The Frank Empire

Headmaster Tungus soon returned to his residence.

He looked at the three of them, very satisfied with their current progress. Patti Isa and Kode Newman were learning at a steady pace, while Locke's learning speed was the most pleasant surprise, exceeding his expectations somewhat.

Originally, Tungus had worried that, once Locke no longer faced financial pressure, he would become as lazy as before and need a little reprimanding.

But after spending this time together, he had dismissed that notion.

Among his three apprentices, Locke had the greatest talent, and he was also the most diligent.

Thus, whenever Headmaster Tungus looked at Locke now, he did so with a smile. He was truly very satisfied with him.

After guiding Patti Isa and Kode Newman, Headmaster Tungus looked at Locke and said, "You want to buy Magic Vine Seeds?"

"That makes sense."

"You have indeed reached the stage of completing your Spell Model."

Headmaster Tungus said, "Completing Vine Hand requires specific magical plant seeds. That is because Vine Hand is a Cantrip Model dismantled from the complete First-Ring Spell, [Vine Demon Spell]."

"So you must use the matching Magic Vine Seeds—the seeds of the Mandrake vine."

Headmaster Tungus took out a graphite box and carefully opened it. Inside were four seeds that looked rough, like thumb-sized potatoes.

Carefully using tweezers, Headmaster Tungus removed one seed and placed it into a small flowerpot filled with soil. "Mandrake vine seeds are specially cultivated by the Formal Wizards of our higher Academy. They have gone through dozens of generations, so their traits are stable, they are highly resilient, and they are difficult to kill."

"You only need to toss it into the soil, and it will gradually take root and sprout. However, you need to water it once a week, let it receive sunlight every day, and avoid direct exposure to the sun. Care for it just as you would an ordinary plant."

"Although Mandrake is not easily killed, if it grows particularly poorly, it will affect your spell and also your chances of becoming a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice."

"You should have learned about Mandrake from the books as well."

Locke nodded.

In addition, he needed to nourish this seed with his Mental Power every day.

At the beginning, this was a very difficult task.

Because he was essentially just an ordinary person who understood some basic mysticism, it was basically impossible for him to mobilize Mental Power and transform the seed.

The only reason it could be done was because Mandrake seeds had been specially designed by Formal Wizards using Plant Magic. Even so, he would still need a long time to learn how to use his Mental Power to nourish the seed.

Headmaster Tungus said, "The first Mandrake seed will be sold to you for five Magic Stones. The second will no longer receive a discounted price, so the second seed will cost fifteen Magic Stones."

Locke raised his brows. "Teacher Tungus, are these seeds really so expensive?"

Tungus said, "Of course."

"However, these magical seeds are generally difficult to kill."

Headmaster Tungus closed the graphite box and covered it with two layers of silk. "Moreover, magical resources on Corfu Island are precious. I only have four Mandrake seeds in total. After giving one to you, I will have only three left."

"If a fourth Wizard Seedling appears during the rest of my life and chooses Vine Hand as their Spell Model, I will have no Magic Vine Seeds to provide for their studies."

Headmaster Tungus said, "Aurelian Academy only replenishes its magical resources when its headmaster is replaced."

Locke nodded, abandoning the idea of asking Headmaster Tungus for two more Mandrake seeds.

If he could obtain three Mandrake seeds, he could use synthesis to combine them into a level-two synthesized item and directly improve the quality of the seeds.

But Locke now gave up on that idea.

There were two reasons.

First, magical resources on Corfu Island were far too scarce. His idea could not possibly receive Headmaster Tungus's support.

Otherwise, any Wizard Seedlings at Aurelian Academy over the next fifty years would be unable to choose Vine Hand as their Spell Model for study.

Headmaster Tungus had to consider the possibility that future Wizard Apprentices with the same highest affinity for Wood Element Particles as Locke might appear at the Academy.

The second reason was that synthesis could bring unknown changes.

If he rashly used synthesis on something currently so important to him, it might prevent him from completing the Vine Hand spell.

That would not be worth it.

Once I leave Corfu Island, board a Wizard Ship, cross the Endless Mysterious Sea, and head to the Southeastern Corner Region, I can find a way to buy Mandrake seeds and conduct synthesis experiments then. It won't be too late. Locke thought. For now, my goal is to use the Deep Blue Jade to become a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice as quickly as possible and learn my first spell.

Headmaster Tungus said to Locke, "By the way, Locke, some of your family members have come looking for you outside the Academy recently."

"They were stopped by the guards outside Aurelian Academy. They seemed to be in some trouble, but I helped you resolve the matter and found them a house near the Academy."

"You can go see your family members sometime soon. Here is their address."

Locke froze for a moment. He had been so focused on studying lately that he had forgotten about the Augustine Family the original owner came from.

Locke glanced at the address and thanked the headmaster. "Thank you, Teacher Tungus."

Locke rose to his feet, put away his textbooks, carried the flowerpot containing the Mandrake seed, nodded to Patti Isa and Kode Newman, then turned and left the room.

Over the past half year, even though he had devoted himself to study and rarely concerned himself with other matters, he had still heard some news from the Corfu Continent.

After occupying the Anjou Kingdom, the Frank Empire had suddenly launched another attack on the Norman Kingdom and destroyed it within four months.

As a result, another sixth of the Academy's students found themselves in the same awkward position as the Anjou people half a year ago.

The Augustine Family had mentioned in their letters to him that, after fleeing the Anjou Kingdom, they had sought refuge with distant relatives in the Norman Kingdom.

Now, with the Norman Kingdom destroyed, the original owner's family had once again been left with nowhere to go. That was why they had risked evading their pursuers and come to Aurelian Academy.

However, they had good luck. Locke now held a special status within Aurelian Academy as a Wizard Seedling, which allowed them to receive the Academy's protection.

Now that the Frank Empire had destroyed two major kingdoms on Corfu Island, and the total territory of the remaining four kingdoms was smaller than that of the Farak Empire, Aurelian Academy might be the only place capable of sheltering them.

As Locke walked through the Academy's elegant corridors, he saw several students from the Norman Kingdom weeping as they denounced the atrocities of the Frank people, while students from the Frank Empire mocked them mercilessly.

It seems the Frank Empire's true goal is to unify Corfu Island. Corfu Island will grow more and more chaotic, and a world war within Corfu Island will break out. Everyone will be dragged into it.

Peace will disappear.

But this has little to do with me.

After all, I will leave this place on a Wizard Ship in a year and a half. Through my connections, the Augustine Family should also be able to receive Headmaster Tungus's protection. As long as they remain near Aurelian Academy, they can at least live in peace.

From the corner of his eye, Locke spotted Mr. Alder, the history professor, appearing in the elegant garden corridor of the Academy. Professor Alder smiled and nodded at him in greeting, then briskly walked toward the students from the Norman Kingdom who were weeping and complaining.

Clearly, he was about to make a move against those pitiful students who had just lost their country.