Public Classes

The cluster of wooden houses at the very center of the port city was Lilith's Cottage's public class area. Inside one of the wooden houses, Urien Ritchie, a Formal Wizard responsible for teaching, was lecturing from the podium.

He wore a wizard's robe embroidered with silver thread, while a wizard slate floated behind him like a screen.

As a Formal Wizard of the Frost Magic branch under the Shaping School, Urien Ritchie was explaining the principles of basic runes.

"Runes and languages are major foundations of mysticism. Though they are not everything, they are important subjects. You have all studied many ancient languages before, and those are the foundation of Basic Rune Studies. However, Basic Rune Studies are far more complicated than anything you have learned before."

"The basic objective of this course is to ensure that you children at least learn the basic rune terminology for the four fundamental magics: Wind Magic, Water Magic, Fire Magic, and Earth Magic."

"Once you have mastered these four kinds of basic rune terminology, understanding and studying the Basic Rune Studies of other magic will become very easy."

"So, this can be considered a wizard's foundation."

"Some Wizard Apprentices are often too eager to reach Second-Class Wizard Apprentice as quickly as possible. To that end, they increase their Mental Power at all costs and neglect to build a solid foundation. The outcome is never good."

Urien Ritchie spoke in an indifferent tone. He did not seem to care how many students could keep up with his pace. He appeared more concerned with completing the Academy's assignment, so his teaching was extremely casual.

Most of the time, he merely read rigidly from the textbook.

What he said was almost word-for-word identical to what was written in the textbook. Only occasionally, when the mood struck him, would he add a sentence or two of explanation.

If Lilith's Cottage had not required the Formal Wizards taking turns teaching to lecture personally, Urien Ritchie would likely have told the students to read the textbook and study on their own.

While Instructor Urien Ritchie lectured on the podium, Locke kept writing down key points at his seat.

Even after memorizing certain details, he could not understand them immediately, so he needed to review and reflect on them carefully after returning.

Moreover, whenever there was something he did not understand for the moment, he could ask Teacher Sophia. Teacher Sophia could often tell at a glance exactly where he was confused or what knowledge he lacked, then simply toss him a book to read and learn from.

Locke looked around the classroom. Because Instructor Urien Ritchie taught quickly and did not explain things very carefully, most of Lilith's Cottage's Wizard Seedlings had failed to keep up. Only a small number could understand everything.

Those were the students with Level 5 and Level 6 wizard aptitude.

Their learning efficiency was naturally far higher than that of Locke, Lorne, and the others.

After one class, Lorne, who sat beside Locke, was already thoroughly muddled, practically dizzy with confusion.

It was not just him. Some of the Wizard Seedlings nearby had even begun staring blankly because they could not keep up.

Someone whispered quietly during class, "It doesn't really matter if we can't understand it. To become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, what matters is learning more spells and reaching 50 points of Mental Power."

"It doesn't matter if we don't do well in Basic Rune Studies either."

"I heard that plenty of senior students failed this course. We're wizards already, so why should we be afraid of failing an exam?"

Locke glanced at the speaker and remembered that this Wizard Seedling had Level 2 wizard aptitude.

Basic Rune Studies did not directly affect whether one could become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, but they would affect one's path toward learning and attempting to construct one's own magical framework.

"So the divide has already become severe from the first week after enrollment," Locke realized. "Anyone aspiring to become a Formal Wizard cannot afford to neglect the basics."

"Otherwise, when learning Spell Models in the future, will they only be able to follow behind others and chew through models that others have already researched and interpreted?"

On the podium, Instructor Urien Ritchie heard the mechanical clock outside Lilith's Cottage ring for the end of class. Without even a polite closing remark, he immediately shut his textbook and turned to leave the church.

He gave the apprentices no opportunity to ask him questions.

Lilith's Cottage's public classes were more like a benefit. The instructors simply did not care about the students' grades.

Listen if you wanted to, and if you could not understand, so be it. It had nothing to do with them anyway.

After class, quite a few apprentices seized the chance to approach the Level 5 and Level 6 Wizard Apprentices, seeking their notes and explanations.

Of course, this usually required paying one or two Magic Stones.

"I really envy those talented students. They can earn Magic Stones without even moving," Lorne said as he watched a group of apprentices crowd eagerly around an apprentice named Everett Lewis, asking him questions.

Everett Lewis possessed Level 6 aptitude. Like Locke, his primary affinity was with the Wood Element.

He was the Wizard Seedling with the best overall aptitude in this class.

From the very first day of enrollment, he had received Lilith's Cottage's attention and been given focused training.

Unlike Locke and the others, Wizard Seedlings with such aptitude were considered part of the Academy's own ranks even when they were merely Third-Class Wizard Apprentices.

Lorne said enviously, "Still, Locke, you're pretty lucky too. Your mentor only has you as a student, so you can ask her questions whenever you want."

"Even Everett Lewis doesn't have the chance to receive a Formal Wizard's guidance at all times."

"I heard he's only met his mentor a few times."

Lorne said to Locke, "As for me, I've had it even worse. From the time I enrolled until now, I haven't even met Teacher Hanmoke Wusi."

"The person guiding me is only a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."

Locke shrugged. "There's nothing we can do about that. It's the Academy's arrangement. How about I talk to Teacher Sophia and have her take you in too?"

Locke deliberately teased him. Of course, he would never do something so rash; it was merely a joke between friends.

A Formal Wizard was not someone he could casually meddle with.

Lorne hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, no. If we really did that, wouldn't I offend Teacher Hanmoke Wusi?"

"Though I haven't even met him once, I wouldn't dare offend him. He has quite a few students at Lilith's Cottage. Nearly every wizard specializing in Light Magic has received some of his guidance."

Pierre sat at the desk in front of them. He was Locke and Lorne's neighbor on Dwarf Street, and a local of the Southeastern Corner Region.

However, his family circumstances were fairly ordinary as well. His parents were merely ordinary merchants, so he also lived on Dwarf Street.

Pierre had Level 4 wizard aptitude.

Pierre turned around and looked at Locke and Lorne. "I asked around, Locke. Your teacher, Lady Sophia, became a Formal Wizard within the past half year."

"That means she was still a student at this Academy a few months ago."

"The Academy making you her student was probably just a coincidence. You're really lucky, Locke. After you return and listen to Lady Sophia's private lesson, could you give me a copy of your notes? There were some parts I didn't understand in class."

"Of course, according to custom, I'll pay you one Magic Stone."

Locke nodded. "Of course, Pierre."

After all, he only had to copy out an extra set of notes.

As for Lorne, Locke exchanged a glance with him.

Their relationship was closer, and Lorne had also come from the overseas mortal world. He did not have any Magic Stones on him.

He was struggling too.

Thus, Locke had always lent him his notes for free overnight and simply had him return them the next day.

It was an effortless favor that cost him nothing, so there was no reason for Locke not to do it.