Evo's routine after his breakthrough unfolded like this:
During the first week, he went to the academy library every single day. He searched for and read book after book on the rules and fundamentals of magic and spellcraft.
Every day after classes, he headed straight there, stayed until the sun dipped below the horizon, and only then returned to his room to rest.
After a week of this cycle, he began taking missions again. His targets were clear: extermination jobs and dungeon-conquering tasks.
This went on for two full months, mission after mission on repeat.
Unfortunately, he didn't find anything useful in the dungeons afterward. It seemed that one lucky haul truly had been nothing but luck. So he exchanged everything he had gathered for points.
And today, in the third month, he decided to visit the guild shop to see if he could find anything worthwhile.
– During these three months, I completed mission after mission.
– I managed to save up a considerable amount of points.
Evo glanced at his guild card, which displayed his current rank — now IRON — and the number of points listed below it.
GUILD POINTS: 286,000
– Lavena, the receptionist, said back then that buying anything decent starts at a hundred thousand.
– Well… I think this should be enough.
He shrugged and continued walking through the shop, located on the guild's second floor.
As he walked, he absentmindedly played with the little serpent — well, not so little anymore, since she had grown significantly, easily tripling in size.
– Seriously, Kalythra, you're heavy now, you glutton!
Evo teased her, and she clearly didn't appreciate that. She bit him on the arm.
– Hahaha, sorry, my little one… well, not so little anymore!
– You're still light!
She turned her head away as if offended. Evo loved her little tantrums and kept petting her.
Kalythra, now at Apprentice rank as well, had not only grown but also become stronger.
Her ability — the same as Evo's — had strengthened: Temporal Lock.
Evo was a bit disappointed that she hadn't awakened a new ability.
– Well! We'll be patient. She'll awaken more later on and become even stronger.
When Evo entered the shop, he frowned slightly. The place was well-kept, with potions neatly arranged on shelves and weapons displayed on racks — swords, bows, maces.
Further ahead was an empty counter. Evo approached and rang the small bell.
BLIMMM!
– Coming!
A voice echoed from the room behind the counter.
Evo waited, playing with the serpent wrapped around his arm.
Moments later, someone emerged — struggling with a tall stack of boxes.
– Sorry! I was grabbing some materials for restocking.
Turning around, Evo saw a young woman with long silver hair and blue eyes, doing her best to keep the boxes from toppling.
Seeing them wobble, Evo rushed forward and grabbed the upper ones, preventing everything from crashing.
– Whew!
The girl let out a relieved sigh.
– Thank you! If it weren't for you, I'd have been in real trouble!
Evo simply nodded, as if it had been nothing, and placed the boxes on the counter. She followed suit.
– Miss, could you please give me the product catalog?
He asked without wasting time. He still had a lot to do and didn't want to waste even a minute.
The young woman smiled, noticing his polite but hurried demeanor.
– You can call me Velaine. And you? What's your name?
She asked while retrieving the catalog from a drawer.
– Evo Eylam. Nice to meet you, Velaine!
Her eyebrows rose at the recognition of his surname.
– You're Noeli's eldest son?
Evo wasn't surprised to hear his mother's name. She was one of the most famous people in the empire — especially within the academy. A legend.
Freya had once told him that back when his mother was a student, she'd been cold and ruthless, especially toward boys who confessed to her. She gave dry rejections and even humiliated showy nobles.
When Evo heard that, he remembered the doting mother he knew and laughed so hard that when he told Freya his side of the story, the two nearly rolled on the floor laughing.
Remembering that moment, Evo allowed himself a faint smile. He hadn't spoken to Freya or Ravina even once in these three months.
Not because he was angry — he'd just been extremely busy.
And besides… he was a little scared. Anxious, unsure how to act around them.
While he stared at the floor, lost in thought, Velaine called out:
– Eylam!... Eylam!
She tapped him with the booklet. He jolted, realizing he'd left her waiting.
– Sorry, Velaine. I've got a lot on my mind and spaced out for a moment.
She gave him a gentle smile and handed him the catalog.
– Hahaha, it's alright! It happens. Especially to us students — we're always swamped with tasks.
Evo nodded and thanked her.
– Thank you.
– And to answer your question: yes, I'm her son.
Velaine nodded and asked:
– Do you have anything specific in mind?
Evo shook his head while flipping through the catalog.
– No. I just came to see if I can find something useful.
