Three Months and the Arrival of the Wizard Ship (4500)

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Aurelian Academy dormitory, Locke cleaned out everything in his room, moved out of the dormitory, and stored his excess belongings in the estate where the Augustine Family was currently living.

Over those three months, with Professor Alder's help, Locke learned the spell [Skull Explosion] on the very last day.

Practicing [Skull Explosion] did not require killing a person. He only needed to kill livestock and use the death energy produced by doing so.

Although rushing the learning process had left his grasp of it somewhat unsteady, he could practice on the Wizard Ship and make up for the weak foundation later.

So it did not really matter.

After completing his second trick, Locke felt that his Mental Power had increased by at least another thirty percent. However, Corfu Island lacked magical resources specifically for testing Mental Power, so he had never learned its exact current value.

At the villa where the Augustine Family was temporarily staying, Count Augustine and Goria held a farewell banquet for Locke. Under the pretext that Locke was going on a long journey, they even invited many prominent local families.

Of course, those people only knew that Locke was traveling far away. They thought he was merely journeying from one kingdom to another, never imagining that this so-called long journey meant leaving Corfu Continent for a far broader world.

Sienna Brown and her daughter did everything they could during the banquet to ingratiate themselves with Locke, because she knew that Locke now held the highest status in the family.

She wanted Locke to become close to her daughter, but Locke remained cold toward them.

Goria gave Locke a tight hug, then whispered into his ear, "Little brother, if you see Mother in the future, please say hello for me."

"No matter what lies ahead, our family will always be your warmest harbor."

"Remember to come home and visit. Don't be like Mother and Sister... our own younger sister, gone without ever returning."

Locke nodded slightly. These months of living together had deepened his bond with the family considerably.

Count Augustine walked over and patted Locke on the shoulder. "You've grown up, so I can rest easy about you leaving."

"You don't need to worry about the family's affairs."

"Because of you, Emperor Frank returned Augustine County to us, restored our title, and even intends to marry a princess to your elder brother, Goria."

A mocking smile curled at Count Augustine's lips as he glanced at the powerful nobles attending the banquet. "These people's ears are always the sharpest, so they have all rushed over to flatter us."

Locke asked one more question. "Marry a princess? Emperor Frank is certainly generous. Father, did you agree?"

Count Augustine and Goria exchanged smiles. The count said, "Why wouldn't we? Your elder brother has met that delicate princess and is quite satisfied with her."

"For the sake of the family, if the future Count Augustine can marry a princess of the Frank Empire, it will be greatly beneficial to our family."

"Of course." Count Augustine lowered his voice. "All of this is because of you. If you are well, then we will all be well."

"The person Emperor Frank truly wants to curry favor with is you."

"But all I want is for you to stay safe, Locke."

Locke nodded. Warmth filled his heart. At least in this unfamiliar other world, he still had family members who cared about him.

His sense of belonging to the Augustine Family also deepened somewhat.

Locke said, "I will take good care of myself."

"If I get the chance in the future, I will return from the Wizarding World and come back to Corfu Island."

"If a family produces one wizard, the chances of their descendants possessing wizard talent will increase significantly. Perhaps Elder Brother's descendants may also enter the Wizarding World someday."

"Of course, that is only a possibility."

Goria's eyes lit up. During this period, he had indeed been somewhat envious of his younger brother.

Envious that Locke could become a wizard.

Unfortunately, he did not have wizard talent. But if his descendants could possess it, that would be good enough.

Now he understood that wizards were people even the emperor of the Frank Empire, which was on the verge of unifying Corfu Continent, had to curry favor with.

Locke said briefly, "All right, it's time. I have to go."

After bidding farewell to his family, Locke boarded the carriage arranged by Aurelian Academy downstairs and headed for the docks outside the city.

Headmaster Tungus and the others were already waiting there.

Today was the day the Wizard Ship would arrive, and the day he would officially enter the Wizarding World.

Aurelian Academy had arranged for soldiers to seal off the docks beforehand, so there were not many people there at the moment.

There were only Headmaster Tungus, Professor Alder, Patti and Kode, along with their respective families.

Since they were leaving Corfu Island by ship and could not cross the Endless Mysterious Sea to return without the resources of a Formal Wizard, the Academy had arranged for their families to come here and say goodbye.

