324: Learned

Learned

Washing the wound, Alyssa applied a healing potion. Soon, her hand began to heal.

Since it was merely a physical wound, the potion healed it easily.

Only wounds inflicted by mana required higher-ranking potions.

Instead of resting, Alyssa entered her training room, different from Asher's.

The difference between Rank 1 and Rank 3 was significant, with the mana density in her room being much thinner. However, it was still superior to what other Rankers possessed.

Only Kevin's training and meditation rooms surpassed Alyssa's because he was Rank 2.

Alyssa took off her mask and set it aside. The scars on her face vanished.

Standing in the room's center, her thoughts drifted to her time in the Sanctuary of Mages.

Knowing that interfering with Elizabeth's work would create problems, Alyssa chose not to touch it.

However, she wasn't going to abandon the legacy her mother left in the world: her knowledge of Ice magic.

All records of the Garcia family's achievements were erased as punishment by the High Council.

Yet, Alyssa still held memories from when she was 5 years old. Trying to recall those times often led to headaches, making it even more difficult to control her emotions.

But she persevered, recalling a day when someone from the Garcia Household praised Elizabeth's prowess as an Ice Mage.

Ice magic, with its powerful offensive and defensive capabilities, was one of the most advanced elements a mage could master.

Those with a high affinity didn't just stop at Ice Magic; they refined it, making it even more potent.

Alyssa aspired to advance her magic to the next tier: Frost Magic.

Many complex Ice Element spells were considered Frost magic due to their capabilities. Alyssa realized she would eventually need to learn them to enhance her spells.

At present, she combined Ice with Gravity magic, creating an extremely aggressive combat style. But she couldn't showcase this in the End Year tournament.

Alyssa knew that with so many eyes on her during that event, outshining everyone would be detrimental.

'Why not just kill them?'

'End it, end your pain!'

'Won't you avenge your mother?'

'Give up, you are useless!'

The voices in her head were relentless, but outwardly, Alyssa seemed unaffected.

Her lifeless eyes settled on her hand.

Despite her emotional turmoil, she remembered the plans she had formed years ago.

Alyssa knew her body best and was aware that her chances of finding a cure were slim, especially without any support.

She had long relinquished hope that Alexander, her father, would care—even if she died.

Her mere existence was a burden to the Astaria Household. The sole reason Alexander refrained from acting against her was to redirect all animosity intended for the Garcia family toward her.

Another reason was Alyssa's affinity for Gravity Magic.

She understood that she was just a pawn, disposable to people like Alexander.

In a situation where even her life wasn't guaranteed, contemplating revenge seemed ludicrous.

"I just need to inflict them the same pain I've endured for all these years," Alyssa whispered, recalling a vow from long ago.

That was precisely what she had yearned for.

The idea of avenging those who ruined her life seemed impossible for Alyssa before she joined World Academy. She even doubted that she would survive long enough to confront them.

But she still harbored hopes of curing herself. That hope was pinned on the World Academy, where she believed she could find a remedy for her damaged body that didn't allow her to function as a proper mage.

However, Asher's intervention altered her circumstances. Now, Alyssa could harness her abilities without the torturous pain that made even gathering mana unbearable.

This also implied that she wasn't bound by previous limitations on her quest for revenge, and now she had the choice to take the path that was not even an option for her previously.

This was why Alyssa chose not to stand out too much in the End Year Tournament.

On the Tenth Floor of the Rankers Dorm,

Asher had just returned to his room after messaging Tom for some information.

He sat in a seat and looked at the record of people who had entered the Mage Association with an affinity for the Space Element.

It was highly unlikely that he would find anything, but he wanted to try at least.

It took him 20 minutes to go through the lists that Tom found after messing around with the database of the Mage Association, which was available in the files they had stolen from the World Association's Database that Osbert possessed.

"So, no records," Asher said as he looked at the extensive list, which contained thousands of people with Space Element affinity who had entered the Mage Association in the last 80 years.

When matching the deaths of all these people, there wasn't even a single person who had survived for longer than 30 years.

And this list wasn't something anyone could easily access.

It belonged to the personal database of the Chairman of the World Association.

Given that the three Associations worked together, it was evident that the World Association kept track of mages who went to the Mage Association.

"Should I look more into it?" Tom asked through the hologram that emanated from Asher's phone.

"No need," Asher told Tom, his eyes drifting towards the books he had chosen to take with him.

Asher knew that if Silvus had gone to great lengths to hide those seemingly worthless books, it also implied that any record regarding the person who wrote them would have been eradicated.

"Setting that aside, have they found the location?" Asher asked.

"Both of them are still following the direction, so I expect they'll locate it soon," Tom replied.

"But the fact that they're concealing themselves is making progress much slower," Tom added.

"Keep it that way and ensure they depart immediately after finding the location," Asher instructed with a indifferent look in his eyes.

"Okay, Boss," Tom responded before ending the call.

Asher didn't want to alert whoever was at the location ordering the mana crystals, so it was vital for Kai and Dane to conceal their presence adequately.

Standing up, Asher walked over to the living room and opened the books to read them.

These five books were among the ones that Asher hadn't had time to examine, so he picked them up, having stored the contents of the others in his mind.

He didn't need to take them outside, as he already remembered the vast array of words, spells, and theories presented in those books.1

Despite their flaws, Asher could rectify them, creating improved versions of those spells, or even crafting entirely new spells, based on his mastery of magic.

However, despite reading these books, his mastery had ceased growing from the moment he read the book hidden behind the door that only Silvus could access.

Days passed in this manner, with all three of them focusing on what they had learned in the Sanctuary of Mages.

But Asher stopped reading the books on the second day, feeling they had little more to offer.

Had anyone observed his actions, they would have been astounded. Although the books were thin, they contained research worthy of being housed within the Sanctuary of Mages, indicating the challenges in understanding their content.

This was precisely the issue Amelia and Alyssa faced. Given that the authors of these research papers and books were of a higher rank, their method of description was quite distinct.

Many of the concepts were beyond the grasp of a Hunter below B Rank, primarily because they hadn't experienced the phenomena described in these books.

But Asher was different. He could understand and digest these works far more easily than others, thanks to his innate talent and experience.

At the moment, Asher sat in the Training Room, practicing his sword art, which was progressing slowly.

Rifir had also emerged and was absorbing another mana gem Asher had procured for him.

Asher noticed this, but as Rifir had grown significantly stronger, the amount required to satiate him had also escalated.

Asher faced no challenge in providing for this peculiar beast, which seemed to have an insatiable appetite.

After consuming the entire mana gem, there was no indication of Rifir leveling up—a development Asher had anticipated.

To boost Rifir's strength further, he'd need even more B Rank Mana Gems. There would soon be a limit to what he could offer Rifir.

Thus, he also had to ensure Rifir's growth was managed.

Even as the Heir to the Greville Family, Asher couldn't simply buy multiple S Rank Mana Gems to feed Rifir.

Transactions involving such items were closely monitored. If he were to procure multiple S Rank Mana Gems, given their exorbitant price and rarity, there was a significant likelihood that Arthur or Sylvie would become aware.

Till now, they hadn't stepped in because they trusted that Asher knew what he was doing.

This was the reason why he created Aztech in the first place, and it was to secure his owns funds which he could use to trade items discreetly. 

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