Imprisoned for a Trillion Years, I Was Worshipped by All Gods!

Hearing Daniel's words, a hint of delight appeared on Veya's face as she said,

"Does that mean we'll most likely meet again at the Enlightenment Competition?"

Daniel smiled and nodded.

"Great! Then let's wish each other good luck!"

The two chatted for a while longer before bidding each other farewell.

Daniel returned to the forge and started thinking. Earlier, he had given Betsy a nail clipper as a gift. He couldn't play favorites, so what should he give Ed?

An ear-pick, perhaps?

As for the so-called Enlightenment Competition…

Was there even anything he needed to prepare for?

Whatever he did would be more than enough.

That evening, Veya sat in her room, gazing out the window and occasionally letting out a silly laugh.

Her maid stood nearby, confused and a little alarmed.

"Miss, you've been sitting there daydreaming for hours. Why don't you get some sleep already?"

The moon had been up for quite a while, yet Veya was still sitting there, smiling like a fool.

Hearing her maid's voice, Veya snapped out of it.

"Huh? What did you say? Hours? It's only been a little while!"

"Miss, what are you talking about? You've been out of it since you came back this afternoon. I think someone's bewitched you!"

"Stop talking nonsense! Sleep? No, I'm going to cultivate!"

Veya waved off the suggestion, pulling out the Magic Array Core Daniel had repaired.

It was something Daniel had personally fixed, so it felt special to her.

She held the Core in her hand for a moment before beginning her cultivation practice—a special training focused on enhancing comprehension.

Trying to empty her mind of distractions, Veya activated the Magic Array Core.

However, as soon as she started using it, something felt… strange.

Not wrong, exactly.

More like things were going too smoothly.

Even when the Magic Array Core had been brand new, it hadn't produced such extraordinary effects.

It was as if her mind had entered an unprecedented state of clarity. Problems she had struggled with before suddenly seemed trivial, their solutions immediately obvious.

The questions and obstacles she had faced in her cultivation all seemed to resolve themselves effortlessly.

And, inexplicably, she couldn't help but wonder:

Why had I been so foolish before? How did I not think of this sooner?

Veya abruptly stopped cultivating.

Something about this state felt… off.

Was this really her?

Had she really achieved all this herself?

Her mind was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

What was happening to her?

After attempting to resume cultivation several times, Veya's attention was finally drawn to the Magic Array Core in her hand.

The only explanation she could think of… was the Core itself.

"Miss, are you alright? You seem restless today, like you can't settle into your cultivation,"

her maid asked, noticing her unease.

Veya looked at the Magic Array Core in her hand, her expression conflicted.

She knew that the Core she had purchased shouldn't be capable of producing effects like this.

The only possibility… was that something had changed.

After a moment of hesitation, she turned to her maid and said,

"Wait here for me."

With that, she left her room, still holding the Magic Array Core.

The maid watched her leave, puzzled.

What's gotten into her today? She's been acting strange since she got back this afternoon.

Did someone… charm her or something?

Veya went to another room, where her mentor—a middle-aged woman—was staying.

"Master, can you take a look at my Magic Array Core?"

Veya placed the Core on the table.

"It feels… off somehow. I'm not sure what's going on."

The woman sighed.

"I told you, didn't I? This is just a small city. How could anyone here repair a Magic Array Core properly? Of course, there's going to be a problem! You should've just used your backup Core—"

She reached for the Core, intending to set it aside.

"No, Master, that's not it! This Magic Array Core seems to be working better than before. Please, take a closer look!"

The woman frowned but reluctantly agreed.

"Fine, I'll take a look…"

She picked up the Magic Array Core again and examined it closely.

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And then, her expression changed.

She was stunned to discover that the Core's grade had been elevated by an entire level!

This wasn't just a repair; it was an upgrade.

Veya might even have a chance to break through again before the Enlightenment Competition started!

"What? Who repaired this for you? This Magic Array Core has been upgraded by an entire tier!"

The middle-aged woman had completely abandoned her usual composed demeanor.@@novelbin@@

She urgently questioned Veya, because she understood what this meant.

To not only repair the Core but also enhance it to such a degree required skill far beyond that of the Core's original creator.

This level of craftsmanship was practically unheard of.

Could it be that there was truly a hidden master living in Greenstone City?

In her mind, Veya saw Daniel's face.

But in the end, she chose not to reveal his identity.

She simply said that she had encountered a peculiar man who had repaired the Core for her free of charge.

The middle-aged woman could only sigh in amazement at Veya's good fortune.

It seemed this opportunity was meant for Veya alone.

Afterward, Veya returned to her own room.

Once again, she seemed lost in thought, her mood oscillating between joy and melancholy.

"Miss, what's wrong with you today?"

her maid asked.

"Nothing. I'm going to sleep now. You should rest, too."

Veya dismissed her, signaling that she wanted to be left alone.

The maid could only retreat to her own quarters, baffled.

Sigh… What's wrong with Miss today? Did someone steal her heart?

In her room, Veya stared at the Magic Array Core in her hand.

As her mentor had said, this was no ordinary item.

And the person who had modified it to this level…

What kind of extraordinary individual must they be?

Veya wasn't naïve.

She understood the implications.

To repair a Magic Array Core while elevating its grade required mastery beyond even what most artisans at the Artisan's Sanctuary could achieve.

Such a person would be considered a core disciple there, if not more.

And yet, here they were, quietly working in a small forge in Greenstone City.

Even if she performed well at the Enlightenment Competition and caught the attention of the powerful faction behind Thousand Suns Hall…

She and Daniel were destined to walk different paths.

The gap between them would only grow wider—so wide that they'd eventually be worlds apart.

Perhaps the only thing connecting them would be the memory of their shared carriage ride outside Greenstone City.

Daniel was already so brilliant, so extraordinary.

Veya knew there was no way she could ever match him.

She liked him, but she also understood that her feelings were futile.

They were people from entirely different worlds.