Clad in a loose gray robe and wearing the Pale Mask, imprinted with purple-black spiral patterns, Nidhogg's golden curls cascaded down, partially concealing the Eternal Earring on his right ear.

For ten days, Nidhogg frequented the third floor of Black Tower, absorbing alchemical knowledge like a sponge. With the vast knowledge and resources accumulated from his wealth of magic stones, Nidhogg had grown increasingly enigmatic. The eyes peering through the Pale Mask occasionally flashed with wisdom and contemplation, giving him an aura of mystery and intelligence. Even those who once knew him well would struggle to recognize him at first glance.

He came and went swiftly. Nidhogg seemed to live in the solitary world of a loner, either enduring or perhaps even savoring his loneliness, all for the sake of acquiring endless knowledge.

Ten days later, Nidhogg had filled an entire book with alchemical knowledge and began conducting alchemy experiments using basic materials in his small dwelling.

A sigh escaped him.

"As expected, mastering alchemy is not something that can be achieved overnight. Typically, it takes at least twenty years to accumulate the knowledge necessary to craft even the simplest magical devices."

Tired, Nidhogg rubbed his forehead, having just failed in an attempt to create a basic magical device, wasting dozens of magic stones' worth of materials. However, he was not disheartened. Alchemy, though challenging, could be mastered with continued practice and accumulation of trial knowledge, even by those not naturally gifted in the field.

Half a month later, Nidhogg returned to the third floor of Black Tower, this time entering a room dedicated to potion magic. Through the substantial expenditure of magic stones, Nidhogg secured personal instruction from wizards, who even shared their insights on ambiguous aspects based on their rich experience.

As such, Nidhogg's knowledge of wizardry grew at an astounding pace.

During this period, his fellow apprentices were still striving to earn magic stones and learn new spells. Occasional opportunities allowed them to purchase magical devices, but most only spent their magic stones on classes for subjects they were particularly devoted to.

Time flew by, and soon there was less than a week before the trial exams. As rumors of the trials' brutality spread among the newcomers, a pervasive sense of life-and-death testing began to suffocate them.

Some newcomers, who hadn't yet learned three spells, succumbed to despair and indulged in their final pleasures, wholly giving up.

At the Bloodsail Alliance gathering place, as the Alliance's influence grew, even the scholastically-rooted wizard apprentice organizations began acknowledging this emerging group. With this momentum, the Bloodsail Alliance finally secured their own space at the Black Tower Wizard Academy. Unlike the established groups treating the trial exams as a means to recruit fresh blood, the Bloodsail Alliance had only sporadically recruited a few apprentices from previous years over the past three years. The majority would face the trials.

Given their rigorous selection process aboard the sea wheel, the members had evident potential. However, this also meant the upcoming trial was taken very seriously by the Bloodsail Alliance.

If they could successfully guide most of their members through the trials, the Bloodsail Alliance would firmly establish itself at the Black Tower Wizard Academy, joining the ranks of the top five apprentice organizations.

As it stood, the Bloodsail Alliance was not yet an organization, merely a powerful gathering. It lacked a foundation.

Among the wizard apprentices, the so-called "Top Ten Experts List" circulated, a ranking based on achievements in the wilderness and skirmishes in the Thorn Forest, compiled privately by some apprentices.

This list, however, only included the outstanding newcomers and did not account for accomplished apprentices from previous years.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

The Bloodsail Alliance's fame came from having six of its thirteen elders featured on this list.

Curiously, some investigated the Alliance's rigorous elimination system aboard the sea wheel, which only heightened fears around the trials, dubbed the "Bloody Millstone."

Nevertheless, the Bloodsail Alliance paid no heed to the ranking.

Notably absent from the list were the names Solam, Yun Li, and Bibilian, marking it as just another trivial apprentice ranking game.

With the trial exams approaching, the senior members of the Bloodsail Alliance organized a music ball to foster internal camaraderie, hoping that during the trials, this unity would translate into mutual support.

Elegant and soothing music filled the hall. Nina, Astara, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binhansen, and an unfamiliar girl sat together, watching pairs of apprentice wizards dance gracefully in the orchestra pit.

Nina wore a silver-white gown, revealing a generous expanse of pale skin over her prominent chest. The tight dress accentuated her slender, tall figure and long, shapely legs. Her crescent earrings were half-hidden by her short, brunette hair.

