New Wizardry

"P-please... let me serve you! I can take care of your physical needs, clean your room... as long as you give me a little protection and help..."

Lynn gave her a harsh appraisal with his eyes before speaking flatly.

"No need."

"My lord, at night I can..."

Mary hurriedly began.

"I said, no need!"

Lynn cut her off, his gaze falling on her black stockings.

"I don't like others disturbing my life. In the end, you still have to walk your own path."

Those words were like an icy dagger, piercing Mary's last hope.

She looked at Lynn's cold profile and recalled how they had once shared the same cage, how that panicked boy had helplessly asked her what was happening.

They might once have shared similar fates—sold together to Nightingale Hall, receiving customers together, then clinging to each other for warmth...

But now, everything had changed...

"Her goodwill would never earn her any special treatment from him."

A surge of shame, despair, and anger welled up within her.

So he really did despise her—despise her for having been at Nightingale Hall, despise her for her meager talent!

"I... I understand."

Mary lowered her head, concealing the venom churning in her eyes as her voice turned stiff.

"Sorry for the trouble."

With that, Mary pulled her wizard robe closed and staggered out of the dormitory.

Kevin, standing by the door, was slightly stunned.

Wait... that was it?

Lynn, you can't be that useless, can you?

It ended before I even heard anything?

A genius? Heh...

Kevin did not know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. Watching Mary's retreating figure, a bold idea rose in his mind.

From that day onward, Mary appeared less and less often in Lynn's sight.

When he occasionally caught sight of her from afar in the public dining hall, there was no longer any timidity in her eyes, only cold indifference.

Yet deep in her eyes, something seemed to be brewing.

Mary silently screamed in her heart again and again, "Lynn, you forced me to do this!"

What you don't want will always be treasured by someone else!

Two more days passed. While meditating, Lynn once again felt his Mental Power grow, bringing him ever closer to the threshold of a Second-Class Apprentice—20 points of Mental Power.

And his meditation method had finally finished being analyzed!

[Notification: Soul Whisper Meditation Method analysis progress has reached 100%.]

[Meditation efficiency has increased by 97%.]

[Optimization plan generated. Analysis and Optimization may now proceed.]

When the panel delivered this information, Lynn, who was meditating, felt as though a clear spring had been poured into his Mental Core. The speed at which he drew in and refined Negative Energy Particles during meditation surged dramatically!

He believed it would not be long before he completely crossed the Mental Power threshold for a Second-Class Apprentice.

He left the meditation method under Analysis as before, hoping to derive an Optimization plan as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, work in the laboratory remained leisurely.

After all, the panel could handle Record and Analysis work on its own. There was no need for him to worry about it.

So that Lynn could focus on his research, Gregor assigned miscellaneous tasks such as tidying the laboratory to a Wraith servant. Lynn was more than happy with that arrangement.

Each day, he familiarized himself with all kinds of materials and "incidentally" read the draft papers Gregor casually discarded, which were covered in conjectures and formulas.

The panel faithfully recorded everything and began slowly analyzing fragments of Gregor's core theory, the Death Metamorphosis Ritual.

Whenever he overcame certain key points, Lynn promptly reported back to Gregor.

Although most of Lynn's Optimization proposals seemed a little too "idealistic," they still gave Gregor some new ideas.

That made him increasingly glad that he had accepted Lynn in the first place.

This kid's mind is really useful. His knowledge and perspective are just a little shallow. As long as he studies earnestly under me, he will surely become a great scholarly wizard in the future.

To make Lynn more "comfortable" providing ideas, Gregor was especially generous toward him.

Every noon, he ordered Lynn a delicious "Formal Wizard meal."

The ingredients used in wizard meals all possessed traces of magic or special effects. They could calm the mind, nourish the brain, strengthen the body, and replenish Witch Power.

Lynn took the opportunity to ask for several Zero-Level Cantrips. Gregor immediately tossed him several black bone fragments.

These black bone fragments could only be made by Formal Wizards. They could directly imprint a Witchcraft Model into the Sea of Consciousness, greatly reducing the time needed for study.

Of course, apprentices still needed to thoroughly understand the models before accurately engraving them onto their Mental Cores.

That step was far from simple. With apprentices' limited control, it was difficult to engrave them properly.

Even if they managed to engrave one, any deviation from the original model would greatly reduce the wizardry's power and considerably lengthen its casting time.

That was also why Lynn's rapid casting without incantations or gestures caused such shock every time.

Lynn had used black bone fragments several times before. After use, the Wizard Array engraved on them vanished, turning them into useless pieces of bone.

This was a method wizards used to prevent apprentices from cheaply selling wizardry everywhere.

After all, monopoly was what generated huge profits.

The bone fragments Gregor gave him contained several practical Zero-Level Cantrip models, including Minor Undead Domination, Withering Touch, and Corrosive Acid.

[Minor Undead Domination]: Applies a brief mental influence to ownerless or weak low-level Undead creatures (lv0–lv1), engraving a Mental Imprint. (After each period of use, the imprint must be reinforced.)

[Withering Touch]: Touches the target with the hand and transfers a trace of decaying energy, causing the target to feel brief fatigue and a slight reduction in muscular strength.

[Corrosive Acid]: Fires a small glob of dark green, viscous acid from the fingertips, inflicting severe burns and pain on living tissue, but has poor effects on magical materials, enchanted items, and the bones of Undead creatures.

There were also Corrupted Trinkets, Minor Preservation, which were suitable for handling experimental specimens, and Magic Reading, which allowed him to read and understand magical writing and symbols.

At the same time, Gregor generously gave him a discarded essential artifact for protagonists—a "Spatial Ring."

The ring contained roughly one cubic meter of space and could be used to store Undead creatures and materials. It was called the Bone Ring.

Hmm... one cubic meter, for storing Undead...

It was just enough space for one Bone Hound.

Or... he could disassemble a Skeleton Soldier into "parts," then assemble it on the spot when needed?

With the ring and Minor Undead Domination, Lynn began considering getting an Undead creature as a guard.

In future battles, he could throw out his Undead guard to absorb damage while he stayed behind and went pew pew pew...

Going directly to capture one in Eternal Night Graveyard outside the Academy was far too dangerous. Not only were there apprentice-level Undead creatures and bizarre creations there, but also powerful wizard-level beings.

There was simply no need to take such a risk for a low-level Undead. Lynn decided to visit the Apprentice Market first.