Magic Schools

"Your Harmonization Method is already very good. Just don't make this kind of mistake next time."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher. I was a little distracted at the time..."

In the end, Fran admitted that it had been her mistake and did not mention that it had been her first time brewing a Strength Potion.

"Since you can brew potions on your own now, I'll recommend you to the Pharmacist Association as promised."

This is what I've been waiting for—the Pharmacist Association, Fran thought.

In this otherworld, where powerful clans stood everywhere and recommendations from members were needed for everything, the Pharmacist Association was a prime example.

It had nearly monopolized all potion formulas, with only a small number of rather useless ones made public.

The Strength Potion, for instance, was a typical money trap. Its effect was to increase the user's strength.

But the problem was that its boost was extremely slight. It was somewhat useful when one's Physique was low, raising it by a certain amount, but the higher one's Physique already was, the smaller the improvement became.

Moreover, this potion was printed in the widely circulated Basic Herb Compendium, resulting in an enormous market supply and very little demand for Strength Potions. Sometimes, they had to be sold at a loss.

As for the profitable potion formulas, only members of the Pharmacist Association were qualified to exchange for them.

The Pharmacist Association also monopolized the purchasing and sales channels for those potions, charging a storage fee on every single one...

Fortunately, as long as someone truly met the requirements, getting a recommendation was not difficult. At most, the material costs for practice would be rather high.

Rita took out a sheet of purple paper, wrote Fran's name in the blank space, and handed it to her.

"Just give it to the front desk at the Pharmacist Association. Once you register your information there, someone will naturally guide you through the association..."

"Thank you, Teacher Rita... But Teacher Rita, can I ask you a few questions?"

Rita was in a good mood and did not refuse.

"Go ahead, but there isn't much time. I still have a gathering to attend later."

Fran spoke up.

"Could you tell me about the magic schools?"

"Oh?" Rita looked at Fran, then suddenly understood. "Right, you need to choose a school too..."

Rita cleared her throat before speaking.

"You know that some Apprentices call themselves 'Advanced Apprentices,' right?"

Fran nodded, and Rita continued.

"The reason these Apprentices call themselves that is because they do have the right to. After all, they have the potential to challenge for the rank of Formal Mage..."

Fran noticed a change in Rita's tone as she said this, as though there was some story behind it.

"The ones who determine whether they have the potential to become Formal Mages are the assessments held by the organizations under each school. If you pass, you can call yourself an Advanced Apprentice."

"And the key is that once you join these organizations, you gain the chance to compete to become a Formal Mage..."

Compete? Do you have to fight over becoming a Formal Mage?

When Fran had a question, she asked it. It was one of her good habits.

"Then, Teacher, do you have to compete to become a Formal Mage?"

"Yes and no..." Rita sighed. "Once you join those Advanced Apprentices, you'll understand. Your Spells will make no progress, your research into Spells will get nowhere, and after experiencing that helplessness, you'll understand why competition matters."

So that's how it is. Fran blinked, but she was not afraid. She did not believe that her Spells would fail to progress with the game Panel.

"Then I have to explain Cuilan Academy's and the entire City of Apprentices' training system. The academy is only responsible for educating you while you are Apprentices, and nothing else."

"What you don't know is that the academy holds assessments at the end of every year. In previous years, Apprentices who could not cast a Spell in their first year had to leave the academy and could no longer study there. But this year, the academy head proposed giving the Apprentices another chance, allowing them to continue learning Spells in the military."

No, I really did wrong the academy head. The academy head is someone who fights for more opportunities for Apprentices and refuses to give up on any of them. Fran's mouth twitched.

It was all because those Apprentices loved adding conspiracy theories whenever they talked about the battlefield. Things like how Apprentices like them could not do a thing and no one knew why they were being sent there, so they would probably have their skulls opened up and their brains removed to serve as large-scale mana-enhancement devices, and so on...

"After the first year, the academy no longer holds year-end assessments and lets Apprentices choose their own courses. Those with strong Spell proficiency can join the organizations under the various schools."

"Cuilan Academy has a three-year program. After three years, if you have not joined one of those organizations, you must graduate from the academy and can no longer study Spells here."

"Apprentices who join those organizations can remain at the academy until they become Formal Mages..."

At this point, Rita's tone became somewhat melancholy.

"Returning to competing to become Formal Mages, only Apprentices who have joined organizations can participate. There is also an assessment at the end of every year, and all organization members in the city take part."

"Those who earn a ranking can receive precious resources, new Spells, items that increase spiritual power, or even things that directly improve your mastery of Spells..."

Rita sighed as she spoke, then continued.

"As for which specific school you should join, that is up to you. Everyone has one that suits them. I won't recommend one for you."

Fran nodded again, then asked another question.

"Then, Teacher Rita, if I want to learn new Spells, where should I look?"

This was her current problem. She still did not have a Spell that could be used for attacking. She had come here to study magic, yet she had ended up entirely focused on close combat. Still, she could not find a suitable Spell for the moment.

"Oh? That..." Rita thought for a while before answering.

"You can obtain excellent results in courses, just as you did to acquire the Harmonization Method, and receive other Spells... Or you can join a school's organization. They have a complete internal exchange system."

However, Rita looked at Fran and felt that what she truly wanted to ask about was a way to obtain Spells immediately. Those methods were too far off for her.

"You can go to the Emerald Heart Tavern in the Apprentice Market. Find someone wearing a hat decorated with feathers. His name is Elan. Just tell him directly what you need. A Spell costs around a few dozen silver coins."

A few dozen silver coins again. Fran had no money in her pocket right now. She also wanted to buy Combat Techniques but had no money for those either. It looked like she needed to start earning money through the Pharmacist Association as soon as possible.

After thanking Rita again, Fran asked her final question.

"Teacher, have you heard of Richter?"

Although her future self had killed him in no time, it never hurt to be cautious. She wanted to learn what her enemy was like first.

Rita was somewhat surprised, but she answered anyway.

"Richter is a member of the Society of Living Rebirth under the Transmutation School. He has been an Apprentice at Cuilan Academy for five years and is a strong contender for a high ranking in the assessments... Why are you asking about him?"

"It's nothing. I'm asking for a friend..."