Nick suppressed his disappointment. Earning that much experience from a single kill was impressive and confirmed his belief that he could progress faster by dedicating time to demon slaying, but he was still hoping for some sort of extra reward.

I guess it's already baked in. The System offers additional experience for removing demonic taint, no matter the method used.

That the summoning itself didn't grant that much, he'd expected. It wasn't a very complicated ritual, and in fact, now that he'd done it once, he was pretty sure he could easily do it again, even outside this chamber, which made dimensional magic easier.

But using the World's mana to cast [Territory] was a stroke of genius, and he would have liked a reward for it.

"Well now, wasn't that something?" Lasazar mused as he approached the scorched section of the floor, where the Centeel had been.

Nick sighed, releasing all his disappointment and choosing to enjoy what his success had brought him. I now have a much better way of fighting these things. That should be enough on its own.

"Some kind of combination spell," his teacher continued mumbling, waving a hand over the stains and receiving some kind of feedback that caused him to nod. "Ah, yes, that would work even at a lower level…"

Eventually, he turned back to Nick with a beaming smile. "Congratulations, Nicholas. You surprised me last time, but even after that, I didn't expect you to be this successful!"

"Mhm," Nick murmured awkwardly, "I just did what you told me, sir. The World really wanted to get rid of that thing, and I gave it a way to do that."

"Yes, yes," Lasazar waved him off, "It's not conceptually difficult, but in execution, it's very different. I didn't give you specific instructions because everyone interacts with the World differently, and really, yours is a unique case, as I don't know anyone below level eighty who has ever had to learn this stuff. It's already impressive that that much power didn't drown you out, but being able to cast something with it is something to be proud of."

I suppose that's true. I'm practicing something I have no affinity for, which is usually reserved for people with much higher reserves and stats.

"Now, I don't need to warn you that attempting to summon demons on your own will lead to serious consequences, right?"

Nick shook his head. He had already decided that it was a poisoned gift, because while the Exp was impressive, the risks to him and his career here weren't worth it. He didn't say he had actually thought about it, of course. He wasn't that foolish. "No, sir."

"Good, that's good. Mages are naturally curious, and demons are one of life's greatest mysteries, but just because something is interesting doesn't mean it can be poked and prodded without consequences. Sometimes, promising students get stuck in their growth and try to push past their limits using forbidden arts like this. You should avoid following their example if you don't want to end up a hollow shell."

And with those ominous words, Lasazar swept out of the chamber as the stone floor rippled beneath his passage, returning to its original state. "I'll be a bit busy in the coming days, but we should be able to have another session early next week."

"Yes, sir!" Nick called out in response, though his mind was already replaying everything that had happened. He might not be rewarded with extra experience by the System for his actions, but that didn't mean there was nothing else to learn from today.

I wonder if I'll ever be able to repeat what happened without having to tap into the World's power.

Nick lasted only a day before attempting to use [Territory] offensively.

Admittedly, it wasn't his fault. Today's lectures happened to focus on the importance of battlefield control spells, especially how they needed to be at least [Intermediate] in rank to be considered worth using, since that level granted the caster more flexibility to adapt to any situation.

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Now, Nick wasn't a stranger to that kind of tactic. He'd used it to great success against the thunderhoof herd, and even before that, it had been his go-to since he often faced enemies who out-leveled him enough to make a direct confrontation unwise.

So, by the time the day was done, and he could retire to Tholm's floor, he was eager to try out a few ideas.

The magical dummy stared at him mockingly from the other side of the training room, and Nick had to resist the urge to fry it with lightning for its insolence.

I need to solve this with [Territory]. I know it's possible.

He knew he couldn't expect a repeat of his previous performance. The World wouldn't answer his call for help if he was facing a mere wooden puppet, no matter how frustrating it might be, and without unlimited mana at his fingertips, he couldn't pour that much intent into his words.

But wasn't that the reason spells were created? To replicate the greatest miracles and make them accessible even to beginners? He just needed to add a few layers of complexity, and it should then be possible.

Yet, no matter how many intricate diagrams he visualized, he simply lacked the power to turn his wish into reality. [Territory], in its current form, was mostly a disruptive spell, capable of preventing the enemy from casting complex magics, but it was not an offensive force.

Eventually, Nick had to call it quits for the day. Several hours of glaring at a puppet didn't lead to any breakthroughs, and it was becoming clear that he simply lacked what it took to use [Territory] the way he wanted.

I might have become spoiled with elemental magic. Having a high level of affinity makes everything much easier. I can see now why so many mages focus on a single element, especially since they can't just grant themselves a new one and have to spend months working at it.

Nick was still confident that his advancement rate with [Territory] would exceed that of other mages, especially if he continued to have access to demons to slay, which could help him figure out exactly why Worldcraft gave him so much leeway with his spell that his own mana didn't.

