"First of all, congratulations on successfully advancing to First-Rank Wizard Apprentices."
In the compulsory class for newly promoted apprentices, Grace spoke with a warm smile.
Lynn sat quietly in a corner, listening.
Every month, near its end, whenever apprentices advanced in rank, the academy would arrange the corresponding mandatory advancement lessons.
It was now July 26th, and Lynn, just before setting off for the Silverring Academy, happened to catch this very course.
After offering her congratulations, Grace quickly moved on to the main subject.
"Before we officially begin today's lesson, I want to ask you all a question.
Do you know the greatest difference between a First-Rank Wizard and a Wizard Apprentice?"
Her gaze swept across the students, pausing finally on Lynn. With a small smile, she called, "Lynn?"
"My guess would be the spirit, Teacher Grace," Lynn answered calmly.
"Correct. It is the spirit," Grace nodded. "The road of a wizard is, at its essence, the road of the ever-strengthening spirit."
From the seats below, Grey the Goldthorn apprentice looked puzzled. After a moment of hesitation, he raised his hand and asked:
"Teacher Grace, what about physical-type wizards?"
This boy, originally from the Thunderstone School, had already returned to a normal appearance. His withered fingers had regrown, his once-shrunken muscles were full again, though now streaked with strands of white hair.
Grey was not newly advanced to First-Rank, but as an outsider to the Horthorns School, he too was required to take this compulsory course.
"In truth, within the wizarding system, there is no such thing as a purely physical wizard," Grace replied with a shake of her head.
Grey's expression clouded with doubt. Back in Thunderstone, the entire path they walked was exactly that of so-called physical wizards.
"Strictly speaking, purely physical-type wizards only exist during the apprentice stage and at the First Rank.
The path you now walk, to be precise, is that of a bloodline wizard."
Grace elaborated again, though Grey's confusion lingered.
"The physical limits of the Guern human race cap out at the First Rank.
Beyond that, one must turn either to mechanical modification or to the fusion of bloodlines. One way or another, the body can no longer remain pure.
Moreover, pursuing only physical growth leads to a fatal imbalance. So in truth, purely physical wizards do not exist."
Grey finally nodded, realization dawning.
By that reasoning, the Thunderstone School had indeed been following the bloodline wizard's path. His lightning-controlling ability had come from the blood of the Violet Thunder Leopard coursing within him.
The Guern race's physical limit caps at only the First Rank?
But not far away, Lynn's thoughts grew uneasy.
That there were no purely physical wizards, he could understand after all, an imbalance between spirit and body was dangerous, even lethal.
But for the Guern race's body to be capped at only the First Rank, requiring other methods to progress further…
Back in the Black Moon Fortress, the Tower Spirit of the Black Moon had clearly said that a wizard could dual-train the body up to the Fourth Rank, and that at that level, a profound transformation would occur.
Could it be that what the Tower Spirit meant by 'dual-training' was also dependent on bloodlines or mechanical modification? …No. The Black Moon Spirit Body doesn't require bloodline fusion or alterations at all. Simply by strengthening the spirit, the body itself continues to grow stronger…
Lynn pondered silently.
If the Tower Spirit's words were true, then Grace's explanation was wrong.
These schools and academies were each like sovereign nations in his past life, and the precious knowledge they guarded was no different from state secrets rarely shared and rarely circulated freely.
That the academy's knowledge might be incomplete or even flawed was something Lynn had already anticipated, so he wasn't surprised.
Still, this only shows from another angle how incredibly rare a transcendent path that keeps the body pure truly is…
Grace's voice drew him back:
"Returning to the main point, the greatest difference between a First-Rank Wizard and an apprentice truly lies in the spirit.
More precisely… it lies in the Spirit Sea."
Her tone deepened noticeably when she spoke the last two words.
"The Spirit Sea is what separates First-Rank Wizards from apprentices.
In fact, the process of advancing to First-Rank Wizard is the very process of opening up one's Spirit Sea."
She paused, giving the apprentices a moment to digest her words, then continued:
"To open the Spirit Sea, a wizard must rely on two key elements:
One is the Meditation Method, the other is the Seed of Talent.
As for meditation methods, you need not worry. The Hossen's Meditation Method reaches as high as the Third Rank. So long as you earn enough contribution points, you can exchange them."
