Chapter 37: Magical Flame

Inside the Magical Creature Cultivation Room.

Locke resisted the Dryad's passive Human Charm while using a small knife to slit its wrist and extract its blood.

"Human, you will surely be torn to pieces by our Dryad tribe."

"I will use your heart to incubate a new Dryad!"

The Dryad struggled violently, attempting to break free. But in the next moment, the previously invisible Mandala Vine seized its throat, squeezing its neck so it could neither move nor speak.

A normal Dryad's combat ability was at least equivalent to a First-Class Wizard Apprentice.

However, all the iron cages in this cultivation room were enchanted with restraining and suppressing Spells from the Enchantment School. Thus, Locke only needed to use a single Vine Hand to subdue this enraged Dryad.

But if he were to open the cage, things would be different.

This Dryad would likely unlock all the cages of the Magical Creatures in the cultivation room in the shortest time possible, inciting a massive rebellion-style escape.

The Dryad hung suspended in midair inside the cage, staring in confusion at the space before it. Due to the Mandala Vine's invisibility, the Dryad couldn't even discern what had attacked it.

"What... is this..."

"Damn... wizard apprentice..."

"Once I get out..."

After collecting 500ml of Dryad Blood, Locke sheathed his knife. The Dryad's rough, bark-like skin rapidly healed, leaving only a scar resembling tree bark.

Locke examined the Dryad Blood in his hand—green in color but with a translucent, glass-like sheen.

Like green glass.

"To wizards, every part of a Dryad is a treasure," Locke mused. "But capturing and containing them is fraught with danger."

"Only a First-Class Wizard Apprentice or higher should attempt to capture Magical Creatures of this caliber."

He draped a black cloth over the cage to prevent the Dryad from using Human Charm on other Magical Creatures, avoiding unnecessary risks.

He had once read in a miscellaneous book about a wizard apprentice who housed a Dryad with a kobold. The Dryad charmed the kobold and used it to escape the laboratory.

Human Charm could affect any humanoid creature with a certain level of intelligence.

Leaving the cultivation room, Locke headed to Sophia's potion workshop—the wooden hut where she brewed her Magic Potions.

Inside the potion room, shelves were lined with jars and bottles containing specimens of bizarre creatures, many labeled with warnings against casual handling.

Using the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method, Locke combined the Dryad Bloodline with Sophia's Bloodline Extraction Potion, isolating the required Dryad Bloodline Essence before handing it to her. "Teacher, here's the Dryad Bloodline Essence—two portions in total."

Sophia nodded. "Mm, set it over there."

"Locke, now that you're a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, it's time you learned something more useful."

"From now on, you'll be responsible for providing the magical flames for my potion brewing."

Locke asked in confusion, "Teacher, what are magical flames?"

With a wave of Sophia's hand, the entire potion laboratory cabin illuminated as colorful flames roared to life within each cauldron. There were red, blue, green, purple, and even blended hues.

The Witch Sophia raised her right hand, and a cyan flame settled into her palm. "Generally speaking, a Potionology assistant for a Formal Wizard must at least be a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, sometimes even requiring a First Class Wizard Apprentice."

"That's because a Potionology assistant needs to help their teacher control both the intensity and type of magical flame."

"Among all miscellaneous studies, Potionology, Alchemy, and Enchanting are the most complex."

Sophia continued, "To become an independent Breeder, one only needs to reach First Class Wizard Apprentice level."

"But to be an independent Potionologist, one must achieve the magic rank of a First-Circle Wizard."

Sophia explained, "During potion brewing, the requirements for flames are exceptionally high. The temperature and properties of the flame are crucial factors affecting the brewing process."

"For example, this Wood Element Magic Flame in my hand has the gentlest properties, being nature-friendly with a temperature of about 1,400 degrees Celsius. It's one of the more commonly used magical flames."

"Different colored flames have different temperatures and properties." Sophia suddenly clenched her fist, extinguishing the cyan flame, then opened her palm to reveal a red flame dancing at its center. "This is Fire Element Flame, with a temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius and explosive properties. We use this type of magical flame when brewing particularly potent magic potions."

Sophia lectured, "So far, you've been exposed to the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method. Now I'll teach you more advanced magical flame techniques."

"But these are still just peripheral knowledge of Potionology. To become a true Potionologist, what assistants know is far from enough."

"Locke, the path of magic is vast. You have a long journey ahead."

"But for now, mastering these skills will at least make you a competent assistant."

Locke listened with rapt attention.

This was the benefit of being a Formal Wizard's only student.

Such knowledge wouldn't normally be available to him under other Formal Wizards.

Other Formal Wizards wouldn't make a newly promoted Second-Class Wizard Apprentice—a mere Wizard Seedling—their Potionology assistant either.

Sophia said to Locke, "I'll give you the spell model for magical flames. The technique involves using this model to summon flames while injecting elemental particles in different proportions."

"This way you can create flames with different attributes."

"But this is just the beginning. Different potions require different magical flames. Sometimes, when brewing a single potion, you might need to switch between several, even dozens of flame types."

"Alright, now try summoning a Wood Element Particle flame in this cauldron of mine."

Locke paused momentarily before accepting the spell model scroll Sophia handed him, beginning his study from scratch.

But at this moment, Wesley Durant, who had remained silent all along, finally couldn't hold back from speaking. "Sophia, I have no objections to you having your student practice Magical Flame."

"But by the time he masters it, I'm afraid I'll already be reduced to a pile of mush by the Thousand Holes Curse."

"Find someone else for him to practice on."

The witch Sophia glanced at him. "Wesley, so now you're scared."

"However, it's not a big problem."

"Your First Circle Permanent Defense Field [All-Metal Digester] is an extremely powerful Permanent Defense Magic. At least for the next week, you won't actually die."

"Locke has exceptional talent in Mana stabilization. The spell model for Magical Flame is very simple—the key is stable Mana output, and he's quite gifted in this aspect. So you needn't worry."

Under Wesley Durant's slightly panicked gaze, Witch Sophia found a chair to sit down and actually began flipping through a book, starting to read.

(End of Chapter)