Florida Man in Magus World: Unleashing Liberty and Freedom

They got back together and began chatting, recounting the events of the past few days. The Cement Golem remained behind at Jane's temporary camp, guarding her belongings and food from thieves. Meanwhile, the two girls had joined the Storm Tower, where Valley became a trainee, even though her magic element was earth.

Jane, allowed to stay as Valley's servant, shared a dorm with her, though the Cement Golem couldn't enter due to its nature.

Their lives were smooth and carefree so far, much to Felix's relief. But when it was his turn to share, his story stunned them—especially the part about crossing the continent in just two days to reach Big Zoot City and the strange medicines he took to reduce his age. They completely overlooked the Garudeer's tale and Felix's training arc at the Storm Tower's flying island.

Jane's curiosity piqued. "Do you have more of those?" she asked, intrigued by the age-reduction medicine. As a woman, the prospect of eternal youth was impossible to ignore.

Felix admitted, "I have one left, but it'll reduce your age by ten years. If you take it, you'll turn into a child."

Jane's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Save it for five or six years from now. I'll take it then."

Felix sighed, "It's gonna expire before you get the chance."

"THAT DOESN'T MATTER! KEEP IT SAFE FOR ME!"

"…Alright, alright. No need to shout." Felix chuckled dryly and shifted the topic. "Anyway, you two should head back and get some rest."

Jane, curious about Felix's plans, asked, "What about you?"

"I've got unfinished business."

Felix glanced toward the crowd of professors and staff members from the academy and mage towers, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a certain serial killer among them.

"If you say so," Jane replied.

Jane and Valley bid Felix farewell and returned to their camp to gather their belongings and the Cement Golem. Felix kept a watchful eye on them until they were out of sight, then focused his attention on Sean Smith.

Jessica, reading his thoughts, provided some grim information.

<I've detected dried blood on Sean Smith's fingernails. There's also a freshly buried corpse half a mile southwest of here. The victim appears to be a middle-aged woman, likely the mother of an examinee who passed the test.>

Felix's gaze shifted to the area where the peasants had gathered the night before. He immediately spotted a teenage boy searching the crowd in confusion. Nearby, a middle-aged man also scanned the area, frowning deeply.

Pitying them, Felix inwardly debated whether to expose Sean to the victim's family. He hesitated, not wanting to complicate his life. But when the boy began to cry, Felix's resolve weakened.

Striding toward the father and son, he introduced himself.

"Hello, sir," Felix said.

The father gave Felix a puzzled look before returning to his search for his wife.

"Are you looking for someone?" Felix asked.

The father seemed surprised. "How did you know?"

"You've been looking around. Who are you searching for?"

The father laughed awkwardly. "My wife. She seems to be lost in the crowd. We've been waiting here for hours. She went to pick flowers and buy some food last night but never returned."

Felix bit his lip, unable to muster the courage to tell them the truth. Instead, he asked, "What's your name, sir? Maybe I can help."

The man smiled briefly before frowning at Felix. "Have I seen you somewhere before? Are you taking the exam too?"

"You probably saw me among the examinees," Felix replied nonchalantly, letting the misunderstanding slide.

"I guess so. Well, my name's Taylor. I used to work for a fifth-circle mage before the Lamia Invasion. Ever heard of Joxonu, the third disciple of the Alchemist Saint? I was his assistant, but he's been missing since the invasion."

Felix blinked in surprise at the familiar name. He coughed and offered an alias. "I'm Phoenix Wright."

"Nice to meet you, young man. Anyway, I didn't see your name on the list, so… don't give up on your dream, alright?"

"…No objection."

Feeling less sympathetic, Felix decided to snitch on Sean Smith. "Oh, I almost forgot. I saw one of the instructors—Sean Smith, I think—heading into the southwest forest with a woman. He came back alone. Maybe you should check it out."

Taylor raised an eyebrow but smiled. "I'll look into it. Thanks, lad."

"No problem."

Felix bid the family farewell and walked away, wanting no further involvement. As soon as they were out of sight, he sighed. "Small world. Even in death, you're still haunting me, Joke."

Muttering complaints, Felix made his way back to the city and headed to the Storm Tower on foot. By the time he arrived, it was noon. He spent the rest of the day meditating, determined to master the flame aura.

.

.

Taylor had once served as a loyal attendant to Joxonu, a prominent figure in the Veria Belt Province. His mission was clear: monitor and investigate the background of a mysterious individual named Felix Ariel. But the Lamia Invasion shattered their plans, forcing Taylor to flee from the province.

