Chapter 401: Longing Like Fire (Four-in-One Chapter)

As the sun set, twilight spilled through the crystal window lattices into Luo En’s private residence in the North District.

This exquisite mansion, provided by the Storm Clan, seemed exceptionally warm tonight.

He was preparing a small celebratory dinner.

Meanwhile, on a distant otherworldly battlefield.

The monitoring crystal in Cassandra’s hand flickered, showing the change in her daughter’s location.

She looked at the crystal, then put it away thoughtfully:

"Off to that little guy Luo En’s place again, but... I can understand."

………………

Inside the mansion’s main hall, delicious dishes were laid out on the oak long table.

The special candles on the silver candelabra emitted a soft glow, rendering the entire space dreamlike.

"Master, everything has been prepared according to your requirements."

Ailan floated lightly to Luo En’s side, her emerald branches and leaves shimmering in the candlelight.

The dryad’s slender vines pointed to the various delicacies on the table:

"Moonlight Mushroom Soup can soothe mental fatigue, Star-Dew Fruit Salad helps with magic recovery, and there is the main course made from deep-sea pearl shellfish..."

In the aquarium, Daier flapped her tail fins excitedly, splashing crystalline water:

"Daier picked the seaweed herself! The freshest kind! And drinks made from deep-sea spring water!"

Luo En nodded with satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the warm arrangement.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Having experienced that thrilling treatment, being able to celebrate Eve’s recovery in this way was truly significant.

Just then, a slight magic fluctuation came from outside the door.

The half-dragon maid behind the door maintained her signature serious expression, but the long-standing worry in her eyes finally eased tonight.

"Wizard Ralph." Franka bowed respectfully: "Young Lady, she..."

Before she could finish, the black-haired princess had already jumped out of the flying vehicle impatiently.

Eve’s attire tonight was exceptionally thoughtful.

The hem of her silk long dress was adorned with silver embroidery, which would shimmer with subtle starlight as she walked.

Her long black hair was braided into an exquisite side ponytail, secured with a hair accessory inlaid with an amethyst, appearing both dignified and lively.

But most striking of all was her demeanor.

The paleness and haggardness caused by long-term illness had completely vanished, replaced by a healthy, rosy glow.

In her amethyst-like eyes, there was no longer the haze of being tormented by pain, but a brightness that shone like never before.

"Mentor, good evening..."

Come to think of it, this was the first time she could truly "visit" her mentor in the real sense.

Not in the carefully constructed protective environment of the Emerald Building, but coming to his actual living space.

"How do you feel?"

Luo En asked gently, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.

"Never felt so... relaxed."

Eve stroked her chest, which had once been the most painful point of the magic-devouring:

"It’s like a giant boulder that had been pressing on my heart for over a decade has finally been moved away. Every breath is so free, every heartbeat full of vitality."

Her voice began to tremble, her eyes brimming with tears:

"This feeling... Mentor, I will never be able to..."

"No need for that."

Luo En shook his head gently, interrupting her thanks:

"Your pain has ended; that is the best reward."

"Please, sit."

He gestured for Eve to sit in the seat prepared for her, which was right next to the main seat.

Ailan immediately floated over, using her vines to pull out the chair for the guest.

"There is no one else tonight; we can relax a bit."

As everyone took their seats, the dinner officially began.

The Moonlight Mushroom Soup emitted a faint fragrance, the sweet and sour of the Star-Dew Fruit bloomed in the mouth, and the freshness of the deep-sea pearl shellfish was even more memorable.

But more precious than these delicacies was the long-lost peaceful atmosphere.

No torment of magic-devouring, no tense busyness of treatment, just simply sharing this special night.

"Mentor." Eve put down the silver spoon, a certain expectation appearing in her eyes:

"I want to talk to you... about Wizard cultivation."

Hearing this topic, Luo En’s attention immediately focused:

"How is your current state? Are you able to perform normal magic perception?"

"Not just perception..."

Excitement flashed in Eve’s eyes:

"I have already been able to perform basic magic mobilization! Although it is only a very simple level, this was completely impossible before."

She extended her slender right hand, and a faint light began to emerge from her palm.

