Moonlight Elixir

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice respectfully gave Locke a detailed introduction to the situation at Lilith's Cottage. "The Academy has prepared better accommodations for Second-Class Wizard Apprentices—Knockturn Alley."

"Within the Academy, most Second-Class Wizard Apprentices either live in Knockturn Alley or have accommodations arranged by their wizard mentors. Only a small number choose to live outside on their own."

"After becoming a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, Senior, you will have your own room in Knockturn Alley."

"This is the key to your house, number 341 Knockturn Alley."

"Besides that, you can now access public areas within Lilith's Cottage, such as the Potion Auction venue, the Blood Roar Colosseum, the Black Diamond Alchemy Workshop, and the Chimera Trading Market."

Locke nodded. It seemed that becoming a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice had unlocked many permissions for him within Lilith's Cottage, granting him far greater freedom.

Lilith's Cottage had an enormous trading market called the Chimera Trading Market, but Third-Class Wizard Apprentices did not have permission to enter. Previously, he could only enter the market when accompanied by Witch Sophia.

That market and the Potion Auction were Lilith's Cottage's most important assets.

A large number of wizards entered that market to conduct trades.

That was why Third-Class Wizard Apprentices were forbidden from entering. First, it was dangerous. Second, Third-Class Wizard Apprentices had little spending power and could not produce anything valuable enough to trade.

Locke asked, "What is the Blood Roar Colosseum? I haven't heard of it before."

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice smiled. "Oh, it's perfectly normal that you haven't heard of it, Senior."

"It is a public building the Academy constructed within the last five years. Before that, there were not many Wizard Apprentices in Lilith's Cottage who followed the various branches of magic under the Summoning School."

"But ten years ago, a Formal Wizard specializing in beast-taming magic, a branch of the Summoning School, joined Lilith Academy."

"Under his guidance, beast-taming magic within Lilith's Cottage has gradually risen to prominence in recent years and has become a relatively powerful category of magic when facing outsiders."

"That is why Lilith's Cottage built the Blood Roar Colosseum, specifically for Wizard Apprentices on the beast-taming path to fight and temper themselves within it."

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice smiled. "And after becoming a Second-Class Wizard Apprentice, you will receive special benefits as well. Every month, the Academy will give you thirty Magic Stones."

"Every month, the Academy will also provide you with five tubes of Mind-Calming Ointment, which increase the rate of Mental Power growth."

"Of course, these special benefits can only last for five years. If you fail to become a First-Class Wizard Apprentice within five years, all these benefits will be halved. If you still have not become a First-Class Wizard Apprentice within ten years, all these benefits will be revoked."

A faint bitterness had already crept into the Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice's tone.

Although Locke had not asked how long he had remained at the Second-Class Wizard Apprentice stage, it was probably not a short time.

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice said, "Besides that, Senior, you also have obligations to the Academy."

"Therefore, you must take on a task position within the Academy and work for it."

"These positions will be assigned from above. Your mentor will send someone to notify you when the time comes."

"There is also a contract, though your mentor generally signs it with the Academy on your behalf automatically."

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice said, "After all, very few Wizard Apprentices would refuse to sign the contract."

"The contract for Second-Class Wizard Apprentices is not harsh. Besides the benefits that belong to you, the Academy only requires Senior to undertake a certain position, work for the Academy, and create value."

"And you must promise that after becoming a First-Class Wizard Apprentice in the future, you will remain at Lilith's Cottage for at least fifteen years before leaving."

Locke nodded to show that he understood.

For Second-Class Wizard Apprentices, studying had become something akin to working while studying.

That was because Second-Class Wizard Apprentices were already capable of doing quite a lot of work.

Likewise, to the Academy, First-Class Wizard Apprentices were already highly valuable wizards.

First-Class Wizard Apprentices could even possess their own independent laboratories or small alchemy workshops.

Naturally, Lilith's Cottage could not simply let apprentices it had cultivated for years pat their backsides and walk away from the Academy.

Still, it was not much of a problem.

First, he had no intention of changing Academies anytime soon. It was neither realistic nor necessary.

Second, Teacher Sophia had once told him that the Wizarding World was a world of equivalent exchange. As long as he paid enough value, he could forcibly breach the contract and leave Lilith Academy early.

But no matter what, he should first accept the Academy's training and raise his wizard rank.

Only the strong possessed the right to choose.

The Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice flipped through the handbook and said with apparent delight, "Oh, right, Senior. The Academy has special additional rewards for Wizard Seedlings who become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices within a year."

"You may choose one reward item from the following list. The reward will be transferred to you through your mentor."

"Here is the list."

Locke glanced over the list and found that there were two sheets in total.

One was a list of reward items for Wizard Seedlings who became Second-Class Wizard Apprentices within half a year, while the other was for those who did so within a year.

Without question, the items on the first list were of better quality.

The second list was slightly inferior.

But presumably, only Wizard Seedlings with level-seven aptitude and some with level-six aptitude could become Second-Class Wizard Apprentices within half a year.

Wizard Seedlings with level-seven aptitude had a nickname: Child of the Element. Their affinity with their primary attuned element was so high that ordinary Wizard Apprentices could scarcely imagine it.

Locke looked at the second list. He saw no meditation methods on it, but there were several potions that increased the rate of Mental Power growth, seemingly far more advanced than Mind-Calming Ointment.

There were even Magic Items similar to the silver sword in Lorne's possession, though they were certainly superior to Lorne's silver sword.

Besides those, there were several simple Spell Models, magical materials, alchemy tools, and other items.

After thinking for a moment, Locke found that he very much wanted a Magic Item.

For example, the list included a set of Magic Items called Rune-Vine Soft Armor. It was armor made of living vines that could absorb moonlight at night to repair itself automatically, offering a certain degree of protection.

There was also a Magic Item called the Malice Scimitar. It was enchanted with a cantrip from the Conjuration School and could inflict a mental curse upon an enemy while attacking them.

But Locke felt that everything else was secondary. Increasing his Mana was what mattered most, so he chose a bottle of advanced potion that could increase Mental Power: Moonlight Elixir.

After seeing Locke's choice, the Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice immediately registered it, then smiled. "Senior, you made a very correct choice."

"Although Moonlight Elixir is not yet a magic potion, it is an advanced Mental Power growth potion that even First-Class Wizard Apprentices keep an eye on. The Mind-Calming Ointment distributed by the Academy cannot compare to Moonlight Elixir at all."

"I heard that after taking Moonlight Elixir just once, the rate of Mental Power growth can increase by at least double for the entire following year."

"In the second year, the rate of Mental Power growth will increase by fifty percent."

"By the third year, only an additional ten percent remains."

"It is difficult to obtain Moonlight Elixir through ordinary channels. Even if you have Magic Stones, you might not be able to buy it."

"This is one of the most worthwhile reward items on the prize list."

Clearly, although the Halfling Second-Class Wizard Apprentice had no chance of obtaining the reward items on those lists himself, he had spent plenty of time studying both reward lists in private.

Locke nodded at him. "Alright."

"Then I'll be leaving."

The Halfling said respectfully, "Take care, Senior."