Chapter 254: A Student?

The pale flames engulfed Blue Sparrow entirely, leaving only her agonized screams echoing through the air:

**"Merlin, Kreis will come for you! You will never surpass Kreis! Hahaha..."**

Merlin stood motionless, his face expressionless as he watched Blue Sparrow succumb to the flames. Even her enchanted robes couldn't withstand the power of the Pandora's Flame of Annihilation.

Moments later, her voice faded into silence, and the flames gradually extinguished. Nothing remained of Blue Sparrow but a pile of ash and a scorched ring on the ground.

**"Kreis? So you came to kill me because of Kreis. Too bad. You defied Osum's orders and now meet this fate. Kreis... he won't save you now."**

Merlin murmured to himself, picking up the charred ring that had fallen. From her words, he pieced together Blue Sparrow's connection to Kreis. She had disregarded Osum's rules—choosing to kill Merlin instead of recruiting him—and paid the ultimate price.

As Blue Sparrow's life ended, all eyes turned to the **Book of Vastness**, still lying on the ground. Yet, the ferocity of Merlin and Blue Sparrow's battle left the crowd hesitant to make a move.

But Merlin didn't even glance at the book. Turning away, he spoke calmly to Loreinca:

**"Let's go. There's nothing more to see here."**

**"Huh? He's leaving the Book of Vastness?"**

The crowd stirred in disbelief, some beginning to eye the book greedily.

Before they could act, however, Sandison family patriarch **Rynthe Mage** swiftly stepped forward, retrieving the book from the ground. His gaze shifted between the artifact in his hands and Merlin's retreating figure, a complicated expression forming on his face.

Finally, clenching his teeth, Rynthe called out:

**"Merlin Mage, wait!"**

Merlin stopped and turned back.

**"Rynthe Mage, is something wrong?"**

Rynthe hesitated briefly, then offered the book to Merlin, his voice low but firm:

**"Merlin Mage, the first volume of the Book of Vastness should go to you. If not, my Sandison family will never know peace."**

Merlin's brow furrowed slightly as he observed Rynthe's expression.

The Sandison patriarch continued:

**"Our family doesn't have the strength to safeguard this artifact. Even after revealing its spells, the mere rumors of its connection to the second and third volumes are enough to bring ruin upon us. By entrusting it to you, we hope to avoid further turmoil."**

Rynthe cast a wary glance at the surrounding mages. The implications were clear—only by transferring the book to someone as formidable as Merlin, backed by the powerful **Darkspirit Domain**, could they hope to deflect future threats.

Merlin understood the predicament and nodded slightly.

**"Very well. I'll accept the Book of Vastness."**

He reached out and took the book, sensing its dense, ancient aura. Though he'd initially had no interest, its myriad spells could be a valuable resource for his Matrix, and the possibility of clues to subsequent volumes intrigued him.

**"A gift of this magnitude deserves a return in kind,"** Merlin said with a faint smile. His gaze shifted sharply toward **Sebis Mage**, the Tier 4 cornerstone of the rival Moret family.

Sebis's face paled. He immediately activated his wind-element defenses and began retreating, shouting:

**"We won't pursue the Sandison family any further! Today's matters end here!"**

But Merlin's response was a chillingly calm gesture.

**"Pandora's Flame of Annihilation."**

Once again, the ghostly pale flames roared to life, hurtling toward Sebis like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Sebis had witnessed the flames' devastating power against Blue Sparrow. Knowing he couldn't withstand them, he fled with all his might. Yet, the flames moved faster, forming a massive fiery curtain that engulfed him.

**"Hiss—!"**

The surrounding mages gasped as Sebis's defenses crumbled under the relentless blaze. In moments, the Tier 4 mage shared Blue Sparrow's fate, reduced to ash.

Even Rynthe involuntarily drew a sharp breath. But seeing his longtime rival eliminated, a triumphant grin spread across his face.

**"Haha! Merlin Mage, this is truly a generous gift!"**

With Sebis gone, the Moret family had lost its strongest protector, leaving them vulnerable to the Sandison family's retaliation. Rynthe's joy was evident as he turned his attention to the remaining Moret mages, who now trembled with fear.

**"Let's go, Loreinca,"** Merlin said, slipping the Book of Vastness into his spatial ring.

The Moret family's downfall was now inevitable. Without a Tier 4 mage, they were no match for the Sandison family, and it was only a matter of time before they were driven out of Dolan City.

Loreinca followed Merlin, relief evident on her face. The Sandison family's survival and newfound dominance were entirely thanks to him.

As they began to leave, a familiar figure appeared, blocking Merlin's path.

Merlin paused, studying the figure. Memories stirred as he recognized her.

**"Teacher!"**

The young woman was none other than **Emma**, the once-naive girl he'd met years ago in Ditars Town. Now fully grown, her beauty was striking, but the fervent emotion in her eyes as she looked at Merlin hadn't changed.

**"Teacher? Merlin Mage is Emma's teacher?"**

Nearby, **Hiline** and **Haya**, who had accompanied Emma, were stunned. They had thought Emma's search for her "teacher" was a fruitless obsession. To discover that her teacher was the same Merlin who had just defeated Blue Sparrow left them speechless.

Merlin's gaze softened as memories of the past surfaced. He recalled their brief encounter and the three beginner-level spells he had casually gifted her. At the time, he'd made a three-year promise, but even he had forgotten about it.

**"Emma,"** Merlin said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. **"Since you're here, come with me to the Sandison estate."**

Emma hesitated briefly, glancing at Hiline and Haya.

Merlin noticed her gaze and addressed them directly:

**"You may join us as well."**

Hiline and Haya exchanged surprised glances before nodding eagerly. Following Merlin, they made their way into the Sandison estate, their minds racing with thoughts about the enigmatic mage who now stood as their ally.