Kode's family were all serfs belonging to a lord, but it was said that Emperor Frank had granted them commoner status and bestowed upon them a large amount of property, making them modestly wealthy.

Likewise, Patti's family had gone from being merchants to becoming minor lords.

When Locke arrived, he nodded to Kode and Patti before walking over to Headmaster Tungus and Professor Alder.

Professor Alder's gaze flickered, but he said nothing. He simply stood there silently, watching Locke calmly.

He knew clearly that others might perhaps see Locke again in this lifetime, but for him, this meeting would be their final farewell.

A sudden gust swept through the docks. The wind was fierce, sending sand and stones flying as dust filled the air. In the gray sea in the distance, a massive shadow appeared, tearing through sea and sky as it headed toward Corfu Island's docks.

It was suffocatingly oppressive.

It was like a small mountain bearing down on the docks.

Compared to it, the mortal ships moored at the docks were like primitive wooden canoes beside an aircraft carrier.

For some reason, enormous pressure descended upon Locke's heart. Yet it did not seem to be merely psychological, because he soon discovered that even his body was reacting. His knees ached, and his eyes burned.

Locke noticed that Patti and Kode were faring even worse. Sweat had appeared on both their foreheads, and the pressure upon them was immense.

Their families even showed signs of being unable to stand steadily.

Headmaster Tungus looked at the three of them. "It's all right. This is probably your first time facing Magic Pressure. Rest for a while, and you'll be fine."

"If ordinary people remain under such intense Magic Pressure for too long, they may suffer permanent damage. But you are now all Third-Class Wizard Apprentices, or close to that level, so after sleeping once, you should probably adapt to it."

"After all, such high Magic Pressure rarely appears in natural environments."

Locke asked, "Teacher Tungus, what is Magic Pressure? The books you gave me never mentioned it."

Headmaster Tungus was startled to see that Locke could still speak. Then he said, "Locke, once you board that ship, you will soon learn what Magic Pressure is."

"I... have nothing left to teach you."

"The road ahead must be walked by yourselves."

"After boarding the Wizard Ship, listen to the wizard lords aboard. Do not do anything that violates the rules or provokes them."

"The Wizarding World is different from the small world of Corfu Island. It is more ruthless, where the strong prey upon the weak, but it is also filled with all kinds of possibilities."

"You three are all my students, and each of you is also a friend. Once you board the Wizard Ship, learn to look after one another."

Headmaster Tungus gave the three of them a slight bow. "I hope that when I see you again, one of you will have become a Formal Wizard."

"Only by becoming Formal Wizards will you have enough resources to return home. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to come back."

Headmaster Tungus said, "We will do our best to take care of your families. Rest assured, because of your connections, their lives on Corfu Island will absolutely not encounter any problems in the future."

"The Tungus Family in the Wizarding World will know that you are my students. Perhaps they can offer you some help."

"Go, my students."

A gigantic ship docked at the pier. It was still a wooden ship, but its size was comparable to that of a massive cruise liner.

Its overall shape resembled a three-masted vessel, but Locke believed that its driving force was definitely not wind power.

A ship this large could never possibly be propelled by the wind.

Some wooden planks floated down from the wooden ship. In midair, they formed a hollow staircase, layer after layer, step after step.

It extended down from the deck of the towering Wizard Ship.

Headmaster Tungus hurriedly raised the three files containing Locke and the others' records. The files automatically flew toward the Wizard Ship.

Ten seconds later, an indifferent voice descended from the Wizard Ship. "On Island 31, there are three Wizard Seedlings. Two Third-Class Wizard Apprentices and one ordinary person."

"Locke Augustine, Patti Isa, Kode Newman, board the Wizard Ship within one minute."

"Second-Class Wizard Apprentice Zack Tungus and Second-Class Wizard Apprentice Anlu Alder shall each be rewarded with fifteen Contribution Points."

A hint of joy appeared on Headmaster Tungus and Professor Alder's faces.

These school Contribution Points were worth even more than Magic Stones, and they were the main reason they had traveled such a great distance to this barren land.

The points would eventually be used by their respective families and become the foundation of those families.

Yet they still felt sad, because the apprentices they had trained for many years were about to leave Corfu Island. For a long time to come, only the two of them would remain at Aurelian Academy.

Until the next Wizard Seedling with talent entered the Academy, which might take years, or even more than a decade.

