Seeing the troubled expression on Wilson's face, Arthur remarked calmly, "It seems your father is still uneasy—and has sent someone to follow you."
Perhaps in this version of events, Adam's role had become far more significant than in the original timeline. Tom, aware of this shift, had taken extra precautions for this mission.
In the original story, Wilson and Adam had shared information through mental telepathy, which allowed them to tactically distance themselves from each other, avoiding direct conflict. But now, with the dynamic altered, things could escalate dangerously if Tom or Luke were to take the lead in any confrontation.
"Good thing you noticed," Wilson said, his expression darkening. "If not, things could've ended badly."
Wilson had indeed considered secretly alerting someone, but under constant surveillance, that would be nearly impossible.
His expression tensed as he quickly added, "Teacher… did you see the intruder just now? That was no illusion."
An unknown figure appearing within the family estate was no small matter. It could easily be mistaken for an enemy infiltration, triggering a full-scale defensive response.
But Arthur had already prepared for such a scenario.
"Don't worry. I'll blur his memory using the Emberforge Heart Flame—it can handle that easily," Arthur said confidently.
Wilson blinked in surprise, then scratched his head awkwardly. "But, Teacher… my Emberforge Heart Flame hasn't fully awakened yet. And even if it had, modifying memories is on a whole other level—it's not something a semi-awakened flame can manage."
Unlike mere mirages or illusions, altering someone's memory required tremendous power and control. It was a feat only possible with a fully awakened Emberforge Heart Flame Source—and even then, only by those with mastery over it.
Wilson himself couldn't even dream of achieving that yet. His flame had barely stirred, and due to the Ember Family's peculiar bloodline limitations, a full awakening was incredibly rare and difficult.
Arthur chuckled and waved off his concern. "I wasn't referring to your flame. I'll do it myself."
Before Wilson could respond, his eyes widened in disbelief as Arthur's body began to glow with red magical energy. The Emberforge Heart Flame swirled around him, alive and commanding, like a sentient beast.
"Emberforge Heart Flame!?"
Wilson prided himself on being composed, but this moment shook him. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
There were only a handful of individuals in the Ember Family who had managed to awaken the Emberforge Heart Flame. Awakening it required not only powerful bloodline stimulation but also a strong magical foundation—traits usually reserved for elite, battle-hardened wizards.
Yet, his own teacher—a man who wasn't even from the Ember Family—possessed such a flame? And more than that, he wielded it as naturally as breathing.
"You… you actually possess an Emberforge Heart Flame source?" Wilson asked, stunned.
Arthur gave him a faint smile. "Why so surprised? What kind of teacher would I be otherwise?"
It was true—Arthur had never revealed much of his own story to Wilson. Until now, their lessons had focused on swordsmanship, where the Emberforge Heart Flame held little relevance. But the truth was far more layered.
"You're not a member of the Ember Family... yet you have the bloodline and flame of one. How is that even possible?"
Wilson's mind reeled. Was it possible there were others outside the family with the ability to awaken the Emberforge Heart Flame? He had never heard of such a thing.
Seeing his student so bewildered, Arthur sighed and said, "Don't worry about the details. Focus on the task at hand."
Wilson nodded, forcing his attention back to the situation.
He watched in awe as Arthur manipulated the flame, its radiant energy gliding through the air like a mythical creature. Deep inside, Wilson felt a pang of envy.
He hadn't yet awakened his emberforge heart flame magic source, but from his family's archives and battle records, he knew the immense power it conferred—especially when paired with the Emberforge Heart Flame. Not only could it incinerate with terrifying heat, but it could manipulate emotions, cast illusions, and even bend weaker wills to its user's command.
No wonder the Ember Family had stood at the pinnacle of magical power during the Dark Age. This flame was not just a weapon—it was a legacy.
As Arthur began his spellwork, Wilson stepped back and observed silently. Arthur's Emberforge Heart Flame, although only in its semi-awakened state, glowed with a force far beyond ordinary. This was likely due to the combination of his ancient Ember bloodline and the legendary Heart of Frost that resided within him. The two mystical forces amplified one another, giving Arthur a level of power that dwarfed even some of the family elders.
Arcane circles shimmered in the air as Arthur carefully guided his magical flame into the unconscious peak wizard's mind. Slowly, methodically, he blurred the man's memory and layered an illusion atop it.
Arthur hadn't been idle during the past month. In addition to training Wilson, he'd been mastering several advanced spells—particularly illusion magic. The results of his dedication were on full display now.
"All done," Arthur said after a moment, releasing a breath and stepping back.
He casually tossed the unconscious wizard's body back into the spot where they had first encountered him.
Wilson's jaw dropped. "Teacher… are you sure that's enough?"
Arthur turned to him and nodded reassuringly. "Wilson, this isn't memory replacement—it's just selective blurring. The man won't remember seeing me, and thanks to the illusion, he'll report everything as normal. There's no way to trace it."
Altering a memory directly would risk severe brain damage or turning the subject into a mindless husk. Even Arthur, with his immense power, wasn't ready for that level of mental tampering. But this subtle manipulation—this was safe, efficient, and undetectable.
Wilson exhaled in relief. "I see… that's amazing. Thank you, Teacher."
His respect for Arthur had only deepened. Not only had the man taught him swordsmanship of the highest caliber, but he had also just saved him from what could have been a catastrophic exposure.
Arthur had become someone Wilson deeply admired and depended on.
"You're a good kid," Arthur said with a soft smile, patting Wilson on the shoulder.
Then, without another word, Arthur's body began to fade—slowly dissolving into the air like mist.
Wilson stood there in silence, his thoughts spinning. Watching his teacher vanish like a phantom, he knew one thing for certain:
Arthur was far more than what he seemed.