Although the types of magic in this world were as numerous as the blooming flowers, the vast majority originated from the derivation of other lower-level magics.
For example, a basic magic would derive a sub-tier magic, which would then derive mid-tier, high-tier, and even super-tier magic.
At its core, the prototype of all derivatives could be found in the original basic magic. This was one of the fundamental theories of magic.
Tavil specialized in illusions. Except for specific cases, most illusions belonged to a branch of Arcane Magic… and as it happened, the magic Luo Lan used most skillfully was also Arcane.
So, when fierce herds of beasts, medieval knights wielding greatswords, glacial spikes more than ten meters long, blazing meteors that twisted the air, and even a dragon with scales reflecting a dull luster and breath smelling of thick sulfur emerged from the void one after another, he didn’t even blink.
The wind suddenly stopped.
The air was compressed by these beings that had appeared out of nowhere, becoming thick and heavy. The smell of burning was so real that it felt as if one would be swallowed by flames in the next instant. The dragon’s pressure, mountain-like and tangible, almost crushed Luo Lan’s knees.
Illusion at this level was no longer simple visual trickery; it manipulated the target’s perception, eroded their common sense, and constructed another real world within their own.
But Luo Lan just stood there.
His hair fluttered slightly in the turbulent air, and his expression remained calm.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Tavil’s forehead. Maintaining a composite illusion of such scale was a massive mental burden. He hid carefully within the gaps of the illusions, waiting for the moment Luo Lan’s mental defenses slipped.
His offensive was certainly not limited to these illusions.
Tavil quietly condensed an almost completely transparent ice spear, hiding it in the shadows cast by the glacial spikes, and controlled it to silently pierce toward the center of Luo Lan’s back.
Luo Lan only moved three times.
The first time, he tilted his body slightly. The ice spear whistled past the hem of his robe and nailed into the tree trunk behind him, causing ice shards to explode everywhere.
The second time, he bent down and extended his right hand, pressing his palm against the ground. A circle of pale purple arcane pulses rippled outward with his hand as the center. The purple waves passed through the phantoms of the beasts, the armor of the knights, and the illusion of the dragon, creating ripples that only he could see.
Luo Lan lifted his eyelashes, locking onto Tavil’s position.
Then came the final move. The mana in his magic circuits instantly shifted into another attribute, and he gently opened his palm in that direction.
*Crack!*
A frost-white ring of ice suddenly exploded on the ground under Tavil’s feet. Cold air wrapped around his legs like vines, locking him firmly in place.
Simultaneously, another more secretive wave of mana flowed backward along his magic circuit, accurately sealing the unformed incantation in his throat.
It was a minor derivative version of Frost Nova—it reduced the activation time and included a brief silence effect at the cost of sacrificing some binding strength.
The fierce herds of beasts vanished into specks of light. The medieval knights and their greatswords crumbled into dust. The glacial spikes and blazing meteors quietly disappeared. The remaining dragon’s body peeled away layer by layer like falling leaves, finally revealing the quiet path.
The illusions receded like a tide. Sparse sunlight hit the ground, and the cedar branches swayed gently in the breeze.
Tavil stood about ten meters in front of Luo Lan, staring blankly. His legs were encased in crystal-clear ice up to his knees.
Even more embarrassing for him, the area from his throat to his chin was covered in a noticeable layer of frost-white, rendering him unable to make a sound.
“Senior, thank you for the match.”
The frost shattered quickly once the mana-blocking effect faded. Tavil moved his freed legs and jaw, his expression somewhat subtle.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, it turned into a complex look directed at Luo Lan.
Luo Lan scratched his head, muttering in his mind: ‘Weren’t you the one who started testing me first? Why does it look like I’m the one bullying you now?’
However, the complex expression on Tavil’s face only lingered for a moment. He seemed to recover quickly from his brief daze.
He walked up to Luo Lan, his eyes filled with a bit more seriousness. Tavil took the initiative to reach out his hand and said with some embarrassment:
“I’m sorry, Junior Luo Lan. I just — “
“I understand,” Luo Lan said with a shrug, reaching out to shake his hand.
“Actually, there are many people in the academy who…”
“Mhm.”
“And there’s no shortage of… experts among them.”
“Naturally.”
“Of course, not everyone will be as formal as I was today…”
“That wouldn’t be surprising either.”
Luo Lan’s tone remained calm.
Now it was Tavil’s turn to scratch his head. He shook his head with a bitter smile, realizing that all the excuses he had prepared seemed redundant.
“All right.”
Tavil shrugged and then stepped aside, pointing back toward the correct direction of the cottage.
“This way. Sorry for wasting some of your time just now.”
His tone returned to the efficiency expected of a Student Council member, and the previous disdain in his eyes was gone.
“Let’s reintroduce ourselves.” Tavil solemnly extended his right hand. “Tavil Kelan, third-year student of the Corona, majoring in Illusion, Arcane, and Frost Magic.”
Luo Lan paused for a moment and also reached out to shake his hand.
“Luo Lan Rufinias… uh… first-year of the Radiance?”
Tavil chuckled at his tone, and the two resumed their walk along the path.
“But speaking of which, I thought you would take much longer or use more violent means to break that composite illusion. Can you tell me how you did it?”
“What do you mean?” Luo Lan raised an eyebrow.
“Your reaction,” Tavil gestured with his hands. “Faced with those illusions, most people would have some instinctive physical reaction, even if they knew it was fake. But you were different. You didn’t seem affected from the very start, especially when you dodged that ice spear I hid under the illusion at the end.”
Luo Lan was silent for a moment. He shrugged, not knowing how to explain it.
“Intuition, I guess.”
Tavil nodded thoughtfully and then changed the subject.
“By the way, Junior, what branch of magic do you actually major in? You seem very familiar with the spell structures of both the Arcane and Frost systems.”
“Maybe… probably… it should be Arcane.”
“Uh, well, you’re someone the Dean chose, so I understand.”
The path had reached its end, revealing a meticulously maintained garden that remained green and blooming with flowers even in winter. Several detached cottages were scattered throughout the garden, separated by just the right amount of distance.
“The one to the east with the small terrace should be yours. The key is your badge…”
In addition, Tavil briefly introduced Luo Lan to his neighbors. He then checked the time and hurried back to his post.