After Yuli Burns led away the Wizard Seedlings with fifth and sixth-level aptitudes, Locke and Raun discovered they had been assigned to different mentors among the remaining group.
Raun's letter read: "Energy School Light Magic Sub-Direction, First-Circle Wizard, Mentor of the Southeast Corner Light Energy Society, Medical Wizard Mentor of Lilith's Cottage, Inventor of the Death Ray Spell, Mr. Hammerke Uus."
Meanwhile, Locke's letter simply stated: "Life School Plant Magic Sub-Direction, First-Circle Wizard, Sophia Seraphina."
Raun remarked curiously, "Why does my assigned mentor have so many titles, while yours only has the simple title of First-Circle Wizard?"
Locke shrugged. "Who knows? Anyway, the title of Formal Wizard is the most valuable one. Raun, I'll head to the designated location in the letter first."
Raun bid farewell, saying, "Alright. But judging by this situation, it seems we'll have to find our own place to live in Lilith's Cottage's city after enrollment. How about we live together? We can look out for each other. You and your two friends don't seem to have been assigned to the same wizard academy, and neither have I. I don't trust anyone else."
Locke had no objections. "Fine. After I return from Mentor Sophia, let's meet again here."
Patty remained at Verdantia University, while Code was rejected by Verdantia University and ended up joining a small wizard organization called the [Raven Perch Troupe]. This organization seemed to have only one First-Circle Wizard and was recently established, lacking apprentices. So Locke agreed immediately.
Living with Raun would be beneficial for him, ensuring mutual safety. Moreover, Raun had good character and wasn't the nosy type, so Locke didn't have to worry about exposing any of his secrets.
Carrying his luggage and holding the recommendation letter, Locke traversed the port city of Lilith's Cottage, heading toward the wooden house at the southwestern edge of the city. Along the way, his identity as a wizard apprentice ensured no one dared to obstruct him. People on the street silently made way for him—the status of a wizard apprentice seemed highly respected here.
Soon, Locke reached the outskirts of the port city. Ahead, in the fields, stood several simple wooden houses surrounded by circles of pebbles. When Locke crossed these pebble circles with the recommendation letter, the seal in the upper right corner of the letter suddenly glowed red, growing hot. Then, Locke passed through the barrier and entered the wooden house.
Lilith's Cottage was an open-type wizard organization, so its buildings were scattered across nearby cities. However, without special tokens, outsiders couldn't enter these houses—they couldn't even approach or see them.
Upon entering the cobblestone barrier, Locke realized that these small wooden cottages were actually quite tall, with spacious interiors. The cottages housed numerous experimental apparatuses and a considerable collection of books.
Locke turned his gaze toward the central cottage where someone was present.
Through the open office door, he saw a young witch wearing a monocle and a gray wizard's hat adorned with a winding vine. She was seated at her desk, swiftly sketching an extraordinarily complex spell model with a quill.
Her writing speed was remarkable—completing an intricate spell model diagram in roughly three minutes before tossing it aside with evident dissatisfaction.
Her desk was already piled with spell model drafts stacked half a person's height.
"Hmm? An unfamiliar little wizard apprentice, what brings you to my office? I'm quite busy at the moment." Mentor Sophia spoke without looking up, continuing to draft the spell model. Her voice sounded unexpectedly youthful, as if she were barely in her twenties, even carrying a somewhat childish tone.
Locke was taken aback. He hadn't expected Mentor Sophia to be so unexpectedly approachable.
He produced the letter of recommendation. "Teacher Seraphina, I'm this year's new student from Lilith's Cottage, Locke Augustine."
"The academy assigned me as your student. I'm here to report."
At his words, Sophia Seraphina's quill paused. She finally looked up, revealing a strikingly young face. Her expression was one of surprise as she exclaimed, "The academy actually assigned me a student?"
"But I haven't even signed a contract with the academy yet."
Sophia coughed, attempting to muster the dignity befitting a Wizard Mentor and a First-Circle Wizard, as if only now remembering her position. She even cast a spell to change the color of a flower on the vine adorning her wizard's hat from pink to a more authoritative white.
With a wave of her hand, the letter of recommendation flew from Locke's grasp into hers. After a brief inspection, she confirmed, "This is indeed Lilith's Cottage's seal."
"It seems they've assigned you to me."
Sophia muttered under her breath, "Looks like the academy is trying hard to keep me. But..."
Turning to Locke, she explained, "Alright, Locke Augustine, was it? I've reviewed your file. Third-tier aptitude is somewhat middling, but aptitude isn't everything. If you study diligently, nothing about your future is set in stone."
"Since I only became a Formal Wizard a month ago, I don't have any First Class Wizard Apprentices under my personal guidance—meaning you won't have senior students above you."
Sophia seemed slightly embarrassed as she continued, "Therefore, all your specialized courses will be taught by me personally. Is that acceptable?"
"During my time as a First Class Wizard Apprentice, I substituted in teaching many courses for First-Circle Wizards, so I'm not entirely inexperienced in this regard."
Locke blinked. Now he understood why Raun's letter of recommendation listed numerous titles for his mentor, while his own bore only the simple title of First-Circle Wizard.
It turned out his assigned mentor had only been a Formal Wizard for a single month.
In other words, Sophia the Witch was essentially a First Class Wizard Apprentice who had just become a Formal Wizard.
Naturally, she didn't put on airs, nor did she have any First Class Wizard Apprentices under her who could teach. Therefore, she had to take on the teaching duties herself.
But this was actually advantageous for me.
After all, normally one would need to become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice to even have a chance of meeting a Formal Wizard, and even then, meeting them a few times a year would be considered fortunate.
Yet due to these special circumstances, I essentially had a Formal Wizard teaching every specialized class.
(End of Chapter)