Griffith

The mornings in the Black Mist Forest always carried a sense of gloom. Scattered rays of sunlight pierced through the thick fog, casting a hazy golden glow over the ancient architecture.

At dawn, Robb stood on the workshop balcony, gazing out at the forest's misty sunrise.

The morning breeze brushed his cheek, and he could clearly feel the profound changes within himself.

The immense power of the Bloodline Knight flowed through his body. Within the Primal Chimera's four consciousness cores, the one representing the Crimsonblood Wyvern was steadily pumping searing blood into his heart.

It had been three days since he completed the bloodline activation ritual. During that time, he had been adjusting to the changes brought by the Primal Chimera bloodline and to the newly copied Crimsonblood Wyvern abilities within the first core.

Now, he could summon and retract dragon scales at will, even forming a thin, nearly invisible layer beneath the skin, providing protection without drawing attention.

"It's time," Robb muttered to himself, making final adjustments to his new dark gray robe.

He had prepared it specifically for today. Compared to the light gray worn by Elementary Apprentices, this deeper shade symbolized his upcoming change in status.

Valenwood stood at the door, holding a small wooden box in her hands.

"Master, I prepared a gift for you," she said carefully, offering the box.

Robb accepted it and opened the lid gently. Inside was a delicate brooch in the shape of a green leaf, with a tiny red gemstone set in its center, glinting warmly in the morning light.

"I used one of my leaves and a crimson crystal left from your potion crafting," Valenwood explained, her vines softly trembling. "I hope it brings you good luck."

Robb was surprised. He hadn't expected such a thoughtful gift from her.

He carefully pinned the brooch to his robe, right over his heart.

"Thank you, Valenwood. This is the best gift I could receive," Robb said sincerely, warmth rising in his chest.

Leaving the workshop, Robb followed the cobblestone path toward the Central Tower.

Today, the Black Mist Forest was particularly quiet. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows across the ground.

As he walked, Robb's thoughts drifted to his recent achievements.

The Bloodline Knight class was now fully integrated. Thanks to the double breakthrough, his attribute gains had already qualified him for other professions.

"Demon Slayer requires 2.5 Physique. I'm at 2.7. Spellblade needs 2.5 Physique and 2.0 Spirit, I've already exceeded both."

He calculated mentally:

"But I'm still unfamiliar with how to perform magical organ grafting or forge a 'demonic blade.' I'll need to research those at the library."

The Bloodline Knight advancement had given him a critical insight: he could leverage synergies between classes to create a positive feedback loop of growth.

He could take up professions with relatively low entry requirements first, then use the resulting attribute boosts to qualify for more demanding ones.

This snowball strategy would allow him to progress rapidly across multiple supernatural paths.

"Once I become an Intermediate Apprentice and join the wizard candidate list, I'll gain access to more information on those classes."

Robb's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Passing through a tranquil garden, the Central Tower loomed ahead.

The towering structure was the heart of the Black Mist Forest and the school's administrative hub, where all major certifications and ceremonies were held.

He had arrived early. Only a few others were in line at the registration desk. The attendants here didn't just handle certifications, they also managed various clerical tasks.

Robb waited patiently at the end of the queue.

Ahead of him, an older male Apprentice was also undergoing certification. Judging by his tense expression, this wasn't his first attempt.

When it was Robb's turn, he stepped forward calmly and handed over his Elementary Apprentice badge and supporting documents.

"What are you here for?" asked a neatly dressed Intermediate Apprentice with a polite but distant tone.

"I'm here for Intermediate Apprentice certification and to apply for the Wizard Reserve Track. I've already met the required conditions."

Robb replied calmly, presenting a joint recommendation letter from Erik and Lia, as well as his test scores from last week.

Intermediate Apprentices were evaluated not only on spiritforce but also on comprehensive skills like spell construction. These test results served as solid proof.

The attendant raised his eyebrows after reviewing the documents.

"Jumping straight into third-tier courses? And a personal recommendation from Lord Erik?"

"Yes," Robb replied modestly. "I was fortunate to earn the recognition of both Erik and Lia, two High Apprentices."

The attendant used an alchemical device on the desk to confirm with his superiors, then nodded toward Robb.

"Since this involves the wizard candidate list, it's outside my authority. Please follow me to the designated certification chamber."

He led Robb through the hall and down a dim corridor.

Statues lined both sides, each one lifelike, as if they might awaken at any moment.

