Upon his return to the magic abode, before Daof could convey his fruitless endeavors, Glen apprised him of a piece of news that instilled a profound sense of lingering dread.

"You mean those three scoundrels had been lying in ambush outside my magic protection array?!"

Beads of cold sweat trickled down Daof's forehead.

He dared not fathom the dire consequences had it not been Glen who ventured out, but rather any of the other apprentices within the magic house.

It would have been a nightmare that haunted him incessantly, for these were the children he had nurtured with his own hands.

At the thought of this, his gaze upon Glen was suffused with profound gratitude.

"Indeed, they were hideous in appearance, each uglier than the last, spouting threats of torturing me and exacting revenge on you. Thus, I dispatched them in rather ruthless fashion," Glen recounted.

"You've accomplished a deed for which I am deeply indebted, my child. Truly, I am most grateful," Daof declared with great solemnity.

"There's no need for such formality. It was my duty. Even if I'd encountered them elsewhere, I would not have shown mercy, let alone when they endangered the safety of our classmates," Glen offered a smile to his mentor.

At this, Daof, too, smiled amicably. "You are a most endearing child. I seem to grasp why Legira holds you in such high esteem. Perhaps in the future..."

He trailed off, leaving his words hanging. "It is yet too soon. Certain matters ought not to befall you."

Glen was piqued by these words. After a moment's contemplation, he spoke,

"I can discern that the Black Raven couple is withholding much from me. Nevertheless, I shall refrain from prying. Should they require my aid someday, I shall not stand idly by."

Daof smiled, shaking his head. "To be honest, I am also in the dark. I once inquired of them, and Legira merely stated it was a mission, one they were destined to shoulder. They failed once, and after narrowly escaping, they are preparing to attempt again. Beyond that, they divulged nothing further."

It was indeed a matter of great intrigue, yet with scarce information at present, and given the likelihood that the Black Raven couple would remain tight - lipped if questioned, Glen decided there was no haste. Time would surely reveal all... Having resolved this in his mind, Glen ceased dwelling on the matter and instead inquired,

"Incidentally, when I dealt with those three dark mages, I neglected to inquire about their origins. Since they are your adversaries, you must be acquainted with them, no?"

A hint of chagrin crossed Daof's features. "This transpired over a decade ago. These three dark mages were erstwhile denizens of the royal capital and members of an organization known as the Dark Mage Alliance.

"Subsequently, for reasons unbeknownst, they clashed with their fellow members. During their skirmish, I happened upon them. One faction fled, and I pursued only those three relentlessly.

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"One must understand the countless tragedies that fourth - level dark mages of their ilk can perpetrate in a single year. Thus, allowing them to escape alive was out of the question.

"However, I was unaware that they had pre - arranged an evil sacrificial formation in a nearby village. I was compelled to divert my efforts to dispel the formation first, and naturally, the three managed to elude capture.

"I dealt them a severe blow, yet never anticipated that they would dare seek retribution against me. I should have doggedly pursued their trail at that time. Perhaps this harrowing incident could have been averted."

Upon hearing this, Glen offered words of solace. "At the very least, no tragedy unfolded. You averted a calamity. In my homeland, there is a saying: virtue begets its own reward. Perhaps it was your benevolent act on that day that thwarted their scheme this time."

Daof smiled. "That saying from your homeland is indeed consoling. However, fate is the most inscrutable of all things. Countless great mages, from antiquity to the present, have endeavored to fathom it, yet all to no avail."

Observing that Daof seemed much improved, Glen posed another question. "You mentioned earlier that they had set up a sacrificial formation prior to your pursuit. Do you know what their objective was? I surmise their initial intent was not to menace you."

"Indeed," Daof nodded. "Their original plan was to sacrifice the entire village to a demon, borrowing its power to eliminate their adversaries. Collaboration between dark mages and malevolent demons is a rather common occurrence."

The two engaged in a discussion regarding demons and dark mages for a while before finally turning their attention to the fruits of Daof's journey to the royal capital.

Upon learning that Daof had unearthed no useful information, Glen was not unduly surprised. This matter had always been enigmatic to him, and any outcome was plausible.

However, when Glen informed Daof of his inability to enter deep meditation, the latter furrowed his brow once more.

This was yet another matter of great concern, yet one that offered no avenue for exploration.

Daof, it seemed, remained resolute in his quest to unravel these mysteries. After examining Glen's assignments, he sequestered himself within the research chamber.

Perhaps in his view, having assumed the role of Glen's mentor, it was incumbent upon him to forestall any potential perils that might befall his apprentice in the future.

Glen could offer little in the way of dissuasion. From their relatively brief acquaintance, he had discerned that Daof was rather obstinate in certain regards.

Nonetheless, despite being ensnared in these conundrums, Daof did not neglect to provide guidance to Glen.

He had once remarked that Glen was the most gifted apprentice he had ever tutored, and this was beyond doubt.

For Daof did not select his apprentices based on talent, wealth, or social standing, as did other mages. With the exception of Glen, the apprentices he took under his wing were all orphans he had adopted.

Their talents varied considerably.

Yet, such an erudite elder commanded Glen's utmost respect. Indeed, those who could befriend Legira were of a similar ilk.

On one occasion, after Daof had concluded his instruction of Glen, the latter suddenly recollected something and said,

"Teacher, I've noticed that Lucas and the others seem to lack genuine experience. Should they venture out into the world in the future, they will surely be at a disadvantage."

Daof merely waved his hand dismissively. "I am aware. I have no intention of allowing them to embark on such a journey."

Glen was taken aback. "You mean to shelter them indefinitely?"

"Rather, to safeguard them always, Glen. You must understand that becoming an extraordinary being is not without its perils. Should one fail to attain a certain level of proficiency, the outside world can prove exceedingly dangerous. Such was the case with my first three apprentices. Only after I permitted them to seek their fortunes did I realize the folly of my decision."

Daof's voice grew slightly hoarse towards the end.

From this change in tone, Glen could surmise that the fates of those three apprentices were not auspicious.

Sure enough, he heard Daof continue, "Those three children were not lacking in experience, yet they ultimately suffered grievous harm. Joniver was seized by dark mages and transformed into a puppet. Barker vanished without a trace. Only Kumi's survival can be confirmed, though he has become a disabled commoner. With my assistance, he is faring better now."