“I can offer you a direction, but the final decision is yours. Just know, you may face a very serious cost. Can you accept that?”
Daniel asked Nora.
After a moment of hesitation, Nora finally nodded.
“I want to give it a try.”
“Good, then follow me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the two appeared in a desolate wilderness.
Nora noticed that the vegetation on the ground seemed different from what she’d seen before.
The plants shimmered with an unusual glow.
The sight was magical, especially under the sunlight, which made the plants even more vibrant, with glimmers of light flowing between their stems and leaves.
Instinctively, Nora reached out and touched a leaf.
The glow flowed onto her hand like water, spreading warmth through her fingertips.
“Headmaster, is this… a paradise of the gods?”
“Remember, don’t ask too many questions.”
Nora, mesmerized by the landscape, had momentarily forgotten what Daniel had warned her about.
But with his reminder, she quickly clamped her mouth shut.
Daniel, too, noticed the strange properties of the plants here, though he wasn’t surprised.
Perhaps his magical energy had seeped into the surroundings when he achieved tier-sage status here, causing this effect.
Even a trace of power at the tier-sage level could have such an influence, but it was harmless and caused no further changes.
Daniel had brought Nora here because he recalled the feeling he had when he reached tier-sage—a glimpse of the path to godhood.
At the time, he hadn’t wanted to become a god, so he declined. Daniel began to emit his tier-sage aura. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Sensing his energy, a hazy glow enveloped him.
Without hesitation, Daniel’s heartbeat intensified as mana surged from his body, merging with his mind power.
Moments later, a small magic array appeared in the air.
Though tiny, its intricate design gleamed brilliantly, composed entirely of Daniel’s magical and mental power alone, without any materials or prior patterns.
Nora watched in astonishment.
Just by his own strength, he could form such a complex magic array—what level of power did the headmaster truly possess?
The magic array continued to transform, shrinking until it condensed into a crystal that fell into Daniel’s hand.
It was his opportunity to attain godhood, yet he instead transformed it into a magical artifact—no, a “quasi-artifact” was more accurate.
Daniel examined the crystal before handing it to Nora.
“Hold onto this.”
“Headmaster, what is it?”
“I call it the ‘Regrets of Time.’ Using it, you’ll experience a life completely unlike your own, and you can make choices by following your instincts,” Daniel explained.
The Regrets of Time was like a life simulator, allowing one to live another life.
Nora wanted to understand her path ahead, and while Daniel couldn’t give her a clear direction, he could let her experience what she truly wanted.
“Remember one thing—you aren’t anyone else. You are yourself. You are Nora. Don’t get lost in someone else’s life.”
Nora nodded, holding the crystal, and vanished. Daniel then left the area.
Back in his office, only Green and a girl remained.
“Green, what about you?” Daniel looked at his nephew.
He had rarely given Green any special attention, only occasionally checking on his situation.
“Headmaster, I want to grow stronger. That’s my only goal.”
“Stronger, you say?” Daniel recalled that Rose had mentioned Green had gathered many orphans.
“So, is it only yourself you want to strengthen, or also your followers?”
“Headmaster, if possible, I want to take them with me.”
Daniel hadn’t expected Green to make that choice. Compared to his father, Green was indeed remarkable.
“This is a hard path. Are you sure?”
“I’m not afraid of any hardship,” Green replied firmly.
“Good.” Daniel replied as he produced a book.
It looked quite ordinary, as if he had just pulled it from a shelf.
In the next instant, the book’s pages began to flip on their own, with words on the pages transforming.
A few seconds later, the book closed, now radiating a strange power.
“Take this book back and study it carefully.”
Green accepted it with some confusion.
The moment he touched it, he felt as if he’d stepped into a world of magic.
But the sensation lasted only a moment before he snapped out of it and hurried away.
The book Daniel had given him contained a small portion of the knowledge he had learned in the library—just a tiny fraction, which was all the book could handle.
To do so, Daniel had crafted a micro magic array to keep the knowledge balanced.
So it was normal for Green to be briefly dazed; the knowledge could lead him to the highest levels of magic.
Then Daniel turned his attention to the last girl in the office, who appeared relaxed.
“Hello, Headmaster. I’m Nina. As for what I want… I’d like lots and lots of mana stones!”
Daniel could tell that Nina’s tone was somewhat playful, though she was serious about her wish.
“Mana stones? The academy has plenty. Why do you still want more?”
“The academy does provide us with mana stones, but I want an endless supply! As long as I have mana stones, I can… I mean, study magic diligently!”
Daniel chuckled. He understood—Nina had a playful nature, though her talent was extraordinary.
“Alright, if you can pass the trial I give you, I’ll privately give you some mana stones.”
“What? Only some?” Nina sounded disappointed.
“Don’t worry; even a few will be far more than what the academy supplies.”
“Okay! I’m in!” Nina eagerly agreed.
As soon as she spoke, she found herself in another place.
“Where… is this?” She noticed that the plants around her were enormous.
The grass, which should’ve only reached her ankles, was now like towering trees.
“A magical realm outside our reality, a small world of imagination. Since you love fun, enjoy yourself here.” Daniel’s voice echoed around her.
“But, Headmaster, didn’t you say this is a trial? How will I know when I’ve passed?”
“You’ll know.” With that, Daniel didn’t reappear.
“You meanie! What’s fun about this place?” Nina kicked at a nearby “sapling,” only to see a rustling emerge from the gigantic grass nearby…
With everyone arranged, all Daniel had to do now was wait—for the surprises they would bring him in a month.
Among the twenty students entering the secret realm, only these five had the courage to ask for what they wanted. Sometimes, just a bit of courage is what takes someone further.
In the Mistriver Realm, these five students from Crossbridge Academy would surely bring a small shock to Riverside City!