Evelyn lifted her gaze slightly, her brows twitching almost imperceptibly. This fool never thought that the one who should be disgusted was her?

  "Evelyn, you're not saying you dislike me, are you?" Ryan finally seemed to realize something. He scratched his head, his tone half probing, half nervous.

  "Yes." Evelyn cast him a sidelong glance, her voice utterly flat, not even bothering to hide her indifference.

  Good grief, that level of disdain was brutally straightforward! Ryan could only shrug helplessly, biting into the nearly melted string of berries he was holding.

  Yet his gaze deliberately lingered on Evelyn, a goofy grin spreading across his face. He looked exactly like some lovestruck fool staring at a beautiful woman.

  After all, chances to see Evelyn's face without her veil were rare, and he wasn't about to waste this one.

  Evelyn felt his stare and grew a little uneasy. The tips of her ears, hidden beneath her long hair, flushed faintly red. Instinctively, she quickened her pace, but a thought nagged her mind: Why is this fool staring at me like that?

  "Wow, sister, you're so beautiful!"

  A crisp, youthful voice suddenly rang out.

  A girl in a maple-red embroidered magic dress jumped out from the end of the alley, stopping right in front of Evelyn. Tilting her head up, her eyes sparkled with open admiration.

  She looked about the same age as Derrick, her face still soft with youth, but her ornate dress was astonishingly fine, clearly marking her as a noble girl from a magical family.

  Ryan's expression darkened instantly. He'd been getting along with Evelyn just fine, and now this girl popped up out of nowhere to ruin the moment!

  He stepped forward half a pace, quietly positioning himself between Evelyn and the newcomer. His tone carried a trace of irritation.

  "Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?"

  "I am, " The girl straightened her posture, puffing up her chest with a touch of pride, clearly preparing to announce her prestigious family name.

  But before she could finish, a familiar voice came shouting from the far end of the alley.

  "Mentor! Help me!"

  Derrick's panicked cry echoed through the narrow street, mixed with the sound of hurried footsteps and the quiver of near-tears in his voice.

  The sudden outburst drew the attention of all three present.

  At the corner of the alley, a group of guards in black uniforms came into view, chasing after Derrick with grim determination. Leading them was none other than the same captain who had previously been pursuing Ryan.

  Just as Derrick's desperate shout ended, the captain finally caught up, seizing the boy by the back of his collar and yanking him off the ground.

  The Ninth-tier Adept Mage's face was dark with fury, veins bulging on his forehead as he barked,

  "Let's see where you run to now, brat!"

  The humiliation burned deep. Not only had he lost Ryan and Evelyn, but he'd also been toyed with by this kid using three different low-level movement techniques, it was an unbearable disgrace.

  He couldn't fathom how a mere Magic Apprentice could possibly have so many movement skills.

  There was the Shadow Step for evasion, the Gale Step for bursts of speed, and the Zigzag Step for weaving around obstacles. They were all basic techniques, yet the boy had mastered them with remarkable proficiency.

  "Mentor! Help me!" Derrick flailed wildly in midair, limbs kicking helplessly like a rabbit caught by the scruff of its neck.

  Ryan rubbed his forehead helplessly and strode toward the captain of the guards.

  Behind him, Evelyn followed silently, while the girl who had suddenly appeared also tagged along out of curiosity. She even hopped beside Evelyn, occasionally sneaking glances at her long hair.

  The girl, Darlene, burst into laughter the moment she saw Derrick flailing in midair like a rabbit being held by the scruff.

  Her bright, crisp laughter echoed through the alley, completely ignoring the proper decorum expected of a noble lady. Derrick's flushed red face and frantic movements looked so ridiculous that it was impossible not to laugh.

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  "What are you laughing at! Laugh again and I'll have my Mentor blast your teeth out with a Fireball!" Derrick yelled angrily, glaring at the unfamiliar girl, forgetting to even struggle in his indignation.

  He might not be able to win against the captain, but he would never admit defeat in an argument, especially after losing face in front of a stranger.

  "Wow, is this Mentor's Lady?" Derrick's anger vanished instantly as his gaze landed on Evelyn standing beside Ryan. His eyes widened in astonishment.

  It was the first time he had ever seen Evelyn without her veil, and she was even more stunning than the snow elves described in ancient tomes.

  But before his words of admiration could continue, Evelyn's eyes turned icy cold. The frost of magic gathering in her gaze made Derrick's entire body shiver.

  He immediately shut his mouth, not daring to speak again. Even his flailing limbs went still, making him look like a rabbit frozen solid.

  "Captain, why don't you put him down first? We can talk this over properly," Ryan said as he approached, his tone as calm as possible.

  He could tell that the captain was in his thirties, his aura steady and firm, and his strength indeed matched that of a Ninth-tier Adept Mage. Ryan knew he could win a fight if necessary, but doing so would risk revealing too much of his real power.

  The captain was about to bark a harsh command, but when his eyes fell on Evelyn, he froze completely.

