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Chapter 139: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

As a third year Student undergoing the Mage curriculum, Kai had already seen his fair share of wonders and sights that would leave many younger Students in awe. And he had decided to major in the House of Illusions, so even among his own peershe had that canny flair with glamor, dramatic and showmanship.

He was never going to be the Mage that threw fireballs or thunderbolts, but he was more on utility, wonders and espionage. And this was one of the few times that he was astounded by someone in awhile as he kept his expression blank as he watched the younger Student work on the entrance to the Secret Library.

This was the newcomer known as Han.

One out of the two students that achieved the feat of not only entering in the middle of the semester, which perhaps could have been due to having external influencebut also doing favorably well on the Test Trial.

His friend Timothy had went through all the trouble not letting him know and had even made his girl friend use her Skill in order to keep his mouth shut. And yet look where they were now?

There was a reason why he had a good feeling about this guy.

Now Kai would only wonder how much time it would be before this Han figures it all out and meets up with his friend.

Then again, Kai eyed them struggling to concentrate mana in his hands. If he had ever seen someone with the lack of talent in magic, this guy would be in his top ten list. Perhaps even top five list. There was willpower no doubt, but the capacity to actually perform spells often was a trait that existed in some and was missing for others.

Kai almost wanted to volunteer and open up the hidden door for them.

For what reason though? Would this be considered as him going back against his word? Well he wasn't dropping dead and he wasn't the one who told Han that there was a Secret Library so he was safe from the Skill's effects. 

Kai bit back the urge to smirk as he maintained his illusion as Professor Liddell, he could leave right now and let them struggle. Surely Timothy would appreciate that but time was ticking for themand he wondered what was taking so long. Then again, he recalled his classmate who was still stuck there.

He wasn't too worried about them in all honesty. If they had been in danger in the first place, then they would have sent a [ Message ] or any other communication spell to warn them of danger. Kai could already imagine his classmate simply being caught up in the title that he desiredwhen one was studying, it was easy to let several days pass when they were fully concentrating.

.

.

.

Needless to say, he was struggling. It felt like the wind was getting knocked out of his lungs as he placed a hand over the stone and tried to give it mana. His insides were burningwell, he was wheezing. Why was it so hard?

There was ample mana all around him wasn't it? His [ Mana Sense ] was working it but it only attributed to one factor. He couldn't redirect it to him and he couldn't get anything from within him either. Mana pools. Mana wells. If they were going to relate it to a body of water, well Han probably had a dried up mana creek in his body.

He took a deep breath and stopped for a moment.

His head was spinning a bit and all the Professor was doing behind him was observing him and probably taking pleasure in his defeat. What use was knowledge after all if you couldn't even put it to use?

He gritted his teeth. Why was he putting up too much effort in doing this the hard way? Was it because he wanted to do this on his own? Perhaps that was it. Even as 'Han', he still wanted to do it with his own strength and capacity but there were other methods wasn't it?

And no, he wasn't contacting the Wood Elf or the Universal Chat. That was a one last resort kind of thing for him now. He had trouble fully trusting the people on there, he had already interacted with them and he wasn't fully willing to pay the price and so he muttered inaudibily.

Status Screen.

[ Name: Han ]

[ Race: Human ]

[Gender: Male ]

[ Age: 23 years old ]

[ Level 6 ]

[ Class: Rogue ]

[ Level 4 ]

[ Class: Psion ]

[ Level 3 ]

[ Class: Peasant ]

[ Level 1 ]

[ Class: Student ]

[Status Points: 24 available for use ]

[ Will: 30 ]

[ Talent: 20 ]

[ Comprehension: 24 ]

[ Luck: 19 (+??? Temporary Favor) ]

[ Fame: Rocky Cliff: 100 ]

[ Fame: Oaken Ashwood: -50 ]

[ Fame: Kraelonia Academy: 30 ]

He stared agog, unsure if he was actually seeing correctly before blinking and minimizing the details to the important ones. At least his vision wouldn't have sensory overload this way as he was enraptured by the numbers on the screen.

