High Tower

Before long, Wizard Towers rose into view beyond the window. They had arrived at Shadowmoon Tower Academy!

Figures hurried about at the entrance. Many apprentices wore exhausted expressions, their clothes stained with dust or blood. These were apprentices returning to turn in their missions.

After entering, Ian's eyes were filled with curiosity. This was his "first" time visiting a wizard academy.

The stone walls lining both sides of the corridor still glowed with a ghastly pale light.

The Public Lecture Hall was always packed with apprentices listening attentively, their hands rapidly recording difficult material.

Even the air around the Potion Classroom was thick with a bitter, spicy, and pungent mixture of smells.

Ian quietly observed his surroundings as he walked. Turning onto a path he remembered, he arrived at the Administration Building where apprentice promotions were processed.

At that moment, six or seven doors stood open along the front of the long Administration Building, with many students waiting outside.

Ian chose a familiar window and quietly joined the line. Half an hour later, it was his turn.

Just as he was about to enter, a shriek came from overhead, grating as though someone were deliberately pinching their throat.

"Kid, what are you doing here?"

Ian looked up and saw a Raven nearly half a man tall hovering above his head.

The Raven spoke Tua, the most widely used language in the wizarding world. Tua meant pursuing knowledge and exploring truth.

Its two pitch-black eyes were glaring at him.

Ian understood the expression in the Raven's eyes. It was asking for a bribe!

There wasn't any of this when I enrolled!

Ian reached into his robes and handed something over.

A gleaming magic stone lay in his open palm.

"Gaga! You're a good kid. I'll permit you to address me as Lord Umar. Now, you may ask a few unimportant questions."

After Umar picked up the magic stone and swallowed it in one bite, his attitude immediately took a sharp turn.

Ian knew that Umar was the Familiar of the Formal Wizard Luca Marino. He could not afford to offend it.

"Lord Umar, what sort of mood is Wizard Luca in today?"

"Luca is in an average mood today. That counts as good news."

Umar swayed its head, then suddenly froze and tilted its head at Ian.

"Gaga, I remember you. You came to the Academy two years ago. There was a genius with exceptional talent in your class, what was her name... Elena?"

"Lord Umar truly has an excellent memory. I wonder how Elena is doing now?"

"She broke through to Advanced Apprentice a year ago! She's the High Tower's most promising prospect in nearly a hundred years..."

Umar abruptly stopped and said no more.

Ian asked several more questions. Seeing Umar grow increasingly impatient, he did not continue.

The light suddenly dimmed after he entered the hall. Ian saw a man seated behind a desk ahead.

"Greetings, Wizard Luca." Ian hurriedly lowered his head in salute.

"What business do you have?"

Wizard Luca's voice was even more grating than Umar's.

It sounded like the sharp edges of two pieces of glass being rubbed together with force.

"This student recently broke through to Intermediate Apprentice and has come to apply for registration."

"Mm." Luca took a Compass from a desk drawer.

"Place your hand on it."

Ian stepped forward and did as instructed. A gentle glow spread across the Compass.

"That will do. Verification passed." After putting away the Compass, Luca took out a sheet of parchment.

"Sign here. Also, do your best to break through to Advanced Apprentice within ten years. Work hard, kid."

"Thank you for your guidance, Wizard Luca."

As Ian signed his name, he carefully read the contents of the paper.

It listed several free benefits after promotion, along with access to certain mission privileges.

He had previously been only a Low-Level Apprentice. He had not even been qualified to accept many of the most basic missions in the High Tower.

"You may also learn one low-tier intermediate spell for free." Luca handed him a Spell Catalog.

Ian carefully accepted it and quickly looked through the catalog.

[Repulsion]

[Flash]

[Energy Missile]

[Acid Splash]

Ian weighed his options repeatedly before finally choosing a spell.

"Wizard Luca, I choose this spell."

Wizard Luca glanced at it without any surprise.

After rummaging through the drawer for a while, he took out an Inheritance Crystal Ball and handed it over.

Ian accepted it. He had used one of these before when learning Wizard's Hand.

His mental power lightly enveloped the crystal ball, and a large amount of information soon flooded into his mind.

After the transfer was complete, Ian saluted Wizard Luca again.

"Thank you, Wizard Luca!"

That concluded the entire process. Luca waved him away.

When he came out, Umar was already gone, probably off somewhere else to extort magic stones.

Ian decided to visit the mission area in the plaza first.

After turning several corners, he arrived at the mission distribution area, where a broad Crystal Screen stood in the center.

Yes, there was a Crystal Screen here too. It resembled the GG screens from his previous life, but they were entirely different things.

At that moment, many apprentices were crowded beneath the screen to accept missions, along with quite a few red-robed figures.

They stared wide-eyed at the constantly refreshing missions on the screen.

Ian found it quite novel and moved closer.

[Clear Dust Bugs from the old library. Fixed reward: 35 magic stone fragments per day.]

[Maintain the underground water source filtration runes. Reward: depending on circumstances.]

[Test subject for an improved Tranquility Potion formula. Reward: 5 magic stones per dose.]

[Purchasing Wood Spirit Beast heart cores. Reward: 10 magic stones per heart.]

[Recruiting for ruin exploration. Requires at least Intermediate Apprentice status and more than two offensive spells. Reward: resources gained will be distributed according to ability.]

Ian saw that the high-paying missions were accepted and vanished almost immediately.

Even their names made them seem extremely dangerous, yet they were still snatched up in no time.

Suddenly, cries of pain and curses rang out from the crowd behind him, before everyone quickly fell silent.

"That's Nolan Monroe of the Nightshadow Society. He has superior dark-element talent, a true genius!"

"Why is he so rough and rude? No one even provoked him..."

"Most people from the Nightshadow Society act like that. I think one day they'll..."

"Shh! He's an Advanced Apprentice. Don't bring trouble on yourself."

Nolan coldly swept his gaze over the crowd, and the surrounding voices immediately fell silent.

He snorted and continued looking at the screen. In truth, he already had more missions than he could finish.

He had come here to wait for his younger brother and, while he was at it, see whether there were any missions worth his attention.

Ian also quietly sized Nolan up. The man was indeed quite handsome.

His long golden-red hair was tied behind his head, and he had a high, straight nose. His well-fitted red robe accentuated his tall, proportionate build.

Only his gaze was somewhat sinister. Combined with his thin lips, it gave him an overall aura of cold ruthlessness.

Ian watched the missions continually refresh and disappear, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Some of the missions listed there tempted even him.

Among them was a recruitment mission with an exceptionally generous reward, one that only Potion Masters could accept.

The employer did not offer a fixed daily or monthly wage. Instead, they proposed a partnership based on profit-sharing after the potions were sold.

The recruiter also promised to provide several potion formulas at low prices.

Ian remembered that the spell insignia on that mission had been a green leaf.

After leaving the mission center, Ian headed for the Library.

He intended to spend more time in the High Tower. Besides attending all sorts of specialized classes, he also needed to read more books and learn as much as possible about this world.

The original owner's memories were unreliable and could only be corrected bit by bit.

Upon reaching the Library's free section, he selected more than a dozen books, carried them to a corner, and began reading.

[Structure of the Annoria Continent]

[Unspoken Rules of Wizard Society]

Wizard Hierarchy and Apprentice Code

Guide to Wizard Economics and Trade