Academy Rewards

Mariko saw that Dago was absentminded and patted him on the shoulder. "It's fine. Town Patrol missions are relatively safe, so don't worry."

"Fine. We'll think about running away once the Duskblood Council breaks into the town."

Dago's opinion of the Academy had now dropped straight into the negatives, and he began thinking of ways to leave it.

When one was under another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head.

At noon, after the three had finished lunch, they set off for Ainak Wizard Academy.

They entered the Academy without obstruction. It still looked much as it had before, except there were now many wandering wizards in shabby gray robes walking along the roads.

Some were jubilant, some dejected, and some were even missing arms or legs.

Dago led the other two straight to the guard post at Academy Castle, where Raymond and Vissel were already waiting.

Raymond was the first to step forward and speak. "Dago, you performed very well in the Forest Patrol. Vissel told me that you worked together to kill quite a few Black-Robed Wizards."

Behind him, Vissel signaled for the three of them not to say anything foolish, or they would suffer for it.

Dago naturally understood. They were master and disciple; even if he exposed Vissel's lies, what could it change in Raymond's mind?

Better to avoid trouble when possible.

Dago said calmly, "It was all thanks to the Patrol Guard members. We were simply lucky enough to kill a few insignificant stragglers."

"The Academy rewards wizards who have rendered merit. The three of you may take my authorization slips to the Academy Equipment Office and select one magical tool each."

Only then did Dago smile brightly. "Then thank you for the Academy's generosity."

"Vissel told you about the Town Patrol, right? He recommended that the three of you join. Wizards who serve the Academy will be rewarded; each of you will receive thirteen Low-Grade Magic Stones per month."

"There will also be additional rewards for killing Black-Robed Wizards. I hope you will stand united and work together for mutual benefit."

After Raymond finished speaking, he went to the walnut desk, took out three authorization slips, and handed one to each of them. Then he kept Dago behind and told the others to leave first.

Dago stood respectfully before the desk, because Raymond, seated in his chair, was a Half-Step Formal Wizard.

Raymond stared at Dago and slowly said, "Dago, you're quite good. You have strength, brains, and the patience to put up with Vissel for so long."

Dago's heart stirred at those words. It seemed this Raymond was no simple man either.

With a sincere expression, he replied, "Thank you for your praise, Wizard Raymond."

"Vissel is the sole heir of the Hailam Wizard Family. His father once did me a favor. I know he has an arrogant and conceited personality, but I still hope you can be more understanding and take good care of him during the town patrols."

Raymond spoke to Dago in a gentle tone.

"The reason I assigned you together is also because I hope you can help correct his temperament."

"Understood, Lord Raymond."

Only then did Dago learn that Vissel was the young master of a wizard family. No wonder he never looked anyone in the eye.

Raymond then waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.

Dago turned and left, carefully closing the door behind him. Raymond watched him the entire time, making his skin crawl slightly.

When he stepped outside, Mariko and Selena were still waiting for him, while Vissel was nowhere to be seen.

Mariko told Dago that Vissel had already made the arrangements. The three of them only needed to meet him at the Academy gate at seven that evening.

Dago pursed his lips. Of all the people that young master could have chosen, he had picked the three of them. Who knew what scheme he was playing at?

Next, they were going to the Academy Equipment Office to choose a wizard's magical tool. After discussing it, all three unanimously decided to choose wands.

Wands had two advantages. First, they focused energy. When a wizard used spiritual force to mobilize energy particles, a wand could gather those particles at a single point more quickly, making spells more precise.

Second, high-quality wands—such as those inlaid with gemstones or made from magical wood—contained natural magical energy that could stack with a wizard's own energy, greatly increasing the power of spells.

Since they were about to undertake town patrol missions, the wands could improve their combat strength in the short term.

Wands could be considered essential magical tools for wizards. They were expensive, generally costing no less than ten Low-Grade Magic Stones.

High-quality wands cost at least forty Low-Grade Magic Stones.

Before long, the three used Raymond's authorization slips to each select a wand from the Academy Equipment Office.

Dago chose an Ice Crystal Wand. It was about a meter long, its shaft polished from transparent crystal, with a deep-sea pearl at the tip. It amplified ice-element spells; with it, Dago would no longer have to form Ice Crystal Cannons with his bare hands.

