Benefits of a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice

In the central district of the port city, Locke entered the office of Sasari, a First-Class Wizard Apprentice and the resident teacher of Universal Studies, in the central building of Lilith's Cottage's Public Classroom.

Sasari was also the resident teacher of Basic Magic Theory, one of the three basic public courses. At the same time, he was a Dark Elf, one of the few non-human races in the academy.

Sasari looked at the application Locke handed him and raised his eyebrows. "I seem to remember that you haven't attended my Basic Magic Theory classes for almost a week."

"I didn't expect you to have already become a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice."

"I remember that you only came to our academy last year, and your aptitude isn't above Level 5 either. I remember the names of all the Wizard Seedlings with aptitudes above Level 5..."

"Now, even some of the Level 5 Wizard Seedlings who came last year haven't become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices..."

Sasari showed an inquisitive expression, his face filled with curiosity as he looked at Locke.

As a First-Class Wizard Apprentice at Lilith's Cottage Academy, he naturally couldn't help being curious about such an unusual situation.

Locke didn't care. In any case, he had Teacher Sophia's name to invoke. "Yes. Teacher Sophia said that I might have a special talent that wasn't detected when I enrolled."

"My Mana is naturally much more stable than other people's."

Sasari immediately nodded, wearing an expression of understanding, and stopped thinking about it. "I see. Then your luck really is quite good."

"At this rate of progress, you're almost catching up to the progress speed of a Level 6 Wizard Seedling."

"Mana stability... I understand now. Then your talent is best suited for developing in Potions, Alchemy, and Enchanting."

"I remember that Lady Sophia is a First Ring Potion Master and Breeder, while the Universal Studies I teach happens to be a prerequisite for both of those courses."

Sasari very straightforwardly wrote his name on the application form. "Since this is Lady Sophia's intention, there's no need for me to review it repeatedly."

"Go to the payment office outside and pay with Magic Stones."

Universal Studies was considered an advanced course. Even if a Third-Class Wizard Apprentice had enough Magic Stones and wanted to study it ahead of time, the resident teacher would generally block them under normal circumstances.

After all, the Wizarding World was not a safe and harmless place.

For many courses, simply listening to the lectures could be dangerous for wizards whose Mana was insufficient.

Wizard Seedlings often had several training contracts related to the academy. Lilith's Cottage naturally didn't want to see a Wizard Seedling die needlessly in class.

Furthermore, the First-Class Wizard Apprentices who had accepted academy missions also found it troublesome when someone died or got into an accident in their classes. As a result, they imposed a certain level of screening on their courses.

Only after they signed could Locke pay the fee and attend the course.

Locke bowed to the Dark Elf Sasari—a low-level Wizard Apprentice had to perform basic etiquette toward a higher-level Wizard Apprentice in the academy—then turned and left his office.

Locke walked toward another wooden cottage and, wincing inwardly, handed 150 Magic Stones to a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice at the payment office.

That Second-Class Wizard Apprentice checked the Magic Stones and the application form. After confirming the signature, he said gently to Locke, "Augustine, all right. I've registered your name. From now on, you can attend Universal Studies classes."

Locke nodded at him and turned to leave.

Next, he didn't return to Dwarf Street. Instead, he walked to a street in the port city, hailed a two-wheeled carriage pulled by a Lizardman, and climbed aboard. "Take me to Anvil Square in the Southeast."

Lilith's Cottage's registration office was located in Anvil Square.

When the Lizardman carriage driver saw the Wizard Apprentice's robe Locke was wearing, he immediately said respectfully, "All right, Wizard Sir."

About half an hour later, Locke arrived at Anvil Square and entered a wooden cottage protected and concealed by a barrier.

After explaining his purpose, Locke used the registration office's Amethyst Matrix to test his Mental Power. The number [54] appeared on it.

"My Mental Power increased by one. Right, it should be because I learned the Spell Model for Magic Flame, which caused my Mental Power to grow a little," Locke thought. "Also, over these five days, I completely digested the strange substance from the Magenta Jade that remained in my Mental Power."

"That's why my Mental Power increased passively."

"I don't know what the strange substance in the Magenta Jade is. It can actually increase a Wizard Apprentice's Mental Power. I'm already a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, yet it can still increase it."

Locke thought, "Although the rate of increase is far slower than before, only one-third of the previous speed."

"Universal Studies is a general course about understanding all things. I hope that by attending it, I can find out exactly what that special substance inside the Magenta Jade is."

Locke also didn't dare take out the Magenta Jade and show it to Teacher Sophia.

After all, he couldn't explain where the jade came from, nor did he know how valuable it was or whether it would attract the attention of a Formal Wizard.

A Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice at the registration office froze for a moment when he saw the number on the Amethyst Matrix. Then, a warm smile appeared on his face.

Halflings were a subspecies of humans, a special race found only in the Southeastern Corner Region, a medium-magic region. They were generally shorter than a ten-year-old human child, but their personalities were more cunning and smooth-tongued.

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice said to Locke, "Congratulations, congratulations, senior. I see that you only came to our academy last year, yet you became a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice in just one year."

"That speed is truly impressive."

"I think, senior, that you'll definitely become a First-Class Wizard Apprentice in the future."

Locke was stunned when he heard the man call him senior, but he immediately understood. In the Wizarding World, ability came first; besides that, the man was trying to curry favor with him.

Although they were both Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, the Halfling Wizard Apprentice before him was already over fifty years old. His hair had turned white, and wrinkles had appeared on his face.

Only a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice like this, who had already given up, would not be working as an assistant in the laboratories or shops of various First-Class Wizard Apprentices and Formal Wizards. Instead, he was wasting his life in a registration office like this.

Thus, their statuses were worlds apart. Naturally, he called Locke senior in an attempt to curry favor with him.

Of course, this was probably also a form of self-protection.

Other rapidly advancing Second-Class Wizard Apprentices might not be as easygoing as Locke.

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice respectfully handed Locke an Academy Badge representing Lilith's Cottage. "Senior Augustine, this is our academy's badge. All Second-Class Wizard Apprentices wear one on their Wizard robes."

"To show their identities."

"It also allows you to enter places that only Second-Class Wizard Apprentices can enter."