Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 324 Gift: Fire Pearl Tomato Blossom
Locke frowned. He glanced at the witch Melanie Carlisle. As a certified wizard, he naturally had to uphold his dignity as a certified wizard.

The White Wizarding Association has explicit rules that it is a very serious crime for a wizarding apprentice to attack a certified wizard.

Although the wizard seed from the Secret Fire Academy attacked him before he had become a formal wizard, it could be argued that the attack was an attack on a first-ring wizard because it was very close to his advancement to a formal wizard and they were both in the Forbidden Forest.

This is a very serious charge within the association.

A series of ethical review mechanisms would be enough to prevent a wizarding genius from making any progress for the next five years, and might even affect his wizarding mentor.

After all, in the eyes of the association, only formal wizards are considered adults, while wizard apprentices are merely property in the hands of formal wizards.

In the association's view, this was actually a conflict between two formal wizards.

Locke said rather coldly, "Melanie Carlisle, the witch, attacked a certified wizard; that's a serious crime."

The wizarding apprentices from the Secret Fire Institute grew increasingly nervous, fearing that Locke would demand an apology or even work for him for free for several years.

If that were the case, their future would become much bleaker.

Time is life for wizard apprentices.

Every wizard apprentice must strive to raise their mental strength to 800 before the age of 40.

Melanie Carlisle, the witch, felt a slight unease. She sighed inwardly, looking at Locke, but couldn't discern his thoughts.

'It's not that easy to fool them,' thought Melanie Carlisle, the witch. 'What am I thinking? This opponent is a white wizard fighting genius who has made huge contributions in this war, hunting down dark wizards like stray dogs.'

'He's decisive and efficient; how could he be so easily fooled as an ordinary, formal wizard?'

The witch Melanie Carlisle was not angered by Locke's cold response. "Of course, that's why I brought my students here to apologize. Lilith Cottage and the Secret Fire House have always had a good relationship; we were both among the original members of the White Wizarding Association in the Southeast Corner."

"And Harlan Vera and I are old friends, at least a hundred years old."

The witch Melanie Carlisle said, “So, it is indeed all a misunderstanding. I will certainly punish my students when I return and correct their behavior.”

Melanie the Witch gave her students a stern look, which terrified them even more.

The witch Melanie said, "This is all the result of my lax discipline. As a gift to restore our friendship, I would like to give you this [Fire Pearl Tomato Flower] as a present."

The witch Melanie took out a magical plant that shimmered with fire from her ring. The plant was small, about the size of a bellflower, and could be worn on her finger like a ring.

Locke noticed that this magical plant was very peculiar; it had no roots or leaves, only stems and fruits.

A vibrant, fiery red cherry tomato sits on its main stem. Its color is so vivid, it is a color unlike anything found in the mortal world, like the most beautiful ruby.

Harlan Vera, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Locke, the Fire Pearl Tomato Flower is a special type of parasitic first-ring magic plant cultivated by the breeders at the Secret Fire Academy. It mainly parasitizes through its stems and its market price is around eight thousand magic stones."

"Because it's a parasitic magical plant, it's cheaper."

"Parasitic magical plants mean a heavier magical burden on wizards."

"This Fire Pearl Tomato Flower is very unique. It continuously releases a natural magical structural component gas similar to a first-ring Fire Charm."

"By using a matching botanical spell, [Bright Flame Aura], you can enchant your other magical plants, even wizard swords, magical artifacts, and other spell models with non-conflicting attributes."

Harlan Vera adjusted his non-prescription glasses and said, "It's a kind of auxiliary magical plant, but it requires more mana."

Locke's eyes lit up slightly. Wouldn't that mean that wearing this kind of magical plant could add an extra enchantment to one's permanent defensive field?

Moreover, the accompanying spells of the Sea Gold Sands do indeed state that they require fire-elemental magical plants to assist them in order to fully unleash their power.

Because the Scorching Gold Sands spell series actually requires gold magic as the primary element and fire magic as the secondary element. However, Sea Gold Sands does not generate fire magic, so a fire magic plant is also needed to assist in casting the first-stage attack spell of this series in conjunction with Sea Gold Sands.

Therefore, even if the Fire Academy hadn't come to apologize today, Locke was still planning to go to the auction to seek out a fire-attribute first-ring magic plant.

Of course, at present, the Fire Pearl Tomato Flower is the most suitable for me. It is a parasitic magical plant, and its accompanying spells are also auxiliary spells that complement other spells.

All of this, in other circumstances, would likely be the point that diminishes its value.

However, for me personally, using the Blazing Sand Flow series is not a disadvantage, but an advantage.

The Scorching Sand Flow series of magic is best used with this type of fire-based magical plant, as it won't overshadow the main magic.

Melanie the Witch realized that Harlan Vera was reminding Locke of the value of the gift she had given.

She smiled helplessly. "Harlan, you're as cunning as ever. Wizard Augustine, this is the spellbook for the accompanying spell [Bright Flame Aura]."

“If you accept our apology, then I will give you this magic book as well.”

Locke did the math in his head and was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that the other party would offer something worth at least 15,000 magic stones in order to apologize to him and gain his forgiveness.

Locke glanced at the witch Melanie with suspicion, wondering why she would go to such lengths.

Although these items might not be as valuable to Melanie the Witch as they would be on the market, even considering only the cost, it was still a significant expense.

Locke saw fear in Melanie's eyes and instantly understood what had happened.

'I see. ’

'It seems they've misunderstood something, thinking I'm a very difficult person to talk to and ruthless in my methods. A person's reputation precedes them; no wonder dark wizards value their image so much—it really does matter.'

Locke realized what was going on. 'But actually, they misunderstood me; I'm actually quite easy to talk to.'

'I'm not as difficult as they imagine. I'm actually a very tolerant and generous wizard.'

'They burned the teacher because they were judging others by their own standards.'

So, he feigned indifference, then nodded, as if to say, "Well, if that's the case, then so be it."

"I can let this matter go."

"I originally thought that the witch Melanie was hostile to me, but now it seems that it was indeed a misunderstanding."

Melanie the Witch breathed a sigh of relief. 'As expected, the Bewitching Wizard misunderstood me. I almost made such a troublesome enemy because of the foolish behavior of a few students.'

"The Bewitching Wizard is ruthless; he wiped out almost all of the Blood Curse Court's new generation in one fell swoop, leaving the leader of the Ghostly Cult defeated and unable to kill him. It's best if I avoid conflict with him."

'The Fire Pearl Tomato Blossom and the Flame Aura were gifts from my students when I became a first-ring wizard; I have no use for them. So, although their total value is high, they are specifically for this occasion.'

Thinking of this, the witch Melanie glared fiercely at the students behind her, her eyes filled with anger.

The students almost understood that they would face all of Melanie's wrath when they returned, and their faces turned pale, not daring to move an inch.

However, Harlan Vera, who knew Locke's personality better, was watching this scene with a strange look in her eyes.

He didn't say anything.

But the corners of her mouth were starting to ache.

(End of this chapter)