Ryan opened his eyes timidly, only to see Evelyn standing beside him, her gaze lowered as she looked down at him.

  The moment she saw him awaken, the slight softness that had appeared on her face vanished, replaced by a faint chill that spread around her.

  Ryan secretly rejoiced. His arm trembled deliberately as he shut his eyes again, pretending to be frightened. His voice carried a hint of grievance.

  "I know I acted rudely toward you last night, but I truly do not know why it happened. The chaotic magic in my body always loses control during the night. It was never my intention.

  If you wish to punish me, then do it. I will not utter a single complaint."

  Rather than wait for her to explode, it was better to confess first and pretend that last night's entanglement was merely a consequence of uncontrolled magic.

  Besides, with his physical resilience, even if she did teach him a lesson, it would hardly hurt. But he still needed to put on a full act, and looking pitiful was part of it.

  "Why should I punish you?" Evelyn's voice remained cool as always, though it lacked some of its usual anger.

  Hearing this, Ryan's eyes flew open. He rolled to his feet in one swift motion and stared at Evelyn in confusion.

  Was she planning to lull him into lowering his guard before striking?

  After how tightly he had clung to her last night, and after waking up still holding her in an intimate embrace, she was not angry?

  He was certain that from the way he had been wrapped around Evelyn at noon, he must have crawled into her bed midway through the night.

  But why did he lose control of his body every night? Could it be a side effect of his cultivation method?

  He had even dreamed of walking side by side with a gentle and affectionate Evelyn, the dream version of her smiling softly instead of being cold and distant.

  If only the real Evelyn could be that warm.

  "You really are not going to punish me?" Ryan asked again, still unconvinced.

  "I am not going to punish you." Evelyn's tone remained flat.

  Ryan confirmed again and again until he finally noticed a hint of impatience appear on Evelyn's face. Only then did he stop.

  "If you continue asking, then I will give you what you wish for." Evelyn's cold voice carried a quiet warning.

  "I will stop." Ryan quickly smiled apologetically, though his mind was already spinning with plans.

  Since she was not angry, should he try staying awake tonight and approach her on purpose?

  "If you follow me obediently to Glacial Arcana Academy, I will completely forgive your behavior last night." Evelyn stated calmly and waved her hand lightly at him.

  Ryan flinched and instantly raised his hands to cover his face, thinking she was about to cast a spell.

  But no attack came. Instead, a gentle breeze brushed past him, sweeping all the dust from his clothes.

  She had only wanted to clean him up.

  "What are you afraid of?" Evelyn's expression darkened slightly, displeasure creeping into her voice.

  "I said I would not punish you. I do not go back on my word. Do you doubt me that much?"

  "No, I just felt there was dust on my face, so I thought I should brush it off myself."

  Ryan quickly lowered his hands and casually patted his face to hide his embarrassment.

  "Let's go." Evelyn turned away.

  "Where to?" Ryan asked.

  "Glacial Arcana Academy."

  Ryan hurried after her, obediently following behind.

  The onlookers stared in bewilderment. The stranger who had been fleeing for his life moments ago was now docilely trailing behind a woman.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The sudden change was simply too bizarre.

  Evelyn's silhouette moving across the sky above the sanctuary earlier had already been etched deeply into everyone's hearts.

  Her cold and breathtaking beauty was unforgettable at a single glance, and many had already begun to admire her.

  Ryan was accompanying Evelyn as she searched for the elders of the sanctuary, hoping to ask one of them to guide them to Vaelor.

  At that moment, a figure clad in a white robe embroidered with the sigil of the Sacred Sword descended from the air and landed firmly in front of them, blocking their path.

  A faint holy radiance flowed around the white robed man. His features were handsome and his bearing refined.

  "Beautiful lady, are you a new apprentice?" he asked, his tone carrying an intentional gentleness.

  "No." Evelyn lifted her eyes to him, her expression still cold.

  She was about to pull Ryan along and walk past him, but the white robed man stepped sideways, blocking their path once more.

  "Please wait. If you are not an apprentice, then which faction are you visiting from?"

  His words sounded like a question, but it was obvious he already knew the answer.

  "She is with me. Get out of the way and stop trying to flirt with her!" Ryan stepped forward to shield Evelyn, spreading his arms protectively.

  "Oh?" The white robed man raised a brow, a flicker of doubt and disdain appearing in his eyes. It was clear he did not believe Ryan.

  He was Kaelith, the newly appointed Divine Son of the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword.

  Ignoring Ryan, Kaelith kept his gaze on Evelyn."You are from Glacial Arcana Academy, correct?"

