Logan scavenged the silver coins from the two men's bodies—not many, but better than nothing.
Besides the silver coins taken in the counterattack, there were also five Mana Crystal cores: two water-element cores, two earth-element cores, and one fire-element core.
These Mana Crystal cores were enough for him to use for a while.
At this moment, what troubled Logan even more was the trouble brought by the Church of the Radiant God. He originally thought that becoming a Mage apprentice would solve all his problems, but unexpectedly, the Church of the Radiant God was relentless in pursuing him.
There had to be some hidden reason behind all this. Logan suddenly recalled the look in Gareth's eyes during their previous conversation—there was a mixture of helplessness and regret. This situation was definitely much more complicated than he had anticipated.
Back at the Arcane Spire, Logan didn't go to find Gareth again but went straight to the enchantment shop instead.
Rather than overthinking, it was better to focus on improving his strength. At the enchantment shop, Logan quietly sat down to meditate. After fully restoring his mana, he took out a water-element Mana Crystal core and began practicing the first-level water magic spell, Aqua Bolt.
The power of the first-level Aqua Bolt was far greater than the bow and arrow Logan had used before. The Aqua Bolt, made of Mana Element, could penetrate ordinary iron armor protection.
After earning the full Mage title, Logan also gained a natural advantage in studying water magic.
Before receiving the full Mage title, even practicing zero-level water magic had cost Logan a lot of effort.
In this world, mages of all schools could study magic from other elements, but the efficiency was ridiculously low, so no one would spend much effort learning magic outside their own gifted element.
"You've learned the first-level Aqua Bolt?"
Gareth asked with surprise.
Just as Logan successfully cast the spell, Gareth arrived at the enchantment shop. Gareth had originally come to tell Logan to prepare to flee Silvermoon City, but he unexpectedly caught sight of him casting Aqua Bolt.
"My mana reserves aren't enough yet, so I can only cast magic using Mana Crystal cores," Logan said, showing the sky-blue Mana Crystal core in his hand.
"No, I mean— you've already learned to cast first-level magic? And it's water magic, which isn't your gifted element?"
Gareth exclaimed with an exaggerated expression.
You're just a Mage apprentice, and in only a few days you've learned a first-level spell, and one outside your gifted element at that? Then what does it say about those who've toiled for years just to master one first-level spell?
Could it be that they're the real fools?
Gareth doubted himself for a moment but soon became sure of one thing: it wasn't that he was stupid—it was that Logan was a prodigy!
"I think we need to have a talk," Gareth said seriously, looking at Logan.
Logan naturally didn't refuse. After all, if it weren't for Gareth giving him the chance to study magic and come this far, his sister would have already been captured by the Church of the Radiant God.
"Besides water magic, have you studied magic from any other elements?"
Gareth asked very earnestly, now completely convinced that Logan was a magical genius with talents far beyond just the life element.
This made his gaze toward Logan warm with excitement and hope.
"I haven't learned any others. So far, I've only studied the first-level water magic Aqua Bolt and the first-level life magic Healing Life."
Logan concealed the truth.
He had not only mastered water and life magic but had also already learned the first-level fire magic Fireball and first-level earth magic Earth Spike.
He kept quiet out of fear of being treated like a monster and dissected for research.
"All right, but even if you've only learned first-level water and life magic, once the Mage Association people arrive in Silvermoon City, you can take the exam for first-level Mage directly. By then, even if the Church of the Radiant God remains relentless, they absolutely won't dare to make a move against you."
Gareth looked at Logan with a relieved expression and spoke. His gaze held a bit more admiration now.
He knew Logan wasn't telling the whole truth, but those who hide their true strength tend to live longer, which made him even more optimistic about Logan.
"For now, you and your family shouldn't leave the Arcane Spire. As long as you stay there, no one can harm you."
Gareth promised.
"Thank you, Lord Gareth. I will remember this kindness."
Logan looked at Gareth very seriously and spoke.
