Paths of Difference

Outside the dungeon of the castle, Freyr encountered Calista, the first female knight he had recruited. Since arriving at the castle, Calista had taken it upon herself to guard the captured Wizard.

Calista did this because the Wizard had once been her comrade. Although she now served Freyr, she still felt some old sentiments. The Wizard had originally been drawn to her by her beauty, and their collaboration had only lasted a few days. Calista did not dare to secretly release him against Freyr's orders, but by personally overseeing his captivity, she could at least look after her former companion to some extent.

Since arriving last night, the Wizard had managed to eat well under Calista's care, though he was still forbidden to sleep and absolutely prohibited from meditating. Calista's two retainers, a warrior and an archer, took turns guarding the Wizard, ensuring he had no opportunity to restore his magical powers.

When Freyr arrived at the dungeon, he was somewhat unaccustomed to the damp and gloomy smell of the place.

Seeing Calista in her knight's attire made Freyr's eyes light up. This long-legged beauty originally had an alluring face, but now she had made some changes to her appearance. She had cut her hair short, tied a ribbon around her forehead, and trimmed her eyebrows. These changes lessened her softness but added a touch of heroism.

Especially after donning the knight's outfit, she appeared much more dignified—though she no longer wore the short skirt, and her beautiful, shapely legs were no longer visible. With a slender sword at her side and a light knight's breastplate, she now had quite the knightly demeanor.

"Honorable master," Calista greeted Freyr as he walked into the dungeon.

"I've come to see my captive," Freyr said coldly. He was in a bad mood and glanced at Calista. "Did you stay here all night?"

Calista's face showed a trace of difficulty. "Master, this man inside is my former comrade. I think..."

"Are you pleading for him?" Freyr shook his head. "There's no need. I don't intend to make things difficult for him. As long as he answers a few questions, I'll release him immediately."

With that, Freyr walked past Calista, leaving behind a command, "I'll speak with him alone. All of you wait outside and do not enter without permission."

The room where the Wizard was held was the largest in the dungeon. When Freyr entered, the Wizard was already pale and barely able to keep his eyes open.

Despite his strong mental powers, the Wizard had exhausted himself during a previous fight at the tavern, using up much of his energy. After being captured, he had no opportunity to meditate and replenish his strength. Moreover, he was deprived of sleep for two days and nights, and by now, he was at his limit.

Throughout the night, every time he closed his eyes, a bucket of cold water would be dumped on him. Although Calista was more courteous, her two subordinates showed no such kindness.

The warrior and the archer had always disliked the Wizard, who had joined the group because of Calista's beauty. Their relationship had always been tense.

As the nobleman walked into the dungeon, the Wizard felt on the verge of collapse. He wasn't shackled, as a powerless Wizard was weaker than an ordinary person. However, the dungeon's damp and cold conditions, along with the countless buckets of water poured on him, had left him shivering with white lips. When Freyr entered, the Wizard was hugging his knees on a stone bed. The warrior beside him barked, "Hey, don't close your eyes, or I'll douse you again! I've fetched water so many times tonight!"

Seeing Freyr, the warrior immediately fell silent. Freyr waved his hand, signaling him to leave, and approached the Wizard. "How are you, esteemed Wizard? Is everything alright here?"

Alright? Do I look like I'm "alright"? The Wizard thought bitterly, but he wore a pleading expression. "Sir, why must a nobleman of your stature make things difficult for me? As the eldest son of the Russell family's earl, if word gets out about how you treated a Wizard, it might be hard for your family to make Wizard friends in the future!"

Threatening me? Freyr smirked. "Oh, really? Then what would happen if word got out that a mere low-level Wizard had mastered instant casting?"

The Wizard's face turned even paler, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

Consequences? The consequences were simple! If other Wizards learned of such a revelation, he would quickly become the prey of every Wizard across the continent. Every Wizard dreamed of mastering instant casting, a top-tier skill. And if a mere low-level Wizard could achieve this... well, the result was obvious, wasn't it? It would be like a defenseless three-year-old carrying an enormous fortune.

"Just tell me," Freyr smiled. "I know that your so-called instant casting isn't true instant casting. You must have used some kind of trick, right? I'm not a Wizard, so telling me won't harm you. I'm just curious."

The Wizard lowered his head, a look of struggle appearing on his face.

"What is there to hesitate about?" Freyr sighed. "You're just a low-level Wizard. While Wizards are rare and respected in this world, that only applies to those who are mid-level or above. For someone of your rank, even if I killed you here or imprisoned you for life, no one would care. Not even the Magic Association would offend a noble for a lowly Wizard like you, right?"

"You..." The Wizard's resolve began to waver, and his psychological defenses started to crumble. He bit his lip and said, "If I tell you, you must swear not to reveal it. This concerns my identity as a Wizard!"

"Of course, I swear," Freyr immediately raised his hand. "I, Freyr Russell, swear that whatever you tell me today will remain a secret. If I break this vow, may the Goddess of Light punish me!"

The Wizard's expression was complex, his eyes showing a trace of guilt. After a few moments of lip movements, he finally spoke, "I... actually, I'm just a magic apprentice."