But wasting his time on a fruitless pursuit now didn't appeal to him, especially because he felt his mentor's presence grow closer.

With a flick of his fingers, the dummy retreated to the corner of the room, and his notes were packed up just in time for the door to open and for Tholm to walk in.

"Nicholas, I hope I'm not bothering you," the old man said, and from the amused tilt of his lips, Nick suspected he knew exactly how productive he'd been today.

"No, sir, I'm done. What can I do for you?" He asked instead, not very interested in unloading his frustration on the man. Tholm would no doubt be able to help if he wanted to, but he preferred a hands-off approach, giving his apprentices the knowledge and tools they needed to overcome a task and then watching them struggle rather than aiding them along the way.

Intellectually, Nick knew it was a perfectly valid method, and he would have been annoyed if he were handed the answer to every problem, but right now, he wasn't in the mood for it.

"I have just come back from a discussion with Archmage Politod, who had a meeting with the Duke just this morning," Tholm said, and Nick immediately gave him his full attention. He hadn't stepped outside the Tower in the past few days, but that didn't mean he had forgotten what was happening in the city.

"He reassured me that the operations are going well, and most of the local gangs involved in the planning are now either under control or no longer exist. The devices have mostly been confiscated, where they didn't explode."

"That's good," Nick murmured. He'd not been exactly sure what to expect, since the conspiracy had been unfolding below the Duke's nose this whole time, but at least he seemed to be handling its dismantling well.

However, the faint frown on Tholm's face told him that there was more, and that the Archmage was unhappy about something specific.

"Yes, the Duke's men work fast, especially when he's breathing down their necks. Unfortunately, in their rush to solve this problem before the auction, they seem to have lost track of the mastermind behind it. This Changer, and whoever their liege might be, are still at large, and the last person to have contact with them is also missing," Tholm continued, and it felt like he was building up to something.

Nick couldn't read his emotions with his metaphysical senses, but he didn't need them to realize something was wrong.

"The young scout who was used as a messenger, Anthony, disappeared sometime during the night two days ago, and no trace of him has been found, even by experienced diviners. This suggests he's either dead and his body has been destroyed or he's behind formidable defenses."

"Oh," Nick murmured. He'd been worried about the boy's fate, especially after seeing how bad he looked, but for him to disappear like that... "His mother must be distraught."

Tholm blinked, clearly not having spared a single thought for the poor woman. "Ahem, yes, of course. She must be very worried. But what I wanted to talk to you about is different. You see, the last that was seen of this Anthony was in a tavern near the market district, where he spent the evening drinking with another young man."

"Then they should question this person and find out if he knows anything," Nick answered. Even if this guy wasn't involved in the conspiracy and only knew Anthony as a friend, he might have learned something while they were drunk together. And honestly, it was a bit too much of a coincidence for the disappearance to happen immediately afterward.

"That is the problem, Nicholas. That young man was your brother, Devon."

Nick froze, his mind racing a thousand miles a minute. Why would Devon be out at night, drinking in a poor tavern? He has his vices, but alcohol is not one of them, and he's under far too much scrutiny to get away with it. Even if his constitution was strong enough to flush out the toxins from his body in time for training, Xander would never let it pass.

No, something wasn't right here. Could it be a setup? Devon was the Grandmaster's apprentice, and while he didn't have much influence individually, he was a possible chink in the old man's armor.

"Where is he?" Nick asked in a whisper, staring down a man who could destroy him in an instant if he chose.

Tholm's lips twitched up. "Oh, don't be so worried. The Grandmaster is keeping him inside his manor under constant guard while the investigation is ongoing. He's a suspect, as you might imagine, but he hasn't been connected to the overall conspiracy yet."

Tension left Nick's shoulders, and he slumped in relief. "Alright. That's good. That's really good."

"Of course, that doesn't mean it's not a possibility. He was the last to see Anthony, after all, and apparently, he had knowledge of the Duke's men's movement," Tholm continued, but held up a hand before Nick could ask anything. "Personally, I don't believe he is guilty of anything except excessive curiosity, but he is in a very precarious situation, and even the Grandmaster can only do so much to protect him.

Nick bit his cheek and waited for the Archmage to finally tell him what he wanted him to do.

"It just so happens that the Vice Tower Master has heard word of a few rogue apprentices being involved in shady deals with the gangs, and perhaps having knowledge of these matters. Since they are still technically Tower mages until expelled, they cannot be arrested by the Duke's men, but we have no proof of anything beyond a little clandestine commerce at this time. Getting too involved in this matter would also mean abandoning our stance of neutrality, as our help wasn't requested."

A light turned on in Nick's mind. "But if another apprentice were to have a talk with them and perhaps find some more damning evidence, then it would just be a matter between kids, rather than between institutions."

Tholm smiled.