Breathe. Just breathe…
Lucian forced himself to stay calm. He knew he was no match for Norian in his current state; with most of his magical tools sold off, his combat ability had plummeted. While outright killing within the academy was prohibited, there were plenty of ways to "cause trouble" without crossing any official lines.
Moreover, even if he fought for the third-grade student, it was clear that Yellen had already decided to leave. For Lucian, binding such a student—one who wasn't fully committed—was too risky. After all, once a student was bound, it was a permanent bond.
In truth, a third-grade aptitude wasn't particularly impressive either.
Lucian's expression shifted as he considered his options. In the end, he forced down his frustration. He realized that his best move was to minimize losses, not to try and stand his ground without cause. But he couldn't afford to appear completely weak; weakness would only invite more opportunists in this brutal wizarding world.
After a pause, he looked at Norian coldly and said in the detached tone common among wizards, "Five magic stones."
The smile on Norian's face faded slightly as he weighed the price. Rational as any wizard, he quickly calculated the value. Had Lucian demanded ten stones, Norian would have refused outright. But five stones was tolerable; it wasn't worth the trouble to push further for someone in Lucian's condition.
With a flash of yellow in his eyes, Norian laughed. "Very well, five magic stones. Let's finalize this with a wizard's contract."
With a flick of his wrist, five stones—each the size of a small egg—rattled to the floor of Lucian's lab.
Lucian took a deep breath, picking up the contracts that Norian tossed his way. After verifying that there were no hidden clauses, he imprinted his spiritual mark on them.
"Well then, I won't intrude any longer," Norian said, smiling as he took his copy of the contract and left.
Lucian stood at his laboratory door, silently seething, taking slow, deep breaths to calm the frustration welling inside him. In this world, power was the only guarantee of one's rights.
Lucian thought of this phrase bitterly. He was no longer in the relatively peaceful world he'd left behind. Now, he was in a realm where only the strong could dictate terms, and only the weak expected others to act fairly. Here, weakness meant an inevitable fate on an opponent's dissection table, perhaps even as part of someone's collection after death.
If he had still been at full strength, Norian wouldn't have dared to provoke him. And if he were an official wizard, he could have retaliated openly, even if it meant facing some penalties from the academy.
Lucian's expression shifted through a range of emotions, finally settling into a look of cold resolve. Strength. Strength. Strength.
Exhaling slowly, Lucian turned on his heel with newfound determination. This helplessness? Once is enough.
Of everyone present, it was the small, quiet Carrie who felt the most on edge. Noticing that Lucian was still standing at the door lost in thought, she carefully bent down, picked up the five magic stones that had fallen to the floor, and placed them on his workbench. Then she returned to her spot, head bowed, looking like a timid little quail.
Noticing her small act, Lucian felt a warmth spread in his chest. Sensing her fear, he softened his gaze and adjusted his tone to sound as gentle as possible.
"What's your name?"
"Carrie. Carrie Meyer," she replied, plucking up the courage to look at him. To her surprise, Lucian was a striking figure, with dark, intelligent eyes. His voice was calm and composed; despite just being bullied at his doorstep, he still exuded a dignified demeanour, like the noble gentlemen she had only read about in books.
The only flaw was his pallor, a sickly hue suggesting his injuries were severe—a fact that the other apprentice, Norian, had confirmed by saying Lucian might not survive another two months. Though she pitied him, Carrie felt relieved to have such a calm and kind mentor.
"Carrie… Alright, I'll call you Carrie from now on." Lucian repeated her name thoughtfully, then assessed her quietly.
By wizard standards, she was considered "low aptitude." An apprentice with a first-tier aptitude had less than a one-in-a-thousand chance of advancing to an official wizard. So, from a talent perspective alone, Carrie wasn't an ideal candidate for binding.
But right now, Lucian didn't have other options. Besides, Carrie seemed obedient, and his first impression of her was positive.
Most importantly, Lucian saw something of himself in her—a newcomer to the wizarding world, still unaccustomed to its unforgiving nature. Perhaps, by protecting her, he was, in a way, protecting a piece of his former self.
With that thought, Lucian made up his mind.
"Alright, Carrie," he said, looking at her seriously. "Do you wish to become my student, Carrie Meyer? If you're willing, please leave your spiritual mark on this apprenticeship contract."
Simultaneously, he activated the system's binding process.
"I would be honoured, Mentor Lucian." Carrie's eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded eagerly. She carefully read the standard Greybone Academy contract and then placed her spiritual mark upon it.
"I vow to forever pursue truth. I vow never to reveal any knowledge learned from my mentor without permission…" As the contract took effect, Carrie found herself reciting a series of oaths.
Meanwhile, a translucent panel appeared before Lucian, displaying a set of notifications.
[Binding Successful]
[Generating Student Profile: {Carrie Meyer}…]
But before he could review her details, a new message drew his attention.