Kyle Carter, who had resigned himself to death with his eyes closed, suddenly felt the searing pain across his body vanish in an instant.
Opening his eyes, he saw that the two small bottles in the left hand of the hooded, gray-robed mage had disappeared into thin air.
Spatial magic!
He sat up and immediately noticed that his body felt lighter and stronger than ever before.
It didn't take long for him to realize—the mysterious mage before him had saved his life.
And now, he was certain—this mage harbored no ill intent toward him.
Not only had this person healed his wounds and brought him back from the brink of death, but he/she had done so without demanding anything in return beforehand.
But what about afterward? Would he be expected to repay this kindness?
Kyle jumped off the bed and gave the gray-robed mage a deep bow.
"Thank you for your generosity in healing my wounds and saving my life." He paused before asking cautiously, "What price must I pay in return?"
The mage waved a hand dismissively, and a crisp, melodious female voice rang out, "No, you don't owe me anything."
Both Ava and Kyle froze in place.
Ava was stunned because she hadn't expected an in-game character to speak in her own voice.
Kyle, on the other hand, was shocked for a different reason—
First, because the mage required no repayment, and second, because this mage was a lady.
Female mages were rare in Nolan Continent, and judging by her voice, she sounded quite young—perhaps only twenty years old?
A mage at twenty years of age had likely just graduated from a magic academy.
Kyle's mother had forbidden him from undergoing the aptitude test at any Magic academy in Silverleaf city, but she had often told him stories about magic and its practitioners.
From those stories, he knew that a talented apprentice Mage could, through four to six years of rigorous training, graduate as a Journeyman Mage, typically reaching Level 3 or Level 4.
At this stage, they could proficiently cast between four to ten spells and exert precise control over their magic.
So, was this mysterious female mage in front of him merely a Journeyman Mage?
At this moment, Kyle remained unaware that Ava had given him a potion that enhanced elemental affinity. If he had known, he wouldn't have assumed she was just a Journeyman Mage—at the very least, she had to be an Archmage.
After all, even a tiny vial of that potion could only be concocted by Archmages, who also needed vast sums of gold to afford the rare herbs required for its creation.
For mages with ordinary talent, a potion that enhanced elemental affinity to the extreme was nothing short of a key to changing their fate. Its value was beyond Kyle's imagination.
Some royal heirs, despite lacking magical talent, had used such potions to force their way to the rank of Master Mage.
And the potion Ava had given Kyle? It was pure, without a trace of impurities—an elixir of unparalleled quality.
On the Nolan Continent, it wasn't just a matter of affording it; even the wealthiest individuals would struggle to obtain it without sufficient social standing.
As Kyle stood in silent contemplation, his stomach suddenly let out a loud growl.
He hadn't eaten for two days.
Previously, the excruciating pain from his wounds had overridden his hunger. But now that he was healed, he realized just how empty his stomach felt.
How embarrassing.
His face flushed red.
The golem puppet beside him stiffly lifted an arm and pointed toward the table laden with food.
Kyle hesitated no longer. He sat at the table and began eating, at first taking small bites. But soon, his chewing quickened, escalating into ravenous devouring. Ava watched, dumbfounded.
This really was a game. Only an in-game character could eat this fast.
…
Once finished, Kyle stood up and bowed again. "It has been so long since I've had such a delicious meal. I will forever remember your kindness, honored mage."
Ava smiled. "So, what are your plans for the future?"
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Kyle's eyes.
Yes, what should he do next?
On this continent, the most revered and powerful individuals were mages.
But after this morning's aptitude test, that path was forever closed to him.
The next most respected profession was that of a swordsman.
Those with poor magical talent but strong physiques often chose to become swordsmen.
Kyle glanced down at his own frail body. It was obvious—he was in no condition to pass even the most basic entry test for a swordsman.
Yet, for some reason, the thought of never becoming a mage filled him with an unbearable sense of loss.
Ava, seeing his hesitation, asked with a playful smile, "Do you want to become a mage?"
"Of course!" Kyle blurted out.
Ah, this felt more like a proper game now.
An NPC had just given her a quest: 'Become a Mage.'
Kyle hesitated. "But…"
The gray-robed mage made a sweeping gesture, exuding boundless confidence. "With me, there is no 'but.' If you wish for it, I will make it reality."
