Soon, Anthony received the evaluation results of the potion.
It was confirmed to be an entirely new formula that could enhance physical constitution, stimulate bloodline growth, and activate hidden talents. Its effects varied from person to person, and due to the limited dosage, accurate data could not yet be obtained. Functionally, it resembled the "Knight's Enlightenment Potion" but was more potent and had greater side effects. It required a physique of a grand knight level to use; otherwise, the user would be unable to withstand its effects, potentially resulting in unpredictable consequences. The potion could be used for secondary talent stimulation or to break through persistent bottlenecks, making it valuable for specific situations.
Anthony named the new potion "Blood Fury Potion" and included it in the records of contemporary alchemy. As a result, he was awarded "research points," successfully completing his minimum annual task, retaining his mentor position, and improving his mood for his upcoming journey. He was now eligible to apply for a leave of absence without pay.
Anthony then informed Charlie of the potion's properties. Charlie could only accept this reality and stored the Blood Fury Potion at the bottom of his ring, where it would remain unused for the foreseeable future.
Subsequently, Anthony initiated the process to transfer his apprentices, bypassing some restrictions of the mentor-apprentice rules. Charlie was transferred to Master Nar's tutelage, while Irene, due to her talents, had to settle for being taken in by one of Master Nar's apprentice mentors.
Mentors generally did not oppose additional apprentices because it did not raise the standard for mentor evaluations and allowed them to delegate tasks. Apprentices earned points, which in turn granted corresponding points to their mentor, making some willing to take on such transfers. Cases like Anthony's sudden interruption of teaching were rare.
After more than two months of complications, Charlie finally became the apprentice of an archmage and gained legitimacy.
Once Anthony departed, Charlie moved into Master Nar's magic tower, occupying a suite on the lowest floor. It included four rooms: a living room, bedroom, study, and bathroom, with ample space. The only downside was that, compared to the higher floors, the lighting was relatively dim.
This arrangement made Irene incredibly envious. However, since she and Charlie were no longer under the same mentor, she also had to move out of Anthony's apprentice lab. Her living conditions improved somewhat, though she remained in the underground world.
In the morning, Nar summoned Charlie to his study.
There were three other senior students in the study, who all looked at Charlie with curiosity as he entered.
Nar spoke up, "Charlie, I've called you here today to introduce you to your senior brothers. Let's have everyone do a brief self-introduction in the order they were taken in as apprentices. Zach, you're the oldest; you go first."
A student standing by the bookshelf smiled slightly. He was the oldest apprentice in the room, around 20 years old, calm and composed, with strikingly expressive dark eyebrows.
"My name is Zach. I'm a third-year student and will graduate at the end of the year. I specialize in nature spells, and my current level is Moonlight Peak Mage. I am attempting to break through my bottleneck and hope to reach the level of Radiant Mage before leaving the academy.
I've been with the teacher the longest and understand his character and expectations. The teacher is a practical and demanding person, and most students chosen by him have similar qualities and considerable potential.
I've heard of 'Mr. Charlie's' accomplishments. Seeing how much the teacher favors you, I know you must have many exceptional qualities. As your senior brother, I'm delighted to have you join us, and I welcome you on behalf of everyone!" With that, Zach was the first to applaud.
The other two also applauded, showing that Zach was a sociable and approachable person, while the other two senior brothers appeared more reserved.
After brief introductions, Charlie got to know his three senior brothers.
Zach was a third-year student with a middle ranking in the year. Though his ranking was not high, anyone who could graduate smoothly from the Arcane Ring without getting stuck was a formidable figure.
Tim, a second-year student, specialized in water spells and had the talent of a Magic Furnace. He was one of Master Nar's most valued students, with a quiet and reserved nature.
Howard, another second-year student, specialized in light spells and loved music, playing an excellent harp.
After the introductions, Zach gave a summarizing speech.
"The Arcane Ring is rooted in mentor-apprentice traditions, so there are some unspoken rules in the academy. As your senior brother, I'll explain them to Charlie, and for the rest of you, consider it a review if you've heard this before.
