166. Twilight's End (1)
The faucet dripped rhythmically, releasing water magic. Hobbs placed the potion bottles one by one into storage, raising his head to look at his reflection in the mirror. Exhaustion was etched across his brow and cheeks.
Barely half a year into enrollment, he looked as though he had aged three years, with streaks of white hair now threading through his bun.
"This is just a necessary price…"
Hobbs had no particular thoughts about it. He raised his hand, gazing at the ring on his middle finger.
From its initial jet-black luster, the ring had faded to an almost pallid white. A closer inspection would reveal that the once-vibrant mental energy imbued within it had all but diminished, on the verge of extinguishing entirely.
"Time's running out, Leina. Just hold on a little longer, and I will succeed."
Hobbs lowered his head, clenched his fist, and kissed the ring. His previously weary and wavering eyes instantly regained their resolve.
There wasn't much time left for him.
He was different from geniuses like Lucite and Leoz. Perhaps, in the eyes of ordinary people, they weren't particularly remarkable—just normal students. But even among the "normal" people in this school, their talent far exceeded his own.
Given his aptitude, simply gaining admission to this school was already extraordinarily difficult. With the aid of pharmaceuticals, he barely managed to keep pace.
"I must persevere, for Leina, and for this unjust world…"
Hobbs clenched his fists tightly, steeling his resolve. Washing his face with water, his thoughts became clearer. He adjusted his expression, once again donning his usual affable and composed demeanor.
As he exited the restroom, Hobbs immediately received a message from someone:
[Good Buddy—Leoz]: "I'm fighting Diaran at Arena 12. You should go check on Lucite first."
"This guy…" Hobbs muttered in exasperation.
Despite his repeated private advice and subtle hints about the "Golden Princess's" reputation, Leoz seemed desperately short on academic credits and couldn't afford to be picky.
"No, Leoz isn't an idiot. Diaran's not exactly a good girl. He wouldn't get close to her just for a measly 20 credits—so is it for her beauty?"
Hobbs pondered:
"Diaran is indeed extraordinarily beautiful. It's perfectly normal for hormonal students to fall for that… But later, I'll still need to introduce Leoz to some proper female students. Beyond her impeccable lineage and stunning looks, Diaran has nothing else going for her—neither family background nor financial stability."
Oh well, Leoz probably has his own plans. When he inevitably hits a wall, he'll surely drag us out for drinks and complaints. As his good brother, it's best to respect and support him.
Hobbs didn't want to lose such a pure friendship.
After all, in this school, everyone had their own agendas and secrets. Otherwise, Leina wouldn't have suffered her cruel fate… Friendships as pure as those with Leoz and Lucite were exceedingly rare, as precious as gemstones.
"Leoz must have his reasons. There shouldn't be any issues, right?"
Closing the communication rune, Hobbs was about to head to the library to meet Lucite. Just as he took a few steps, a female voice suddenly called out:
"Excuse me, student, may I bother you for a moment?"
Hobbs turned his head to see a veiled beauty walking gracefully towards him. Her light blue eyes squinted slightly, curving like crescent moons, perfectly embodying the phrase "alluring eyes like silk." She carried a seven-stringed harp and wore rather revealing clothing. Her voice was equally enchanting, reminiscent of the bards often seen in small towns.
She was a rare beauty—though beauty didn't hold much appeal for Hobbs. Not only because of his devotion to Leina but also because having someone like Leoz, a true stunner attractive to all genders, around every day had long numbed him.
Hobbs asked kindly:
"You don't look like a student. Is something wrong?"
"As you can see, it's my first time here at your esteemed school. I'm looking for an old friend but don't know where she is right now."
The female bard spoke, her light blue eyes blinking with a troubled expression.
Hobbs remained indifferent and asked, "Hmm, may I ask who you are looking for?"
"Nastisha Dantine," the bard replied. "She told me years ago that she was working as an associate professor at this school, but it's been so long since we've been in touch. I'm not sure if she's still here."
"Nastisha? She happens to be the Dean of our School of Applied Magic," Hobbs said with slight surprise. "But as far as I recall, her tenure as an associate professor was over a century ago…"
"Oh? Perhaps I misremembered," the bard replied with a playful smile. "Since she's your dean, young man, you must know where her office is, right?"
"I do, and you can find it on the map—but even if you go now, you won't find her there," Hobbs said, scratching his head.
"Huh?" The bard blinked. "Why not?"
"Ah, you must be from out of town and don't know."