Kyle's expression wavered. "But my magical aptitude…"
Ava already knew what he was worried about.
Zero elemental affinity, right?
After drinking the potion, at least one of his elemental affinities had to be maxed out.
She controlled the puppet to retrieve a crystal ball.
The sphere materialized in the golem's hands.
No golden stand. No plush velvet cushion. Just a single, unceremoniously presented orb.
"Come, test it again," she said.
Kyle gave a bitter smile and reached out, pressing both hands against the crystal ball.
He knew the mage meant well.
But he also knew…
His thoughts came to a screeching halt.
This time, it was different from earlier.
The moment his hands made contact, a rush of heat surged from his fingertips. The crystal ball erupted in a brilliant red glow, the radiance growing so intense it became blinding.
Kyle felt a fiery warmth engulf his hands, the heat spreading up his arms and throughout his body.
"This… this is impossible!" he gasped, staring at the glowing sphere in disbelief.
In front of him, the mage's melodic voice rang out calmly: "Fire elemental affinity… one hundred percent."
Ava nodded in satisfaction.
Yep, that hundred-dollar potion was worth every cent. Instant results!
A wave of elation surged through Kyle.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
He withdrew his hands, then placed them back onto the orb once more.
The same brilliant red glow. The same burning sensation.
"Congratulations, Kyle," Ava said lightly. "You can now pass the academy's entrance test."
Kyle's initial excitement slowly gave way to contemplation.
He thought back to that arrogant noble from earlier today—the smug, freckle-faced magic apprentice who had mocked him.
Did he really want to attend that academy?
No. After what he had endured that morning, his mind was made up.
He looked at the gray-robed mage before him, someone who had shown him kindness and given him a second chance.
So generous.
So approachable.
Kyle took a deep breath, summoning all his courage.
"Honored Mage," he said, looking straight at the puppet, "would I be fortunate enough… to become... your apprentice?"
Ava blinked.
Wait. What?
Wasn't this kid supposed to be eager to go to the magic academy?
Why suddenly changed his mind?
Studying magic from me? A modern-day person knowing nothing about magic?
Ava was about to say No.
But wait...
Was this an NPC assigning a quest to her?
Even so...
Ava frowned, still preparing to reject the request. This boy seems easy to communicate.
But then, her expression changed abruptly.
On her computer screen, four red dots had appeared near Kyle's house.
They were closing in fast!
Even though Ava wasn't a gamer, she had heard enough from her classmates to know—
In-game maps only marked enemies in red.
These four enemies were moving at incredible speed, closing in on Kyle's doorstep in the blink of an eye.
Kyle was still anxiously awaiting Ava's response when the gray-robed mage suddenly stepped forward, positioning herself in front of him, facing the doorway, and shielding him behind her.
Unsure of what was happening, Kyle instinctively followed her gaze toward the entrance.
The wooden door had already been knocked down by Ava's puppet earlier, leaving an empty doorway. Through it, four figures emerged into Kyle's line of sight.
The moment he saw them, a deep sense of dread gripped Kyle—something terrible was about to happen.
Two of the intruders were young men he had seen earlier that morning at the academy.
One was the arrogant noble who had stood at the center of the crowd, basking in attention. The other was the freckled apprentice whose Wind Blade spell had nearly killed him.
Kyle had no idea why they had followed him all the way to his home, but the hostility on their faces was unmistakable.
This was his fight—his enemies. He couldn't drag the kind-hearted mage into his troubles.
Swallowing his fear, Kyle forced himself to step out from behind the puppet, even as his legs trembled. He squared his shoulders, doing his best to appear brave.
"You're here for me, aren't you?" His voice wavered slightly as he spoke.
The freckled apprentice let out a cold chuckle but didn't bother acknowledging Kyle. Instead, he turned to Aldric with a sycophantic smile, bowing slightly.
"I marked this filthy commoner with tracking powder," he said smugly. "As you can see, this is where he lives."
Aldric von Rhein gave a slight nod.
His expression remained unreadable, as if Kyle wasn't even worth a glance.
Having confirmed his target, he shifted his gaze to the mage standing behind him and gave a simple, chilling order—his thin lips barely moving as he spoke.
"Kill him."
"Now."