"When did those two get so close?"
Colin watched Haywood, who was expressionless even as he clutched his stabbed right shoulder, and Charlie, shielded behind his robust figure, and couldn't help but think crookedly.
Charlie, obviously unaware of his indecent thoughts, finally recovered from the blindness and looked somewhat angry as he shouted outside:
"Owen, bring everyone else in!"
Colin furrowed his brows, a rush of thoughts crossing his mind. Although he was not afraid of being outnumbered, it wasn't easy to hold his own without using lethal force, especially since he had no combat skills.
"Looks like I have to avoid the brunt for now."
He turned off his Light Brightness Skill and retreated towards the window.
"What's happening here?" Just then, a middle-aged man in a wizard robe walked in from the doorway, his silver badge on his chest shining brightly.
He must be a Second Class Apprentice of the Wizard Territory Patrol Team.
Colin stopped and started to explain the situation.
However, Charlie was one step ahead of him, speaking to the Second Class Apprentice of the patrol team:
"It's nothing, sir, we were just sparring."
"Is that so?"
The Second Class Apprentice cast an inquiring look at Colin.
Colin paused for a moment, then decisively said, "They attacked me without any reason, sir."
The Second Class Apprentice raised his eyebrow.
"You're slandering!" At that moment, the thin Owen burst in from outside.
He looked at Colin and then feigned anger: "It was you who stole Charlie's sword! That's why we came to find you, you habitual criminal!"
A surge of anger rose in Colin's chest as he said in a deep voice:
"The sword was bought by myself in town, sir, I can confront the shop owner."
"That sword is clearly not ordinary; how could you afford it! Charlie was a Prince before coming here, and the sword was clearly his personal weapon!"
"Sir, if you don't believe me, ask the apprentices outside."
Owen's voice was loud enough to carry outside.
And indeed, the outside voices chimed in in agreement: "Yes, sir, we can all testify!"
Hearing this, the Second Class Apprentice frowned at Colin, skepticism evident on his face.
Colin's heart sank.
"Have all those apprentices been brainwashed by Charlie? Why are they all speaking for him?"
"Sir, I can find the shop owner to …" he quickly tried to explain.
"Enough!" The middle-aged Second Class Apprentice frowned and interrupted Colin, "I don't care what the reason is, fighting is forbidden within the school, come with me to the confinement room."
"Sir, they are framing—"
"Enough, you three," the Second Class Apprentice waved his hand, interrupting Colin again, then looked at Owen standing at the doorway, "and you, come with me to the confinement room."
Charlie's expression changed drastically; he tried to remain calm:
"Sir! We were really just sparring—"
Buzz—
Semi-transparent ropes suddenly appeared on the four of them, binding them and momentarily sealing Charlie's mouth.
"I don't like to repeat myself, now, come with me to the confinement room."
Whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, the semi-transparent ropes swiftly disappeared, and the Second Class Apprentice turned and walked toward the door.
Charlie couldn't help coughing a few times, his head lowered and his expression gloomy.
Colin, however, didn't feel particularly disturbed; he hadn't removed his steel armor, and, being a Great Knight, he always wore armor, so the semi-transparent ropes hadn't actually constricted him.
He sighed, took off his sunglasses, and followed the Second Class Apprentice.
At this point, confinement was inevitable.
The Lap School generally did not encourage malicious strife among its members. After all, if members of the same power were fighting each other, how could such a power develop and grow?
But the school also didn't have too many specific regulations in place—just a red line that life shouldn't be harmed.
So, the punishment for such an actual brawl was generally based on the patrol team member's discretion.
And the Second Class Apprentice they encountered clearly disliked trouble.
...
Ten minutes later, Colin and the others were brought to the confinement room.
This was a row of small stone houses on the north side of the residential area.
They were intermittently locked up.
The confinement room had no windows, just a vent on one side of the ceiling that was also opaque.
Bang!
The iron door shut tightly, and the room immediately fell into darkness.
Hum—
A soft white light emanated from Colin's hand.
He carried several Bright Crystals made of pure crystal.
Bright Crystals made from pure crystal provided longer illumination, about 8 hours, and could be recharged around 30 times.
Of course, they were also more expensive.
With the white light, Colin could see the layout of the room.
To the left was a wooden bed with only a straw mat on it, which looked relatively clean.
To its right was a small earthen stove, and a toilet was placed at the foot of the bed.
Being put in the Confinement Room wasn't too severe a punishment; it was more like being sent to a different place for ascetic practice.
Apart from not being able to leave and the absence of windows, life here wasn't much different from being at home, including cooking for oneself.
Personal belongings were not confiscated.
Colin remembered being here before, back during his early adolescence.
At that time, scuffles among children were inevitable.
If the injuries weren't too severe, confinement was often the punishment.
A Second Class Apprentice had told them before leaving that the confinement would last ten days.
'Not too long a time; consider it closed-door training, especially since Bright Crystals aren't selling well nowadays...'
Colin leaped up and placed the Bright Crystal on the beam.
Then, he tidied up the room briefly and continued with his usual study and cultivation routine.
*
*
*
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Though each day was full, Colin still felt somewhat haggard.
He dismissed his earlier thoughts that it was almost the same.
Life indeed hadn't changed much, except that he couldn't view scenery or sell crystals.
Yet for some reason, everything felt different.
One could say… sometimes not being able to leave and choosing not to leave might look the same on the surface.
But psychologically, they were entirely different concepts.
But now, at last, the tenth day had arrived.
He took down the Bright Crystal from the beam and placed it beside the bed.
Sitting on the bed, with a thought, he summoned the Golden Paper.
Pale gold particles converged.
[Name: Colin Leonard]
[Rank: Basic Level Wizard Apprentice (95/100); Great Knight (11/100)]
[Meditation Method: Apprentice Period Circulation Meditation I (25/100); Sunlight Breathing Method I (60/100)]
[Witchcraft: Fire-making Skill I (40/100); Condensing Water Skill I (30/100); Light Brightness Skill I (45/100); Cleaning Technique (1/100); Steel Armor (50/100); Arrow Shooting Skill (50/100)]
[Skill: Basic Level Magic Crystal Making—(Bright Crystal Making I↑ (100/100)]
[Limit Breaking Point: 18]
Colin exhaled slowly.
Finally, in five more days, the journey of a Basic Level Wizard Apprentice would reach its limit.
'I wonder if it's like with Knights, without a bottleneck, and I can advance directly.'
Creak—
Just then, the wooden door slowly opened, and the dazzling sunlight streamed in.
Colin squinted his eyes involuntarily and extinguished the Bright Crystal.
"Ten days are up, you can leave now," said the Second Class Apprentice standing at the door, indifferently.
Although the confinement had been tough, it had avoided accidents.
Colin's heart stirred suddenly.
But the next second, he looked up to meet the Second Class Apprentice's cold expression, felt a chill in his heart, and quickly suppressed any further thoughts.
He knew that just advancing wasn't enough; he had to report to the Central Castle...
The Second Class Apprentice in front of him was not easy to talk to, and if he delayed...
"Understood, sir," he responded softly.