"This is the Earthly Spring? Doesn't look like much," Jayce muttered, peering into the glass vial as if expecting it to erupt into a radiant display of magical energy.
Kain Clinton's lips curved into a faint, mischievous smirk. "Why don't you try tasting it?"
Jayce blinked at him, hesitation flickering in his eyes before he shrugged. "Well… why not?"
He lifted the vial with trembling fingers and took a cautious sip. Almost instantly, his face contorted in disgust. "What… what is this taste? Earthly Spring… shouldn't it taste like ordinary mountain water? It's… weird. Really weird!"
Kain could no longer contain his laughter. It started soft, almost musical, before swelling into a full-bodied chuckle that shook his shoulders and gripped his stomach.
"What's so funny?" Jayce demanded, narrowing his eyes.
"They absorb it through their skin," Kain said between fits of laughter. "It's basically their magical bathwater. And you actually drank it… and even had the audacity to critique it?"
"Bathwater?! Kain Clinton, I swear I'm going to—!"
Jayce gagged and lunged at him in fury, but Kain stepped back with effortless, almost casual grace, evading the attack.
"Honestly, I admire your courage in exploring the totem," Kain said, still chuckling. "You've made quite the sacrifice for your curiosity."
Jayce blinked, then nodded solemnly. "I guess… that's true. And… I do feel something strange… like a subtle acceleration in my cultivation. It's… odd." His tone carried a mix of awe and overconfidence, betraying a small crack in his bravado.
"If you like it so much… drink the whole vial," Kain said carelessly, shrugging. He already knew the effect of the Earthly Spring: negligible for someone of his level. Even if it slightly boosted a mage's growth, it was far weaker than a refined spiritual core.
"Get out!" Jayce shouted, flinging the vial aside.
The room they occupied was a guest chamber in the Moore family estate. Though Alice Springs had inns and lodges, none could rival the Moore estate's grandeur. Zane Moore, a mid-tier mage, had spared no expense in constructing this residence. It was larger, more elegant, and better maintained than the homes of most wealthy families.
Kain had accepted the stay reluctantly. Zane had invited him under the pretense of tutoring his daughter, Nina Moore, though the true goal was clear: impressing and securing Kain's favor.
Stepping into the garden after leaving the room, Kain noticed Nina quietly tending to the flowers. She wore a simple, unadorned dress, eschewing any ornamentation. It suited her perfectly—natural elegance that required no embellishment.
Nina's silver hair shimmered in the afternoon sun as it cascaded down her back. She observed Kain but did not speak. In her mind, she understood her father's strategy. Kain was exceptional in every measure: a high-tier mage with unmatched talent, supported by the secretive and powerful Clinton family. His demeanor was calm, his presence commanding, yet he treated others with fairness—a stark contrast to the haughty nobles and academy prodigies she had encountered.
For the first time, Nina felt a strange pull—an unfamiliar blend of respect and curiosity.
Kain, however, gave her only a subtle nod before turning away, leaving the estate to wander the city streets with no particular aim. Idle curiosity often led to interesting encounters, and he preferred exploring on his own to wasting time with polite conversation.
Nina, watching him go, felt a faint stirring in her chest. She had never been treated this way—neither as a tool nor as a spectacle. Clutching the Ice Essence Crystal tightly, her thoughts twisted into a tangle of gratitude, intrigue, and cautious hope.
Kain wandered through the bustling streets of Alice Springs, noting the marketplace's vibrant chaos and the distant laughter of children. He considered seeking out John, a young apprentice mage, but approaching him as an equal felt disingenuous. Kain preferred to maintain his stature rather than diminish it artificially.
Eventually, his wandering brought him to a small public park. Modest, yet tranquil: two wooden swings, a few benches, and a single pavilion providing shade. Its quiet charm contrasted sharply with the surrounding city streets.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Hey! There are monsters here! Move along and don't get in the way!"
A blue-haired woman, clad in the uniform of the city's Monster Hunting Team, stomped forward, her tone imperious.
"Monsters?" Kain's lips twitched. In the Anjie region, monsters rarely appeared inside city limits. Yet here he was, encountering one by chance.
"I'm Captain Blake Rivers of the city's Hunter Squad," she announced, gesturing to the small group behind her. "We're tracking a one-eyed demonic wolf. It's dangerous. Leave immediately."
A burly man stepped forward, his stance broad and authoritative. Kain observed the team: competent, yet missing a crucial output mage necessary to subdue such a monster efficiently.
"I'm a hunter too. You don't need to worry about me," Kain said casually. A one-eyed wolf? He could annihilate it instantly.
The captain's eyes narrowed, noting his self-assured tone. "A rookie hunter… doesn't know his place," she muttered.
"Task first, complaining later," Rivers said firmly, focused on the mission.
A man with flamboyant hair scanned the park, frowning. "I could've sworn it went this way… now it's gone."
The captain noticed the growing crowd. "Kyle, disperse the civilians," she commanded. Safety was as important as the hunt.
"Yes, captain," said Lila Waters, a sweet-faced water-element mage, darting forward with practiced precision.
Kain froze. From behind the team came a subtle rustling—a barely perceptible breath, a movement almost invisible. His expression darkened immediately.
The park was open, visible almost entirely at a glance. The hunters focused on an abandoned building, leaving a narrow alley overlooked—rarely used, and thus ignored.
"Why not check that alley?" Kain asked, pointing toward the narrow passage behind the gawking crowd.
"The wolf prefers open spaces. It wouldn't go in there," Caitlin Tang, the deputy, dismissed him.
Her words were cut short. In the next instant, a one-eyed demonic wolf emerged from the alley shadows. Its single red eye glowed with malevolence, and a foul stench of blood tainted the air.
"Mon-monster!" Onlookers screamed. Panic overtook disbelief, leaving only one girl in a wheelchair frozen with terror.
The wolf's fur was matted with blood, its gaping maw dripping fresh gore. Those who had crossed its path earlier now marked its trail of carnage. It had evolved into a deadly predator, daring anyone who approached.
"Run! It's attacking!" Some fled, others collapsed, leaving the girl exposed.
"Kyle!" Rivers shouted, but even Lila's rapid response couldn't reach her in time.
The wolf's claws stretched forward, sharp as obsidian. The crowd winced. Some closed their eyes. Yet before the claws could strike, a brilliant light shield enveloped the girl, forming a shimmering barrier that glowed with ethereal radiance.