CHAPTER 169: IS IT REALLY HIM

Ali leaned back slightly in his chair, eyes narrowing as he replied, "He has two affinities. Fire and Ice."

Noah tilted his head, puzzled. "You sure, Master? Just two?"

Ali tapped the desk a few times, thinking back. "Yeah... fire and ice. That’s all he used when I tested him. He didn’t display anything else. And I have been training him as well. I accepted him as my disciple. I taught him better control and layering of magic. So if he had any more affinities, he would have surely revealed them by now."

Noah’s brows furrowed.

Emily also remained quiet, but her gaze shifted as if brain cells were buzzing with activity inside her mind.

Two affinities? That was strange.

"Is it really Logan? Is he actually alive then? But he had five." She knew that. Noah knew that too, though he had only recently learned from her. But even back then during the Arcadia Tournament, Logan had revealed at least three. Lightning, air, and gravity.

If this Aiden was actually Logan with a different alias and had shown only two...

Was he suppressing the others on purpose?

Because he needs to hide from someone? Someone who tried to kill him?

Emily’s fingers gently tightened around the armrest of the chair.

Noah was thinking the same thing. There was no way someone could casually rise to Tier 2 at such a young age....unless they were monstrously talented...someone like their daughter, Lilith. Or Logan. A rare talent with five elemental affinities.

Noah’s voice was urgent now as if he was totally losing his patience.

"Master... how does he look?"

Ali blinked.

"Well, that’s a bit tricky to answer," he replied, slowly. "The boy wears a mask. So I can’t actually say that how he looks.."

Both Noah and Emily exchanged sharp glances. Neither spoke, but the same thought hit them at once.

It had to be him.

The hidden affinities. The unmatched speed of growth. The age lined up. And now...even the use of a mask.

Ali’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the two in silence for a few seconds.

"Why’re you asking so many questions?" he asked finally, his voice calm but edged with curiosity. "Is there something I am missing out here?"

Emily glanced at Noah, who gave her a slight nod.

She took a breath, sat straighter, and began, her tone low and deliberate.

"Master, There was a boy," she said. "In the Arcadia Young Elite Tournament. Most people thought he was just cannon fodder from a mid-tier noble house... someone who got in by politics or luck."

Ali remained still, listening.

"But he wasn’t," Emily continued. "In his first match, he crushed his opponent using two affinities. The entire crowd was both shocked and amazed... and he kept going. One win after another. Until he reached the semifinals. Though he lost the match against the 3rd prince, the duel was worth watching."

Ali’s expression didn’t change much, but his eyes sharpened.

"And then what?" he asked.

Emily looked down for a moment.

"Then he died," she said softly. "Or at least... that’s what we were told."

Ali’s hands froze on the scroll he had just touched.

"Died?" he asked in a low voice. "How?"

Noah shook his head slightly, a shadow flickering across his face.

"We don’t know it in details. It’s not public knowledge. The news was spread and confirmed by Mr. John." he muttered. "But what matters is, his name was Logan Smith. And he had five elemental affinities."

Emily turned toward her husband with an angry glare. He wasn’t supposed to reveal that. She had made a promise to Logan.

Ali on the other hand, leaned back again, the name echoing in his mind.

’Logan Smith.’

He had heard whispers. A child prodigy from a noble family. Unmatched talent but died young. The news wasn’t that old.

"And you think this boy I’m training... this Aiden... is that same Logan?" Ali asked slowly.

Emily didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said, "Can we meet him right now?"

Ali let out a small breath, his expression shifting slightly.

"Well... that might be difficult," he said. "I haven’t seen him in the last nine or ten days. He had informed me that he had something important to do and left. Never explained what exactly. Said he’d be back soon... but hasn’t returned yet."

The news dampened the couple’s mood.

Noah still asked brushing off his thoughts. "Was he training under you regularly before that?"

"Yes but not for too long. It was only two days," Ali nodded. "I tested his spells myself. Helped him increasing his control, trying to layer ice and fire together. I was really curious about his potential and had high hopes for him. But then...he just disappeared one morning."

Emily bit her lower lip, thoughts racing.

Noah followed up quickly, "Master... do you know which party he usually goes with? Or was he solo?"

Ali glanced to the side, trying to recall. "Hmm... from what I remember, he mostly handled missions solo. Low-rank dungeons. Nothing too dangerous."

"No party then?" Noah pressed.

Ali continued calmly. "No. The last mission... he went with a party. I asked him to do it because the monsters in the dungeons were acting too strange."

"Which party?" Noah asked instantly.

Ali tapped the desk once.

"Gideon’s."

The room fell silent again.

Ali watched their reactions, then said, "If you’re really this curious, then the best I can offer is this...wait till he returns. I don’t know when, but I have a feeling he will. When he does... I’ll send for both of you."

Emily nodded. "Please do."

Noah stood up slowly. "Thank you, Master."

Ali didn’t smile this time.

He just looked down at the scrolls on his desk, one finger tapping silently.

A Tier 2 with a C-Class license.

A twelve-year-old with fire and ice affinities.

And now, the possibility that he was someone the world thought was already dead.

"Logan Smith..." he muttered under his breath after they left.