Today's weather in Alanna was exceptionally sunny.
Lin Li woke up early in the morning, and brought the little Dragonhawk out for breakfast as usual. On his way back, he went to Buck's shop for a while and chatted with this old friend who was about to leave Alanna. Lin Li waited until the streets gradually became lively before he walked all the way back to the Guild of Magic.
For the Alanna Guild of Magic, today was a special day. The two-month-long trial from the 24 Guilds of Magic would come to an end today.
In order to make this full stop more complete, everyone in the Guild of Magic got busy early in the morning. Aldwin went to the Aurora Square early in the morning. He would set up four Master-level mageweaths there to ensure that there would be no unnecessary casualties in the finals. Of course, such a complicated task could not be done by him alone. Four Master-level mageweaths involved a huge amount of work, so Darian went as well. He was the only person in the Alanna Guild of Magic whose standard of inscription was second only to Aldwin.
Even Macklin woke up early today. He wore a formal suit, which was rare. He held the Crimson Heart Magic Staff in his hand, and wore a black Void Magic Robe. He looked like a respectable elder.
Of course, this referred to when he was not scolding people.
Lin Li walked all the way back to his residence. Just as he walked to the staircase, he heard a wave of scolding.
"Get up, get up, all of you get up. Damn it, why are you still sleeping so late? Are you people or pigs?"
Macklin's voice was like the roar of a magical beast. Not only was Mason and Orrin woken up by him, even Kevin, who was next door, had a sleepy look on his face. He quietly poked his head out of the door to see what was going on.
Mason rubbed his eyes, and his face was blank. "What …?"
"Damn it, you're really a pig. You still dare to ask me what I'm doing at this time? Open the window and take a good look. The sun is almost shining on your butt. Hurry up and get ready. Do you think the finals will only start when Uncle Mason arrives?" "And you, don't think that you can sleep late just because you're not participating in the finals. Hurry up and wash your face, and be more energetic. Don't let that little bastard Gryffindor see you as a joke!" Macklin scolded Mason, and then looked at the haggard Orrin.
"This old man …" Lin Li stood at the staircase far away, listening to Macklin's vulgar clamor. He could not help but smile helplessly. This old man was indeed born with a mouth that offended people. He obviously had good intentions, but when it came out of his mouth, it was as ugly as it could be.
After living together for more than two months, how could Lin Li not know Orrin's character? He was proud and introverted, and he hid everything in his heart. Even Lin Li, who was the most familiar with him, rarely heard him talk about his worries. After being injured by Gryffindor, Orrin did not seem to have changed much. However, those who were familiar with him knew that this proud genius mage had become much more depressed.
Fortunately, Macklin diverted his attention. Although his words were a little vulgar, the effect was quite good. After listening to the old man's clamor, Orrin's eyes seemed to be more lively. He nodded silently, and then went back to his room to pack his things.
"Felic …" Kevin poked his head out of the room, and called out quietly.
"Kevin, what's the matter?"
"After the finals, are you going back to Jarrosus first?"
"I'm afraid not …" Lin Li thought for a while, and his expression was a little awkward. "I promised Andoine that I would go to a place with him after the finals. It might take a few days."
"I see …" Although Kevin did not say anything, he could not hide the disappointment on his face.
"What's the matter? Is there something you want to tell me? "
"No … Nothing …" Kevin hesitated for a while, and then continued, "I'm just worried about the Emerald Tower. Both of us are not around. If the Shadow's Nest makes a move, I'm afraid the Emerald Tower will be in danger …"
"You don't have to worry about the Shadow's Nest. If I'm not wrong, they should not make any moves in the short term. Moreover, doesn't the Emerald Tower still have your uncle?"
"But Uncle, he …"
Kevin just opened his mouth, and knew that he had said the wrong thing.
But it was too late to regret. Lin Li stared at Kevin, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with Gerian?"
"Nothing …"
"Say it!"
