Glancing around Adam's dignified room, and then at the seemingly empty space ahead, Max's expression twisted into a puzzled frown.
But suddenly, as if something clicked in his mind, his confusion turned to irritation.
"Adam, is this another one of your pranks again?"
"Huh?" The serious expression on Adam's face faltered.
"What do you mean, 'prank'? There's clearly someone standing there," Adam said, his voice uncertain.
Max stepped forward, staring at the spot where Adam had pointed.
"There's no one here, Adam. Nothing at all."
From Adam's perspective, Max walked straight toward the mysterious white-haired man. But instead of stopping, he passed directly through him—as though Arthur were nothing more than a ghost.
Adam's eyes widened.
What just happened?
"Am I... hallucinating?" he muttered under his breath.
He rubbed his eyes vigorously, trying to clear his vision. But when he looked again, the white-haired figure was still there—smiling softly, as if amused by Adam's reaction.
Adam, who had just begun to feel slightly reassured, suddenly froze again, his heart pounding.
This is definitely a person. I'm not imagining this!
Seeing the visible panic return to Adam's expression, Arthur let out a light laugh.
"Don't bother. He can't see me," Arthur said calmly, his voice as smooth as a gentle breeze. His tone seemed to ease the growing storm in Adam's chest.
But Adam's confusion only deepened.
Wait... so he really spoke? Adam frowned.
"I can hear him. He's speaking clearly. But Max didn't react at all... can he not hear him either?"
The strangeness of the situation left Adam feeling like the ground beneath him was shifting.
Just then, Arthur made a simple hand gesture, signaling Adam to step aside.
After a brief hesitation, Adam walked over and opened the door, trying to buy time to think.
"Haha... maybe I was seeing things," Adam muttered awkwardly, scratching the back of his head with a forced smile.
Max's furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
"Maybe you're just exhausted, Adam. You've been through a lot lately. Hallucinations wouldn't be that strange right now."
Adam didn't respond. His throat tightened, and his chest felt heavy.
I wish it was just a hallucination, he thought bitterly.
Max sighed and stepped out, leaving the room with a final glance over his shoulder.
As the door closed behind him, Adam let out a shaky breath.
No matter who—or what—this man was, he hadn't shown any signs of hostility yet.
And after losing so many family members recently, Adam had no desire to witness more death or violence.
Then, the white-haired man stepped closer. His black robe shimmered faintly with magical runes, and his silver eyes were calm.
"My name is Arthur," he said. "I'm just a wandering wizard who saw potential in you—potential to reach the pinnacle of magic and carve your name into the history of the wizarding world."
He lowered himself slightly, so his eyes were closer to Adam's level.
Then, with an open hand extended, he asked, "Would you like to become my disciple?"
"Eh?"
Adam blinked in confusion.
"Wait... are you the teacher my father hired?"
It would make sense. The man was clearly extraordinary. Maybe this was his father's doing—bringing in an expert to help him break through this strange bottleneck.
But something didn't add up.
The Frost-Heart family had strict traditions. They rarely, if ever, invited outsiders into their inner circle—especially not as mentors for the heir.
"No," Arthur said, shaking his head with a smile. "I wasn't invited. I came here entirely of my own accord."
Adam's expression darkened.
"So you're just... appointing yourself my teacher?" His voice held a note of disbelief. "That's ridiculous. Who are you really?"
Arthur shrugged casually.
"It's complicated to explain everything right now. Let's just say... I saw your potential, and I believe I can help you unlock it."
He paused, his gaze unwavering.
"So, Adam Frost-Heart—will you become my disciple?"
Adam frowned. His instincts screamed caution.
This is insane. He shows up out of nowhere, claims he wasn't invited, and now wants me to become his disciple? He might not seem dangerous, but that doesn't mean he isn't.
And in this dark era—an age when rogue wizards sometimes killed for power or lineage—survival depended on skepticism. Trusting strangers blindly was a good way to end up dead.
Just as Adam was about to refuse, Arthur tilted his head slightly, as if reconsidering his approach.
"You haven't awakened your true magic source yet, have you?"
Adam's body stiffened.
Arthur smiled knowingly.
"What if I told you I could help you awaken the Absolute Zero Ice Source?"
Adam's eyes widened in shock.
"Absolute Zero Ice Source...?"
He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
The Absolute Zero Ice Source was a legendary form of magic—said to be the purest and most terrifying manifestation of frost. It was an inheritance that only a handful in the long history of the Frost-Heart family had ever been able to awaken.
Adam carried the bloodline. He knew it was possible.
But even so, he hadn't come close to manifesting it. All he had now was the ordinary Heart of Frost, the common inheritance passed down to all in the clan.
The Absolute Zero Ice Source was like a myth—recorded in ancient tomes, spoken of in hushed tones, but never seen in modern times.
No one in the current generation believed it could truly be awakened.
Adam swallowed hard.
"Are you serious?" he asked, voice low and hesitant.
He knew exactly what Arthur was offering. And the weight of that offer was enormous.
In the long history of the Frost-Heart clan, there had been a few rare prodigies who awakened Absolute Zero. Each of them had left a mark so deep, their names were etched into the annals of the wizarding world.
But those bloodlines had thinned. With each generation, the ability to awaken the source diminished. Most believed it had been lost entirely.
Now this stranger was telling him he could awaken it?
It felt impossible.
And yet… something about Arthur's gaze, his calm certainty, made Adam waver.
Apprenticeship was not something to be taken lightly.
It wasn't a trial to test.
Once a master accepted a disciple, and the disciple accepted in return—it was a bond. Sacred and binding. If the master was unworthy, the student bore the shame of that mistake. And if the disciple was disloyal, it was a stain that could never be erased.
Adam knew all this. He had been raised on these principles.
So when he hesitated, it wasn't out of fear.
It was out of respect.
Arthur, seeing Adam's internal struggle, didn't pressure him.
He simply smiled.
"I know it's hard to trust me right now. But the choice is yours, Adam. I won't force it."
Adam looked at the hand extended toward him.
So many questions still filled his mind.
But one thing was clear:
If Arthur was telling the truth—if he really could help him awaken the Absolute Zero Ice Source—then this might be the only chance he'd ever get.
Adam took a deep breath.
He had to decide.