Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Felis didn’t even want to lift his eyes.

After being frozen, he indeed could run wildly within the mental sea, following the seemingly calm but turbulent waves behind his soul, which proved not as dangerous as he initially thought.

Although fast, they were not nearly perilous enough to put him in constant danger.

But being wholeheartedly dedicated, completely avoiding wild thoughts, and remaining unwavering even as the waves threatened to crash right before him, was incredibly difficult.

Felis tried many methods but couldn’t manage it.

He didn’t even know why... Maybe because initially, the reason he could ignore his pain and enter a meditative state was the chilly feeling of the basement?

Anyway, his subconscious chose ice, and he swiftly decomposed the 0-level spell frost ray into runes, converting it to Ice Ring form.

When the Ice Ring wasn’t enough, he even had a flash of brilliance in learning how to stack layers upon layers of Ice Rings.

Icy rings continuously piled up, coupled with the outer layer of ice melting due to his inadequate skill... just as they melted, he added more Ice Rings to freeze them again... eventually forming an icy lump like this.

”A desperate person won’t let go of a sliver of hope.” Felis’s voice was light and low enough for Russell to barely hear, ”Ice works for me.”

Russell could understand this.

For instance, back in the day, he clearly knew that if his protection system talents were exposed, the outcome might not be good. Yet driven by a sense of crisis, he secretly learned to keep up with mainstream standards.

Unlike letting people feel his talents were unique... No matter how you looked at it, his spiritual power talent was among the best in the family, but while learning 0-level spells, he was somewhat lacking in everything except the Universal Series Mystic Inscription, barely grasping even magic tricks.

It’s not that he couldn’t learn them; the speed was just too slow... Watching others less talented than him nearly succeed... Of course, he later understood that his sense of success didn’t truly equate to success... but who could blame him for being young and naive!

Only by mastering more than two 0-level spells could he become a mid-level apprentice.

Back then, Russell was genuinely worried.

The family stories about the Defense Tower always made people uneasy, and he was pretty obvious about feeling attuned to the few defensive spells he hardly studied... Though the current Russell wouldn’t see this as a problem, he was just a kid back then! Always scared by the stories, true or false, he’d hear.

Hence, back then, he really felt the urgency to secretly learn that defensive spell, then quickly, using his advancement and sensitivity of the mental sea to spell runes, directly learned magic tricks.

He didn’t know if the family knew which two spells made him a mid-level apprentice, but at least when reported to the Tower of Dark Enigma, he chose two Universal Series spells properly.

Though the present Russell finds the careful, nearly killing-himself version of himself then amusing, he never regretted it.

Entering the Tower of Dark Enigma made him not regret it even more.

Perhaps, had he actively learned defensive spells in the family, he could’ve become a high-level apprentice sooner and reached Mage Gilbert effortlessly... but could that surpass the present Russell?

Furthermore, his talents might have been so clear-cut that even Gilbert could’ve been affected by association.

Russell didn’t see the current ’Gilbert’ as someone who would wrongfully harm innocents, so... the real Gilbert would have long faced troubles with more hurdles encountered earlier.

Now, he’s genuinely grateful for the self of that time: though his heart and spirit suffered some torment, yet the future was bright.

Thus, he could relate to Felis’s words.

But Russell didn’t expect Felis to be forced to manifest such talents.

If Felis had shown such signs earlier, why would reaching high-level apprentice be so difficult?

Even if some talents are hidden, his concealment was way too deep, right?

”I don’t even know if I should comfort you.” Russell muttered softly, ”As long as you get through this hurdle, advancing to Mage surely won’t be a problem.

You might even surpass Rolando.”

”Can I still count on you?” Felis sneered before sluggishly asking, ”Do you think, which parent’s side did this talent come from?”

”What are you talking about?” Russell was slightly puzzled.

”A mage’s talent all supposedly comes from parents and elders, isn’t it?” Felis sighed, ”Even if some commoners suddenly gain mage talents... living beside a Magic Tower makes it unlikely to have absolutely nothing.”

”People with similar talents marrying for generations may indeed cause some hereditary talents in descendants.” Russell turned serious suddenly, ”But if that were achievable, mages wouldn’t be so scarce.

That’s just a coincidence, not a certainty.

It’s merely the difference between 0 and 1.

It’s more likely that two powerful souls parents can easily give birth to children with slightly stronger mental seas... but this probability is merely higher.

Our birth is indeed tied to parental inheritance, but more importantly, it’s the world’s sudden affection for us.

Thus, don’t think that all talents come from someone else.

Your sudden strength comes because you survived a disaster that ordinary people couldn’t possibly endure; your mental sea and soul washed through, resonating briefly with some law of the world, so you’ve found your future path.

Don’t consider your excellence as someone else’s gift.

That’s foolish.”

”If you could replace ’ordinary people’ with ’average people,’ I’d appreciate your speech more.” Felis said slowly.

Then he couldn’t help but tilt his neck... though he had a long and graceful neck, fixed halfway in ice, his movement looked odd... curiously asking, ”Russell, what transformed you?

You used to value bloodline the most, didn’t you?”

”I still do value it now.” Russell couldn’t help but roll his eyes, ”Don’t move, you look like a turtle shrinking into its shell, you know?

Um... yes, have you seen that thing?

There’s an extinct animal illustration book in the library, very detailed, you can appreciate it later.”

Felis rolled his eyes: He hadn’t watched it, and wouldn’t after Russell said that.

The best insults are unheard; the second best are not understood.

Russell sighed softly, walked over leisurely to pour a vial of potion over Felis’s head.

”What’s this stuff?” Felis asked curiously, ”Healing potion?

Mage Gilbert is actually so kind to you?”

Trusting someone enough to manage the warehouse and allowing them to freely use its resources are two entirely different concepts.

”Teacher treats me well.” Russell said lightly, ”But he mainly doesn’t care much for such low-rank potions.”

”What does that mean?”

”Too much impurity, not recommended for ingestion.” Russell tapped the large ice block, ”But external use is alright.

Your newly awakened talent is quite good, your body won’t suffer issues from too much cold.

Just right since your skills aren’t quite mature, this will constantly melt some water. Though it’ll heal a bit slowly... you’re not getting out anytime soon, so slow is fine!”

Felis’s mouth twitched uncontrollably upon hearing this: ”Can you speak properly?

You’re here to help yet keep provoking me?

What do you gain from doing good halfway through?”

”Invigorated spirits, happier mood?” Russell smiled, ”Since I’m helping you, it’s not entirely willingly either.”

Felis decided to sidestep the topic... much like he didn’t intend to ask why Carpenter didn’t come; it was all useless talk.

Russell dared to risk being discovered and harmed by those chasing Felis just to come down; naturally, it was for Carpenter.

And Carpenter not coming wasn’t due to cowardice or pushing responsibility onto her brother.

Everyone spent a few years together and understood each other’s nature; none are willing to tolerate unequal relationships.

Russell taking the risk also meant the danger was already quite minimal.

”These days have been so peaceful, the Archmages must have returned by now, right?” He recalled another matter, ”Over on Rolando and Prutt’s end... surprisingly no action?”

”Forget about your foolish father, but Prutt seems a bit odd.”