The First Student

Locke bowed to Mentor Sophia. "I'll follow all your instructions. You are my teacher."

Mentor Sophia's expression seemed to relax slightly. "Mm. You count as my true first student."

"However, I originally thought the Academy wouldn't assign me any students within the next ten years, so there aren't any spare dormitories here for you."

"Mentor Sophia, I can find somewhere to stay in the port city," Locke said.

Mentor Sophia nodded. "You don't need to be so restrained."

"The Academy has a rule: you must become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice within five years, or you'll be expelled. For Wizard Apprentices with aptitude level five or above, this is nothing to worry about. Within two or three years of enrollment, they will almost certainly become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices."

"But you don't need to be nervous either. As long as you study hard, becoming a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice within five years won't be difficult."

Mentor Sophia said, "I looked at your schedule. Starting tomorrow, you'll be attending public courses: the Basic Spell Principles Course, Basic Magic Theory Course, and Basic Rune Studies Course."

"I'll prepare your specialized course schedule by the end of today."

"If you have five hundred Magic Stones, I recommend buying a meditation method from me. Your progress will be much faster that way."

Locke did not know what a meditation method was, but he did know that he was currently down twenty Magic Stones. So he honestly said, "Teacher, I came from the mortal world across the sea. I don't have any Magic Stones on me."

Witch Sophia showed no particular reaction and merely began thinking seriously. "Oh, I see."

"Then it'll be a little troublesome. The meditation methods I have are all restricted by contracts, so I can't simply give them to you unless you purchase one from me yourself."

"But it's fine. At this stage, most Wizard Seedlings don't have the Magic Stones to buy meditation methods. So they rely on learning spells and accumulating Mental Power, forcing their way into becoming Second-Class Wizard Apprentices."

Witch Sophia said, "The difference between a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice and a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice is that a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice has at least fifty points of Mental Power."

"Other than that, there isn't much difference."

"The first spell you'll learn is Vine Hand. Hmm? Your secondary compatible element is the Metal Element?"

"Teacher, is that strange?" Locke asked.

Mentor Sophia said, "Not particularly."

"However, the Metal Element is generally quite rare."

Mentor Sophia stared at Locke with great interest. As her first official student, she found him intriguing. "I suspect you may have some special bloodline, because Metal Element compatibility is extremely uncommon."

"You can learn the rare Golden Magic. Lilith's Cottage doesn't have that category of magic."

"Though I do have some related items in my collection. They do require a fee, however."

Mentor Sophia said, "So, are you willing to spend one hundred and twenty Magic Stones on a bloodline tracing examination here? You might receive an unexpected surprise, and I'll be better able to make your study plan."

Locke was tempted, but the problem was that he truly had no money right now.

He really wanted to find a way to earn Magic Stones as soon as possible.

Locke shook his head helplessly. "Teacher, I have no money."

Mentor Sophia sighed. "Students who come from across the sea really do have it difficult at the beginning."

As for the special bloodline Witch Sophia had mentioned, Locke fell into thought. He recalled the original owner's witch mother, whom Count Augustine had mentioned.

Because Sophia was so easygoing, Locke gathered the courage to ask, "Teacher, do you know how to earn Magic Stones?"

"I also want to earn more Magic Stones to buy resources."

Sophia followed Locke's train of thought and looked at his file. "Let me see."

"Let me see what you can do."

"There are many traps in Lilith's Cottage. For instance, outside wizards, or even wizards from Lilith's Cottage itself, may offer you Magic Stone loans on the condition that you assist with their experiments and become their test subject. Remember to refuse every request related to that, understand?"

"No matter how appealing they make it sound."

Mentor Sophia frowned. "They're counting on deceiving Wizard Seedlings like you."

Mentor Sophia said, "Taking Academy missions can earn you contribution points and Magic Stones, but most of those missions are very dangerous for you."

"They include patrolling cities, hunting Magic Creatures, gathering magical materials, and so on. They're suitable for Second-Class Wizard Apprentices."

"The safer Academy missions require certain specialized skills and Wizard rank as well."

Mentor Sophia thought for a moment. "Or you could do menial work, such as helping a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice or a First-Class Wizard Apprentice who needs someone to handle simple magical materials that require repetitive labor..."

"Hmm? Before boarding the Wizard Ship, you helped a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice complete a Stone Crab Potion?"

Locke nodded. "Yes, Teacher."

"But I only used the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method to help him finish the basic work."

Mentor Sophia chuckled. "How complicated could a potion made by a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice be? The hardest part was probably the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method."

"This file is quite interesting. It wasn't you helping that apprentice complete the Stone Crab Potion at all. It was him helping you complete the potion."

"But the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion... I've heard of that notorious potion. It has far too many side effects. I never thought anyone would drink something like that. Whoever drank it probably doesn't have much time left."

Locke nodded. Professor Alder truly did not have much time left.

Mentor Sophia pointed at a small stool beside her. "Move a stool over and sit for a while. Later, I'll test you on your Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method."

"Right now, I'm designing a highly complex First Ring potion-brewing process, so don't disturb me."

"I'm a First Ring potion alchemist. If you truly have mastered the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Method, I do have some work I can hand over to you."

"When the time comes, I'll pay you a certain amount of Magic Stones as compensation."

Locke had never expected that a skill he had learned on the Corfu Continent could help him earn his first Magic Stones after entering the Wizarding World.

Moreover, Locke realized something else: potion brewing consumed the most specific high-grade resources.

And that was precisely where the Horadric Cube could help him most easily.