Chapter 84 (2/2)

He carefully sensed the Mana of everyone around him and found that most of them were at least mid-level Magician’s Apprentices. In fact, some of them were just a step away from becoming a full-fledged Magicians.

The level here is much higher than Flemmings Academy.

Derek led Link to a table at the far corner of the hall. He then explained, “This is your table. You’re now a beginner apprentice. You’re allowed to listen when a tutor is giving a lecture, but you’re not allowed to ask any questions, let alone disrupt the class. Understood?”

In other words, Link only had the right to participate but no right to speak because his magic talents were too low. The questions he asked would only waste the other students’ time.

Link was happy with what he got, though. It was good enough for him just to be able to get into the academy.

“I understand,” replied Link.

“Good. Follow me, I’ll take you to your room.”

Derek walked towards the corner of the hall while Link hurried to keep up. Eventually, the two stopped at a narrow door below the spiral staircase in the hall.

“This is your room,” said Derek.

It was originally a small storage room that was deemed unfit to turn into an apprentice’s room. But because the tutor had suddenly received a new member into the Mage Tower when all the rooms were occupied, they had to make do.

Derek could sense from the tutor’s tone and attitude that he did not care much about this new apprentice but had no choice but to make the necessary arrangements because it was an order from the dean. So Derek took the initiative and arranged Link to stay in the small room.

Derek opened the door, revealing a space of less than fifty square feet. There was a small bed with a nightstand instead of a table, and a small window in the corner. Despite the size, the room was spotlessly clean.

There was only magic on Link’s mind, he was not concerned about the external living conditions at all. Otherwise, he would not have been able to stay in the River Cove inn attic for a month. And so all he did was nod his head and brought his luggage into the room.

Link didn’t seem to have much baggage, all he had were some books and few changes of clothes. He placed everything onto the nightstand by the bed.

Derek was still standing in the doorway and saw that Link was done setting his things down.

“One last thing. You need to do some routine work as a Magician’s Apprentice. What spells do you know?” asked Derek.

“I know Earth Spike,” answered Link. Herrera had reminded him earlier that he should maintain his identity as a beginner Magician’s Apprentice.

“Earth Spike? Good.” Derek turned to an apprentice in the hall and shouted, “Warwick, get me some blank scrolls!”

Soon afterwards, an apprentice called Warwick appeared with a handful of scrolls. He glanced sympathetically at Link who was in the room as he handed the scrolls to Derek.

What an unlucky guy. Not only did he get the worst room in the Mage Tower, he’s also in charge of such a menial and tedious chore as creating magic scrolls!

Derek sent Warwick away, and used the Magician’s Hand to place the stack of scrolls on the nightstand.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been studying at another magic academy before, so you must have the basic skills in preparing magic scrolls, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” answered Link.

Preparing magic scrolls was the most basic skill in the field of enchantment. As for Link’s skill level in enchantment, he was sure that he could rival even the Level-6 Magician Bale, so he had no problem at all in preparing magic scrolls. In fact, before going into the Syndicate’s lair, he had even prepared 20 magic scrolls himself.

But of course he couldn’t display his true powers in Bale’s Mage Tower. Link had even hidden his Matchstick wand away and would now only use a simple ordinary white wooden wand that he made himself.

“Good,” said Derek, “Now take these scrolls and make sure you prepare at least three Earth Spike magic scrolls a day. You’ll only be allowed two extra blank scrolls if you run out because you’ve produced defects. If you need more than that, you’ll have to pay for it and one blank scroll costs 3 silver coins. But if you manage to produce perfectly functioning magic scrolls, you’ll be paid a silver coin for each. You can get more silver ink and quill pens from Warwick, the Magician you just met just now. Any questions?”

This is ridiculous, thought Link. A Level-0 magic scroll would sell for at least 6 silver coins, and the cost of producing it should not exceed 2 silver coins! Not only am I being cheated by getting paid only one silver coin per scroll, I’d even have to pay 3 silver coins for each damaged scroll, when in fact these ordinary blank scrolls shouldn’t cost any more than 50 coppers! No wonder every famous Magician in the game were all wealthy. Turns out they’d all been exploiting the apprentices’ hard labor!

It was true that this was unfair to Magician’s apprentices. Since the Magicians were shameless enough to take advantage of the powerless and the apprentices were themselves willing and even glad to be taken advantage of, nothing was ever done about it.

Link thought this was probably one of the important sources of income for a Mage Tower. In the future, he would certainly have his own tower and his own apprentices as well, so this was a lesson for him about how he would manage it in the future.

“I understand,” answered Link.

“Good, get to work then.” Derek walked out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Finally, Link was alone in the quiet room. He sat on the bed and took a long breath.

Then, a notification flashed on the interface.

Mission: Enrolment completed.

Player rewarded with 5 Omni Points.

This was a mission that he had received when he first arrived at Girvent Forest, which seemed to happen so long ago. It had taken him quite a while to complete this mission.

Mission: Upgrade.

Mission Details: Master a Level-1 spell and become a full-fledged Magician.

Mission Rewards: 15 Omni Points.

Link had long mastered a Level-1 spell. He’d even modified it with Supreme Magical Skills and created his own spell, Whistle, so as soon as the notification appeared he had already completed it.

As a result, Link was rewarded with 20 Omni Points. Coupled with the 30 Omni Points he got from the mission of escaping the Syndicate’s lair, he currently had a total of 50 Omni Points.

Another month and a half and the Ailing Mana effects will be over. I must save these points so I can purchase a high-level spell when my Mana is fully restored!

Then, another notification appeared.

Mission: Upgrade.

Mission Details: Master a Level-2 spell and become a Level-2 Magician.

Mission Rewards: 25 Omni Points.

This mission had also been completed, because Link had mastered a Level-2 defensive spell – Guarding Barrier. So Link’s Omni Points were now at 75 points.

Then, another notification popped up. Link glanced over and found that it was another upgrade mission.

Mission: Upgrade.

Mission Details: Master a Level-3 spell and become a Level-3 Magician.

Mission Rewards: 40 Omni Points.

Good, this is a mission I can concentrate on for now, Link thought.

So Link now had three active missions that he must complete. The first was to upgrade his level, the second was to investigate the Magician Bale, and the third was to locate the Cliff of Howling Winds.

My hands are full with all these missions! Link sighed, then pulled out a blank scroll and started to prepare an Earth Spike.