  Years of serving in the capital had allowed him to see countless noblewomen, yet never one so breathtakingly beautiful. Her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce straight into the soul.

  It took him a few seconds to recover. When he finally spoke again, his tone was still firm, though his composure had clearly cracked.

  "You two showed up just in time. You'd better come quietly to the guard headquarters for questioning. If I have to arrest you myself, the punishment will be far worse than a few days in a cell."

  Ryan glanced around and noticed that the noble youth he had kicked earlier was nowhere to be seen, probably off nursing his injuries. That was at least one less annoyance to deal with.

  "Uncle Andrew, please let this big sister go!" Darlene suddenly stepped forward, tugging lightly at the captain's sleeve, her tone carrying a spoiled, pleading note.

  The captain, Andrew, had already noticed Darlene earlier but hadn't shown it. Clearly, they knew each other well.

  He frowned and asked in a low voice,"You know these people?"

  "No, but I like this big sister!" Darlene said brightly, reaching out as if to take Evelyn's arm.

  To her, someone so beautiful simply had to become her friend.

  But before her hand could touch Evelyn's sleeve, Evelyn instinctively stepped back half a pace, avoiding her touch.

  Darlene froze, her hand hanging awkwardly in midair, a look of embarrassment crossing her face. It was the first time anyone had rejected her so directly.

  Yet instead of being angry, she looked even more intrigued."Sister, you don't like being touched, do you? That's fine, I won't do it again!"

  Watching Darlene's growing enthusiasm toward Evelyn, Ryan suddenly felt a twinge of unease, and even a flicker of alarm.

  Wait, could this girl actually be one of those same-sex admirers?!

  He quickly stepped forward, blocking Darlene's path and snapping irritably,"Like her all you want, but stop getting so close! She's my… none of your concern anyway!"

  Darlene glared at him, hands on her hips."Why should liking someone have to be in order? Besides, she hasn't said she doesn't like me!"

  Ryan didn't bother arguing with her. Instead, he turned toward Derrick, who was still dangling in midair, and deliberately raised his voice, a smug grin spreading across his face.

  "Derrick, what did you just call Evelyn? Go on, say it again for your Mentor to hear."

  Egged on by Ryan, Derrick's competitive spirit instantly ignited. He wanted to show that arrogant girl who was really the closest person to the Mentor's Lady.

  He cleared his throat, turned deliberately toward Evelyn, and shouted at the top of his lungs,"Mentor's Lady!"

  His voice was so loud and full of energy that even the streetlights at the end of the alley seemed to flicker.

  Evelyn's eyes narrowed sharply, a flash of icy light gleaming within them. She had already warned Derrick never to call her that again, and yet this boy had let her words go in one ear and out the other. Clearly, her earlier glare hadn't been intimidating enough.

  She raised her hand instinctively, magical frost gathering in her palm. It wasn't a harmful ice spike, but a numbing frost pulse, just enough to teach Derrick a mild lesson he wouldn't forget.

  "Evelyn, don't be mad! He's just got a beast-damaged brain, don't take it personally!" Ryan quickly stepped in front of her, hands spread in a placating gesture."He's still recovering these days, his mouth runs faster than his mind. Just let it go, alright?"

  "Do you really think I won't lay a hand on you?" Evelyn's voice was cold, her gaze cutting past Ryan straight at Derrick.

  But the moment her words fell, she suddenly shifted direction and turned her palm toward Ryan's chest instead.

  Ryan's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected Evelyn to actually strike him. All this fuss just because Derrick said"Mentor's Lady" again?

  Yet the next instant, he froze in surprise, the impact on his chest was light, almost gentle, nothing like the icy sting he had imagined.

  Ryan reacted instantly, following the motion and letting himself be thrown backward. He had no intention of letting Evelyn realize that he had felt how restrained her blow was. If she found out he wasn't really hurt, her prideful nature would make things unbearably awkward. Better to play along and give her an easy way out.

  His body arced through the air and hit the ground with a thud.

  "Another arrogant brat who doesn't know his limits!" Andrew couldn't help but burst out laughing. He had thought the boy was impressive, but clearly he wasn't even worth a serious blow.

  Lying on the ground, Ryan clutched his chest tightly, face flushed red as he groaned in pain, though inside, he was quietly amused. Evelyn's strike hadn't even reached the strength of a third-tier adept mage. She truly thought he was the kind of weakling who needed her to hold back.

  What a proud woman, he thought with a smirk. Fine then, I'll play along.

  Evelyn stepped forward quickly, looking down at Ryan from above."Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on your apprentice and stop him from running his mouth?"

  "Ah, " Ryan groaned dramatically, still clutching his chest as if in agony. His voice was broken, but his eyes flicked up just enough to catch sight of Evelyn's boots. She had stopped closer than usual, too close, which meant she was worried.

  Evelyn's expression softened for a fleeting second, a hint of emotion flashing through her gaze before vanishing just as quickly.

  After a brief hesitation, she knelt down and placed a slender, pale hand gently on Ryan's chest. A faint glimmer of healing magic shimmered at her fingertips.