Ryan stared at the grapes and the huge pile of Edelweiss Frost in the magic shop, feeling his mind buzz and ring loudly as he screamed inside.

  "Grimoire, what does this even mean?"

  Previously, there had been other items in the shop, but now everything had been replaced by these useless Edelweiss Frost. Not a single item remained that could actually increase his power.

  【I have detected that your target, Evelyn, is currently in an extremely bad mood. This state is very unfavorable to your romance plan.】

  【These Edelweiss Frost are meant to help you appease Evelyn. I hope you understand and try to ease the tension between you.】

  Huh? Ryan froze for a moment, then instantly understood Grimoire's intention. It was telling him to use these items to make Evelyn happy.

  But a question immediately arose in his mind, and he asked right away:"Grimoire, didn't you say you couldn't control the shop's refresh?"

  【These are ordinary items. I spent a huge amount of Origin Value to forcibly refresh them! Hurry up and prepare! Otherwise, I'll just summon lightning to strike you!】

  Hearing Grimoire's threatening tone, Ryan didn't dare waste any more time and immediately started rushing around.

  He exchanged all the grapes and Edelweiss Frost from the shop, then dug out other miscellaneous items from his storage, preparing everything he could to please Evelyn.

  …

  One day later, in the loft.

  "Headmistress, your ultimate ice sword has been fully sealed."

  The three Elder Mages held a long sword radiating faint magical energy carefully in both hands and respectfully presented it to Evelyn, who was meditating.

  This ultimate ice sword had been jointly sealed by the three of them, its level stabilized at Epic, completely suppressing the sword's previously restless power.

  The anger that had been on their faces in recent days had long vanished, replaced with respect and even a trace of barely concealed delight when looking at Evelyn.

  For them, this was truly great news. The academy now effectively had a Grand Magus-class powerhouse ready to act when needed.

  That powerhouse, of course, was the Grand Magus puppet stored within Evelyn's spiritual domain space.

  Their plan was clear: fully assist Evelyn in restoring her magical rank, and when she eventually ascended to Grand Magus, the puppet's power would no longer pose any backlash.

  In other words, publicly, Glacial Arcana Academy would have Evelyn as a Grand Magus.

  Privately, there would also be a Grand Magus puppet, whose power would make the academy's strength rival the top ranks of the continent.

  "Once I return, I will send him back to the South Territory," Evelyn said as she slowly opened her eyes.

  "Headmistress…" Elara instinctively wanted to speak up and stop her.

  If Ryan was sent away, what if he grew stronger and returned with hostility? That would be a huge threat to them.

  "Be quiet." Evelyn's voice instantly turned cold, a piercing chill lacing her tone, sharply cutting off Elara.

  The three Elder Mages froze, frightened into silence, and dared not utter a single word.

  Although Evelyn's current magical rank was only Senior Mage and she had not yet returned to her peak power, the queen-like authority she once wielded over the academy and the continent had not diminished in the slightest.

  This deep, bone-deep presence instinctively commanded respect, and they chose obedience.

  Evelyn rose and reached for the ultimate ice sword they had brought her.

  The moment her fingers touched the hilt, she willed the ultimate ice sword into her spiritual domain space.

  She turned and walked straight toward the loft's exit, her sharp features radiating an icy detachment that repelled all others, as though she had returned to the decisive, awe-inspiring figure she had been thousands of years ago.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  The three Elder Mages watched as Evelyn's figure gradually disappeared from the loft. She blended with the falling snow outside, her cold, distant silhouette fading into the wind and snow.

  ...

  Inside the room, Ryan picked up a plump grape from the table and popped it into his mouth.

  On the table, besides the fresh grapes, there were golden-baked wheat cakes and berry puddings drizzled with honey, all small treats he had carefully prepared.

  To create a warm and cozy atmosphere, Ryan had also hung several items infused with glowing magic from the ceiling.

  These items emitted a soft, warm yellow light, bathing the originally cold room in a comforting glow.

  He had done all this for Evelyn's return, hoping to ease the tension between them caused by the Elder Mages.

  Outside, the wind and snow still raged. Evelyn stood in the snowy courtyard, gazing at the warm yellow light spilling from the room. She lingered for a long time, her cold, unreadable eyes reflecting a swirl of complex emotions, as if she were lost in thought.

  Finally, she took a gentle step forward. Her white heels pressed into the snow, leaving footprints of varying depth as she slowly made her way toward the house.

  The door opened quietly, and what met Evelyn's eyes was the candlelight burning at the center of the room, the flickering flames illuminating the space.

