Wizards: Starting with Fairy Crests

033: The Hidden Anxiety Beneath Happiness

Inside the stone chamber, the last wisp of pale blue mist slowly dissipated as the meditation candle burned out completely.

Lin Qi sat cross-legged in the center, his closed eyelids trembling slightly before slowly opening.

In the darkness, his eyes seemed deeper than ever before, with a subtle, dark aura, not belonging to reflected light, flowing deep within his pupils—an outward manifestation of his growing spiritual power.

He did not get up immediately, but quietly felt the subtle changes in his body and mind after this deep meditation and the successful condensation of the fifth rune.

First is memory.

The spell notes, rune structures, and even some trivial details I had read in the past now surfaced in my mind more clearly and systematically.

It was as if the dusty pages of a book had been carefully wiped clean, and the speed of searching and retrieving data was significantly faster.

This is one of the most direct feedbacks to brain function after the total amount and concentration of mental energy are improved.

Secondly, there is the perception of elements.

Even though the candles have gone out and the elemental concentration in the stone chamber has dropped, he can still detect the thin, free-floating specks of light of various colors in the air more keenly than he did five months ago.

Not only does concentration become more apparent, but subtle differences in the properties of different elements also become clearer.

This perception acts like an invisible extension, allowing him to more accurately guide the power he needs when casting spells or meditating.

In addition, there is the state of being contaminated by evil eyes.

As his own spiritual power significantly increased, the pollution that had been parasitizing his spiritual origins also seemed to rise accordingly.

It was not diluted or suppressed; instead, it was as if it had been nourished, becoming...more active.

However, at the same time, the abnormal, forceful pull to improve efficiency seemed to have become stronger, and the cold, slippery, strange feeling that occasionally arose from the depths of the mind also subtly deepened.

The connection with an unknown entity has become both closer and more dangerous.

With a thought, Lin Qi saw the familiar semi-transparent system panel unfold in his field of vision.

Name: Lin Qi

[Status: Mild Evil Eye Contamination]

【Occupation: Intermediate Apprentice lv5 (3/10000)】

[Secondary Class: Low-Rank Knight (286/1000)]

[Attributes: Strength 3.9, Agility 3.6, Constitution 3.7, Spirit 5.2]

[Mana: 52/52]

A glance revealed the changes immediately. The mental attribute had broken through the 5.0 level.

Five months of dedicated training have yielded tangible results, translated into numbers on the panel and strength within the body, giving me a greater sense of control over the future.

......

Lin Qi, completely naked, was comfortably soaking in the pool in the bathroom, leaning against the smooth pool wall, letting the warm water wash over his body.

Behind him, Lucy, dressed in a thin veil, was carefully washing Lynch's body with a bucket, towel, and other utensils.

Since taking Lucy as his apprentice, Lynch has promoted her to his personal maid, entrusting her with all his private matters, including eating, sleeping, bathing, and dressing.

The two were already very close; apart from not having slept together, they had engaged in all the intimate acts they were expected to have.

Lynch prefers someone more mature; Lucy is still too young.

Just like a dish that's not cooked enough, eating it prematurely ruins the pleasure of savoring its deliciousness.

In addition, the mental consciousness of apprentices who have just begun meditation is not yet very stable, and doing some activities that stimulate their mental energy at this time may have an impact.

There's no shortage of women in the wizarding world, so Lynch certainly didn't need to be in a hurry.

"Splash!"

Warm, humid steam rose gently from the bathroom.

Lucy's slender yet strong fingers were carefully pressing and kneading Lynch's firm arm muscles, trying to help him relax after meditation.

Her movements were delicate and focused, and her pale skin, which had suffered from long-term malnutrition, blushed slightly under the hot water and steam.

"Master," she spoke softly as she moved, her voice gentle in the steam, "Following your teachings, my meditation has been going very well lately. The first basic rune is already very stable, and..."

"I think I can vaguely sense the outline of the second rune, although it's still very blurry."

During the report, genuine joy shone in her light gray eyes.

Since she began meditating regularly and consciously focusing her mind, those "bad luck" events that used to haunt her and drive her to despair have truly never happened again.

This made her completely believe what Lin Qi had said back then: she was not a jinx who brought bad luck, but simply an unawakened person who could not control her own talent.

"Um."

Lin Qi leaned against the pool wall, his eyes closed. Upon hearing this, he simply gave a soft "hmm," and then said, "Five months, in an elemental environment supported only by meditation candles, you were able to stabilize the first rune and sense the second..."

"very nice."

His praise was understated yet affirmative. This speed, even in the elementally abundant Gray Tower, would be considered above average; in this magic-free human world, it was even more astonishing.

If what was previously just a guess based on the crystal's reaction, Lin Qi can now be almost certain that Lucy, the slave girl he picked up by chance, does indeed possess high-level wizarding talent.

Upon receiving Lynch's brief compliment, Lucy's face immediately lit up with a genuine smile, like the first light of dawn.

She knew better than anyone how her life had been turned upside down in those five months.

She was once considered a jinx even the lowest-class brothels would avoid, and she was on the verge of starvation or being "disposed of." Every day she suffered from cold, hunger, and the constant threat of beatings.

Now, she can eat warm and delicious food every day, including bread, hot milk, and even meat, and she eats her fill.

At night, you can even sleep on a warm and soft bed.

Everything before her eyes was almost a dream to her, a paradise she had never dared to imagine before.

But after the joy, a sense of tension crept into my heart.

Her movements paused slightly, and she lowered her voice even further, tentatively asking, "Master... then... when can I begin learning magic?"

The time she spent with Lin Qi gradually made her realize that her mysterious mentor was, in essence, an exceptionally rational and even ruthless person.

Emotions like warmth and pity seem to have little effect on him; he values ​​"value" more.

Practical, controllable, and profitable value.

Lucy cherishes her hard-won peace and stability, which also fills her with a sense of crisis.

She felt that simply meditating was far from enough; she needed to demonstrate more "usefulness."

You must acquire practical skills more quickly to ensure that you are not discarded as a worthless "object".

Lucy desperately wanted Lynch to summon her to his bedchamber; at least that would give her some value and alleviate her anxiety.

Unfortunately, Lin Qi was reluctant to use her.