Chapter 120: Transformation

After three years, the term "the Three Talents of the Academy" had nearly faded from people's minds, replaced instead by the phrase "the Academy's Dual Heroes." Naturally, these two heroes referred to Tricia and Simone, who, after three years, had once again successfully broken through to reach the rank of Level 5 Magicians—an achievement now nearly on par with Victoria’s from years past. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Roland remained stuck at Level 3, making no progress.

Some mischievous onlookers even joked: "The Three Talents become two heroes, with one talent falling to a bear!"

People are like that. If you don’t show extraordinary talent early on, no one really comments on your progress later. Take Maler and Bill, for example—they only recently advanced to Level 3 Magician, and no one begrudges them. But Roland’s situation is different. Once a prodigy admired by all, he has now descended from that pedestal to become an ordinary figure. Many malicious individuals, delighting in his fall, have no qualms about kicking this lost genius into the abyss.

From once being a prodigy comparable to Thomas and Ksen—two extraordinary talents—to now, at seventeen, languishing awkwardly at Level 3 Magician, Roland has become a focal point in a different way. Where once he was celebrated, now he is ridiculed. The contrast is like heaven and earth.

In this situation, Roland’s three teachers found themselves conflicted. On one hand, Roland consistently won the annual third-year championship, earning them rewards. On the other, none of them wished for him to remain stuck at third-year level. Initially, the rewards were a matter of pride, but as time passed, it became a source of embarrassment. To have trained a prodigy who ended up a failure was a blow to their reputations.

Among the three, two showed the most notable shifts in attitude toward Roland. The first was Karina.

She began avoiding the 2015 dormitory gatherings, initially with excuses, then without even offering reasons—simply ceasing to attend altogether. When they happened to cross paths at the academy, she might exchange a few words, but anyone could see the coldness on her face, a clear sign of rejection. She wouldn’t behave that way even toward strangers.

Her father Morey’s mysterious “illness” had healed inexplicably a year prior. He soon moved out of Chuen Church, leaving without even a farewell visit to the Georgel couple. His previously warm attitude toward Roland’s parents had vanished entirely.

The Georgel couple, who had shared a close bond with Morey over the years, found his sudden departure difficult to accept. Especially during the period before he left, when his attitude had turned indifferent and cold, they felt deeply hurt.

After Morey’s absence stretched beyond half a month, the Georgels sent Roland to inquire about the situation. Though Roland, ever perceptive, understood the implication, he had no choice but to make the trip as his parents requested.

As expected, Roland was met with closed doors on his first visit. Undeterred, he tried twice more. Eventually, Morey sent a message through a servant: “Stay away from my daughter Karina!”

Hearing those words, Roland felt genuine anger for the first time in his life. If he was no longer welcome to associate with Karina, there was no need to treat him so harshly. After all, it was Morey who had initiated the marriage arrangement. If he now wished to call it off, it should be done amicably—not with such cold finality.

Back at Chuen Church, Roland withheld the full truth from his parents and younger brother Hawk, fearing it would upset them. He only gently informed them that his engagement with Karina had ended.

Even so, his family was saddened, believing that Roland and Karina had once been a perfect match. It was a pity they had parted ways, and Roland did his best to comfort them.

The second significant change in attitude toward Roland came from Victoria, Bill’s sister.

The day after news of Roland and Karina’s breakup spread, Victoria appeared at the 2015 dormitory gathering. Her sudden presence shocked Maler and the others, especially Bill, who had long ceased inviting her to these dinners. Yet here she was, casually joining them.

Though she appeared calm on the surface and chatted lightly with the group, anyone could see the joy radiating from within her. Yet no one could discern the reason for her happiness.

Since that first gathering, Victoria attended nearly every dinner on time, lifting the dorm’s spirits, which had been low since Karina’s departure. Why she suddenly became so involved remained a mystery to the men.

Roland suspected her renewed presence had something to do with Karina’s absence, but he observed that Victoria treated him no differently than she did Maler and the others. This dispelled any lingering hope he might have had.

Throughout all this, the one constant in Roland’s life was his dorm mates—Maler and the others. Whether Roland was basking in the glow of being one of the Three Talents or suffering as the subject of mockery, these men remained steadfast brothers.

They maintained their weekly dinners and shared laughter and conversation whenever Roland returned from his evening training, treating him no differently than before.

Roland found great comfort in this. True friendship, he knew, was rare and precious.

Especially during his darkest moments, when he knew his stagnation at Level 3 Magician was due to the binding of his magical and mental energies within two “membranes” caused by the spatial seed he was cultivating. This limitation kept his magician rank from rising.

He had braced himself for this when he began cultivating the spatial seed, but enduring five or six years of no progress tested his spirit. Once highly praised for his rapid magical advancement, now he passed by those same people only to hear ridicule and scorn. The contrast was unbearable.

Yet in these fragile moments, his dorm brothers stood unwaveringly by his side. They never changed their attitude, never turned away because he had fallen from prodigy to failure. Instead, they cheered him up, offering encouragement and kindness. Though he never voiced it aloud, in his heart, he considered them brothers for life.

Today, Roland was particularly pleased. His success rate in crafting five-star advanced potions had reached ninety percent! This meant his alchemy skill had now reached six-star novice level!