Chapter 436: Old Friends, Past Events, Future

Chapter 436: Old Friends, Past, and Future

When Minos arrived at Dragonfall Slope,

Li Wei had already departed.

He did not know that Minos had deduced Sheng Xi's true identity from mere traces and clues.

Nor was he aware that behind the Sacred Dragon lay a colossal crisis spanning a thousand years.

So far, Li Wei still believed the only issue brought about by Sheng Xi’s identity as the Sacred Dragon was the Demon Dragon King.

Sheng Xi himself thought the same.

No one knew that the Church of Light was also searching for the Sacred Dragon, seeking the missing Saint Dragon King.

Li Wei returned to the Mage Tower.

He intended to bring Sheng Xi to meet Torresta.

At the entrance, he ran into little John Bieber.

The boy stood at the main gate of the Mage Tower, peering curiously inside.

Having heard that Li Wei had returned, John wanted to catch a glimpse of him.

But too shy to go in and ask for him directly, he decided instead to wait outside, hoping for a chance to sneak a peek.

After all, Li Wei was now a great mage—

A person of considerable status and prestige.

John felt he probably didn’t even have the right to approach such an important figure.

He also worried secretly—now that Li Wei had become a great mage, would he look down on his sister Lena?

Li Wei recognized this old acquaintance immediately.

Back when they were both apprentice mages within the tower, their relationship had been quite friendly.

Seeing an old friend naturally called for a greeting.

Li Wei tapped John lightly on the shoulder and said with a smile, “Who are you looking for?”

Thinking it was just some passing mage from the tower, John replied without turning around, “Oh, no one—I’m just taking a look.”

Suddenly, something seemed off.

That voice sounded oddly familiar?

Instinctively, he turned his head.

Upon seeing Li Wei’s face, he froze instantly.

“L-Li Wei!”

John never expected Li Wei to appear right behind him.

Li Wei chuckled and said, “Is it really that surprising to see me?”

Hearing that, and catching sight of Li Wei’s warm smile, John relaxed slightly.

He laughed and said, “Of course! I heard you became a great mage, so I wondered if you’d changed completely.”

“But it turns out you’re still the same as before.”

Li Wei smiled faintly. “Becoming a great mage is true enough, but there’s nothing particularly special about it.”

Upon hearing this, John stood stunned for a moment. “Eh? It’s not a rumor?”

Li Wei pointed to the magical badge pinned over his chest.

John squinted hard, staring wide-eyed.

It was indeed a genuine Great Mage insignia.

He had seen one like it once on Master Alan.

Alan was perhaps the most famous great mage in Mapleleaf City.

Currently serving as the Grand Instructor of the Kingdom Mage Teaching Corps of Northern Xuan Kingdom,

his status was lofty, far more distinguished than ordinary great mages.

He often appeared publicly, making him somewhat of a celebrity throughout Northern Xuan Kingdom and the Northlands.

To John, Li Wei’s mage badge looked even more dazzling than Alan’s—

As though it belonged to someone of higher rank altogether.

Of course, Alan’s badge had been issued by the Mages’ Association—

The standard certification for recognized great mages.

Li Wei’s badge, however, came from the Elemental Tower, bearing dual recognition from both the Tower and the Mages’ Association.

The difference was akin to that between a regular university degree and one from a top-tier institution—

Plainly visible to anyone with eyes.

Realizing that Li Wei truly was a great mage, John found himself once again at a loss for words.

Not knowing what to say next,

Li Wei watched him stammering helplessly, unable to speak despite clearly wanting to,

and gave him a light punch to the chest.

“If you’ve got something to say, then say it! Don’t act like some silly girl. What’s wrong? Afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of me and getting punished or something?”

Seeing that John remained hesitant,

Li Wei added, “Come on, let’s go inside. Walk around our old haunts—the places where we used to study and practice.”

John nodded slowly. “Mm.”

Together, they walked into the Mage Tower, retracing steps through familiar corridors.

After a while, surrounded by familiar sights and faces,

John finally let go of the awkwardness and tension in his heart.

Looking at Li Wei, he realized that Li Wei was still Li Wei—he hadn't transformed into someone else simply because he'd become a great mage.

With a sigh, John remarked, “We were all apprentices back then. None of us ever imagined that the least noticeable among us would be the first to rise to greatness.”

Li Wei merely smiled and said nothing.

Before his transmigration, the original Li Wei had indeed been invisible—

Someone who had barely interacted with John at all.

Only after arriving here did John gradually begin to form connections with him.

Lost in memories of the past, John recalled former companions and sighed, “Back then, you seemed the weakest of us all. Your magical aptitude was poorest—even becoming an initiate seemed nearly impossible.”

“To think less than two years have passed, yet you've surpassed everyone, rising to become a great mage.”

"And yet I abandoned magic and became a knight."

"Haha," Li Wei chuckled.

There was no mockery in his tone—only a quiet reflection on how fate could twist one's path.

Little John said, "Do you still remember Delis?"

Li Wei looked surprised at the mention. "Remember her? What about Delis?"

"She gave up becoming a mage," Little John replied. "Last month she passed the Mages' Tower examination and became an apprentice wizard."

"But not long after, she chose to abandon further magical studies and return to being a princess."

Li Wei was taken aback. He remembered clearly that Delis had wanted nothing more than to become a mage—more so than anyone else he knew. Her dedication had never faltered.

Now that she had already achieved the rank of apprentice mage, why would she give it all up?

"Why?" Li Wei asked. "Even if she chooses to be a princess, there’s nothing stopping her from continuing with magic."

Little John said, "You probably don’t know this, but Delis’s father, Arnold, was the mastermind behind the plot to destroy the Miracle Ritual."

Li Wei was startled—he truly hadn't known.

"After Arnold’s scheme failed, he fled, leaving Delis and her mother behind," Little John continued.

"Luckily for them, Delis’s mother is the sister of King Oats himself. Otherwise, they might have been executed by hanging long ago under such charges."

"But even so, their situation remains precarious."

"Though His Majesty says nothing openly, others inevitably whisper behind their backs, blaming Delis’s father—and by extension, casting judgment upon Delis and her mother."

"It was those rumors and slanders that drove Delis’s mother into illness. She has yet to recover."

"Delis herself plans to leave this place of turmoil and distance herself from Mapleleaf City."

"Next month, she will be wed as the First Princess of Northern Mystery Kingdom to the Third Prince of Southern Marsh Kingdom."

"With His Majesty having no heir, Delis is practically his daughter. Marrying her off to Southern Marsh will greatly strengthen the alliance between the two kingdoms."

Li Wei heard the bitterness beneath Little John’s words.

It seemed he held feelings for Delis.

Looking directly at him, Li Wei said, "If you love Delis, why not tell her yourself? Do you really intend to remain her knight forever?"

Little John let out a bitter smile and shook his head.

"This political marriage isn’t something I can change."

Frowning, Li Wei stared at him intently. "If you want, I can help."

"No need," came the reply. "This is Delis’s own choice."

(End of Chapter)