The Rich Cultivator

At this moment, looking at the frenzied young girl with a puddle of saliva forming beneath her, Tyler knew that he was facing a big crisis.

"Small cutie... No, I mean, little friend, do you want to see goldfish with Big Sister? Big Sister’s home has many cute little animals." The girl named Hawk wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she jumped off her hoverboard, her boots hitting the ground with a soft thud. She started walking toward Tyler, her movements quick and deliberate.

Tyler’s heart raced. Though he was no stranger to strange encounters, this girl had a look in her eyes that sent a shiver down his spine. Her relentless approach forced him into action. Before she could get too close, he instinctively cast an ice spell, bounding her legs to the ground. For a split second, he thought he’d succeeded in stopping her.

But to his surprise, the ice cracked instantly as Hawk stepped forward, breaking through the magical bind as if it were nothing more than fragile glass.

"Chant-less magic? You’re a mage... and a talented one!" Hawk exclaimed, her admiration shining through. Her goggled eyes studied Tyler closely. Despite her growing interest in him, she hadn’t yet realized who she was dealing with. She hadn’t linked him to the mysterious man she had met once at the Kun Peng Ruins, where Tyler had worn a mask and had yet to fully recover his powers. Now that he looked much younger, she didn’t even consider it was the same person.

"What do you want?" Tyler asked, his voice calm but wary. He didn’t trust her enthusiasm or her strange, hyperactive demeanor.

"I want you to join my academy, of course!" Hawk announced brightly, stepping even closer. "My Elite Academy of Magic and Science. You’ve got potential, kid, and Big Sister Hawk can give you a special gift if you come with me."

Tyler raised an eyebrow. "A gift?" He wasn’t particularly interested in gifts, but his curiosity was piqued by the mention of an academy.

Hawk smirked, sensing his slight interest. "Oh, I noticed you like my hoverboard." She gestured at the sleek board still hovering just a few feet above the ground. "I’ll get you one of your own. A cool hoverboard, just like mine. It’ll be yours if you join."

Now Tyler was intrigued. "Is this academy famous?"

Hawk puffed up her chest proudly. "Cough Yes, of course! It’s a branch of Starfire Academy. Ever heard of Starfire Academy? It’s one of the top ten academies in the North. Starfire Academy is so big, it has many smaller branches under it, like ours. Getting into Starfire Academy isn’t easy, but through our department, you could eventually earn your way into the main academy."