"Could it be that he… passed the test?"
Someone murmured quietly.
Seeing Logan pull out so much money at once, they could think of no other explanation than that he had passed the Arcane Spire's exam.
"Now, can you get lost?"
Logan's gaze was icy as he looked at the group.
They should consider themselves lucky he hadn't yet learned magic, or else he wouldn't be this polite.
"Just now realize you need to pay back? Too late! The Church of the Radiant God has already registered your sister's name. Even if you passed the Arcane Spire test, you still have to hand her over!"
The lead man's expression carried a hint of amusement.
So what if Logan passed the Arcane Spire test?
He was still subject to the Church of the Radiant God.
Unless he became a true first-level Mage, no one could help him!
Hearing this, Logan's expression changed drastically.
He hadn't expected the Church to set their sights on Lena.
"Then have the Church of the Radiant God come in person! This isn't your place to decide!"
Logan shouted back.
The debt collectors were just ordinary commoners—Logan naturally had no reason to fear them.
At Logan's words, the lead man's face darkened considerably.
They truly had no right to demand anyone here.
Before Logan passed the exam, that was different.
Now that he had passed the Arcane Spire test, everything had changed.
"Heh, even if you become a Mage apprentice, you'll never be on the same level as Lord Elias.
Just wait for the Church of the Radiant God to come get your sister in person."
With that, the lead man turned and left the courtyard with his group, not forgetting to take the few silver coins from the table as they left.
Watching them go, Logan's face darkened.
"Brother, I could go to the Church.
They feed and shelter you there—it's probably better than being at home."
Lena whispered softly from Logan's arms.
Logan just gently stroked her head without saying a word.
"Ahem. You should take Lena and leave. Don't worry about me.
I can manage on my own."
At that moment, their mother's voice came quietly from the sickbed in the room.
She had heard everything.
She was happy that Logan passed the Arcane Spire exam, but worried about Lena.
The best solution was for Logan to take Lena away together.
No matter how powerful the Church of the Radiant God was, they wouldn't dare come to the Arcane Spire to take her.
"Mom, don't worry. I will arrange everything."
Logan entered the room, took his mother's hand firmly, and comforted her gently.
He naturally wouldn't leave his mother alone here.
After quickly packing some things, he set off with his mother and Lena toward the Arcane Spire.
They lived on the outskirts of Silvermoon City.
To make things easier for his mother, Logan splurged and rented a horse-drawn carriage.
Just as Logan left the courtyard with his mother, the debt collectors who had just left came out from an alley, glanced at the departing carriage, and headed toward the Church of the Radiant God.
Logan stopped outside the Arcane Spire with his mother and sister.
"I'll be back soon."
Logan spoke to his sister and mother, then strode purposefully toward the Arcane Spire.
Moments later, in a room on the second floor of the Arcane Spire, Gareth regarded Logan before him with a strange expression.
"Have I been too merciful to you, so you think I'm easy to deal with?"
Gareth's tone was calm.
At this moment, Logan felt an unprecedented pressure emanating from Gareth, as if facing a fire-breathing dragon.
"I will prove my worth."
Logan met Gareth's gaze steadily, determined.
Gareth said nothing, instead reassessing Logan.
The fact that Logan could withstand the pressure and negotiate surprised him.
"No wonder Lord Orlan said that even by the roadside, tough wild grass can grow from the mud."
A playful smile appeared on Gareth's face.
"Learn this zero-level spell, and I'll agree to your terms. Since you haven't started meditating to store mana, consider this Mana Crystal shard as your tool to cast spells."
Gareth said as he tossed Logan a piece of parchment inscribed with the zero-level spell "Life Nourishment" and a mottled green Mana Crystal shard about the size of a thumbnail.
Hearing Gareth's words, Logan let out a breath of relief.
He knew half the battle was won.
Now all he had to do was successfully cast the zero-level Life Nourishment spell, and he could bring his mother and sister to live with him in the Arcane Spire.
"Thank you, Master Gareth."
Logan expressed his gratitude and carefully examined the parchment.
Zero-level spells weren't particularly difficult, but for a newly minted Mage apprentice who had just succeeded in meditation, it was nearly impossible.
But that wouldn't stop Logan.
[Detected zero-level spell (Life Nourishment)]
[Host comprehends zero-level spell: Modification value +2]
[Modification value: 2]
…
As the system prompt sounded again while Logan studied, a smile crept onto his face as he looked at the system panel only he could see.
He settled cross-legged on the floor and began studying the zero-level spell seriously.
After about an hour, Logan gained 3 more modification points.
Without hesitation, he allocated all modification points to increase his Mana Element affinity.
[Host: Logan]
[Talent: 5.2]
[Mana Element affinity: 4.3]
[Mana: 0]
[Modification value: 0]
…
Though his talent score remained the same, Logan's control over Mana Element became more natural.
He could clearly sense the fluctuations of magic within the Mana Crystal shard.
It felt as if the shard in his hand was not a crystal, but a beating heart.
This sensation was peculiar.
Logan instinctively guided a faint flow of mana, but before he could properly control it, the mana dissipated into the air.
Gareth watched this without surprise; he had long suspected Logan's Mana Element affinity was quite high.
The real challenge was yet to come.
Casting magic wasn't just about summoning mana.
Every spell was like a math problem—you had to precisely control the mana flow to fill the magic nodes in order to successfully cast it.
This was a challenge for Logan.
Without meditating to store mana, guiding the magic within the Mana Crystal to cast spells was extremely difficult.
But Logan had to succeed.
He looked resolutely at the parchment in his hand, then repeatedly followed the spell model on the parchment to guide mana and form the spell's prototype.
After two failures, on the third attempt Logan finally succeeded in casting the zero-level spell Life Nourishment.
The withered potted plant on the floor began to sprout fresh green branches under the nourishing magic of Life Nourishment.
This miraculous sight brought a smile to Logan's face.
Gareth standing beside him also smiled.
But the next moment, Logan suddenly turned pale and collapsed onto the floor.
"The mental exhaustion was too great, but it should be nothing serious.
Young people—just sleep it off."
Gareth muttered quietly as he looked at the unconscious Logan.
How long passed, Logan did not know.
When he finally woke, the sunlight outside had grown dim and yellow.
"Brother, you're awake!
This place is so big, but Mom won't let me run around."
Barely awake, Logan saw Lena running to his window, chatting away.
It was clear she was in a good mood.
Logan didn't have to guess—it must have been Master Gareth who arranged everything for him.
"Ahem... Lena, don't disturb your brother.
Let him sleep a little longer."
Their mother's voice came from another room.
Gareth had arranged everything properly.
On the first floor of the Arcane Spire, he had prepared three connected rooms for Logan.
All three faced the sun and had a modest balcony for drying clothes.
"Mom, I'm fine now.
By the way, I just learned a spell.
I'll cast it for you to see."
Gareth entered the mother's room holding the remaining piece of the Mana Crystal.
Zero-level Life Nourishment was a spell capable of restoring vitality.
While studying magic, Logan had thought that once he learned it, he would try to use it to heal his mother.
When Logan tried to cast Life Nourishment again, he found there was barely any mana left in the Mana Crystal.
It was far too little to support casting the spell.
This made Logan feel a bit discouraged.
"No rush, take it slow.
You've earned that lord's favor, so work hard.
Everything will get better."
His mother looked at him gently and comforted him softly.
"Mm! I will definitely find a way to cure your illness!"
Hearing his mother's words, Logan smiled and spoke with great seriousness.
It seemed everything was moving in a positive direction.