Hobbs pointed to the sky:
"While Trivira is the capital of the White Candle Star, the Ministry of Education's headquarters is located in orbit. Senior scholars at the dean level, who are usually Zeta-tier and above, have to attend training there every three months, listen to the mandates of the Supreme Council, and submit their belief reports to ensure their materialist faith remains unshaken. It's their training period now, so they won't be back for a week."
"Hmm, that's true," the bard said, resting her chin on her hand. "The White Candle Star itself can only support a Zeta-tier power limit. Those at such a level can't live on the surface for long."
"Exactly." Hobbs shrugged. "Planets have their limits. Staying on one for too long diminishes a strong individual's power and negatively affects their health."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Seeing Hobbs' surprise at her question, the bard quickly explained:
"I'm just a mere mortal, completely ignorant about tiers… But doesn't that mean the White Candle Star lacks protection from Zeta-tier and above?"
Hobbs sensed the woman's biological frequency, confirming she was indeed at a Gamma-tier level.
'A true mortal, huh? But for a mortal to know someone like the dean… She's probably a distant relative or something. Best to remain polite.'
Hobbs, sharp-minded as always, quickly assessed the situation. Without showing disdain for her mortal status, he earnestly explained:
"It's a reasonable concern—but there's no need to worry about that on the White Candle Star."
"Why do you say so?"
"The White Candle Star is solely an educational planet. It lacks any rare strategic resources, which greatly reduces its appeal to interstellar plundering groups."
Hobbs elaborated:
"Moreover, the White Candle Star has a Kappa-tier Minister of Education overseeing it. Even if a power beyond Zeta-tier were to invade, they'd react immediately."
"Kappa-tier powers need no introduction, right? In interstellar warfare, they are strategic weapons of great importance. Blessed by the Star Abyss, they can shatter planets as easily as eating or drinking."
"With such renown, what reckless group would dare invade the White Candle Star?"
The bard nodded slightly, finding the reasoning sound:
"That does make sense."
Yet, her expression hinted at subtle disagreement.
Hobbs, ever observant, noticed her reluctance but didn't press the matter. Before he could inquire further, the bard waved her hand. "Since Nastisha isn't here, I'll take my leave for now and visit another day. Thank you, young man."
"It's no big deal. Anyone you asked would've told you the same," Hobbs replied indifferently.
"Not necessarily." The bard chuckled. "You're a good person—as thanks, please accept this."
Like a magician, she produced a card from behind her and handed it to Hobbs.
Curious, Hobbs took the card and examined it. It seemed to be some kind of mystical artifact, akin to a talisman. The ancient script on it conveyed blessings and good fortune.
When he looked up, the woman had vanished.
"What a strange person," Hobbs muttered, pocketing the talisman.
"I wonder what her connection to Dean Nastisha Dantine is. She mentioned not seeing the dean for years and called her an associate professor… Could it be that she isn't as young as she appears? But her aura clearly belongs to a mortal. How could a mortal live so long?"
There was another detail that bothered him.
When he said, "What reckless group would dare invade the White Candle Star?" the bard's expression briefly turned doubtful and strange.
Her look… as if to say, "Are you joking?"
But in reality, there was no cause for such concern. The White Candle Star had never needed to worry about that.
The more Hobbs thought about it, the more puzzled he became. But he didn't dwell on it further. He had already wasted enough time. Lucite was still waiting for him.
......
Outer orbit of the White Candle Star.
The 'Amaryllis' Fortress hovered peacefully, three million meters above the planet, spinning serenely under the pull of its gravitational field. The centrifugal force from its rotation allowed the mages and officials within to stand firmly.
The teleportation hall glowed briefly. After a fleeting flash of figures, Nastisha Dantine raised her head and followed the surrounding mages into the hall with composure.
"Ah, the most annoying time has come,"
The Dean of the School of Diplomatic Relations, Mage Karl Rufus, grumbled under his breath:
"Every three months, they call it training, but it's really just to monitor our materialist faith—to see if we've betrayed or deviated from the Crystal Tower Civilization. It's nothing more than thought policing!"
"Mage Karl, you're too narrow-minded. This is a necessary measure," Dean of the School of Natural Ecology, Ye Wangnan, said with a chuckle. "Those Night Butterfly cultists spread their idealistic superstitions everywhere. They must be thoroughly crushed, their altars swept into the dustbin of history. A little sacrifice on our part is worth it."
"You don't actually believe that rhetoric, do you? It's just political correctness," Karl retorted, turning to Nastisha Dantine. "Dean Dantine, what do you think?"
"Me? My opinion doesn't really matter," Nastisha replied, shaking her head. "The Supreme Council has their plans. Trusting their resolutions is less reliable than trusting a steak. But for now, they are indeed striving to maintain our political unity."