The savory aroma of red-ear mushroom soup filled Greene's senses as he savored the last drop. A wave of relaxation washed over him, like the delicate touch of a girl's hands gently tickling his spirit. Picking up the crystal ball, he chanted a spell under his breath. Moments later, an elated exclamation escaped his lips, "Mental strength 23! An increase of 3 points!"
Indeed, after donning the Fountain of Joy necklace, Greene's mental strength had already reached 20 points. With the rare red-ear mushroom he had obtained from the plump merchant, the invigorating stimulus pushed his mental strength further to an impressive 23 points.
"However…" Greene chuckled wryly. "Although my mental strength has increased, my magic power remains at 144~148. I can't fully harness such a powerful mind. It seems daily meditation is now more crucial than ever."
After a moment of contemplation, Greene made up his mind.
He withdrew from almost all social interactions, whether gatherings of the Bloodsail League or casual acquaintances. Each day was devoted entirely to meditation, purifying barnacle larvae, and refining the elemental magic arrays within the depths of his soul. Quietly, he resigned from his job at the library without fanfare.
Days turned into weeks, then months.
Two months later, Greene had completed cultivating his companion bugs.
Three months later, his elemental magic array was fully reconstructed.
Four months later, Greene had successfully elevated his magic power to 224~230, aligning it with his mental strength level.
That day, Greene felt invigorated. Recent progress in decoding the mysteries of the Life Code left him eager, almost impatient for a summons from Varo on the seventh floor of the Blackthorn Tower. Moreover, the monthly share of magic stones he was due from the plump merchant was ready for collection.
Thinking back, the magic stones Greene received from the merchant had been nothing short of astonishing—extravagant, even for a wizard apprentice. The first month, he received 400 magic stones, which mildly surprised him. By the second month, when the sum grew to 1,000 stones, Greene was stunned. By the third month, the 30 mid-tier magic stones left him speechless.
This month? Greene could only feel numb, for the sheer volume of stones far exceeded his needs.
At this rate, Greene mused, even some fully-fledged wizards might envy his wealth in a decade. The only reassurance was that the entire academy knew of the plump merchant's immense assets, yet he remained unharmed. Evidently, his family background included a powerful wizard patron, perhaps even one stationed at the academy itself.
Despite these musings, Greene did not immediately head to the Blackthorn Tower. He had another matter to address first—proving his advancement to the official rank of wizard apprentice and obtaining his certification.
Half an hourglass later, Greene stood before the academy's secluded tower, where a stationed wizard tested newcomers to see if they had successfully mastered three or more spells. Though the tower was well-known, few ever visited it more than once in their lives, making it a rather desolate spot.
As Greene approached, he caught the faint scent wafting from the wizard within and nearly chuckled. The fragrance—Venus' Love, a concoction Greene himself had developed—was meant for women. He couldn't help but suspect the heavily cloaked wizard was, in fact, female.
With the certificate in hand, Greene made his way to the Blackthorn Tower's first floor to meet the plump merchant.
"Well, well! You've come in person today instead of making me deliver the stones to your quarters. Made some breakthrough in your research?" the merchant teased.
Greene shook his head. "No breakthroughs, just trying to increase my odds of surviving the trial."
"Fair enough," the merchant chuckled. "With the academy's bloody grindstone reputation, no one can be too prepared. Here's your share for the month."
He handed Greene a small pouch. Inside, Greene found 40 to 50 mid-tier magic stones. At this point, the stones felt more like mundane pebbles. His only concern was converting them into combat power as swiftly as possible. After a moment's thought, he requested the merchant help procure a high-grade microscope from the enigmatic Seven-Ring Tower.
The merchant raised an eyebrow. "Seven-Ring Tower? That's not a place anyone can access freely. But if a formal wizard from my family is heading there, I might arrange something. Don't hold your breath, though—it'll likely be after your trial."
Greene nodded, understanding the constraints, and agreed without pushing further.
Later, Greene ascended to the third floor of the tower, pondering briefly before entering a room labeled "Alchemy." His immediate priority was to learn alchemical and potion wizardry. He also intended to explore mysticism and mechanical wizardry while setting aside bloodline wizardry, which piqued his curiosity but not his practice.
Inside the room sat a short, wiry wizard with a goat-like white beard, humming a tune as he read a magical tome. Without looking up, he asked, "Here to craft a magic device or learn alchemy?"
Greene bowed respectfully. "Both. I'd like to commission a magic device and learn alchemy."
The wizard chuckled. "Let's discuss the magic device later. Knowledge has no price, but the academy imposes fees for teaching. If you have questions, each costs ten magic stones. If you want full foundational alchemy training, it's 200 stones per day. Ten days should suffice to learn all theoretical basics. Of course, mastering the craft and creating your unique devices could take decades, if not centuries. What'll it be?"
Without hesitation, Greene handed over a pouch. "I'll take the full course."
The wizard eyed the pouch and grinned. "A hefty spender, eh? I like it. Classes start tomorrow. Now, tell me about the magic device you want."
"I'd like a top-tier apprentice-grade defensive device, preferably a breastplate or a protective amulet. Also, a magic wand that enhances mana. Would that be possible?"
The wizard frowned slightly. "A wand for mana amplification? That's more practical for full-fledged wizards. For an apprentice, a sealed-magic wand is more suitable. Save the mana-enhancing wand for when you've advanced. As for defense, I happen to have something."
He disappeared briefly into a backroom, returning with an object.
"A mask?" Greene blinked at the mysterious white mask, adorned with violet spirals and a single horn protruding from the top. Only the eyes and nose were exposed, giving it an enigmatic air.
"This," the wizard said with a smirk, "is a replica of a famed artifact. My best device as an apprentice. Yours for 2,000 magic stones—non-negotiable."
"Two thousand!" Greene gasped. Top-tier devices like the Eternal Earring cost only 600 stones.
"Good items come with a price. Why do you think I've kept it all these years?" The wizard snorted. "The mask has two abilities. First, it generates a magic shield. Attacks below 20 units are nullified. Between 20 and 60 units, you'll expend only a tenth of the attacker's mana to block. Beyond 100 units, the ratio becomes one-to-one. Anything over 150 units, don't count on it."
Greene quickly calculated. His maximum magic power of 230 could unleash an attack of 45~55 units. Defending against such an assault with just a tenth of the required mana was astonishing.
The wizard continued, "The second ability is ultrasonic positioning. See the horn? Put it on and experience it."
Greene donned the mask and immediately perceived a new sense, akin to hearing but more profound. Through sound, he "saw" a world devoid of color or smell, only pure matter. Though intriguing, the ultrasonic feature seemed less vital compared to the defensive shield.
Taking a deep breath, Greene asked, "What's its name?"
"Mask."
The word sent a jolt through Greene. He recalled the faceless sorcerer on the sea who summoned countless ravens with the Mask of Oblivion. Could there be a connection?
Determined, Greene decided this artifact was indispensable. Even as a peak apprentice, its value would remain immeasurable.
"What about the wand?" Greene inquired.
The wizard hesitated before retrieving another item. "This is the Blood Bat's Kiss. Six hundred stones."
The black wand's magic activated, conjuring a giant bat of pure wind element, its wingspan over three meters—large enough to carry a person aloft.
As Greene gazed at the bat, inspiration struck—not for its utility, but for further refining his elemental magic arrays.