Magenta Jade

"This Ogham Tree Rune can be adjusted. That way, my control over the Mandrake Vines will become more flexible." Inside the Wizard Ship's cabin, Locke was fine-tuning the four-dimensional [Vine Hand] Spell Model formed from sixteen Ogham Tree Runes.

The standard Spell Model for Vine Hand was a universal model suitable for everyone. However, every wizard's soul and Mana possessed unique qualities, so the rune structure inevitably needed slight adjustments during use to make the Spell Model more compatible with oneself.

Of course, this required Wizard Apprentices to have a certain degree of understanding and proficiency with the spell, as well as sufficient knowledge of magical fundamentals.

After experiencing the Black Wizards' sudden attack, Locke had gained some new inspiration regarding his spells. That was why he had spent an entire day in the cabin modifying his Spell Model.

After completing the model made of sixteen Ogham Tree Runes, Locke immediately circulated his Mana in his room and conducted a round of tests.

After testing it, Locke put away the small hourglass on the barrel table and said, "The response speed of my improved Vine Hand has been reduced from 0.2 seconds to 0.1 seconds."

A blink generally took around 0.1 to 0.4 seconds, while an ordinary person's reaction time to an unexpected event was probably at least 0.5 seconds.

Halving Vine Hand's response time meant faster casting and more precise micro-control.

Locke looked at the three Dark Cyan Jade gold rings on his left hand. "But the price is that the Mana consumption for casting Vine Hand has increased as well."

That was why Wizard Apprentices needed to modify Spell Models into forms that suited them best.

If increasing Mana consumption was the price for improving a spell's reaction speed, most Wizard Apprentices would abandon that option.

But Locke, who possessed a large amount of Dark Cyan Jade, did not need to worry much about that.

For him, finding ways to increase a spell's power was the right thing to do.

"The Mana stored in the Dark Cyan Jade has all been used up. Now I need to store it again," Locke said.

That would take time.

His Mana recovery also required time. He could not completely exhaust his Mana, so each time, he could only pour half of it into the Dark Cyan Jade, wait for it to recover, and then fill it again.

Likewise, when Locke took out the Dark Cyan Jade hidden inside the mechanisms of his gold rings, he discovered that the once flawless jade now had cracks inside it.

This showed that Dark Cyan Jade had a limited number of uses—roughly two to three times—after which it would shatter completely and become worthless.

Locke stuffed the three Dark Cyan Jade pieces back into the mechanisms of the three gold rings.

Then he clenched the empty air in front of him. The Horadric Cube spun as it emitted a golden radiance, and a smooth black-and-red jade appeared in Locke's hand.

"The recipe of two Level 4 Rubies and one Level 4 Black Onyx succeeded."

Locke saw the jade's description—

[Magenta Jade: A rare gemstone said to appear only in the depths of gemstone veins. This jade can activate Mental Power. Wearing it regularly can double the rate at which Mental Power increases.]

Holding the jade in his hand, Locke felt as though his Mental Power had been infused with greater vitality.

He could even slowly sense that his Mental Power, which had stopped growing, was increasing again—extremely slowly, but steadily and powerfully.

Locke raised the Magenta Jade and discovered a strange gaseous substance within it. This substance was slowly entering his body through his skin, affecting his Mental Power. Then, those magenta mist-like threads would strengthen his Mental Power.

However, one had to observe extremely carefully to notice even the slightest trace of it.

"Ever since I became a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice, I haven't had any further training methods, so my Mental Power has barely increased." Locke pondered. "But with the Magenta Jade, my Mental Power is growing again."

"If I had the later training methods, I estimate that my Mental Power would grow quite quickly, faster than the rate of someone with Level 3 wizard aptitude."

Excitement gleamed in Locke's eyes.

All along, his greatest concern had been his wizard aptitude. It had taken him more than two years to become a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice.

Wizard Apprentices with higher aptitude, however, could become Third-Class Wizard Apprentices in as little as three months.

But if he could synthesize a large number of Magenta Jade pieces, he could rapidly increase his Mental Power.

In the future, his cultivation speed might not be much slower than those with high wizard aptitude.

After all, piling up resources was also a method.

Looking at the Magenta Jade, Locke wondered, "But why does my Mental Power grow so quickly when it comes into contact with the special substance hidden inside this jade?"

"What exactly is this special substance?"

"Forget it. There's no one I can ask right now. Sooner or later, I'll naturally find out."

He put away the Magenta Jade, hiding it in a gold ring he had forged long ago, then wore it on the ring finger of his right hand.

