Chapter 61: The Uncontrollable Rocky and the Yellow Sparrow
After surviving several assassination attempts, Saul had already figured out Sid’s methods of operation.
He still suspected that the danger he encountered in Mentor Kaz’s laboratory was also linked to Sid.
Had he not been teleported back to his dormitory by Pink Lord, he might have run into Sid coming to clean up the mess.
"By sending Jenna, he not only let her die in front of me but also paved the way for Rocky or others afterward, giving them a clear motive to attack me."
"He must know by now that I have learned a Tier 0 sorcery. To ensure that nothing goes wrong this time, he must personally confirm the situation."
Saul looked up at Kongsha and said in as calm a tone as possible, "I can now cast sorcery and am getting stronger. If he doesn't make his move now, he will never have another chance."
Kongsha’s mind churned slightly, and her multiple pupils flickered in and out of visibility.
"But all of this depends on whether that Jenna was indeed sent by Sid."
Saul said, "I am fifty percent sure. But I believe that's enough. Even if I’m wrong, all it costs you is a few wasted afternoons—five days from now, we new apprentices will face our first test. He will definitely act before then."
After the test, Saul, having learned many spells, would become a standout among the newcomers and attract more attention. The risk for Sid to make a move would then be even greater.
"A few afternoons? Do you think I have so much free time?" Kongsha snorted.
Saul showed a troubled expression. "Apologies, Senior, I will find a way..."
"The day after tomorrow in the afternoon."
Saul was stunned. How could Kongsha be so sure?
"You should have already let Sid know that I am your backing, right? The afternoon of the day after tomorrow... is the day of my test."
Saul immediately furrowed his brows. "You mean, Sid will specifically choose when you’re not around."
"Of course. He has been planning for so long; he will definitely choose the best timing."
Saul frowned even deeper, gritting his teeth as he asked, "Can you ask your mentor to postpone the test?"
"That’s impossible!"
"But—"
"However, advancing it a little is not a problem."
Kongsha smirked. She seemed to enjoy seeing Saul anxious.
"Anyway, you don’t need a second dose of my potion. I might as well take my test early."
Her eyes flickered, alternating between gazing at Saul’s face and his left hand.
"...Lucky, lucky."
Saul let out a long sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing.
He lowered his head, wiping away imaginary cold sweat from his brow.
Two days later, East Tower, second floor, third morgue.
Saul was not conducting any experiments. Instead, he sat at the workbench, absentmindedly flipping through the newly acquired "Speculations on Soul Vessels."
It was personally handed to him by Pink Lord, who told him to study it carefully.
But as he stared at the silk pages before him, his legs bounced unconsciously, and his brain failed to recognize the words.
Often, he turned to the next page only to realize he hadn’t comprehended the previous one at all.
So he had to flip back.
Knock knock knock!
Here they come!
Saul’s mind sharpened.
For the past two days, he had skipped classes and varied his coming-and-going times just to draw attention to the morgue.
The wait had been agonizing, but now that it was finally starting, he felt a sudden calmness wash over him. His legs stopped shaking, and his mind cleared.
He put away the silk book and got up to open the door.
Outside stood a haggard-looking Rocky.
He seemed to have gone days without washing. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and bloodshot veins spread across his sclera.
"Why are you here?" Saul’s tone was full of impatience and surprise.
But his left hand had already moved to his chest.
"You killed Jenna, didn’t you?" Rocky stared at Saul, his eyes locked onto him like nails.
"I didn’t." Saul’s expression darkened. "Who’s been feeding you nonsense? Don’t you know that killing an apprentice is forbidden?"
Rocky’s eyes grew even redder. "Then why did I see Jenna’s red dress here? What did you do to her?"
Saul froze. Only then did he recall that Jenna had worn a striking red dress when she visited him that day.
But that dress had long since been packed away with Jenna into a large box.
What had Rocky seen?
Saul feigned impatience, curling his lips. "I already told you, I didn’t kill Jenna, and there’s no dress here. Who’s been filling your head with lies?"
But Rocky wasn’t listening at all. He murmured to himself, "It must be you, it must be you! These past days, Jenna has been blaming me for not finding her sooner."
Jenna? Blaming him?
Had Rocky been possessed, or had he lost his mind?
Saul took half a step back.
But this movement instantly set Rocky off.
"Don’t run! Give Jenna back to me!"
Rocky suddenly pulled a dagger from behind him and stabbed at Saul’s chest.
As it swung, the blade glowed green—it was poisoned!
Saul immediately raised his left hand to block Rocky’s wildly swinging arm and quickly chanted a spell, casting "Demoralise Gaze" on him!
To his shock, Rocky showed no fear. He merely stepped back two paces before lunging at Saul again, this time more agilely, muttering, "You killed her, you killed her."
This was nothing like the timid Rocky from before.
Realizing that his first spell was ineffective, Saul quickly retreated. Behind him was the workbench, where he grabbed a long staff and swung it at the incoming dagger.
The staff was twice as long as the dagger, easily deflecting it.
However, Rocky did not lose his grip. Instead, he absorbed the force, moving his arm in a half-arc before stabbing again.
This was definitely not Rocky’s usual strength or skill.
"Who the hell are you?!" Saul dodged behind the workbench.
Rocky grinned menacingly but didn’t answer.
He lunged at Saul.
At that moment, the diary fluttered open.
But Saul could only glance at the rapidly appearing words while dodging:
May 23, Year 314 of the New Moon Calendar.
You were attacked by an unknown entity possessing Rocky.
His dagger bore a terrifying poison curse.
You were slashed across the chest.
You felt your organs melting, vomiting black blood.
A long battle followed, and you finally defeated him with "Strike the Undead."
But it wasn’t over.
A new enemy arrived.
A Blastfire Stone flew to your feet.
You saw fire… and hell.
There was someone else outside!
Realizing a second assailant was lying in wait, Saul knew he had to end this quickly.
He rolled behind the teleportation array and cast "Strike the Undead" at Rocky.
It was far more powerful than "Demoralise Gaze."
Rocky’s face and skin started to emit black smoke, his movements slowing.
"As expected, he’s possessed. If not for the diary’s warning, I wouldn’t have realized so quickly."
But one spell wasn’t enough.
Time was running out. The yellow sparrow outside would strike soon.
Rocky leaped onto the teleportation array, dagger raised high to pierce Saul’s heart.
Saul pulled out a single-use wand from his sleeve—one he had spent many credits to get from Kongsha.
"Ice Dagger!"
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