Lev didn't stay for any post-ceremony speeches, even if he wanted to hear Katarina from the crowd's perspective. Instead, he quietly made his way to the gold waiting room from the previous day.

  Still holding the tome to his chest, he sat down in the back corner and digested all that had just happened.

  Drakys had pretty much indirectly declared him a disciple at the very least. The tome in his hands was undeniable proof, and the point was further hammered in by knowing that nobody other than Lev could possibly open it.

  More enchantments than he could count were visible on just the leather cover, and they were all only slightly blurred. Lev could focus on seeing them one by one clearly, meaning they were also a part of the rewards.

  A ridiculous start for someone who couldn't possibly craft something like that anytime soon.

  With a deep breath, Lev tried to open it for the first time. The tome demanded a small trickle of mana, and he gave it freely. In a blink, the collection was unlocked and ready for him to dive into.

  Immediately, a curious detail stood out. The second half of the tome was bound together by a simple leather strip. A note was waiting for him to explain on the page before.

  'I know you're very curious, boy. Nothing will stop you from looking at those runes but trust me, you're better off not messing with them before evolving. All the formations are incredibly taxing on the mind and soul. Stay away from them as you are right now.

  More importantly, this reward/gift does not come with expectations. It doesn't take a genius to realize what was going on in your mind, so banish those thoughts. You earned these in more than one way. Nobody will demand anything in return from you. If someone dares, just send me the word.

  Have fun with all the fancy new toys, Lev.

  Good luck.

  - Drakys'

  Eyes moist again, Lev put down the note back in its place and closed the tome. He leaned back and took deep breaths, letting the mix of emotions plaguing his mind out with them.

  Shaking his head, he deciphered the message thoroughly. The first half was straightforward but could still be interpreted in two ways. First, the runes were simply too demanding for an Adept. Or secondly, just knowing about them was harmful in some way.

  He doubted Drakys was going to give him such runes as a gift but the possibility remained. Lev was simply not going to touch the locked section before evolving.

  The latter half of the message was… self-explanatory, even if it ticked him off a little. Rather than sending word to the Exalted, Lev himself planned to be strong enough that no one would dare try anything like that.

  With a deep sigh to clear his muddy head, Lev opened the first page of the time. It had another small message.

  'The first chapter of formations contains all the vital ones that you will need eventually. Practice them enough times to form them in a blink even when all your senses are blinded.'

  True to the note, the very first formation Lev beheld was his current Enhancement. Each rune was dissected and explained in detail in small handwriting. For his Perception, the words might as well be written on a large whiteboard.

  After a few pages, there was another advanced enhancement formation with an accompanying note.

  'When you hit level 225, start practicing with this one. Do not rush the second gap, and learn the ins and outs of the formation as deeply as you can. It requires some mental gymnastics to bring out the enhancement's full potential. The training will serve you well.'

  Instead of scanning the new formation, Lev skipped to the next chapter. Everything was going to be explored in time, but he wanted to see all his options to start planning.

  The second chapter came with another message.

  'Sherron mentioned you looking for stealth runes. I would be curious if Alec hadn't once scoured the entire plains for them a while ago. He still uses them for his crafting.'

  The first formation was intricate mana concealment. It required the entire enchanted piece to be covered, depending on the shape and was much better than the runes he himself had for such a task.

  Lev lost track of time as he looked at all the currently available formations with a smile that just refused to leave. The sound of pages turning kept him company in the dim, empty room.

  ****

  "Done hiding?" Katarina peeked from behind the door.

  "It is impossible to hide from you guys. Not like I have any degree of control over my aura," Lev plainly answered and closed the tome.

  The previous hours had passed in peaceful silence, especially because he had refrained from learning or deciphering any of the formations. Mostly, he had just made mental notes about the seemingly endless options and how to best make use of them.

  "Be as it may, Sherron is too much of a wuss to come see you first. Go give her a hug."

  Having said her piece, the princess vanished. Lev considered her words for a few seconds and found no harm in acting on them.

  Time to go hug an Exalted for free, Lev mused, smiling. He would never get tired of hugs from Sherron and her friends.

  Leisurely, he made his way to the royal room. Many auras were present inside, and the reason became apparent when he entered the booth. The windows were closed and the entire place was covered in an illusion, hiding and obscuring all details of the interior.

  Without stopping, he sat down next to Sherron and leaned close. She swung an arm over his shoulders, pulling him in for a side-hug. Both of them stayed silent, as did the rest of the room.

  The princesses both respected the mood, and Duke Fabian and his daughter were too mature to interrupt.

  "This was a low blow," Lev muttered. "I was wholly unprepared."

  "Nobody could've predicted it." Sherron smiled and squeezed his shoulder. "Guess your declaration moved him more than anyone expected."

  "And now I'm gonna be grateful for as long as I live," he replied, already mentally preparing himself for even grander undertakings. Staying away from the populace and doing his own thing was becoming less and less of an option.

