No Such Thing As An Unsafe Spell

"First University Jiuyou Academy Astronomy Class 08-1 (First-Year Freshmen):

Uniform: Two plain red academy robes, (long and short style) standard issue, cross-collar, right lapel, made of Cold Silkworm Silk;

One set of seven pairs of work gloves, made from alchemical creations or tanned monster hides (Dragon Hide, deerskin, sharkskin are all acceptable);

One black cloak (standard issue, can be paired with a silk belt)

Note: Student cards will be uniformly manufactured and distributed by the school.

Textbooks (Required): "Standard Spells: University First Year" by Yao Xiaomi

"Sky Script: University First Year" by Emma-Knightley

"Basic Talismans: University First Year" by Zhang Huaigu, Sima Yangyun

"Standard Potions: University First Year" by Li Qihuang

"Foundations of Easy Learning: University First Year" by Yi Jiazi

"A Grand History: Modern and Contemporary History of the World" by Wizard Education Publishing House, Compilation Committee for Modern and Contemporary History of the Wizard Alliance

"The Philosophy of Magic" by First University Press, by Karl Strauss

Note: Other elective textbooks can be borrowed from the Jiuyou Academy Book Mountain Library.

Equipment: Wizard's Tome (Level 1 Standard Issue - must be able to hold at least five spells)

Alchemy Cauldron (Any below the Three-Fire level is acceptable)

One set of jade utensils (Standard Issue · No. 3)

Note 1: Talisman paper, brushes, etc., can be self-provided, or you can apply to the respective subject professors for corresponding learning resources.

Note 2: Dangerous creatures with strong offensive capabilities are not permitted. Creatures certified as dangerous by internationally recognized authorities in a broad sense are not permitted. Puppets refined through dark witchcraft are not permitted.

Note 3: Please bring a Standard Timer."

"What is this Standard Timer?"

"It's a timer that can accurately measure time, like mechanical watches, electronic clocks, or atomic clocks. The school means to prohibit you from carrying non-standard timers like hourglasses, sundials, or even roosters. On one hand, these timers are very ineffective in precise magical experiments; on the other hand, for a while, students liked to walk around with a chicken perched on their shoulders, and the chicken droppings were everywhere, causing significant complaints from the school maintenance staff. That's why Standard Timers are now uniformly required."

"But why do we have to bring a timer?"

"Because the mission of a wizard is to perceive the world with precision, and time is the most standard measure for everything. For greater accuracy, the school requires you to carry a standard timer."

"The standard for everything?" Zheng Qing found it a bit difficult to understand.

"The standard for everything. From large to small, from distance to weight, from the degree of myopia in eyes to a wizard's professional rank, time is the ultimate scale for all things. At the Fifth Wizard Standards Conference three hundred years ago, time scales replaced all other artificial scales and became the foundation of all standards."

"While I can understand your meaning, why?"

"That's why you'll be studying at university."

"Does Pingyang sell these things?" Zheng Qing stared at the clearly itemized slip of paper, reading it slowly, then asked very strangely.

"There are none here, but you can go elsewhere. It's a bit far... In fact, there aren't really any wizard gathering places here, at most some small markets where you can't buy standard equipment. You should know that true wizard gathering places are quite rare; there are only three or four such places in all of China." As a competent interviewer, Thomas patiently educated Zheng Qing.

"Where are they? Are they places ordinary people can't see?" Zheng Qing blinked.

"Yes." Thomas answered concisely.

"Hmph!" Zheng Qing let out a strange cry. "Then, what if ordinary people found out?"

"Hmm," Thomas paused, then said helplessly, "But they shouldn't be able to see them. And there are special agencies that supervise these matters, so generally, there won't be any major issues. Of course, if something does happen, it's not a big deal, after all, we know magic. Oh, right, are you an adult?"

"How old is considered an adult?" Zheng Qing asked cautiously.

"Eighteen," Thomas replied softly, his eye twitching slightly.

"Heh heh, I thought your calculation methods were different," Zheng Qing's cowlick quickly burrowed into his other hair as he muttered, "My birthday is in April, according to the lunar calendar, so I'll be celebrating my birthday in a few days."

"Hmm?" Thomas frowned, then lowered his head and said very seriously, "In that case, I'd like to use a quicker method to reach our destination directly, but it requires you to be an adult, so..."

"Got it, got it!" Zheng Qing became excited. "Is it 'Apparition' or 'Disapparition'? Or some other kind of teleportation?"

"Cough!" Thomas coughed awkwardly, then said with a wry smile, "Although I don't know what you're talking about, I generally understand your meaning. Did your teacher teach you these things? However, our common term is 'Dun'. Prepare yourself!"

Saying that, without waiting for Zheng Qing's reply, he reached out and grabbed him. Then, amidst a soft murmur, Zheng Qing felt all forty-eight thousand pores of his body seem to emit a comfortable shiver, a blinding light fiercely pierced his eyes, and his vision went black, instantly losing consciousness.

When Zheng Qing's consciousness returned, the comfortable feeling had not yet subsided, and his body was still a bit weak. But his vision was pitch black, and only from the noisy sounds around him could he judge that he had arrived in an unfamiliar place.

"Is it always this dark here?" Not seeing Thomas, Zheng Qing felt a bit nervous and shouted at the top of his lungs.

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

"If I were you, my first reaction upon arriving in a strange place wouldn't be to shout loudly." Thomas's relaxed voice sounded next to him, accompanied by the murmur of spells, though Zheng Qing couldn't see his figure no matter how he tried.

Following the incantation, a sour, stinging sensation roughly rubbed Zheng Qing's eyeballs, forcing out a string of tears. Zheng Qing let out a pained yet comfortable hum, covered his eyes with his hands, and blinked twice fiercely.

Gentle sunlight swept across Zheng Qing's eyeballs through the gaps in his fingers. Zheng Qing quickly lowered his hands, just in time to see Thomas putting away a brown notebook, while many people around him, dressed in various eccentric outfits, were looking at him with curious eyes.

"Very good, very good." Thomas's face was a little pale, showing he was nervous, but seeing Zheng Qing open his eyes, he couldn't help but smile. "I've always believed that there are no unsafe spells, only unqualified wizards. It seems this belief is correct."

"But you didn't tell me to close my eyes," Zheng Qing said indignantly, lowering his head to rub his eyes.

"I thought that way, you would have a deeper impression of casting safety. This will be very useful for you in the future." Thomas patted his shoulder very irresponsibly. It seemed returning to this world made him less cautious, appearing rather free-spirited and unrestrained. His crisp suit had also transformed into a loose grey robe.

"This must be the market you mentioned." Zheng Qing nervously touched his nose, tidied his clothes, and turned his gaze to his surroundings, his cowlick once again standing on end.