Chapter 71: Chapter 53: I Heard There’s a Genius

There are differences in strength even among those at Tier Ten. While the gap isn’t enormous, a hair’s breadth is often enough to decide the outcome of a confrontation.

Sopea’s confidence stemmed from a simple fact: even among all the Tier Ten masters of the Era of Polymath, he was one of the most powerful. He had personally elevated his own family—the Zienmu "Nightmare" Family—to the same standing as the Blazing Angel Family. They became one of the twelve Grand Duke Families of the Empire, ruling over their own lands with power and status second only to the Church Court.

He was certain he must have known Sean in his past life.

Sean probably knew him, too—or at the very least, had heard his name.

’In their past lives, he was one of the most distinguished at Tier Ten.’

’In this life, he had also reshaped sooner than Sean.’

’He had even earned the recognition of the statue and entered the 3rd Floor of the Holy Hall.’

’No matter how you looked at it, he could easily put this guy who had frightened his dear student in his place.’

’He hoped that in the future, Sean would know to address him with the proper respect.’

’Of course, that was all contingent on Sean recovering some of his memories first.’

From Koni’s description, Sopea already understood why the girl’s attempt at Entering the Dream had failed. Before his reshaping, the Sean of a past life had placed a special ward on his own soul to prevent others from prying into it.

The Power of a Tier Ten Magic Spell was beyond the imagination of modern Wizards. Even after several centuries and a dual cleansing by both time and the Sea of Souls, it could still retain some of its effect. That was why Koni had been unable to glimpse Sean’s past. Instead, the tables had been turned on her, forcing her own inner self to manifest within the dream.

This wouldn’t just apply to Entering the Dream, but to any form of mental-based Magic, including Mind Magic.

If the caster’s soul was not strong enough, the only result would be their own Magic backfiring on them.

At first glance, "Soul" and "Mental Power" might seem similar, and Wizards often used the terms interchangeably, but they were in fact two different things.

The stronger the Soul, the stronger the Mental Power. But strong Mental Power did not necessarily mean a strong Soul.

This was especially true for Reshapers, as their soul’s strength was largely determined by their past life. After all, a Reshaper’s past and present lives—regardless of how many memories had been recovered—were one and the same soul.

This was one of the reasons Sopea was so arrogant and aloof.

As a man who had once stood at the very pinnacle of the wizarding world, he had the right to be.

’As for Sean...’

’Heh.’

’The collection on the third floor of the Holy Temple Library had already helped him recall more about the Era of Polymath. As his memories returned, he would soon have an "epiphany," unlocking more efficient Meditation techniques and more powerful Dream Spells. Within a month, he would break through to Tier Six.’

’Then he would personally go to Alola Town and construct a dream for Sean.’

’A mere Soul Defense Spell? He could shatter it with a single finger.’

’He would intimidate Sean just as Sean had intimidated Koni tonight. Otherwise, people might actually think that his student—that Sopea’s student—was such a pushover. Hmph.’

...

"Achoo."

In his hospital room, Sean, who was lying in bed staring at the ceiling, not yet asleep, let out another sneeze.

Just then, Elvire pushed the door open. Hearing the sneeze, she asked, "Caught a cold?"

"Huh?" Sean turned to look at her, sitting up in surprise. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

’It was already three in the morning. She wasn’t asleep yet?’

Her eyes, lightly touched with makeup, were as exquisite and beautiful as ever, though her expression held a faint trace of fatigue.

"Tired?" Sean got out of bed to pour her a glass of water.

’Elvire was about to say she didn’t need any, that she was only staying for a moment, but then she had another thought. She... no, *Elise* had given Sean 100,000. So, wasn’t it only right for her to enjoy a bit of Sean’s service on Elise’s behalf?’

So, she raised her chin slightly and commented, "Not bad. Quite thoughtful of you."

"Well, you’re the boss," Sean said with a smile, handing the paper cup to her. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Elvire placed a paper bag on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed, cradling the cup in her hands.

The water had just finished boiling, so Sean had added a splash of cold water to make it the perfect temperature. The autumn nights were a bit chilly. As Elvire looked at Sean’s smile, the pleasant warmth from the paper cup in her hands seemed to ease some of her weariness.

"What’s this?" Sean asked, looking at the paper bag.

"The Magic Potion you’re supposed to drink tomorrow," Elvire replied. "It speeds up your body’s natural healing. Remember to eat something before you take it."

’I have to take it after a meal?’

’It’s just like taking medicine for an illness.’

’Then again, it was very scientific.’

’You shouldn’t perform Meditation on a full stomach, and if he wasn’t meditating, he wouldn’t be losing any cells. It really was the best time to let his body recuperate.’

Sean felt an inexplicable surge of happiness. "So, Miss Elvire came all this way just to bring me my medicine?"

"Don’t get the wrong idea." Elvire’s expression was placid. "I just finished dealing with something and brought the Magic Potion over on my way back."

She put extra stress on "on my way back," not wanting Sean to misunderstand anything.

Before Sean could say anything else, she changed the subject. "I heard you made Koni cry?"

Sean was speechless.

’Does news travel that fast?’

"And that you told her you’d be waiting for Sopea to come and settle the score?" Elvire asked.

’The nerve on this guy was as incredible as ever.’

Sean quickly said, "It’s not what you think."

His attitude toward the girl was clearly completely different from his attitude toward Elvire. He didn’t care what outsiders thought, but he felt he owed his family an explanation. Besides, the attempt at Entering the Dream had revealed nothing—not about his past life, nor even much about his current one. Since there was no risk of exposing his identity, Sean simply told her everything that had happened in the dream from start to finish.