Salun quickly adjusted his emotions and scanned his surroundings.
Ahead, Beirut was chatting with a young man with golden hair.
As the breeze blew, his hair, from a distance, looked like a small patch of rippling wheat.
However, their expressions seemed very grim.
Salun's heart stirred, and he quickly approached them.
"Over here, Salun! Come quickly!"
Beirut waved at Salun from a distance.
Salun arrived in front of the two and nodded slightly in greeting.
"Prince Danik, Beirut."
The golden-haired young man smiled.
"Salun, there's no 'Prince' in the School; just call me Danik."
The three of them knew each other, as they were all of noble birth.
Danik was precisely the Seventh Prince of the Tulip Royal Family.
And he was also one of the ten who passed the School's assessment, possessing the realm of a Novice Knight.
"Your points were also stolen?"
Salun was the first to ask, and the three exchanged glances, smiling helplessly.
Danik opened his right hand, revealing ten smooth, gray stones.
"My strength as a Novice Knight couldn't even defeat the weakest among them.
After taking my points, they gave me ten magic crystals."
Danik gave a self-deprecating laugh, and Beirut, beside him, also took out ten magic crystals.
Only Salun's expression remained unchanged, and he likewise pulled out ten magic crystals.
"These damned Apprentices, how could they do this!
Are they not afraid of the School coming after them?"
Beirut said, lowering his voice in anger.
Salun glanced at Beirut and slowly said:
"I'm afraid the School tacitly approved it, Beirut; don't forget this is a School dominated by Black Wizards!"
Compared to Beirut, Danik was clearly much more composed.
Salun quietly observed him.
"As expected of someone from the Royal Family; not only has his realm already broken through to Novice Knight, but his temperament also surpasses his peers."
"They're here!"
Danik suddenly turned around and warned the two.
The two looked in the direction of his voice and saw a young woman wearing a loose wizard's robe approaching.
She appeared to be of similar age to them, but the aura that only Wizards possessed betrayed her.
Her face was enchanting, like a rose blooming fiercely under the scorching sun.
Beautiful yet thorny.
Salun narrowed his eyes slightly, observing her.
"It seems you ten are the new Apprentices of this session.
Follow me; I presume you all already have magic crystals?"
Her voice was clear, like the wind chimes in a watchtower, and contained a freshness as if from the sea.
Her hood slowly fell, and it was then that Salun noticed her ears were pointed.
"First, congratulations on becoming probationary Apprentices of the Shadow School.
You will receive a free meditation method; this is the only thing the School grants unconditionally.
The magic crystals in your hands are the common currency in the Wizarding World, though they are the lowest grade.
One School point is equivalent to one magic stone, and one magic stone can be exchanged for one hundred magic crystals.
Learning a Zero-Order Trick probably requires ten magic crystals."
The girl's smile seemed to have a fatal attraction to the young men present, so much so that they didn't even realize the cruel truth she was speaking.
Salun's face was indifferent, his mind already contemplating how to retaliate against those five.
His things were not to be taken so easily!
Beirut had already fallen for her beauty, while only Danik maintained his composed demeanor, his emotions unreadable.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Lilith."
Everyone followed Lilith's guidance, touring the School.
"The Wizard Tower you used for the assessment is the property of His Excellency the Dean; only official Wizards of First Order and above have the right to reside in it.
Other School members can choose their own living quarters, but as for you, you only have collective dormitories."
Lilith said coldly, introducing everything to these new Apprentices one by one.
"This is the School's library; once you receive your identity bracelets, you can come later to choose Zero-Order Tricks.
This is the School's teaching building; the instructors inside are all High Apprentices, teaching you common basic courses.
If you are fortunate enough to gain the appreciation of an instructor, you will have the opportunity to learn advanced courses, taught by official Wizards.
Outside the School, there are also some interesting things like extraordinary gatherings and secret societies; you can go and learn about them if you're interested.
But please note, outside the School, you will not be protected!"
Salun listened very attentively the whole way, even though the Lilith before him exuded a coldness that kept people at a distance.
But she was quite responsible, arguably one of the kinder people he had encountered in the School.
"Now, follow me to the Apprentice Management Office to collect your identity bracelets.
You have seven days to cultivate your meditation method and tricks.
Once the time is up, you will have to follow the School's arrangements to complete some relatively dangerous missions."
"What!?"
Finally, someone escaped Lilith's charm and shouted at her, expressing dissatisfaction.
"Seven days is simply not enough!"
"That's right! We also need to rest; we just passed the School's assessment, you can't treat us like this!"
The others also reacted and began to protest to Lilith.
Her expression was cold, and she merely raised a hand.
The young man who first questioned her was instantly grabbed in mid-air as if by a pair of invisible hands.
Zero-Order Spell — Mage Hand!
"Who gave you the illusion that I'm easy to talk to?"
Lilith's right hand was clenched, her expression cold, and her tone was as biting as a winter blizzard.
No matter how the young man struggled, he couldn't find leverage in the air; he frantically slapped his neck.
Soon, his eyes rolled back, and his body convulsed, like a fish out of water.
"Just a probationary Apprentice; it's not like I haven't killed before.
There are ten people in total; as long as the price is paid, killing a few more won't incur the wrath of the Wizard adults."
A crimson glow flashed in Lilith's eyes, and she threw the young man heavily onto the ground.
Everyone stood frozen in place, their hearts heavy, not daring to move.
They felt like small boats in a storm, constantly in danger of capsizing.
"A few bones broken; he's already useless.
Give him to Kap later; he's quite interested in live dissections."
Lilith talked to herself, completely disregarding the feelings of the other Apprentices.
Suddenly, she turned around and revealed a bright, charming smile.
"Where were we before?
Oh right, you only have seven days; next, you'll be going to the swamps for training. I wish you a pleasant journey."
Lilith curtsied slightly, lifting the hem of her wizard's robe, much like a well-mannered noble lady.
"Also, a free piece of knowledge for you.
If you want to survive in the School, then do not question an existence whose status and strength far exceed yours.
If you want to obtain magic crystals, you can look for opportunities outside or join a group of School members.
Of course, if you can attract the attention of the instructors, they certainly won't be stingy with rewards."
After Lilith finished speaking, she handed over to the staff of the Apprentice Management Office.
Then she grabbed the crippled young man and left directly.
"You nine, come and collect your identity bracelets. If anything is unclear, you can close your eyes and touch the bracelet.
It will tell you some specific School regulations."
A tall woman said to the nine of them.
Salun received his identity bracelet.
The Shadow School's bracelet was dark green all over, with a circle of thorn-like patterns inlaid on the outside, and a three-eyed raven soaring with outstretched wings on the inside.
Salun shivered; he seemed to see the red pupil on the raven's forehead move...