“Frank Morgan bro, you’re back... I’ve got some good news for you.” Just as he reached the doorstep, a boy as muddy as a clay monkey jumped out, his face full of joy as he spoke.

This muddy kid was called Howard Bolton, also a child from this old neighborhood, and had basically grown up together with Frank Morgan.

“What’s the good news?” Frank Morgan asked.

“The little princess is back! I saw her at the entrance of the manor today. Wow, you have no idea how beautiful she is now—she’s like a little angel.” Little Howard said, a bit excited.

Frank Morgan glanced at the manor facing the street. The manor was so exquisitely landscaped that the whole city envied it; every inch of land, every flower, plant, and tree had been meticulously tended, reaching the level of a true garden.

However, this beautiful city garden was now surrounded by tall iron railings.

He remembered that when he was a child, there were no iron fences, and he often led the neighborhood kids to play inside the manor grounds.

At the highest point of the manor stood several very exquisite European-style villas, which, in the eyes of these mischievous kids, looked just like castles from fairy tales. And in those castles really did live a princess so beautiful she took your breath away, about the same age as them. Frank Morgan often led a group of kids to coax the princess out to play everywhere together...

But at some point, the manor got iron fences, and the adults on the street no longer allowed the kids to sneak into the manor. The princess, who used to play with everyone, truly became the princess in the castle. As she grew older, she became more and more out of reach, and they saw her less and less.

“You know, I heard the little princess is now a top student at a prestigious magic school in the capital, born with an unmatched talent for ice magic. She’s only 15 and can already cast ice spells.” Howard Bolton said mysteriously.

Frank Morgan was stunned. If Howard Bolton had told him the little princess had won some national Olympiad award, he probably wouldn’t have cared. But if she was an ice mage, that was really something!

Most people don’t awaken until they’re 16, in their first year of high school, when they get their first magic element.

But getting it doesn’t mean you’re a mage yet—you still need a long period of training, you need to get a magic book, practice diligently, and only then can you cast a spell. This little princess was truly remarkable, already a real mage at 15!

Could this be what they call a prodigy? A prodigy in the world of magic!

“Frank Morgan bro, I really feel bad for you. If you’d tried a bit harder back then, maybe you could’ve won over that innocent little princess. Beautiful and talented, tsk tsk... we’re all so jealous.” Little Howard said, raising his eyebrows.

“That’s just kid stuff from back then, not worth talking about.” Frank Morgan ignored him.

Henry Morgan heard the two boys talking like this, coughed, and led Frank Morgan home.

As soon as they got home, Dad Henry Morgan said, “I’m going out for a bit. Summer is staying at your aunt’s place, she probably won’t be back.”

“Okay, got it.”

……

Henry Morgan hurried out, and Frank Morgan walked around the house, finding that nothing had really changed—still the same bare walls.

The world had changed, but the family’s poverty hadn’t changed a bit. Why hadn’t his family swapped places with the people up at the manor? Heaven had gone to all the trouble of turning science into magic, but couldn’t even take care of this little thing.

The only thing to be thankful for: he still looked the same—still as handsome and charming as ever!

Sitting at home was boring, with nothing to do, so Frank Morgan went out for a walk to see if anything else had changed.

Following a mossy path that few people used, just as he was about to turn onto the main street, Frank Morgan happened to see his dad’s old pickup truck.

His dad was a driver. He used to drive for the old master up at the manor, but later, for some reason, was transferred to logistics, basically running errands and buying things for the people at the manor. Since then, the family’s situation had taken a sharp downturn.

“Henry, your request is a bit out of line. You know I’ve always treated you well. After what your boy did, I still kept a procurement job for you. If it were someone else, I’d have told them to pack up and leave.” A middle-aged man’s slow voice came from inside.

“George Murray bro, just treat this as the last time I ask for your help. It really costs too much to get into Tianlan Magic High School. You know our family’s situation—we just can’t afford it.” Henry Morgan’s voice came, sounding a bit humble.

“You, why bother so much for that useless son of yours? If he can’t get into magic high school on his own, just let him fend for himself. He’s almost 16. Even if I help you this time and get him into magic high, with his attitude, he’ll still slack off and never become a real mage. Becoming a mage isn’t easy—it takes talent, hard work, and besides, can your family afford those magic books, magic tools, and magic gear? Without those, he can’t even become a basic mage...” The man called George Murray spoke in a tone that sounded earnest, but to Frank Morgan, it was nothing but arrogance.