Chapter Summaries

Ian detected a Blackstone School ambush, allowing Vilo to turn the tables and help the Horton Wizard School defeat the attackers. Ian chose the Eye of Secrets as his reward, and after the group reached Cold Wind Market, the airship to Green Corridor Wizard School arrived.

• Ian sensed a large group of wizards waiting in ambush and warned Vilo, who changed their route and kept him beside her.
• Zack and Blackstone School's wizards pursued the group, but Vilo's signal brought four Horton Wizard School squads to surround the attackers.
• Ian, Levi, Vilo, and the others fought the ambushers, and Vilo killed Zack after the Blackstone wizards were defeated.
• Vilo rewarded Ian with a choice of three superior zero-ring Witchcraft Artifacts, and Ian chose the Eye of Secrets.
• The group reached Cold Wind Market safely, and two days later the airship bound for Green Corridor Wizard School arrived.

Ian traveled aboard the Grey Falcon toward Green Corridor Wizard Academy, where he practiced a Swift Rune and reconsidered how to improve his talent. Levi chose to stay loyal to Ian rather than join a group that dismissed Ian’s chances of advancement.

• Vilo led Ian and the others aboard the Grey Falcon, which departed Cold Wind Market for Green Corridor Wizard Academy.
• Ian meditated during the voyage and realized he needed to improve his talent to keep pace with Wizards born with First-class Talent.
• Ian practiced Mickey’s Swift Rune on the deck, where abundant wind elements helped him learn it and increase his speed.
• Thomas and Lucy excluded Ian from their gathering, arguing that his chances of reaching Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice were slim.
• Levi left the group and joined Ian, saying he felt more comfortable with him, and Ian accepted Levi in his heart.

Ian arrived at Green Corridor Wizard Academy after improving his Swift Rune during the airship journey and seeing how much more powerful Elemental Mysteries was. After exploring Emerald City, he entered the academy to carry out the task Horton had entrusted to him.

• Ian practiced the Swift Rune on the airship, reached proficiency, and traveled past wizard schools while collecting their unique resources.
• Ian and the other passengers arrived at Green Corridor Wizard Academy, where Audrey compared it unfavorably with Elemental Mysteries and invited Ian to visit her there.
• Ian saw an official wizard from Green Corridor welcome a peak apprentice from Elemental Mysteries, then followed Lucian Payne with the Horton Wizard School group to their lodgings.
• Ian and Levi explored Emerald City's districts and shops, where Ian bought rare resources and saw official wizard-level items.
• Ian went alone to Green Corridor Wizard Academy, presented Horton's token, and followed a wizard through the final wall into the academy.

Ian visited Green Corridor Wizard Academy, where Wizard Isaac gave him Emerald Morning Dew and an academy badge because of his friendship with Horton. Ian explored the academy’s advanced facilities and trained in an elemental simulation room, raising Frostfire Nova to Master Level in ten days.

• Ian met Wizard Isaac, who gave him three drops of Emerald Morning Dew and a badge granting access to most academy facilities.
• Isaac introduced Ian to his student Sam Hayes and asked Sam to show Ian around, but Sam soon left Ian to speak with senior students.
• Ian visited the academy Library but could not access its restricted spell collections, then explored its Meditation Rooms, laboratories, and elemental simulation rooms.
• Ian used a fire-and-water simulation to practice Frostfire Nova and saw its proficiency rise rapidly.
• After ten days at the academy, Ian raised Frostfire Nova to Master Level.

Ian learned that Department Head Hyde had been captured and killed, then killed Thomas after Thomas mocked Hyde and provoked him over the vacant deputy department head position. When Emerald City patrol wizards arrived to arrest Ian, he calmly showed them a gold-edged, three-leaf badge.

• Ian reached Master Level in Frostfire Nova after training in the Academy's elemental simulation chamber.
• Levi told Ian that Department Head Hyde had been captured and killed and that the Academy was preparing a large wizard array.
• Thomas revealed that Doug had died and that Ian and Gabe Valentine were the two nominees for deputy department head, then mocked Ian and Hyde.
• Ian attacked Thomas with Swamp Trap and Frostfire Nova, breaking through his defensive artifacts and killing him.
• Emerald City patrol wizards arrived and demanded Ian surrender, and Ian showed them a gold-edged, three-leaf badge.