  Even more stunning were the white Edelweiss Frost flowers filling the room.

  The petals were translucent like ice, emitting a faint glow. They had been carefully arranged on windowsills, table corners, and even hung beneath the glowing magical items. The scene looked like something from a dream, breathtaking enough to captivate anyone who saw it.

  Evelyn's gaze fell on Ryan in the center of the room. She paused at the doorway, frozen for a long moment, feeling a complex mix of emotions, both warm and bittersweet.

  Hearing the door open, Ryan quickly swallowed the food in his mouth and turned toward the doorway. When he saw Evelyn, a slightly awkward smile appeared on his face."Evelyn."

  He spoke her name softly and gestured for her to come and sit.

  This time, Evelyn did not refuse. She walked straight into the room and slowly sat in the chair opposite Ryan.

  Ryan sat across from her and spoke with genuine remorse,"I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. What did the Elder Mages ultimately say?"

  This apology was heartfelt. After all, he had caused all this trouble, and in the end, Evelyn had to clean up after him. It felt unfair to her.

  Evelyn did not speak immediately. She simply looked at Ryan with a calm expression, her cold eyes betraying no emotion, as if she were gazing at someone about to depart forever.

  Ryan held her gaze for a long time, feeling slightly uneasy under her scrutiny. But from the depth and ambiguity in Evelyn's eyes, he vaguely sensed something, and his heartbeat began to quicken.

  Ryan tentatively lifted his hand, waving slightly, hoping to draw her wandering thoughts back.

  But since entering the room, Evelyn's gaze had never left him and had never faltered.

  "Go back to the South Territory," Evelyn finally said."From now on, we will no longer be mentor and apprentice."

  Her words were like a sharp icicle, piercing straight into Ryan's heart. His breath caught, nearly choking him.

  Evelyn's voice was not cold, even carrying a subtle trace of restrained emotion that would have been easy to miss if not listened to carefully.

  Yet Ryan's expression froze instantly. Was Evelyn really sending him away?

  She had been the one to bring him to Glacial Arcana Academy; she had been the one to take him as her apprentice and personally teach him magic. And now, she was the one severing their mentor-apprentice relationship and driving him away?

  A surge of indescribable grievance and anger rose in Ryan's chest, causing his fingertips to tremble slightly.

  Ryan's frozen expression gradually faded, replaced by a near-frightening calm.

  He suddenly realized that it was no longer he disturbing Evelyn's thoughts rather, it was Evelyn's decision that had completely unsettled his mind.

  He stared blankly at her, eyes vacant, while countless thoughts raced through his head.

  He had interfered with Evelyn's magical meditation; he himself had Grimoire to assist him, making his magical advancement as easy as drinking water, yet Evelyn's path required painstaking effort and endless care.

  He had repeatedly caused trouble, forcing her to clean up his mess; he had led her to violate academy rules, doing so knowingly; and he had nearly angered the three Elder Mages, her followers for tens of thousands of years, into passing out.

  Looking back, all of it had been to Evelyn's detriment. Yet from beginning to end, Evelyn had never truly punished him in the slightest.

  "I can return to the South Territory, but I have one last request," Ryan said, looking at Evelyn.

  This time, his eyes were frighteningly red, as if he were struggling to suppress something deep within.

  "What is it?" Evelyn's voice betrayed her own effort to hold back the emotions swirling inside her.

  "One last grape," Ryan said, a slow, familiar smile spreading across his face, the very smile Evelyn knew so well, part playful, part conciliatory.

  He pinched a large, plump, juicy grape between his fingers and gently brought it to Evelyn's lips.

  Evelyn lowered her gaze to the grape at her mouth, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, before slowly parting her crimson lips.

  Seeing that she did not resist, the smile in Ryan's eyes deepened. Yet the redness in his eyes, and the hint of sorrow hidden within that smile, made her heart ache inexplicably.

  His fingers trembled slightly as he carefully fed the grape into her mouth, then slowly withdrew his hand.

  Evelyn bit into it gently. The sweet juice burst instantly in her mouth.

  Though it was the same as when Ryan had fed her before, this time the sweetness seemed muted, flavorless, even carrying a faint, indescribable bitterness.

  Was it the skin of the grape? She instinctively told herself this, trying to mask the strange feeling rising in her chest.

  "Evelyn, do you think we will meet again?" Ryan asked, voicing the question that weighed most heavily on his heart. He forced out two dry laughs at the end, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

  "N…" Evelyn was about to answer, but the moment her gaze met Ryan's eyes, it suddenly constricted, and her words caught in her throat.

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