Chapter Twenty-Eight: First-Level Apprentice

Hughes had been using his knowledge to earn magic stones, and indeed, a few people had come to seek him out. Naturally, Hughes was pleased to take on such work. Having spent quite some time at the academy, he had come to understand the significance of magic stones—they were the currency for transactions among sorcerers and could also aid meditation. Hughes also knew that the early stages of studying alchemy required substantial investment, with many magic stones to be spent.

The number of magic stones Hughes possessed had grown from the mere dozen he started with to thirty. His progress in meditation was steady as well; watching the chip analyze the progress bar, he estimated that the sixth mental rune would be deciphered by noon the next day.

At dawn, Hughes went as usual to Wizard Mart’s laboratory to begin a new day.

“Good morning, Professor,” he greeted.

“Oh, you’re here. Today you’ll need to gather some herb seeds and reseed a few beds. It may take you some time,” Mart replied.

“Of course, sir.” Hughes headed to the back of the laboratory, collected his tools, and began harvesting seeds from the medicinal plants.

The Ring of Shadows maintained a temperate climate throughout the year, ideal for the growth of plants and many experimental materials. Special materials could, of course, be cultivated in designated rooms with altered environments—a simple task for any wizard.

Hughes worked until noon before completing his tasks. Famished, he went to the dining hall for a meal.

“Ding. Mental rune analysis complete. Transfer now?” the chip’s voice sounded.

Not yet! Hughes, in the middle of his meal, quickly declined.

After eating, he went to the academic wing as usual and chose a class in anatomy. Seated at his usual place, he waited for the instructor.

The teacher seemed to recognize Hughes, offering him a slight nod. The class was held in a large laboratory, with each student equipped with tools and live specimens. They listened as the instructor explained, performing dissections as they went. The lesson passed swiftly, and with his notes in hand, Hughes headed to the library—his daily tutoring spot.

A group was already waiting for him.

“Hey, Hughes, you’re here! Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.”

This was Billy Kane, an apprentice Hughes had met in language class. Impressed by Hughes’s remarkable aptitude, Billy had asked Hughes to tutor him. Their frequent interactions had made them quite familiar.

“Alright, let’s continue,” Hughes replied.

He coached Billy through difficult pronunciations and peculiar scripts. Tutoring Billy was a light task; as Billy digested the material, Hughes used his chip to organize and consolidate his own knowledge.

“Hughes, how many mental runes have you meditated on now?” Billy suddenly asked.

“I’ve reached the fourth one,” Hughes replied, careful not to reveal that he was already on the fifth—it would have seemed unbelievable.

“The fourth? That’s really impressive, Hughes. I’m still on my second and have no idea when I’ll even become a first-level apprentice!”

“And did you know? There’s only half a year left before the academy fully opens.”

“What do you mean by ‘fully opens’?” Hughes was puzzled.

“You don’t know? Haven’t you noticed you’ve never seen any second- or third-level apprentices here? The academy’s been keeping us separated. In six months, everyone will be integrated together!”

Hughes thought back—indeed, in all his time at the academy, he hadn’t seen any second or third-level apprentices. Even Emmy had only appeared at a professor’s summons, and otherwise was never seen.

“So that’s how it is… But by then, most of us will be first-level apprentices, right?”

“That’s the idea. The integration comes after six months, but for now, all the second and third-level apprentices are away on assignments and rarely at the academy.”

From this conversation, Hughes gleaned much information. He suspected Billy was from a family of wizards—otherwise, how would he know all this?

Eager to continue his progress, Hughes returned to his dormitory, ready to meditate and manifest his sixth mental rune, aiming to break through to first-level apprentice.

“Alright! Time to begin!” Hughes closed his eyes and started his meditation. This time, the experience was different—his whole body began to tremble, sweat beading on his forehead as motes of light gathered around him and seeped inside.

Gradually, his spasms subsided. After a while, Hughes opened his eyes at last.

“I’ve finally broken through to first-level apprentice.”

He spread his palm, and a flicker of flame appeared in his hand—he didn’t feel any heat, just a gentle warmth. Opening his other hand, threads of lightning wound around his fingers like silk.

He tried his other two elements—ice and darkness. The ice element was sensitive; the entire room grew chill. The darkness element, however, produced no noticeable effect.

Now, as a first-level apprentice, Hughes could manipulate the elemental energy particles floating around him. He still couldn’t cast spells, but this newfound ability would offer him many conveniences.

Especially with the lightning element—of all the elements, it was undoubtedly the swiftest and most powerful in attack. Even without spells, if Hughes wrapped his fist in lightning and struck someone, it would be quite unpleasant for them.

He decided to focus his development on lightning for offense and ice for control.

Hughes played endlessly with the shifting elemental energies in his hands.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck him.

“Ding! Excessive consumption of mental energy detected.”

“Ding! Hughes Bruch—Strength: 3.8, Agility: 4.1, Constitution: 4.15, Mental Power: 4.72 (0.7), Status: Weak (Rest immediately recommended).”

Seeing his stats, Hughes noticed his mental power had dropped to just 0.7.

“Chip, when you scan others’ attributes now, can you also read their mental power?”

“Ding! Yes, host.”

“Really?!” Hughes realized that as his mental strength improved, the chip’s processing speed increased as well.

Feeling dazed, he washed his face and lay down, planning to recover through sleep.

The next morning, the chip’s alarm woke him promptly.

“Ding! Hughes Bruch—Strength: 3.8, Agility: 4.1, Constitution: 4.0 (4.15), Mental Power: 4.72, Status: Host affected by unidentified energy radiation.”

“Hm? Energy radiation? What’s that?”

“Ding! Data incomplete. Scan indicates the entire academy emits energy radiation—including host.”

“What? I’m emitting radiation too?”

“Yes, host. However, you are now able to resist the energy radiation, and the invading energy radiation is being expelled.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Hughes thought. The chip’s power was clearly tied to his mental strength—upon reaching first-level apprentice, he’d detected a hidden danger unknown before.

“I should ask Professor Mart later,” he decided.

Feeling uneasy, Hughes went to Mart’s laboratory.

As soon as he entered, Mart sensed a fluctuation and looked up at him.

“You’ve broken through to first-level apprentice, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Professor. I achieved it just last night,” Hughes replied, bowing his head respectfully.

“You’ve only been at the academy half a month and you’ve already reached first-level apprentice—your talent is truly remarkable,” Mart mused.

“Professor…” Hughes hesitated.

“Speak your mind,” Mart said, seeing he had more to say.

“Professor, after breaking through, I sensed a strange energy being emitted throughout the academy and—”

“And it’s harming your body, isn’t it?” Mart looked up at Hughes.