Published at 21st of July 2026 9:13 am

Chapter 1860: Psychological Profile

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The carriage ride to Sapphire Tower was a strange one.

On one side sat Channing and Genevieve, and across from them sat Adam.

The old scholar and the eccentric, raven-haired youth continued to chat away as though they were old pals.

Meanwhile, Genevieve remained silent. She observed them — especially Adam — with her hands gracefully resting on her lap and a faint, reserved smile on her face.

The more she watched him, the stranger he seemed.

At times, he spoke with the caution and awareness of a seasoned adventurer who had gone through many ups and downs in his life. While at other times, he spoke in a carefree manner with the enthusiasm of a teenager.

He was polite, but guarded.

Friendly, yet distant.

Even while speaking to Channing, his eyes occasionally swept past the windows, quietly taking stock of the people, the streets, and possible exits.

Very cautious, she mused.

Most curious of all was how difficult he was to read.

His expressions were subtle, but mostly they were fake. It was as though he was always used to wearing a mask. His body language was restrained, but there was discipline and finesse in even the slightest of movements. Almost as if he had trained his entire life to hone his body.

He revealed little about what he was truly thinking. It was as though he had grown accustomed to keeping his thoughts hidden.

For someone who prided herself on observing others and constructing psychological profiles with startling accuracy, Genevieve found that both frustrating and fascinating.

Adam was unlike the other young men she knew.

Most — if not all — wore their hearts on their sleeves. Their intentions were painfully obvious to her. Beneath their veneer of gentlemanliness, the desire was often plain to see.

Genevieve had grown accustomed to it, despite her distaste. Such were the hazards of being a woman with her looks. She wasn’t being boastful. She simply knew it to be true.

But Adam was different.

He treated her with courtesy and respect, yet there was no eagerness in his eyes. No attempt to impress her. No awkwardness. No fascination.

It was as though he didn’t care about her beauty at all.

The realization should have pleased her.

Instead, she found herself thinking about it more than she should.

Focus! Genevieve reminded herself.

She looked at the passing scenery through the window. Then she took a slow, deep breath. Her light blue eyes turned strangely attentive.

A moment later, after gathering her bearings, she turned back to study Adam once more.

But she was startled again when she found him already staring back at her with that same mischievous smile.

Genevieve almost let the shock show on her face, but years of training kept her composure intact.

Instead, she smiled politely.

"So what do you do, Miss?" Adam asked.

"Student at the Sapphire Tower," she said. "I major in the School of Enchantment."

"Enchantment, eh?" Adam arched an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with understanding.

"Makes sense," he added, his voice barely a whisper.

Makes sense? Genevieve wondered.

So he already knows I’m profiling him.

"Genevieve here is one of the finest students at the Tower," Channing chimed in, his voice filled with pride.

"She formed her mana core at the mere age of twenty-five!"

This time, Genevieve saw a clear look of surprise in Adam’s eyes. That expression lasted only an instant. It was followed by respect. Genuine respect.

And then came something she hadn’t expected...

Approval.

Genevieve’s brows nearly furrowed.

It was an odd reaction. Most people reacted to her talent with admiration, envy, or disbelief. But Adam’s reaction had been different.

The surprise was understandable. And the fact that surprise became respect rather than attraction, jealousy, or intimidation suggested that he admired one’s ability. That he was impressed by merit.

But approval?

Who does he think he is?

Much to her surprise, she found herself slightly annoyed by Adam’s reaction.

Genevieve was accustomed to being the one who impressed others. Even someone as hallowed and formidable as the Lady of Sapphire Tower.

But, for perhaps the first time, she met someone like Adam who looked at her talent and thought of it as promising.

This subtle hint of hidden pride...

The corner of Genevieve’s lips curled slightly upward. Her annoyance was quickly replaced by even greater curiosity and a sense of achievement.

So that’s who you are underneath, she wondered.

It was painfully obvious to others that Adam was a greedy person.

But perhaps, very few people knew just how immensely prideful he was.

That subtle change in his eyes told Genevieve almost everything she needed to know about him.

He possessed a strong sense of self-worth and absolute confidence in his own abilities. Beneath his easy smiles and constant talk of money lay a man who measured others by standards few could see.

And yet, for all his pride, he wasn’t arrogant.

At least, that remained to be seen once he revealed his true abilities.

Could he walk the talk?

Genevieve certainly hoped so.

After all, there was nothing more disappointing than a man who had an inflated opinion of himself and no ability to back it up.

What she said next was decidedly uncharacteristic of her. Yet for some reason, she couldn’t resist taking a small jab at him.

"Pray tell, when did you form your mana core, Magus Constantine?"

Adam looked her in the eye and replied with a smile, "I believe I was... forty years old."

Genevieve simply smiled in response.

Channing, on the other hand, was much more vocal.

"Wow, that is very impressive, young man!"

He paused briefly before adding, "The most talented individuals form their mana cores between the ages of thirty and fifty. They spend considerable time establishing a solid foundation at the Apprentice rank, you see."

The scholar turned to Genevieve and flashed a slightly smug smile. "Of course, there are always exceptions like Genevieve here."

He turned back to Adam

"You see, she was born and raised in the Citadel. She practically grew up around magic. She was blessed with an exceptional affinity for mana, and with her hard work and proper guidance, she has reached where she is today."

The carriage entered the Sapphire Tower’s campus and arrived at the entrance of a lecture hall.

"I see." Adam smiled faintly. "That is indeed admirable."

"If you don’t mind my asking, young man," Channing said as he opened the door and stepped out. "Where did you go to school?"

"Oh, I’m not from around here." Adam got off the carriage from the other door.

His next words gave the talented young woman pause.

"I was born and raised in the Outer Universe."

Genevieve felt as though she had been struck by lightning.

He formed a mana core at forty years of age... in a lower world?

Then a calloused hand appeared before her, accompanied by a playful voice.

"Is something the matter, Miss?"

Genevive snapped out of her thoughts and turned toward Adam.

"It’s nothing," she replied with a polite smile.

"Then, shall we?"

Genevieve looked deeply into Adam’s tenebrous eyes.

She placed her hand in his and stepped out of the carriage.

"Thank you, Magus Constantine."

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