Chapter 296: Benefits Have Arrived

Tower of Time. Xia Duo looked at the 10 Learning Scrolls lined up on the desk before him, along with a stack of books piled to the side, and fell into deep thought.

After the wedding ended, the Midsummer Festival celebration was still ongoing, but Xia Duo, Niya, and Lord Aipusi had returned to the Mage Tower. Upon returning, Niya threw these things to him, told him not to leave the Mage Tower in the near future, and then vanished from sight.

Although he knew this marriage might only be a formality, but—

"So good!"

Of the ten Learning Scrolls, most were 2nd Circle Spells, but there were also two 3rd Circle Spells: one was the 3rd Circle 【Dispel Magic】, and the other was the 3rd Circle Transmutation 【Flight】 that Xia Duo had been longing for.

This meant Niya knew he had already become an Intermediate Mage, but when had he been exposed? Xia Duo racked his brain but couldn't figure it out; perhaps she had judged it from his research progress, or perhaps she was simply giving him a benefit.

Aside from the Learning Scrolls, those books were what Xia Duo valued most: a four-volume set of 【Advanced Arcane Geometry】, 【Arcane Principles】, 【Soul Studies】, 【Deep Weave】, and other true theoretical books.

Xia Duo had never seen these books in the Library. Combined with what Niya had said before—mastering Intermediate Arcane Geometry before Intermediate Rank, and mastering Advanced Arcane Geometry before Advanced Rank, was almost a necessary path to becoming an Arcanist.

Xia Duo felt that Niya was preparing to cultivate him in the direction of an Arcanist, which of course suited his wishes, but after becoming an Intermediate Mage, he also wanted to research some other things.

For instance, crafting Magic Items.

The main reason he wanted to research Magic Items was to enhance his own abilities, as well as to earn money, with the latter being the greater reason.

"No, that's not right, I don't seem to need to earn money now!" Looking at these things on the desk, Xia Duo smiled happily.

Looking again at the 【Crimson Shelter Robe】 on his body, although Niya hadn't explicitly said she was giving it to him, husband and wife were one, and Xia Duo had already considered this glowing robe his own.

Besides, Niya hadn't taken it back! Thinking this way, Xia Duo's desire to research Magic Items faded; what he needed to do most now was to digest the things in front of him.

Future matters could wait! "【Flight】? That's the one!"

With his previous research foundation, plus the fact that this was a spell Xia Duo had always wanted most, he put away the other items without hesitation, took the 【Flight】 Scroll, and rushed into the Spell Laboratory.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Having just sent her father into the Stasis Chamber, Niya felt her entire being sink into depression, her mind filled only with the last look her father had left her before being placed in stasis.

That was a father's infinite expectation for his daughter, from then on frozen in time, until eternity.

Time passed, she knew not how long. Niya, who had been sitting at the entrance of the Stasis Chamber with her knees hugged to her chest like a statue, suddenly stirred, and vitality gradually returned to her body. Immediately after, the Tower Spirit's voice rang out: "Master, Mage Aiboke is sending a message; an important guest has arrived and requires the Master to receive them!"

"Who is it?" Niya's voice was hoarse, completely lacking its usual clarity and purity, but this did not affect the Tower Spirit's understanding.

Instantly, the Tower Spirit gave its reply: "There is no further information."

"Where are they? Where are they now?" Niya asked again.

"..."

The Tower Spirit was silent for a few seconds, then replied, "The guest is outside the Tower of Time!"

"Outside the Tower of Time?" Niya muttered a few times, her reason gradually returning, and she immediately reacted, "Are they in the Mythallar Ruins?"

"Yes, Master!"

"I think I know who it is!"

Niya stood up from the ground, took one last look at the Stasis Chamber, then sealed it and left without looking back.

"Tower Spirit, call Xia Duo to the Reception Room!"

"Yes!"

Xia Duo's residence, Spell Laboratory.

Having battled with 【Flight】 for an entire night, Xia Duo had not noticed the passage of time at all. At this moment, he was hovering in the middle of the Spell Laboratory with an excited face.

Guided by his consciousness, his body moved up and down, left and right; the space here was not large, just right for practicing "dodging and maneuvering" within a small range.

"【Flight】 is far stronger than 【Levitation】!"

Xia Duo sighed with emotion at this. 【Levitation】 could initially only move slowly up and down; although he could perform slow flight after his adjustments, it was still too slow.

It was not even as fast as walking on the ground!

But 【Flight】 was different; both speed and agility were greatly improved.

Although he couldn't test the maximum flight altitude indoors, Xia Duo estimated that as long as the Magic Net environment didn't change drastically during the spell's duration, the Spellcaster could fly as high as they wanted.

After testing, 【Flight】 could last for about 5 minutes; exactly how high he could fly would require Xia Duo to test it outdoors himself.

"Mage Xia Duo, the Master requests your presence in the Reception Room!"

The Tower Spirit's sudden voice made Xia Duo wobble in mid-air, but he didn't fall. 【Flight】 didn't require focus to maintain, but to fly with flamboyant trajectories, focus was essential.

To a certain extent, people like Mages who had undergone professional Focus Training should be better at flying than ordinary people.

"Tower Spirit, what does Niya want with me?"

Xia Duo's Permission Level in the Tower of Time had now been raised to Level 4, allowing him to talk directly to the Tower Spirit without going through various commands, equivalent to having a personal smart assistant.

"Mage Xia Duo, the Master requests your presence in the Reception Room!" The Tower Spirit repeated.

Xia Duo knew immediately that Niya must not have stated the reason when she gave the order, otherwise, the Tower Spirit would have answered when he asked.

And if Xia Duo's Permission Level were higher, the Tower Spirit would have asked Niya directly and then told him.

Now—

Xia Duo had no choice but to tidy up and go see Niya; having just received benefits from her, perhaps it was his turn to contribute.

The Reception Room Niya wanted Xia Duo to go to was connected to the Lord's Study. Xia Duo was no stranger to it, having been there several times, whether to see Lord Aipusi or Niya.

It was just that previous meetings had been in the Study, not the Reception Room outside.

On the way to the top floor, Xia Duo walked very slowly, his mind full of what Niya might want him for, since it wasn't a private matter or a lesson.

Meeting in the Reception Room meant there were guests, but he wasn't a guest; in a sense, Xia Duo was also half-owner of the Tower of Time.

"It's an outsider!"

Xia Duo estimated it was very likely that Niya wanted him to be a background prop or a shield. Didn't Earth have the concept of "spouse diplomacy"? Perhaps he had now become some kind of mascot for external display, which also corresponded to what Lord Aipusi had said to him before.

But no matter what it was, there must be a price for what one gains. Xia Duo felt this relationship was not hard to accept.

(End of chapter)