Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Felis quickly walked back to his room.

His heart was full of rage, unsure whether it was because Sel didn’t really come out to see him or because of that so-called biological father trying to force him to completely abandon the Hainarson surname shamelessly.

He actually knew that not contacting was the best result for both him and Sel, but being abandoned by the only relative willing to acknowledge his existence still made Felis feel agitated.

As for Rolando... Ha~

The Hainarson Clan indeed didn’t treat Felis that well, but what they owed him, they directly bypassed his mother’s nominal husband and gave it to him!

If the family really looked down on him, they just had to choose to give the resources to the so-called ’father’; what could Felis do then?

After all, he wasn’t really heartless, unable to understand anything.

Of course, when he was a child, due to Sel’s talents, and her inherent Hainarson identity, he did feel a slight jealousy... but that girl held grudges, and as soon as she noticed his unfriendly expression, she immediately clung to Brother Russell’s leg, completely ignoring him.

But later, during contact in Sel’s home, Felis could feel that no matter how much Sel disliked him, she still considered him a cousin.

His aunt, his cousins, whether due to blood relations or otherwise, actually accepted his presence.

Felis even thought on the day Sel entered the Tower of Dark Enigma, perhaps the family would choose to let him enter the town government.

After all, his true father—anyone with some insight within the Hainarson Clan should have known.

Not to mention, after he turned 12, he received blatantly delivered resources!

Although Felis’ biological mother deeply regretted accepting these resources, Felis felt it was fortunate they took them. Would that man choose to abandon him as a pawn just because they didn’t owe him a favor?

A man who saw him as a tool and experiment could do anything.

When Felis took that potion from Rolando’s hand, he felt a deep malice.

If he hadn’t decisively followed Rolando to leave at the time, would he now be accused by the world: ’Isn’t he just a bastard, why are you clinging to someone else’s family and not leaving’?

But having gone with Rolando... he only received insults from the shadows, and the truth couldn’t be faked.

The only benefit is perhaps that no one would consider him a traitor to the Hainarson Clan, even if he did teach Rolando that spiritual power cultivation method.

Ha~ How confident was that man to think he could firmly control him, without considering how if the Hainarson Clan treated Felis badly, they wouldn’t let him know about that still publicly secret cultivation method?

Felis clenched his fist and buried himself in the bed: For now, cultivation is meaningless, and his Mental Sea, after consuming that potion, seemed a bit strange.

Those crystallized structures that appeared as spiritual power crystalized due to external forces gave him a very bad feeling.

Felis didn’t know what to do, so he chose not to cultivate for the time being and not to observe his Mental Sea.

He silently turned over and looked into the void: Sel ignoring him was also right; he could only bring disaster.

-----------------

”I still feel something is wrong.” Sitting beside Russell, Sel irritably flipped through the magic book in her hand, suddenly turning to look at her brother.

”You’ve been fretting for half the day.” Russell helplessly shook his head, ”If you have something to say, just say it! Whatever the problem is, we can figure it out together, better than letting your overthinking disrupt your cultivation.

You might even have trouble meditating like this.”

Sel pursed her lips unhappily and slapped the table: ”Felis, that cousin of mine, his character may not be that good, but... I also don’t think he would be so easily swayed away and directly attack me.”

”Hmm... He may not have strong feelings for the Hainarson Clan, but he doesn’t hate them either, and he has some connections with your family?” Russell put down the book in his hand and calmly asked, ”Are you sure?”

”How should I put it... If it were a year later, Felis doing this would seem quite normal.” Sel pondered for a moment before speaking, ”You know?

He is indeed a bit selfish, easily blaming others and envying them, but he’s not irrational, and he evaluates the pros and cons very well.

What the Hainarson Clan gave him, didn’t give him, he is clear about it, and he calculates everything very clearly.”

Russell understood immediately: ”So, he shouldn’t have decided to follow his biological father so quickly?”

”Right, unless the benefit directly makes him a Mage.” Sel pinched his fingers, ”As a High-level Apprentice, the significance isn’t that great, right?”

Russell thought for a bit, shaking his head calmly: ”We don’t have any other choice but to wait here for the teacher.

Even if Felis has some difficulties, we can’t save him.

You completely ignoring him might be the best outcome for him.

If he really... then we can only hope he can endure the year on his own!”