After Isaac intervened in the aftermath of Ian killing Thomas, he praised Ian’s talent and offered him a chance to enter Emerald Lake’s core area. Ian arrived there with Sam, whose resentment grew as Ian entered a place Sam had never been allowed to visit.

• The patrol released Ian after Sam explained that Isaac had summoned him, and Sam escorted him to Isaac at Green Corridor Wizard Academy.
• Isaac watched a Recording Crystal of Ian killing Thomas, recognized Ian’s first-class talent and Master Level Wizardry, and invited him to consider Green Corridor Academy’s assessment.
• Isaac told Ian that Horton had once rejected a safe position at the Academy to pursue a path in Veridian Forest, then offered Ian one of his three annual opportunities to cultivate in Emerald Lake’s core area.
• Ian trained at the School for three days while Swamp Trap advanced toward the expert level, and Sam grew resentful that Ian had access to the core area when he did not.
• Sam led Ian to the rune-covered barriers, and Ian used Isaac’s token to enter and see a dense, pale silver pool through Radiance Vision.

Ian entered the Elemental Pool to improve his resonance and discovered that its intense mana also let him advance the Imprint Body-Forging Art. After three hours, he had mastered its first two layers and remained in the pool despite the mounting pressure.

• Ian showed Lord Isaac’s badge to the elderly wizard guarding the Elemental Pool, who warned him to leave when the elemental pressure became too much.
• Ian entered the pool, saw the academy’s resonance rankings, and recognized Horton Green Shadow in twenty-ninth place.
• Ian meditated in the Elemental Pool, raising his Resonance Rune progress to ten as his Four-Element Resonance proficiency improved.
• Ian began practicing the Imprint Body-Forging Art to withstand the growing pressure and mastered its first layer, gaining thirty talent points.
• Ian mastered the art’s second layer and gained fifty talent points as three hours passed and the pool’s pressure continued to rise.

Ian endured the Elemental Lake’s pressure long enough to awaken a stone pillar, earn a core inheritance, and receive the Eye of Harmonization. After leaving the Academy, he ran into Levi, who told him the war was over and they were returning to the school.

• Ian’s Mental Power Space stabilized and expanded as spell runes appeared, allowing him to continue enduring the Elemental Lake.
• Ian awakened an ancient stone pillar, reached thirtieth place on the Resonance Rankings, and received a core inheritance before being expelled from the Elemental Lake.
• A female wizard recorded Isaac’s result and was surprised to see him ranked thirtieth on the Resonance Rankings.
• Ian discovered that his inheritance was the Eye of Harmonization, which resonated with his Radiant Eye and Spiritual Guidance Technique, and left Green Corridor Wizard Academy with it.
• Levi found Ian outside Emerald City, told him the war was over, and pulled him along as they prepared to return to the school.

Ian watched a recording of Horton defeating Blackstone and realized how far Official Wizards surpassed apprentices. He returned to the airship with the Horton Wizard School apprentices, facing threats from Thomas’s allies while preparing to inspect his gains from Emerald Lake.

• Ian watched a recording of Blackstone’s attack on Horton Wizard School and saw Horton capture him with a vast hand of vines.
• Ian resolved to return to the school and inherit Horton’s core legacy, despite Levi warning him that Thomas’s teacher, Gabe Valentine, might retaliate.
• Ian told Levi that a Wizard he had just met had helped him escape the patrol office, but refused to flee to the City of Elements with Audrey.
• Ian’s return silenced Thomas’s allies when his mental power frightened them, and Lucian ordered them to behave rather than confronting Ian.
• Ian and the other apprentices boarded an airship bound for the school, and Ian opened his status panel to examine his gains from Emerald Lake.

Ian tested the dramatic gains from tempering his body at Emerald Lake and found that his fused runes could withstand powerful wizardry. Meanwhile, Isaac realized Ian had used his badge to reach the top thirty of Emerald Lake’s rankings and decided to recruit him when he took the Academy assessment.

