Mongna Ant Land Cottage.
Ivan had returned to his own dormitory for more than half a day, just finished sorting out the gains and losses from this mission. There were some minor problems during the mission, such as the lack of variety in powerful spells, only having Black Magic Hand and Thorny Jungle.
However, the gains were much more substantial, having completed the objective of this trip satisfactorily, with an additional bounty of upper-class Aqua Alva, an unexpected breakthrough to Great Knight, gaining the friendship of a sorcerer, and a Transfer Sealing Scroll.
The benefits far outweighed the problems, making him quite content with the mission.
As he thought, his mind gradually shifted to the issue of advancing to an official sorcerer.
“If I sign a contract with the academy, that represents a forty percent advancement success rate,” he mused.
“Great Knight adds ten percent.”
“The extra two portions of Aqua Alva count as ten percent.”
“That’s equivalent to a sixty percent success rate.”
He didn’t hesitate at all about whether to use three vials of Aqua Alva; with his talent already insufficient, if he didn’t give it his all, becoming an official sorcerer would be nothing but an empty phrase.
However, a sixty percent advancement success rate was far from enough, he needed to think of more ways.
“The Knight’s Path has no way forward,” he sighed.
The Breathing Method he practiced was ‘Bat’s Eyes,’ which he found behind the signboard of Old Orio Medical Hall, with only page class and Knight Class stages, no cultivation method for the stage of Great Knight, let alone the path beyond Great Knight.
Previously, he had perused a great deal of literature about knights in libraries and in Carmel’s reading room, understanding that there was a fundamental difference between the realm of Great Knight and Knight Class.
According to a transversal comparison summarized by sorcerers, Great Knight is actually the equivalent of a Level 1 Sorcerer, which is why a Great Knight is qualified to become a sorcerer’s guard, just like Captain Caleb on the ship.
Upon closer consideration, this made sense. Great Knight’s Combat Energy Slash starts at least at ten graduated degrees, and can reach up to twenty degrees, coupled with respectable defensive ability and enduring combat stamina, indeed capable of posing some danger to an official sorcerer.
If a Great Knight was already like this, the Legendary Knight above Great Knight was even more exceptional, implying that the value of a Breathing Method from Great Knight to Legendary Knight would skyrocket, and would not be as commonly available as those of Knight Class and secret medicine.
Ivan speculated that this was probably why most Breathing Methods stopped at Knight Class.
“Let it be, no need to channel a lot of energy into Great Knight Breathing Methods and secret medicine for now.”
There’s a priority in matters, and currently, the most urgent thing was increasing the advancement rate. He couldn’t afford to waste too much time on unrelated or ineffective endeavors.
The Insect Breathing Method could continue to be studied, as this was a matter he had already found some clues to and should not require much effort.
“Black Magic Hand and that runes sorcery array are worthy of exploration; same as mental energy, they might not be unusable for advancement,” he muttered, a thought that had occurred to him before.
Randall had once said that the methods to assist in advancing to official sorcerer include several categories: potions, runes sorcery arrays, contracts, and anomalous energy.
Regarding potions, the most potent and universal one is Aqua Alva, of which he had obtained three vials, having reached the limit.
The other aspects are usually fortuitous and not as universally applicable as Aqua Alva.
In short, resources are extremely limited.
Maybe the last apprentice used them for their advancement to sorcerer, leaving those resources unavailable, or employing those resources might involve high risks. An apprentice, through long-term research, would have to figure out a suitable method for themselves.
If others wished to use them, they too would need to thoroughly investigate, taking on significant risks.
In this region, the more prominent sorcerer families are few, and certainly for profound reasons that lie in the uncertainties associated with apprentices advancing to sorcerers, the arduous journey of increasing advancement rates, and the scarcity of descendants who become sorcerers.
Without enough sorcerers, one can’t claim to be a sorcerer family.
On the flip side, if there was a stable method to improve the advancement rate, developing a sorcerer family or power wouldn’t be too challenging.
For an apprentice, how to increase the success rate of advancement is a significant issue. Besides Aqua Alva, one would need to put in a lot of effort to research and find a method suitable for oneself. Ivan decided to explore the runes sorcery array corresponding to Black Magic Water.