Although the light was faint, it was exceptionally stable, without the slightest sign of disorder.

"This level of control precision..."

Luo En observed the purple light carefully, relief appearing in his eyes:

"It has already far exceeded my level when I was an apprentice. It seems your theoretical studies over these years were not in vain."

"For so many years, although I couldn't perform actual cultivation, I never stopped learning theoretical knowledge."

Eve’s tone carried a certain pride:

"Mental power training methods, the construction principles of magic circuits, the basic architecture of spell models... I know these by heart."

She paused, a deeper longing appearing in her eyes:

"Now I finally have the opportunity to translate theory into practice; this feeling... is like someone who has been hungry for over a decade finally tasting delicious food."

Franka silently refilled their tea on the side, but the relief in her eyes was obvious.

As Eve’s personal maid, no one knew better than her the persistence and longing the young lady had endured over these years.

"Regarding the choice of meditation technique." Luo En continued to ask: "Does the Tower Master have any arrangements?"

Mentioning this topic, Eve sighed softly:

"Mother gave me a Gem-level meditation technique—'Absurd Tales'."

Her tone carried a certain regretful emotion:

"This is the inherited meditation technique of the Crown Clan, directly visualizing the ancestor, the King of Absurdity."

"Of course, the main reason is..." Eve bit her lower lip:

"Mother said this is safer and won't have the terrifying alienation risk of Crown-level meditation techniques."

Luo En nodded in understanding.

Although Crown-level meditation techniques are powerful, their side effects are equally terrifying.

Cassandra herself is a living example; "The Star-Eater’s Babble" is changing her essence step by step.

Letting Eve choose a relatively safe Gem-level meditation technique is indeed a wise decision.

"Directly visualizing the Wizard King who is the source of your own bloodline?"

He was quite curious about this, as he had never seen a Wizard practicing such a meditation technique before.

"Yes." Eve nodded in confirmation:

"Because I have the direct bloodline of the Crown Clan, visualizing the ancestor, the King of Absurdity, will produce bloodline resonance.

In terms of effect, it won't be too far behind Crown-level meditation techniques, and all kinds of risks have been reduced to a minimum."

Daier asked curiously on the side: "What is bloodline resonance? Sounds so magical!"

Eve looked at her gently:

"Bloodline resonance refers to the special reaction produced when people with specific bloodlines visualize related existences.

It’s like... like the resonant strings of a harp; when the main string vibrates, the resonant strings will also vibrate along with it."

But immediately, Eve’s expression became somewhat dim, and she stroked her neck.

There was an almost invisible silver thread there, shimmering under the illumination of magic power.

"However... Mentor, I must confess something to you." Her voice became somewhat heavy:

"Mother set up monitoring runes on me. In name, it is to protect my safety, but in reality..."

Franka sighed on the side; this restriction was undoubtedly another form of cage for Eve, who longed for freedom.

Luo En carefully observed the silver thread on Eve’s neck.

In his "Extraordinary Identification" vision, that thread presented a complex rune structure.

This was a comprehensive construction that integrated monitoring, protection, and restraint.

"The precision of this kind of rune... is quite superb." He evaluated objectively:

"It can monitor the wearer’s location, vital signs, emotional fluctuations, and even spellcasting behavior in real-time.

But at the same time, it does indeed possess powerful protective functions, capable of resisting most attacks."

"Yes." Eve smiled bitterly:

"This is Mother’s style; she gives you what you need, but will never let you be completely free."

As the young girl said this, although there was some resentment, she was not overly dejected:

"Mother also set conditions—the stronger my strength, the less control I will be under.

When I become an official Wizard, the monitoring will be reduced by half;

When I reach the Moon-Sun level, only basic safety protection will remain;

And if I can become a Dark-Sun level... this kind of restraint will have no meaning at all."

"I can understand the Tower Master’s worries."

Luo En thought for a moment and said: "This sounds like a kind of... incentive mechanism."

"Of course I understand Mother’s intention."

A faint flame ignited in Eve’s eyes:

"But... Mentor, I want true freedom. Not the freedom that is bestowed, but the one fought for by my own strength."

