The Mage Guild.

Senior Mage Fueller held a stack of manuscripts, flipping through them page by page.

As head of the thesis review department, he did not usually need to personally review common spellcraft theses. But for a thesis by a 12-star mage, he had to step in.

Glancing at the title, he skipped past it and went directly to the outline.

After a few glances, a smile emerged as the wrinkles around his eyes creased.

"Miss Celandine, what prompted your sudden interest in researching low-level, low-star spells?"

Researching 7-star or 8-star, even 10-star spells would be more fitting for a 12-star mage.

Such a low-level thesis could be reviewed by his aides. Why bother him with it?

Celandine, sitting nearby, gestured for Rosen to put down the apparatus while explaining, "These repetitive low-star spells are meaningless by themselves, but what if this spell was the seed of a great World Tree?"

"Hmm... quite the glowing review. Let me take a closer look."

Fueller put on his reading glasses and started reading closely.

As he read on, his brow gradually furrowed into a frown.

"The redefinition of force, method of action, and redefinition of gravity... This is gravitation spellcraft."

Gravitation spells were an obscure niche with few associated spells.

Because gravity was intangible and invisible, it was difficult to visualize concretely.

Its only apparent function was making things fall.

Yet this thesis seemed to find true knowledge amidst the chaos.

"Hmm... Interesting, very interesting!"

With a thought, the mage conjured a cup of tea, floating it to his mouth. But his eyes never left the manuscript.

After a few more glances, he seemed to recall something. "Miss Celandine, please find a seat with your apprentice and make yourselves comfortable."

He paused, then called to his aide, "Aldrich! Entertain our guests properly!"

Having said that, his attention returned fully to the thesis.

While he reviewed, Celandine and Rosen quietly waited nearby.

What the reviewers didn't know was that a carriage had just stopped in the guild's backyard.

An old woman in a deep red gown stepped out.

Chairman Ferron personally welcomed her at the back door with a bow, "Lady Omiccia, I pay my respects."

It was none other than Silvermoon City's sole arcane master and lord, Archmage Sophia de Omiccia.

She briefly nodded and said, "Let's talk in your study."

Heading towards the backyard stairs, she went ahead as Ferron followed behind, complaining softly, "My lady, if you have business, just send word. No need for a personal visit."

But Lady Omiccia dispensed with pleasantries, enveloping Ferron in a personal barrier. She got straight to the point:

"The mines at Moonlight Town have been unable to fully recover, and things are deteriorating. My investigative envoys there were also ineffective."

"Just days ago, your actions led to Baron Philippin's daughter's death, displeasing him and making him more reluctant to resolve things!"

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At this, the Countess glared angrily at Ferron.

"I know you didn't want her facing the Cathedral's Soul Inquisition, but wrong is wrong. It was a good hand, ruined by your mercy!"

Ferron looked distressed and quickly apologized.

"My lady, it wasn't just mercy. Veronica intended to commit murder amidst the chaos. I was anxious and lost restraint."

The Countess waved her hand dismissively. "Be that as it may, it's done. We should make amends now."

By now, they had reached Ferron's office.

Although it was his room, facing the city's lord, he did not dare sit in the main seat. And the Countess could not sit comfortably in her formal attire.

So they continued standing as they talked.

"The luminite issue has dragged on, yet the envoys from Icy Peak insistently urge action. We can still fill the gap with reserves for now, but time is short."

Looking at Ferron, she said, "You made the mistake, so you should make amends. Send capable mages to Moonlight Town for investigation."

Ferron smiled bitterly. "My lady, Silvermoon's mages are familiar faces. If I send them, the Baron will recognize them immediately."

"Though he's my good friend, his temperament has grown increasingly eccentric these past years. We haven't had contact for at least two years now."

Seeing the Countess' displeasure, Ferron's bitter smile turned helpless.

"Alright, I'll swallow my pride and personally visit Moonlight Town, to plead with the Baron. Hopefully he'll accommodate me for old times' sake and cooperate smoothly to resolve the mines issue."