”You seem to believe that once the teacher comes out again, these clouds overhead will instantly dissipate.” Sel said thoughtfully, ”How should I put it... Even though our teacher is highly valued by Archmage Ruth, your confidence is somewhat overly strong.

If that Archmage were truly that capable, Miss Aislin wouldn’t have stirred up so much trouble in the middle.”

Russell smiled indifferently: ”You have less contact with the teacher, definitely can’t feel his nearly limitless wisdom... Ah~ Though I feel somewhat sorry for those past people, I sincerely believe that being timely is me, is me and you, it really is so good.

”So, you think that what’s going on with Felis has something to do with Aislin?”

”Things have been too smooth for him.” Carpenter glanced at his brother, adding a slight smile to his tone. ”Ulrich isn’t someone you can deal with so easily.

Just taking Felis away from the Hainarson Family, like it’s no big deal?

Even if our family seems as dangerous as it looks now... Ulrich would still throw a few firecrackers to make some noise.”

”It’s not like he didn’t make a fuss.” Russell said seriously, ”I poked around a bit... Apparently, Ulrich has said that he will definitely remove Felis’s family name in the future.”

”The word ’future’ is quite handy.” Carpenter chuckled. ”It can mean anything or nothing.

Wait a minute, haven’t you cut yourself off from the outside world?”

”Our teacher is a very cautious person, afraid that he might miss even a mosquito flying by.” Russell replied with a grin.

In this world, many animals and insects have become tales in books, but humans always know what mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches are.

Carpenter couldn’t help but pout. ”I want to hear it too.”

”You can’t enter that room.” Russell replied earnestly. ”But I believe the teacher doesn’t think this needs to be kept secret; I’m sure the Magic Tower’s higher-ups all know how he gathers information from the outside.

The teacher never even considered giving you access, which could only mean one reason.

So...”

He gave his sister a meaningful look: ”If you want to hear those things you want to hear, you have to at least be a Mage.”

Carpenter shrugged. ”I’ll be one in a year.”

”That’s the spirit.” Russell patted her head affectionately. ”Not worried anymore, hmm?”

”Felis, I really don’t need to worry too much. I just felt a bit guilty for refusing to see him earlier, but now I’ve got it figured out.” Carpenter sighed. ”It’s just, Brother Russell, if there’s ever a chance, can you pass on a message for me?

Even though I won’t interact with him, I don’t see him as an enemy.

As long as he hasn’t... truly been disowned by the family.”

Carpenter couldn’t hold back her sigh: Felis, how long can you hold on?

As the benefits offered by the other side increase, while the Hainarson Family can’t provide him any support at all.

-----------------

Felis frowned and sat up in bed.

His neighbor next door was causing yet another racket that was incredibly annoying.

In this side tower belonging to Rolando, the apprentices naturally got divided into different levels based on their talents.

But a few people had special status.

For example, his next-door neighbor, who was even younger than him, was Rolando’s legitimate son.

When Felis was placed here, his identity was hardly a secret anymore.

Of course, the one who enjoyed the best treatment was Rolando’s youngest son, Hendrick.

This kid even had the leisure to learn some arts and such, although he had no talent at all.

For instance, his years-long harp skills, always stuck on plucking the strings, rhythm reduced to one or two patterns.

And he had an older brother who’d come over from time to time to drum alongside him.

The excellent soundproofing in the Side Tower couldn’t stop these two rambunctious boys... unless he activated the Isolation Array in his own room.

But the Mana Stones required to run the Array weren’t something just anyone could afford.

So most apprentices would sensibly choose to head to the Meditation Chamber when the two of them played.

But Felis, however, never chose to leave his room at this time... If he wasn’t around and just heard about those two starting up again, he wouldn’t come back. But if he were unfortunately present, Felis would usually endure.

Of course, their little rivalry was something outsiders could understand.

After all, the headache was Felis’s alone, no one else’s concern.

Felis pulled the quilt over his head, irritably leaning against the wall by the bed.

’Thud... thud~ thud-thud-thud~ thud~ scratch~ ting ting~’

Yet beneath the quilt, his fingers were gently tapping along to some peculiar rhythm.

Felis suddenly shifted on the bed, producing a slightly raspy ’creak’ from the metal bedframe dragging across the floor.