Chapter Summaries

Ian Green arrived at Horton Wizard School in a world ruled by Wizards and learned he had three months to become an apprentice or be enslaved. As he began the Basic Meditation Method, a strange blue screen appeared before him, showing his Fifth-star talent and uninitiated skill.

• Ian Green found himself among new apprentices at Horton Wizard School and witnessed a Wizard dissolve a kneeling woman with a spell.
• Instructor Victor led the apprentices to the Teaching Area and explained that they had three months to become apprentices or serve the school as slaves.
• Victor distributed the Basic Meditation Method and taught the apprentices how to sense spiritual power and attempt to condense a rune.
• Ian tried the meditation posture but could not sense spiritual power, then recalled that his talent was Fifth-star.
• Ian resumed meditating and saw a pale blue screen displaying his name, age, Fifth-star talent, and uninitiated Basic Meditation Method.

Ian began the Basic Meditation Method, learned that his panel tracked skill proficiency, and struggled to form the first part of a Mental Power Rune. After mastering the Ignition Spell, he discovered that mastering transcendent knowledge could increase his talent, giving him hope of advancing.

• Ian chose a stone house at the Academy and spent three days practicing until he sensed Mental Power and elemental lights.
• Ian saw that the Basic Meditation Method had reached Beginner and realized its proficiency would increase through practice without regressing.
• Ian struggled to form the first part of a Mental Power Rune, then attended Victor's lesson and learned that each lower talent grade allowed fewer meditation sessions.
• Ian practiced the Ignition Spell and other cantrips, raising Ignition Spell to Master Level.
• Ian saw his talent rise from 98 to 99 and realized that mastering transcendent knowledge could increase his talent.

Ian improved his meditation and cantrip skills while learning about the dangers and inequalities of wizard society. After Water Condensation reached Master Level, his talent rose to 100, making him a Fourth-grade Star Talent.

• Ian found that his improved talent made it easier to sense Mental Power and condense runes, then chose Water Condensation to raise to Master Level.
• Victor warned the apprentices about the dangers beyond Horton Wizard School and explained that fairness depended on strength and talent.
• Logan complained about Victor’s attention to the three apprentices who had condensed runes, then later formed a Mutual Aid Society for classmates with Fourth-star Witch Talent.
• Ian advanced the Basic Meditation Method to Proficient and Water Condensation to Expert Level through sustained practice.
• Ian raised Water Condensation to Master Level, and his talent increased to 100, becoming Fourth-grade Star Talent.

Ian raised his talent to fourth-grade after learning extraordinary knowledge and successfully condensed the first part of a Mental Power Rune. After learning that early completion could earn Magic Stones and that the Mutual Aid Society traded cantrips and Wizardry, he agreed to join it.

• Ian's talent reached 100, raising it to fourth-grade, and he condensed the first part of a Mental Power Rune during meditation.
• At Victor's lesson, Ian and seven other apprentices raised their hands to show they had condensed the first part of the rune, while the three Third-grade Talents had reached the second part.
• Ian asked Victor where to find more tricks, and Victor told him that a Compendium of Tricks containing over a hundred cantrips cost five Magic Stones.
• Victor explained that apprentices earned one Magic Stone for every week they completed their Mental Power Imprint ahead of the three-month deadline, up to five stones.
• Logan invited Ian to join the Mutual Aid Society, explaining that members exchanged experience, information, Magic Stones, Wizardry, and cantrips, and Ian accepted.

Ian joined Logan’s Mutual Aid Society after defeating Halman in a Meditation Method contest and winning Halman’s family’s Lionheart Knight Method. The other members welcomed Ian and offered to exchange magical knowledge and training experience.

• Logan brought Ian to the Mutual Aid Society, where Halman objected to Ian joining because he had once been a serf.
• Halman challenged Ian to a Meditation Method contest, wagering that the loser would leave the society and offering his family’s Lionheart Knight Method if he lost.
• Ian agreed, and the group watched as he sensed Mental Power before Halman and meditated through three hourglasses, while Halman lasted only two.
• Halman admitted defeat, handed Ian the Lionheart Knight Method, and left the stone house.
• Emily Garrett, William, Shirley, Alfie, Luke, and Logan welcomed Ian and offered to share tricks and training experience.

