Academy Rewards

Mariko saw that Dago was absent-minded and patted him on the shoulder. "It's fine. Town patrol missions are relatively safe. Don't worry."

"Fine. If the Duskblood Council breaks into the town, we'll figure out how to run then."

Dago's opinion of the academy had now dropped directly into the negatives, and he began considering ways to leave it.

For now, he had no choice but to bow his head under someone else's roof.

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

They entered the academy without obstruction. It looked much as it had before, except there were now many wandering wizards in shabby gray robes moving about the grounds.

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

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

Raymond stepped forward first and said, "Dago, your performance in the Forest Patrol was excellent. 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 apprentice; even if he exposed Vissel's lie, what could it change in Raymond's mind?

Better to avoid trouble.

Dago said calmly, "It was all thanks to the patrol members. We were lucky and only managed to kill a few insignificant trash."

"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 implement each."

Only then did Dago smile. "Then thank you to the academy for its generosity."

"Vissel told you about the Town Patrol, didn't he? He recommended the three of you to join. Wizards who contribute to the academy receive rewards. Each of you will receive thirteen Low-Grade Magic Stones every month."

"There are additional rewards for killing Black-Robed Wizards. I hope you will unite as one and cooperate for mutual benefit."

After explaining this, Raymond went to his walnut desk, took out three authorization slips, and handed one to each of them. He then kept Dago behind and had the others leave first.

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

Raymond stared at Dago and slowly said, "Dago, you're quite capable. You have strength, brains, and you've endured Vissel for so long."

Dago's heart stirred at those words. It seemed 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 great favor. I know he is arrogant and conceited, but I still hope you can be more accommodating and take good care of him during town patrols."

Raymond spoke to Dago in a gentle tone.

"The reason I put you together on missions 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, closing the door behind him. Raymond watched him the entire time, making Dago's skin crawl.

When he went 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 entrance 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 implement. After discussing it, all three unanimously decided on wands.

Wands had two benefits. The first was energy focusing. When a wizard used mental power to manipulate energy particles, a wand could gather those particles at a single point more quickly, making spells more precise.

The second was that high-quality wands, such as those set with gemstones or made from magical wood, contained natural magical energy of their own. This could stack with a wizard's energy and greatly increase the power of spells.

They were about to undertake town patrol missions, so this could raise their combat power in the short term.

A wand could be called an essential magical implement 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 spells. With it, Dago would no longer have to form Ice Crystal Cannons by hand.

Mariko chose a Century-Old Oak Wand, with a moonstone set into 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 that had solidified, its surface covered in tiny spikes, while an ever-blooming blood-red rose curled around its tip.

It had to be said that the wizard academy truly had deep reserves. The three had been dazzled by the selection in the equipment office before finally choosing the wands that suited them best.

Then they went together to Academy Square to buy some magic potions. They also purchased heated cloaks that could provide warmth with only a tiny amount of mental power.

Only then did the three return to the wizard inn in high spirits.

Soon, it was seven in the evening. The twin moons were unusually visible in the night sky.

Dago and the other two, already dressed in gray robes and heated cloaks, stood waiting at the academy entrance.

Six magical crystal lamps on the tall, exquisite stone gate illuminated a large stretch of open ground before the academy. At the 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 as they chattered away in the clearing.

Dago went over and asked a middle-aged apprentice wizard. They too were waiting here for patrol assignments.

He had a bad feeling. In such a large town, this few people would have a hard time patrolling it.

Before long, nine wizards emerged from the academy and lined up beneath the stone gate. Vissel and Raymond were among them.

Raymond, standing in the middle, took several steps forward and said loudly, "My apologies for making you wait an extra ten minutes. Next, I will arrange your newly formed Town Patrol."

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

"The people standing behind me are the captains of your eight patrol teams. Each of them has a communication crystal."

"Small groups of Black-Robed Wizards are already lurking in the forests around the town. To prevent them from damaging the town, you must stop them."

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

After saying this, Raymond returned to the academy and allowed the eight academy wizards to come forward and lead their patrol teams.

Vissel walked straight toward Dago and the other two, signaling for them to follow. He then selected seven hired wizards from the crowd, and just like that, they formed a team.

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

"There are already watchtowers and wooden hut outposts built there for resting."

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

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

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

Beneath the watchtower was a small wooden hut of barely more than ten square meters. Through the window, they could see a campfire burning inside.

As far as the eye could see, a large expanse of fallow fields lay between the outskirts of town and the forest. The cold wind swept across them, stirring the thin layer of snow covering the fields.

Some members of the group could not endure 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 hut, waiting 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 the two sides of the hut, while one group will rest as a replacement."

Dago immediately objected. "Then what about you, Captain?"

Vissel looked at him unhappily. "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 hut, 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 rounds, they could rotate out to rest, serving as the mobile group while awaiting rescue calls and restoring their strength.

Not until two in the morning, when they waited for the next patrol team to take over, was their mission considered complete. They could return to the wooden hut, gather, disband, and go home.