Sparks in the Dark

"Are you really planning to use Cat's Gratitude?" Paul looked at his friend Nero with disapproval.

Nero took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, feeling the heat in his chest fade into coolness.

He gave a bitter smile. "Paul, you know me. I'm already thirty-five this year. People have become Official Wizards at all sorts of ages, but if I can't advance before I turn forty, my mentor will stop funding me. Then I'll have to pay off my debts by doing the most dangerous energy-draining work at the Academy of Practice."

A Level 3 Apprentice who wanted to continue studying as an apprentice in the Grand Lecture Hall or find a better mentor elsewhere often had to pay a great deal of Magic Crystals and other resources.

But not everyone had a powerful background or someone willing to fund their studies.

In Sky City, Wizard Apprentices could obtain vast resources and wealth by signing a certain contract. However, if they failed to advance to Official Wizard before the term specified in the contract expired, they would have to do the most dangerous energy-draining work at the Academy of Knowledge or Academy of Practice.

That was different from being hired by the Two Academies. Many who did energy-draining work never came back. Even those who did returned looking as though they had barely escaped with their lives.

But without signing a contract, most Apprentices had no chance to continue their studies.

So even though the contracts had claimed the lives of countless Apprentices, many still signed up year after year, one after another.

All for that slim chance of advancing to Official Wizard.

Because in Sky City, Level 1 and Level 2 Apprentices didn't have good lives either.

Until they reached Level 3 Apprentice, they weren't qualified to work independently.