Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 5 The Truth and the Wizarding World

evening.

After two days of tutoring with Patty Aisa, Locke bid Patty farewell, left the student dormitory, and headed to the residence of the college dean, Mr. Tunguska.

In this academy, the dean and professors all have their own suites, and Aurelian Academy also provides them with generous monthly stipends.

After all, the tuition fees for this college are so expensive.

But Locke hadn't walked more than a few steps down the academy corridor when he saw Angel, wearing a white wool skirt with a linen lining, walking toward him.

At this moment, Angel looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept well for days and nights.

Locke recognized that expression; wasn't that the same expression the original owner had when working with Professor Older in history class?

Angel saw Locke and said in a disgruntled tone, "Professor Olde, you called me again to inform you to go work for him."

"Locke, I don't understand why you won't go. Don't you know that if we get along well with the professor, we can stay in this academy for the time being?"

Angel changed tactics, speaking in a conciliatory tone: "Locke, Mr. Old has hinted to me several times that we can stay here as long as we continue to work for him."

“It’s not just me, there are also several students from Anjou who are now working for the professors. You know the college has notified us several times to settle our tuition fees for this semester as soon as possible.”

"Locke, don't let your actions affect the livelihoods of all of us, okay? Besides, the professor meant well."

Locke knew about this; letters urging him to settle his tuition and course fees had already been sent to his dormitory.

Therefore, he needed to hurry to the dean of the Tunguska Academy, since he had a history class tomorrow.

Locke glanced at Angel, who was always following him, and to prevent her from bothering him, he simply pointed to the notebook and said, "I'm working for Dean Tunguska now."

Angel paused for a moment, then stood still, not following Locke.

She looked in the direction Locke had gone and stomped her foot in frustration. "What a weirdo. He could have gotten close to Professor Alder simply by going to work."

"They were granted Professor Olde's protection and remained in the college."

"I hope Professor Old won't be angry about this."

Meanwhile, Locke quickened his pace toward Professor Tunguska's residence, worried that Professor Alder might stop him along the way.

Although the possibility is not high.

But for some reason, Professor Old seemed to have suddenly set his sights on him, and these past few days he had Angel test him, trying to invite him to work there again.

Soon, Locke arrived at Dean Tunguska's residence. He knocked on the door, notified the doorman, and waited for ten minutes before being granted permission to enter.

Locke followed the doorman into Dean Tunguska's residence. Dean Tunguska had the most luxurious suite in the academy, decorated in a lavish Baroque style, like a palace.

Along the corridor, paintings by famous artists from seven countries on the continent of Corfu are displayed.

At the end of the corridor, in the reception room, the style is simple and bright, with a long table, two chairs, and a water glass on the wooden table.

Dean Tungus was already dressed in a gray casual suit and sat down in one of the chairs. "Sit down, Locke Augustine."

“I expected you to come, but I didn’t expect you to finish the homework I gave you in just two days.”

Locke thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth, since lying was pointless. "Mr. Dean, I needed Miss Patty's tutoring to complete my homework."

Dean Tungus chuckled softly. "I know that."

“Patty is a member of the secret society I lead, and she has told me everything. But she only taught you; you are the one who learned those points, and you are the one who finished the assignments in two days.”

Dean Tungus picked up the workbook and flipped through it briefly. "Hmm, the accuracy rate this time is higher than last time."

"good."

"You can go back now, Mr. Locke."

Locke was stunned; he hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Could it be that I guessed wrong?
Mr. Tungus said, “What’s wrong, Locke? I just gave you a regular assignment, and you finished it and brought it here.”

"That's all."

"I will grade this assignment; you can go back now."

Locke frowned, his heart racing, but he quickly calmed down.

If that's the case, then he must have guessed something wrong. Perhaps he guessed wrong at some point, or perhaps the quota for outstanding graduates has nothing to do with the linguistics course at all.

But I have history class tomorrow.

It will be difficult then.

Locke sighed softly, not forgetting to politely greet Dean Tunguska with the courtesy due to a student to a professor, "Excuse me, Professor Tunguska."

He turned to leave.

As he walked to the door of the reception room, Dean Tunguska suddenly spoke up, "But I want to ask you a question, Locke Augustine. You've never paid attention in class before, so how did you manage to complete a class assignment in a single day, and then finish the assignment I specifically gave you in just two and a half days?"

"And what is it that suddenly makes you want to do this?" Locke's heart skipped a beat. He turned to Dean Tungus and said, "Dean, you know my current situation. I've heard that there's a special kind of existence within the academy—the outstanding graduate—so I want to obtain it."

