Divination School Spell, a Formal Wizard's Deal

Seeing their reactions, Esmond felt a little regret as well. "It seems this spell's influence isn't so easy to avoid."

"Gentlemen, just call me Es."

"Hello, Wizard Es."

This time, Leo found that the previous hazy, indistinct feeling was gone. They immediately responded.

Seeing this, Esmond's expression became slightly complicated.

Then Esmond said, "Gentlemen, I'll get straight to the point. I invited you here because I want to make a deal with you."

"You encountered a shipwreck and can't return to the Tower of Dawn, can you?"

Leo very much wanted to snap back, Wasn't it you who destroyed our ship? But considering the gap in strength between them and Esmond, he put on an honest expression and said, "Yes, just as you said, Wizard Es."

Esmond continued, "I have a spell that can help you leave here and return to the Tower of Dawn. But after you return, you must do something for me."

Leo asked, "Wizard Es, even if we want to help you, if it is something you cannot accomplish, I don't think we can either. We are merely two insignificant Wizard Seedlings."

"You are already a Wizard."

Leo said, "Even if I have become a Wizard, I am only a newcomer among Wizards. I cannot be mentioned in the same breath as a Formal Wizard like you."

"What I want you to do will indeed be somewhat difficult, but you still have a chance of accomplishing it. Of course, even if you fail, I will not blame you." Esmond shook his head. "As payment for helping me, I will give each of you one hundred Magic Stones. Those Magic Stones will be enough to pay your first year's tuition."

Hearing this, Leo first looked at Hughes, then withdrew his gaze.

At this moment, Hughes did not even dare meet Esmond's eyes. It was impossible to count on him to think of a way to negotiate with Esmond.

Leo said, "Wizard Es, before that, could you explain why you burned our ship?"

After saying that, Leo also felt that his words were rather impolite, so he changed his phrasing. "This is only a small question of mine."

Esmond smiled and answered, "That is not a question I cannot answer. Burning your ship was saving you."

"Actually, several Formal Wizards have confined me to this island. From time to time, they come here to check on my condition."

"If they saw your ship, they would notice that outsiders had arrived here. At that time, you might also become targets of their pursuit."

"You do not wish to make enemies of Formal Wizards either, do you?"

Leo frowned, clearly not expecting Esmond to say such a thing.

According to Esmond, this was a struggle between Formal Wizards. Once they got involved, would they not have only one road leading to death?

Thinking this, Leo said, "Wizard Es, if that is the case, then if we help you, we will also become enemies of those Formal Wizards, won't we?"

"Not necessarily." Esmond smiled. "I only want you to deliver a letter to someone at the Tower of Dawn. They will not take ants like you, whom they can crush to death with a casual hand, seriously."

Leo frowned, not quite believing Esmond's explanation.

"In any case, you might as well hear my terms first."

"The Tower of Dawn has a central district."

"Most Formal Wizards reside there. Only under certain special circumstances do they leave the central district."

"One such special circumstance is when a freshman earns a Nova Title worthy of their attention. The Formal Wizards will take the initiative to leave the central district and reward the Nova."

"What I want you to do is obtain this Nova Title."

"Then, if one of the Formal Wizards who comes to see you is named Aikesi, I hope you will give him the letter I write. If the person who comes is not Aikesi, then let the matter end there. That will still count as completing my commission."

Leo had not expected Esmond's commission to be like this.

Hughes, beside him, interjected, "Sorry, Wizard Es. Although I also want to help you, even if I return, I'm afraid I still won't be able to obtain a Nova Title."

Esmond shook his head. "It does not matter. Whether you can accomplish it or not, as long as you are willing to give it a try, the deal between us will be considered complete."

Leo pondered briefly and did not rush to respond.

Hughes asked curiously, "Wizard Es, forgive my bluntness, but I cannot see that you are under any confinement."

"Are you questioning me?"

A chilling aura swept toward Hughes.

Hughes immediately trembled in fear.

"You have courage, but it would be best not to question a Formal Wizard's words."

Leo, who had not been the focus of the pressure, still broke out in a thin sheen of cold sweat.

As for Hughes, who had borne the brunt of it, he now felt it difficult to breathe, almost unable to catch his breath.

"However, if this question is not explained clearly, it really would be easy for you to mistake this for a trap."

Esmond then said, "On the surface, I indeed do not appear to be confined. But the spell affecting me does not seal off the island and prevent those inside from leaving. Rather, it is the effect of a spell cast by a Formal Wizard of the Divination School. This effect only works on me. It prevents me from leaving this island."

"When you approached this island earlier, I did not board your ship directly. Instead, I had you come down. That was because I am confined."

Leo's eyes flickered slightly.

From the few scattered words exchanged with Esmond, Esmond's previous actions did indeed match what was being said now.

Should he believe it?

Leo pondered.

Esmond said solemnly, "Besides confining me, that Formal Wizard of the Divination School also paid the price of falling into a long coma to seal away my name, identity, appearance, and all information concerning them."

"Can you see my appearance clearly now? You cannot, can you?"

"When I introduced my name and identity, you could not understand them either, correct?"

"I also cannot tell others anything about them."

"These are all effects of that spell."

Leo fell silent for a moment before saying, "If that is the case, then by helping you, we would be ruining the plans of those Formal Wizards. We would become thorns in their eyes as well, wouldn't we?"

"I do not deny that you may face some risks, but helping me is also saving yourselves." Esmond said, "These five Formal Wizards are traitors hidden within the Tower of Dawn. They are planning to destroy the Tower of Dawn and plunder its wealth."