Grey's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to ask another question. Grace glanced at him and added:
"Even if the meditation method you practiced as an apprentice wasn't Hossen's, it doesn't matter. Before advancing to First Rank, you still have the chance to switch."
Grey's shoulders loosened, relief showing on his face.
So the Hossen's Meditation Method caps at Third Rank… Lynn thought silently, though he quickly warned himself not to aim too high too soon.
Forget the Third Rank for him; even the First Rank still lay a distance away.
"And as for the Seed of Talent," Grace continued, "that is what matters most to you.
If you wish to advance to First-Rank Wizard, you must plant the Seed of Talent within your spirit, nurture it until it sprouts, and at last expand it into a Spirit Sea.
Obtaining the seed, planting it, cultivating it, sustaining it, all of these steps are arduous."
…
Two days later, at the final compulsory lecture before the Goldthorn apprentices departed, Anderson's words echoed Grace's almost exactly:
"Planting the Seed of Talent, opening the Spirit Sea… It sounds simple. But in truth, this step is unimaginably difficult for the vast majority of wizard apprentices.
Even among you, the finest apprentices of the entire Hossens School, at most only twenty to thirty percent will ever advance to become true wizards. And those who can do so within ten years… cut that number down by half again."
Then his tone shifted.
"But that, mind you, is according to Hossens' past statistics.
Among apprentices of the same level at the Silverring Academy, the advancement rate is at least twice as high!
Now that the Hossens School has merged into the Silverring Academy, each year you'll spend four months there, enjoying the same treatment as their full apprentices.
That means many of you who once had little hope of reaching the First Rank now have real opportunities.
Perhaps it will be a lecture from a Third-Rank Wizard. Perhaps some resource granted as a task reward. One way or another, those four months each year at Silverring will be precious beyond measure. Seize them well."
At his words, the faces of the Goldthorn apprentices lit with eager expectation.
After all, who among them did not dream of becoming a true wizard?
Anderson was pleased with their fighting spirit, though his own expression remained solemn as he pressed on:
"However, I must warn you, Silverring Academy is nothing like Hossens.
Its atmosphere is harsher. The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. They look only at results, never at the process.
In past years, among the Hossens apprentices sent to study there, some never returned.
Your new status may lessen the pressure somewhat, but I still hope every one of you comes back alive…"
Anderson's tone had been calm, almost casual, yet the weight of his words was anything but light.
At that moment, Lynn suddenly recalled: just last year, nearly all of the Hossens elite apprentices who had been studying abroad at Silverring Academy had perished in a single ambush…
…
Anderson's lecture lasted two full hours, its main focus being the precautions to take when traveling to Silverring Academy.
The structure of Silverring's education was not so different from Hossens'.
It was still divided into two pillars: courses and tasks.
Courses were again split into free and paid, though unlike Hossens, there were no compulsory lessons.
Tasks, likewise, were divided into mandatory and optional, but at Silverring, the mandatory ones came twice each month.
It was worth noting that Silverring also enforced a grading and elimination system just like Hossens. There were three tiers of apprentices. The top two elite and ordinary could move between levels, but the last, the drudges, were permanently stuck. Evaluations took place every three months.
Of course, one could just as well say that Hossens had modeled its entire system after Silverring in the first place.
…
When the class ended, Anderson held back the three Goldthorn apprentices, as if intending to give them additional instructions.
As Goldthorns, their treatment was indeed a cut above that of the ordinary apprentices.
Lynn turned away, not lingering. He strode quickly from the classroom.
He had barely gone a few steps before another figure caught up to him.
"Lynn Kent?"
"…Mm." Lynn nodded, slowing his pace, curiosity flickering as he turned to look at the boy before him, the prodigy Samuel.
"Samuel." The youth gave a curt reply, his face unreadable.
"Samuel… and?" Lynn asked instinctively.
Normally, self-introductions include a full name.
Samuel hesitated for the briefest instant. A flicker of something like embarrassment flashed through his eyes. Then he answered:
"I don't have a surname yet. I'm just Samuel."
His expression remained outwardly calm, but his words came out faster than before, a little rushed, almost awkward.
It wasn't the lack of a surname that unsettled him; it was something else. Almost… social anxiety.
