After that confrontation, Leo began to view Fifth Circle mages from an entirely different perspective. They no longer appeared to him as the towering figures he once imagined them to be. Instead, they now resembled nothing more than the first true step on an endless road of power—a mere threshold, not the destination itself.
Only then did he fully realize just how vast the gap between himself and ordinary Fifth Circle mages truly was. The difference was not something that could be measured in simple talent or experience; it was a gulf so immense it resembled the distance between the heavens and the earth.
Most mages were ultimately bound by the natural limits of their bodies and minds.
Leo, however, was something entirely different.
The amount of mana he possessed far exceeded what someone of his current circle should have been capable of holding. It was absurdly vast, almost unreasonable in scale. On top of that, he possessed the ability to form magical circles instantly, weaving multiple formations at once with intricate structures that required neither chanting nor preparation.
That ability alone forced him to reevaluate everything he knew.
In fact, it even led him to consider the possibility that perhaps not even a Seventh Circle mage could guarantee victory against him in a direct confrontation.
And yet…
Rather than filling him with excitement or pride, that realization left behind a strange emptiness within him.
Compared to the mages of this era, Leo felt something closer to silent disappointment, as though the world itself had turned out to be far narrower than he once expected.
The speed at which magical spells could be activated varied enormously depending on the rank of the magic itself. The higher the circle, the more complex the magical structure became, and the heavier the burden placed upon the mage's mind and control over mana.
At the very beginning existed First Circle magic, a category entirely different from all the circles that followed. Because of its simple composition, it did not require complicated magical equations or intricate formations. Instead, it relied primarily on imagination and the direct connection between mana and willpower.
Even so, despite that simplicity, most mages still required close to ten seconds to activate it. Basic mana manipulation was not something that everyone could master with ease.
However, once one stepped into the Second through Fourth Circles, the nature of magic changed dramatically.
At that level, true magical equations began to appear. Precise calculations regarding mana flow, structural stability, and energy density became necessary. In return, the destructive force of spells rose sharply, while their range and influence expanded to an entirely different level.
Because of this, mages generally required around thirty seconds to cast spells of those circles, while certain Fourth Circle spells—especially those focused purely on destruction—could require a full forty seconds before finally reaching completion.
Then came the Fifth and Sixth Circles.
That was where genuine talent finally began to bare its fangs.
At that stage, magic was no longer simply about memorizing equations or controlling mana. It became a matter of comprehension speed, formation efficiency, and how deeply a mage resonated with magic itself.
Some gifted individuals could reduce activation time to merely twenty seconds, while others might require an entire minute to cast the exact same spell.
Then came the great turning point.
When a mage reached the rank of "Grand Mage" and stepped into the Seventh Circle, their perception of magic itself changed fundamentally.
Spells no longer appeared as rigid constructions or fixed formulas.
Instead, they began to perceive the laws themselves.
They started to glimpse the deeper structure upon which the magical world had been built.
At that level, the formation of magical circles became smoother, more instinctive, less reliant on slow calculations and conscious processing. Because of that, Seventh Circle mages could generally activate their spells within fifteen seconds, while truly gifted individuals could reduce that time to only ten.
As for Eighth Circle mages, reaching ten seconds became something completely natural to them.
But…
The true qualitative transformation—the boundary separating ordinary humans from the genuine monsters of the magical world—only appeared upon reaching the Ninth Circle.
The realm of the "Archmage."
At that stage, the amount of mana a mage possessed became terrifying beyond reason, while activation speed reached a level that seemed utterly absurd compared to everyone else.
In general, Ninth Circle mages could unleash their spells within six seconds.
And some could shorten even that…
To merely three.
Three seconds alone.
Enough time to erase an entire city from existence.
Because of that, the world came to accept one absolute truth, a fact considered beyond dispute:
"No one can completely eliminate casting time."
Or at least…
That was what everyone believed.
After dwelling on those thoughts, Leo decided to visit Noctra Vayne one final time before leaving Nektar.
As usual, the two sat facing one another, as though the entire room had narrowed down to a single table separating two minds that understood each other far better than they outwardly showed.
Noctra was the first to speak, her calm voice carrying a trace of amusement.
"I heard you caused quite a bit of chaos in the shadows."
Leo answered briefly,
"I see."
A faint smile appeared on her lips, as though she had expected that dry response from the very beginning.
"In any case… congratulations on your victory."
Leo lifted his gaze toward her before replying with mild sarcasm.
"Don't make me laugh. I know this entire situation was part of your plan."
Her smile widened slightly, this time carrying a far more dangerous edge.
"Oh? If you understood that much… then why involve yourself in it at all?"
Leo answered calmly,
"Because this way, we can speak freely about what actually matters."
Noctra tilted her head slightly.
"Go on."
A brief silence settled between them before Leo spoke directly.
"I want the authority to freely use the influence of the Lotus House once."
One of her brows rose immediately, followed by a short laugh.
"Oh… so you're greedier than I thought."
"I believe it's a fair exchange."
There was not even the slightest hesitation in his voice.
Noctra stared at him for several seconds before smiling again.
It was not merely the smile of someone agreeing.
It was the smile of someone accepting a calculated deal.
"Agreed."
The two extended their hands and shook.
That handshake felt less like a greeting and more like the conclusion of an invisible contract—a brief relationship built entirely upon mutual benefit, ending exactly the same way it began:
With cold clarity and mutual satisfaction.
Afterward, Leo left the Lotus House alongside Eliaria, leaving the city of Nektar behind as it gradually faded into the distant horizon. Their next destination was the border city of Blumod.
The journey took them three days.
And during those three days, Leo decided to increase the intensity of Eliaria's training seriously. It was no longer simple companionship during travel. Little by little, it began turning into genuine survival training.
As time passed without either of them truly noticing, something subtle between them began to change.
Eliaria no longer looked at him with the same cautious wariness she once had. Her words no longer carried the same hesitation. She had begun asking him whatever came to mind without fear, as though the distance between them had quietly begun to disappear.
Even Leo himself failed to notice exactly when that change occurred.
But by the end of those three days, he realized something unexpected.
For the first time in a very long while…
He was genuinely teaching someone seriously, without feeling the usual boredom or emotional detachment that always accompanied such things.
More than that…
For reasons he himself could not fully explain, Leo had begun to feel at ease in the presence of this person.
And strangely enough…
He did not dislike that feeling at all.