• Ian checked his status panel and saw major increases in his resonance rune, talent, and body-tempering skills.
• Ian tested his defenses against an Alchemy Puppet and found that Zero-ring Middle Grade wizardry could barely harm him, while he could endure several ordinary Zero-ring Upper Grade attacks.
• Ian considered how to continue improving his body tempering and planned to ask about the Horton School’s resource sites.
• Kellos Emerald told Isaac that he had entered the top thirty of Emerald Lake’s rankings and offered him Academy resources to support a possible breakthrough.
• Isaac confirmed that Ian had used his badge at Emerald Lake, then decided to take Ian under his wing during the Academy assessment.

Ian returned to Horton Wizard School after mastering the second level of the Four-Element Resonance Meditation Method and killing Thomas. The school scheduled Ian’s trial for three days later, while Layton escorted him home and ordered him to stay there.

• Ian reached master level in the second level of the Four-Element Resonance Meditation Method, gaining forty talent points and a new rune in his Mental Power Space.
• Ian returned to Cold Wind Market and admitted to Seamus that he had killed Thomas.
• Gabe Valentine and Casa confronted Ian at the school gates and announced that he would face a trial.
• Layton stopped the patrol from imprisoning Ian, saying that he remained innocent until trial and must stay within the school.
• Layton escorted Ian home and told him not to leave for three days, and the Secret Source Department announced the trial.

While confined and awaiting his trial, Ian learned the Eye of Harmonization and discovered it could analyze and briefly repair a plant’s magic network at a heavy cost to his Mental Power. As his trial approached, Chris, Qiansi, and Vivian visited to show their support, while most others kept their distance; on the third day, a group of Wizards finally arrived.

• Farn told Ian that his trial would take place in three days and offered to help him escape, but Ian refused to leave.
• Ian began studying the Eye of Harmonization and Mirror Heart, and mastered the basics of the Eye of Harmonization that night.
• Ian used the Eye of Harmonization to analyze and temporarily restore a withered bloodstop trefoil, but the effort consumed much of his Mental Power.
• Chris and Qiansi visited Ian, and Qiansi pledged the Silver Moon Lake Family's support despite the risks.
• Vivian delivered Jesse's letter saying Jesse had chosen to join the Magic Plant Department, then promised that the Potions Department would support Ian.
• Most of the Potions Department stayed away from Ian until a group of Wizards arrived on the third day.

Ian faced a School trial for killing Thomas, admitted he had killed him but challenged the charge of deliberate murder. As the jury moved to strip his spiritual power, Horton appeared and declared Ian innocent, demanding to know who agreed and who objected.

• Logan, Emily, and William visited Ian in support, and Ian promised to help Logan recover his arm and said the others’ circumstances would improve after the trial.
• Ian read a letter from Mowen before Layton and the patrol squad escorted him to the central plaza for trial.
• Jiabai accused Ian of deliberately murdering Thomas, presented witnesses and a Recording Crystal, and Ian admitted killing Thomas while saying Thomas had provoked him by insulting Hyde.
• Vilo called for a verdict to strip Ian’s spiritual power, and eight jurors voted in favor while Vivian, Ed, Joran, and Layton opposed.
• As Vilo asked whether anyone objected, Horton entered, defended Ian’s actions, declared him innocent, and challenged the crowd to agree or object.

Ian’s connection to Horton overturned his trial, and Horton used the hearing to expose and kill Jiabai. Horton then summoned Ian to the Wizard Tower, where Ian addressed him as his teacher.

• Horton revealed that Ian was his disciple, and the judging panel changed its vote to declare Ian not guilty.
• Vilo accused Jiabai of stealing Magic Stones and resources, and Horton killed him when he attacked Ian.
• Horton warned the school to remain loyal to knowledge and the school, then ordered Ian to follow him.
• At the top of the Wizard Tower, Horton told Ian it was time to call him something else, and Ian solemnly called him Teacher.

Horton appointed Ian as the future head of the Logistics Department and promised to grant him his core inheritance after Ian settled the department’s affairs. Ian returned to Maple Leaf Avenue, where the School’s wizards courted him and Lucy’s apology was rejected.

• Horton told Ian he would name him head of the Logistics Department at a school meeting in three days and give him his core inheritance once he had settled its affairs.
• Ian accepted the position because he needed resources to prepare for the academy assessment, and Horton said Vilo would help him.
• Ian returned to Maple Leaf Avenue with Chris and ignored Seamus, while Lucy apologized and Ian told her there had been no misunderstanding.
• The School’s wizards crowded around Ian, and Shirley learned that he had become Horton’s student as they gave her magic stones and asked her to put in a good word for them.
• Mowen regretted his earlier behavior and left, while Lucy insisted Ian had merely been lucky before hurrying away.

