The next morning, Ery summoned Hardy, the Kaleos noble to et him in his private hall.
As he presented the new pill and explained his intentions, Hardy could only muster a deep sigh. "Master… I am moved by your efforts, but I really don't think it would work," he expressed with a heavy tone.
Despite Hardy's evident pessimism, he respected Ery's dedication and agreed to consu the pill.
Within minutes, a noticeable transformation began to unfold. Hardy's deanor shifted as vitality coursed through his veins, his spirit force steadily climbing beyond 100. He ascended to the level of a rank 5 acolyte, and the surge continued, almost propelling him to the threshold of rank 6, a bridge between Earth's realm and the Skyrealm. Yet, just before reaching this coveted milestone, the progression abruptly halted.
It seed that Ery's new pill was effective, but the outco mirrored the previous two attempts. Within a day or two, Hardy's cultivation would inevitably regress to his previous rank 4 state.
"Maybe it will be different this ti," Hardy remarked, forcing a smile as he expressed his gratitude for Ery's efforts. However, before he could take his leave, Ery surprised him by insisting that he stay.
Hardy, taken aback by this request "Master... it will take a day or two... let just co back after," he suggested, but Ery remained resolute, instructing Hardy to remain by his side.
As ti passed, the situation grew increasingly uncomfortable for the Kaleos noble. Hours went by, and the other acolytes began to wonder why Hardy was spending so much ti alone with Ery. Even Klea, noticing the unusual circumstance, approached to inquire.
Despite all the prying eyes, Ery remained focused, observing Hardy closely for any subtle changes, even as night fell and a new morning dawned.
For another full day, Hardy found himself compelled to remain seated beside Ery, his thoughts drifting as he pondered why this renowned magus would invest so much ti and effort on his behalf. As the sun began to set again, and Hardy realized that Ery was prepared to endure another night, he couldn't help but bow his head in frustration.
"Please, Master, please stop... This is pointless," Hardy pleaded, his voice filled with desperation. Yet, Ery remained silent, his focus unwavering as he continued to scrutinize Hardy for any sign of change. Then, suddenly, it happened.
At the very mont when Hardy's core reached the pinnacle of the Earth Realm, just a step shy of the Sky Realm, instead of experiencing a breakthrough, his spirit core began to spiral into chaos. Sensing the disturbance, Ery reached out and placed his hand on Hardy's back. To his astonishnt, Ery realized that the disturbance was not caused by poison or any chemical reaction—it was sothing magical.
Hidden within Hardy's body, Ery discovered a tiny formation seal. "It's a ti formation!" Ery exclaid.
This intricate spell functioned as a reverse spell, gradually siphoning off Hardy's spirit force as it dwindled. Regrettably, Ery possessed only a rudintary understanding of ti spells and formations.
As Hardy's distress grew, he pleaded with Ery to halt the process, visibly suffering from the effects. Instead of complying, Ery called upon Klea, urgently requesting her assistance in assessing Hardy's condition.
Recognizing the urgency, Klea sprang into action, diligently working to dismantle the formation while Ery provided support to maintain Hardy's health. After an hour of intense effort, Klea finally succeeded in dispelling the ti formation entirely.
"It's done," Ery declared, relieved to sense no lingering traces of the formation within Hardy's body.
Hardy's spirit force surged like a torrent unleashed, breaking through barriers with unstoppable force. He rose rapidly, soaring past Skyrealm rank 6, then 7, 8, and even 9, until finally plateauing. He stood transford, a renewed man.
"What a vicious formation," Klea remarked, concern etched on her features. "Soone truly ant you harm... I must inform your uncle."
To their astonishnt, Hardy's expression shifted to one of regret. With a deep bow, he implored Ery, "Please, Master... I beg you, to keep it a secret, even to my uncle."
His plea baffled both Ery and Klea. It seed Hardy was fully aware of the danger he had been in. Then, to their astonishnt, he cast an advanced spell—forming an identical ti formation and directing it at his own body. With a solemn air, he allowed the formation to seal his body once more, his spirit force gradually receding back to acolyte rank 4.
"I apologize for misleading you both," Hardy confessed, his voice heavy with regret.
Hardy began to recount the intricate web of political intrigue within the Kaleos faction. Born into aristocracy and possessing rare talent in ti spells, he was a prized asset, coveted by many. However, lacking reliable allies to safeguard him, Hardy found himself vulnerable.
In a bid to ensure his safety, Hardy's mother had imparted to him the knowledge of the secret ti seal before her mysterious demise.
Since that fateful day, Hardy had donned the guise of a disabled individual, his true potential hidden beneath a veneer of feigned vulnerability. His every action, every word was carefully calculated to perpetuate the illusion of weakness, shielding him from the prying eyes of those who sought to exploit or eradicate him.
The supposed poison detected by Ery was, in reality, Hardy's own creation—a ruse to make it appear as though he had fallen victim to one of the many political adversaries.
Once again, Hardy articulated his sincere remorse for misleading them, acknowledging the depth of gratitude he harbored for Ery's earnest attempts to assist him. However, despite the genuine appreciation he felt, Hardy preserved resolute in his decision to refrain from unveiling his true talents or actively participating in the affairs of the academy.
"I hope for your understanding,"
Despite Ery's inability to delve into Hardy's mind due to the academy restriction, he still gleaned a sense of authenticity from Hardy's deanor.
Ery acknowledged Hardy's decision, though not without a word of caution.
"Keep in mind, you can't hide forever,"
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