Chapter 39: Benefits of a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice

At the central building of Lilith's Cottage in the heart of the port city, Locke entered the office of Sassari, the First-Class Wizard Apprentice and resident instructor of the All Things Class.

Sassari was also the resident teacher for Basic Magic Power Studies, one of the three foundational public courses. Additionally, he was a dark elf—a rare sight within the academy.

Sassari raised an eyebrow as he examined the application Locke handed him. "I believe you haven't attended my Basic Magic Power Studies class for nearly a week now."

"To think you've already become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."

"I recall you only joined our academy last year, and your aptitude wasn't above level five. I make it a point to remember the names of all Wizard Seedlings with level five or higher aptitude..."

"Yet, some of those level-five Wizard Seedlings from last year's batch still haven't advanced to Second-Class Wizard Apprentice..."

His expression turned inquisitive as he studied Locke with keen curiosity.

As a First-Class Wizard Apprentice at Lilith's Cottage, it was only natural for him to show interest in such an unusual situation.

Locke remained unfazed, knowing he could always rely on Teacher Sophia's reputation. "Well, Teacher Sophia mentioned I might possess a special talent that wasn't detected during enrollment."

"My Mana is naturally much more stable than others."

Sassari nodded immediately, his expression clearing as if everything made sense now. "I see. Then you're truly fortunate."

"At this rate of progress, you're nearly matching the advancement speed of level-six Wizard Seedlings."

"Mana stability... Understood. That means your talent would be best suited for Potionology, Alchemy Studies, or Enchantment Studies."

"I recall Lady Sophia is a first-circle Potion Master and Breeder, and the All Things Class I teach happens to be a prerequisite for those two disciplines."

Without hesitation, Sassari signed the application. "Since this is Lady Sophia's recommendation, there's no need for me to scrutinize it further."

"Go to the payment office outside and submit your Magic Stones."

The All Things Class was considered an advanced course. Even if a third-class wizard apprentice had enough Magic Stones to enroll early, they would typically be blocked by the resident instructor.

After all, the Wizard World was far from safe and harmless.

Many courses posed risks even to wizards with insufficient Mana—simply attending lectures could be dangerous.

Wizard Seedlings often carried several academy-related training contracts, and Lilith's Cottage naturally didn't want to see them perish needlessly in class.

Moreover, First-Class Wizard Apprentices who accepted academy tasks found deaths or incidents in their classrooms troublesome, so they imposed certain entry barriers.

Only with their approval could Locke pay the fees and attend the course.

Locke bowed respectfully to the dark elf Sassari (as junior wizard apprentices were required to show basic courtesy to their seniors in the academy) before leaving his office.

He then walked to another wooden hut and reluctantly handed over 150 Magic Stones to a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice at the payment office.

The Second-Class Wizard Apprentice checked the Magic Stones and application form, confirmed the signature, then said to Locke in a gentle tone, "Augustine, all set. I've registered your name. From now on, you can attend the All Things Class."

Locke nodded at him and turned to leave.

Instead of returning to Dwarf Alley, he walked to a street in the port city and hailed a two-wheeled cart pulled by a lizardman before boarding. "To the Anvil Square in the southeast."

The registration office for Lilith's Cottage was located at Anvil Square.

The lizardman cart driver, noticing the wizard apprentice robe Locke wore, immediately replied respectfully, "Right away, Wizard."

About half an hour later, Locke arrived at Anvil Square and entered a wooden hut hidden and protected by a barrier there.

After stating his purpose, Locke underwent a mental energy test using the Amethyst Matrix at the registration desk. The number [54] appeared on it.

'My mental energy increased by a point. Ah, right—it must have grown a bit after I mastered the spell model for Magical Flame,' Locke thought. 'Also, over these five days, I've fully digested those strange substances from the Rose Ruby lingering in my mental energy.'

'So my mental energy passively improved.'

'Whatever those strange substances in the Rose Ruby are, they can actually enhance a wizard apprentice's mental energy. Even as a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, I'm still seeing improvements.'

Locke mused, 'Though the rate of increase is much slower now—only a third of what it used to be.'

'The All Things Class is a general course on understanding the world. I hope attending it will help me figure out what that special substance inside the Rose Ruby actually is.'

Locke didn't dare show the Rose Ruby to Teacher Sophia.

After all, he couldn't explain the gem's origin, nor did he know its true value or whether it might draw the attention of a Formal Wizard.

A halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice at the registration desk stared at the number on the Amethyst Matrix, momentarily stunned before breaking into a warm smile.

Halflings, a subspecies of humans, were a unique race found only in mid-magic regions like the Southeastern Corner. They were generally shorter than a ten-year-old human child but far more cunning and smooth-tongued.

The halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice said to Locke, "Congratulations, Senior! I see you only joined our academy last year, yet you've already become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice in just a year."

"That's an impressive pace."

"I'm sure you'll advance to First-Class Wizard Apprentice in no time, Senior."

Locke was momentarily taken aback by being called "Senior," but he quickly understood—in the Wizard World, seniority was determined by ability, and the halfling was clearly trying to flatter him.

Despite both being Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, the halfling before him was already past fifty, with white hair and wrinkles on his face.

Only those who had given up on progress—Second-Class Wizard Apprentices like him—would waste their lives working at a registration office instead of serving as assistants in the labs or shops of First-Class Wizard Apprentices or Formal Wizards.

Thus, the gap in their status was vast, and it was only natural for the halfling to address him as "Senior" in hopes of currying favor.

Of course, this was also a form of self-protection.

Other Second-Class Wizard Apprentices who advanced quickly might not be as easygoing as him.

The halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice respectfully handed Locke a badge representing Lilith's Cottage. "Senior Augustine, this is our academy's badge. All Second-Class Wizard Apprentices wear it on their Wizard robes."

"To signify their status."

"And secondly, it grants access to areas only Second-Class Wizard Apprentices may enter."

(End of chapter)