Erica had started preparing everything early.

In recent days, she had been learning about the northern frontier of the empire.

There were two relatively powerful forces in the empire's northern frontier. One was the Delin family, a knightly house guarding the northern border.

The other was a group of mages and magicians called the 'Pale Mage Association'.

The Mage Association's territory lay further north compared to the Delin family's lands.

That area already belonged to the extreme northern ice fields, a land of bitter cold.

The land was covered by snow year-round, and deep inside lived a group of barbarian humans who were unafraid of the severe cold.

These barbarians, with physical qualities far superior to ordinary people, were called 'Beasts'.

The 'Beasts' often invaded the empire's territory, burning, killing, and looting the villages and towns on the edge, committing all manner of atrocities.

Thus, the empire's northern frontier defense policy was aimed at these barbarians.

And Erica was heading to the mage alliance in the northernmost part, near the extreme northern snow fields.

She would undergo two months of training there.

"Are you ready, Erica?" her father's voice sounded from outside the door, and Erica hurriedly replied.

"Yes, father."

Erica had prepared everything.

In the last illusion, she had challenged Viktor.

Viktor's earth-shattering magical power didn't plunge Erica into prolonged depression and despair. Instead, it sparked more competitiveness and aspiration within her.

She was more eager than ever to become a powerful mage like Professor Viktor.

"I can set off now."

......

Erica, wearing a cloak and riding a steed, carrying a heavy pack on her back, followed in the midst of the magician squad.

The orderly magician army rode horses, surrounding Erica in a circle, slowly moving northward.

Dozens of magicians, all with extraordinary strength, surrounded her. Erica only needed to follow these experienced magicians to reach the Pale Mage Association.

Even taking a shortcut, they still needed to trek nearly a thousand kilometers.

So they had to ride hard and fast.

The harsh terrain of the shortcut wouldn't allow Erica to sit comfortably in a carriage like a lady.

So, Erica learned to ride a horse.

Actually, it was very simple for this genius.

Duke Levi didn't come to see Erica off. This departure and journey were also a challenge for Erica.

Although protected by the magician corps, Erica wouldn't be in danger, but coping with the harsh environment was something she needed to solve on her own.

The team slowly left the capital. After walking a hundred meters, Erica halted her horse. The team merely glanced at her and continued forward.

If this young lady regretted it now, they wouldn't indulge her either.

Erica, sitting on horseback, looked reluctantly at the familiar capital, a trace of determination and resolution flashing in her eyes.

'I will definitely become stronger.'

She turned around, put on her hood, and caught up with the team again.

Clop, clop, clop....

The chaotic hoofbeats became more and more distant, fainter and fainter, until they finally disappeared into the distant dense forest, no longer audible.

Duke Levi gazed at the distant hillside, with a group of personal guards and subordinates standing behind him.

He watched Erica's departure, with no reluctance in his eyes.

"My child, she has grown up."

He had always understood what his child needed.

With talent that exceeded ordinary people, what she had always wanted was more recognition.

So, she always tried to do things that couldn't be successful at this stage.

She wanted to gain everyone's recognition.

But this wasn't aiming too high.

"You will get your own opportunity, Obtain your own great power."

"For you, my child. I shouldn't continue to be low-key either."

Duke Levi stretched out a hand, and blue magic power began to intertwine and rotate between his wrists.

An air current gradually appeared in his palm, and under the breeze, his cloak behind him rustled.

The formation of fourth-tier magic was completed in an instant, which the mage subordinates present could see at a glance.

At this moment, Duke Levi.

Also gradually revealed his former sharpness.

.......

Viktor had long been prepared to go north, but this plan had to be put on hold for a while.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Because Gwen didn't want to go back.

Although not knowing why, Lia couldn't explain the reason why Gwen didn't want to go home.

Viktor knew that if Gwen didn't go back, then his own visit to the Delin family would be meaningless.

"So, not going?" Vega raised its head to look at Viktor.

"No. We're still going." Viktor said expressionlessly.

Vega was very confused, because according to what Viktor said, he would accept the invitation of the Delin family head completely because of Gwen.

But now it seemed that Viktor had other ideas?

This was natural, Viktor calmly explained:

"The extreme north, that's the territory of the barbarians."

"But if we go deep into the extreme north, reaching the northernmost border, there exists the place I told you about."

Vega suddenly realized.

The Inheritance Temple.

"Hoo, interesting."

"You plan to go there?"

Viktor didn't speak, but his attitude had already explained everything.

Vega pecked at its feathers and came up with an idea.