"It's … It's really nothing." Kevin wanted to smile, but the smile he forced out was uglier than a crying face.
"Say it, don't be stubborn …" Lin Li shook his head helplessly. An honest person like Kevin was not suitable to lie at all. He would stutter when he was nervous, and all his emotions were written on his face. He could not even lie to himself, let alone others.
"No, Felic. Uncle Gerian gave me a death order. I must not say it."
"Are you going to say it or not?" Lin Li glared at him.
In those few months in the Jarrosus Guild of Magic, Lin Li had long established absolute prestige. Even the mages who had doubted him had to admit that it was because of this young man that the Emerald Tower could have the status it had today. And Kevin, who had known Lin Li for the first time, had an almost blind admiration for him. Seeing that Lin Li was angry now, Kevin immediately became nervous.
He swallowed his saliva subconsciously, and said in a dry and hoarse voice, "Uncle Gerian did not allow me to say it, but I think it's better to let you know about it. The last time the Shadow's Nest attacked the Demon Fall Valley, Uncle Gerian was seriously injured. In order to cover the retreat of the guild's mages, he forcefully cast a level-18 spell. After the finals this time, you should go back and see him …"
"You told me the last time that you had a friend whose mana collapsed. Could it be that you were talking about Gerian?" Lin Li's eyes stared at Kevin. He could not believe that the fat old man who was always energetic and always cursing would actually be lying on a sickbed now!
"Yes …"
"Alright, I'll tell Andoine. After the finals here, I'll go back to Jarrosus with you immediately."
…
This was a real magic event. The stands in the Aurora Square, which could accommodate thousands of people, were densely packed with people. Thousands of mages from the Alanna Guild of Magic had all come. From the guild president, Aldwin, to the young apprentices in their teens, and even the influential figures in Alanna City, they were all sitting in the oval stands. Even the King of the Felan Kingdom had asked his younger brother, Prince Lionheart Johnathan, to send his greetings.
The entire Aurora Square was oval in shape, following the style of the arena that was commonly seen in the Dark Age. The magical protection field around the square was personally set up by the Supreme Council, and could withstand the impact of at least Legendary-level magic. On the four corners of the square, there were four Master-level mageweaths that were faintly flashing with purple light. That was Aldwin's masterpiece.
Directly facing the Aurora Square was the VIP seats on the stands. Aldwin was sitting there, and the people sitting beside him were all important figures. There was Herza from the Supreme Council, Archbishop Englos from the Brilliance Shrine, Hoffman, the decision-maker of the Glittergold Trade Union, His Majesty's younger brother, Johnathan, Sendros from the Darkness Shrine, and Oro, the biggest assassin in Felan. Among this group of people, any one of them was a well-known figure. As for people like Darian, they could only sit far away in the corner. They could not squeeze into the middle at all.
"Hoffman, what are the odds that the Glittergold Bank is offering to Gryffindor this time?" Herza, who was sitting in the VIP seats, asked Hoffman with great interest instead of his usual listlessness. He was old friends with the fatty who was sitting beside him. How could he not know that the Glittergold Bank would always offer a handicap for those rich gamblers to place their bets in such a competition?
"One to four."
"Oh?" Herza was stunned. He did not expect Hoffman to offer such odds. Gryffindor was the number one magic genius of Felan. Even a fool would know that he had at least a 90% chance of winning the finals. The odds of one to four were not a joke. It was fine if Gryffindor did not win, but if he did, the Glittergold Trade Union's losses would be astronomical!
"It seems that the Glittergold Trade Union does not have much confidence in Gryffindor? I say, Hoffman, on account of our decades of friendship, why don't you reveal to me which trial apprentice you have your eyes on? "
"Heh, I can't tell you this. It's a trade secret …" Hoffman laughed shamelessly. He thought to himself, I've placed a huge bet this time. I'm betting on you idiots thinking that Gryffindor will win for sure!
