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Chapter 31: A Chance

Ashura wandered into Magic Class 13, distracted, and although he had not promised Instructor Yuan Da anything, if what Instructor Yuan Da said proved true, it might open a path for him, a path to becoming a real powerhouse!

Should he gamble on it or not?

After entering the classroom Ashura grew silent, his head filled with thoughts about the dual mage-warrior idea.

Clara noticed that the boy who usually came in either leering or flirting was strangely quiet today, so she poked him with her slender finger.

Ashura glanced at her and drawled, “Why are you touching me, craving a man?”

That single line angered Clara so much she refused to acknowledge him, yet after a while curiosity won and she asked softly, “Hey, what’s up with you?”

Without looking at her, Ashura lay on the desk, his eyes unfocused, and said, “Suppose there are two roads; one carries almost no risk, but in the end you can only become a moderately powerful fighter.”

“The other road is completely unknown; no one knows the outcome, yet if you clear it you might become one of those champions who have statues on campus… which path would you choose?”

Clara had not expected the boy to blurt out such a weighty question, and he even seemed to be seeking her opinion.

The girl answered without haste, thinking quietly for a moment before saying, “Haven’t you already decided which road to take, so why bother asking me?”

As soon as she finished, Ashura sat up straight with a whoosh, stared at Clara with burning eyes, and said affectionately, “You really do understand me best!” then spread his arms to hug her.

At first Clara felt flustered under his gaze, but when she saw the rogue grin and his open arms, the girl snorted, chanted a spell in a flash, and Ashura immediately sprang back on the spot, pretending nothing had happened as he went forward to tease the chubby Na Wei.

Clara’s lips curled high; she had not recited any spell at all, she had only tried to scare him, yet what if he had stubbornly hugged her just now?

The girl bit her lip lightly, unsure whether she felt frightened or regretful inside.

Back at his seat, Ashura pondered how he should tread the road to power.

After thinking it through, he decided to move on two fronts at once.

First, he used his badge to message Fourth Brother Angelo, the well-connected youngster, asking him to dig up detailed information on Instructor Yuan Da.

Second, he planned to visit the academy library, newly opened to freshmen that afternoon, to look for biographies of past academy legends or continental powerhouses who had grown under circumstances like his.

He hoped to find guidance from the experiences of others.

In less than one class period Angelo sent Yuan Da’s file to Ashura.

Ashura read carefully and saw: “Yuan Da, 57 years old, unmarried with no children, wood-element Grand Magician Stage 3, mid-tier instructor at the academy.”

“Teaches magic theory; because the course is dull and obscure, few students attend.”

“His unusual appearance earned him the nickname ‘Big-Head Yuan’ among students.”

“Passionate about magic-theory research, he has written more than 30 papers with little notice; heavy injuries have kept his magic level from advancing further.”

“In 30 years of teaching he has invested all his salary and credits into magic research and has no bad habits.”

After reading the detailed report, Ashura first admired Fourth Brother’s intelligence network, then hesitated while assessing Instructor Yuan Da’s ability.

A Grand Magician at Stage 3… to be honest, Ashura felt confident he could reach that level before graduation.

Even the young Instructor Ella already stood at the Magic Scholar rank.

On this strength-oriented King’s Continent, especially in an academy teeming with geniuses, a Stage 3 Grand Magician like Instructor Yuan Da probably received little respect.

No wonder he had only taken notes during the freshman test and had not spoken a word from start to finish.

Yet before long Ashura came to respect Instructor Yuan Da: a man with no family, no vices, who poured everything he had into magic theory deserved admiration regardless of his results.

So Ashura rose slowly and slipped out of the class that had just started.

Clara curled her lips, took out her notebook, and began making class notes for the boy.

Ashura walked quietly to the entrance of a large lecture hall; he had learned that Instructor Yuan Da was teaching there now and wanted to audit the class, but when he craned his neck at the doorway he froze.

In the vast classroom only three students lay sleeping on their desks, yet Instructor Yuan Da was completely unaffected, earnestly delivering the lecture he had prepared.

The students’ snores were piercing, but Instructor Yuan Da kept writing and speaking at the podium, as though he wished to tell the world his 30-plus years of understanding of magic.

Ashura stared blankly from the doorway, and when Instructor Yuan Da happened to glance back and saw him, the once-energetic instructor instantly dropped his raised hands in shame.

The two of them stood mute, silently gazing at each other for a long time.

Then a jarring voice rang out: “Hey, Big-Head Yuan, why’d you stop lecturing? Last night’s meditation wore me out, and your class is great for sleeping!”

The awakened freshman showed no respect, roused the other two classmates, and the trio passed Ashura laughing and chatting as they strolled out of the room.

Instructor Yuan Da glanced at the boy, his lips trembling as if to explain, but after working them for a while no sound emerged.

Perhaps the boy before him no longer trusted him.

Yet steady footsteps echoed; Instructor Yuan Da looked up in surprise to see the youth say nothing, simply walk to the center of the first row, sit down, and gaze quietly at him.

Stunned for more than half a minute, Instructor Yuan Da’s eyes grew brighter; he casually tossed the prepared lesson plan onto the podium and resumed loudly explaining his course on the principles of magic.

He was like a mad artist presenting his proudest work to everyone, throwing himself into it with full passion.

Below, the sole listener Ashura merely frowned slightly and listened earnestly as the somewhat deranged Instructor displayed his talent.

When the morning bell rang, the lecture came to an end.

Instructor Yuan Da was sweating and panting a little; he had become over-excited.

But his eyes locked onto the black-haired youth, as if awaiting judgment.

Ashura rose slowly, looked into Instructor Yuan Da’s eyes, and said, “Instructor Yuan Da, to be honest, I understood maybe 10% of what you just taught.”

Hearing that, Instructor Yuan Da felt as though plunged into an ice cave; his body trembled uncontrollably… was it still no good?

Was there still no one willing to believe in him?

Yet the boy’s next words made him doubt his ears.

The youth said softly, “But I really want to get stronger… desperately! Even if it means being a test subject for your research results, I’m willing. Should I trust you, Instructor Yuan Da?”

Instructor Yuan Da opened his mouth wide, too moved to speak and seemingly wanting to promise something, yet no words came and his head drooped in frustration.

The boy instead smiled faintly, then solemnly said, “If you had just guaranteed I would become stronger, I would have turned and left; since you are not sure, I will give you a chance… and give myself a chance as well.”

“I have a magic issue that troubles me, something about myself, and it is my secret; I will reveal it to you, and if you can give me an answer, I will henceforth accept your guidance without reservation, but if you cannot solve it,”

“then please keep this secret for me forever.”

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