Chapter 256: Wizard Territory (Part 2)

Chapter 256: Wizard Territory (Part 2)

With this mindset, Zoya’s study and training were often inconsistent, like fishing for three days and drying the nets for two. Yet, this did not stop her strength from growing; the Mana within her body still increased slowly but steadily.

As she progressed, she found she could not only blend with her environment but also mimic the Mana Fluctuation of other people and creatures. This allowed her to easily fool the senses of most Wizards.

This discovery caught Bran’s interest. After testing it, he still felt unsatisfied. He said, “If only we could go further and mimic other people’s abilities.”

Zoya had gotten used to Bran’s wild ideas. Hadn’t he suffered enough because of them?

She pulled a notebook from her backpack. It recorded her former family and some past events. Faced with her persistent questioning, Bran had finally lost patience and made this notebook for her.

He said, “If you have doubts, write them down, then try to find the answers here.” But she was too lazy to search through it now. What would it change even if she found something? The moment she closed the notebook, the memories would fade away again.

Only after countless times of flipping through it had she gradually grown used to tracing the slightly depressed letters on the cover with her fingers — Zoya’s Diary.

All details about her own past were sealed in the latter half of the diary. Apart from that, the first half remained blank; she hadn’t recorded any of her doubts there. In her view, what was the point of merely writing down her doubts? The answers were right here. Would feeling sorry for herself over the answers she held in her hands change anything?

Suggesting going to the Royal Capital wasn’t to seek out her past, but because she genuinely wanted to help. But Bran obviously didn’t see it that way, which was why he sent her to the Wizard Territory.

Bran said, “Clear out any threatening creatures along the way, and take someone to investigate the Wizard Territory.” This meant his main goal wasn’t the Wizard Territory itself, but to have her and Xirui kill those insignificant beasts.

For this rather unreasonable request, she deliberately chose a zigzagging route to expand their hunting range. However, this made things difficult for the two young Scholars who followed them — Harvey and Sander.

Xirui had no objections to her arrangements. As for the two young Scholars, they were simply ignored by them. Initially, these Scholars tried to get close to them, but the constant chill emanating from Xirui soon froze the two, leaving them pale and causing them to frantically keep their distance.

When a cold mist spread around Xirui, even the White Wolves were unwilling to approach the edge of the fog. Yet, Feiyu displayed a death-defying personality similar to Bran’s, frequently approaching the edge of the cold mist to brush against it. Then, shaking its feathers, it would hop away, flap its wings a few times, and come close again.

While Northlanders were very familiar with Snow Falcons, they knew little about their distant relative, the Giant Falcon. Feiyu was mostly trained alongside Snow Falcons, but was given great freedom in other aspects. Bran didn’t know what Feiyu needed during its various growth stages, so he often let Feiyu pick and choose. This led to Feiyu becoming increasingly picky about food and growing fatter and fatter.

And Zoya still hadn’t figured out how this big fellow managed to flap its way into the sky. Bran always laughed and praised Feiyu for getting stronger, completely ignoring that Feiyu spent more and more time waddling on the ground on its two feet.

Along the way, Feiyu flapped its wings, hopping and leaping through the snow beside them. It didn’t hold them back, but it didn’t provide any help either.

She had little control over Feiyu. The only one who could truly command Feiyu was Danny. Bran mostly discussed things with Feiyu, then offered a small benefit in exchange. Now Bran probably realized this wasn’t ideal and wanted to use her hand to train Feiyu, so she could only try her best.

Actually, even without the care of Danny and Bran, Feiyu was fully capable of taking care of itself. The fact that it didn’t hold them back on this journey was proof. But if it wanted to become a true companion, it still had a long way to go.

Compared to Feiyu, the few young White Wolves were much better. The history of interdependence between White Wolves and Northlanders was so long that many things were already ingrained in their Bloodline.

Such things couldn’t be forced. The interaction between Giant Falcons and Northlanders was closer to a competitive relationship.

Although the natural resources of this World were very rich and food sources were wide, as fellow occupants of the top of the food chain, a subtle competition had always existed. As Feiyu kept growing and its nature gradually Awakened, many things started to become troublesome.

Stubborn and hard to tame was Feiyu’s portrayal when facing others.

Xirui said, “Feiyu lived at Bran Manor for a few months when it was young and has a fairly good relationship with me.” Although the mutual indifference between them made Xirui’s claim doubtful, it was true that Feiyu showed no rejection towards Xirui.

Occasionally, Feiyu would even toss leftover prey in front of Xirui’s feet, with an attitude like a lord bestowing a favor. Xirui was also used to it, acting as if she couldn’t be bothered.

Zoya didn’t know what had happened between them, but it probably wasn’t pleasant. She wanted Xirui to help train Feiyu, but Xirui said she didn’t want to waste energy on Feiyu; she still needed to train hard.

This wasn’t an excuse. Xirui’s progress was too obvious. But as a Wizard, she sensed this progress wasn’t solely due to training. Because along this journey of hunting, she had also changed noticeably. It seemed as if they were absorbing some kind of power through the killing, accelerating their own growth.

If she hadn’t neglected her own training, and if Xirui wasn’t there for comparison, Bran might have truly deceived her. Was he afraid they would become obsessed with killing? She should find a chance to ask him.

…

Harvey and Sander had been following far behind Zoya and Xirui, carefully observing their behavior. They had no improper thoughts; it was just a habit nurtured since childhood.

They were adopted by Baz as children and naturally became his disciples after coming of age. Although named teacher and students, their relationship was more like grandfather and grandsons.

Even during the disbandment period, the two did not leave Northland City, so when they heard the call, they immediately returned to Baz’s side. They did not approve of Baz’s choice and were skeptical about the elusive promise of Immortality.

But as events progressed, their impression of Bran also changed. This was a person who did not make promises lightly and laid all the risks on the table upfront. Especially when Baz explained, “Bran will perform the Immortality ritual only after my natural Death,” their impression of Bran completely reversed.

This time, they volunteered to come. It was both a repayment and a demonstration, laying the foundation for staying in Northland City in the future.