Satisfied with the answer, the Countess' expression finally softened.

She sighed lightly. "I know this puts you in an awkward position, but the pressure on me is also tremendous. The Duke's envoys come in waves to collect resources."

"Yellowwater Heights may not seem big, but it's not small either. Piles of issues in Silvermoon City and the other towns require my mediation. I don't have time or energy to constantly oversee that little Moonlight Town!"

Seeing her vent her troubles, Ferron softly replied, "Don't overexert yourself, my lady. Mind your health."

"I'd like to, but few can share my burdens."

Feeling stifled, the Countess walked to the window and opened it, deeply inhaling the frigid air.

The icy wind rushed sharply into her nostrils and lungs, stimulating her spirit.

"You know, Wizard Ferron, I didn't need to come personally, but I did. Aside from persuading your aid, I also hoped for some fresh air."

"To me, that coveted Moon Garden feels more like a gilded cage built by power and glory."

Ferron sighed lightly, "My lady, if you feel overwhelmed, why not set down these heavy burdens?"

The Countess gave a bitter smile. "Volpos is still too green. He may be capable at war, but governing Silvermoon requires much more."

Just then, abnormal noises came from the backyard. The Countess glanced down and saw mages leaving by the back door, heading towards the training grounds. She quickly recognized the one leading them. "Ha, Fueller is still so vigorous."

Hearing the commotion, Ferron also observed the backyard.

After a few glances, he laughed and said, "Celandine and her little apprentice, how amusing."

The Countess' eyes lit up with interest. "I remember Celandine, a mad but genius mage, though very aloof."

Ferron explained, "There is some madness, but still controllable. And we must admit, she has outstanding talents."

"As for her new apprentice, I don't know where she found him. Quite interesting - just lowborn with late awakening, so future achievements will be limited."

"A lowborn apprentice who caught the aloof woman mage's eye must be quite clever then?"

Ferron nodded. "Not just quite clever, but extremely so and precocious... It looks like they're about to demonstrate a new spell."

All mages were interested in new spells.

So they stopped talking and observed the grounds.

They had assumed Celandine would demonstrate it, but surprisingly, it was her apprentice who finally stood in the arena.

"A spell that even an apprentice can demonstrate, yet it drew Fueller himself to review. How amusing!"

A rare relaxed smile emerged on the Countess' face.

She forgot about the power struggles and trivial matters, purely watching as an elder.

She took an immediate liking to the lad, as he reminded her of her past apprentice self.

So she paid even closer attention.

Just then, the demonstration began.

A moment ago, the skinny and diminutive youth stood inconspicuously. But in a flash, his figure became extremely blurry.

'Whoosh~~'

A gust of wind spread in all directions.

The blurry silhouette halted for an instant in clarity, but he had already appeared eight meters away.

Before fully clarifying again, he blurred and emerged elsewhere. His silhouette paused, flashed, paused, flashed.

In under two seconds, moving at high speeds six times, traversing 48 meters, his movement neatly traced a hexagon back to the origin.

He was not short of breath or disheveled, as if he had just strolled instead of moving at high speeds.

The observing mages unconsciously opened their mouths.

A few seconds later, they finally regained their wits and applauded enthusiastically with admiration.

In the third floor room, the Countess and Chairman also struggled to maintain composure.

The Countess exclaimed, "An apprentice-level acceleration spell implies low star level, but such fast speed with almost no side effects?!"

She had seen much faster mage accelerations, but the lowest were intermediate with inevitable dizziness and dishevelment, even incapacitation.

Yet this acceleration spell was different. She could clearly see the apprentice just standing there, easily completing six directional bursts without even changing face direction.

This shattered her past understandings of acceleration spells.

Ferron laughed and clapped. "It appears our genius Miss Celandine has created another formidable spell."

Such an ingenious spell could only have come from Celandine's hand, not her apprentice's.