Ian learned the Lionheart Knight Method and became a Knight Attendant while continuing to improve his Wizard skills. Eleven days into his effort to earn five Magic Stones, he had condensed two portions of the Mental Power Rune and hoped that improving his Meditation Method would help him finish the remaining two in time.

• Ian studied Halman's Lionheart Knight Method and sensed his vitality and blood within minutes of trying its opening posture.
• After three days of practice, Ian completed one circulation of vitality and blood, became a Knight Attendant, and began training with the Knight Method in his spare time.
• Ian improved Light Spell to Master Level and decided that becoming a Wizard apprentice and earning five Magic Stones remained his main priority.
• Eleven days after beginning the Mental Power Rune task, Ian condensed its second portion and saw that he had nineteen days left to complete the final two.
• Ian checked his panel, noted that his Basic Meditation Method was close to Proficient Level, and expected it to advance after the next day's class.

Ian discovered that his improved meditation method greatly increased both its quality and duration, then used his knowledge to help Logan and the Mutual Aid Society. After weeks of progress, Ian successfully condensed the Mental Power Rune and advanced to First-class Wizard Apprentice.

• Ian found that Proficient Level meditation increased its quality and duration by thirty percent.
• Victor checked the apprentices’ progress, and Logan joined Rune, Merlin, and Rowan’s group, though they refused to accept Ian.
• At the Mutual Aid Society’s gathering, Ian gave Logan several solutions to a rune meditation problem and exchanged guidance for a Knight Method book.
• Ian became the Mutual Aid Society’s respected source of guidance as its membership grew, while Halman mocked him for lagging behind in rune progress.
• Ian smoothly merged four runes into the Mental Power Rune and advanced to First-class Wizard Apprentice.

Ian advanced to a First-class Wizard Apprentice and successfully condensed a Mental Power Rune, surprising the classroom by matching Rune and Merlin. Victor took the three of them to register, while Ian hoped his new reputation would help him gain access to knowledge and resources.

• Ian advanced to a First-class Wizard Apprentice, noticed his improved senses and control, and gained experience rapidly while practicing the Lionheart Knight Method.
• Logan noticed something different about Ian, while the classroom buzzed over Rune and Merlin condensing Mental Power Runes early.
• Victor tested the students' progress, and Ian raised his hand alongside Rune and Merlin to confirm that he had condensed a Mental Power Rune.
• Logan, Halman, Rune, Merlin, and the other students reacted with disbelief as Victor acknowledged Ian's success.
• Victor took Ian, Rune, and Merlin to register, and the class watched Ian leave as a newly recognized talent.

Ian completed his Academy registration, received a Compendium of Tricks from Victor, and considered how its spells could raise his talent. At the Mutual Aid Society gathering, he saw that his new status had shifted the group’s loyalties toward him.

• Victor took Ian, Rune, and Merlin to the Secret Source Department, where they registered as apprentices and received badges, robes, and Magic Stones.
• Victor warned the apprentices that department assignments would determine their access to resources and urged them to study hard before their assessment.
• Victor gave Ian a used Compendium of Tricks for four Magic Stones and warned him that the Academy was not as safe as he thought.
• Ian read the book and realized its ninety-five unfamiliar tricks could greatly improve his talent and help him condense a Mental Power Rune sooner.
• Ian attended the Mutual Aid Society gathering, where Coro praised him and the members watched him with envy and awe as the society’s center shifted toward him.

Ian learned that Rune’s group had been ambushed on the way to the market, then advanced from Knight Attendant to Knight to improve his ability to protect himself. The chapter revealed that Halman had helped his brother Ross arrange the attack, while Ian remained unaware of their scheme.

• Ian refused Rune’s invitation to visit the market, and Logan went with Rune’s group instead.
• After Rune’s group was attacked near the market, Logan told Ian that more than ten people had died and only Rune and a few apprentices had escaped.
• Shaken by the attack, Ian broke through to Knight that night.
• Ross rewarded Halman with a potion and revealed that Halman had secretly marked Rune’s group with medicinal powder to help arrange the ambush.
• Ross told Halman to focus on meditation and alchemy, while Halman set aside his jealousy of Ian, believing Ross’s support would give him an advantage.

