Ava stared at the newly released quest in surprise.
She had always thought that her main quest in this game was singular and absolute: ensuring Kyle's survival. Every other quest was just a side mission.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, the game helpfully provided a lengthy explanation:
[Dear Player Ava, your assumption is absolutely correct.
Your ultimate goal in this game is to ensure that Kyle survives. However, given that Kyle's two mortal enemies are the most powerful legendary mages on the continent of Nolan—and they have never given up on hunting him down—the only way to guarantee his safety is to help him grow stronger and eliminate these two formidable mages. Otherwise, within three months, they will find him and kill him.]
"Then just teleport me to them, and I'll take them out. Problem solved, right?"
The game seemed to find Ava's naivety amusing.
[Player Ava, your idea is great, but… unfortunately, based on your current bank balance, you can't afford to kill those two mages.]
[Even if you manage to kill them on Kyle's behalf, on this continent teeming with powerful beings, a powerless civilian like him is still at constant risk of dying.
Helping him grow into a powerful mage is the best way to protect him.]
Ava rolled her eyes at the screen. "Got it. So Kyle is basically the game's golden boy, huh? No matter who plays, we're all stuck being his babysitter, tutor, and bodyguard?"
[Ding!]
A pink, heart-shaped notification box popped up:
[You could also choose to become his… lover~ ^_^]
"Pfft—!" Ava nearly choked on her own saliva.
She stole a glance at Kyle.
Sunlight filtered through the thick clouds, casting dappled shadows on his young, strikingly handsome face.
Ava quickly pinched herself. "This game is out of pocket. He's not even fifteen yet, and I'm twenty-one! Fine, fine. All I have to do is protect him and help him grow into the most powerful mage on the continent. Understood!"
"But honestly, if I didn't know Kyle was just an NPC, I'd swear the game's designer was actually him in disguise."
Ava was deep in conversation with the game in her mind when she suddenly felt a light tug on her arm. Snapping back to reality, she found herself being watched by two good-looking men—and Kyle, who was clutching her hand, his clear eyes filled with concern.
"Ava, we're about to enter the mountains," Kyle reminded her softly. "The team's mage has gone missing, and they're asking if you know any healing magic."
Ava immediately pulled up the in-game store and sorted all healing spells by price from lowest to highest.
[Basic Healing Spell] – Heals minor injuries. Price: $1
[Intermediate Regeneration Spell] – Regrows severed limbs. Price: $5
[Advanced Healing Spell] – Removes curses and toxins. Price: $10…
I can afford all of these!
"Don't worry, I know… quite a few, actually." She nodded mysteriously, then mentally commanded,
"Hey, game system, recommend a spell Kyle can learn right now."
A weathered parchment scroll materialized in the center of the interface, slowly unfurling. Golden letters shimmered across its surface. Ava was immediately dumbfounded—
This wasn't written in modern English!
[Warning! Player's language database has not unlocked Ancient Magic Script!]
"You've got to be kidding me! I'm just a player! No one's supposed to recognize this ancient mumbo-jumbo! Shouldn't I just pick a spell and have Kyle automatically learn it?"
As she ranted internally, a deep and commanding voice echoed in her mind.
"Ignis Ardeo!"
The golden text on the parchment faded, replaced by a holographic projection: a gray-robed mage extended her right hand, palm up. As she chanted the incantation, a golden flame the size of a bowl flickered to life in her palm.
"You're telling me this game comes with AR lessons now?!" Ava muttered in disbelief.
Bracing herself, she cleared her throat and let go of Kyle's hand. Under his curious gaze, she mimicked the figure in the projection, stretching out her right hand.
"Uh… okay, here goes… Ig… Ignis… Ar… Ardeo?" she stammered, pronouncing each syllable with painstaking care.
With a soft pop, a feeble red glow flickered to life in her palm—resembling nothing more than a dying lightbulb on the verge of burning out.
The three men watching her were utterly stunned.
Lorne's sword clattered to the ground.Lucien nearly fumbled his dagger mid-spin.
In this world, magic instruction was always shrouded in secrecy. Whether through academies or the master-apprentice system, spellcasting knowledge was fiercely guarded. No mage would ever just… recite a spell aloud, word by word, for strangers to hear!
And yet, the most absurd part was—
Kyle's eyes sparkled as he stared intently at Ava's demonstration. After a moment of contemplation, he raised his right hand and repeated the incantation flawlessly, his pronunciation so perfect it sounded as if he'd practiced a hundred times.
The moment he finished speaking, a roaring flame erupted in his palm—a fireball three times the size of Ava's, with a flickering golden core at its center.
Ava's eye twitched. (…This is his first time casting magic?!)
Game, you've got to be kidding me!!!