In the reception hall.
Ian sat to one side, looking at the three people before him.
One had blond hair and only one arm, one wore a Junior Alchemist's Witch Robe, and the last looked rather burly. All three were First-class Wizard Apprentices.
Wizards like them were everywhere in the Academy.
"Logan, Emily, William!"
Ian looked at the three before him with mixed emotions.
After he advanced and rose to fame, the three had silently vanished from his sight, perhaps worried about disturbing him. That was why the last time he had seen them had already been several months ago.
Yet now, at a time like this—
"Where's Coro?"
Instead of asking why they had come, he asked that.
"He died in the battle during the Blackstone Wizard's attack." Logan touched his own arm and said wistfully, "I lost this arm then too."
Coro was dead?
Ian's expression shifted slightly.
He remembered that somewhat unreliable boy.
"And you two?" He turned and looked toward the other two.
"I just advanced to become an Alchemist. I'd already arranged to study under an Alchemist from the laboratory, but then it was shelved."
Emily blinked.
"Pretty much the same. I was kicked out of the combat squad."
William drew a deep breath.
No one dared touch Ian now, let alone the combat squad he belonged to.
He had originally been about to become a formal member, but...
"We're members of the Mutual Aid Society. We agreed from the moment we joined that we'd help each other."
Logan chuckled from the side.
"That's right, though we can't really help with much!" Emily said with a smile.
William also smiled.
Just like before.
Ian was deeply moved.
Chris, Qiansi, Vivian, and the others dared to come because they each had something to rely on. But