Reclining lazily on a bench, Nina made no effort to conceal her arrogance, exuding a regal aura.

Having turned down over a dozen invitations to dance, Nina’s refusals were met politely, as none dared to protest.

Over the past three years, Nina's arrogance and willfulness had provoked animosity, yet she frequently ventured into the wild and remained unscathed.

In contrast, many of her adversaries hadn't been seen again.

Thanks to her impressive track record, Nina was recognized as one of the top ten experts among the new apprentices at Black Tower, earning nicknames like "Venomous Queen" or "Venomous Beauty."

Uninterested in the rankings, Nina delved deeper into magical knowledge, increasingly awed by the three she once knew. Upon reaching the Academy, they immediately received instruction from second-tier wizards.

The gap could only widen, much larger than it initially appeared.

"I wonder if he will come. Such a stubborn fool, must you wait for me to humble myself..." Nina muttered, barely audible, yet everyone nearby understood her meaning.

Amidst faint melancholy, Nina gazed into her glass of wine, lost in memories of her days on the sea wheel.

"Brother Nidhogg probably won’t come. It’s been over six months without a word—perhaps he..." Yorkliana, her mask concealing her lost eye and facial scars, murmured quietly.

Though Yorkliana only voiced half her thought, everyone grasped her implication.

Yorkris flicked his sister’s forehead, whispering, "Watch what you say, Nidhogg was our closest friend back then. He wouldn't die so easily."

Silently, Yorkliana rubbed her forehead, while Yorkris tenderly assisted.

Nearby, Astara stood 6'1" tall, with golden hair draped back, his sturdy, bronzed chest visible beneath an azure tunic, exuding a commanding presence.

Over the past three years, Astara's affection for Nina was apparent to anyone with eyes. Regardless of her sharp tongue and stubbornness, he endured it all to remain close to her.

However, despite three years of expressing his feelings, Astara received no response. Disheartened, his mind raced.

“Could it be... Nina likes that person? But whether on the sea wheel or at the Academy, he never stood out. At best, he was just a follower. Why does Nina remember him so fondly?”

Amidst his confusion, Astara tentatively asked, “If he returns, what will you do?”

Anxiously, Astara watched Nina.

"My affairs are none of your concern," Nina replied icily, downing her glass of wine.

So, it was him she held in her heart!

Astara's expression darkened. Should he give up his three years of devotion? Or should he, as a man, challenge that guy to fair competition?

“Hey, are you truly worried about Nidhogg, or is this just lip service? You talk about him now, yet you never sought his news. Look at this.” Binhansen spoke up, producing a sheet of paper from his jacket.

“A list of apprentice wizards? Look, Brother Nidhogg’s name is on it!” Yorkliana exclaimed joyfully, prompting Nina and Yorkris to check the list, and Astara to see Nidhogg's name.

Beside Binhansen, the girl with curly brown hair smiled, “I didn’t realize you were all so close.”

Binhansen chuckled, wrapping his arm around her. “If I remember correctly, he should be twenty this year. I’m twenty-two, so he can call you sister-in-law!”

“Who said I’d marry you…” she retorted playfully.

Suddenly, Nina and the hesitant Astara, along with other Bloodsail Alliance elders, seemed to sense something, turning toward the hall entrance. There stood an apprentice, arms crossed, smiling confidently.

Snap!

A male Bloodsail Alliance apprentice, engrossed in conversation with a female apprentice, inadvertently saw the figure at the door. His eyes widened, and his wine glass shattered unnoticed, disbelief spilling from his lips.

“Solam?!”

Indeed, the unexpected visitor was Solam, a figure legendary within the Bloodsail Alliance.

The disciple of the Faceless Mask!

Initially part of Nidhogg’s group but who barely spoke a word!

No Bloodsail Alliance member could forget their experiences aboard the sea wheel, nor could they overlook the towering, mysterious presence of Solam, the unattainable apprentice wizard.

Solam smiled confidently, arms crossed, surveying the joyous atmosphere of the orchestra pit.

Perhaps due to Solam’s brilliance and charisma, the main focus of attention was on him, drawing all eyes to the entrance as if the protagonist had arrived, leaving unnoticed the figure at the far end of the hall, arriving late and wearing a white mask.