Corfu Island, daytime, within Aurelian Academy.
Dean Tungus stood in the classroom, gazing at the distracted second and third-generation students with an almost imperceptible sigh.
Ever since Locke, Patty, and Code left Corfu Island for the Wizard World, and Professor Olde passed away due to the side effects of the Stone Crab Potion, the entire Corfu Continent was left with only him as a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice.
In this low-magic world where not even a trace of mana could be sensed in the air, Dean Tungus felt his aging accelerate.
No one could understand him.
No one to confide in.
No one to trust.
The dean's aged pupils revealed an even colder indifference. He had absolutely no patience for these privileged second and third-generation students who were merely here for prestige.
"Class dismissed..."
Though it wasn't time yet, Dean Tungus turned and left the classroom without hesitation.
The purpose of Aurelian Academy's existence was to select Wizard Seedlings from this primitive island's mundane world for the Wizard World.
But currently, there wasn't a single Wizard Seedling in the entire academy.
In low-magic worlds, the probability of wizards emerging remained extremely low.
The students watched curiously as the dean departed. They couldn't understand why, starting two years ago after Locke and the others disappeared, the once strict dean who demanded their full attention suddenly stopped caring about lectures.
He would often leave halfway through class with that same detached expression.
However, these students didn't realize how much they were missing. Seeing they wouldn't be forced to continue, they cheered as soon as the dean left.
Some went outside to practice swordplay, others found places to nap, while some took the opportunity to flirt...
Walking down the elegant corridors of Aurelian Academy, Dean Tungus suddenly heard a "coo" from above. Looking up, his pupils contracted slightly, revealing deep confusion.
A albatross with numerous Runes carved into its wings fluttered in mid-air, a letter pouch hanging around its neck.
"Cretan Albatross..." the dean murmured. "Capable of flying above thunderclouds to avoid the dangers of the endless mystic sea. One of the few migratory birds that can cross oceans to deliver messages."
"I remember the fee to send a letter by Cretan Albatross starts at five hundred Magic Stones—extremely expensive. But their flight speed is remarkable, often delivering messages in just a few days."
"But why would one appear here on Corfu Island?"
"That's Lilith's Cottage's Academy Badge. This albatross comes from the Wizard World's Lilith's Cottage."
A sudden possibility occurred to Dean Tungus—one that seemed even more unbelievable than unexpectedly seeing a Cretan Albatross from the magical world.
The Wizard World had an unspoken rule: whenever a Wizard Seedling from the mortal world became a First Class Wizard Apprentice, the academy would grant them a benefit—a free letter delivery by the Cretan Albatross to notify their family in the mortal world, allowing them to share the good news.
After all, in the Wizard World, the status of a First Class Wizard Apprentice was no small matter.
For many Wizard Seedlings, their lifelong goal was not to become a Formal Wizard, but to reach the rank of First Class Wizard Apprentice.
Achieving this rank was already enough to bring honor to one's family.
Although sending a letter via the Cretan Albatross was quite expensive, most major wizard organizations kept a few of these birds, so the cost wasn't prohibitive for the academy.
Moreover, the overseas mortal world and the southeastern corner of the domain had virtually no means of communication.
To prevent the absurd scenario where a First Class Wizard Apprentice, after painstakingly advancing and taking on increasingly important roles within their school, found their family suffering persecution at the hands of mortal kings and powerful nobles back home, the academy typically arranged for such notifications to deter foolish actions by the ignorant.
Yet this only made Dean Tungus even more incredulous. "But Patty and the others only left Corfu Island a little over two years ago..."
Dean Tungus caught a letter dropped by the Cretan Albatross, watching as the bird flapped its wings and flew off with its mail pouch toward other mortal islands.
Tungus opened the letter. "What? Locke Augustine, that boy, is already a First Class Wizard Apprentice—and a Breeder prodigy at that?"
His hands trembled slightly. It had been over two years since he last saw Locke, and his memory of the boy had begun to fade.
But he still remembered—the young noble, persecuted by Professor Olde, trembling as he approached him, pleading for help with an assignment.
Tungus exhaled deeply, his face breaking into genuine delight and pride. "Great figures can emerge even from small places."
"Locke Augustine, a graduate of Aurelian Academy on Corfu Island, was once my student."
"Becoming a First Class Wizard Apprentice in two years—almost one rank per year. How long will it take him to become a Formal Wizard?" The thought startled him. "But that's a Formal Wizard... Could Locke really achieve that?"
Dean Tungus quickened his pace, hurrying off. He needed to deliver this letter to the Augustine family—to Earl Augustine and his eldest sons.
At the same time, he intended for the Frank Emperor to see it.
Recently, the Frank Empire had fully unified Corfu Island, creating a grand empire unprecedented in the island's history.
Never before had so many people of different cultures and races been united under a single nation. The Frank Empire had established courts across the land, beginning to centralize power and curb the influence of local nobles.
So, he had to inform the Frank Emperor quickly—and the emperor would know how to treat the Augustine family accordingly.
...
A day later, at a small private banquet within the Augustine estate.
Earl Augustine proudly handed the letter from the Wizard World to Gloria, downing a large goblet of wine in celebration.
Gloria suddenly realized, "No wonder my newlywed wife has stopped looking down on me lately. Not only that, she's been trying to please me every day, wanting to have a child with me as soon as possible."
"It seems the princess must have learned something."
Gloria grew somewhat worried about Locke. "I just wonder if my younger brother might encounter any dangers in that Wizard World. It's a pity I'm stuck here—no matter how concerned I am, there's nothing I can do."
Earl Augustine chuckled reassuringly, "Don't worry. From what I know, a First Class Wizard Apprentice already holds considerable status in the Wizard World, second only to Formal Wizards."
"Locke has already established himself there. There's no need for us to worry about him."
"I believe he'll only continue to rise."
"After all, those royal families were merely descendants of wizards to begin with."
"The princess probably wants to bear a child with the Augustine Bloodline as soon as possible to strengthen the royal family's position."
"All thanks to Locke's success."
"This way, the Frank royal family's policies targeting nobles won't affect our Augustine family."
Earl Augustine added with a smile, "This morning, Yulian Frank—Dean Tungus's adopted daughter—tried to curry favor with me. She even mentioned that the emperor intends to elevate our family to a ducal house."
"Gloria, having such a brother is truly your good fortune."
Gloria laughed. "Father, it's your good fortune too. No—it's the Augustine family's good fortune."
"With the princess being so eager now, you'll soon be holding your grandson, Father."
"Let's both toast to Locke!"
Together, they raised glasses of rich red wine.
(End of Chapter)