Chapter 41: A Warm Winter Night

“Wow, fireworks!” Victoria couldn’t help but leap up in delight, reaching out to snatch one. Though she was a girl, she had adored setting off fireworks since she was little. Now, in this distant land, seeing them again filled her with extraordinary joy.

Suddenly realizing she might have lost her composure, Victoria gently tried to place the firework back into Rollin’s hand.

“Miss Victoria, fireworks are meant to be set off. Why are you putting it back in my hand?” Rollin asked, puzzled.

“Uh, am I really allowed to light them?” Known as the “Little Sorceress” by many boys at Porter Academy, she actually asked timidly now.

Rollin gave a wry smile, surprised to discover this side of Bill’s sister. “Miss Victoria, if you want, you can set off all of these.”

Victoria cheered, but just as she was about to light one, she paused. “Wait, Rollin, do you have a spatial ring? I didn't see you wearing one!”

So Rollin explained again about his Necromancer’s Space, and as a high-level mage, Victoria couldn’t help but marvel at its wonders.

It turned out these fireworks had been put into his Necromancer’s Space by his younger brother, Little Hawk, when Rollin was demonstrating its magical storage ability. He’d never taken them out, so they’d traveled with him all the way to Porter Academy. Seeing how much Victoria loved fireworks, he decided to bring them out now.

Victoria placed the fireworks on the ground, took a stick from the bonfire, its tip glowing with embers, and cautiously brought it close to the fuse, lighting it with great care—nothing like the demeanor of a high-level mage.

“Fizz…” The fuse burned swiftly. Victoria squealed and hurriedly darted away.

“Bang!” A streak of fire shot into the sky, and with a thunderous explosion, it bloomed into radiant colors, illuminating the darkness over Porter Academy.

A joyful smile spread across Victoria’s fair face. As one firework after another soared into the sky, her small, pale hands waved in delight, making her look just like a little girl of seven or eight.

By the bonfire behind Porter Academy, Victoria and Rollin each held a long firework, the tips emitting gentle white sparks. They laughed, jumped, and waved the fireworks in their hands.

Victoria couldn’t even recall the last time she’d been so happy. Since childhood, her parents had placed great hopes on her; as she grew a little older, she became the family’s little prodigy. At Porter Academy, teachers and students alike hailed her as one of the greatest talents, rivaling even Thomas Kesson.

Not wanting to let down her parents or teachers, she’d always gritted her teeth and worked hard, and her efforts paid off. In just five or six years, she’d broken through from first-level mage to fifth-level, a progression that left teachers and classmates astonished. This time, she was preparing to train in the Maya Mountains, not returning home or to her parents for the first time in her life.

She hadn’t expected that a lonely night and a bonfire would draw her in, letting her feel warmth in the midst of winter, taste the most delicious food she’d had in years, and now, hold in her own hands the fireworks she’d loved as a child. It all left her somewhat enchanted.

All the heaviness that had weighed on her heart for years seemed to dissolve in that moment. She felt indescribable joy and freedom. For once, she didn’t think about the burdens of training or the next breakthrough. In this heady sense of release, deep within her heart, the image of Rollin quietly took root.

Rollin and Victoria played to their hearts’ content until late into the night before parting ways, fully satisfied. Though he hadn’t trained that night, the time spent with Victoria had released all the pressure he’d carried for years—especially concerning his little brother, whose remaining years were so few. The suffocating sense of oppression that had haunted him vanished, replaced by confidence and vigor.

He believed that after tonight, his training would surely reach new heights!

…

However, when Rollin returned to his dormitory with a light heart, he was surprised to find the light on inside!

“How odd—everyone went home, so why is the light on?” Rollin wondered. He sent Little Black off to the stables, then took out his key and unlocked the door.

As soon as the door opened, both he and the person inside cried out in shock. Like “a beanpole catching a wolf—both sides are scared”: Rollin feared an intruder, while the person inside was terrified that a robber had come to this lonely dorm.

“Damn it, Fourth! You nearly scared me to death!” The chubby fellow inside patted his chest, breathing heavily.

Rollin gave a wry smile—so it was Big Brother Marler in the dorm after all.

“Fourth, there’s still more than half a month left of vacation. Why aren’t you home, and instead back at the academy?” Marler asked, puzzled.

“I—” Rollin began.

But before he could finish, Marler’s small, beady eyes widened in sudden realization. “Oh, Fourth, heh, I didn’t expect this from you! You always act so proper, but you’ve got some tricks up your sleeve, don’t you?”

Rollin was confused. “Big Brother, what tricks?”

Marler stepped closer, clapping Rollin’s shoulder knowingly. “Come on, Fourth, no need to pretend. You came back early for the same reason I did—to try your luck and see if you could ‘bump into’ Miss Victoria, who stayed at the academy!”

Rollin couldn’t help but laugh and cry at once. But thinking back to his joyful evening with Victoria, he felt a little guilty.

Seeing Rollin fall silent, Marler burst out laughing. “So I was right, wasn’t I, Fourth? Let me tell you, we’re brothers, but when it comes to pursuing Miss Victoria, it’s every man for himself. I won’t give you any advantage just because you’re my fourth brother!”

Rollin: “…”

From the next day on, Rollin threw himself into relentless training, which left Marler utterly astonished. He hardly saw Rollin at all; Rollin would be out training before Marler woke, and would only return after Marler was already deep in sleep.

The reason Rollin trained so tirelessly, without a moment’s slack, was because there was always a voice inside him saying: “Your little brother, Little Hawk, can’t wait any longer!”

As for Marler, his dream of a chance encounter with Victoria came to nothing—he simply never caught a glimpse of her. With Rollin gone all day, boredom eventually drove Marler to train occasionally as well. Surprisingly, over the course of the break, his magical and spiritual power did increase a fair bit.

Since that romantic night by the bonfire with Victoria, Rollin hadn’t seen her again, but he didn’t mind. He simply continued his rigorous training.

As time passed, Porter Academy finally reopened. Rollin went for the required assessment and smoothly advanced to the second year, as he now needed to study second-level magic in the two other schools besides the Dark School.

The same teachers from first year taught the second-year courses, but since all the basics and theory had been covered, classes were much less frequent—just once a week. The teacher would explain the second-level spells, and students would ask any questions they had.

In fact, the higher the grade, the fewer the classes. By fifth or sixth year, attending class once every month or two was normal.

With the new term, a fresh batch of students arrived at Porter Academy. One day, on his way to the back mountain, Rollin ran into one—an adorable girl who looked like a porcelain doll. Seeing Rollin riding his donkey, her eyes lit up, and she called out in a clear voice, “Big brother, are you Senior Rollin, one of the ‘Three Prodigies of the Academy’?”