Sorcerer: I want to be an Academic Prodigy

Chapter 454: Chapter 453 Tanaya

People are more or less fond of gossip, especially that concerning their friends, and Ivan was no exception.

At this moment, Gloria had no idea that the ever-serious scholar from East Capital had already let his mind wander to other matters.

“Sorcerer Ivan, I have a rather presumptuous request.”

“It’s not really my place to get involved in your affairs.”

“I know, it is indeed a bit presumptuous—” Gloria stammered.

“Regardless, state your request, and I’ll consider whether I can help you. But let me clarify that I have limited abilities, and often find myself unable to meet certain demands.”

...

Ivan signaled for her to speak, having already laid out the harsh truth in advance.

As a friend, he was more inclined to see things from Morris’s perspective rather than that of Gloria, a friend’s friend.

Sensing the refusal in his words, Gloria didn’t know how to proceed, hesitation written all over her face.

Seeing this, Ivan did not urge her on.

“Morris, I’m sure he was just now envying you, Sorcerer Ivan, envying the fact that you’re always accompanied by a talented wine-brewing beauty from the Qiqi tribe. I know Morris enjoys drinking; the allure for him must be formidable.”

Seconds ticked past, and finally, Gloria parted her lips gingerly and began to speak with some embarrassment.

Ivan blinked, seemingly not what he had anticipated. He wasn’t foolish enough to ask whether she wanted him to introduce a Qiqi tribe girl to Morris.

“So what is it?”

“I want to learn the skills of brewing fine wine.”

Gloria revealed her wish outright.

So that was it. However, what did that have to do with him? Ivan Marichardon certainly wasn’t adept at brewing wine.

“Go on.”

“When Morris mentioned that Miss Dan Lin was a person with great talent for brewing, your response, Sorcerer Ivan, seemed to contain an undertone, didn’t it?”

Gloria paused for a second or two before she continued.

“What makes you think that? Dan Lin indeed is a person with nimble hands and a clever mind,” Ivan said.

“But in your eyes, she’s not necessarily very talented in that regard,” Gloria asserted, fixing her gaze on him as if certain of this point. “Also, Morris mentioned that both types of alcohol contained a certain similar flavor, and I very much agree with that statement. Different people, a similar flavor—if I’m not mistaken, this must be the result of your doing, Sorcerer Ivan.”

“I’m not adept at brewing, and I have never brewed any alcoholic beverages thus far,” Ivan had to admit that Gloria’s thoughtfulness was far beyond Morris’s straightforward nature.

“Sorcerer Ivan, you are very skilled with runes sorcery arrays,” Gloria said, looking at him with certainty and intention.

Ivan fell silent, caught by the traces she had followed to the truth. This woman, in certain times and aspects, truly rivaled a keen detective.

“I understand what you mean, but as a famous scholar renowned near and far, it puts me in a difficult position, you see. Gloria, do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I am willing to provide the proper compensation and owe you a favor. Furthermore, I absolutely won’t divulge even a whisper of this to anyone,” Gloria promptly offered her terms, wisely considering every aspect.

These terms took into account every possible concern.

“Deal!”

Such a prominent Level 3 Sorcerer willing to go so far for Morris left Ivan deeply moved. What else could he say? Of course, he would agree.

If the word got out, at worst he’d be the subject of a few jokes, which was no great harm after all.

After they reached an agreement, he decisively handed over the “Five-Grain Fragrance Array” to Gloria. In reality, Gloria was an Enchanter, not outstanding in her field, but more than capable of setting up an elementary array with only twelve runes bundles.

On the other hand, Gloria came from a wealthy family and was very generous. The items she offered in exchange were worth far more than an elementary array.

However, Ivan’s interests had long since reached a certain level. Ordinary items hardly caught his eye, and he ultimately chose to exchange array for array, obtaining two obscure and incomplete formations from her to expand his own knowledge base.

Gloria left the transaction filled with joy, and after repeatedly thanking him, she took away all the drawings for the Five-Grain Fragrance Array.

“The sorcerers from these big families can afford to dabble in hobbies without concern.”

Watching her departing figure, Ivan shook his head slightly, then cast the matter aside—he had a pile of his own mysteries to explore.

He was more passionate about the endless exploration and the pursuit of strength than dalliances in love.

…

Time slowly passed, and Ivan closely monitored all the changes in Sky Flow Valley, but he had not heard any news of Tanaya’s arrival until some visitors came to his door.

There were six people in total, including Morris, who winked and gestured with eyebrows as soon as he entered the Round Tower.

There was Gloria, Tuya, Greni, and two unfamiliar female sorcerers. If one were to guess, one of them was surely the Heavenly Beauty Morris had mentioned.

“Ivan, let me introduce you, this is Tanaya Fitzgerald and Mara Gardner. They insisted on coming to visit you as soon as they heard you were in Sky Flow Valley. Hope we’re not disturbing you,” Morris said with a smile as he introduced them.

“I’m Tanaya Fitzgerald, I’ve heard a lot about you, and I insisted on visiting you,” said Tanaya, coming forward boldly.

“Ivan Marichardon,” Ivan replied, equally courteous though a bit perplexed. “I’ve also heard so much about you.”

To be honest, Morris had mentioned something about her being disabled by the Alien Race, but Ivan could not tell anything from her appearance.

However, he could sense that their strengths were closely matched. They both were on the verge of stepping into the last tier of Level 3 Sorcerers. If it came to a contest, she would certainly be a formidable opponent.

“Sorcerer Ivan,” said Tanaya, “I hope you don’t mind if I address you that way? Of course, you can simply call me ‘Tanaya.'”

“No issue at all.”

“Sorcerer Ivan, I heard you often stay in your sorcerer tower and don’t like to go out much. Have you been working on something lately?” Tanaya asked with casual familiarity.

“The Energy Gathering Tower,” Ivan glanced at Morris and answered truthfully.

It really wasn’t a secret. He got his materials from Sky Flow Valley, and much of it was received through Morris, so many were aware of it. @@novelbin@@

Seeing Tanaya’s interest in viewing it, he promptly took the group to his experimental site.

Inside the experimental area, Ivan and Tanaya had a good exchange of knowledge about energy gathering.

In the end, he had to admit that the widely-known Tanaya did indeed possess an extensive reservoir of knowledge, whether in the field of Enchantment or space energy, truly embodying the adage that a reputation is seldom undeserved.

The two of them talked animatedly, with the others rarely getting a word in.

Not long afterward, Tanaya and her party left the Round Tower, and Morris stayed behind for a short while.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, why would Tanaya come here?”

“You both are rare talents in the sorcerer world, it’s a meeting of minds, and she wanted to get to know you.”

Morris quickly went after the others, and his answer did not dispel the doubts in Ivan’s mind.

Ivan always felt that Tanaya had ulterior motives, not merely wanting to get to know him—or perhaps it was just that he never minded assuming the worst about others.

Additionally, he vaguely sensed that Mara Gardner, who had remained silent throughout, seemed to harbor some hostility towards him.