"Based on my speculation, I believe that the number of outstanding graduates should be related to the language course."

Dean Tungus nodded. "I understand. I thought someone had told you some special news, but it seems I was wrong."

"You're smarter than I thought."

"No wonder he can learn an ancient language so quickly."

Dean Tungus said, "Locke, the so-called outstanding graduates you mentioned are indeed related to language courses."

"The reason I gave you homework and tested you is also related to this. The ancient language I teach is very complex. If someone is not qualified, even if they can keep up with the pace through hard work, it will be very difficult, and they will only be able to pass."

“A long time ago, it was discovered that the better a person’s aptitude, the faster they could learn these ancient languages ​​that contained special information.”

Dean Tungus said, "Conducting qualification testing requires resources."

"The purpose of establishing this academy is also to find qualified people on Corfu."

"Therefore, we need to set up courses to initially select people who may be qualified, and then test them."

Dean Tungus looked at Locke with a puzzled expression. "You shouldn't have been able to understand my lectures at all before; you shouldn't have been qualified. However, there are exceptions, such as when a person reaches a certain age and suddenly awakens their aptitude."

"That's why Aurelian Academy is a seven-year institution. Anyone under the age of 22 can potentially be qualified."

Locke was a little confused. "Dean Tunguska, what kind of qualifications? And what does Corfu Island mean? Isn't it the Corfu continent?"

According to my understanding, the area of ​​the Corfu continent is about two-thirds the size of the Eurasian continent in my previous life, which is already the size of a continent.

That's why Locke believed that the Seven Kingdoms were the protagonists of this world.

The Academy of Aurelian is the highest academy on this continent.

Dean Tungus crossed his arms and looked at Locke with a scrutinizing gaze, saying, "As I said, the real name of the Corfu continent is Corfu Island, because this entire land is merely a small island in the endless mysterious sea."

"The population is only tens of millions, which is negligible, and there are not many mystical resources here."

"Neither Professor Old nor I are native to this island."

"Aurelian Academy is not a top academy; it is merely a subordinate college of the real university, Verdandia University, an institution that selects new students for Verdandia University."

Dean Tungus said, "Since you were able to complete my assignment in such a short time, it means you definitely have the qualifications."

"I'm talking about the qualifications to become a great wizard and pursue the path of truth."

"This is the truth about the quota for outstanding graduates."

"You don't need to go to Mr. Old's anymore, Locke."

Locke raised an eyebrow; he now realized that he had underestimated the world.

Unexpectedly, the Seven Kingdoms and the continent of Corfu are merely an insignificant corner of this world.

The struggles between knights, nobles, and kings are laughable in the eyes of these wizards, so the high and mighty wizards don't even bother to get involved. They simply set up the Aurelian Academy here to select people with magical aptitude.

But in the blink of an eye, Locke felt a surge of excitement.

Perhaps this is for the best.

If one could enter the world of wizards and magic, the Horadric Cube would have even greater potential.

I can achieve even greater success.

Locke almost immediately changed his goal from staying at Aurelian Academy to leaving Aurelian Academy and heading to the real world beyond Corfu, as Tunguska had mentioned.

However, it seems that a wizard qualification test will be conducted first.

Dean Tungus saw that Locke, though somewhat surprised, quickly accepted it. He was a little astonished by Locke's speed of acceptance, but did not continue explaining. Instead, he said, "Locke, I need a drop of your blood."

"Then, you will drink the [Elemental Emerald Potion] mixed with your blood, and we will see your true abilities."

"This potion is very expensive, but at least in the wizarding world fifty years ago, it was one of the relatively good methods of detection."

Locke asked, "Dean, fifty years ago? Did Aurelian Academy have little contact with the wizarding world?"

Dean Tungus glanced at Locke and said, "The Endless Mysterious Sea is extremely dangerous. The waters beyond the coast of Corfu are fraught with danger. Even formal wizards cannot cross it, let alone people like us."

"My last contact with the wizarding world was fifty years ago. That was when I first came to the continent of Corfu, and since then, I have never been able to go back..."

A hint of sadness flashed across Dean Tunguska's face. "Of course, this was also my own choice."

“Aurelian Academy is already a very safe and comfortable place.”

"The wizarding world is more brutal than any place you've ever seen. Wizarding apprentices who cannot survive there can only go to a remote corner to live out their remaining days, making their final contribution to their wizarding organization."

(End of this chapter)