Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 29, First Student

Locke bowed to his mentor Sophia and said, "I will do whatever you say; you are my teacher."

Sophia's expression seemed to ease slightly. "Yes, you are my first real student."

"However, I originally thought that the college would not assign me students within ten years, so there are no extra dorm rooms for you here."

Locke said, "Professor Sophia, I can find a place to stay in the port city."

Professor Sophia nodded. "You don't need to be so reserved."

"The academy has a rule that you must become a second-class wizard apprentice within five years, or you will be expelled. For wizard apprentices with a aptitude of level 5 or above, there is no need to worry about this at all. They will almost certainly become second-class wizard apprentices within two or three years of enrolling."

"But you don't need to be nervous. As long as you study hard, it won't be difficult for you to become a second-class wizard apprentice within five years."

Instructor Sophia said, "I've looked at your schedule. Starting tomorrow, you'll be attending general courses: Basic Spell Principles, Basic Magic Mechanics, and Basic Rune Script."

"I will create a schedule for your major courses for you today."

"If you have five hundred magic stones, I recommend that you buy a meditation technique from me, and you will progress very quickly."

Locke didn't understand what meditation was, but he knew that his magic stone was currently at -20, so he honestly said, "Teacher, I come from the mortal world across the sea. I don't have any magic stones on me."

Sophia the Witch didn't show any particular expression, but simply began to think seriously. "Oh, is that so?"

"That's a bit more complicated. The meditation methods I have are all subject to contracts and cannot be given to you casually. Unless you voluntarily purchase them from me."

"But it doesn't matter. During this period, most aspiring wizards didn't have magic stones to buy meditation techniques, so they all became second-class wizard apprentices by learning spells and accumulating mental power."

Sophia the witch said, "The difference between a second-class wizard apprentice and a third-class wizard apprentice is that a second-class wizard apprentice will have at least 50 points of mental strength."

"Apart from that, there isn't much difference."

"The first spell you learned was Hand of Vines, hmm? Your secondary elemental affinity is metal."

Locke asked, "Teacher, is this strange?"

Instructor Sophia said, "It's nothing."

"However, this gold element is generally quite rare."

Instructor Sophia stared at Locke, her first official student, and said with great interest, "I suspect you have some special bloodline, because the compatibility with the gold element is very rare."

“You can learn very rare gold magic; this category of magic is not available in Lilith's Hut.”

"However, I do have some related collections. But they all require a fee."

Sophia, the mentor, said, "How about it? Would you be willing to spend 120 magic stones to have a bloodline tracing check done here? Maybe you'll get a pleasant surprise, and I'll be able to better design your learning plan."

Locke was somewhat tempted, but the problem was that he really didn't have any money right now.

He desperately wanted to find a way to earn magic stones as soon as possible.

Locke shook his head helplessly. "Teacher, I don't have any money."

Instructor Sophia sighed. "Students coming from across the sea do indeed have a tough time at first." Regarding the special bloodline that the witch Sophia mentioned, Locke seemed thoughtful. He thought of Count Augustine's mention of the original owner's witch mother.

Because of Sophia's easygoing nature, Locke mustered up the courage to ask her, "Teacher, do you know how to earn magic stones?"

"I also really want to earn more magic stones to buy resources."

Sophia followed Locke's train of thought and looked at his file. "Let me take a look."

"Let me see what you can do."

"There are many traps in Lilith's Hut. For example, there may be wizards from outside the hut, or even wizards inside Lilith's Hut, who will offer you magic stone loans on the condition that you help them with their experiments and become their experimental subjects. Remember to refuse all requests related to this, understand?"

"No matter how nicely they put it."

Mentor Sophia frowned and said, "They're counting on you, these promising wizards, to deceive them."

Instructor Sophia said, "Accepting academy missions can accumulate contribution points and magic stones, but most of those missions are dangerous for you."

"This includes patrolling the city, hunting magical creatures, and obtaining magical materials, which are suitable for second-class wizard apprentices."

"A relatively safe academy mission that requires some professional skills and a wizard level."

Instructor Sophia pondered, "Either do manual labor, like helping a second-class wizard apprentice or a first-class wizard apprentice with simple but repetitive magical materials..."

"Hmm? Before you boarded the wizard's ship, you helped a second-class wizard apprentice complete the Stone Crab Potion?"

Locke nodded. "Yes, teacher."

"But I only used the magic centrifugal extraction method to help him complete the basic work."

Instructor Sophia chuckled. "How complicated can a potion made by a second-class wizard apprentice be? The most difficult part is probably the mana centrifugal extraction method."

"This file is really interesting. It's not that you helped that apprentice complete the Stone Crab Potion, but that he helped you complete the potion."

"But the Stone Crab Bloodline Modification Potion... I've heard of that infamous potion; it has many side effects. I never imagined anyone would drink it. The person who drank it probably won't live much longer."

Locke nodded, because Professor Old did indeed not have much time left to live.

Sophia pointed to the small stool next to her and said, "Then move a stool and sit for a while. I'll test your magical centrifugal extraction method later."

"Right now, I'm designing a very complex first-stage potion-making process, so don't bother me."

“I am a first-circle potion maker. If you have truly mastered the mana centrifugation extraction method, I do have some work I can entrust to you.”

"At that time, I will pay you a certain amount of magic stones as a reward."

Locke never expected that a skill he learned on the continent of Corfu would actually help him earn his first magic stones after entering the wizarding world.

Moreover, Locke realized that the process of making potions requires the most specific high-level resources.

And this is precisely where the Horadric Cube's ability to synthesize Rubik's Cubes is most helpful.

(End of this chapter)