A trace of relieved light flashed in Athena's eyes, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and the corners of her mouth even lifted into a genuine, almost joyous smile.
"I will become the protector of the Wizards," she promised at once, "until the end of the Age of Gods."
Ian looked at her and suddenly asked:
"If you really can become the last Divine Spirit, what will you do?"
Athena's expression shifted subtly for a moment, then returned to calm.
"I will disappear without a trace," she answered vaguely, clearly not wanting to reveal more.
Ian didn't mind her concealment; he merely shrugged.
"Alright," he said lazily, "I wish you success."
Outside the barn, the night wind brushed past, carrying with it the distant chimes of the Divine Hall.
Athena gave Ian a long, deep look, then turned around, her figure gradually dissolving into golden motes of light that scattered into the air.
Ian, meanwhile, stood where he was, lowered his head to look at his own palm, lost in thought.
"A Raven… huh?"
He chuckled softly, shook his head, then snapped his fingers—the unconscious Wizards in the barn slowly woke up, looking around in confusion, as if everything that had just happened was only a dream.
The Wizards woke one after another, looking around blankly, as if everything that had just happened was a mere illusion. The barn was quiet, and only the flickering candlelight marked the passing of time.
"Just now… what happened?" The Female Witch wearing a raven mask rubbed her temples, her voice hoarse.
"Where is Athena?"
Another elderly Wizard nervously looked around, afraid that in the next second some other Gods would break down the door and rush in.
Everyone's gaze fell upon Ian.
The Black-robed Wizard was still standing by the window, his silver-gray eyes reflecting the morning light, the corners of his mouth holding a faint, elusive smile.
"You may now establish an organization belonging to Wizards under the sun," he said calmly. "Athena has already agreed to provide you with protection."
—Whoosh!
The barn exploded into an uproar in an instant.
"What?!"
"Athena… is going to protect us?!"
"How is that possible?! Did you really make a deal with a Divine Spirit?" The Wizards looked at one another, their emotions a tangle of shock, doubt, and ecstasy. Some pinched their own arms to confirm this wasn't a dream; some whispered prayers, thanking unknown Gods; others simply fell to their knees, so overwhelmed they could not speak.
"But…" a young Wizard spoke hesitantly, "what about the other Gods? Zeus, Hera… many Gods hate Wizards, they won't permit this."
Ian glanced at him, his eyes deep and tranquil.
"They won't be around for much longer."
—!
This sentence struck the heart of every Wizard like a bolt of lightning.
Won't be around for much longer? What did he mean?
Could it be… this mysterious Black-robed Wizard intends to personally purge the Gods?!
The Wizards drew in a sharp breath, and the way they looked at Ian was both reverent and fearful. They had never imagined that one day, a mortal could actually stand above the Gods!
But soon, another emotion surged up within them—gratitude. Ian had not only saved their lives, he had also won them the right to live under the sun!
"We truly have no idea how we could possibly repay your kindness."
They all offered Ian their most sincere thanks, but Ian didn't much care. He only said that what he needed was more knowledge; he had been a studious child since he was young.
The next two days.
Ian remained in this city.
The Wizards prepared the finest lodgings for him, the richest food, and the most precious Magic Scriptures. They sought his guidance like starved men, and he did not begrudge them his knowledge.
"Remember, Magic Power is not a tool, but an extension of your will." Standing on a high platform, he gathered a cluster of silver-gray flame at his fingertips; the flame shifted into various forms in midair. "Do not let so-called 'Divine Art' confine you. Your imagination is the true boundary—every Wizard is a god of fantasy."
The young Wizards' eyes shone, as though they had glimpsed an entirely new world.
This kind of life was quite fulfilling, quite beautiful; it even made Ian feel as if he were holding little classes at Hogwarts again. He exchanged knowledge with these Wizards, speaking of many concepts they had never even heard of: Consciousness Building Technique, Energy Resonance Theory, Soul Projection Technique, Astrological Analysis Model… each concept left them utterly enthralled.
And he also learned quite a bit from these Ancient Wizards.