  "Knew you'd come around eventually," Sherron grinned at him, accurately reading his mind. "Did you check them out?"

  Lev nodded, "Not even halfway done with the Adept stuff yet. Really makes me wonder if he just gathered the best stuff he had and handed it all to me."

  "Who knows?"

  "… By the way, I was on the mountain last night," Lev slowly voiced, already smiling from ear to ear. He couldn't just say it outright with Isabella present, not knowing if she was aware of the Goddess or not.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "The third moon looked especially beautiful," he finished and observed everyone's reaction. Katarina had a knowing smirk on her face, whereas Lara looked at him curiously, having an idea as well. Duke Fabian's stoic face was the same, and Isabella looked nervous. It seemed she knew what was up.

  "Did… did you talk to Her?" Isabella timidly asked.

  "She…" Lev scratched his head. "She enhanced my body with moonlight, I think?" he looked at Sherron. "I swear it even increased my mana regeneration?"

  Pin-drop silence met his proclamation. Nobody uttered a word for a while before Sherron laughed.

  "Well, that answers if She is aware of your circumstances," she mused, shaking her head slightly, then continued in a low voice. "Maybe even our Statuses aren't hidden from Her."

  "Hmm, it doesn't really matter now, does it?" Lev grinned. "We're here, mere mortals on the ground. She's up there, beyond our imagination. No point in fussing over things so far out of our control. Besides, I for one don't mind Her having access to my Status."

  "I take back what I said earlier," Sherron scoffed and lightly punched his shoulder. "You're gonna be Lev, no matter what."

  "Precisely as it should be," Lev gave her a toothy smirk.

  "Lev," Duke Fabian addressed him, no signs of mirth on his face. Lev sat up straight as well. "As someone in charge of the protection of humanity, I need to know what you plan to do with this information."

  "Nothing," Lev immediately replied. "I absolutely will not let anyone know of it, either."

  "Why's that?"

  "Erm… you guys have kept it from everyone for the same reason. I would much rather humanity remains in the dark than risk a Goddess' wrath."

  Duke Fabian nodded, satisfied for now. "Still, I would ask you to consult one of us before doing anything with that information. Do not take it negatively but we also cannot take any chances by letting you utilize it freely."

  "Naturally," Lev agreed without hesitation. If anything, he wouldn't mind a safeguard measure that stopped him from doing anything about the knowledge of Her existence. It would prevent any accidents or leaks.

  "Thank you," the duke gave him a grateful look before going silent again. Nobody commented on him pulling his daughter in for a side-hug like Sherron, nor about the surprise that Isabella failed to hide completely.

  The positive side of my casualness is finally affecting others, at least in this enclosed space, Lev thought, oddly proud of himself.

  "Is there a reason you are all still here?" Lev broke the ensuing silence.

  "The defenses are being finalized right now, even as mana levels have visibly started rising," the duke answered. "We will relocate to our stations soon enough."

  "I'm assuming that includes me."

  "Correct. Runespires has always been the second most attacked city because of all the final caverns and their increased activity during the storm. You will be dropped off at the central spire and remain at the top. Am I correct in assuming that your lances can reach beyond the city?"

  Beyond the walls, huh? Lev didn't reply instantly, giving it some serious thought. He didn't have to ponder for long.

  "Not with any reliable precision, no. I will need to practice aiming for a good while to manage that well enough."

  "That is not an issue," the duke waved away his concern. "An aura mage will accompany you at all times, one specializing in buffing mages. Start practicing as soon as you get there."

  "How will I get there, anyway?"

  Sherron chimed in. "I'll get you there."

  Lev got up to leave after that. He and Isabella shared a happy look before he left the room.

  ****

  Aryan was waiting for him outside. Lev gave him a sheepish smile, having forgotten someone was expecting him outside.

  "Sorry," Lev said in the way of greeting. "I was somewhat busy."

  The rogue just rolled his eyes and started walking. Lev fell in line, wondering what the destination was. Neither spoke as they silently made their way to the residential region.

  "Are we being followed?" Lev broke the silence, asking the question casually, as if inquiring about the weather. Then again, the weather was also taking a harrowing turn.

  Aryan merely nodded, the action nearly imperceptible. Seeing him do so, Lev didn't react either. With unhurried steps, the duo continued their walk.

  Nearly twenty minutes later, an inn came into view. It was a modest thing. Two floors and a light brown exterior painted it in a homely light, and the rogue entered without missing a beat.

  "Secure the girl," Aryan ordered, tone frigid, pointing to a woman cleaning a table. She looked like a deer caught in a headlight, hands paused mid-air, holding a cleaning rag. Lev acquiesced, immediately forming dome after dome of barrier around her. The barriers came into being just as a platinum warrior rushed toward the woman, but it was already too late.

  By the time his sword impacted the domes, they were enchanted with durability and brimming with mana, overloading both the enchantments and the barriers themselves. The sword slid off, not leaving even a scratch.

