I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 111 The Apprentice's Work

Fortunately, the female mage didn't dwell on this for too long. She took out a notebook wrapped in an unknown leather and began to read it.

“When we were chatting last week, you said you would become a level 4 mage by the end of the month. Now it seems you’ve achieved that a week ahead of schedule. You’re a kid who has a good understanding of himself. I’ll give you a point.”

"He has no bad records at school, but he did publicly duel with others and earned several hundred gold coins. His mental strength is far beyond that of ordinary people. He never fights a battle unprepared. Add three points."

"Claiming to be blessed by a goddess, I don't know if it's a lie or something I'm hiding. I'm not interested in investigating further. Unless you're incredibly stupid, you won't expose yourself. I'll add one point."

"An intellectual potential of 18 is considered top-notch. To achieve this at the age of 14 in an academy environment deserves an extra five points."

"But trying to deceive me and make me feel bad, minus 10 points."

As she spoke, Veronica copied something again, placed the book on her lap, and smiled knowingly: "So, little apprentice, your foundation score is 0. Anything you want to say?"

DuPont blinked: "What the mentor said is all correct. I have nothing to say."

"Glib-tongued, well, better than being speechless." The female mage rested her elbow on the armrest, her slender fingers supporting her somewhat alluring cheek: "Do you understand what it means to be an apprentice?"

"I don't know." DuPont was really stumped by the question: "Everyone says that apprentices of mentors don't have to copy scrolls, can learn more advanced spells than the instructors in the academy, and occasionally receive items from their mentors. Basically, it's all benefits and no harm."

"Tch, you're more like a mother than an apprentice," Veronica said with a disdainful snort. "First of all, it's true that you don't need to hand in any more scrolls and can learn more advanced spells."

"As for whether the mentor will give you something, it depends on the mentor's mood and how well you complete the task. The rest is the apprentice's responsibility."

"The responsibilities of an apprentice?"

“That’s right, apprentices also have to do work.” Veronica said, taking out a bright crystal. The next second, an image appeared in front of DuPont.

"First of all, you can't slack off in your studies. We're not taking on apprentices to find slackers. Your learning speed must be at least twice as fast as the students in the academy, and even faster than the best students. You can basically forget about luxuries like holidays."

"Secondly, you will have to sign a contract: a five-year apprenticeship and a five-year graduation period. During the first five years, no matter how high your achievements are, even if you become a high-ranking mage and hold a high position outside, you will only be an apprentice of your mentor when you return to the mage tower. You cannot refuse any of your mentor's orders."

DuPont gasped upon hearing this: "Anything?"

"Don't worry, an apprenticeship contract isn't a slave contract, and of course, it won't make you do anything that guarantees your death—that's from the old days. However, some unscrupulous instructors might make their apprentices warm their beds or something like that." Veronica said with a mischievous grin, "What, are you interested in that?"

DuPont bowed its head and pretended to be innocent.

There's really no way to respond to that.

Teasing young people is truly amusing. The female mage pointed to the mithril medal on her chest: "Although Harua's stipend is generous, it's not a freelance job. Every high-ranking mage has their own tasks, such as working part-time at the academy and teaching a few classes each month. Or serving as a magic advisor in the local area, monitoring the local monster ecosystem for invasions by otherworldly creatures, handling them themselves or reporting to the council. In short, they'll find you something to do."

"The same applies to high-ranking mages and grand mages. Of course, grand mages don't need to lecture at the academy, but they are required to take on a part-time position as the vice dean of the academy or the head of the local mages. Since they are not permanently stationed there, they have no real power. However, they must attend important meetings of the academy and the council, complete at least one task assigned by the council and the academy each year, and give a lecture to the instructors of those academies every three months without leaving Haruana."

After listening, DuPont said in a low voice, "Generous treatment and the responsibilities that must be borne?" "That's right." Veronica nodded in satisfaction. It's so easy to talk to smart people: "There is no free lunch in this world. Even the most selfless parents hope that you will give them some emotional value, such as not committing crimes, having a respectable identity, getting married, and having a few children."

"Since you haven't become a formal mage yet, you can't do much. You just need to focus on learning spells. But once you become a formal mage, you'll need to help me solve some problems. For example, my mage tower is located near the old capital, Harragard. There aren't many villagers or adventurers there, but monsters still occasionally roam. Or you'll need to help me find certain monster materials. Of course, the reward will be substantial."