After advancing to beginner Mirror Heart, Ian attended the School Conference, where Horton appointed him head of the Logistics Department. The announcement stunned the gathered wizards, including Vivian.

• Ian reunited with Chris, rejected visiting wizards’ invitations, and collected two or three thousand Magic Stones over three days.
• Ian attained beginner Mirror Heart, then rode with Vilo to the School Conference, where she explained the rewards and difficulties of leading the Logistics Department.
• Ian arrived at the conference, greeted familiar wizards, and took his seat as Horton began announcing personnel appointments.
• Horton named Vero Sinclair head of the Secret Source Department and Ronan Darcy head of the Combat Department.
• Horton appointed Ian head of the Logistics Department, stunning the gathered wizards and leaving Vivian wide-eyed.

Ian revealed that he had become a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice, silencing doubts about his appointment as head of the Logistics Department. After the meeting, department heads and Lineage leaders crowded around him, and Ian realized the influence and resources his new position would bring.

• Vilo questioned Ian's appointment, so Ian revealed his Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice strength and impressed the assembled Wizards.
• Horton outlined plans to absorb the remaining holdings of the Blackstone School, while the meeting assigned Joran and Layton new posts and left Vivian's position unchanged.
• The department heads and Lineage leaders congratulated Ian, while Margo left to find Lucy and try to repair their relationship with him.
• Qiansi celebrated the success of his Lineage's investment in Ian as other Lineage heads sought his attention.
• Ian pulled up his hood to escape the greetings on his way home, then found Wizards waiting at his door with resources.

After taking charge of the Logistics Department, Ian assessed its postwar shortages and assigned plans to each branch. He presented improved potion recipes that could cut costs while preserving their effects, leaving the department’s Wizards impressed and hopeful.

• Ian received invitations and over a thousand Magic Stones after his promotion, then toured the Logistics Department with Farn.
• Ian heard Vivian and the other branch ministers describe shortages, damaged botanical gardens, and difficulties with the Blackstone School’s Wizard Lineages.
• Ian assigned each branch tasks, including auditing supplies and addressing shortages of potion ingredients and magic plants.
• Ian gave Vivian several improved potion recipes, and she confirmed they could reduce costs by thirty to forty percent while keeping their effects largely unchanged.
• The Logistics Department’s Wizards realized Ian’s recipes could benefit several branches and changed their opinion of him.

Ian demonstrated his skill at diagnosing magic plants, winning Quinn’s trust, while political rivals began plotting against him. Margo brought Lucy to apologize and offered compensation, but Ian refused Lucy and accepted only the resources; afterward, Chris arrived at his home.

• Ian used his knowledge to restore the Magic Plant Department’s struggling specimens, impressing Quinn and the researchers.
• Quinn warned Ian that Riley was aligned with Vilo and Renee was speaking with Ronan, while Vilo and Ronan discussed Ian’s coming difficulties with the Wizard Lineages.
• Margo brought Lucy to Ian’s home with a storage ring of resources and offered Lucy as compensation for her failure to apologize.
• Ian accepted the resources, told Margo he held no grudge, and watched Lucy collapse in disbelief before Margo took her away.
• Chris arrived at Ian’s home, and Ian swept her into his arms and carried her upstairs.

Ian reviewed the gifts he received after taking charge at the Blackstone School, then spent a week strengthening himself while tensions over resource collection mounted. He brought his Swift Rune to Master Level and prepared to confront the Wizard Lineages.

• Ian opened gifts from the school departments and Wizard Lineages, including the Wind Snake Vine, Silver Crown Flower Juice, and more than ten thousand Magic Stones in total.
• Ian delegated most departmental work and discovered that the External Relations and Resources departments were making little progress against resistance from the Wizard Lineages.
• Ian secretly gathered evidence against the heads of the External Relations and Resources departments while conflicts over resource collection worsened.
• Ian used the Wind Snake Vine and Silver Crown Flower Juice to raise his rune progress to 50 and advance his Swift Rune to Master Level.
• Ian tested his new speed, then prepared to deal with the Wizard Lineages.