For Alaric, the request from Helios and Perse was hardly excessive.
Colchis was a sizable island, and while Mystra Academy was a significant institution, it occupied only a fraction of the land.
Moreover, the island had long been home to small villages. Over time, these villagers had coexisted peacefully with Mystra Academy and the mage city, Heart of Incantation.
Now, Helios and Perse were asking for their son, Aeetes, to become king of Colchis, ruling over these villagers and perhaps some settlers from the mainland.
For Alaric and Mystra Academy, this was an acceptable arrangement.
As long as they didn't interfere with the academy's use of the island's spiritual leylines or disrupt the mages' lives, it was no big deal to Alaric.
As for their daughter, Circe, their request was even simpler to fulfill.
They wanted her to study magic at Mystra Academy.
Adding a single student was a trivial matter for Alaric.
However, when he met Circe, the young girl surprised him.
As the child of two deities, Circe unfortunately hadn't inherited her parents' divinity, making her merely a demigod.
Yet, in place of divinity, her talent shone brightly in magic.
Her innate intelligence was expected, demigods rarely lacked in intellect.
But what Alaric found most remarkable was her naturally potent magical circuits.
Even in the Age of Gods, such circuits were a cornerstone of a mage's casting ability.
Initially, Alaric had planned to teach her himself.
But in the end, Circe herself declined.
It wasn't that she disliked Alaric. In fact, from newborn infants to ancient goddesses, Alaric's charm rarely failed to captivate.
The real obstacle was his other apprentice, Daedalus.
Ever since Alaric conducted Hecate's ascension ceremony, Daedalus had become obsessed with the idea of turning others into gods.
Unlike Alaric's method, temporarily granting god-like abilities and then elevating someone to divinity through an unclaimed domain and vast magical energy, Daedalus sought a different path.
Alaric's approach wasn't easily replicable. Finding an unclaimed divine domain was challenging, and granting temporary god-like abilities was no small feat.
Without materializing the Mooncell, such a requirement would be nearly insurmountable for most.
Daedalus aimed to replicate divine cores through magecraft, creating pseudo-gods by studying divinity itself.
Directly researching divine cores was too complex, so she started with demigods.
As a result, Medusa had endured more than a few of Daedalus's "investigations."
When Daedalus saw Circe, she immediately viewed her as a prime subject for her experiments.
So, when Alaric invited the young girl to study under him, Daedalus eagerly swooped in, trying to entice her.
But Daedalus's enthusiasm backfired.
Her fervor overwhelmed Circe, who, to escape Daedalus's clutches, chose Hecate as her mentor instead.
In the blink of an eye, over a decade passed, and Circe had grown into a young woman.
Under Hecate's tutelage, she displayed remarkable magical talent, rivaling even Daedalus in her prime.
Unlike Daedalus, however, Circe's gifts lay in transmutation magic, shapeshifting spells, and alchemy.
In terms of personality, Circe was also Daedalus's opposite.
Like Daedalus in her youth, Circe was renowned at the academy for her beauty and brilliance.
She consistently topped her classes, and her stunning appearance outshone her peers, making her immensely popular.
But while Daedalus had been a research-obsessed recluse, indifferent to anyone outside her passions, Circe was the polar opposite.
Countless men, students and professors alike, had pursued Daedalus, only to crash against her icy demeanor.
Circe, on the other hand, was a different story.
For example:
"Professor… Professor Circe."
In a quiet corner of the castle's corridor, a male student in a standard academy robe stood nervously before a young woman.
The boy was tall and handsome, with flowing golden hair and captivating blue eyes behind a strong, defined nose.
At seventeen, he was a graduating student at Mystra Academy, a renowned prodigy. His mastery of illusion magic included two fourth-ring spells, qualifying him for advanced studies post-graduation.
While not among the absolute elite, he was one of the top students of his year. Combined with his striking looks and warm, dependable personality, he was a favorite among the students. Several younger female students had even declared they'd marry no one but him.
Yet this charming young man, known for gracefully dodging countless confessions without ever committing, now stood stammering before a girl shorter than him.
"Professor… Professor Circe," he repeated, his voice louder but trembling. "Ever since I came to the academy, I… I've been smitten with you.
Your beauty and… and wisdom have left me spellbound. Every night at the academy, I… I dream of you.
You're so… so unforgettable. Could I… could I have the honor of… pursuing you?"
If the academy's female students witnessed this, they'd be in an uproar.
Their beloved senior, who had suavely rejected one girl after another, was now acting like a lovestruck boy, stumbling over his words as he confessed.
What kind of girl could make him forsake all those admirers, pining for her since six years ago?
Though petite, the girl was undeniably a rare beauty by any standard.
Her long, pink hair framed a delicate, adorable face. Her large, sparkling eyes, a blend of pink and blue, were mesmerizing.
Most charming of all were her long, tender, elf-like ears, which twitched adorably with each blink.
Despite her small stature, her figure was far from frail.
Beneath her white robe, her curves were lush and inviting, delicate yet perfectly proportioned. Her creamy, flawless skin made her seem like a figure from a painting.
Though she appeared no older than sixteen, everyone at the academy knew her true status.
Not only was she a professor, but she was also the head of the transmutation department.
Facing the student's confession, the girl smiled sweetly, as if she were truly a young maiden.
"Hehe, Circe, I understand your feelings completely," she said warmly. "Honestly, I'm quite touched that you'd go this far.
So, to prove your devotion, how about you try this bowl of porridge I just made?"
With that, her delicate hand offered a bowl of seemingly delicious, steaming oatmeal.
At the sight, Circe looked so overjoyed he might cry.