She leaned against the counter, waiting. Soon, she noticed the serpent wrapped around Evo's arm staring at her. She found the creature beautiful. Kalythra had an elegant posture and eyes similar to Evo's, matching her porcelain-white scales.
– Your serpent is beautiful!
– She is! This glutton here is Kalythra!
The young woman smiled.
– I see. But doesn't it tire you to carry her around all day like that?
Evo thought for a moment, scratching under the serpent's chin as he spoke.
– To be honest, it used to be easy.
– She was tiny and curled up on my wrist like a bracelet, but…
He paused.
– But after she ascended to Apprentice, she tripled in size. Carrying her like this gets pretty awkward now.
The girl nodded and, remembering something, suddenly grinned.
– Eylam, I might be able to solve your problem!
Evo stopped flipping pages and looked at her with interest.
– How?
She smiled brightly.
– There's a skill book that's been here for ages.
– The former clerk said it's been on sale for about ten years.
– For some reason, no one ever wanted it.
Her voice carried genuine confusion.
Evo was intrigued. What kind of skill could help with this?
– Hm? And how is that book supposed to help me?
– Its ability is made specifically for magical beasts, spirits, and contracted creatures!
Evo's expression shifted, trying not to get his hopes up.
– And what does this ability do?
The young woman tilted her head adorably and replied:
– It's a spatial ability called "Beast Hall"!
– It creates a dimensional area that serves as a resting place for beasts.
She continued:
– I don't know its size. It might be small or large. But even if it's small, I'm sure Kaly will fit.
Evo straightened, hopeful.
– And how much is that book?
– Well… in the old catalog, it used to cost 180,000 points.
Evo felt his chest tighten. That was a lot — but not impossible.
Yet Velaine wasn't finished:
– But like I said, it's been here for ten years without selling. Its value dropped drastically.
Evo smiled.
– How much now?
– 60,000 points.
– I'll take it!
He didn't even think twice — the price had fallen to less than half; there was nothing to hesitate about.
Velaine grabbed the book from the shelf and handed it to him.
It was white, with golden details, beautifully preserved. Evo activated his energy and touched the book. It dissolved into particles of light and entered his body.
[A new ability acquired!]
[Beast Hall]
Evo immediately opened his ability tab.
Ability – Beast Hall
Type: Spatial
Description: A skill created to shelter beasts. Functions as an oasis of rest.
Inside it, the beast is continuously strengthened by ambient energy, heals faster, and has its fatigue relieved.
The space is filled with magical restorative properties.
Current Size: 5 meters.
Evo looked at it as if he had just won the lottery.
– Hahaha! This is literally a paradise for beasts! And it even heals wounds and strengthens them little by little!
– It's really complete!
Now the little one had her own place to relax — and a spacious one at that.
Seeing Evo's goofy smile, Velaine asked:
– Does the ability suit you?
Evo grinned brightly.
– Thank you, Velaine. You really helped me!
She blushed lightly but quickly regained composure.
– I'm glad I could help!
Evo sent Kalythra into the Hall and summoned her back.
– Well? Did you like it?
The serpent nodded, thoroughly pleased.
Seeing that, Evo sent her back in to rest.
The clerk asked:
– Will you be taking anything else?
Evo nodded and returned to the catalog. After a few minutes, he decided:
– Velaine, I'll also take the "Mana Spring" brooch and this "Night Veil" cloak.
She totaled everything:
– Let's see…
"Beast Hall" skill book: 60,000
"Mana Spring" brooch: 100,000
"Night Veil" cloak: 105,000
Total: 265,000 points.
Evo handed her his card and she deducted the points.
– Thank you for your purchases, Eylam. Come again!
Evo thanked her, left the shop, stored the cloak, and fastened the brooch inside his blazer. The amethyst gem with silver edges glowed faintly—elegant.
And what did these items do?
The cloak acted as camouflage and presence concealment, enhanced at night. It also made his movements lighter. (Clearly made for assassins.)
The brooch, on the other hand, was a treasure.
It constantly replenished his mana, drawing energy from the air.
Not infinite, but it extended combat endurance immensely — a crucial advantage.
Especially with only one month left before the expedition to the Elven Capital and the elven academy.
And even more because…
– Now that I'm at level 102…
– I don't think I'll have time to break through again before we leave.
– Actually, I'm sure! I won't make it in time!
And so, Evo pushed himself into an intense, relentless mission routine for the remaining month until the day of the journey.