  "Are you done? Did you not hear me say she is with me?" Ryan snapped back angrily, silently complaining in his heart.

  This guy must think that just because he has a handsome face, he can do whatever he pleases. Asking questions no one asked him and pretending to be profound.

  He clearly knew who Evelyn was, yet he pretended to ask whether she was a new apprentice. Truly insincere.

  Kaelith's gaze sharpened as he glared coldly at Ryan. Ryan glared right back, refusing to back down, though neither made a move.

  He had learned from the Grimoire that Kaelith was the Divine Son of the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword, a High Mage.

  Judging by the standard of previous Divine Sons, he should at least be a Mystic Mage, though he was likely newly selected.

  And since this was his territory, attacking him would be unwise.

  "This has nothing to do with you." Evelyn's brows tightened, her expression growing more displeased. She grabbed Ryan by the sleeve and pulled him along, forcing him to walk past Kaelith.

  Kaelith did not stop them. He simply watched their departing figures, a glint of admiration and regret flickering in his eyes.

  Such beauty and bearing were rare in the world.

  A pity she already had someone at her side, and that someone was an eyesore of a boy.

  A beauty like that spelled trouble.

  That boy was merely at the Journeyman Mage level. Could he really protect someone so dazzling?

  Even the strict rules of Glacial Arcana Academy would be enough to overwhelm him.

  Glacial Arcana Academy. Kaelith sighed inwardly.

  If not for the formidable prestige of that top tier ice magic faction, he truly wished he could try pursuing her.

  But Vaelor had given strict orders not to provoke the one who came from Glacial Arcana Academy.

  Had he not been captivated by her appearance and unable to resist saying a few more words, none of this would have happened.

  And that annoying boy had ruined what little mood he had left.

  …

  Along a quiet path within the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword, sunlight filtered through the leaves and scattered in patches across the ground.

  Ryan patted Derrick on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.

  "Derrick, you must study magic well here at the Sanctum of the Sacred Sword. Become someone important. When you rise to greatness, I can come back and bask in your glory."

  Ryan, Evelyn, Derrick and Darlene gathered together once more.

  Only this time, they were about to part ways.

  "Mentor, what am I going to do if you leave?" Derrick's eyes reddened, his voice thick with tears. The rims of his eyes shimmered as if the tears would spill at any moment."Can you not go?"

  "Don't start crying." Ryan patted his shoulder, pretending to sound relaxed. Halfway through speaking, he leaned toward Derrick's ear and lowered his voice.

  "I am only going to your Mentor's Lady's academy for a while. We will definitely meet again when the chance comes."

  As he said it, his eyes drifted instinctively toward Evelyn in the distance, terrified she might hear him.

  "Mentor, it is just saying Mentor's Lady. What are you scared of?"

  Derrick's loud voice carried without the slightest restraint. His words instantly made Evelyn turn her head, her cold gaze landing on the two of them.

  Ryan cursed Derrick hundreds of times in his heart.

  When this apprentice decides to cause trouble, he never shows mercy. But when he suddenly becomes sharp, it is equally troublesome.

  It made Ryan both fond of him and exasperated beyond belief.

  Ryan forced out a few awkward laughs, then abruptly stopped. He braced himself, walked over to Evelyn's side, and hurriedly explained.

  "Do not think too much. This kid's mind is not always clear. He must have misheard me and shouted nonsense."

  Such a clumsy excuse would not fool even a three year old, yet Evelyn said nothing.

  She blinked, her gaze settling on Ryan as though evaluating something.

  Being stared at like that made Ryan's scalp tingle, a cold sweat forming on his back.

  Fortunately, Evelyn eventually said nothing and turned away, as if she had not heard the conversation at all.

  Ryan exhaled in relief.

  He turned to Darlene, who was happily watching the commotion, and said solemnly,"Darlene, I am leaving my apprentice to you. Please keep an eye on him and help discipline him more."

  He deliberately emphasized the words, gritting his teeth."Make sure you discipline him hard. Do not let him keep acting so reckless."

  "No problem!" Darlene laughed brightly. She turned toward the puffed up Derrick and teased,"Hear that, brat? If you want me to look after you, call me senior first."

  "I am the senior! You Old Witch!" Derrick shot back angrily.

  "I enrolled earlier than you. By the rules, you should call me senior." Darlene refused to back down.

  "I am the senior!"

  "I enrolled earlier."

  "I…"

  "I enrolled earlier!"

  No matter what Derrick said, Darlene only repeated that one sentence.

  She shut him down completely, his face turning crimson while she laughed heartily.