As Locke stepped onto the floating wooden staircase, Headmaster Tungus suddenly shouted, "Wizard lords, I have been away from my family for many years. I miss them so much. I want to write a letter to my family. Could you help deliver it..."

"This is only a request from an old man who has been far from his homeland for many years..."

An indifferent voice came from the Wizard Ship. "Second-Class Wizard Apprentice Zack Tungus, simply do your own duty. You voluntarily signed the contract to come to this savage land for the school and search for Wizard Seedlings."

"We owe you nothing."

Headmaster Tungus sighed. Though he had expected it, he still found it difficult to accept being rejected so mercilessly.

He took a deep breath. He should have known things would turn out this way.

After being respected on Corfu Island for so many years, he seemed to have begun forgetting the ruthlessness and indifference of the Wizarding World.

Locke glanced back at Headmaster Tungus, and his understanding of the Wizarding World deepened a little more.

A Wizard Apprentice who had been far from home for decades had remained on a low-magic barren island for the school, yet even his request to send a single letter was ruthlessly denied.

Locke thought of a phrase Headmaster Tungus often repeated—equivalent exchange.

The wizards of the Wizarding World followed the principle of equivalent exchange. Rationality and indifference were the mainstream there.

Headmaster Tungus could not offer compensation for the people aboard the Wizard Ship to deliver his letter, so naturally, his request was immediately refused.

Locke was the last apprentice to board the Wizard Ship. Once he stepped onto its deck, the floating wooden plank staircase behind him automatically broke apart plank by plank and flew back to the Wizard Ship.

Locke turned to look at Corfu Island. By then, the Wizard Ship had already begun moving, and he watched Corfu Island rapidly recede, shrink, and blur.

He also saw Professor Alder, who had remained silent all along, nod slightly at him before turning and walking away quickly.

Standing on the deck, Locke bent slightly toward Corfu Island, which had already become a distant place beyond the distance, paying his respects in remembrance of his teachers... all of them.

Patti and Kode cried out in surprise. Patti even said, "I never expected the Wizard Ship to be like this. It's not gray and gloomy at all."

"What's going on with that sun..."

Locke turned around and discovered that what lay before him was not the gray sky and sea along Corfu Island's coast, but an azure sky, white clouds, a rainbow hanging in the sky, and a dazzling sun.

He looked up and down and discovered that only when standing on the Wizard Ship and looking upward did the sky appear this way. If he stood at the edge of the deck and gazed out over the distant ocean, he could still see the gray, sunless sky of the Endless Mysterious Sea.

In other words, there was an artificial sky above the Wizard Ship, with an artificial sun within it.

The Wizard Ship's deck was not bare wooden boards either. There were patches of flower fields growing atop the planks, lush green grass within them, many food crops, and many beautiful flowers.

The environment on the deck resembled a magnificent garden that had everything.

The three of them were utterly astonished.

"Hehe, hello. Surprised, aren't you? I was surprised too when I boarded this morning." A young voice sounded behind Locke and the others.

Locke turned around and saw a youth dressed in white swordsman attire, carrying a silver cross sword on his back.

He was handsome, with golden hair and a warm smile.

"My name is Lorne Guerrero. I'm from the Schleswig Continent."

"Before you boarded, around three groups of students had already come aboard today."

"The wizard instructors here are different from the instructors on our continent. They don't really like talking to people. So I figured that since you've just boarded, you may not know anything, and I thought I'd introduce you to the current situation."

"This ship has an artificial weather system. The wizards can freely control the weather aboard the ship and grow crops as well, allowing it to be self-sufficient."

Locke had not expected someone to greet him as soon as he boarded. He nodded to Lorne Guerrero. "Hello, Lorne. I'm Locke Augustine."

Led by Locke, Patti and Kode also reluctantly greeted him.

However, both of them were somewhat wary and did not wish to speak much with Lorne Guerrero.

After chatting with Locke for a few moments, Lorne said, "The wizard instructors aboard are coming. He'll arrange accommodations for you."

"If you need anything, you can come find me for help. I'll be going now."

Locke turned his head and saw three wizards in black robes walking over from a distance. The Mana on these wizards was clearly much stronger than that of Headmaster Tungus and Professor Alder.

Faced with unfamiliar wizards, Patti and Kode became even more nervous.