Ariella's question seemed like simple curiosity, but it piqued Leon’s interest nonetheless.

“Could you tell me more?” Leon asked, his tone reflecting his growing intrigue.

“About the magic system?”

“I understand that the number of transcendent magicians is fixed, and that one must challenge them to ascend. But does that really mean you have to… kill them?”

Ariella chuckled softly at the seriousness on Leon’s face.

“You really want to see this through, don’t you? You’ve come so far at such a young age, so I suppose you’ve earned the right to know.”

She knelt down and began drawing in the dirt with her finger, sketching out the word “enlightenment” next to a symbol for “plus.”

“To rise through the ranks of magic, most magicians need enlightenment. But to ascend from insight to transcendence, enlightenment alone is not enough.”

“What else is required?”

“Influence,” Ariella replied simply.

“Influence?” Leon tilted his head, confused.

“Yes, the impact you have on the world. In your case, it would be the humans around you. They need to believe that you are worthy of becoming a transcendent magician.”

Leon fell silent, pondering her words.

It was still unclear. What exactly did it mean to be recognized as worthy? And who decided such a thing?

Ariella, sensing his confusion, elaborated further.

“In simpler terms, you need power—a following. Transcendent magicians each have their own powerful factions.”

Leon started to grasp the deeper meaning of what she was saying. He now understood why the twenty transcendent magicians of Arcane all had their own schools, and why certain high-ranking magicians acted as they did.

'Was the head of Tenereon attacking another school just to expand his power? Was the witch searching for Gigantes connected to this? Raising heirs within the schools must be about securing influence.'

His thoughts began to whirl with all the possibilities.

“Does that mean once your influence grows, you naturally reach the transcendent level?” Leon asked, wondering if simply expanding his power was the key.

Ariella shook her head slowly.

“That’s not enough. If it were, I wouldn’t have mentioned the need for a brutal battle. Enlightenment and influence are just conditions.”

“And after meeting those conditions, you have to challenge an existing transcendent magician?”

“Exactly. Once a transcendent magician disappears, only then do those conditions matter.”

“Who decides if the conditions are met?”

“For us elves, that decision comes from the Mother,” Ariella replied, referencing the World Tree, their deity and origin.

Leon mulled over the implications of what she was saying.

‘So it’s a deity that determines the criteria?’

“Only the Mother knows the exact standards, but when the time comes, it becomes clear. The world won’t let it go unnoticed.”

Leon fell silent, wondering if she meant that transcendent magicians would inevitably start to intervene when they felt threatened by a rising power.

'A faction, huh...'

This was something Leon had never considered before.

As he was deep in thought, Ariella spoke again, her voice soft and almost wistful.

“Sometimes, I envy that passion—being able to overcome any obstacle with such confidence. Humans seem to shine with those kinds of powerful emotions. Or maybe it’s just you, Leon.”

She smiled gently at him.

“If I had someone like you beside me, maybe I’d want to learn magic.”

Ariella shifted closer to Leon, creating a subtle yet noticeable tension in the air between them. However, the moment was short-lived as Ria approached with a bowl of stew, interrupting the atmosphere.

“Please have some food. Your companions are waiting for you,” Ria said with a polite but firm smile, her eyes flicking toward the group of elves sitting nearby, clearly suggesting that Ariella should rejoin them.

Ariella blinked and, pretending not to notice the undertones, thanked her. “Ah, thank you.”

“I’m not sure if human food will suit your tastes.”

“It’s fine. I’ve eaten plenty of it before.”

“Good. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to eat as well,” Ria said, gently but clearly indicating that it was time for Ariella to move.

Ariella hesitated for a moment, glancing between Leon and Ria, then nodded and stood up.

“I think that’s all for today. I’ll go join the others.”

As Ariella returned to her companions, Ria smoothly sat down next to Leon, filling the space Ariella had left.

Leon set aside his thoughts on factions for the moment—it was too complex to fully process right now.

'I’ll have to ask Arpina about this later.'

He glanced at Ria and spoke sincerely, “I’m glad we managed to finish things without any major problems.”

Taking down a group of slave traders with an apprentice magician like Ria could have been risky, which is why he had left her with the gargoyle golem for protection.

If Zirkar had been a rank higher, Leon wouldn’t have involved Ria at all.

Of course, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down yet. Despite using the invisibility lantern to stay hidden, danger could still arise unexpectedly.

“You’re getting stronger every day, and Erica’s artifacts have been a big help too,” Ria said with a smile, though her tone suggested she felt a little left behind.

Leon reassured her with a smile of his own. “Don’t be discouraged. You’ve been training hard too, so keep it up.”

They shared a peaceful conversation for a while, an unusual calm settling over the group.

After some time, Leon stood and stretched.

“Shall we get going again?”

For the next two weeks, Leon’s group traveled relentlessly.

They stopped only when the elves’ magic was depleted, taking brief rests before continuing. They avoided human settlements, staying hidden as they moved north.

Fortunately, the route was mostly through forested terrain, allowing them to travel swiftly without leaving traces. Even during their breaks, Leon carefully packed away the invisibility lantern into his orb and used a magic device to erase their tracks, ensuring no one could follow.

During these two weeks, Leon often spoke with Ariella’s companions as well, especially Jeren, a female elf who was always close to Ariella. Their conversations grew more serious as they neared the Elven Forest.

One day, Leon cautiously asked Jeren a question that had been on his mind.

“I’ve heard that humans are strictly forbidden from entering the Elven Forest. Is that true?”

Leon wanted to understand their rules clearly before they arrived, to avoid any unnecessary conflict.

Jeren hesitated before nodding. “Don’t worry about that. As long as the princess brought you, no one will turn you away.”

But her expression lacked full confidence, something Leon noticed immediately.

“You’re not telling me everything. I still don’t understand how the royal family can wander human cities so freely. Ariella said she had permission, but it seems odd.”

Jeren sighed quietly before answering, “It’s more like… she ran away.”

“I see.” Leon had suspected as much. “How long has she been wandering?”

“Almost a year.”

“A year…” Leon muttered.

Erica had told him how they’d been hiding their identities, but to have done so for a whole year without proper protection made it unsurprising that they were eventually noticed by slave traders.

“We tried to send reports to the forest a few times, but the princess always found out and stopped us,” Jeren admitted.

“Is there any way to contact the Elven Forest now?” Leon asked, hoping for some solution.

Jeren shook her head sadly. “…No, there isn’t.”

It was clear she felt guilty, but Leon didn’t blame her. Ariella had deliberately chosen companions she could control, after all.

‘I hope I can still get the World Tree branch.’

Leon sighed inwardly. This was a precarious situation, with a headstrong princess and her inexperienced companions. He couldn’t be sure how they would be received back in the Elven Forest.

Despite these concerns, Leon, Erica, and the group reached the vicinity of the Elven Forest without incident, avoiding any pursuit from imperial magicians.

Erica, who had been tense for the entire journey, finally showed a small sign of relief. She knew that the Elven Forest was a place humans rarely, if ever, entered.

Erica quietly bowed her head to Leon. “Thank you so much, Leon.”

Leon responded calmly, “I’ve been properly compensated, so it’s fine. Besides, we haven’t finished the important part yet.”

“Yes, the most important part is still ahead.”

Erica still had to secure the alliance with the elves, a critical goal.