there is one condition.”

Avery’s heart tightened slightly.

Yet she responded promptly, “Go ahead. As long as it’s not unreasonable, I’ll accept no matter how difficult the task.”

Kevin nodded.

After a pause, he articulated, “My mentor’s condition is that the young man must advance to the level of Mid-level Wizard within one hundred years. The Tavendish family does not accommodate incompetence. Besides, if he can’t achieve this, then this marriage you long for would hold no value, would it?”

If he could not advance to Mid-level Wizard within a century, then the chances of him reaching High-level Wizard or even Second Tier down the line would be slim to none, which would make continuing this argument meaningless.

Landot frowned as if about to object. Suddenly, however, something came to his mind, prompting him to fall silent.

Avery’s smile grew triumphant. Lynch’s achievement of Wizard rank within just over a decade had already proven his superior talent. With her full backing of resources, advancing to Mid-level Wizard would be effortless.

She nodded firmly, “I agree!”

Landot scoffed, “Since this is Wizard Calvin’s will, I have no grounds to oppose it.”

…

Just shortly before this council convened, somewhere far removed from the Shadow Land and situated in the Human World—a forest chosen by Lynch as his site for advancement.

Suddenly, Lynch opened his eyes.

At the same time, an aura of high-level life far beyond ordinary beings naturally spread outward.

Across his data panel, a line of figures flashed briefly.

[Deep Meditation LV2].

Through years of effort, Lynch had finally taken another step forward along the Wizard’s Road.

Promotion: Second Tier.

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