Divination School Spell, a Formal Wizard's Deal

Seeing their reactions, Esmond felt a little regretful as well. He said, "It seems this spell's effects are not so easy to avoid."

Esmond said, "You two, just call me Es."

"Hello, Wizard Es."

This time, Leo noticed that the previous sense of blurred impressions was gone. They immediately responded.

Seeing this, Esmond's expression became somewhat complicated.

Esmond then said, "You two, I'll make this brief. I invited you here because I want to make a deal with you."

"You must have encountered a shipwreck and are unable to return to the Tower of Dawn, correct?"

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

Esmond continued, "I have a spell that can help you leave this place and return to the Tower of Dawn. However, once you return, you must do something for me."

Leo asked, "Wizard Es, even if we wanted to help you, I don't think we can accomplish something that even you cannot. We are only two insignificant Wizard Seedlings."

Esmond said, "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 need you to do will indeed be somewhat difficult, but you still have a chance of accomplishing it. Of course, if you cannot do it, I will not blame you." Esmond shook his head and said, "As payment for doing this for me, I will give each of you one hundred Magic Stones. Those Magic Stones will be enough to pay your tuition for the first year."

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 come up with 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 had been rather impolite, so he changed his phrasing. "This is merely a small question of mine."

Esmond smiled and replied, "That is not a question I cannot answer. I destroyed your ship to save you."

"In truth, I have been imprisoned on this island by several Formal Wizards. From time to time, they come to this island to check on my condition."

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

"You do not want to be regarded as enemies by Formal Wizards either, do you?"

Leo frowned. He had clearly not expected Esmond to offer such an explanation.

If Esmond was right, this was a contest between Formal Wizards. Once they got involved, would they not have no path but death?

Thinking of 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 as he said, "I merely need you to deliver a letter to someone at the Tower of Dawn. They will not even spare a glance for ants like you, whom they can kill with a wave of their hands."

Leo frowned, not quite believing Esmond's explanation.

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

"The Tower of Dawn has a Central Region."

"Most Formal Wizards are there. Only under certain special circumstances do they leave the Central Region."

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

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

"Then, if one of the Formal Wizards who comes to see you is a Formal Wizard named Aikesi, I hope you will give him the letter I write. If the person who comes is not Aikesi, then the matter ends there. It will still count as having completed my commission."

Leo had not expected Esmond's request to be this.

Hughes, beside him, interjected, "Sorry, Wizard Es. Although I would also like to help you, even if I return, I am afraid I will not be able to obtain the Nova Title."

Esmond shook his head and said, "It does not matter. Whether or not you can accomplish it, as long as you are willing to try, it will count as completing our deal."

Leo pondered briefly and did not hastily give an answer.

Hughes asked curiously, "Wizard Es, forgive my bluntness, but I do not see how you are being imprisoned."

Esmond said, "Are you questioning me?"

An icy aura swept toward Hughes.

Hughes immediately trembled like a leaf in the wind.

Esmond said, "You have courage, but you would do best not to question a Formal Wizard's words."

Leo, who was not the focus of Esmond's attention, had beads of cold sweat seep onto his forehead as well.

As for Hughes, who was being directly targeted, he now found it difficult to breathe and was nearly unable to catch his breath.

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

Esmond then said, "On the surface, I truly do not appear to be imprisoned. However, the spell affecting me is not one that seals off the island and prevents those within from leaving. Rather, it is the effect of a spell cast by a Formal Wizard of the Divination School. This effect applies only to me. It prevents me from leaving this island."

"When you approached this island just now, I did not board your ship directly, but had you come down instead. That is because I am imprisoned."

Leo's eyes flickered.

Judging solely from the fragments of conversation he had had with Esmond, Esmond's earlier actions indeed matched what he was saying now.

Should he believe him?

Leo pondered.

Esmond said in a grave tone, "Besides imprisoning me, that Formal Wizard of the Divination School paid the price of falling into a long coma to seal away my name, identity, appearance, and all information regarding them."

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

"When I introduced my name and identity, you were unable to understand them either, correct?"

"I also cannot tell others about them."

"These are all effects of his 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 seize its wealth."