The murmurs around her kept rising, and Nemesis Bruce, with her sharp hearing, could clearly make out every word. Yet, in her mind, she silently chanted a spell.
"The whispers of the people have nothing to do with me! I must continue my training!"
"Follow my footsteps... Who is this 'me'? Is it my teacher? Could it be that I must follow my teacher while training? No! This 'me' must represent magic and truth!
It tells me to ignore what others say about me and focus entirely on my training."
"I must strengthen my resolve, never giving up on my training for any reason. The storm—it's not just about a rainstorm, but everything that could interfere with my practice!"
As her concentration deepened, the voices of the crowd around Nemesis Bruce gradually faded from her ears. Even though she stood in the middle of a busy street, it felt as if the whole world had fallen into silence.
An immense amount of magical energy rapidly gathered, swirling around her like a storm, rushing into Nemesis Bruce's body.
Of course, Dean Bruce was unaware of all this. After all, she had not yet fully comprehended that particular spell, and there was no system prompt. He had been away for a while, making it even harder for him to sense the changes happening to Nemesis Bruce.
When Dean Bruce arrived at the Magic Guild, he happened to see Prolo Hawthorne parading around with his gang of sycophants.
Feeling Dean Bruce's gaze, Prolo Hawthorne was about to shout out something crude, but upon seeing who it was, his expression immediately shifted to one of obsequiousness. Before any of his followers could react, he ran up to Dean Bruce and respectfully said, "Teacher, you're here! Is there something you need? Just tell me, I'll handle it for you!"
Witnessing this scene, the passersby were stunned. Only those familiar with the Magic Guild recognized Dean Bruce and were not too surprised. Yet, they still felt a secret satisfaction—finally, someone who could put this tyrant in his place.
Unfortunately, they also knew that Dean Bruce was far too enigmatic and wouldn't linger long in the Magic Guild.
"I haven't even agreed to anything yet," Dean Bruce said with a faint smile. "What? I'm here to talk with the Guildmaster. Can you handle that?"
At his words, Prolo Hawthorne momentarily held his breath. After all, his grandfather was merely the vice guildmaster—how could he compare to the guildmaster?
His eyes darted around quickly, and with a sheepish grin, Prolo Hawthorne responded, "I can at least guide you, Master!"
Hearing this, Dean Bruce didn't refuse and gave a slight nod, signaling Prolo Hawthorne to lead the way.
There wasn't much choice—he had only been to the Magic Guild headquarters two or three times, and that was primarily for the teleportation magic arrays. He wasn't familiar with much else around here.
With Prolo Hawthorne guiding him, Dean Bruce soon arrived at a secluded area. A few houses came into view, along with shimmering spatial rifts flickering in the air.
Prolo Hawthorne introduced, "Teacher, this is where the elders and key figures reside. As for the Guildmaster, she lives in the treehouse at the very back."
After saying this, Prolo Hawthorne looked around to make sure no one was nearby before whispering, "Teacher, when you're talking to the Guildmaster, be cautious. She..."
Tia Nars' expression remained unchanged. She replied softly, "I would like to return, but unfortunately, the passage has been sealed. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't go back. As for why I walk among humans? The Elves and humans have always had a close relationship. Isn't it perfectly natural for me to stay here?"
She then paused, her eyes narrowing slightly before she added, "But what about you? How have you, in these turbulent times, managed to come into contact with both the Elves and the Dwarves?"
As she finished, her gaze once again settled intently on Dean Bruce.
Hearing her openly talk about these matters, Dean Bruce, though unsure of the truth, knew he couldn't stay silent. He replied, "I've never had direct dealings with the Elves. I just happened to come across some Spring of Life by chance."
"As for the treasures of the Dwarves and the aura of the Thunder God, those were relics I found in ancient ruins."
Dean Bruce wasn't foolish enough to tell the whole truth. Tia Nars smiled slightly, clearly not believing him either, and chuckled softly, "Well, then you're certainly very lucky."
With that, Tia Nars lifted her cup and drained it in one gulp. "Have a sip," she said gently. "This is elemental wine, something I brought from the Elven lands. It contains multiple elements and greatly enhances magical power. I haven't shared it with anyone in years—you're the first to try it."
Seeing Tia Nars drink it herself, Dean Bruce didn't hesitate and took a small sip.
As the wine slid down his throat and into his stomach, he felt an immediate surge of intense energy. The magic from different elements spread rapidly, coursing through his body.
Ding!
"System Notification: Congratulations to the host for successfully drinking elemental wine. Magic power increased by 10 points!"
"System Notification: Congratulations to the host for successfully drinking elemental wine. Magic power increased by 10 points!"
"..."
With the continuous system notifications, Dean Bruce's magic power kept increasing. Shocked by the effect, he asked, "Guildmaster, you invited me here and gave me such a rare drink—what is it that you want from me?"
"If you don't explain, I'll feel too indebted to stay. I may have to take my leave," he added, making a slight motion as if to stand.
Tia Nars smiled and said, "Mr. Dean, you're quite straightforward. I only asked you here for one thing."
She paused, her expression becoming serious. "In six months, the Magic Guild will hold an election for the new Guildmaster. As an honorary elder, you hold one vote. I hope you will cast that vote for me."
"Hmm?"
Dean Bruce was visibly surprised, his mind full of questions.
This was a world where strength ruled all—why would the position of Guildmaster be decided by an election? Shouldn't the strongest simply take the role?
In that moment, Dean Bruce's gaze locked firmly on Tia Nars, trying to understand her intentions.