"You can have them all," Professor Tobias said, well versed in the art of inducement. "But how many depends on your choices—and your resolve."

Greed always carries a price; Luo Wei understood that.

She wasn't afraid of paying—she just feared a cost that didn't match the return.

"What do I have to do to get what you mentioned?" she asked.

She needed to weigh whether those prizes justified the risk—and how deep that risk ran. Compared to everything else, her little life mattered more.

"If you lead the Junior Division team to first place, you may pick any five," Professor Tobias coaxed. "Second place, four. And so on. If it's fifth, only one."

Lenient terms—given Siria Magic Academy's strength, placing top five was hardly an issue.

Luo Wei wanted the Merfolk Pearl most. The animals around her kept multiplying; communication kept worsening.

With the Merfolk Pearl she'd finally understand them.

Like the raven sprawled under her eaves, eating, loafing, and croaking all day—what was it even saying?

She also wanted to find out how it had flown over from the Misty Plains, then turn it into a messenger between both shores. No way was it getting a lifetime of idle freedom.

Her thoughts turned; half her agreement was already formed.

As for the other half…

"Professor, is the magic tournament all straight one‑on‑one duels, or a rotating melee?" Luo Wei asked carefully instead of deciding on impulse. "Can I see the exact rules?"

Professor Tobias inclined her head, turned, and took a parchment scroll from the desk. "This is the proposed schedule and format. Read it."

Luo Wei unrolled it and studied the contents.

The Magic Tournament was held annually at Siria Magic Academy. Siria, as host, set the rules.

The Ten Great Academies served as supervisors, holding judging authority.

To ensure fairness and surface the strongest teams, Siria designed three events.

First: Beast Hunt. The Academy would release a set number of magical beasts into the arena. All teams entered together. Points were tallied by number and grade of beasts slain.

Second: Defense Battle. Each team claimed a territory within the arena. Their territory contained scarecrows representing "people." The Academy would release simulated monsters to assault all territories. The team whose land remained most intact—and whose "people" survived in greatest number—scored highest.

Third: Arena Duel—the hottest student topic and the most visually direct test of combat strength. Teams from over twenty academies drew lots for one‑on‑one matches. The last team left on the platform won.

Finished, Luo Wei's furrowed brow eased considerably.

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She had assumed the tournament meant nonstop ring fighting—making it impossible to avoid St. Teno Divine College.

Now it seemed she'd only intersect with the Divine College in the final event—and at most once.

With only a single possible encounter, she could play it safe, avoid them if they appeared, and aim for second instead of first.

Low cost. High return.

She rolled the parchment. "Professor Tobias, I agree to compete."

Those rewards—she'd set her sights on them.

Professor Tobias's fingers caressed the crystal ball; light glimmered beneath her brim.

The sphere reflected the girl's warped outline—and the desire in her heart. Desire never escaped an astrologer holding a crystal ball.

When Luo Wei left, the bell tower's mechanical clock was nearing four.

Somehow, they had talked nearly an hour. She went in full of resistance and walked out willingly wearing shackles.

Hard to blame herself: first an appeal to feeling, then to reason, finally to profit—her opponent's negotiation tier was higher. She couldn't withstand it.

Since she'd agreed, she had to prepare properly. She also needed a plan against Light Purification.

Lost in fluffy creatures and the Merfolk Pearl, she had forgotten to ask whether Light Purification was a physical attack or a mental one.

If physical—no big deal. If mental—she had no approach.

Go back and ask?

She turned, then hesitated. Professor Tobias's eyes felt like they saw straight through her; whenever those hands touched the crystal, a chill ran down her spine.

Forget it—ask Winnie.

With Hawkins Shop's sponsorship, Winnie no longer had to work daily for living expenses; she usually practiced swordsmanship in the square each afternoon.

Luo Wei found her there. After a few pleasantries they sat by a flowerbed.

"Winnie, about the sunglasses I mentioned yesterday—did you all decide they'd help in the tournament?"

Winnie looked surprised. "Miss Luo Wei, didn't Professor Pence speak to you yesterday?"

Luo Wei recalled Headmaster Morrison and Professor Pence had mentioned it briefly, but the meeting room atmosphere had turned odd and they'd left soon after.

"No. The professors were busy."

"I see," Winnie said softly. "Professor Pence said your idea was excellent and wanted to ask how to make them!"

"So sunglasses really can block light magic?" Luo Wei pressed.

"Um… Professor Pence said they need to test them first."

"Got it. I'll make a pair as soon as I can," Luo Wei said, then probed, "Is light magic like Holy Water—does it also destroy dark creatures?"

"I don't know," Winnie replied, puzzled. "I've never seen light magic."

Great. Luo Wei sighed. Looked like she'd still have to ask Professor Tobias.

The revised roster wasn't released yet. She'd wait for tomorrow's list, then consult on those questions.

Leaving the square, Luo Wei returned to Star Luo Residence.

She'd planned to have Troy gather materials for the sunglasses, but he was still away on the western coast—and everyone else was busy.

In the large courtyard only a noisy raven hopped under the eaves.

"Gwuk gwuk gwuk—"

"Gwua gwua gwua—"

Days ago it had been imitating wild ducks; today it sounded like a frog.

She reached the steps; the raven hop‑skipped over, beady black eyes fixed unblinking on her.

"Gwua?"

Luo Wei gazed down. "I don't understand a word."

"Gwua–gwua!" It stretched its neck, seized her skirt hem, and tugged her toward the other side of the yard where maids were drying clothes.

It released her hem, flew onto the line, balanced on one leg. Its claw tentatively tapped a brightly colored Aurora Shawl while its bead eyes stared and it chattered incessantly.

"That's my shawl. What about it?"

The raven bent low, rubbing its head against the fabric. "Gwuk… gwuk…"

Luo Wei: …

She could actually read rapture on a raven's face.

Silence stretched; its squawks grew urgent. At last Luo Wei stepped forward, lifted the shawl, and draped it over the raven.

"Credit for past service," she said, gathering the ends and tying a large bow under its neck. "Next time won't be so easy."

"Caw!" Clad in the Aurora Shawl, the raven puffed its chest, spread its wings, and executed triumphant aerial loops above the courtyard, flaunting its new attire.

"Caw caw caw caw caw caw—"

The air filled with manic, duck‑like laughter.

Luo Wei covered her face. Why—why had she ever captured a vain, motor‑mouthed raven?

Her shoulder suddenly tickled, as though something crawled across it.

She turned just in time to catch a tiny shadow flicker through her peripheral vision—lunging toward the airborne raven.

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