Grand Warlock: My System Gave Me Infinite Classes

Luna's golden beast-like pupils still showed no trace of emotion, only complete obedience to Talisa's commands.

In the sunlight, the leopard woman's tall form radiated a strange fusion of wildness and submission. Beautiful and deadly, yet tragically stripped of self.

…

By the time Robb returned to the dormitory district, night had already begun to fall.

In the Black Mist Forest, dusk always came swiftly, as if darkness was the land's true nature.

Walking through the corridor leading to his room, the faint glow of a magic crystal lamp cast dappled shadows on the ground.

From a distance, he saw a familiar figure standing outside his door. The person looked up the moment they spotted him.

"...Andrey?" Robb was a bit surprised and quickened his pace. "Something urgent?"

The blond youth looked especially pale under the moonlight, his eyes flickering with anxiety and helplessness.

He held a half-opened letter in his hand. Even under the dim lights, the royal wax seal stamped on the parchment was clearly visible.

"Robb." Andrey spoke with difficulty. "I'm in trouble. It's the royal family."

"What kind of trouble?" Robb quickly unlocked the door and ushered Andrey inside before shutting it.

The room's magic lamp lit up automatically with his arrival, casting a warm yellow light over Andrey's worn-out face, making him look even more exhausted than usual.

Robb glanced at him. With his enhanced mental senses, he could easily detect the intense blood energy in Andrey that hadn't fully settled after a recent breakthrough.

"You seem to have advanced...?"

He poured a glass of water and handed it over as he asked.

Andrey downed it in one go, forcing a smile, though it did little to hide the deep anxiety in his eyes.

"Yeah," he said quietly, with a touch of pride. "Thanks to that blood-essence potion you gave me, I finally broke through to the third stage of the breathing body-forge technique."

"That's great news. Why the long face?" Robb clapped him on the shoulder, sincerely happy for his friend.

The so-called third stage corresponded to the "Adept" tier on his [Breathing-Forge] skill chart. With a successful bloodline awakening ritual, Andrey would soon be eligible to become a formal knight.

"Yeah, normally I'd be celebrating with you." Andrey forced a laugh and pulled out the crumpled letter. "But this message from the royal court... really killed the mood."

Robb scanned the letter quickly.

Though its wording appeared polite, the tone clearly conveyed an unchallengeable royal command.

"They want you to meet with Cynthia?" Robb frowned, remembering the haughty female student he'd seen at the plaza, and what Norris had said about her.

"She's that lunatic you mentioned before, right? The royal family's eager to hand you over?"

"That's her." Andrey slumped into a chair, his voice filled with fear and loathing. "She restocks her stable of male servants around this time every year. The royal family wants to curry favor by offering me up…"

Robb thought for a moment. "Who sent the letter? Does your father know about this?"

Andrey laughed bitterly. "What good would it do if he did? Father's position is precarious. I suspect this was orchestrated by my older siblings. They'd be thrilled if I stayed in the Black Mist Forest forever."

He paused, his gaze dimming.

"They probably fear I'll return to the kingdom and interfere with the succession once I become a formal knight. Sending me here was always part of their plan, to make sure I never come back."

Andrey stood and walked to the window, staring into the dark woods beyond.

"I've already sent a reply," he said. "I claimed I need a month of seclusion to prepare for the bloodline awakening ritual. That should buy me some time, but after that…"

Robb cut him off. "A month is more than enough."

Andrey turned quickly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You have a plan?"

"I'm preparing for the potion master certification." Robb spoke with confidence. "If I pass, I'll get my own workshop and quarters. My standing in the Order will improve dramatically. Then, I'll gather the resources needed to help you become a formal knight. Everything will change."

"A professional potion master? You've already reached that level?" Andrey looked shocked and delighted. His anxiety eased slightly. "If you pull that off, even the royal court wouldn't dare mess with you. A certified potion master is more valuable than most High Apprentices."

"Exactly. So your priority now is to stay calm and focus on your training." Robb's voice was firm. "Once I pass the exam, everything shifts. You focus on preparing for the bloodline awakening ritual over the next month."

Andrey exhaled deeply, visibly relieved. "You're right. Strength comes first, for both of us."

He seemed to remember something and retrieved a delicate embroidered box. "Almost forgot, this was sent for you. The courier gave it to me to deliver."

Robb took the box and opened it to find a golden emblem engraved with the sun crest of Farwynd, a beautiful piece that screamed importance.

"This is...?"

"A royal ennoblement seal," Andrey explained nonchalantly, placing it in Robb's hands. "Father reserved a hereditary title for you. Comes with land and a castle. If you ever return to the kingdom, you'll be a noble of the inner circle. Not that you care about that stuff."

Robb examined the emblem carefully. He didn't comment, but mentally noted its value, if not for himself, then perhaps for his family back home. It could help them secure more land and titles.

"I'll hold onto it, then." He stored the seal carefully. "But right now, let's stay focused on the matters at hand."

Andrey nodded, then recalled something. "By the way, you said you saw Cynthia and Talisa at the market?"

Robb nodded and recounted the confrontation at the plaza in detail.

"…Talisa's leopard girl struck from behind and took down the half-orc. Cynthia was livid. No one expected her to lose to a newly promoted Intermediate Apprentice."

Andrey listened intently, visibly surprised.

"So Talisa's that strong now? Raising a capable battle slave takes a ton of resources. Either that or… Cynthia's reputation is overblown?"

"No, the half-orc was genuinely strong," Robb replied, shaking his head.

"But Cynthia got impatient and used a banned rage crystal too early."

"And Talisa's leopard girl used my specially formulated potion," he added. "I refined that formula repeatedly. It's far more effective than any standard mixture. Once the fight dragged out, the advantage was all hers."