With a single thought, Arthur appeared beside Adam.
Adam's room lived up to expectations. As usual, he was immersed in his studies, poring over the intricate spells of Absolute Zero Magic. Yet despite his focus, it was clear he had hit a wall. His brow was furrowed, and he sat scratching his head in frustration, stuck at a difficult juncture.
Sensing Arthur's sudden arrival, Adam immediately stood up, straightening his back with a startled expression.
"Teacher Arthur!"
"Relax," Arthur said, waving a hand dismissively. "No need to look like a lost puppy."
He tossed something through the air—a weathered scroll, ancient in appearance, emanating faint but powerful magical energy. The parchment shimmered slightly, made from the hide of some unknown ancient beast.
Adam caught it and blinked in astonishment. "Uh... What's this?"
As he carefully unrolled the scroll, his eyes grew wide with wonder.
The scroll contained Absolute Zero spells—some that Adam had already studied, others he had only read about in dusty tomes. There were even a few incomplete spells whose names alone were legendary. But most striking were the final entries—long-lost forbidden spells not recorded in any known classic, hidden away from the world for good reason.
Arthur's voice was calm but stern. "Study these well. Mastery doesn't come in a single leap. You'll face many challenges along the way."
He paused, his tone darkening. "Especially the final few spells. They are forbidden for a reason. Do not attempt to learn them now. The power they demand far exceeds your current capabilities. If you try, your magic source will be drained... and it could cost you your life."
Adam froze, chills racing down his spine. He had been so eager to learn advanced spells, especially ones like the Ancient Frost Domain Descent. Just imagining wielding such a spell in battle made victory seem effortless.
Arthur, reading his expression, added in a firm tone, "Wait until your magic capacity is strong enough. Don't let ambition lead you into recklessness."
It wasn't an exaggeration.
Some of the spells recorded near the end of the scroll were so potent that even seasoned mages at their peak could only invoke them by borrowing the Power of Heaven itself. With Adam's current magic reserves, attempting one would burn him out in an instant.
Magic, after all, was not infinite. It could be replenished over time, yes—but reckless overuse placed a severe burden on one's core. The magic source, once damaged, would struggle to condense its energy through the crucial stages—from gaseous, to liquid, to solid. And without that progression, ascending to a higher wizard rank would become nearly impossible.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I'm not that reckless," Adam said with a grin, patting his chest confidently.
Arthur couldn't help but smile wryly at the sight.
Suddenly, a voice came from beyond the door.
"Master Adam, the family head requests your presence."
Adam crossed the room and opened the door. Standing outside was a middle-aged wizard in a sky-blue robe adorned with the emblem of the Frost-Heart Family, its silvery sheen glowing faintly. Though his appearance was plain, the man held himself with the calm authority of a trained mage.
"I'll head there now," Adam replied.
The wizard nodded respectfully, then turned and left without another word.
Since the awakening of the Absolute Zero Ice Source, Adam had become the center of attention within the Frost-Heart Family. Though he was already the sole heir of the family head and recognized for his potential, that alone hadn't earned him full respect.
But now... everything had changed.
The awakening had elevated him to a near-revered status. Even seasoned wizards, like the one just now, addressed him as Master—a title he had never been given before.
That was the reverence the Absolute Zero Ice Source commanded in the Frost-Heart Family.
Curious about what his father wanted, Adam turned to Arthur. "Teacher, I'll go see my father first."
"Go on."
With that, Adam stepped away—and in a blink, Arthur vanished as well, reappearing in the ethereal space of the system realm. His thoughts were already ahead, and with a pulse of light, he teleported directly to his next destination: Wilson Ember.
…
Wilson was in his room, but he was far from relaxed.
Head bowed, fists clenched tightly at his sides, his expression was a mixture of inner conflict and forced composure. He stood stiffly before Tom Ember, his father, struggling to maintain a calm exterior.
When Arthur materialized beside him, cloaked in black, Wilson's eyes widened in alarm. He glanced at Tom quickly, but his father hadn't noticed the arrival.
Wilson let out a quiet breath of relief.
But his distraction did not go unnoticed.
"Wilson," Tom said sharply, his voice laced with impatience. "Did you even hear what I just said?"
"Yes, Father," Wilson responded, his expression hardening again.
He had just learned the truth about his friend—something he had long suspected but hadn't confirmed until now.
Adam, his friend and equal in many ways, was not just talented. He was the young master of the Frost-Heart Family. And not just that—he was the chosen wielder of the Absolute Zero Ice Source.
The weight of that revelation crushed Wilson's earlier confidence. Deep down, he felt a flicker of defeat.
By all accounts, Wilson was meant to inherit the Ember Family one day. And Adam would undoubtedly become the next head of the Frost-Heart Family. Their paths were aligned… but so were their family destinies.
In a world where bloodlines and power shaped everything, two heirs of rival families could not remain mere friends.
Family interests would always come first.
"That boy is the Frost-Heart heir," Tom said, a cold glint in his eye. "If we capture him, we'll hold a massive advantage in the next war..."
"War?" Wilson's head snapped up in disbelief.
It wasn't that war surprised him—he had grown up on the battlefield, after all—but he couldn't understand the reason for it now.
"What are we even fighting over?" he asked.
Tom frowned. "I don't know yet. The Frost-Heart Family has placed unimaginable importance on Adam. And I can't figure out why."
He had already sent agents to dig into Adam's background, but the results were frustratingly empty.
The awakening of the Absolute Zero Ice Source had been kept a tightly guarded secret. Outsiders had no idea why the Frost-Heart Family was suddenly circling protectively around Adam like hawks around a treasure.
Under normal circumstances, even the son of a family head wouldn't be given such excessive protection. Life in this era was harsh and unrelenting.
Both Luke Frost-Heart and Tom Ember had lost sons on the wizard battlefields before—sacrifices considered part of the cost of power.
But this time... something was different.
And that difference was Adam.