The currents that had once flowed turbulently now pressed steadily against its form.

The spider legs scraped harshly against the inside of the sphere as it struggled to emerge from it. Every time it sought to extend its legs outward, a strong opposing force pressed back against them.

Then, the creature’s upper body twisted violently as the pale female torso tried to pull itself free from the tightening prison, yet every motion only stirred the water before it pressed inward again.

Slowly, the movements of the Silk Tyrant became less wild.

But later, a faint cracking sound echoed within the water as the rigid chitin began to give way.

The creature let out a distorted screech, though the sound barely escaped through the suffocating prison. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The pressure continued to grow.

Another dull crack rippled through the sphere as one of the legs finally snapped.

The Silk Tyrant’s movements became frantic.

Its humanlike torso arched backward while its mouth opened in a silent cry. Thick strands of dark fluid leaked from the corners of its lips.

The water trembled for a few final moments before settling into stillness, leaving the lifeless monstrous creature suspended in the silent prison Calyra had created.

Calyra had defeated the Silk Tyrant.

Then, she froze the water sphere until its entire surface hardened into solid ice, sealing the lifeless body of the Silk Tyrant within.

Then, she let it fall from the high point where it hung in the chamber.

Once it hit the floor, the sphere shattered violently, breaking apart into thousands of sharp fragments that scattered across the chamber.

Gradually, Calyra lowered herself.

As her feet touched the ground, she quietly cancelled her [Fly] spell.

’Well, I expected this much from her.’

Ruvian smiled thinly, relieved with the outcome of the fight.

Now, there was one more matter left.

"Rosalin..." he called.

Rosalin slowly turned her head.

Ruvian observed the red-haired girl for a brief moment, noticing how her eyes had grown bright and wide as though a quiet golden fire was burning within them.

Deep down, Ruvian understood very well what this moment meant to her. He knew how much it meant for Rosalin to witness Calyra’s ability with her own eyes.

The expression she gave him carried nothing but pure admiration.

Rosalin, after all, had been looking up to Calyra since she was young. For Calyra was the one who made Rosalin believe that miracles could truly exist.

Seeing the light in her eyes, Ruvian began to speak.

"Say, Rosalin... do you believe in the impossible?"

His voice came clear, carrying enough weight that even Silvena and Seraphine turned their attention toward him.

Rosalin repeated the word quietly, as if tasting its meaning.

"The impossible...? Sorry, but what do you mean by that...?" Rosalin asked.

Ruvian then stepped closer to her, his eyes firmly on her.

"Well, if I have to give an example... let’s say you were to face Calyra in a fight right now. Do you believe you could defeat her?"

Rosalin’s eyes grew wide.

The question seemed to catch her off guard.

Slowly, her gaze lowered to the floor beneath her feet. She remained silent for a few moments, as though the words had drawn her mind somewhere else entirely.

In her thoughts, a scene began to form.

She imagined herself standing across from Calyra on the battlefield.

That composed figure...

That quiet, unwavering presence that seemed to dominate everything around it.

The image grew clearer the longer she thought about it. And the more clearly she imagined the confrontation, the heavier the answer became.

Her fingers tightened into a firm grip.

Then, she slowly shook her head.

"No... I don’t think that I could win against her."

Rosalin did not sound disappointed. If anything, she sounded strangely certain. Her face showed a reluctant acceptance.

Gradually, she raised her head again. Yet the moment she did, her eyes met Ruvian’s dark blue gaze.

He was staring directly at her with an intensity that felt impossible to avoid.

"Is that truly your answer?"

A fleeting look of surprise appeared on Rosalin’s face.

For some unknown reason to her, Ruvian seemed disappointed with her answer.

"...."

Silvena was curious to ask something but she believed that she shouldn’t interfere at the moment.

Ruvian stepped even closer.

"There is no need for you to suppress that ambition from yourself or from others."

’Suppress... my ambition?’

Rosalin still did not entirely understand what Ruvian was trying to convey. Nevertheless, his words... for some reason they seemed to sink deeply into her mind, resonating with her.

She did not know what it was.

But she wanted to hear more.

It felt as though a small ember had suddenly been ignited somewhere deep within her chest.

Ruvian took another glance at her.

"Truthfully, no one our age can stand beside her strength.

So, it’s practically understandable that everyone will say that they wouldn’t win against Calyra. She is strong.. exceptionally beyond ordinary. Within her resides a monstrous level of talent that the vast majority of mages could spend their entire lives chasing, and still never come close to it."

Ruvian paused for a moment before continuing.

"However..."

"If I must name just one person among all of us who stands the closest to that same horizon, the one who possesses the potential to one day stand beside Calyra in equal measure..."

Ruvian slowly placed his hand on Rosalin’s shoulder.

"It is you." (+200PP)

Rosalin looked at him with surprise.

Even Silvena and Seraphine were shocked with his statement.

"Don’t get me wrong. It is true that at this very moment there is no absolute way for you to defeat her. The gap that exists between you and her today is still vast."

His voice held calm conviction.

"But in the future..."

"Yes, the future is full of possibilities."

"Still, the distance that separates the two of you today is not a distance that can be closed on its own and by tomorrow. You still need to put more effort into it. That is why I asked you that question."

"Do you believe in the impossible? Do you honestly believe there will ever be a day when you can defeat her?" (+200PP)

Rosalin fell silent.

The question lingered heavily in her mind. Her thoughts struggled to understand it. But somewhere deep within her heart, the answer already existed.

The long-suppressed fire within her finally roared awake.

A fearless determination appeared on her face.

"No. There is no such thing as the impossible." (+200PP)

Hearing that answer, Ruvian grew satisfied.

This time, it was Rosalin who stared deeply into Ruvian’s eyes.

"And yes, if we are speaking of the future..."

"That day will come..."

"I will make it happen." (+100PP)

For a brief moment, silence lingered between them.

Then Ruvian smiled faintly.

"Good answer."

"There is no such thing as the impossible."

His hand remained firmly on her shoulder.

"If Calyra is someone that embodies the impossibility..."

"Then Rosalin, you should become someone that embodies possibility." (+150PP)

Rosalin’s eyes trembled faintly at those words.

Shock and confusion both appeared on her face.

"...embodies possibility?"

Ruvian slowly turned his gaze toward Calyra standing below.

"Yes."

"So, from this moment onward, standing beside Calyra is no longer your goal, Rosalin. Don’t chase that. What you must do and what you must strive for is to surpass her." (+300PP)

Rosalin’s face brightened.

With those words, Ruvian had called forth the suppressed blazing desire in her heart.

At that exact moment, Rosalin suddenly remembered why she had admired Calyra, and...

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 112: How They First Met]

Plot Points= 15,480