A figure cloaked in a loose gray robe, face hidden behind a pale mask adorned with deep purple spiral patterns, his golden curls cascading down to obscure the eternal earring on his right ear. In the span of ten days, Grimm had frequented the third floor of the Black Isotta Tower, soaking up alchemical knowledge like a sponge.
Empowered by an accumulation of magical stones, his aura had grown more enigmatic. From beneath the mask's eye slits, a spark of wisdom and thought often flickered, blending humility with nobility. Even those once close to Grimm would now find him unrecognizable at first glance.
Coming and going in haste, Grimm seemed to inhabit the solitary world of a wanderer—bearing, or perhaps embracing, loneliness for the pursuit of boundless knowledge. After ten days, he had filled an entire notebook with alchemical theories and now worked in his humble quarters, conducting endless experiments with basic materials.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"As expected, alchemy isn't something one can grasp overnight. Without at least two decades of dedication, even crafting the simplest magical artifacts is unattainable." Rubbing his weary temples, Grimm reflected on his recent failed attempt at forging a basic magical apparatus—an endeavor that had consumed a fortune in materials.
However, he wasn't disheartened. Alchemy, though a discipline difficult to master, offered a path where relentless experimentation and refinement could elevate even the least gifted wizard to remarkable heights.
Half a month later, Grimm returned to the third floor, this time entering a chamber dedicated to potion-making.
Thus began his intensive study under the mentorship of a wizard, granted through the immense expenditure of magical stones. The wizard offered direct guidance and even resolved Grimm's vaguest uncertainties with their wealth of experience. This allowed Grimm's knowledge of wizardry to grow at an astonishing pace. Meanwhile, his fellow apprentices struggled to accumulate magical stones, trading them for new spells or perhaps purchasing a magical artifact on rare occasions.
As time passed, the trial examination loomed, with less than a week remaining. Anxiety spread among the newcomers like a suffocating fog, fueled by ever-wilder tales of the trial's brutality. Some, overwhelmed by despair at not mastering even three spells, abandoned themselves to fleeting pleasures in resignation.
The Blood Sail Alliance
As the Blood Sail Alliance expanded its influence, even the academy's long-established apprentice factions had to acknowledge this rising power. With momentum on its side, the alliance secured an independent stronghold within the Black Isotta Wizard Academy.
Unlike the older factions, which viewed the trial as a means to refine and recruit fresh talent, the Blood Sail Alliance faced the trial head-on, with most members being relatively new apprentices. Though the harsh eliminations aboard the sea vessel had tempered their abilities, it also made the trial seem even more daunting.
Should the alliance succeed in helping its members survive the trial en masse, it would solidify its place as one of the academy's five major apprentice organizations. For now, it was merely a formidable coalition, lacking true foundational strength.
Among the apprentices, a so-called "Top Ten Masters List" circulated—a ranking of the most outstanding newcomers based on their exploits in the Wasteland Courtyard and the Thorned Forest. Notably, five of the ten hailed from the Blood Sail Alliance, its reputation further amplified by tales of the brutal selection process aboard the vessel.
As the trial approached, the alliance's leadership organized a music ball to foster camaraderie and ensure mutual support during the trial.
The Ball
Elegant melodies filled the grand hall. Lafi, Amiyida, Yorkris, Yorkliana, Binshon, and an unfamiliar young woman sat together, observing pairs of apprentices gracefully dancing in the music pool.
Draped in a silver-white gown, Lafi exuded regal poise. Her dress highlighted her tall, graceful figure and flawless legs, her crescent moon earrings peeking from her short, chestnut-brown hair. Reclining on the bench with a languid elegance, her gaze radiated unbridled pride. She had already turned down over a dozen dance invitations, leaving the rejected apprentices to retreat with polite smiles, too intimidated to voice their disappointment.
Over the past three years, Lafi's sharp tongue and fiery temper had earned her both admirers and adversaries. Yet despite facing countless threats in the Wasteland Courtyard, she had survived unscathed, while many of her enemies had vanished without a trace. These exploits cemented her place among the academy's top ten newcomers, earning her the moniker "Poison-Tongued Queen."
The Blood Sail Alliance's elite, however, paid little heed to the ranking. To them, the absence of names like Solam, Yuling, and Bibillion rendered the list meaningless. These three, having been mentored by second-level wizards since their arrival, were shrouded in an almost mythical aura.
As the group watched the festivities, Lafi's voice broke the silence. "I wonder... will he come tonight?" Her words, barely audible, carried a wistful undertone. Everyone knew who she meant.
Yorkliana, her face half-concealed by a mask to hide her scars, murmured softly, "Grimm... hasn't been seen in months. Perhaps he—"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Yorkris chided, flicking his sister's forehead. "Grimm isn't someone who would perish so easily."
While the siblings exchanged words, Amiyida, a towering figure with golden hair and a rugged demeanor, wrestled with his emotions. Despite three years of unwavering devotion to Lafi, her apparent longing for Grimm stirred a storm of jealousy within him.
"Would you..." he hesitated, then asked, "would you still care about him if he returned?"
Lafi's response was curt. "That's none of your concern." She downed her wine in a single gulp, leaving Amiyida's heart heavy with indecision.
Their musings were interrupted by Binshon, who produced a list from his pocket. "You all claim to care about Grimm, but have you even checked this?"
"His name is here!" Yorkliana exclaimed, her joy mirrored by the others. Even Lafi's icy demeanor seemed to thaw momentarily.
As they pored over the list, a sudden ripple of tension swept through the hall. All eyes turned toward the entrance, where a figure stood—Solam, the legend among legends, his very presence commanding awe. Yet in the shadow of this dazzling arrival, a masked figure slipped quietly into the far corner of the hall, unnoticed by all but a select few.