Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 532 - 166. The Day of Dusk’s End (1)

Chapter 532: 166. The Day of Dusk’s End (1)

The water pipe dripped, releasing Water Magic, as Hobbs carefully stored one potion bottle after another. He looked up at his reflection in the mirror, his haggardness evident in his eyes and cheeks.

He had been at the school for less than half a year, yet he looked as if he had aged three years, with a few white strands now visible in his hair.

"This is just a necessary cost..."

Hobbs had no particular feelings about it. He lifted his hand and gazed at the ring on his middle finger.

Once pitch black and glossy, the ring had faded to an alarmingly pale color. If someone carefully sensed it, they would find that the ring’s once abundant spiritual power was nearly depleted, on the verge of vanishing.

"The time is almost up, Lenna. Just hold on a bit longer; I will succeed soon."

Hobbs clenched his fist and kissed the ring. His once tired and wavering gaze instantly turned determined.

Time was running out for him.

He was different from geniuses like Lucite and Leoz. Perhaps in the eyes of the common people, they were just ordinary students. But even among the ordinary ones, their talents far surpassed his.

With his own aptitude, getting into this school was already extremely difficult. He needed medicinal aid just to barely keep up with his progress.

"I must persevere, for Lenna and for this unjust world..."

Hobbs tightened his fist, washing his face with water. His mind became clearer. He pulled at his face, returning to his usual courteous and sociable demeanor.

As he stepped out of the bathroom, he received a message:

[Best Buddy—Leoz], "I’m fighting Dialan at Arena No.12. You go check on Lucite first."

"That guy..." Hobbs was speechless.

Although he had privately advised him multiple times and hinted about the "Golden Princess’" bad reputation, Leoz seemed to be in desperate need of credits, disregarding everything else.

"No, Leoz isn’t a fool. Dialan isn’t a good girl. He wouldn’t approach her for a mere 20 credits—Hmm, could it be for her beauty?"

Hobbs pondered:

"Dialan is indeed incomparably beautiful. It’s normal for an emotionally stirred student to be taken by her—But later, I should introduce Leoz to more normal female students. Besides an excellent lineage and stunning looks, Dialan lacks in family background and financial status."

Forget it, Leoz probably had his own plans. If he hit a wall, he’d surely drag them out for drinks and vent. As a good friend, he should respect and bless him instead.

Hobbs didn’t want to lose such a pure friend.

After all, in this school, everyone had their own goals and secrets, otherwise Lenna wouldn’t have met such a tragic end... Friendships like those between Leoz and Lucite were rare and precious like gems.

"Leoz probably knew what he was doing. He shouldn’t have any issues."

Shutting off the Information Rune, Hobbs was about to head to the library to meet Lucite when a female voice suddenly called out from behind:

"Excuse me, student, can I bother you for a moment?"

Hobbs turned around to see a veiled beauty walking towards him. Her snow-blue eyes slightly narrowed like crescent moons, illustrating what it meant to have enchanting eyes. She carried a Seven-stringed Zither and dressed lightly. Her voice was extremely alluring, akin to the bards commonly seen in small towns.

She was a rare beauty—but such beauty held no attraction for Hobbs. Not only because of his devotion to Lenna but also due to seeing Leoz, a true beauty attractive to both genders, every day. He was already used to it.

Hobbs asked kindly:

"You don’t seem like a student. Is there something you need help with?"

"As you see, it’s my first time visiting your esteemed school. I want to meet an old friend, but I don’t know where she is now."

The female bard said, her snow-blue eyes blinking with a troubled expression.

Hobbs was unmoved but asked: "Who are you looking for?"

"Nastisha Dantayn," the female bard said, "Years ago, she said she was an Associate Professor here, but it’s been a long time since we last contacted each other. I don’t know if she is still around."

"Nastisha? She’s the head of our Magic Application Academy," Hobbs was slightly surprised. "But from what I remember, she was an Associate Professor over a hundred years ago..."

"Oh? Maybe I got it wrong," the female bard smiled. "Since she’s the head of your academy, you must know where her office is, right?"

"I do, it’s on the map—but even if you go now, you won’t find her," Hobbs scratched his head.

"Oh?" the female bard blinked. "Why is that?"

