"You've worked hard. I'll roast some meat for you later as a reward."

  Ryan patted the sled hound's furry forehead. The creature was panting, its fluffy coat damp with forest dew. It had carried him at full speed for several hours, and even a magically infused beast could not help feeling tired.

  Deep in the night, the forest was quiet except for the crackle of the campfire. Over the flames, a slab of Ram-headed Charger meat sizzled and dripped oil, turning a delicious golden color.

  Ryan used his dagger to turn the meat from time to time, sprinkling spices as he went. The rich aroma quickly spread through the air.

  The sled hound sat nearby, occasionally letting out a long, impatient howl at the fire, as if urging the meat to cook faster.

  "Quit howling. If you keep making noise, you're not getting any." Ryan flicked the hound's forehead with a finger.

  The hound drooped its ears in grievance, lying down obediently and fixing its gaze on the roasting meat. Even its tail stayed perfectly still.

  When the meat was finally ready, Ryan tore off a large piece and handed it to the hound, then sat back and gnawed slowly on the rest himself.

  After eating his fill, Ryan felt drowsy."I'm going to sleep for a while. Keep watch for me. If you try to run, next time I see you, I'll grind down your claws."

  He aimed the threat at the hound that was still wolfing down its share. He knew the creature feared pain—grinding its claws would be worse than death to it.

  Hearing this, the sled hound froze mid-bite. Its round eyes went wide, and it instinctively shielded its front paws, staring at Ryan in terror.

  It had actually had several chances to run away. But first, it feared Ryan's power. And second, after these few days together, it had already grown used to following him.

  At least with this human, there was roasted meat every day. In the Black Forest, it would have to fight hunger and monsters to survive.

  Eventually, the sled hound lay obediently at Ryan's feet, ears perked, alert to the slightest sound in the forest. From time to time, it glanced at the campfire, looking every bit like a dutiful night guard.

  Ryan closed his eyes but did not fall asleep immediately. His thoughts wandered to Evelyn.

  "To pursue her now and complete my mission... it's like a magic apprentice chasing the academy dean—utterly out of reach." He gave a self-mocking smile.

  "Forget it. Let fate decide. Our paths weren't shallowly crossed, after all." Ryan shook his head, pushed away his wandering thoughts, steadied his breathing, and slowly drifted into sleep.

  ...

  At that same moment, in a traveler's inn, Evelyn sat by the window, a concealment veil covering her face.

  The inn was lively. Travelers drank, laughed, and traded stories of strange magical happenings from all over the realm.

  Evelyn paid them no mind. Her gaze was fixed on the darkness beyond the window, her thoughts wandering through thousands of years of weary memory.

  Since she had embarked on the path of magic, her life had been nothing but study and academy tasks—day after day, year after year. It was a lonely, monotonous existence.

  She thought of that boy—the one who had stubbornly shouted"Take me with you!" Simple, kind, loyal.

  "Someone that pure... the scheming of the magical world will destroy him soon enough," she murmured softly, a faint trace of worry flashing through her eyes.

  Perhaps tired, Evelyn leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes. Beside her, only the ultimate ice sword emitted its faint, cold glow.

  Meanwhile, deep in the Black Forest, the campfire crackled quietly, and Ryan slept soundly beside his loyal, watchful sled hound.

  The two of them, holding very different thoughts, drifted into sleep under the same night sky—like two rivers that had once met for a moment before flowing apart, each toward its unknown destiny.

  ...

  When the first ray of sunlight slipped through the leaves of the Black Forest, Ryan awoke.

  The sled hound was still curled at his feet, sleeping soundly, its furry belly rising and falling with each breath.

  Ryan didn't wake it. Instead, he packed his belongings, slung his bag over his shoulder, and watched the creature sleep with a faint pang of reluctance.

  These past few days, having the enchanted sled hound by his side had made the lonely journey much easier.

  When the hound finally woke, Ryan roasted more Ram-headed Charger meat. Man and beast ate quickly, then set off once again.

  For two more days, they traveled swiftly through the Black Forest. On the morning of the third day, a magnificent city finally appeared on the horizon.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Ryan stopped at the city gate, dismounted from the sled hound, and patted its forehead with quiet sincerity. His tone carried a trace of reluctance.

  "Thank you for your company these past few days. Go back now. The Black Forest may be dangerous, but it's safer than human cities. The mages inside won't roast meat for you like I did."

  The sled hound seemed to understand. It lowered its head and gently nudged Ryan's palm, letting out a soft, whimpering sound that carried a hint of sadness.

  "Go on." Ryan waved his hand at the sled hound.

  He had planned to say a few parting words, but before he could, the creature suddenly kicked off with its hind legs and shot forward with a speed almost like a wind-type acceleration spell.

  Its white figure vanished into the shadows of the Black Forest in the blink of an eye, not even leaving a trace behind.

  Ryan froze mid-wave, his expression still holding a trace of reluctance. The abrupt escape left him half laughing, half speechless."You could at least look back and say goodbye, you ungrateful furball."

  He muttered a few complaints toward the direction where the sled hound had disappeared, then straightened his clothes and walked toward the city gate.

  "Halt! Identify yourself!"

  As soon as he approached the gate, two guards in silver armor crossed their spears to block his path.

  "I'm a traveling apprentice. I wish to stay in the city for a few days to restock supplies," Ryan said honestly, releasing a hint of his Third-tier Adept Mage mana.