Then Locke removed the Deep Blue Jade that had already lost its effect from the gold rings on his left hand and replaced it with five brand-new pieces of Deep Blue Jade.

With that, all his stock had been used up.

He would have to wait until he got off the Wizard Ship before finding a market to replenish his gemstones and synthesize the materials needed for Magenta Jade, Dark Cyan Jade, and Deep Blue Jade.

A knock sounded from the cabin below deck, and Lorne's voice came from outside the door.

"Locke, come out quickly."

"The wizard mentors have come to our level. It looks like they're finally going to assign us to our respective wizard academies."

"I hope I can stay at Verdantia University. The wizards of the Wizard Council of Elders on the Schleswig Continent told me that Verdantia University is one of the best comprehensive wizard academies in the Southeastern Corner Region."

"Many great wizards have come from Verdantia University."

Locke opened the door and saw Lorne's excited expression. At the same time, the corridor was silent. Many Wizard Apprentices had already opened their doors and made their way into the hallway on their own.

At the wooden staircase leading to the upper deck stood more than twenty wizard mentors wearing various styles of wizard robes.

Among them was Mentor Jarvis of the Four Seasons Garden.

Locke was still in the mood to quietly ask Lorne, "Lorne, which is better, the Four Seasons Garden or Verdantia University?"

The wizards from Lorne's continent seemed somewhat stronger than those from the Corfu Continent, so Lorne knew far more than Locke did.

Lorne actually thought about it carefully, then replied in a voice only the two of them could hear, "They're about equal, but the Four Seasons Garden is an academy specializing in Life Magic, while Verdantia University is a comprehensive magic university."

"So there are major differences between them."

"But we can forget about the Four Seasons Garden. It only wants Wizard Seedlings with the highest Wood Element Particle affinity, or Wizard Seedlings with outstanding performance in Botany and Potions."

"Verdantia University, on the other hand, may accept some Wizard Seedlings with average aptitude, because some of its magic categories are highly niche and have few students."

"So they may consider accepting Wizard Seedlings with ordinary aptitude into those less popular magic categories in order to preserve Verdantia University's inheritance in those fields."

Lorne quietly told Locke, "For example, the wizard elders recommended that I try for Verdantia University's [Shaping School Light Magic Specialization] and [Life Magic Botany Specialization]."

"Verdantia University's Light Magic Specialization is fairly ordinary, but it generally gives priority to Wizard Seedlings with Level 4 wizard aptitude or above. So that is only my ideal option."

"Unless I'm exceptionally lucky, I normally won't have a chance to enter it."

"My main choice is their Botany Specialization."

"Verdantia University's Botany Specialization is somewhat weaker. If Level 3 Wizard Seedlings are lucky, they may also be able to enter."

"Locke, didn't you mention that before boarding the ship, you helped your teacher brew a potion once? That counts as a major achievement."

Lorne said enviously, "So perhaps you also have a chance of being selected for Verdantia University's Botany Specialization."

Lorne lowered his voice. "The wizards from both our continents were sent out by Verdantia University, so Verdantia University itself has priority in selecting us."

"Verdantia University has priority selection rights over both of us. Unless it rejects us, other wizard organizations within the White Wizard Association cannot bypass Verdantia University and select us."

"That is our advantage."

"After all, Verdantia University is one of the most famous academies in the Southeastern Corner Region."

Lorne added, "Of course, those are only the requirements for indigenous people from mortal worlds like us. I heard that natives of the Wizarding World enter academies by different standards. Their circumstances are much more complicated."

"Some Wizard Seedlings from areas under Verdantia University's jurisdiction only need Level 2 or Level 3 aptitude to be directly taken in and trained by Verdantia University."

"Those local Wizard Seedlings are regarded as their own people by Verdantia University."

In the corridor, Locke asked curiously, "Then which magic direction is Verdantia University's strongest?"

Lorne smiled and quietly said, "That, I happen to know."

"I knew you would be interested. Unfortunately, we can only watch from the sidelines. Those are truly popular magic categories that require at least Level 6 wizard aptitude to enter."

"Even their local Wizard Seedlings are no exception."

"Verdantia University has two strongest directions. One is the Shaping School's Lightning Magic Specialization, and the other is the Transmutation School's Transfiguration Specialization."

"Besides those two flagship magic categories, there are several other relatively powerful ones, including the Potioncraft Specialization."

Lorne whispered, "Locke, the mentors are coming over. We should stay quiet."

"Good luck. I hope you're assigned to an academy that satisfies you."