Mariko chose a Century-Old Oak Wand, with a moonstone embedded at its tip that changed its luster with the movement of the stars and moon.

Selena chose a Thornvine Wand. Its shaft was formed from living thorny vines hardened together, its surface covered in tiny spikes, while an ever-blooming blood-red rose coiled around its tip.

It could only be said that a Wizard Academy truly had deep reserves. The three were dazzled by the choices in the Equipment Office before finally selecting the wands that suited them best.

They then went together to Academy Square to buy some magic potions, along with heating cloaks that produced warmth with only a trace amount of spiritual force.

Only then did the three return to the Wizard Inn in high spirits.

Soon, it was seven in the evening, and the twin moons were rare to see in the night sky.

Dago and the other two had already donned gray robes and heating cloaks as they waited at the Academy gate.

Six magical crystal lamps on the towering, exquisite stone gate illuminated a large open area before the Academy entrance. At that moment, dozens of people stood in the bright clearing, constantly stomping their feet and breathing into their hands.

They were almost all hired wizards, men and women alike. Most wore thick gray robes and chatted noisily in the open area.

Dago went over and asked one middle-aged Apprentice Wizard. They were also waiting here for patrol assignments.

He had a bad feeling about it. With so few people patrolling such a large town, it would likely be difficult.

Before long, nine wizards emerged from the Academy and stood in a line beneath the stone gate. Vissel and Raymond were among them.

Raymond, standing in the middle, stepped a few paces forward and said loudly, "My apologies for making you wait an extra ten minutes. I will now arrange the newly formed Town Patrol for this mission."

"First, the new patrol will be divided into eight groups, with ten wizards per group. They will patrol the outer perimeter in the town's eight directions, while the group assigned to the Academy direction will serve as a mobile unit."

"Behind me stand the captains of your eight patrol teams. Each of them is equipped with a communication crystal."

"Small groups of Black-Robed Wizards have already infiltrated the forests around the town. To prevent them from causing damage to the town, you must stop them."

"Now, let us assign personnel and begin the mission."

After saying this, Raymond returned to the Academy and had the eight Academy wizards step forward to select people for the patrol missions.

Vissel walked directly toward Dago and the other two, signaling for them to follow. He then chose seven hired wizards from the crowd, forming a team of ten.

Vissel led them toward the eastern side of town and told them, "This time, we are responsible for patrolling the southeastern sector of the town."

"A watchtower and a wooden cabin outpost have already been built there."

"As your captain, I have only one requirement: obey my commands."

The nine wizards listened silently. Many of them were meeting for the first time and knew no one else, so they quietly walked along the snow-white road by moonlight.

After walking for several dozen minutes, they reached the outskirts of town, where a ten-meter-high wooden watchtower stood.

Below the watchtower was a small wooden cabin of a dozen or so square meters. Through the window, they could see a bonfire burning inside.

Looking out, there was a vast stretch of fallow fields between the town's outskirts and the forest. The cold wind blew across them, stirring the thin layer of snow covering the ground.

Some people in the group could not bear the cold and ran inside to warm themselves by the fire. Vissel's expression darkened as he muttered, "What a bunch of disobedient rats."

Dago heard him, and his expression sank, but he said nothing.

He then followed the remaining people into the wooden cabin and waited for Vissel's next arrangement.

Vissel looked at everyone and said directly, "My plan is to split the nine of you into three patrol groups. Two groups will patrol back and forth along either side of the cabin, while one group will rest in reserve."

Dago immediately objected. "What about you, Captain?"

Vissel looked at him displeasedly. "I'll be keeping watch from the tower. Do you have a problem with that?"

"You and Mariko will each lead two people to form a group. Selena will form another group with two others."

"Begin acting according to my instructions."

Dago had wanted to say more, but when he saw Mariko shake his head at him, he let it go.

And so their patrol mission began. Dago led two young Second-Level Apprentice Wizards toward the left side of the cabin, while Mariko headed toward the right.

Once they reached a stone marker, they would turn back. One round trip took about an hour, and after two trips they could rotate out to rest, serve as the mobile group, wait for rescue requests, and replenish their strength.

It was not until two in the morning, when the next patrol team arrived to take over, that they completed their mission. They could return to the wooden cabin, gather briefly, dismiss, and head home.