After the earlier deaths, Ian and nine others advanced into the Horton Wizard School, while the failed apprentices were taken away. Ian began preparing to enter the resource-rich Potions Department, then joined his classmates for their new courses, where three apprentices with second-class Talent drew attention.

• Victor told the class that wandering wizards had probably killed the missing apprentices for their Magic Stones, but the culprits had not been caught.
• A month later, Ian’s panel showed his Talent had risen to 114, and Victor welcomed Ian, Rune, Logan, Emily, William, Coro, Zalan, Halman, and Alfie into the Horton Wizard School as failed apprentices including Shirley and Luke were dragged away.
• Victor explained that the next six months would cover meditation, practical wizardry, and potion-making, after which apprentices could choose among departments and compete for places; Ian decided to pursue the Potions Department.
• A week later, Ian and the Mutual Aid Society members took seats in a larger classroom, where they noticed a blue-eyed girl, a burly youth, and a skinny youth sitting apart from everyone else.
• Ian heard other apprentices identify the three newcomers as possessing second-class Talent.

Ian attended lessons on meditation, Wizardry, and potions, gaining new skills and considering how to compete for course rewards. He practiced Mental Power Impact while Halman prepared to surpass him in the upcoming tests.

• Ian learned that Second-class Talents greatly outpaced his own and resolved to stay humble as he pursued improvement.
• Joran Fuller taught the meditation course, explaining rune requirements and rewards, and Ian's proficiency increased during the lesson.
• Charis demonstrated Mental Power Impact, and Ian gained the skill before practicing it at home and raising its proficiency to 2/100.
• Victor taught the apprentices to identify Three-leaf Blood-stopping Grass, and Ian gained Magic Plant Identification.
• Ross gave Halman a Minor Energy Potion and promised to guide his meditation, while Halman resolved to beat Ian in the coming courses.

Ian broke through to Expert in the Basic Meditation Method, then took the first monthly assessment with the Mutual Aid Society. Though he ranked poorly in meditation, he stunned the class in Wizardry by scoring 1.2 Energy Intensity, the highest result so far.

• Ian reached Expert proficiency in the Basic Meditation Method but remained two mental-power points short of condensing a second Mental Power Rune.
• Ian encouraged Logan, Emily, Coro, William, and Alfie before their first assessment, where Lucy, Levi, and Beck each showed three runes and Halman unexpectedly showed two.
• The meditation rankings placed Rune seventh, Halman tenth, Ian forty-seventh, and Logan fifty-seventh.
• In Wizardry class, Halman scored 0.7, Lucy scored 1, and Levi and Beck scored 0.9 and 0.8.
• Ian cast Qilaso in under a second and scored 1.2 Energy Intensity, surpassing the other students.

Ian took first place in the Wizardry test with a score of 1.2, then learned that he would need to improve greatly to enter the Potions Department. He claimed his test reward and entered the Academy Library to study potions.

• Ian scored 1.2 on the Wizardry test, took first place, and impressed Charles and Lucy with his spellcasting proficiency.
• Instructor Victor told Ian that he ranked fifty-sixth in the potions test and would need to place near the top to join the Potions Department, then advised him to study in the Library.
• Ian refused to expand the Mutual Aid Society after Coro and Logan said classmates wanted to join.
• Ian collected ten Magic Stones and chose to save his free Wizardry reward for a later exchange.
• Ian paid two Magic Stones for two hours in the Library and entered its public area.

Ian explored the school’s paid resources and considered family sponsorship, but rejected the Silver Wolf Family’s offer because it required a talented descendant and regular service. After other families offered him no acceptable support, he relied on his own abilities and successfully condensed his second Mental Power Rune.

• Ian searched the wizardry section and learned that excellent-grade spells required joining a department before he could buy them.
• Lucy offered Ian Silver Wolf Family sponsorship, but he refused its terms requiring a descendant with Wizard talent and a yearly task.
• Ian learned that other families’ sponsorship terms were also too harsh, while smaller families lacked the resources to support him.
• Two weeks later, Ian successfully condensed his second Mental Power Rune.

