“In the future, I hope you won’t forget the words you’ve said today. I wish you all the success in the world.” Adrian smiled at Sage. She hastily nodded. “Thank you, sir. May I leave if there’s nothing else?”“Go ahead! Work hard!” Adrian waved. Sage left the office. As soon as she left, Raquel walked in. Leaning against the door frame, she asked, “How did it go? How was the discussion? What do you think of the girl? Anything you’re dissatisfied with?”Adrian pondered for a while before answering, “She’s too confident.”“Isn’t that a good thing?” asked Raquel. Adrian did not refute her but instead said, “It’s a good thing to be confident, but it depends on the circumstances. There are times when we can’t just be blindly confident. We need to find out if she understands this principle. But she did pretty well in the overall assessment. After all, no one’s perfect.”Raquel giggled so hard that she almost bent over in laughter. “I bet you’re recalling how you were when you fir
Adrian shrugged helplessly. Raquel said, “Don’t you worry. I know my situation very well. I’ll return to my family home after I’ve retired. Someone’s waiting for me there.”“Is that so?” Adrian’s interest was piqued. He said smilingly, “Tell me, who is it? What’s he like?”Raquel said, “He’s a friend of mine from high school, and he lives in the neighboring village. You can call him a childhood friend. We didn’t keep in touch but we bumped into each other a few months ago.”“What kind of person is he?” asked Adrian. “He was obedient when younger and is a nice person. We’ve been talking recently and I learned that he’s been starting up new businesses but none have proven successful. No one has accepted his feelings either so he’s still single.”“Is it because he’s ugly?” Adrian asked. Raquel said, “He’s better than you.”Adrian burst out in laughter. “I’m serious, he really is better looking than you. His father fell ill recently so he’s back in his family home to take care
After the rally, Adrian realized that this year’s candidates were much stronger than he had been, and he was deeply gratified over this. He took comfort in this rather than worry the candidates would be problematic. His concern was not the candidates’ standards, but the innermost thoughts that they kept hidden. Adrian recalled the saying of new talents emerging in their own way with the passage of time. The saying “The student has surpassed the master” was highly appropriate in this situation. Many of these candidates surpassed the attitude he had when he was a candidate himself.***As night fell, the lights of Songton shone brightly, exuding splendor and magnificence. Adrian arrived at Lake Solunar and stood on the bridge of the lake, watching the passersby, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart. He felt like a lonely hero from ancient times that was about to go into hiding.He had stepped back, and anything that happened in Novemton from now on would no longer be associate
Juno moved her legs and said, “They’re fine. I fully recovered a long time ago. Stop worrying about my legs and just wait to see me perform.”Adrian nodded and asked, “Will you regret it if you don’t make it to the finals?”Juno smiled. “I’ll still try my best. I won’t regret it if I don’t make it into the finals. Wyvern Peak’s leader is supposed to be a capable person. If I’m not capable enough, I’ll give the worthy one my blessings.”“It’s great that you think that way. Have you thought about your future?” he asked. She nodded. “I already thought about it. If I don’t make it to the finals, I’ll do my best to score well in my exams and join Wyvern Peak for six years. Then, I’ll go home and take care of Mother.”“Are those really your thoughts?” asked Adrian smilingly. Juno nodded and replied, “Of course. Why would I lie?”Adrian smiled. “Great. I can set my mind at ease now that I know what you’re thinking. Let me give you some advice, just do your best. Don’t force it if you
Adrian approved of these six candidates. They had a much higher probability of entering the finals as compared to the others. Adrian’s intention was clear. He did not wish for these six to encounter each other during the prelims and challenger rounds. If they did, one of them would be eliminated and the quality of the finals would be affected. This was the last thing Adrian would do for Wyvern Peak. He had trouble identifying which one of them would become the new leader of Wyvern Peak, but he knew that these six had the highest probability.The elders understood Adrian’s intention. The first elder said, “In that case, we’ll divide the regions according to these six. However, the final outcome will depend on them.”Adrian nodded. “Thank you for taking the trouble to do this. One more thing. Do you still remember Hannibal’s Heroes of Wyvern Peak?”The elders exchanged glances. “Are you talking about where Juno is predicted to end Wyvern Peak’s reign and establish Apotheosium? It
The baby was named Jerome, meaning sacred, because he was found in the War Legate Shrine of Vanglesville. The cleaner raised him until he was five before passing away from an illness.Jerome was once again orphaned. Gorgonshire’s Vangles Orphanage took Jerome in, and he attended elementary and junior high in Vanglesville. Due to his extraordinary talent, photographic memory, and excellent academic performance, he ranked first in the entire Gorgonshire. He was accepted into the best high school in Gorgonshire—Gorgonshire High. However, Chase was conducting internal reforms within the country at the time and Jerome’s life was affected. The orphanage was shut down and he became homeless.At the age of fourteen, Jerome sustained himself by trash picking on the streets at night and studying hard at school during the day. The principal of Gorgonshire High, Saul Cassidy, took notice of Jerome’s plight and decided to take him under his wing. Jerome then became Saul’s student, bringing an
For the first time, Adrian was filled with so much anticipation. He looked forward to Juno, Sage, and also Jerome’s performance. This year’s legate selection would be the most exciting and powerful throughout Wyvern Peak’s history. Society progressed, technologies advanced, and people moved forward. The candidates became more outstanding as the years went by. The current students might even easily break Adrian’s past records.Adrian and Raquel flew to Gorgonshire that very night. Adrian wanted to meet Jerome in person.***Many people were gathered at the Gorgonshire Academy of Gorgonton. There was news that the elderly principal, Saul, was deathly ill and would pass soon. The orphans he had adopted over the years, the people he had helped, and his numerous students came as soon as possible to see him one last time.Saul had been a military advisor of Wyvern Peak many years ago, serving the legate two offices before Adrian. He had helped War Legate Achelous lead the troops to two
Saul started calling out. The people in the room panicked. Saul’s son got up and shouted, “Call Jerome! Find out where he is now!”“Jerome’s back!” A voice came from outside the room. A nineteen-year-old young man ran into the room. He made his way to the bedside and dropped to his knees, his hands clutching Saul’s hands. It was Jerome, the babe found in the War Legate Shrine who had encountered countless hardships while growing up yet never gave up hope. “I’m back, sir,” said Jerome shakily, clutching tightly to Saul’s hands. He trembled and tears blurred his vision as he gazed at his esteemed mentor who was at death’s door. Saul turned and stretched out a hand to cup Jerome’s face. “You’re back, my child.”“Yes, I am,” said Jerome with tears. He felt powerless in the face of his mentor’s failing condition. He could only watch with tears in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do. Saul said weakly, “You’ve seen War Legate Draco, right?”Jerome nodded. “Yes, I have, si