"Then why not construct a huge teleportation formation like before, and go there directly?"

"After all, you know everywhere, go there for a quick trip and come back directly, oh, it's simply a quick journey."

Viktor shook his head.

"Can't do it."

"The Inheritance Temple is a place protected by gods, those without qualifications cannot face the temple directly."

"Teleportation magic can't reach there."

Vega narrowed its eyes.

"Then how do you know if you'll have the qualifications or not?"

"It doesn't matter."

Viktor said calmly, as if his gaze had already penetrated space and seen the hidden Inheritance Temple.

"If I don't have the qualifications, then I'll forcefully make it think I do."

"I like your way of thinking."

Vega giggled and continued:

"But I hope you're not running away in panic because it's the first time a little girl confessed to you and you don't know how to react."

Viktor closed his eyes.

"Vega."

"What?"

"If you still want to cherish your feathers, I suggest you shut your mouth."

"Tch."

......

Three days later, early in the morning, Viktor walked out of the mansion.

Lia followed behind him, asking worriedly:

"You're just leaving like this? Don't you need to bring anything else?"

Viktor looked at Lia and asked back.

"What? Are you worried about me?"

"Don't misunderstand, I'm afraid my mage master will die out there, and it'll be troublesome to collect the body then."

Lia pouted, turning her head away as she spoke.

Viktor nodded, chuckling softly.

"This trip will probably take half a month before I return."

"I've asked Henie and Cocotte to take more responsibility for the mansion in the capital, you don't need to worry too much."

Lia waved her hand, hurriedly interrupting Viktor:

"I know without you telling me, alright, alright, hurry up and go."

"I need to return to the territory for a few days anyway, I don't have much time."

Viktor nodded.

"If anything happens, then."

He reached out a hand and lightly tapped on Lia's glove.

The gem of the Mage's Hand glowed slightly, and the stored magic power seemed to become more concentrated.

Inside, Viktor had replaced it with more powerful third-tier magic.

"Remember to use it."

"Then, I'll come back."

Lia withdrew her hand, examining the gems on the glove that seemed to have become brighter.

"......"

Feeling a slight ache in her nose, she shouldn't have this emotion.

After all, Viktor was only leaving for a few days.

So, she stubbornly turned her head away, no longer looking at Viktor.

"Nothing will happen."

"Don't worry."

But there was no longer Viktor's voice responding to her.

When she turned her head back to look forward, to look at the position where Viktor had just been standing.

He had already disappeared and left, in the air, there seemed to still be a faint trace of magic power.

Lia stood in place for a good while.

Only then did she seem to realize that Viktor had already left.

Turning around, she walked back towards the mansion.

......

At the crowded magic train platform, Viktor waited quietly.

It was very crowded here, not knowing whether it was because the platform was too narrow or because of the large flow of people.

The magic train, a huge vehicle driven by magic as its power source, was used to travel to other regional cities of the empire, or even leave the empire.

This behemoth was a magical device made by the mages far up in the sky of Endymion.

It was an idea proposed by a dwarf councilor, and when the idea became feasible and was put into practice, after decades of laying tracks around the world.

It finally became the most convenient means of transportation between empires now.

But this kind of thing could only be afforded by a minority, apart from long-distance travel, most people would still choose carriages as transportation.

Of course, in the game, the magic train was just a station for players to travel to other cities.

This was a relatively reasonable setting in the game, otherwise, with such a large continent, it would be too forced for players to only use teleportation formations to go to the places they wanted to go.

The magic train was a good choice.

Soon, a train slowly decelerating towards the platform appeared in the distance.

Using the power of burning magic stones as its driving force, the track transmitted vibrating sounds.

Whoosh——!

The train spewed out a thick white smoke from its top, slowly stopping in front of Viktor.

The train was all black, with countless iron wheels hidden under the huge sectional carriages, a huge chimney standing on the head of the train, and red doors dividing the train into sections.

People seeing this kind of beast for the first time would inevitably think it was a giant snake that could devour heaven and earth.

The ticket Viktor had booked was for the first-class carriage of this express train.

He was just about to step onto the train when a familiar voice came from behind.

"Hey, Viktor!"

Turning around, it was a familiar purple-haired woman.

It was Gwen's elder sister, Kevla.

Viktor naturally remembered her.

Viktor stood in place watching Kevla waving at him while running over, smiling and saying:

"Are you going to my home?"

"I happen to be going back for a while too, also on this train."

She waved the ticket in her hand, which read——

'Express train, first-class carriage'

It was a ticket for the same carriage as Viktor.

"Looks like we'll be going back together."