Hearing Logan's words, a smile appeared on Gareth's face. Then he said gently, "It's what I'm supposed to do. Now go. If there are any new developments, remember to tell me. If you need anything, you can ask me. I'll try my best to fulfill your requests. The books on the third floor are available for you to borrow. Just remember to return them to their original places after reading."
Gareth's attitude toward Logan had changed significantly, but Logan understood this was all based on the premise that he qualified to become a true Mage.
Only those with enough value would be respected—an unchanging truth.
Leaving Gareth's study, Logan didn't go back to rest but headed toward the third-floor library. Now that he had learned first-level magic, he was just waiting for the Mage Association to arrive in Silvermoon City for the examination.
He wanted to use the remaining time to enrich his magical knowledge.
Being a Mage required continuous learning. Every Mage, regardless of character, was definitely a learned scholar.
This was evident even from the books on Gareth's third floor.
"Aurelia Continent Magic History, All-Element Magic Guide, Fundamentals of Magic Theory, Concepts of Magic…"
The bookshelves were packed densely, with so many books that Logan didn't know where to start. He randomly pulled out the All-Element Magic Guide and began to study it carefully.
The All-Element Magic Guide explained how a Mage determines which magic elements they are gifted in and how to further study and improve after identifying their talents.
It detailed everything from the three-dimensional magic model to magic node analysis and practical spellcasting techniques.
What caught Logan's attention the most was that reading these magic-related books also caused the system to return a portion of modification points.
Though the amount was small and far less than what he gained from researching magic himself, it was better than nothing.
Soon, Logan was completely immersed in the magical texts.
While Logan lost himself in study, the sky outside quietly darkened, and the once bustling streets gradually grew quiet.
At the Church of the Radiant God in Silvermoon City, waves of chanting echoed from within the church, and the sacred atmosphere calmed everything around it considerably.
Only Marcus remained completely unsettled; he was still waiting for those two to return.
"Sir, we found their bodies in the Forest of Perpetual Dusk. Please take a look…"
Just as Marcus was growing anxious, several people arrived at the courtyard behind the church carrying two corpses. They placed the bodies not far from Marcus and waited for his orders.
Upon seeing the bodies, Marcus's face grew especially grim.
He had finally gotten the chance for Logan to go out, but due to his own negligence, he had missed it.
If Logan did not leave the Arcane Spire again from now on, he was sure Lord Elias would scold him, no, punish him harshly!
Thinking this, Marcus's expression darkened further.
"Useless trash, all of them! Throw them out! You want to leave the bodies here to rot!?"
He cursed loudly in frustration.
The men who had been scolded dared not say a word, only responded with a nod and left the courtyard with the bodies.
After they left with the corpses, Marcus paced anxiously in the courtyard. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally headed toward the third floor where Elias was.
At the same time, Gareth at the Arcane Spire received a reply letter from Lord Orlan.
"God's Arrival…"
Gareth muttered under his breath with a grim expression.
"No, it can't be such a coincidence. The Church of the Radiant God wouldn't really do something like this."
Then Gareth tried to reassure himself quietly.
His expression shifted unpredictably as he pondered, but soon he thought of something and relaxed.
"Lord Orlan is coming to Silvermoon City. We can leave these matters to him. What use is it for me to worry?"
Gareth said to himself sarcastically.
In the letter, Lord Orlan speculated that Logan's sister's constitution might just meet the Church of the Radiant God's criteria for "Divine Arrival," which is why the Church was relentlessly pursuing her.
"Divine Arrival," as the name suggests, is a way for a god to descend into the mortal world.
The ritual for Divine Arrival is extremely strict, one requirement being a faithful believer whose soul is perfectly aligned with the god's. The believer opens their heart, and after the ritual, the god descends to walk the mortal realm through that body.
After a moment of contemplation, Gareth chose not to inform Logan of this news—after all, even if Logan knew, it wouldn't make much difference.
Everything would have to be discussed after Lord Orlan arrived in Silvermoon City.
At this moment, Logan was completely absorbed in his magical books, utterly unaware of the turbulent events brewing outside.
By coincidence, he was right at the center of this storm.
A single careless moment could tear him to pieces.