"Well, you must be from out of town, so you’re not familiar,"

Hobbs pointed to the sky:

"Trevela may be the capital of Baizhu Star, but the Education Ministry’s base is set in outer space. Senior scholars at the dean level, at Zeta Rank or above, must attend training at the Ministry every three months and submit belief reports to ensure unwavering faith in materialism—currently, they’re in their training period and won’t return for at least a week."

"Yes, that makes sense," the female bard said thoughtfully, "Baizhu Star can only accommodate up to Zeta Rank powers. Such individuals can’t stay on the surface for long."

"True," Hobbs shrugged. "A planet has its limits. For powerful beings surpassing these limits, their strength would wane, and their bodies would suffer if they stayed long."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Seeing Hobbs’ surprise, the female bard immediately explained:

"I’m just a mortal, ignorant of pathways— But does that mean there’s no protector above Zeta Rank on Baizhu Star?"

Hobbs sensed her biological frequency; it was indeed at Gamma Rank.

’Truly a mortal, but a mortal who knows someone of the dean’s level must have some connections. Better be polite.’

Hobbs, with his astute mind, deduced her significance and respectfully explained:

"It’s a valid concern—but Baizhu Star would never face such an issue."

"How so?"

"Baizhu Star is purely an educational planet, with no rare strategic resources, which lowers the interest of many interstellar raiding groups."

Hobbs continued:

"Moreover, our Education Minister at Kappa Rank stationed here can respond immediately to any Super Zeta Rank invader."

"Kappa Rank experts need no elaboration. Even in interstellar wars, they are crucial strategic weapons. With the blessing of Starry Abyss, shattering planets is as easy as eating or drinking for them."

"With such fame, no raiding group would dare threaten Baizhu Star."

The female bard nodded at his credible explanation:

"True indeed."

However, her expression suggested she didn’t entirely concur with this view.

Observing her intent to speak but holding back, Hobbs was about to ask when she waved her hand: "Since Nastisha isn’t around, I’ll leave today and visit some other time. Thank you, young man."

"It’s nothing. Anyone could’ve told you the same," Hobbs said indifferently.

"Not necessarily," the female bard smiled. "You’re a nice person—consider this a token of gratitude, please accept it."

She seemingly performed a magic trick, producing a card from behind, handing it to Hobbs.

Hobbs curiously took the card and examined it. It seemed to be some mystical artifact, similar to an amulet. The ancient script on it appeared to convey blessings and good fortune.

When he looked up, the woman had disappeared.

"What a strange person."

Hobbs murmured, storing the amulet.

"I wonder what her relationship with Nastisha Dantayn is—she mentions many years without contact and Nastisha as an Associate Professor—could she not be as young as she looks? But her aura is clearly mortal, so how has she lived so long?"

One detail particularly troubled him.

When he said ’which raiding group would dare come to Baizhu Star?’, the bard had shown a fleeting look of doubt and oddity.

The expression seemed to say, ’Are you joking?’

But it was a fact that Baizhu Star never had to worry about such matters.

The more he thought, the more confused he grew. Realizing he was running late, Hobbs snapped out of it and hurried to meet Lucite.

.........

Baizhu Star’s outer orbital space.

The ’March Lily’ fortress floated, relying on the planet’s gravity, calmly rotating 3 million meters from Baizhu Star’s surface. The mages and officials inside stood steadily, thanks to the centripetal force.

In the teleportation hall, a radiant glow appeared. After a brief flash, Nastisha Dantayn lifted her head, composedly walking into the hall along with other mages.

"Ah, the most tedious time has come."

Karl Rufus, the head of the College of Diplomatic Relations, grumbled softly:

"Every three months, it’s supposed to be training, but it’s actually to check our materialistic faith, ensuring we haven’t betrayed or detached from Crystal Tower Civilization. It’s nothing but thought control!"

"Mage Karl, you are too narrow-minded. This is a necessary measure," Ye Wangnan, Dean of the Natural Ecology Academy, laughed: "Those Night Butterfly Men spread their idealist superstitions everywhere. They must be utterly defeated and their shrines swept into the dustbin of history. A little sacrifice from us is worth it."

"Do you really believe that rhetoric? It’s all political correctness." Mage Karl looked at Nastisha Dantayn: "What’s your take, Dean Dantayn?"

"Me? My opinion doesn’t really matter." Nastisha shook her head. "The Supreme Council has its plans. Trusting their judgment is as good as trusting a steak. But for now, they are indeed working hard to maintain our political unity."