Two Realms: The Dark Wizard Evolves Madly in the Wasteland

"Hehehe!"

"It takes courage to explore and put ideas into practice, even if it's blind, you still need to try!"

"Alright!"

"What would you do if I told you I don't take on apprentices? Would you go find another mentor?"

Raven slowly shook his head as he faced the mental force that nearly crushed his soul.

His movements were slow, but incredibly resolute.

"The apprentices won't go."

"The apprentices are willing to wait."

He looked directly into Colton's deep, unfathomable eyes and said firmly:

"I have waited so many years to become your apprentice. Now that I have come this far, I am willing to stay by your side forever, even if I am only a lowly apprentice to you for the rest of my life, managing your laboratory and handling your chores. I will never change my allegiance to another wizard!"

Raven spoke these words without reservation.

He knew all too well that in a place like Norlan Academy, the more worldly and sophisticated one appeared, the more likely one was to be seen as an opportunist by those old monsters.

For apprentices who lack the necessary qualifications, only by demonstrating almost obsessive loyalty and unwavering devotion can they more easily gain the favor of a formal wizard.

Colton stared coldly at Raven, his terrifying mental pressure sweeping over Raven as if trying to expose every bit of his pretense.

Raven stood there, his back ramrod straight, letting the cold sweat trickle down his forehead without even blinking.

A full half minute passed.

The suffocating pressure of mental energy finally receded like a tide.

"snort."

Colton snorted and looked away.

"You're even more stubborn than those foolish goblins in the underground world!"

With his back to Raven, Colton spoke in a hoarse voice, "No matter how luxurious the vice-dean's workshop is, it can't produce a real wizard."

With a casual wave of his hand, a tattered, blackened, thick parchment notebook, a metal badge, and a black staff appeared before Raven.

Colton didn't even glance at Raven, and spoke sternly.

"This is my early study notes on basic alchemy. It contains many failed and discarded cases. You can take it and figure it out yourself. As for this badge..."

"Take this. If you get into trouble at the academy, you can mention my name. But if you dare to cause trouble outside using my name, or give up halfway..."

"I will personally extract your soul and stuff it into the alchemical golem."

Admittedly, Colton gives off a cold vibe, but it's clear that Raven made an absolutely correct decision this time.

The black pine staff was a little gadget that Colton made in his spare time. It came with a zero-ring spell, corrosive acid, which was enough to melt the scales of some high-level magical beasts in the underground world.

"Go back and rest for a while! Your mental energy is severely depleted. Remember to come to my house for a dinner party at 6 PM in seven days. You'll have many more people to meet there!"

"Apprentices should heed their mentor's teachings!"

Raven took a deep breath, suppressing the indescribable joy and excitement in his heart. He had finally stepped into the circle of true wizard apprentices.

He accepted the three heavy items, then bowed deeply once more, performing an impeccable wizard's salute.

Colton didn't say anything more, and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Raven said no more, bowed again, and only straightened his back after Colton had walked far away and completely disappeared.

He let out a long sigh of relief as he walked out of the long, dark stone corridor.

For some reason, the air in this dark wizarding academy still smells sweeter, and I'm finally no longer a wanderer!

With the protection of his mentor Colton, and the sales channels he had just established in the Apprentice Market, he finally managed to gain a small foothold in the Dark Wizard Academy.

"Hey! Raven!"

I just left the inner ring of the teaching area and returned to my dormitory.

Raven hadn't even settled in when there was a sudden thumping at the door.

The visitor was none other than Balu.

The little guy was still wearing that slightly oversized black apprentice robe today, with a warm and cheerful smile on his round face.

He had just returned to his dormitory when he heard Tom say that Raven had become Colton's apprentice, which he initially found hard to believe.

In the Shadow Academy, who doesn't know the name of Instructor Colton?

He was one of the top official wizards in the academy, with an eccentric temperament, extremely high standards, and very few apprentices.

He knocked on the door to verify the truth of the matter. After all, offending a vagrant is one thing, but offending an apprentice under the protection of a mentor is like planting a time bomb in one's life.

Balu's gaze inadvertently swept across Raven's chest, then suddenly fixed on him.

There, a name is clearly engraved on the badge in Old Byron.

[Colton, Chadori]

Moreover, in Raven's right hand, he casually held a black pine staff that was entirely black and exuded a faint, sour smell.

Balu's smile grew even more enthusiastic.

His eyes widened, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the badge and the black pine staff several times before he resumed his fiery smile.

In short, Balu has completely given up on Raven now.

"Raven! To celebrate becoming Mentor Colton's apprentice, it's on me tonight!"

Balu rubbed his chubby hands together, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, his tone full of temptation.

"I know a mushroom house in the apprentice market. There's an apprentice-only dance there tonight, with lots of pretty and open-minded female students, and... cough cough, you know..."

"Let me arrange things tonight, so you can completely let loose and relax, how about that?"

Seeing Balu's comical expression, winking and saying "I understand you," Raven couldn't help but chuckle.

He knew perfectly well that Balu was trying his best to curry favor with him.

Raven smiled and shook his head, then reached out and patted Balu on the shoulder.

"I appreciate your kindness, Balu, but I'm afraid it's not possible tonight. My tutor gave me some new notes, and I need to study them quickly, so I won't be able to join in the fun at the ball. Don't worry, I don't remember anything from before. You're my good friend!"

Although Balu was somewhat disappointed when he heard Raven's refusal, his eyes lit up again when he heard the words "good friend".

He immediately gave a thumbs up: "Yes, yes, yes! We're good friends. Okay, you go ahead with your work. I'll definitely let you know if there's anything I can do to earn magic stones!"

Raven smiled as he saw Baru off.

He closed the door and looked at the black pine staff in his hand.

"Heh... now you know to come knocking on my door to invite me to the ball? It's just the apprentice silver part, isn't it!"

"It's like you can't afford to participate! It's too late..."