The Wizard's Secret Journey

Chapter 269 Decision and Reasons (4k)

On the dark stone slab, bright spots of light appeared one after another like stars. If an ordinary person wanted to remember all the spots of light, it would probably take several days or even months of hard work.

However, for a first-tier wizard like Lynn, the Black Moon Rune Point Disk has already solved the most difficult step—"finding the rune points"—and the remaining task of memorizing the rune points is not difficult at all.

The only remaining challenge was constructing the symbol points.

Several months have passed since Lynn tried to obtain knowledge beyond his level from the Black Moon Enforcement Order, and only he knows the hardships he has endured.

At this moment, seeing the points of light on the talisman disc, the corners of his mouth gradually turned up, and he let out a long breath in the meditation room.

After his excitement subsided slightly, Lynn immediately resumed his study of the law enforcement runes.

Thus, the three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lynn had not yet successfully inscribed the Enforcement Rune, but the notice for the Silver Ring Academy to hold the Holy Ring Gathering had already been issued.

Inside the resident office, Zoll looked at the projector in front of him with a wry smile.

However, after so many days, he gradually accepted this fact, sighed, turned to Lynn beside him and said with a smile:

"Lord Lynn, we should look after each other in the Holy Ring Realm."

Lynn shook his head.

Under Zor's puzzled gaze, he said slowly, "I plan to go to Lord Horsens to find someone else to go to the Saint Mi Ring Society."

Zoller was taken aback: "Lord Horsens wouldn't agree, would he?"

"I can only say I'll try my best. I have some reasons why I have to refuse to go to the St. Mi's Circle Association," Lynn said with a wry smile, then took another careful look at the notice.

The notice from Silver Ring Academy was very clear: the Horsens School needed to send two first-tier or higher formal wizards to participate in the cleaning process before the start of the Holy Ring Gathering. However, they did not need to stay in the Holy Ring Realm for the entire process; they could leave after cleaning the 0th ring layer.

'But when I attended the Holy Ring Gathering before, I clearly saw a Tier 1 wizard go deep into the Holy Ring Gathering area. Why does this notification say that only the 0th ring level can be cleared?'

"I see." Zor suddenly understood, without asking for the specific reason, and simply said politely, "Then I wish Junior Lynn success."

Lynn gave a wry smile and sighed, "I hope so."

The details of the notice from the Silver Ring Academy clearly state that wizards like them can only stay in the 0th ring and cannot venture deep into the Holy Ring Realm.

This undoubtedly dashed Lynn's hopes of obtaining the second-tier Black Moon Meditation Technique from the Holy Ring Realm.

The reason he was able to obtain the Black Moon Meditation Technique last time was because he went deep into the Holy Ring Realm, but now that he can no longer go deep into the Holy Ring Realm, he will no longer have the opportunity to obtain the Black Moon Meditation Technique.

In addition, Lynn had always been wary of the Saint Mi Ring's corruption, so he decided to try to refuse to go to the Saint Mi Ring Society.

'I just don't know if Lord Horsens will agree.' Lynn sighed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.

After all, he was part of the Horsens school, and since he had enjoyed the benefits brought by the school, he must also bear some responsibilities.

After leaving the office, Lynn intended to visit Horsens at Silver Ring Prison, but instead received a communication request from Daphne.

Within the city of Silver Ring, legitimate wizards can generally make remote video calls using the Silver Ring Badge. However, wizards in this world value their privacy highly, so they usually only choose this method when discussing matters that don't require much secrecy.

Lynn answered the call, and Daphne's projection appeared. Her expression was a mixture of trepidation and excitement as she said:

“I have qualified to participate in the Holy Ring Society, Lynn.”

"The qualification to participate in the Holy Ring Society..." Lynn was slightly taken aback. His first thought was that Daphne had received the same cleaning task as them, but the next second, he realized that if that were the case, Daphne should not be so excited.

Lynn paused, then asked, "You mean, the qualifications to participate in the Holy Ring Society?"

“That’s right.” Daphne nodded.

"Formal wizards... also have the Holy Ring Society?" Lynn murmured, confirming his suspicions.

“Yes, didn’t you know?” Daphne was taken aback, then said, “But that makes sense. The ‘Holy Ring Gathering’ for formal wizards is only open to members of the Silver Ring Academy. Moreover, the first-tier Holy Ring Gathering is held only once every six years, and the second-tier is held only once every twelve years. It receives very little attention from the outside world.”