Robb noticed that some of the statues depicted strange, unidentifiable creatures.

"These are important figures in wizarding history," the attendant explained, noticing Robb's gaze.

"Not just humans. Any being that achieved greatness in the path of magic may be honored here."

Eventually, they stopped before a sapphire-inlaid door.

The attendant knocked three times, then stepped aside. "The certifier is inside. Good luck."

"Thank you," Robb nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed open the heavy gemstone door.

The room was unexpectedly simple. No ornate decorations or ritualistic instruments, just a plain oak table and a few chairs.

Behind the desk sat a stern middle-aged man with neatly combed gray hair and a face marked by time.

The immense, restrained magical aura he exuded made it clear, this was a true wizard.

Clearly, the school took its potential wizard candidates seriously, assigning a formal wizard to oversee their certifications.

"Good morning, young man," the certifier looked up, his eyes sharp with appraisal.

"I'm Solon Griffith, one of the candidate wizard certifiers. You're here for Intermediate Apprentice certification?"

"Yes, Lord Griffith." Robb bowed respectfully and handed over his documents.

"I'm Robb Reyne, profession: Potion Master."

Solon took the documents and read through them carefully, his brows alternating between furrowed and relaxed.

"Interesting," he finally said, staring at Robb. "You became an Elementary Apprentice less than six months ago, and now you're ready for Intermediate?"

"Yes, sir," Robb answered calmly.

"Typically, it takes three to five years to reach this point," Solon said with clear skepticism. "Your pace is… unusually fast."

Robb had anticipated this reaction.

He nodded slightly, his tone modest yet firm: "I understand your concerns, Lord Griffith. Actually, this is due to a special talent I possess."

Solon raised an eyebrow. "Special talent?"

"Yes. It's called Potion Resonance," Robb explained cautiously. "It allows me to absorb potion effects more efficiently, especially those enhancing spiritforce."

Solon's eyes grew sharp.

"Potion Resonance... Yes, that's listed in the Register of Special Talents, second-tier classification. How did you discover this ability?"

"At first, I simply noticed that potions worked unusually well on me. Later, I ran comparison tests with some peers, and gradually confirmed it."

Robb's response was measured, neither boastful nor falsely humble. His demonstrated skill in potion brewing was already proof enough.

"Interesting. Very interesting." Solon tapped the desk thoughtfully.

"That explains your accomplishments in potion-making, but your rapid spirit growth is still remarkable."

After a brief pause, he stood up.

"In any case, we must conduct formal testing. Follow me."

He led Robb through several hallways to a chamber surrounded by magical barriers.

At its center stood a large crystal, like a vertical mirror.

"This is the Star Mirror. It reflects one's spirit strength and quality," Solon explained. "Stand in front of it and focus your spiritforce."

Robb nodded, approached the crystal, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

He focused on his mental core, then slowly released a wave of spiritforce toward the mirror.

The crystal immediately lit up with a bright blue glow. Inside, countless star-like motes swirled and clustered until they formed a brilliant orb of light.

"3.6 units of spirit strength…" Solon's voice was tinged with surprise. "That's far beyond the Intermediate Apprentice threshold, and the quality is excellent. No chaotic fluctuations."

He observed the glowing orb for a moment longer before signaling Robb to stop.

"One more test: spell construction." Solon retrieved a special crystal tablet from a cabinet. "Build a triple-layered spell model on this, and maintain it for at least one minute."

Robb nodded and took the crystal tablet, focusing once again.

This was exactly what he had practiced extensively under Erik. He was more than prepared.

His spiritforce flowed into the tablet, constructing a complex, three-tiered ring structure.

Thanks to his Stability Trait, the model was extraordinarily stable. The three energy rings stacked perfectly, forming a unified and harmonious whole.

"Exceptional control," Solon remarked with clear approval. "Even some veteran apprentices struggle to achieve this level of stability."

The test ended with praise. Solon led Robb back to the original room and signed the certification documents.

"Congratulations, Robb Reyne. You are now an official Intermediate Apprentice of the Black Mist Order, and a member of the Reserve Wizard Track."

Solon handed Robb a light blue apprentice badge.

"This is your new insignia. It reflects your rank and standing."

Robb accepted the badge carefully, sensing a faint mana pulse within.

The badge was more than a symbol, it was a basic mana reservoir, capable of providing a small emergency reserve of power.

"Thank you, Lord Griffith," Robb said respectfully, bowing.