Her words carried the idealism unique to young people.

But in this cruel world, this kind of idealism often appears both precious and fragile.

Luo En did not respond immediately, but fell into deep thought.

He understood Eve’s longing and also understood Cassandra’s worries.

In an era of conquest and being conquered, the daughter of the Crystal Spire Tower Master is indeed a precious bargaining chip in the eyes of various forces.

"Freedom comes at a price, Eve." He finally spoke:

"In this world, freedom is not a basic right, but a privilege.

Only existences strong enough have the qualification to talk about true freedom."

………………

Late at night, when Ailan and Daier had each returned to their rooms, Eve was still sitting on the stargazing platform of the residence.

The night sky of the Central Land was exceptionally brilliant, with countless stars embedded like diamonds on a velvet curtain.

High-concentration magic flow also formed aurora-like ribbons in the atmosphere.

Luo En walked to her side quietly, and the two sat side by side on the stone stargazing chairs.

The night breeze brushed their faces, bringing the fragrance of the strange plants in the garden.

"Mentor, sometimes I wonder, if there hadn't been the trouble of magic-devouring, what would my life have been like?"

Eve’s voice was as light as the night breeze, carrying deep attachment and reverie.

Her gaze was cast toward the distant starry sky, as if searching for some answer in that endless depth.

"Perhaps, I would have been arranged by Mother. Married to some marriage partner, spending an empty life."

She shook her head with a light laugh:

"Or, I would have come into contact with occultism earlier, conducting some trivial research in a safe ivory tower."

Luo En listened quietly, not interrupting her contemplation.

This late-night confession was a necessary emotional release for the young girl, and also a process of rediscovering herself.

"But now I understand." Eve turned her head to look at Luo En:

"Pain is also a kind of wealth.

It makes me cherish everything I have now even more, including... meeting you."

Her words carried a certain cautious probing.

Luo En felt the deep meaning in her words, but he only said gently:

"You will have your own wonderful life, Eve.

Whether as a Wizard or as the heir to the Crown Clan, you have infinite possibilities."

Eve was somewhat disappointed, but quickly gathered her mood.

She was already used to this kind of tactful rejection and understood that expressing overly direct emotions under the current circumstances was unwise.

"Yes, I will create my own life."

The young girl cheered up again, her voice full of firm determination:

"No matter what price needs to be paid."

The word the other party finally said made Luo En look sideways.

"Price..." He repeated the word:

"Everyone is paying a price for their goals; the key is to ensure whether these prices are worth it."

………………

The next morning, the runes in the meditation room slowly awakened in the faint light.

Youte'er’s void projection arrived as promised, but his figure was dimmer than usual, like a candle about to burn out.

The massive consumption of hosting the historical summoning made the old professor’s existence erratic, with silver radiance appearing and disappearing in the air.

"Luo En, you have now reached the Moon-Sun level; it’s about time to conduct the true historical scholar advancement."

Youte'er’s voice carried a deep exhaustion:

"Before the formal historical event infiltration, I need to take you to experience a true baptism of the river of time.

This is a required course for every historical scholar—understanding the roots of our civilization."

He raised his translucent hand, and complex time runes began to emerge in the air.

These runes were completely different from those used to summon historical projections a few days ago.

They were more ancient, more profound, as if carrying the weight of time itself.

"Are you ready? This time, you will not be a pure observer, because you yourself will be in the midst of it."

Youte'er’s tone became solemn and grave:

"You will personally feel those primitive impulses that pushed civilization forward and understand what shaped our present."

With this concluding sentence, the flow of time in the entire meditation room became viscous.

The air flowed slowly like honey, and the light formed visible threads within it.

The threads rotated slowly, weaving a giant net connecting the past and the present.

Luo En felt his consciousness leave his body lightly, like a feather.

His consciousness began to drift upstream along the countercurrent of time, traversing the heavy history of several epochs.

In a primeval forest.

He saw an ape-man with fur all over his body and thick limbs, squatting by a campfire.

The firelight danced on his rough face.

Those eyes, which originally only focused on food and danger, were attracted by the brilliant galaxy above his head at a certain moment.