"Coming from the Western Isles just like you—why wouldn't I drop by for a visit?" Master Diers, who had entered Mosido's laboratory, replied openly, showing no signs of formality.
"Of course, of course," Mosido replied with an awkward grin.
In terms of appearance, Master Diers was distinctly younger and more vibrant than the typical brooding, stern demeanor of other dark mages at the academy. Her amicable reputation extended throughout the entire academy's network. While Mosido might not have been inclined to grant Dean Dardalon any favors, he had to seriously consider Diers' intercession.
"Three level one energy crystals, 500 grams of Eiran grass powder, two Ruigen fruits, and a branch from a 500-year-old magical ancient tree—how's that?" Diers proposed with her legs elegantly crossed. "I've already shared Keserson's rock-bottom offer with you. Will those suffice for you to let him off the hook?"
"Ha! That guy does have quite the collection of treasures, doesn't he?" Mosido chuckled coldly. "Even possessing Ruigen fruits, which have become extinct in most parts of the wizard world, and then there's that branch… a premium material for magic wands. Hmm."
"As a wizard specializing in botany, it's not uncommon for him to cultivate Ruigen fruits using ancient seeds and ample magical beast meat," Diers replied. "With the branch as a prime wand material, are you willing to settle?"
"Hmph. You, acting as his advocate—what's in it for you?" Mosido asked, pretending to remain displeased, although clearly swayed.
"Hehe, not much. The old fellow does have his uses in botany, and many of my magic potions rely on his supplies," Diers explained casually.
"Fine. I'll let him off, but he better not show himself around me again," Mosido agreed. "Still, I can't help but wonder why he's willing to pay such a hefty price to stay at the academy."
"For an official dark mage, this isn't a trivial sum," he added, shaking his head.
Diers laughed lightly and replied, "Oh, isn't it all because of the rumored spatial rift that's spread throughout the academy? Every dark mage is eager to have a chance to exploit whatever may lie on the other end. If it turns out to be a semi-plane rich in resources, or better yet, a complete plane, his gains would easily outperform the compensation he's promised you."
Interdimensional warfare and plundering other worlds were the quickest routes to accumulating capital. Ordinary beings couldn't even fathom the immense wealth a world might hold. Historically, interdimensional conquest and plunder were monopolies of the great towers and knights' halls. Dark mages like them seldom even got a sniff at such wealth.
But now, with the discovery of a spatial rift in the dark region, how could these dark mages simply walk away?
Mosido laughed softly at Diers' explanation. Being well-informed about the rift's details, he likely knew more than even Diers or Andy, the most powerful first-level dark mage.
The nuances in Mosido's laughter didn't escape Diers. As she attempted to probe further, Mosido stood to see her out, "Alright, just let Keserson know I've agreed to let it slide. But he must deliver the agreed compensation within three days!"
Saen had no clue that his mentor had settled things with Keserson. That day, after finishing his daily experiment, his senior brother, Zorro, called him over.
"It's thanks to your low-level recovery potion that I'm almost fully recovered now," Zorro said, patting Saen on the shoulder. "I noticed you don't have your own crystal ball yet, so I made one for you last night."
With those words, a crystal ball appeared in Zorro's hand.
Evidently, Zorro, like their mentor Mosido, possessed some kind of spatial equipment. Saen didn't focus on discerning what Zorro's item might be but instead directed his attention to the crystal ball.
"Thank you, senior brother. Now I won't have to trouble the mentor or go to the academy's public library just to check my mental power value," Saen smiled.
Nodding, Zorro responded, "The mentor probably intended to make you one, but he's been so busy recently and caught off guard by some incidents, so he might have simply forgotten."
"Keep working hard; both the mentor and I can see you have a knack for alchemy," Zorro encouraged.
"Yes, I will," Saen replied respectfully.
In truth, the low-level recovery potion Saen had given Zorro hadn't been particularly effective. Yet, in Mosido's faction, the atmosphere was congenial, with an amiable mentor guiding similarly spirited apprentices.
Previously, Zorro wasn't as close to Saen as their senior sister Fi'er, but Saen's thoughtfulness with the potion led Zorro to regard him more favorably. The gift of the crystal ball was a small gesture, but it held deep significance. It heralded open doors for Saen to frequently seek his senior brother's guidance in alchemy going forward.
Having studied under Mosido for several months now, Saen gradually learned about his two senior siblings' abilities. Senior Brother Zorro was usually quiet and unassuming, inheriting the bulk of Mosido's alchemical skills. Unlike Zorro, Senior Sister Fi'er had a more buoyant personality, focusing more on fire element magic than alchemy.
After chatting with Zorro for a while longer, Saen parted ways. Zorro didn't reside in the apprentices' dormitory but lived with their mentor to assist with alchemical experiments.
During their final exchanges, Saen gleaned a piece of intriguing and valuable information: he finally discovered his senior brother's specific magical level—Apprentice Mage, a rank between advanced apprentice and official dark mage. This qualification endowed these apprentices with some official dark mage abilities, which is why they were regarded as reserves, as well as having a foot in the academy's upper echelons.
There were certainly more apprentice mages in the academy besides Zorro. Yet Saen also learned something slightly awkward—his senior brother seemed to struggle with combat. Without activating his magical gear initially, Zorro wasn't necessarily stronger than any advanced apprentice.
This situation arose because Zorro had devoted so much energy to mastering alchemy that he neglected personal cultivation and combat proficiency.