[ Name: Han ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Total Class Levels: 14 ]

[ Status Points: 24 Available For Use ]

[ Will: 30 ]

[ Talent: 20 ]

[ Comprehension: 24 ]

[ Luck: 19 ( Boosted By Temporary Favor ) ]

He couldn't exactly tell if he was stronger, the statuses were higher no doubt, but if he had to place his experience on game level designs on the line, the actual cap on the status might increase as well. If he was a level One Player that had a High Will of 4 back then, it told him that perhaps the cap on level One was up to Will 5 only. Although he wasn't sure if that existed either his guesses could only take him so far.

Anyway, he was having trouble on his task on hand and needed to concentrate. The wall still stood in front of him as a block that he needed to get pass through. 

Han had an increase of his status already, no doubt thanks to his previous level ups, but he still sucked at magic. He was pretty tempted on using up all available Status Points he had and placing it on Talentand this was pretty much a cheat. How bad would it be though?

He'd have trouble later if he faced a bad enemy?

"Are you facing some issues hmm?" Professor Liddell's voice asked him with a velvet veneer.

He turned back once at the guy and took note that they were acting a bit odd but nodded, "I am having some trouble but I can do this!"

Perhaps that was only asking for trouble but something never ventured was something never gained! So he used it all upokay, hold back. He saved 10 Points and could use it in a bit if it still didn't work. So now his Talent was at 34 Points, which was higher than his Will. And the latter had already saved him before.

Staring back at the empty stone wall with a rather low amount of mana, he began to work again. The same method he had used to help Timothy gather mana in his hands, he was doing it now as he felt something warmthe energy was forming in his hand and also the wall stone brick.

After a couple of minutes, he heard the familiar sound akin to a ding.

[ Skill- Mana Control Obtained! ]

[ Mana Control Lvl 1! ]

He raised a brow, he didn't gain the [ Mage ] Class yet? Well, it didn't matter for now, he watched the stone walls begin to shift and tumble as it opened up. It showed him a dark staircase that led down. He tensed for a moment and looked back at his Professor, only to see them gawking at him.

Han couldn't help but muster a grin, "Did I do good Prof? Didn't expect that from a non-Mage folk huh?"

The older man stared at him as he worked his jaw and waved a hand. "Luck I suppose but I doubt that you'll find much success as you descend."

"Why not?"

"That I cannot tell you, unfortunately..." His Professor's expression darkened for a moment before it gazed at him, "But what are you doing here?"

Han wasn't sure if he could trust them, they seemed to know about this place more than him but they weren't pushing him down the staircase either. Or maybe they'd do it once he was walking down? He frowned, "My friend is captured down there and I have to save her, you can't stop me at all by hiding information from me."

The Professor stayed silent for a moment.

"Er, I somehow figured it out, they contacted me." Han explained as he glanced down. Maybe the Professor was bluffing that he wouldn't succeedhe had to try! And yet it didn't seem like they were lying either. "If you can't tell me, how about you help me instead?" 

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

A twitch of the lips formed on Professor Liddell's face until it wasn't him but someone else entirely. It was a man around his age clad in gray robes, the Mage flicked a sleeve at him, "I suppose I'm under the effects of a Skillbut that doesn't mean I can't intervene."

"Wait who the hell are you?"

"Now's not the time, you asked for my help then I guess I won't begrudge a junior. Let's go." The Mage began to head downstairs, his robes glowed and shimmered in the dark. "I'm only helping you with the portal but after that, you're on your own."

Han eyed him with suspicion but he was already in too deep to back out, could he? He didn't like it that he had been fooled the entire time, but that didn't mean he couldn't appreciate their skill either. "So you're a Student as well?" He trudged after them.

If anything were to happen, Han was a bit confident that he could land a dagger on them.