Crassus and Yulian watched Amy clapping her little hands, her little face full of anticipation. For a moment, they seemed to see the little girl from twenty years ago, clapping her hands and encouraging them to fight, cheering as she watched.
Irina's affinity for magic was unprecedented. As if blessed by magic, she could learn any spell instantly, progressing at lightning speed.
This was why the two men, both among the continent's top mages, wanted to take her as their apprentice.
Having such an apprentice would make their lives worthwhile. She could learn everything they knew, and she was also an elf with an eight hundred years lifespan, an elven princess. Long afterward, when she used a certain magic, perhaps someone would remember who her master was, leaving a mark on the world.
However, due to the intervention of the Elven Queen, the two men, who were prepared to compromise, were unable to accept Irina as their apprentice.
Yulian thus came to the Chaos City, opened a magic potion shop, and lived a leisurely life. He didn't care much about apprenticeship. At first, he only deliberately interfered because his lifelong nemesis, Crassus, was so eager to take on a disciple.
Unexpectedly, the elven girl was so clever and mischievous, and her talent was truly astonishing. After spending time with her, he genuinely considered taking her as a disciple for the first time, thus completely clashing with Crassus.
At the time, Irina, spending time with the two old men, was clearly unsure of what to do. On one hand, she wanted to learn from Crassus how to smash a dragon's head with a mage's staff, and on the other hand, she wanted to learn Yulian's all-ice magic. She kept putting off becoming their apprentice, eventually learning a few spells from each of them. Before she could make a decision, the Elven Queen sent people to forcibly take her away.
This incident became a regret for both of them, each feeling that the other had ruined their plans. They even fought several times over it afterward, ending in a draw, and never saw each other again. This was their first formal meeting since their separation more than ten years ago.
"Savory tofu pudding is the best! Crassus, since you're not convinced, do you dare to fight me? Today, let's settle this tofu pudding dispute!" Yulian looked at Crassus, his hoarse voice carrying a chilling coldness. Out of the corner of his eye, he secretly glanced at Amy. Savory tofu pudding was so delicious, she must like it. If he could defeat Crassus and prove the worth of savory tofu pudding, he might be able to take her as his apprentice.
"Sweet tofu pudding is the best!" Crassus's expression also turned serious. He glanced at Amy, thinking that at Amy's age, she would probably like sweet things. Don't all children like candy? If he could defeat Yulian today, he might be able to successfully take her as his apprentice. It seemed that this battle was the most crucial. He picked up his mage's staff and walked towards the door first, saying, "Let's fight! Let's settle old scores and new grudges together. It's been more than ten years since we last met. You've probably forgotten the taste of my mage's staff."
"Heh, looking at you now, this is nothing more than a crutch. Do you think you're still the melee mage who could jump up and hit a dragon's knee?" Yulian scoffed, a hint of disdain in his voice, and walked towards the door, also holding a magic wand.
"Hey! Lord Yulian, please take me with you!" Black Charcoal's voice came from behind, tinged with fear.
The Ugly Duckling was currently scratching at its cage, its tiny claws reaching inside, trying to grab Black Charcoal, but its claws were too small to reach it.
Black Charcoal was now standing completely pressed against the other side of the cage. Although the little one didn't look very big, but its sharp teeth and claws made it feel threatened!
However, Yulian clearly ignored it and went straight out with Crassus.
"Daddy, can we go watch?" Amy looked up at Mai Ge, her little face full of anticipation. She had never seen mages fight before.
"Of course, Mia, come out and take a look too." Mai Ge nodded with a smile, took Amy's little hand and walked towards the door. There was still almost half an hour before opening time, and he was also quite curious about what a battle between level ten archmages would be like, even in Mai Ge • Alex's memory, there was no such thing.
"Oh." Yabemia responded and followed with the same anticipation. The two mages were about to fight over whether tofu pudding should be sweet or savory. As a sweet tofu pudding lover, she naturally wanted to see Crassus win the battle and vindicate sweet tofu pudding.
A bell rang, startling the customers who had been queuing outside since early morning. They were clearly surprised that the restaurant was open so early.
However, when the door opened, it wasn't Mai Ge who emerged, but Crassus, whose expression was rather serious. The customers in line instinctively moved aside.
Although Crassus often had some amusing interactions with Amy at the restaurant and arrived early to queue like an ordinary customer, but his status and strength as a royal mage of the Los Empire still commanded respect.
"Why did Lord Crassus come out of the restaurant so early today?"
"Judging from his bad expression, he was probably rejected by Boss Mai again for asking to take the Little Boss as an apprentice. Boss Mai is truly an extraordinary person!"
"That's right. If any mage takes a liking to my son, I'd be willing to give him five hundred gold coins every year."
The crowd whispered among themselves, filled with envy for Mai Ge. Not only was he cooking excellent, but even his adorable little daughter had the respected mage begging to take her as an apprentice. He was truly a winner in life.
Crassus hadn't gone far when the door rang again. Everyone looked over in surprise. A hunchbacked old man in a black mage's robe slowly walked out of the door and gave everyone a cold look.
Everyone quickly looked away. That moment had felt like falling into an ice cave. This mage was terrifying, and the word "dark mage" came to mind.
Walking between light and darkness, where justice and evil exist, dark mages have always been a fearsome presence.
One step forward can remove the prefix, one step back can plunge into the abyss, becoming an evil mage—that is the nature of a dark mage.
Crassus stopped a hundred meters away in Aden Square, turning to look at Yulian. The blue gem at the tip of the mage's staff in his hand glowed red, like a torch!
Yulian walked unhurriedly past the crowd. After walking five meters from the restaurant, he took a step, and countless white frost flowers appeared on the ground beneath his feet, stretching out like countless vines towards Crassus.
"In my name, Frost Dragon, appear! Embrace the extreme cold, and all will submit..." Yulian's hoarse voice, as if crawling out of the abyss, rang out. Snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the clear sky, and a huge figure slowly spread its wings in the snow.