Factional rivalry in the academy is quite serious, which is a flaw of the mentor-apprentice system. As new students, you may not have felt it yet, but soon you will. Apprentices who stay and pass the evaluations become new mentors and take on new apprentices. This hierarchy continues, connecting a wide network of people. Thus, older and more experienced masters often have an extensive network.
Apprentices within the same mentor system are typically united, while those from different systems are often in natural opposition, especially when their academic theories differ. This is a common aspect of factional struggles because of the inherent conflict of interests.
Our teacher dislikes such phenomena, but given the broader environment, we cannot remain uninvolved. Our teacher is among the more experienced figures in the academy, second only to a few archmages. Therefore, our faction has some scale, but due to our teacher's disdain for political struggles, our internal connections are not as tight.
Charlie, you need to pay special attention to certain mentors and their apprentices, as becoming our teacher's apprentice may cause some to resent you. This is inherited animosity. Their names are..."
Zach recited a long list of names, which Charlie carefully noted down.
After Zach finished, Nar added, "The academy leadership is also attempting to change this situation, but it will take time. I had Zach emphasize this to ensure you remain vigilant, especially when undertaking missions outside. You may not provoke anyone, but inherited animosity could lead to persecution. The dropout rate for Arcane Ring apprentices is high, so avoid becoming a casualty of political struggles."
The apprentices nodded, indicating their understanding.
"Now that we've covered the background, let's move on to today's main topic. Take a look at this report." Nar spread a newspaper flat on the table, pointing to a headline: The Millennium Magic Gazette Editor Invites You Along.
In the bottom right corner of the headline was an intricate, dark blue rune, shimmering and captivating. Nar touched the rune.
Suddenly, a magical image sprang forth, projecting above the newspaper. The image depicted an elderly man with white hair and a white beard. Full of passion, he spoke eloquently.
"Without a doubt, this is the idea of a genius, and I see an ambition that is laid bare. Master Nar doesn't just aim to end all current mage evaluation standards; he intends to extend this to the entire field: warriors, the Thieves' Guild, temple knights, priests, and all clergy members.
This standard will not only quantify personal attributes and combat power but also measure talent, bloodlines, equipment, potions, and everything that can enhance combat strength, effectively turning everyone into numbers.
If the deities themselves were willing to cooperate with our data collection, even they would become a number — albeit an astronomical one!"
At this point, the scene switched to an elderly man with white hair and youthful features. He picked up the conversation, facing the camera as he said, "This is blasphemy! Nar, if your paper makes its way to the Millennial Empire, it could incite great unrest within the Church. The paper would be suppressed, and you would be placed on the Church's 'List of Heretical Evildoers'! Nar, the Church's Inquisition would be watching you!"
His tone appeared serious, yet carried a hint of teasing, as blasphemy was a common topic in the Arcane Ring. Mages were naturally opposed to deities, with centuries of war fostering this enmity, and the current peace was only a temporary truce.
The camera returned to the editor, who continued, "Alright, let's pull our imaginations back and return to this paper. It has two authors: Master Nar as the primary author and an obscure first-year apprentice as the second. His name is Charlie.
At first glance, I was stunned. From my many years of experience, if a mentor places a freshman in such a position, it signifies one thing: Charlie's contribution to this paper is likely far greater than we imagine.
This has been proven true. From the title and content, it's clear that the 'Charlie Standard Algorithm' was the creation of this freshman and the core idea of the paper, while Master Nar acted as an organizer and elaborator of the concept.
I don't know how others of his age group feel, but I personally am..."
The editor paused, making a chopping motion with his hand, "I'm impressed! Driven by curiosity, I looked into this apprentice's background and was even more surprised to discover that he is none other than the 'Mr. Charlie' who has recently gained fame in the academy for accomplishing something no one else has dared — standing up to Lord Ferdinand!
The editor chuckled at the camera, saying, 'Haha! My old friend, forgive me for bringing up an old wound. I didn't mean to... Alright, I did mean to!
The point of all this is to encourage everyone to join me in paying attention to this ingenious idea. Whether it's right or wrong, let's explore its mysteries together.
Additionally, a debate on this subject is scheduled for three days from now, where Master Nar and Mr. Charlie will face the challenges of the entire academic community. Let's hope they can withstand the onslaught of the many talents at the Arcane Ring!'"