The most powerful wizard in the magic world

Gerlin stood steadily aside, with a grim smile on his face, seeming to be extremely proud of all this. The blond apprentice watched this scene quietly, thinking about his own plan in his mind.

"You don't have to be afraid. I will protect you." Gerlin's voice was low and magnetic, as if giving Soran a hint.

"I... I understand, Master." Soran replied quickly, with a hint of hesitation in his eyes, but more of obedience. He knew that he had no choice. Gerlin already knew this.

"From now on, you are my disciple." Gerlin tilted his head slightly, his eyes as sharp as the north wind, "But you must understand that loyalty means everything."

"Loyalty... I will do my best." Soran felt an inexplicable chill, and his whole body trembled involuntarily. Thinking of Torild's miserable condition, he couldn't help but want to confirm again: "If I obey your orders, will you protect me?"

Gerlin smiled slightly, with a sinister look in his smile. "Protect you? You will get more. Power, wealth, and even eternal life, Soran. However, these all come at a price."

"The price?" Soran's throat tightened. "I... I am willing to pay everything."

The blond apprentice watched quietly from the side. He originally thought that Soran would resist Gerlin, but he did not expect that the young man in front of him chose to obey. This choice made him secretly proud, as if everything was under his control.

"Very good." Garlin's voice was as charming as the night. "Then let's get started."

Gerlin stretched out his hand, as if to control everything. He drew an arc in the air, and a strange energy suddenly filled the air. Soran felt dizzy, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head involuntarily, but the fear in his heart still could not be dissipated.

"Get up, Soran." Gerlin's face was dignified, his eyes were like knives, piercing Soran, "I need you to be my spy and understand our enemy."

"Enemy..." Soran muttered to himself, and the image of the enemy flashed through his mind. Those former companions, those heroes who fought for justice. How could they be enemies?

"Who are our enemies? We don't choose them ourselves." The blond apprentice finally spoke. His voice was gentle but kind. "Sometimes, the enemy is not as scary as we think. The real fear lies in the struggle within ourselves."

"What are you talking about?" Soran looked at the blond apprentice in confusion.

"Please allow me to introduce myself." The blond apprentice smiled slightly, like a ray of sunshine shining into the haze. "My name is Elric, and I have the same mission as Gerlin. What I care about is our common future, not the temporary hostility."

"The future..." Soran felt confused. "My future has been decided. Why do I need others to get involved?"

"Because you are not alone. Never face the world alone." Alric's voice was low but powerful. "Choosing to be with Gerlin is a risk, but if you can grow under his protection, your future will be limitless."

"You..." Soran's eyes revealed a struggle, "I wanted to protect Thorild, but he...he was killed by you."

"Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to survive." Gerling interrupted him, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes, "Stubborn beliefs will only make you die faster."

"No, he is my friend!" Soran retorted excitedly, anger boiling in his heart. He stood up and wanted to fight against Gerlin, but his doom seemed to have been determined.

"Friend?" Gellin laughed. "What can you do to him? Unable to resist, powerless, he is already a thing of the past. In this world, only the strong can live longer."

"You want me to be stronger, I understand." Soran's voice dropped, his face full of pain and struggle. He didn't want to be like Gerlin. "But I don't want to lose myself."

"Losing yourself is to gain greater freedom." Gellin stroked his hair, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, "See, you will understand. When you get used to this kind of life, losing and gaining will not matter."

"I... I don't know." Soran was full of hesitation. "Maybe I can try, but I don't want to become the synonym of cruelty."

"But you have already embarked on this path. It may be too late to turn back." Elric interrupted their conversation, his voice mixed with an irreversible fate, "However, Soran, you need a way out."

"Way out..." Soran's expression gradually became confused. He understood that the situation he was in was becoming more and more complicated. Without Torild's trust, who could he rely on?

"You may always encounter challenges, but remember that challenges mean opportunities." Elric smiled slightly, as if hoping to give Soran some light. "No matter what Gerlin arranges, you have the right to choose."

"Choose..." Soran repeated softly, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

"Yes." Alric nodded, his eyes full of warmth, "Become a better person and fight for your future. On this road of no return, it would be a blessing to have help from others."

Garlin was silent for a moment, as if thinking about what Alric had said. He did not like the sound of this confrontation, but at this moment, he did not show any emotion.

"Step out of the shadows, Soren," Elric continued, a gleam in his eyes, "and seize your own destiny rather than letting others control it for you."

"I will try." Soran decided. His voice became firm. He wanted to live for himself, and even if he chose Gerlin's path, he would not do it without resistance.

"Very good, remember that every step is crucial." Gerlin looked at Soran coldly, the smile on his face had disappeared. He didn't like this atmosphere of uncertainty, but he also felt that Soran might bring him more gains.

"And this fate begins from this moment." Elric's words were warm, like a beam of light falling into Soran's heart, giving birth to new courage. He looked at the two people in front of him and secretly vowed in his heart that no matter what, he would fight for a way out for himself.