"It's a real pity. If you were a member of Silver Ring Academy, you would definitely have qualified to participate in the Holy Ring Society this time."

"I see," Lynn realized.

Daphne continued to recount some information about the Holy Ring Realm. This information wasn't exactly highly confidential, but due to information barriers, non-Silver Ring Academy wizards like Lynn didn't know much about it.

According to Daphne, there are 39 known ring layers in the St. Michael's Ring.

Each year, only a handful of wizarding apprentices who manage to reach the 10th ring of the Holy Ring Society are considered exceptional talents.

The subsequent ring layers can only be explored by formal wizards, which is why the Holy Ring Conference, which is attended by formal wizards, exists.

Of course, the Holy Ring Society, which is attended by formal wizards, is also called the Holy Ring Society, but it is of a much higher standard.

Not only are they divided into first-tier and second-tier Holy Ring Gatherings, but the rewards there far surpass those of the Seed of Talent.

According to Daphne, in the first-tier Holy Ring Gathering, after the tenth ring, participating wizards can receive substantial rewards for each ring they clear.

Eighty percent of the highest-ranking first-tier wizards in the First-Tier Holy Ring Society later successfully advanced to the Second-Tier Wizard level.

"No wonder I saw so many formal wizards heading deep into the Holy Ring Realm when I participated in the Holy Ring Meeting last time," Lynn suddenly realized. Looking at the joyful expression in Daphne's projection, he couldn't help but ask again.

"Do you remember the Saint-Mi ring pollution, Daphne?"

“…Of course I remember.” Daphne’s expression gradually turned serious, and she sighed. “I was worried about that too, which is why I came to find you.”

"Looking for me?" Lynn was taken aback. "But..."

Daphne smiled and interrupted him, her words unusually assertive: "I don't need your advice or for you to make decisions for me. I just want someone to talk to."

Her parents had passed away long ago, and her uncle had also left her. During that time when she was all alone, Daphne witnessed the betrayal of her best friend, endured the bullying of her classmates, and felt countless acts of malice.

Today, although Daphne is no longer the weak wizard apprentice she once was, she still can't find a single close friend when she looks around.

She wasn't without friends, but she didn't have any friends to help her through that difficult time.

Now, all of Daphne's friends are people who came to her after she became a first-tier wizard and the Tilo shop under her management flourished.

Among them were newly acquainted friends, as well as old friends who shamelessly reconnected.

But only Lynn, only Lynn was the friend who spent that time with her, the friend with whom she could confide.

“I understand…” Lynn nodded slowly. “So you knew the risks involved, but still decided to participate in the Holy Ring Society?”

“Hmm.” Daphne snapped out of her thoughts and said slowly, “I must fight for it, Lynn.”

"If I can achieve a good ranking in this Holy Ring Tournament, then given my age and strength, there is a high probability that I will be selected for the final class."

"Do you know about the Tail-Ending Squad?" "I know." Lynn nodded.

“Then you should understand what that means.” Daphne looked at Lynn, scrutinizing his pale gray eyes, and suddenly sighed, “We were both promoted to first-tier wizards at the same time, but I’m only at the beginner level, and I’m still a long way from the intermediate level.”

"But you're already a mid-level first-tier wizard... that's impressive."

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" Lynn asked, puzzled.

Daphne shook her head, offering no explanation, only a bright smile: "Anyway, wish me luck. Also, if the Tilo shop encounters any trouble while I'm involved in the Saint Mi Ring Society, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to handle it."

"But I've made all the arrangements, so there shouldn't be any problems."

A fully qualified wizard's survival ability far surpasses that of a wizard apprentice, and the first-tier Holy Ring is extremely difficult to obtain.

This results in the first-order Holy Ring meeting usually lasting more than a month and a half, with the longest in the past even lasting three months.

That's why Daphne said that.

“Of course, I also receive a share of the shop's profits every month.” Lynn smiled, then straightened his expression and said seriously, “I wish you good results, but I wish you a safe return.”

Daphne's eyes sparkled, she pursed her lips slightly, and then smiled brightly: "I will."

The projection turned off the next second, and Daphne sat quietly in the meditation room. The smile on her lips did not disappear; instead, it grew wider and wider.

