Societies

After a day of classes, Charles had attended a total of four courses.

Runology, Soul and Pain Studies, Abyssal Codex Studies, and the Art of Curses and Countermeasures.

Of course, Isata offered far more courses than just these.

There were said to be many more broad categories alone, not to mention the further subdivisions beneath them.

But none of that had much to do with Charles for now.

Judging from the four classes he had attended today, every wizard had merely skimmed the surface.

They had no intention of explaining anything in depth. Even if they did, Charles felt he would not understand it.

Isata's public courses did not even have a complete schedule.

No one could say which teacher would show up in class. It was entirely down to luck.

Rather than teaching their own subjects, those wizards seemed more intent on luring students into signing up for the tutoring classes they ran themselves.

With tutoring classes available, who would teach anything of substance in public lessons?

So rather than teaching and enlightening apprentices, these public courses were more like advertisements for those tutoring classes.

The whole of Isata felt like a slapdash troupe, with everyone looking out for themselves.

Of course, perhaps Charles's rank was simply too low, and he had been here too short a time to glimpse the real Isata.

After leaving the classroom, Charles found that many wizard apprentices had already set up stalls outside, some even holding signs.

Charles looked around and found all kinds of things on offer.

"Charles!"

"Over here!"

Not far away, a wizard apprentice was calling to Charles.

This was Charles's neighbor Barry, another Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice who had arrived only a few days ago.

Today, they had attended lectures in two neighboring classrooms, hoping to see whether these public classes offered any benefits.

Charles met up with Barry, who immediately began complaining. "Who would've thought? None of these free classes are useful. They're all just tempting us to sign up for their tutoring classes."

Charles nodded beside him.

Barry continued, "Charles, let's join a society together!"

Charles was somewhat startled. "A society?"

Are we starting New Wo Hop To?

His mind ran wild.

Over the past few days, Barry had been leaving early and returning late every day, gathering information about the area, so he was better informed.

Barry said, "In District 11 of Isata, Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices are still apprentices, but living and studying in Isata isn't easy."

"Do you have many Magic Stones left to support your studies?"

Charles shook his head repeatedly. He only had twenty left on him now, and he had even paid one to the cafeteria two days ago.

"I've heard that in Isata, wizard apprentices need to band together for warmth if they want to cultivate and survive."

"District 11 alone has many societies and study groups. They were formed by wizard apprentices themselves. You can find work in a society to support yourself, and you can ask Second-Rank or even First-Rank Wizard Apprentices for guidance on cultivation."

Barry explained.

Charles nodded slightly. This might also be one of the warped aspects of Isata's bottom rung.

Charles asked, "Have you found a society you like?"

Barry's face blossomed with a smile. "Of course. I've already found one. Let's go take a look together—Fenny's Hand!"

Good thing it isn't Wo Hop To!

Charles asked, "Why is it called that?"

Barry lowered his voice. "I heard this society wasn't originally called that, but one of its founding members was named Fenny. After he became a wizard, the society changed its name to this."

Charles nodded at that.

At the same time, he had a suspicion. Perhaps wizards stood behind all these societies and study groups?

Before long, Barry led Charles into a tower.

Only after entering did Charles realize that the place was filled with societies and study groups.

There were all kinds of bizarre names. Fenny's Hand was actually one of the more normal ones.

They pushed open a door and entered a room bearing the sign of Fenny's Hand.

The room was huge, nearly a hall spanning over a hundred square meters, with other rooms in the back.

Charles and Barry stepped forward, and Barry said to the receptionist at the door, "We're here to join the society!"

The reception desk was staffed by two Third-Rank female wizard apprentices. They were quite beautiful, and before coming to the Wizard Continent, they might even have been nobles.

Joining Fenny's Hand was very simple. After registering their personal information, it was done.

One of the female wizard apprentices led Charles and Barry into the hall at the back, introducing the place as they walked.

"Welcome to Fenny's Hand. You two arrived at a good time!"

"Our Fenny's Hand provides a great deal of help to wizard apprentices!"

Charles asked, "Excuse me, Senior, what kind of help mainly?"

The female apprentice looked at Charles as though her gaze could drip silk.

It could not be helped. Charles was already quite handsome, and after obtaining the Succubus Bloodline, he seemed to have become even more lethal to women.

As the female wizard apprentice led Charles forward, her body deliberately—or perhaps unconsciously—brushed against his.

Charles had no intention of shutting her out.

The female wizard apprentice said softly, "You two have just arrived in Isata, right? Surviving in Isata isn't easy."

"Even ordinary food costs Magic Stones. If you want to cultivate faster, you need to hold Magic Stones while cultivating or buy potions."

"Besides that, Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices basically know nothing about cultivation, so they need to attend classes and learn new knowledge."

"Every single thing costs money!"

"Fenny's Hand can introduce you to jobs—some work suited for Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices—so newcomers can support themselves through work and earn Magic Stones to aid their cultivation!"

"We also have First-Rank Wizard Apprentices giving lectures here. Compared with wizard-taught courses, First-Rank Wizard Apprentices' lectures are somewhat inferior, but they cost fewer Magic Stones and are still a great help to Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices like us!"

"If you don't want to go out and work, we also have part-time jobs here, such as this."

The female apprentice pointed at a blank stone beside them. "This is a blank Magic Stone. You can buy blank Magic Stones like these and take them back. In your spare time outside cultivation, use your own magic power to fill them."

"Once filled, these Magic Stones also have purchasing power in Isata. As long as you save enough, you can likewise hire wizards or First-Rank Wizard Apprentices for lectures, learn cultivation courses, and so on!"

Charles and Barry looked at the blank Magic Stones. Charles asked, "How long does it take to fill one of these blank Magic Stones?"

The female apprentice placed one hand on Charles's shoulder and said in a breathy voice, "The time differs for everyone, but it generally takes three or four days."