170 The Apprentices (2/2)

”Yes, you can ask me as well,” said Katrina. This fourteen-year-old girl was wearing a white dress and already looked like a beautiful young lady. ”And I'll also become an apprentice very soon.”

Both Sprint and Katrina arrived here recently, and when they were chosen, neither of them was an apprentice but just talented kids. Now Sprint already made his breakthrough, and it seemed that Katrina was on her way as well. Without doubt, Sprint and Katrina were the most potential two among all the apprentices and the other young kids who were working on becoming one.

And just like all the smart people, Sprint and Katrina were competing with each other all the time.

In Katrina's mind, this young man, who was probably only twenty or something, should be no more than a senior apprentice who knew nothing about arcana.

Tom was a bit amused, ”This is Mr. Evans. He is a real sorcerer.”

”A real sorcerer?!”

”But he looks so young?!”

The teenagers were very surprised.

Although they heard that from time to time there were very talented teenagers who could become real sorcerers after turning eighteen when their souls became more stable, they never met a sorcerer who was this young as Lucien. They suspected that probably this Mr. Evans was using some kind of magic to maintain his young appearance.

”When you arrive at the congress, you'll see sorcerers who're only fifteen or even fourteen.” Tom slightly shook his head and smiled, ”In my eyes, Mr. Evans is rather smart, and I'm actually not surprised with his achievement.”

”Mr. Evans.” All the apprentices bowed politely with their right hands on their foreheads.

This was the tradition that an apprentice should show great respect to a sorcerer.

Lucien smiled, ”We're peers now.”

”You want to study arcana with them?” whispered Tom to Lucien.

”I want to start from reading the books they just mentioned,” answered Lucien, ”We can discuss if it's necessary.” Lucien believed that his arcana knowledge was no inferior than most middle-rank mages.

”Then you have to fulfil a task from the congress in advance,” Tom grinned, ”since the books are only for the apprentices. Sorcerers can only get them when they arrive the congress.”

”What task?” asked Lucien.

”You gotta be the teacher of an apprentice,” explained Tom patiently. ”In order to get the books and all kinds of support from the congress, a sorcerer needs to help an apprentice to reach his or her senior level. Due to the limit of the environment here, the hope that they can leap forward to reach this level is slim to none, but you can try helping an apprentice in training to become a junior one. How does this sound? Fulfilling half of the congress's task in advance right here?”

”Then what will happen after we arrive in Allyn?” asked Lucien, ”Will I still be the teacher?”

”No worries.” Tom waved his hands, ”All the apprentices will be sent to the secret schools to study at that time. They won't bother you.”

”I see. Sounds very reasonable.” Lucien nodded. He agreed on the emphasis that the congress put on training apprentices.

Tom clapped his hands to draw the teenagers' attention. ”Ladies and gentlemen, I've got an opportunity for you. Because Mr. Evans needs to study arcana, he wants to work with some of you. Who wants to volunteer? You folks gotta know that the chance of working together with a real sorcerer is precious!”

The reaction of the apprentices varied. Some got quite excited and started to whisper to each other, while others remained quite doubtful toward a sorcerer who knew nothing about arcana.

No one knew how much this young sorcerer could help them with their arcana study.

Besides, according to the tradition of the ancient magic empire, some sorcerers were quite strict with training new apprentices. Those apprentices who had other teachers before would not be taken into their consideration at all, hence they might miss the chance of becoming the students of some more powerful sorcerers. And that was the thing that concerned them the most.

”Who volunteers?” asked Tom again.

Sprint responded first, ”I'm afraid that Mr. Evans cannot provide me with enough guidance with regard to arcana. I'm sorry.”

”Me neither. Sorry, Mr. Evans.” Katrina lowered her head, ”I want to stick to my own study schedule.”

The other six or seven apprentices who were close to Sprint and Katrina were also very hesitant.