After a long while, she took a deep breath, looked at the golden certificate of qualification for participating in the Holy Ring Society in her hand, and silently cheered herself on.

She told Lynn a lot about the First Order Holy Ring Society, but she overlooked one point: danger.

The danger level of the first-tier Holy Ring Society far exceeds that of the ordinary Holy Ring Society. Every year, the mortality rate of wizards participating in the first-tier Holy Ring Society is over 10%, and the disability rate is as high as 30%, while she is only a first-tier junior wizard.

……

……

At Silver Ring Prison, Lynn asked the wizard guarding the gate to send a message to Horsens.

After ending his call with Daphne, he had contacted Wizard Horsens using the Silver Ring Badge, but received no response. After much deliberation, Lynn still came here.

Two weeks remain until the official start date of the Holy Ring Society, but only five days are left before the Horsens School submits its list of candidates to participate in the Holy Ring Society's cleanup mission. This means Lynn only has five days for the Horsens wizards to find new candidates.

Considering that finding a new first-tier wizard will take time, Lynn probably only has one or two days left.

"Lord Horsens is busy right now. He wants you to go back first, saying he'll contact you when he's done." The wizard on duty returned quickly, but the news he brought wasn't so good.

Lynn remained silent for a moment, then could only thank him and leave.

However, as the moon was high in the sky that night, Lynn was still studying the Black Moon runes when he received a reply from Horsens.

He immediately stopped his research, went to the office, and knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Lynn pushed open the door and entered.

By the window, Horsens stood quietly, gazing at Silver Ring City outside, lost in thought.

He turned around and said gently, "I have received your request, and I agree to it."

Lynn was stunned. He hadn't even had a chance to greet Horsens when he heard this good news.

“Thank you, Your Excellency Horsens,” he said quickly, giving a finger salute.

“No need for formalities.” Horsens smiled slightly as he looked at Lynn. “As long as your seclusion is for self-improvement and not out of fear or to avoid trouble, I can certainly help you.”

Lynn was taken aback and remained silent.

The reason he gave Horsens was that he had recently encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation and needed to go into seclusion for a period of time... This was, of course, a lie.

Horsens continued, "You are now the most talented first-order wizard in our school, do you know that?"

"I don't know..." Lynn answered honestly, somewhat belatedly realizing the truth.

"Although you weren't the youngest when you advanced to the first rank, you had the shortest training time from the initial stage to the intermediate stage," Horsens continued, gazing at the boy before him. "There are two other intermediate stage wizards in the school who are younger than you, but they both advanced to the initial stage before the age of fifteen and are only at the intermediate stage now."

"Moreover, their combat ability is probably far inferior to yours."

Lynn didn't know how to respond, so she just nodded repeatedly.

Horsens didn't pay any attention. He turned back to look at Silver Ring City outside the window, and the voice that came from there was distant and slow: "The path of a wizard is difficult and long. There are always some dangers that cannot be avoided, Lynn."

Lynn's heart skipped a beat, wondering if Horsens had seen through his true thoughts.

Horsens did not turn around, but remained standing by the window, encouraging him, "Strive to improve yourself, Lynn."

After saying that, Horsens' figure gradually disappeared.

Lynn remained silent in the office for a long time before walking to the window where Horsens was standing.

Bathed in the silvery moonlight, Silver Ring City appeared silent.

'Was I wrong to choose to avoid the Holy Circle Church?'

Shaking his head, Lynn didn't think about it anymore. From both the perspective of benefits and risks, it was the right thing for him not to participate in the Saint Mi Ring Society's cleanup mission.

He has his own way of thinking and considerations, and he won't change because of what others say.

In the time that followed, Lynn continued to bury himself in trying to inscribe law enforcement runes.

Horsens' seemingly pointed remark only bothered him at first, but Lynn soon forgot about it.

After all, not having to worry about the Holy Ring Society was a huge relief for Lynn, giving him more energy and time to try inscribing law enforcement runes.

However, this rune is extremely complex, and even knowing the rune point, it is still not easy to successfully inscribe it in one's mental sea.

Two weeks later, in the meditation room.

Lynn rubbed his eyes wearily, feeling somewhat defeated; this attempt had failed again.

Lynn let out a long sigh, glanced at the time, and turned to leave the meditation room.

'It's time to take Daphne to the St. Michael's Ring Meeting...'

(End of this chapter)