Veronica picked up her wine glass and snapped her fingers, causing the bright red wine in the glass to swirl rapidly. "Once you have a certain level of ability, you will need to act as my assistant when I am conducting research tasks. For example, you can help me find things, provide inspiration, or use your mental power to maintain the operation of magic arrays. Occasionally, you can attend some occasions that I am too lazy to go to and appease those idiots."

"Of course, this is basically a matter for graduation, and there won't always be anything going on. For example, when I go to other planets on missions, you can basically do whatever you want. You just need to keep an eye on the surrounding security and represent me in advocating for my interests in certain situations. But when the communication rune calls you, you have to be available at any time to carry out the tasks I assign you."

Roughly once a month, but for major magical experiments, you have to stay and observe continuously, since even archmages sometimes feel the pinch of the money and rare materials required for those experiments.

"As for after graduation, that's when we'll cooperate. With your talent, becoming a high-level mage shouldn't be a problem. If you're interested, I can help you find a job that interests you. If you're not interested, you can leave Harua and go on an adventure to Faerûn or even other planets."

"So, are you interested?" Veronica took a sip of her drink. "By the way, there's no salary for apprentices, but room and board are fine. As for magical items, I can provide you with blueprints and methods, but you'll have to prepare the materials yourself. I don't see any records of alchemy or magical artifact courses on your resume."

DuPont was a little embarrassed when he heard this: "Yes, I originally studied architecture."

"The architecture department isn't actually that bad. If you learn advanced magic at a lower level, the uses are endless. Those mediocre people don't understand Lavoisier's good intentions in developing this technique. They even use derogatory terms like 'civil engineering' and 'playing with mud' to refer to this discipline. It just goes to show that there are always more fools than geniuses in this world."

Hearing this, DuPont was somewhat surprised: "The architecture department was researched by Dean Lavoisier?"

Veronica raised an eyebrow: "Of course, but this is just one of his research achievements that isn't widely praised. You, as a student in his academy, don't even know about it?"

DuPont wasn't embarrassed to admit this: "I only see him a few times a year. As far as I remember, he only gave a simulacrum lecture at the beginning of the semester and rarely said anything to us. Nobody talks about these things."

"It's not surprising. Lavoisier is a genius, and this matter is probably a trivial one that he wouldn't even bother to mention. It's a pity that if he hadn't been so self-centered and offended so many people, he would probably be the vice speaker now, and he might even take over from that old man McContil in a few decades."

Veronica said with some regret, "I think he's much more pleasing to the eye than that conservative old man, the current Vice Speaker Zarasom, and his achievements are far inferior. But there are still more ordinary people in this world, it's boring."

Receiving such praise from a great mage refreshed DuPont's perception of Lavoisier. His first impression of him was still that of someone who would invite a bunch of scantily clad, pretty girls to a beach party: "Professor, you said that the dean of the architecture department had one of his less-than-praised achievements. What achievements of his have been praised by the public?"

"Ah, you didn't know?" Veronica's almond-shaped eyes widened as if she were looking at an alien: "Don't young apprentices these days read magic books much anymore?"

"As far as I remember, that thing only introduced the basic theories of magic. Who would normally read it?"

"Just basic theory? Sigh, these days the apprentices seem a bit too impetuous." Veronica sighed. "You know about the new magic system, right?"

“Of course, that’s what I’m learning now.” DuPont finished speaking with a hint of surprise: “You mean…”

"The new magic system was developed by a group of archmages in a hidden organization called the Coast Wizarding Society. They researched and explored it together for an unknown amount of time. Among them were many legendary mages from other worlds. Through the research of these masters, the rhythm of a spell with the same effect was simplified and even enhanced. It is hailed as the best achievement of the 13th century in the Open Valley Era, without exception. All participants were granted the status of chosen ones by the Magic Lady."

Veronica's eyes gleamed with a peculiar light as she spoke of this: "And behind this momentous research, Lavoisier's name was the first to be listed, even ahead of the current Speaker's veteran voter, McCondir. Even the Great Sage Elminster was lavish in his praise. And he's only 49 years old this year, probably the youngest voter among women. You could say he single-handedly transformed Northwestern College into a legend comparable to other established colleges, and his story is even known throughout the multiverse."

(End of this chapter)