Lynn simply nodded and kept walking, Samuel falling into step beside him.
After a long silence, Samuel finally spoke again:
"I came to you because I want to buy your Silverring contribution points."
"…Mm," Lynn responded evenly, showing no hint of surprise.
When Samuel had approached, Lynn had already guessed: the only things on his person that might be worth such effort were his Silverring contribution points or his knowledge of runic arrays.
Seeing Lynn's calm reaction, Samuel faltered, unsure how to proceed. After a pause, he simply blurted out:
"Three hundred lesser magic stones for each point."
Three hundred each? Ten points… that's three thousand stones!
Lynn's heart stirred at the figure, but after a moment's thought, he shook his head.
"Apologies, Samuel. The fact that you're willing to spend so much just to buy them only proves their value is higher than that. For something beyond three hundred stones, I won't sell so lightly."
Samuel frowned faintly, his eyes clouded with confusion. Clearly, he hadn't expected Lynn to refuse such a generous offer.
And worse, he couldn't think of any counterargument to Lynn's reasoning.
Yet he had no choice. He needed those contribution points. And so, he simply continued walking at Lynn's side.
After all, he's still just a teenager…
Lynn thought for a moment, then reminded him,
"Lord Samuel, the same thing holds different value for different people… you'll need to prove that this trade benefits me as well."
Samuel carefully mulled over Lynn's words until at last he seemed to grasp the point.
"I'm buying Silverring contribution points so I can redeem a piece of knowledge before the Saint Ring Assembly in two months.
"The earlier I master it, the better. I don't have the time to take on Silverring's tasks, nor do I know any apprentices I can safely trade contribution points with… so I came to you."
Lynn almost asked why Samuel didn't turn to his father for help, but then recalled the elder's attitude during the Goldthorn selection. The answer became clear. Instead, he asked,
"What is the Saint Ring Assembly?"
"It's an annual trial Silverring Academy holds for first-rank apprentices. Those who participate stand to gain great benefits."
"How many contribution points are you short?"
"Just five."
"And what is this knowledge? How many contribution points does it cost in total?"
"Exactly one hundred and fifty, it's a high-quality spell."
Samuel was eager enough to buy that he answered all of Lynn's questions without reserve.
From him, Lynn gleaned much about the Silverring contribution point system. At last, he came to a decision and said,
"I have no further questions, Lord Samuel."
Samuel's face lit up. "Then our deal"
"Five hundred stones per point. If you can pay that, then I'm willing to sell."
Silverring's contribution points were far too valuable; three hundred stones a point wasn't nearly enough to move Lynn. But five hundred was different.
Samuel froze for a heartbeat, then nodded without hesitation.
"Deal."
…I still lack the knack for fleecing these rich scions, Lynn thought wryly, but in the end, he nodded in agreement.
The two signed a binding contract, agreeing to finalize the trade at Silverring Academy in two days. Samuel, magnanimous, paid the stones in advance.
With this haul, in just two or three days, my body should be able to reach first-rank strength!
Joy touched Lynn's features as he took his leave of Samuel.
Three days later, after the last compulsory lesson, the Goldthorn apprentices' departure day finally arrived.
August 1st, dawn.
Yet Lynn was still in his meditation chamber.
Outside, Adeline waited anxiously. When the time grew too late, she finally stepped up to the door, hand raised to knock.
But before she could, the door opened.
"Master, you're finally out, it's nearly seven o'clock…"
As she spoke, Adeline suddenly noticed something different about him.
The black-haired youth before her looked as though he had just emerged from a bath, his skin pale as jade, faintly radiant in the dim light.
"What is it, Adeline?"
"It's nothing." She shook her head. But when she looked again, the strangeness had faded, leaving only skin that seemed unnaturally flawless.
Lynn nodded, knowing she was sensing the aftereffects of his body's recent advancement to first rank.
The Black Moon Flesh seems to have undergone some peculiar change upon reaching first-rank…
It wasn't an abrupt transformation; it would take several more days before stabilizing, when he could properly assess it.
But time was running short…
He calmed his body, suppressing the outward anomalies.
After giving Adeline a few last instructions, he set off for the assembly point.
This time, the journey to Silverring Academy would be by teleportation array, with several transfers along the way. Barring mishaps, they would arrive at Silverring in just two days.
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