I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The first rays of morning sunlight peeked through the gap in the curtains and landed on Elena's eyelashes.

She stirred, her brows furrowing slightly. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes, her gray-blue pupils still veiled with sleepiness, only focusing after a few breaths.

She found herself leaning on Ji Tian's shoulder, his robes were wrinkled, and the neckline of her own nightgown had somehow slipped down, revealing a small section of her collarbone.

She sat up abruptly, pulled her collar together, and her cheeks flushed red, the blush spreading all the way to her ears, even her neck turning a light pink.

"You're awake." Ji Tian's voice came from above.

Elena didn't dare look at him, lowering her head to adjust the hem of her nightgown, her fingers trembling slightly. "I... I've been leaning on your shoulder the whole time?"

Ji Tian stood up and stretched his shoulders and neck. "Yes, did you sleep well?"

Elena took a deep breath, calming her racing heart, and looked up, trying to make her tone sound natural: "It's alright... just my neck is a little sore."

"It might be because your posture is incorrect."

Elena puffed out her cheeks and glared at him, but it didn't seem to have any effect on Ji Tian.

She stood up, wrapped her thin cardigan tighter around herself, and hurried toward the bathroom. "I'm going to change. You can use the washroom upstairs first. There are clean towels on the rack."

"it is good."

Breakfast is delivered in advance to the drop-off box downstairs by the inner courtyard canteen according to the number of people in the building: honey bread for two people, fried eggs, and two pots of hot milk.

Elena changed into a dark blue inner court uniform, her long hair braided into a loose braid hanging down her chest, making her look more capable than last night.

Ji Tian sat across the table, wearing a white dress given to him by Elena.

Elena pushed the milk towards him. "What are your plans for today?"

Ji Tian took the milk, took a sip, and said, "I haven't decided yet, but I'll most likely go to the library."

"Then I'll come find you after class."

Elena stood up, took the plates into the kitchen, went to the entryway to change her shoes, bent down to fasten the metal buckles on her little leather boots, and a few strands of hair slipped out of her braids and fell down beside her cheeks.

She suddenly straightened up, glanced back at Ji Tian, ​​and said, "By the way, you need a mentor's authorization to enter the top floor of the inner courtyard library. Don't force your way in; there are magic tower restrictions there."

"Know."

"besides……"

Listening to Elena's rambling, Ji Tian suddenly asked, "Do you need me to accompany you to class? I have a way to avoid being discovered."

Elena finally turned around, a hint of surprise in her grey-blue eyes: "Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the academy's instructors? There are at least four archmages in the inner court. Although you also possess the ability to cast forbidden spells, but—"

Ji Tian interrupted her, "Six."

Elena froze. "What?"

"When I accompanied you for a walk in the inner courtyard yesterday, I investigated: there is one in the forbidden book section of the library, three in the magic tower, and two at the top of the administration building. One of them is the white-haired old woman who sat in the middle of the examiners' table during the magic test the day before yesterday."

Elena knew that Ji Tian was very strong. He had used a forbidden spell in the Eastern Territory two months ago. It was then that she truly realized that this little brat who couldn't even read back then and loved to talk big had already reached a height that she could not reach.

But she never expected that Ji Tian was even more unfathomable than she had imagined. He was able to detect the senior archmage and then nothing happened. How old was he?

"They didn't spot you?"

Ji Tian looked at her and suddenly remembered that he had never explained his strength to Elena. On the one hand, Elena never asked, and on the other hand, he had only told Elena that he was at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage, so she had no concept of this realm.

That was his oversight.

"With their level of cultivation, they are not qualified to detect me. Furthermore, I now possess at least the combat strength of a legendary mage. Whether it's the academy or the mage association, you don't need to be timid or hesitant."

Elena's heart skipped a beat. "A legendary mentor!? You... really want to come to class with me?"

"You don't want me to go?"

She suddenly looked up. "I didn't say I didn't want to! I was just worried you'd be bored. You're a legendary mage now, don't you think the professor's lectures are a waste of your time?"

"No, I can cultivate anytime."

Elena bit her lip and finally nodded, her voice barely audible, "Then... don't stray too far from me. I'm afraid if you're too far away, I won't be able to see you and will think you didn't come."

Ji Tian's lips twitched slightly. "Okay, I'll sit next to you."

Elena took a deep breath, turned around and pushed open the door. The morning light poured in, gilding her profile with a pale gold.

She stepped out the door, took two steps, then stopped, tilted her head to look at him, and asked, "What method are you going to use? Do you need my cooperation?"

Ji Tian caught up with her and walked beside her. "No need, you can just walk normally."

The two walked along the white stone path toward the teaching building. Dewdrops still clung to the roses in the garden, and a faint fragrance of grass and trees filled the air.

There were many students from the inner academy on the road, but no one noticed Ji Tian.

Elena glanced to her side; Ji Tian was still there, dressed in white with black hair, walking with composure, but the passing students ignored him.

Elena tried to move half a step to the side and reached out to touch him—her fingertips touched the fabric, warm and real.

"Don't touch me like that." Ji Tian's voice rang in my ears.

Elena withdrew her hand, her ears turning bright red, but she retorted sharply, "Who touched me! I was just... checking to make sure you were really here."

"Here I am."

Elena's steps quickened as she walked side-by-side with Ji Tian into the teaching building.

The stairwell was dimly lit, and only her footsteps echoed.

Elena suddenly felt something was amiss.

There was clearly someone walking beside her, someone she could touch and hear, but only she knew it, as if she possessed a secret that belonged only to her.

I'm the only one who can see him! I'm so happy!

She glanced at Ji Tian; his profile was sharply defined in the dim light, and his gaze was calmly fixed ahead.

Ji Tian's voice came from beside her ear, "Watch where you're going."

Elena looked away and muttered softly, "Okay."

She led Ji Tian up to the third floor, pushed open an oak door, and found some students already sitting in the classroom, chatting quietly in twos and threes.

The classrooms in the inner courtyard were larger than those in the outer courtyard, but there were far fewer students, so everyone could sit wherever they wanted.

The window seat was still empty, so Elena went over and sat down, taking out her textbooks and notebooks from her bag.

Ji Tian sat down in the empty seat next to her, his movements natural and the chair made no sound.

A girl with a ponytail in the front row turned around, greeted Elena familiarly, and then asked, "Do you think the professor will take attendance today?"

Elena smiled politely, "I think I'll know how to do the first lesson of the semester."

"Ugh, this is so annoying." The girl turned back and lay down on the table.

Elena glanced at Ji Tian, ​​who was looking out the window. Sunlight streamed in through the glass, casting a clear play of light and shadow on his face.

She lowered her head, opened her textbook, and couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Ji Tian glanced at her sideways, muffling his voice, and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Elena tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Nothing much~ I just feel happy."