  "Don't kill them," Lev coldly reminded the rogue just as Aryan's epic armor appeared on his body. Barrier armor covered Lev's body and was swiftly enchanted with durability.

  "Of course."

  All the while, Lev didn't forget to keep an eye on their follower. The illusion covering the platinum rogue was quite good. Lev doubted he would've noticed it if not for his heightened mental state and constant scanning of the surroundings.

  Just as the rogue lunged, multiple shields blocked their path, and chains wrapped around their limbs. Tripping, the rogue fell face-first as the illusion shattered.

  The woman on the ground was seething. She looked up, furious, but faultered when her gaze met Lev's emotionless one.

  Behind him, the barmaid was sobbing on the ground, tears of relief flowing down her face. It wasn't hard to guess who was responsible for her misery.

  More chains formed and completely immobilized the rogue woman. Lev turned around and ignored her completely, further fanning the flames of her rage. He wished she would do something and give him a reason to strike back. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, she didn't.

  Aryan was almost completely unnoticeable with his new armor for Lev. He moved way faster as well, dismantling the platinum team with laughable ease. In less than a minute, they were all on the ground, riddled with non-lethal but crippling injuries.

  Like a silent phantom, Aryan appeared next to him. "Can you lower the barrier now?"

  "Go closer," Lev nodded.

  When Aryan went near the dome, Lev formed a larger one covering both him and the woman from above and dismissed the previous barrier domes. It was likely overkill, but the wasn't keen on being taken with surprise. Seeing the bitter and hateful team on the ground, he knew they wouldn't have missed the opportunity.

  Lev turned away from the emotional reunion happening behind him. Instead, he kept an eye on the team while looking out for any quick movements.

  A girl that was instantly going to be attacked by that warrior when Aryan showed up. The same girl who cried tears of joy when I saved her. Now they are both hugging and sobbing. She was likely kept hostage, and I'm 99% sure the reason was jealousy. This upstart platinum rogue can't hold a candle to Aryan's abilities or the barmaid's beauty.

  Lev belatedly remembered to Identify them.

  [Warrior - Level 245]

  [Warrior - Level 244]

  [Rogue - Level 244]

  [Mage - Level 245]

  The mage had thankfully surrendered instantly, not releasing any spells. She seemed the least likely to be involved in the whole mess. Broken tables and chairs were indication enough for what the warriors had chosen.

  A team of guards barged into the inn not long after, likely called by one of the patrons. The Master in charge took in the scene within moments and leveled a stern glare at Lev.

  "Know that your status will not save you from punishment, Hunter Lev," he remarked threateningly, perhaps hoping to cower Lev for whatever reason.

  Lev just stared back and released the dome around the barmaid and Aryan. He pointed at her. "Hostage."

  "Wait," the girl ran up to them, standing between Lev and the Master guard. "He didn't do anything wrong, please. I have been locked in here for months…"

  She explained her story amidst hiccups and sobs. Less than a minute later, the platinum team was cuffed and dragged away as the girl, Seris, continued speaking.

  The story wasn't far off from what Lev had guessed. Aryan, a man of humble upbringing, had hit it off with Seris. They spent time with each other regularly, and gradually, she became more reserved when interacting with customers.

  Most didn't mind, but one of the platinum warriors didn't take it well at all. Like the asshole he was, the warrior immediately threatened the barmaid. When the platinum rogue found out, she also joined in. Her jealousy of Aryan's class was immense.

  Aryan, being Aryan, was ready to tear off limbs. All of his bravado came crashing down when he found a dagger scraping against Seris' neck, covered in a thin line of blood.

  Long story short, he was always followed and never allowed to ask for help. Aryan didn't risk it either, never forgetting how he had found Seris that night.

  Both sides had something to prove. The platinum team had dug themselves in a hole with no easy way to walk out of it and were too prideful to do so, and Aryan wasn't about to let them run away either. He had chanced it all by bringing Lev with him, and the risk had paid off.

  The situation was very close to a boiling point otherwise. Their timing was fortunate, preventing any unnecessary bloodshed.

  Done hearing her side of the story and verifying it from several patrons, the Master allowed Seris and Aryan to leave. They were both escorted to the guardhouse, as was protocol in such cases.

  "You did well by immediately protecting her," the Master guard said. He and Lev were alone in the inn now. "Still, try to inform us next time instead. Our men are trained to best deal with hostage situations. It is quite unfortunate that these are the most common ones, given the power disperancy between a combatant and a mundane worker."

  "I considered that," Lev replied, staring at the spot where he had covered Seris with his barriers. "But it didn't take long to realize that I couldn't risk it. Even someone like Aryan needed help to ensure her safety. We had to take the offenders by surprise. The rogue following us had realized that we knew she was there and couldn't run ahead to warn her team. It was the best shot we had."

  The Master nodded. "Thank you for the good work."