Enrollment

Benjamin roughly checked the contents of the scroll. They were the same as those displayed on the promotional light screen outside Alchemy Studies, only somewhat more detailed.

During their apprenticeship, the Academy's Alchemy Workshop would provide basic food and lodging, systematic instruction, and a limited allotment of experimental resources.

Apprentices needed to complete the learning assignments arranged by the Academy and the miscellaneous duties designated by the Workshop to earn academic credits, which could be exchanged for more advanced knowledge and resources.

Their obligation was that upon reaching the rank of a first-level official wizard, or after completing ten years of study, apprentices had to serve the Workshop on the front lines for a full thirty years.

During that time, they had to obey arrangements and complete all kinds of tasks, including but not limited to brewing Magic Potions, repairing equipment, and participating in research projects.

The price of breach of contract was even more horrifying. It included not only enormous compensation in points and resources, but also damage to the origin of one's soul. At best, it would cause mental power to decline; at worst, the soul would collapse, leaving one worse off than dead.

As for why breach of contract did not result in death, that was naturally because wizards themselves were excellent research materials. With manpower in short supply, the Workshop would not waste them so readily.

"I have no objections, Mentor." Benjamin raised his head, his gaze firm.

Mentor Clark glanced at him, a faint glimmer flashing through his eyes. The smug smile he had worn toward the other mentors had somehow reverted to an unsmiling expression.

He nodded, signaling for Benjamin to drip a drop of blood onto the scroll, then extracted a trace of mental power from Benjamin's mind and fused it into the scroll.

The blood seeped in, and the mental power merged with it. The scroll instantly erupted with an even more intense radiance than before.

Complex runes leaped and flickered before finally turning into a streak of light that entered the apprentice badge in Clark's hand.

The alchemical cauldron emblem on the badge seemed to come alive, glowing faintly.

The contract took effect.

Mentor Clark put away the scroll, his tone returning to calm. "Very good. Since you have chosen Alchemy, you must have patience and resolve. There are not many thrilling adventures here, only day after day of experiments, calculations, and failures. But if you can persevere, the rewards will not disappoint you."

He took two thick books and a rather heavy-looking wooden box from beneath the desk.

"This is the Basic Alchemy Manual. It covers all the fundamental knowledge that a beginner Alchemy apprentice must master. From identifying materials to preparing Magic Potions, from inscribing basic runes to the simplest Alchemy Constructs, all your foundational academic credits will be assessed from this material." Mentor Clark handed Benjamin the book on top. Its pages felt heavy in his hands.

Clark then handed him another, slightly thinner book.

"This is the Basic Meditation Method. There are still ten days before formal classes begin. During that time, you must master it and get started. If you fail to do so, one month's worth of resources will be deducted."

"This box contains your basic tools and some commonly used materials. The Workshop has public laboratories, but you need to reserve a time slot, and all material consumption must be recorded. More advanced materials require academic credits to exchange for." He handed the wooden box to Benjamin as well.

"Lastly, a few basic rules." Mentor Clark's expression turned serious. "First, safety comes first! Alchemy experiments are dangerous. Any negligence can lead to explosions, poisonous gas, or worse consequences. You must strictly follow operating procedures! Second, private fights are forbidden within the Workshop. Any disputes must be submitted to a mentor for judgment. Third, respect knowledge. Take good care of all borrowed books and equipment. Fourth, points are your only currency in the Workshop. Work hard to earn them."

After saying a few more things, he seemed to feel that he had explained enough and waved his hand. "Your dormitory is in District One. There is a map in the enrollment handbook. Go on. Master the Basic Meditation Method as soon as possible and ignite your Spirit Fire. Remember to preview the Basic Alchemy Manual. If you have any questions, you may come ask me, but they had better be questions you still cannot solve after thinking and practicing on your own."

Benjamin respectfully thanked his mentor once more, took the badge representing an Alchemy apprentice, then turned and left the Alchemy Studies area carrying the heavy books and wooden box.

Following the map by the roadside, Benjamin quickly found the apprentice dormitory for Alchemy Studies.

The entire dormitory building seemed to be made of some unknown metal, gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

From time to time, faint explosions sounded from within certain dorm rooms, while strange scents he could not yet identify occasionally drifted through the air.

Fortunately, the dormitory building's ventilation and safety systems were quite good. Those leaking gases were quickly drawn away and did not seem to cause many casualties... probably.

Benjamin fell silent as he watched a Wizard Apprentice foaming at the mouth and convulsing wildly while being rapidly dragged away by a group of silver-white humanoid golems.

...All right, perhaps it was not that safe after all.

He found his room number and used his apprentice badge to open the door.

The dormitory room before him was not particularly large, only a dozen or so square meters.

Aside from the separate bathroom near the entrance, the room contained only a bed, a desk, and a long bench.

The most eye-catching things were a somewhat worn small experimental bench in the corner, several glass vessels and test tubes placed on the desk, and an exceptionally intricate mechanical clock.

This was where he would live and study for a long time to come. The conditions were a little crude, but they were more than sufficient for a dormitory.

Benjamin placed the Basic Alchemy Manual and the Basic Meditation Method on the desk, then opened the rather heavy wooden box. Inside, various basic Alchemy tools were neatly arranged—cauldrons, mortars, measuring cups, tweezers, small flame throwers, and more—as well as bottles and jars containing powders, liquids, and plants of different colors.

Without carefully organizing the contents, Benjamin dropped into the chair. Feeling the energy fluctuations and aura around him, so utterly different from the True Essence system within his body, he stared blankly at the sky beyond the window.

The Basic Alchemy Manual and experimental tools at hand, the unfamiliar glassware on the desk, and the grand, mysterious Academy buildings outside the window all silently told him—he had already stepped into an entirely new world.

"Haa..."

After taking several deep breaths as though exhausted, Benjamin finally recovered some of his spirits.

Although everything had appeared to go quite smoothly, his mind had been in an extremely tense state the entire time. Only now had he relaxed slightly.

"I was still a little careless..." Benjamin shook his head and sighed.

With Benjamin's keen perception, he could naturally sense the unusually fervent gazes of those Logistics Department mentors. He also knew that he seemed to have become far too conspicuous.

"This is a problem caused by insufficient intelligence. To match today's performance, it seems the plan for my next actions will need some slight adjustments..."