In order to make a fortune in the finals, Hoffman had taken a huge risk. He had set Gryffindor's odds very high right from the start to attract those rich gamblers to place their bets. The odds of one to four were nothing for others, but for Gryffindor, it was no different from giving away money. Gryffindor was the number one magic genius of Felan. Anyone who was slightly informed would know that this young man had already broken through to the Archmage realm a month ago.
As for the other trial apprentices, the strongest was only level-14, and the weakest was only level-9. With such strength, it was not an exaggeration to say that he was a crane in a flock of chickens. With such strength and high odds, where else could he find such a good deal?
This was exactly what Hoffman was trying to capture.
In fact, if he had not participated in the gathering, he would have thought that Gryffindor would definitely win the finals.
However, at that gathering, Hoffman saw with his own eyes that the young mage called Felic controlled the Flaming Hands with one hand and the Chilling Touch with the other. He concocted a bottle of Void Power Potion as though he was performing a magic trick. Putting aside his exquisite pharmaceutics skills, just the magical strength that he displayed was enough to make any mage's hair stand on end.
To be able to control two spells at the same time — one of ice and one of fire — this Felic's strength was definitely not weaker than Gryffindor's.
Moreover, one should not forget that he was also a Master of Pharmaceutics.
In a battle between two mages, how could the effect of a bottle of potion be explained in a few words?
Although the bet this time was huge, Hoffman was never worried that he would lose. He had too much confidence in that young mage called Felic.
Of course, Herza would not understand all this.
He only looked at the Aurora Square with a face full of suspicion. He looked at the young apprentices walking in one after another, trying to distinguish which one was favored by the Glittergold Trade Union.
"Felic, why do I feel like I'm very nervous …?" Mason said hypocritically as he looked at the thousands of spectators in the stands. He was so excited that he was trembling all over, and waved his hands at the stands in a very showy manner.
At this moment, Macklin happened to walk past. When he heard this, he immediately snorted. "What's there to be nervous about? Anyway, you're trash that will die in the first round. If you have the time to be nervous, why don't you think about how to lose in a more dignified manner …"
"…" Mason choked on his words. After Macklin walked far away, Mason gritted his teeth and muttered to himself, "I'm not going to lose. I'm going to enter the second round. I'm going to piss you off, you old bastard …"
While Mason was muttering, Aldwin, who was at the VIP seats, had already stood up. This old man seemed to have some kind of magical power. When he stood up from the VIP seats, the noisy square immediately quietened down. Aldwin's voice was not very loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone to hear. "… The two-month trial will come to an end today. Let us wait and see who is the strongest apprentice in this trial …"
After Aldwin's simple opening speech, it was Herza who announced the rules.
The rules of the finals this time were not complicated. It was a one-on-one knockout. Whoever won would enter the next round, and whoever lost would pack up and go home. It was cruel and straightforward. The judgment of victory and defeat was also clear at a glance. Admitting defeat was a loss, being forced out of the battle area was a loss, and being hit directly by a spell above level-10 was also a loss.
After the rules were the matchups. Lin Li was not unlucky, but he was not unlucky either. He drew a level-12 Magic Shooter. On the other hand, Mason did not know how lucky he was. When he looked at the matchups, he realized that he had drawn Larry — the level-eight mage who had completed the mission with the three of them during the trial in the Shadowglen.
Oh, no, he should be a level-nine mage now.
However, this made no difference to Mason. Whether it was level-eight or level-nine, it was unlikely that Mason would be a match for him. After all, he was now a level-11 Magic Shooter. If he could not even take down a level-nine mage, he might as well buy a piece of tofu and kill himself.
"Hahahaha, now let's see who dares to say that I can't pass the first round!" Mason said proudly. After he finished speaking, he even gave Macklin a provocative look.
"Be careful not to fail miserably in an easy task …" Macklin curled his lips, and cursed viciously.
"Pfft!"
"You guys sit for a while. I'm going on stage." While the old and the young were bickering, Lin Li stood up. His match with the level-12 Magic Shooter was scheduled for the first round.
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