Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1531 - 527: Shirendil Plateau

Aboard the swift airship.

Inside the cabin, Rein peered through the porthole, his features etched with deep contemplation.

"Wiping out the entire Isodre School outright would leave a massive gap in power across the Shirendil Plateau, handing rival cults and hidden wizard academies a perfect opening to step in."

"Plus, the consequences of my moves ripple far and wide. In the end, it challenges the Empire’s grip on the Shirendil Plateau, and even Menia might struggle to contain the fallout."

"Yet this issue demands action!"

For Rein, the stakes went beyond the tragic losses of Viery and Fandar; they tied straight into protecting his family’s long-term security.

"Deputy Sect Leader Malcolm? ‘Shield of Rock’ Stuart?"

"Taking them both down would render the Isodre School a hollow shell. Rival cults and secretive wizard schools would jump at the chance to meddle..."

"Maybe, once I get there, I should gauge how the Isodre School stands in the Shirendil Plateau’s eyes. If the survivors prove worthwhile, why not fold them right into the Bixiu Mechanization School?"

"Earth wizards, be it from the Clay Series or the Rock System, mesh perfectly and could boost the school’s earth-based engineering might tremendously."

A sudden flash of insight lit up Rein’s thoughts, sparking this bold notion.

Sure, in numbers and raw power, absorbing the Isodre School’s remnants could dwarf the Bixiu Mechanization School’s current roster, but Rein felt no unease—with him leading the charge.

...

Tamriel, the Imperial City.

Within the Bixiu Mechanization School’s gathering chamber.

Mogaro and the school’s top talents kept at it, diligently piecing together and fine-tuning the ‘Destroyer’ demon statue, yet a shadow of dejection hung over their faces.

"Sigh, even if we manage to fix the Destroyer demon statue, what good would it do?"

"The stats don’t lie—only a Fourth Level Dawn Wizard can tap into the Destroyer’s full might. Trouble is, besides Lord Rein as a Dawn Wizard, Sect Leader Moria sits merely at the Crystallization Peak."

"Sigh, that’s the crux of it. By the way, you think the sect leader stands a good shot at breaking through to Dawn Wizard this round?"

"Tough to call. I just sense the sect leader’s push for a breakthrough feels a tad hasty."

"Sect Leader Moria aims to hit Dawn Wizard before the school’s promotion review—it’s a steep climb..."

"Yeah, I worry our school’s advancement could slip again! If only Lord Rein would come back, that’d be a dream!"

These murmurs hit hardest on Rein’s teacher, Mogaro, who felt the deepest gloom.

Confronting the grim chance his prized pupil might never return, Mogaro had sunk into despair, drowning his sorrows in drink for days on end.

But over the last few days, clarity had dawned on him.

As a teacher, lacking the power to save Rein, he could at least safeguard the groundwork his student had built. A restored Destroyer demon statue meant the school retained near-legendary battle prowess. Even sans promotion, no one could snatch their hard-earned knowledge.

Thus, Mogaro threw himself back into mending the Destroyer with renewed vigor.

Sect Leader Moria, who’d intended to focus on a steady breakthrough to Dawn Wizard post-Destroyer repairs and school promotion, had weighed his options and chosen to start the attempt right then.

All at once, the assembly hall’s door burst open, filled with a frantic, elated shout:

"Mentor, Lord Rein has returned!"

It was Audrey, Rein’s senior fellow student, though since learning of his prowess, she’d stuck to addressing him as Lord out of respect.

"What!"

This announcement jolted everyone in the hall, their gazes snapping toward Audrey in stunned excitement.

"Audrey, where’d you pick up this intel? Is it legit?" Mogaro zipped to her side, clutching her shoulders in a frenzy and giving them a shake.

Audrey withstood her mentor’s vise-like hold, aware of his overwhelming feelings, and replied without complaint:

"It’s solid—I headed to Lord Rein’s home and spoke directly with Mrs. Olena, who confirmed it herself."

"Wonderful! Outstanding!" Mogaro let go of Audrey, pumping his fists skyward, whirling in place, and bellowing.

He yanked a compact steel flask from his pocket, uncapped it in a hurry, downed several hearty swigs, his cheeks turning rosy, and declared:

"So, where’s Rein at right now?"

"Let’s head to him!"

Mogaro understood Rein now occupied a lofty role, swamped with duties on his return, but that didn’t faze him—the student might be tied up, yet the mentor had time to spare!

Surely, a teacher dropping by his own disciple posed no problem, did it?

"Well... Mrs. Olena mentioned Lord Rein only lingered at home briefly before heading off to Mingster Province."

"Ah? No worries, we’ll catch up in a couple days—he’s back safe, that’s the key!" Mogaro’s spirits dipped a touch but he bounced back with enthusiasm, affirming.

"No way! I’ve got to talk the sect leader out of it."

"With Rein returned, there’s zero reason for him to risk a wild shot at the Dawn Realm!"

Saying that, Mogaro bolted from the assembly hall without delay!

Meanwhile, down the hallway, inside an office.

Deputy Sect Leader Bradley looked utterly perplexed.

Moments earlier, another urgent alert had arrived from the Empire’s Wizard School Union, stating that the snag with their Bixiu Mechanization School’s promotion stood resolved yet again.