Alone and disoriented, he found refuge in Big Zoot City, where he eventually married a widow, embracing her child as his own.

Life seemed to offer Taylor a fresh start until disaster struck. His wife, who had become his guiding star and the light of his life, suddenly went missing. The timing was eerie, coinciding with a violent explosion that had rocked the campsite last night. Devastated, Taylor feared the worst that she had fallen victim to the chaos.

His heart grew heavy with despair, as the void left by her absence consumed him.

Just when all hope seemed lost, a mysterious teenager crossed his path. The boy, who appeared to have flunked the exam like many others, offered Taylor a clue that could lead him to the truth. The teen mentioned an instructor named Sean Smith, suggesting that this man might hold the answers Taylor desperately sought.

Clinging to this slender thread of hope, Taylor guided his adopted son through the bustling crowd, their anxiety palpable. The boy's eyes were wide with fear and uncertainty, mirroring Taylor's own inner turmoil. But determination fueled Taylor's every step. He was resolved to confront this Sean Smith, to demand answers, and to uncover the truth about his wife's disappearance, no matter where it led.

Taylor approached the group of instructors, who hadn't been summoned to the meeting with the emperor. Among them, Sean Smith lingered, engaged in conversation with a female instructor who seemed to be in her 30s. Her sparkling eyes and bright expression made it clear she was smitten with him.

"Is there anyone here by the name of Sean Smith?" Taylor called out, his voice cutting through the chatter.

Startled, Sean turned toward Taylor, his expression shifting to one of curiosity. "I'm Sean Smith. Who's asking?"

"I am Taylor Jox, the first disciple of Joxonu, the black mage."

"Oh!" Sean's eyes widened in recognition, then narrowed in disdain.

Joxonu was infamous among the royal magi academy—a talentless figure who had leeched off the Alchemist Saint until he reached the fifth circle of magic. Though no one in the academy respected Joxonu, they couldn't openly disparage him due to Xavior Faunir's powerful influence.

"So, he has a disciple," Sean sneered, looking down at Taylor with contempt. "What do you want?"

Taylor bristled at Sean's tone but remained focused. "Last night, someone saw you enter the woods with my wife. What did you do to her?"

Sean's smirk deepened, as if he had heard this accusation countless times before. "Are you sure you've got the right guy? Have you mistaken me for someone else?"

Taylor narrowed his eyes, his instincts as a scout and apprentice of a black mage kicking in. He noticed the faint scent of blood lingering on Sean's fingernails. A cold dread settled in his chest, and he silently prayed that the dark scenario forming in his mind wasn't true.

Pressing on, Taylor tried to corner him. "Then, can you explain why you have blood under your fingernails?"

At the mention of blood, the other instructors turned their attention to Sean's hands, curious and skeptical. Sean, unfazed, quickly slipped his hands into his pockets, casting a subtle earth spell to remove the evidence. Within moments, he regenerated fresh fingernails and casually pulled his hands back out.

"Want to check?" Sean taunted, holding up his pristine fingers.

Taylor frowned, noting the disappearance of the scent. Sean's evasive actions only deepened his suspicions. He was convinced Sean was connected to his wife's disappearance.

"I see how it is," Taylor muttered, a tear slipping down his cheek. He patted his son on the back and, gripping the boy's hand, turned to leave, determined to search the forest for his wife's body.

As they walked away, Sean narrowed his eyes, committing the faces of Taylor and his son to memory. He smirked to himself. "You're not the first to confront me."

When Sean turned back to his colleagues, he was met with suspicious gazes. Nudging his glasses, he dismissed their concerns. "He must have mistaken me for someone else."

The other instructors feigned indifference, but they all took mental notes. Like coworkers in a cutthroat environment, they saw Sean as a competitor, ready to use any slip-up against him—whether for personal gain or simply for the entertainment of watching him squirm.

.

.

Unaware of the chaos he had set in motion, Felix arrived at the Storm Tower, where a staff member guided him back to his training ground. Once there, Felix waited for the staff to leave before stripping off his clothes. He sat down and began to meditate, igniting a blue flame that enveloped his body once more.

Determined to master the aura technique, Felix devoted 16 straight hours to the task, focusing his energy on the core within him. By 4 AM, the spiky object inside him had transformed into a smooth, glowing red sphere.

*DING*

<You have mastered a new skill - Flame Aura (Entry)!>

<Congratulations! You have completed the main quest #7!>