Chapter 116: Proposing a Deal

A bone-chilling cold gnawed at young Leslie. He curled his small body as tightly as he could, desperate to find a scrap of warmth.

"Gurgle..."

Little Leslie’s stomach signaled his hunger. As far back as he could remember, he had no recollection of parents, nor had he ever known the feeling of a full meal; even the rotten scraps in the trash heaps were hard to come by.

Leslie felt his head growing heavy, his consciousness beginning to blur.

"No, I have to stay awake..."

Though only a child, Leslie understood his precarious situation. If he lost consciousness now, the combination of hunger and cold might mean he would never wake up again.

Leslie gritted his teeth. Trembling, he tried to stand up to get his blood flowing. But the moment his legs straightened, the world turned black, and his body slumped forward.

*It’s going to hurt when I hit the frozen ground...* The childish thought flashed through his mind as he fell.

*Thump!*

Unexpectedly, instead of the snow-covered earth, he was met by a warm embrace. Leslie instinctively burrowed into the hold, then snapped back to his senses, bracing himself to pull away.

"What beautiful eyes..." The moment he broke free, he caught sight of eyes as clear as a mountain stream.

It was a woman in her twenties. She crouched before him, a gentle smile playing on her lips, her gaze filled with pity and nostalgia. Leslie didn’t understand the depth of her expression, only that she felt incredibly kind.

"I’m so sorry, My Lady..."

Leslie felt a pang of worry, fearing that his filth might have stained her beautiful clothes.

The woman shook her head and reached out to stroke his hair. "You look just like my younger brother."

As her palm touched him, Leslie felt a surge of warmth flood his body. His hunger began to recede, and the stiffness in his limbs faded away. Leslie blushed, hiding his hands behind his back and staring at his feet. He had never been looked at like this, especially not by such a beautiful woman.

"My Lady, where is your brother?" Leslie looked up at her.

The woman sighed, her expression complex. "He is dead."

"I am so sorry..." Leslie lowered his head again.

Deep inside, a voice cried out. Leslie wanted to tell her that he would be her brother. It wasn't about seeking status; he simply longed to stay by her side.

But he never said it—his station was far too humble. Even so, he was satisfied; that single moment of warmth was enough to cherish for a lifetime.

"Are you hungry?" The woman gently brushed the snowflakes from his hair.

Leslie nodded vigorously, then shook his head, hesitated, and nodded again.

The woman laughed behind her hand. "Come with me."

Leslie’s eyes widened, his mouth agape in disbelief.

"I am taking you to a place with hearths and food. But you will have to undergo harsh training, and you may even face death." She watched him with expectant eyes. "Are you willing to go?"

"Will you be there?" Leslie asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"Of course," she replied.

Leslie’s eyes curved into crescents. "I am willing!"

The woman smiled as well. Stroking his cheek, she murmured to herself, "Only when the Wizard Academy falls and the aristocratic hierarchy collapses will everyone be able to live as equals."

Leslie did not understand her words, but he didn't mind. He was thrilled—it was the happiest day of his life.

The woman bent down, scooped him up, and wrapped her large scarf around him. She carried him toward the city gates. Behind them, a long trail of footprints marked the snow.

No one noticed that in the bustling city, a beautiful woman and a beggar child had simply vanished...

...

Suddenly, Leslie opened his eyes.

Night, stars, the sound of insects—the shore of Saisaiwei Lake.

"What happened to me..." Leslie looked at his five colleagues, noticing they, too, wore expressions of bewilderment.

"I feel like I've forgotten something very important..." Leslie clutched his head.

"Huh?" He felt a chill on his cheek and touched it. It was wet.

"Tears..." He stared blankly at the moisture on his fingers.

Just as he was lost in thought, the dozen colleagues who had gone to track the enemy returned.

"No sign of the enemy. I must have misjudged the magical fluctuation!" The guard who had first noticed the energy pulse let out a sigh of relief.

"Back to the watch..."

...

Beneath a low mountain slope past the first checkpoint.

"What were they dreaming about?" Ingelmore asked his sister, Sheryl, as they moved cautiously.

"I don't know," Sheryl shook her head. "Each dream is different. The Dream Halo draws out the most cherished things from the depths of their memories; it’s not something I can control."

*This Dream Halo... it seems far more powerful than I imagined,* Lin Wei thought, a deep interest piqued.

"Sheryl..." Lin Wei turned to her.

"Mr. Lin Wei..." Sheryl looked at him, her tone respectful.

Lin Wei asked, "If I recall correctly, a spell model like the Dream Halo should be quite difficult to purchase within the Shadow Forest, shouldn't it?"

"The Dream Halo wasn't obtained from the academy. My brother and I found it in the black market," Sheryl replied.

"The black market?" Lin Wei knew that places for exchanges between wizards existed outside the academy, though he had only heard rumors.

"Yes. It cost me one hundred magic stones..." Sheryl smiled faintly.

Lin Wei pondered for a moment, then held up three fingers. "I offer three hundred magic stones. Will you teach it to me?"

Spell models were usually stored in memory crystals, which self-destructed after a single use. That was why Lin Wei asked to be taught rather than to buy it outright.

"Are you certain? Although mind magic relies on mental power and has no specific attribute requirements, it is notoriously difficult to master and comes with severe restrictions," Sheryl warned.