Central Archive, Levitation Spell, Optimized Spell Model Testing Grounds

"It was only an idea with no clear starting point for now. Over the years, there had been so many wild ideas that no one could count them all."

The middle-aged Second-Circle Wizard with a head of golden hair and a resolute face glanced at Mara and said indifferently, "What meaning does it have if there's no place to begin?"

"Gulei, don't be hasty. I never said we should increase the quota." Mara waved his hand. "Keep watching. I have a feeling there are more surprises waiting for me."

Gulei frowned and covertly glanced at the elderly man beside him.

The old man smiled kindly. "Gulei, watch a little longer. After all, it's one-tenth of an apprentice quota. We can't make a decision lightly."

"Fine." Gulei answered helplessly.

At this, Mara's heart sank slightly.

They had already reached an agreement. If Lohr could produce a surprise within a month, the quota he could receive would double to one-fifth.

If not, it would be reduced to one-twentieth.

The Earth-Fire School could also choose to halt things midway under normal circumstances and grant a quota of one-tenth.

A one-tenth quota could make up for half his losses, but if it were halved again...

What a pity. That old fox Agular really knows how to keep his composure, Mara sighed inwardly.

He had confidence in Lohr's future, but within a month, that was truly too difficult.

An hour later, at the Central Archive.

Lohr and Kateya met at the stairwell. They exchanged a glance, and neither showed the slightest joy. Everything went without saying.

"Forget it. Take me to find a Levitation Spell." Lohr said helplessly.

Since there was no ready-made Microscope Spell, he could wait until he applied for a laboratory and slowly find people to experiment on.

As for the Levitation Spell, it was one of the apprentice-level, attribute-free survival spells he had already planned to learn.

Once cast, this spell could make the body lighter and reduce its weight while preserving one's strength. Its effect on escape speed was obvious.

"Alright." Kateya nodded, leading Lohr down another three floors to the storage area for attribute-free spells.

She then headed straight for a bookshelf near the left side, flipped through it casually, and took out a sheet of parchment to hand to Lohr.

"Thank you."

Lohr took it and saw that it recorded the Levitation Spell model.

"You don't need to be so polite with me."

Kateya smiled. "As your future laboratory assistant, helping with such things is only natural."

"Also, the spell models here cannot be taken away. You either memorize them here or copy one to take with you. If you need it, I can make a copy for you."

"No need to trouble yourself." Lohr shook his head. "I'll just memorize it."

"Alright." Kateya stood to one side, occasionally scanning her surroundings as she waited quietly.

Whenever other apprentices came over, she would step forward and send them away, telling them to wait awhile.

Most people who came to learn the Levitation Spell were First-Level Wizard Apprentices.

Seeing the Third-Level Wizard Apprentice insignia on Kateya's collar, they all tactfully went aside to wait.

Meanwhile, Lohr was focused on memorizing the Levitation Spell and did not notice any of this.

It was not until twenty minutes later, when he had memorized the model and looked up at Kateya beside him, that he suddenly froze.

"Kateya, what is this?" Lohr asked in confusion, pointing at the five First-Level Wizard Apprentices behind her.

"They all wanted to learn the Levitation Spell, so I told them to wait." Kateya explained as if it were only natural.

"There was really no need for that." Lohr rubbed his brow helplessly. "There should be more than one parchment with the Levitation Spell model runes, right?"

"There are indeed more than one. There are over a hundred. But if they came over, they would disturb you while you memorized the Levitation Spell and waste your time."

Kateya had given up a well-paid job to help Lohr handle miscellaneous matters, effectively gambling on her future. Naturally, she wanted to save him as much time as possible.

"Forget it. Let's go take a look at the optimized spell model submission and verification area."

Lohr could not be bothered to argue over such a trivial matter and turned toward the stairs.

"Alright." Kateya answered and hurried after him.

Only several First-Level Wizard Apprentices were left where they stood, looking at each other as they whispered:

"Could that person be the child of some Wizard? What airs!"

"I want to know why he came to learn the Levitation Spell. Isn't this supposed to be a survival spell every First-Level Apprentice has to learn?"

"Why do you care what those important people are thinking? Just go learn the Levitation Spell properly."

A young apprentice shook his head, walked to the bookshelf, took a parchment recording the Levitation Spell, and headed toward the other side of the archive.

Generally speaking, that was where they went to memorize models.

A moment later.

Lohr and Kateya arrived before a square stretch of sand roughly a mile across. At the moment, not a single person stood within it, making the place unusually desolate.

Behind the sand was a small hut. Its door stood open, and inside, a brown-haired young apprentice from the Earth-Fire School was dozing off.

The two walked directly into the hut. Kateya stepped forward and knocked on the desk. "Lus, get up and get to work."

"Hm?"

The brown-haired young man rubbed his eyes and looked at the visitors. When he realized it was Kateya, he looked somewhat puzzled.

"Kateya, shouldn't you be guarding the entrance outside the Wizard Tower? What are you doing here?"

"Lord Lohr improved a spell model, so I brought him here to test it." Kateya said, somewhat lacking in confidence.

To be honest, she truly did not believe Lohr could have improved anything worthwhile during those few days on the airship.

She was already thinking about how to comfort him after the test.

Lus turned to look at Lohr beside Kateya. "Hm? Why aren't you wearing an apprentice wizard robe? And has your spiritual power been injured? Why does it seem a little weak?"

Since Kateya had personally led him here, Lus instinctively assumed Lohr was a Third-Level Apprentice.

Wizard robes were actually a kind of benefit issued to wizard apprentices.

They were inscribed with both the Dust-Repelling Spell and the Miniature Element Attraction Spell, which could speed up meditation and the recovery of elemental power. No one would leave such good equipment unworn.

"I haven't taken him to collect his wizard robe yet."

Kateya said, "Also, he's a First-Level Apprentice right now. Isn't it normal for his spiritual power to be a little weak?"

In truth, Kateya had wanted to take Lohr to collect his wizard robe long ago, but his goals had been too clear.

After putting down his luggage, he first wanted to visit the archive, then he wanted to test an optimized spell model. She could only postpone the trip.

"A First-Level Apprentice? Optimizing a spell?"

Lus slapped his forehead. "Kateya, do you like me? Is that why you specifically found an excuse to get close to me?"

"Lus, I don't have time to joke with you. Please do your job properly!" Kateya said impatiently.

"Alright, looks like you're serious."

Lus let out a breath, sat up straight, and grew solemn. Picking up a cyan card from the desk, he said:

"Please pay the testing fee of 5 Contribution Points."

Testing an optimized spell model required a deposit of 5 Contribution Points in advance.

If the test was completed and the spell showed no changes or had even become weaker, those 5 Contribution Points would be confiscated.

If some aspect of the spell had become stronger, the points would be returned, and the optimization value would be assessed to award Contribution Points.

This was a threshold established to prevent apprentices from aiming too high, and it was also why this place was so deserted.

"Alright." Kateya took out a white card, tapped it, and connected it with the cyan card in Lus's hand.

As she put away the card, a pained expression appeared on her face.

A full 5 Contribution Points, wasted just like that.

This future laboratory assistant is really useful.

Watching the two interact from the side, Lohr mused, If I had come here myself, that fellow named Lus would probably have casually sent me away!

Oh, right. I don't even have any Contribution Points. I wouldn't be qualified to come here at all.

If I get the chance in the future, perhaps I can give this future laboratory assistant a hand and take her with me when I run away.