"It seems that only by traveling to the City of Sorcerers and seeking out those who specialize in psionics can there be any hope of a cure," Philip sighed, shaking his head, cautioning Lynn not to harbor too much hope.
Though the girl's body was preserved in ice, seemingly unchanged, it had already been over half a month; her soul was likely long dissipated.
Lynn felt a tinge of disappointment at Philip's words. He didn't have a deep bond with White Dove, but she had used the Soul Scream to help him defeat Anseluk. Thus, he was determined to do his utmost to save her.
"Keep her frozen for now. I happen to know a master of psionics who might be able to help… if he has the time," Helram suddenly suggested.
Kevin, Philip, and the others looked at Helram in astonishment. Summoning a psionic master just to save an apprentice who might already be dead seemed excessive.
Only Orlando showed a trace of resignation on his face, as if he had expected this.
"Thank you very much, Master Helram!" Johnny bowed deeply, his voice full of gratitude.
Lynn, too, expressed his thanks to the grand sorcerer, somewhat surprised by the offer.
Following Helram's suggestion, the refrozen White Dove was transferred to the medical ward at Iyetta Academy, while Lynn and Johnny were taken to their respective quarters for professors and students.
...
"Professor Lynn, this will be your residence from now on," Theodore said as he led Lynn into a room.
As he stepped inside, Lynn took in his surroundings. The room was spacious and far more than just a simple bedroom. It was equipped with a small alchemy table, herb-grinding apparatus, a well-stocked bookshelf, a bed, and chairs—everything one could need. By the standards of this era, it was truly luxurious!
This is how life should be…
Lynn mused to himself, comparing it to the time he spent evading the Church's pursuit within the Sekas Empire, where he slept on straw mats, ate coarse black bread, and lived like a refugee.
Indeed, risking the journey to the land of sorcerers was the right decision.
"If there's anything else you need, you can request it from Master Helram," Theodore added. "But preferably something related to your teaching."
"Understood, I'll keep that in mind," Lynn nodded, not intending to pass up the chance to ask for anything useful.
"By the way, Mr. Theodore, can the currency from the Sekas Empire still be used here?" Lynn inquired.
Theodore shook his head, "Certainly not, but you can exchange those gold coins at the exchange office in the port. The rate is roughly two Sekas gold coins for one magic coin…
Additionally, as an academy professor, at the beginning of each month, you'll receive a base salary of three magic coins, along with a variable research grant based on the number of students who enroll in your new courses."
Theodore explained the details of a professor's salary, the currency exchange process, and the monetary system of the sorcerer's land. Seeing that Lynn had no further questions, he took his leave.
As soon as the door fully closed, the composed expression on Lynn's face faded. He sat down on the chair nearby, a hint of unease surfacing on his face.
Lying in front of a grand sorcerer whose power far exceeded his own was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
Every lie carries the risk of being exposed. Had it not been for the turmoil caused in the port town, Lynn would never have concocted such a plan.
Fortunately, the outcome was as he had hoped. The most challenging hurdle had been cleared, and the situation was better than expected. Not only were they not punished, but they were also granted certain privileges.
The next crucial step was to eliminate the final flaw and become a formal sorcerer!
Lynn tapped his index finger on the armrest, deep in thought.
Earlier, Theodore had also explained in detail the process for city residents to enroll in the academy and advance further.
Typically, at the beginning of each year, children who had reached the age of twelve in the harbor city would be tested for their magical talent. Those who passed would pay a tuition fee and be admitted to Iyetta Academy, becoming honored sorcerer apprentices.
After several years of study, when their magical growth stagnated, they would take a potion known as the "Source of Magic" to break through the final barrier.
Of course, this potion was not easily acquired, as it was directly distributed by the City of Sorcerers.
According to the academy's rules, apprentices needed to complete one or two courses and obtain the approval and recommendation of the respective professors.
Lynn immediately saw this as a way for the academies and even the Sorcerers' Council to monopolize the right of commoners to advance as sorcerers.
Officially, the council's reasoning was noble—to prevent some ill-intentioned apprentices from obtaining greater magical power.
Now that he had secured a professor's position at the academy, Lynn theoretically had the authority to request a promotion potion for an apprentice from the council. However, doing so meant that he would have to go through the formal process and risk being reported.
The second option was to bypass the academy and the council and acquire the potion through other means.
For instance… purchasing it from the black market.
Wherever there is demand, there is always a market—it's only a matter of the price.
Since the "Source of Magic" is a potion, there must be alchemists who know how to craft it. If he could somehow obtain the formula and make it himself, it would be the safest option!
With this thought in mind, Lynn gathered his scattered thoughts and began his daily meditation. The boundless sea of elements once again unfolded before him.
No matter what, before acquiring the promotion potion, he had to ensure that his magic and mental strength were at their peak.
The original Karl had been an ordinary sorcerer apprentice, having only studied magic for about six months.
Fortunately, the fusion of souls during the time-travel had significantly boosted his mental strength, allowing his body to hold more magic. According to the theory of marginal magic growth in "Universal Principles of Magic," it would likely take another two or three months before he reached that bottleneck…
The cost of purchasing the "Source of Magic," the intelligence on potions, and the time required to increase his magical power… These are the three essential elements that stand in his way to becoming a formal sorcerer!