  As expected, when the guards sensed his magical presence, their attitudes immediately softened.

  "Our apologies." The leading guard lowered his spear, speaking with respect."However, there's something you should know. There's been an incident recently. The city lord's son had his magic core destroyed. The entire city is now under lockdown—entry is allowed, but no one is permitted to leave."

  "Something like that?" Ryan's mind stirred, and he instinctively thought of Evelyn.

  She had flown in this direction before. If she had clashed with the city lord's son, it wouldn't be impossible for her to have destroyed his core.

  He kept that thought to himself, simply smiling."No problem. I planned to stay here anyway. I might as well see what's happening inside."

  "Then please, enter the city." The guard gestured behind him, and a smaller side gate slowly opened.

  Ryan nodded in thanks and stepped through. But the streets beyond were unusually empty—none of the usual noise or bustle of a normal city. Even the market stalls were few and far between.

  Squads of patrol soldiers clad in black armor walked in formation along the streets. The crest of the city lord's mansion gleamed on their breastplates, and the magical pressure they emitted was far stronger than that of the gate guards. Clearly, they were elite troops of the city lord.

  "Pack up and go home! The city is on alert—no one's coming to buy anything!"

  Not far ahead, several patrol soldiers were gathered around an elderly man sitting by a small stand of magical herbs, trying to persuade him to leave.

  But the old man was stubborn. He shielded his herbs with both hands and shook his head."Even if no one buys them, I must wait here for those who need them."

  The squad leader's expression darkened."Smash it. The city lord has ordered that all unrelated stalls be cleared during the lockdown!"

  At his command, the soldiers stepped forward roughly, sweeping the herbs to the ground and striking the wooden stall with the butts of their spears.

  The old man tried to intervene but was shoved aside. He stumbled and fell to the dirt, staring at his scattered herbs with pain in his eyes, yet he dared not utter a word of protest.

  From a distance, Ryan silently watched the entire scene unfold.

  He frowned but did not step forward. In the world of magic, a citywide lockdown order held absolute authority—especially when the city lord's household was in anger. To interfere would only bring unnecessary trouble.

  He knew well that before power, even the will to resist could be meaningless. Taking a stand recklessly might only bring harm to those he wished to protect.

  Ryan found an inn and rented a small room.

  He took out the potions he had obtained from the previous lottery draw, along with the incomplete scroll of the Shadow Clone Technique.

  "Carrying these around is too much trouble. I'd better sell them at a potion shop," he muttered, making up his mind before stepping out of the inn.

  The streets were even more heavily patrolled than before. Soldiers in black armor were checking every shop, obviously searching for the person who had injured the city lord's son.

  Ryan visited several potion stores in a row, but most had their doors tightly shut. The few that were open immediately refused him once they heard he wanted to sell rare potions, clearly afraid of attracting trouble.

  It wasn't until he reached the southern part of the city that he finally found a shop with its door open. Ryan pushed it open and walked in. The scent of herbs filled the air.

  Behind the counter, a middle-aged man was sorting dried plants.

  "Shopkeeper, do you buy special magic potions?" Ryan asked quietly, leaning against the counter.

  The man looked up, curiosity flashing in his eyes."What kind of special potions?"

  Ryan unstrapped the pack on his back and placed it on the counter. As he opened it, the first thing visible was a pair of Shadow Silk Stockings and a pair of shorts.

  The shopkeeper's mouth twitched, and his expression turned incredulous."Are you here to sell clothes? This is a potion shop, not a tailor's."

  "Relax, the good stuff's underneath," Ryan said quickly, moving the stockings and shorts aside to reveal the potions and the Shadow Clone Technique scroll.

  "You probably know how valuable these are—especially this Shadow Clone Technique. It's the real deal," Ryan said confidently.

  The man's eyes narrowed."Where did you get these?"

  "You don't need to know that," Ryan replied calmly."Just tell me whether you're buying or not."

  The shopkeeper hesitated, biting his lip before finally saying,"Fifty Low-grade Mana Crystals. What do you say?"

  "Fifty Low-grade Mana Crystals? Deal!" Ryan agreed immediately.

  He had expected no more than thirty, so the price was better than he hoped for.

  The shopkeeper blinked, surprised at how quickly Ryan accepted. For a moment, he wondered if he had offered too much. Still, when his eyes fell again on the Shadow Clone Technique scroll, greed got the better of him.

  Just as he reached out to take everything from the pack, Ryan pressed his hand down on it."Fifty Low-grade Mana Crystals for the Shadow Clone Technique only," he said firmly.

  "What?" The man froze."Didn't you just say you'd sell them all?"

  "I never said I'd sell everything together," Ryan replied, raising an eyebrow. He had already seen through the man's attempt to take advantage of him.

  The shopkeeper's face darkened. He hadn't expected this young mage to be so sharp. Judging from the mana radiating off him, the boy was someone he couldn't afford to offend.

  "Fine," the man muttered reluctantly."Fifty Low-grade Mana Crystals for the Shadow Clone Technique only."

  Ryan nodded. The man took out a wooden box from beneath the counter, neatly filled with fifty Low-grade Mana Crystals.

  Ryan accepted the box, handed over the scroll, then packed the potions and clothes back into his bag before turning to leave.

  The shopkeeper stared at the Shadow Clone Technique in his hands, his fingers trembling.

  A mid-tier bronze-level spell scroll—worth at least a hundred Low-grade Mana Crystals on the black market. He had just bought it for half that price!