Alaric's display of strength, cracking the stone bricks underfoot, not only impressed Prince Galen but also left everyone else, including Daelin, utterly shocked.
Princess Jaina's eyes sparkled with admiration as she gazed at Alaric.
She truly seemed to believe he was the protagonist of some knightly tale—after all, such overwhelming power was a hallmark of a true hero.
Surprisingly, the young girl, Jaina, showed no signs of astonishment. She remained calm, as if this was expected, which took Alaric slightly by surprise.
However, when everyone else left and the two were alone, she could no longer contain her curiosity and eagerly asked him a question.
"Teacher, teacher! That power you used to crack the stone—was it some kind of magic?"
Seeing the excitement in her eyes, Alaric couldn't help but tease her.
"Oh? I thought you wouldn't ask. So you finally couldn't hold it in?"
"Teacher, you're so mean, always teasing me!" Jaina pouted and clung to his arm. "Just tell me, please? As my teacher, shouldn't you satisfy your student's curiosity?"
"Alright, alright." After being coaxed by her playful act, Alaric finally revealed the truth. "In reality, it wasn't just magic—or rather, not magic alone."
"Not magic? Then was it some alchemical potion?" Jaina earnestly counted her guesses on her fingers.
"No, no, you clearly didn't have the chance to use a potion just now. Besides, you couldn't have foreseen that situation in advance…
Unless it was a topical potion rather than an ingested one—"
Watching her serious expression, Alaric chuckled and ruffled her hair before cutting in, "No need to guess, you won't figure it out. This is my secret technique—watch closely."
With that, he picked up a small stone from the ground and squeezed it tightly in his palm.
Of course, he wasn't about to crush it into dust like in martial arts novels, but with a firm squeeze, the stone crumbled into fragments.
Jaina's eyes immediately lit up at the astonishing sight. Ignoring the fact that Alaric had tousled her hair again, she quickly grabbed the broken pieces from his hand and examined them closely.
"H-how? This is real stone!" She turned her serious gaze toward her teacher. "You really didn't use any spells or potions?"
"If I said no, then no." Alaric crossed his arms, looking completely at ease. "If you don't believe me, you can pick a stone yourself and try."
"Fine! I'll try!" The girl immediately rolled up her sleeves, completely disregarding her elegant robes and noble status, and started searching in the garden.
Before long, she found a rock nearly the size of her head, brushed off some of the dirt, and ran back to Alaric.
Determined to uncover the truth, Jaina paid no mind to her usual refinement. This side of her proved she had the makings of a true mage.
Handing him the rock, she flashed a mischievous grin.
"If you can crush this rock, I'll believe you."
—Take it back. This girl was clearly trying to mess with him.
Alaric looked at the hefty rock and couldn't help but chuckle wryly.
Forget its hardness—just holding it properly was already a challenge.
Clearly, little Jaina still had the playful side of a child.
Even so, Alaric calmly took the rock, gripped it firmly, and applied pressure—
Once again, it shattered into multiple pieces.
This time, Jaina had no choice but to believe him. She immediately clung to Alaric's arm, her excitement overflowing.
Perhaps due to the small age gap between them, she felt a natural closeness to her teacher and enjoyed acting spoiled around him.
"Teacher! That was amazing! Please tell me how you did it!"
"It's a magical enhancement technique I created for myself," Alaric said mysteriously. "Have you heard of dragons?"
"I've read about them in fairy tales," Jaina tilted her head in confusion. "Are you saying dragons really exist?"
"Of course," Alaric replied.
"Dragons have always been real. However, they're not as evil as fairy tales make them out to be. In fact, most true dragons are forces of good, and some of them live among us."
"R-really?" Jaina found it hard to believe.
"Absolutely. I'll tell you a little secret—one of the six members of the Kirin Tor Council in Dalaran is actually a dragon in disguise. Hardly anyone in Dalaran knows this except me."
"What?! But… how do you know?" Jaina's gaze turned wary. "Don't tell me… you're a dragon too? That would explain your strength and why you've achieved so much at your age…"
As she continued, she seemed convinced that she had uncovered the truth. Seeing her smug "I see through you" expression, Alaric helplessly flicked her forehead.
"What nonsense are you imagining? How could I be a dragon?"
"Ehehe, I misunderstood, teacher!" Jaina stuck out her tongue and giggled in embarrassment.
"Well, you're not entirely wrong." Alaric shook his head. "Though I'm not a dragon, I have mastered a technique that grants me their power.
Dragons are beings beyond mortals—they possess immense physical strength and innate magical prowess.
Using a spell I developed, I've infused myself with draconic strength, allowing me to surpass ordinary humans in both magic and physical might.
As my student, you must not fall behind in talent. Every disciple of mine undergoes a special ritual to enhance themselves.
So, young lady, are you truly prepared to sign a contract and become my disciple?"
However, instead of answering right away, the young girl only pouted.
"Teacher, you're so mean. You've already shared your secrets with me—how could I refuse now?"
"You can still say no," Alaric smirked playfully. "I happen to be quite skilled in memory magic."
"No way! I don't want to lose my memory!" Jaina instantly panicked and blurted out, "I accept, okay?! Bad teacher, always scaring me!"
"Haha, serves you right for doubting me earlier!" Alaric ruffled her hair again before his expression turned serious.
"Think carefully—once you agree to the ritual, your fate will be forever intertwined with mine. This is a decision that will shape your entire life. You must be sure."
Alaric's words left Jaina deep in thought.
Though she was exceptionally intelligent, this was a life-altering decision, and she was still just a child.
Her instincts told her that her teacher was speaking the truth. If she underwent this ritual, her future would be forever tied to this young man before her, irrevocably colored by his influence.
But… was that a bad thing?
As her teacher, Alaric was someone she had no complaints about. Strength, appearance, personality, reputation, knowledge, compatibility—he was perfect.
Being by his side felt natural, comforting, nothing like the unfamiliarity she had once feared.
Why should she refuse such an opportunity?
"I accept," she declared firmly. "No matter what happens, you are my chosen teacher. I will face the future with you."
For a mere eight-year-old, her conviction was as resolute as any adult's.
"Understood," Alaric nodded solemnly. "From this moment on, you are my first disciple. I will protect you, teach you, and pass down all my knowledge to you.
And you will walk this path with me. From today, our master-disciple bond is sealed—forever."
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