Invincible Journey Starting from a Different Race

Dea Royal Academy of Magic.

The top magic academy on this land, it has nurtured and cultivated countless outstanding wizards, boasting an incredibly glorious history.

This allows Eberl, as the headmaster, to stand tall no matter where he is, and many people even say that he is one of the most prestigious figures on this continent.

And Eberl knows that starting today, the suffix "one of" can be dropped.

In the highest mage tower of Dea Magic Academy, the place closest to the starry sky, Eberl looked at the young man sitting before him, dressed in a magnificent wizard's robe, whose face was overflowing with satisfaction.

Because this was his greatest and most proud creation.

His direct disciple—Isor.

The story of Isor is well-known throughout the Dea Royal Academy of Magic. Twenty years ago, Eberl brought the still-infant Isor back to the academy and immediately began educating and training him upon discovering his extraordinary magical talent.

And the facts have proven that Eberl's judgment was not wrong.

Today is Isor's twentieth birthday, and on this day, he will officially step into the extraordinary threshold, becoming one of the few—"Archmages"—on this continent.

Archmage is the highest form of wizard. Throughout nearly a thousand years of Dea Magic Academy's history, fewer than ten have emerged. The primary reason is that most students within Dea Magic Academy are human, and the greatest problem humans face is age; the vast majority of wizards die before reaching this final threshold. Even Eberl only attained this status when he was already old, nearly stepping into the grave, and only then did he finally become an Archmage and extend his lifespan to the present day.

Most human Archmages have followed the same path as Eberl, with only a very few historical geniuses reaching this realm before the age of fifty.

But today, Isor is destined to elevate this record to a level that future generations will find hard to reach.

Sensing his teacher's arrival, Isor did not open his eyes but quietly greeted Eberl, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

Eberl nodded slightly, smiling as he sat down in front of Isor. He loosened his grip on his staff, which hovered in mid-air, the faint light at its top reflecting the brilliant stars above.

Isor's achievement of this extraordinary level before turning twenty is naturally closely related to his astonishing talent, but it is also inseparable from Eberl's special guidance. After discovering this hidden gem in the orphanage and bringing him to the academy, Eberl immediately formulated a comprehensive training plan. This included, but was not limited to, utilizing all available resources, having all professors become his teachers, and allowing him to pursue multiple paths toward that final extraordinary realm.

After learning to read, Isor has been studying every minute of every day, even in his dreams, where nightmares would teach him lessons.

For the past twenty years, he has never stepped out of the mage tower built specifically for him. Even within the Dea Royal Academy of Magic, the number of people who have seen him does not exceed a handful; the vast majority of students have only heard legends about him and witnessed the miracles he performed with magic, which seemed capable of stirring the stars.

"Isor." Eberl slowly spoke, "From today onward, you will become a true extraordinary being, just like your teacher. From now on, the truths of this world will be unveiled to you; no magic will remain mysterious to you, for you are the greatest mystery."

Isor slowly opened his eyes, his black pupils shockingly clear, untouched by any worldly matters.

A twenty-year-old Archmage.

What does this mean?

The corners of Eberl's mouth lifted slightly.

It means everything!

Now, only the final step remains.

From magician to Archmage, from ordinary to extraordinary, just one last step.

That is from the unknown to the known.

Only by realizing that "I no longer hold any expectations for everything on this land, and what I seek is only the arcane under the stars" can one become a true Archmage.

"Isor." Eberl spoke again, "Today, I will answer your final question, completing your extraordinary journey's… last step."

Eberl looked at Isor with eager anticipation.

He knew what Isor would ask.

Reaching this point, every Archmage would ask the same question.

That is, what is magic?

Indeed, the path to pursuing the true meaning of the arcane is long, tedious, and dull. Without a profound curiosity and yearning for magic and the arcane itself, it would be impossible to arrive at this point.

In his youth, Eberl only comprehended this at the brink of death, largely because no Archmage could answer him.

But now, Isor has such a master.

Come on, my proud disciple!

Ask me! Hurry and ask me!

Let me reveal to you the true arcane.

This was the moment Eberl had been looking forward to the most since becoming an Archmage.

Isor looked at his teacher, then slightly lowered his head, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Yes, yes, yes, this is the kind of confusion.

To reach this stage and still hold onto the last shred of curiosity and fantasy about magic and the arcane.

Only then can one become a true Archmage, just like himself!

Eberl looked at Isor as if he were gazing at his younger self, his aged face now smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Teacher." Isor slowly spoke, "There is indeed one question that has been troubling me."

"Speak, my child." Eberl said in the most gentle tone possible, "Don't rush; let me answer you."

"Alright."

Isor nodded, then asked very seriously.

"What is a woman?"

Eberl smiled slightly.

"I knew you would ask this question because I was once… huh?"

Eberl paused slightly.

"What did you say? Did I just hear something wrong…"

"I want to know what a woman is." Isor repeated.

Eberl's confident expression gradually turned into a daze.

"W-woman? Why would you ask this?" Eberl found it hard to comprehend, "You wouldn't not know this, would you?"

"I know what a woman is because Teacher Julie is a woman. I always thought a woman was like her." Isor said softly, "But last week, I met another… completely different species. She said she was also a woman. Oh, she even said she was a girl."

Last week?

Eberl quickly recalled what happened the previous week.

It seemed that last week, the Dea royal family sent their youngest princess to visit the magic academy, and as a courtesy, the academy allowed this little princess to meet Isor.

But how did this… wait!

Eberl suddenly realized something.

That little princess should be the first young female Isor has ever encountered since he could remember!

Could it be…

Eberl felt a sense of foreboding.

Meanwhile, Isor was lost in his own memories.

"She was so big, why…"

"She smelled so good, why…"

"Why did I feel something strange in my heart when I saw her…"

"Enough, don't think about it anymore; you are in danger!" Eberl quickly picked up his staff, powerful arcane energy flowing at its tip, "Don't think about women anymore! Think about the arcane, think about the arcane!"

"I don't want to think about it either, teacher." Isor said, "But I can't control this thought. It's like when she was holding me, I, I, I…"

Eberl wanted to immediately erase Isor's memory, but that was not an easy task, especially since Isor was just one step away from that extraordinary path.

But before that last step, Isor stared blankly at his pants.

"It sounds strange to say, but I… boki'd."

"But why did this happen? It had never reacted in the past twenty years."

"This vitality, this phenomenon of all things competing to emerge, I have never felt it before…"

"Enough!" Eberl shouted, finally gathering powerful energy and pouring it all into Isor, "Don't think anymore!"

But at the moment the arcane energy struck Isor, he shattered like glass.

Eberl was stunned.

Is this… an illusion?!!

Eberl could tell, after all, Isor's strength had not reached his level, but he never expected Isor would use an illusion.

Because this meant… Isor had escaped?

But in these twenty years, he had never left this tower!

Isor's illusion was slowly dissipating, and before it vanished, he looked up at Eberl and softly said.

"Teacher, you once told me that an Archmage is someone who pursues the mysterious."

"Now, I am going to explore the greatest mystery."

"Goodbye."