They had mastered some extremely ancient Spells, some even dating back to the Titan Era. There were also certain rituals capable of briefly connecting different-dimensional spaces, and even simulating certain fragments of rules left behind by the Creator. Ian studied as he went, sorting and filing these pieces of knowledge away into the depths of his memory.
He also selected a few Wizards with higher talent and personally guided them in Meditation Training and the strengthening of their Spiritual Power. Their progress was astonishing; in just two days, they had already grasped core theories that would normally take years to understand.
"You're all much smarter than I imagined." Ian looked at them, the corners of his lips lifting. "Maybe it won't be long before you can truly take hold of your own fate."
The Wizards, after hearing this, all expressed their gratitude to him.
They knew that all of this had been brought by Ian.
It was he who let them see hope; it was he who taught them how to face the future. Everyone felt this was the beginning of the Wizards' rise, and Ian acknowledged this as well.
However, farewell was bound to come. On the morning of the third day, just as the sun rose, a brilliant strand of golden light tore through the sky and fell upon the hillside outside the city.
The Sun God had arrived.
Ian stood atop the city wall, gazing from afar at that figure, a faint smile on his lips.
"Looks like Zeus has gathered everything I asked for."
The Wizards followed behind him, reluctant to part.
"Are you… leaving?"
The Female Witch in the Raven mask asked softly, unable to hide the sorrow in her voice.
"Of course." Ian smiled. "My journey isn't over yet."
"Will we see each other again?" The young Wizards looked at him with shining eyes.
Ian turned back, looking at this group of Wizards who had struggled in darkness for so long and finally迎来 the first light of dawn, and let out a quiet laugh.
"But of course."
He blinked his silver-gray eyes.
"I hope to see all of your names in future textbooks." This line made everyone laugh, their laughter glimmering with tears. With that, he leapt, his body turning into a streak of black shadow.
He flew toward the direction of the Sun God. The Wizards bowed in unison, offering a deep salute, sending off in the most sincere way this Wizard who had changed their destiny.
In the sky, a blazing golden light split the clouds.
The Sun God descended.
He wore a long robe of gold, burning solar radiance coiling around him, and in his hand he held a Scepter that shone with dazzling brilliance. His presence was vast and sacred, making one afraid to look directly at him.
Yet he showed no hostility; instead, he hovered quietly in midair, waiting for Ian to arrive.
"Zeus asked me to hand these over to you."
The Sun God was clad in golden armor, a solar Crown upon his head, the blazing light making it impossible to clearly see his face. Seeing Ian fly over, he lifted his hand slightly.
An exquisite golden casket appeared out of thin air, suspended in the air. Inside were two items—one was a talking rose, its petals stained with the dust of time; the last was a small vial of night-blooming flower nectar, said to blossom only at the instant when destinies cross. Ian took these three things.
He examined them carefully, and only after confirming they were correct did he nod.
"Thank you."
He had always been a very polite Little Wizard.
The Sun God was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Are you really going to leave?"
Ian raised an eyebrow, looking at him with interest.
"Your temperament is quite different from the last time I saw you." He said with a smile. "You're really much more timid now."
The Sun God was stunned, his brows drawing together.
"This is our first meeting, isn't it?"
Ian waved his hand dismissively, offering no explanation.
"See you in the future."
He turned, his black robe snapping in the wind. "Give my regards to your daughter for me."
The Sun God's expression froze in an instant. However, before he could ask, Ian's figure had already turned into a jet-black Raven, beating its wings as it soared into the sky and vanished into the morning light.
In that place.
Only the Sun God remained, standing where he was, staring at the empty sky, long without a word. In the distance, the Wizards on the city wall watched the Raven fly away; their hearts were filled with both reluctance and a kindling of unprecedented hope.
"The teacher of ten thousand generations—we don't even know his name."
"Athena calls him the Raven."
"Perhaps we should raise a statue for him, and place it in the Mysterious Affairs Department we're planning to found." Someone made the proposal.
Sunlight poured over them, warm and bright.
Everyone knew.
The era belonging to Wizards was about to arrive.