Ian advanced in Wizardry and placed first in the Witch’s Hand competition, while his potion-making ranking rose to fifteenth. After the assessment, Chris Silver Moon Lake offered him sponsorship on behalf of the Silver Moon Lake Family, leaving Ian to decide whether to accept.

• Ian broke through to First-class Wizard Apprentice progress 5, gained a second Mental Power Rune, and later raised Witch’s Hand to Expert Level.
• Ian placed first in the Witch’s Hand competition and earned ten Magic Stones and a basic-level wizardry, while his potion-making ranking climbed to fifteenth.
• Victor noticed Ian’s progress and decided the Silver Moon Lake Family might be a suitable sponsor for him.
• Lily invited Ian to meet her mistress, Chris Silver Moon Lake, at 37 Maple Leaf Avenue.
• Chris offered Ian patronage on behalf of the Silver Moon Lake Family and asked whether he would accept.

Ian accepted monthly funding from the Silver Moon Lake Family through Chris, then improved his potion-making with Victor’s help and advanced his wizardry practice. The chapter ended with Ian breaking through to Master Level in Mental Power Impact.

• Chris offered Ian five Magic Stones a month after explaining that Victor had recommended him, and Ian signed the contract.
• Ian received the Magic Stones, improved his Magic Plant Identification, and later thanked Victor, who tested his progress and lent him a potion-making notebook for ten Magic Stones on credit.
• Victor warned Ian that the Silver Moon Lake Family showed signs of trouble and told him to stay out of it if anything happened.
• Ian practiced Wizardry outside the School and broke through to Master Level in Mental Power Impact, raising his talent from 130 to 133.

Ian advanced Mental Power Impact to Master Level, gained instant casting, and drew an invitation to join the Combat Department from Charles. After improving several skills and raising his Talent to 153, he advanced from Fourth-grade Star to Third-grade Star.

• Mental Power Impact reached Master Level and raised Ian's Talent by three points, while a new rune let him cast the spell instantly.
• Charles saw the fallen trees Ian had struck and invited him to join a core Wizard squad in the Combat Department, but Ian said he would consider it.
• Over the next eight days, Ian raised Knight Method to Master Level for five Talent points, while Dust Spell gave him no increase.
• Ian completed another cycle of Basic Meditation Method, gained ten Talent points, and advanced from Fourth-grade Star to Third-grade Star.

After his talent improved to Third-grade Star, Ian gained a clearer memory, faster meditation and skill learning, and a passive way to recover mental power. He condensed his fourth Mental Power Rune and felt secure about entering the upper ranks, but Logan arrived with news of trouble.

• Ian's talent rose from Fourth-grade Star to Third-grade Star, giving him a clearer memory and increasing his meditation efficiency.
• Ian discovered that his Master Level Meditation Method passively absorbed outside elements, and the panel showed his talent progress at 153/250.
• Ian considered the approaching potion-brewing practical and resolved to pursue the Logistics Department despite his limited money and practice.
• Ian learned Mental Power Detection faster and read Victor's notes more quickly thanks to his improved memory.
• Ian condensed his fourth Mental Power Rune, then Logan knocked on his door and announced that something terrible had happened.

Ian’s four Mental Power Runes shocked the apprentices during the third assessment, while a looming conflict over an Amethyst mine threatened to reshape department assignments. The test left Ian just behind Halman overall, and the Wizardry course assessment was about to begin.

• A looming war between Horton Wizard School and Blackstone Wizard School made apprentices’ department choices more competitive, and Ian resolved to fight for a place in the Potions Department.
• During the third assessment, Halman scored four runes and taunted Ian, while Emily defended Ian and Ian shielded her from Halman.
• The Mutual Aid Society members scored two runes each before Ian’s test revealed that he had condensed four Mental Power Runes.
• Joran suspected Ian had used a Mental Power Potion, but Lucy told him about Ian’s connection to Victor, and Joran accepted that explanation.
• The final rankings showed Ian at nine and Halman at ten, and the Wizardry course test was next.