“The other Raw Stone Array Discs outside Swamp Forest City should have gone to the Enchantment Group; I could ask Heidi about them, not sure if I can apply to observe them.”
“I need to find Auric to discuss what he and the Richie family behind him can offer and what costs are involved. I just hope they won’t look down on my 3rd Class talent.”
So far, these were the only two methods he could think of. If he achieved results with both approaches, the advancement rate could probably reach eighty percent. Eighty percent would be enough to take the plunge.
The thought that some people started with an eighty percent success rate suddenly left a sour taste in his mouth.
He shook his head, casting away the intrusive thoughts; self-pity was not his style.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
“Ivan, are you there?”
The knocking sounded, and Ivan opened the door to see that it was Carmel.
“I ran into that annoying guy who said you both went to the Flash Vortex Secret Realm. You made quite a splash this time, is it true?” Carmel asked eagerly as he entered the room.
“Yes, I participated in the same mission, eradicated a group of external enemies, and in the end, the academy alliance awarded extrinsic rewards,” Ivan nodded, briefly outlining the context of the incident, but the details needed to remain confidential.
“That’s great,” Carmel said, his eyes full of envy, as if he wished he could have taken part in the battles to defend the secret realm.
Hearing his words, Ivan couldn’t help but roll his eyes, only Carmel could say something like that.
Now, Carmel’s strength is also approaching the limit of 3rd Class, and it’s quite normal for his power to progress quickly since he does not lack resources.
Ivan somewhat understood what Wolban had once said, “They are not the same kind of people as us.” He and Carmel indeed were not the same kind of people, but he had realized this from the very beginning.
“Carmel, this is not a fun matter, we are going there for resources,” Ivan stated seriously.
“I know,” Carmel replied, scratching his head upon seeing Ivan’s serious expression, then he added quietly, “Well, I indeed don’t need to look everywhere for resources, I can’t understand your feelings.”
“It’s not that serious, look, I’m fine,” Ivan said, waving his hand dismissively. There was no point discussing this with Carmel; he was clearly influenced by Wolban.
“Ivan, I have a question for you. How about becoming relatives with my family?” Carmel suddenly asked.
“Becoming what?”
“I mean forming a marriage alliance with the Lidia family. You have such great learning talent and multiple skills. Joining the Lidia family would be a good choice for you, then you wouldn’t have to look everywhere for resources,” Carmel suggested, thinking it was a good idea.
He promised with conviction, “Trust me, I can go to my grandmother and mother and introduce you to them, let you become a relative with the Lidia family.”
“It’s not your sister, is it?” Ivan asked subconsciously.
“If you like my sister, it’s not impossible,” Carmel said, slightly stunned, then his eyes shone with excitement. The idea of his good friend becoming a relative through his sister seemed quite good. “I have to go back and ask, you know Heidi, her opinion counts more than mine.”
Seeing him getting ready to leave, Ivan hurriedly stopped him, urging him to sit back down.
“That’s not what I mean; actually, I’m not familiar with Heidi.”
“You said the same thing last time, I don’t believe that.”
“May I ask presumptuously, if, and I mean if, I became related to someone from your family, what surname would the children have?”
“Lidia, of course. It’s a glorious surname, isn’t that right?”
Ivan thought as much. Carmel’s talk of becoming family amounted to marrying into the family, and it was normal that he did not realize the difference. He estimated that his grandfather and father had joined the Lidia family in the same way, though it was his grandmother and mother who wielded the power in the Lidia family.
“Carmel, I’d rather achieve success through my own efforts. I think you should understand that,” Ivan expressed his preference.
“I see, if you change your mind, you can find me. I’ll talk to Heidi about it,” Carmel replied, looking a bit disappointed but without insisting further, yet he couldn’t help but reiterate the point.
The two discussed runes and enchantments for a while. Currently, Carmel’s rune line completion was at 88%, and Ivan’s at 96%. The closer one got to full completion, the harder it became, each step likened to a new level.
…
In a certain sorcerer’s steeple.
Soon after Wolban returned to the academy, he was summoned by his mentor, Sorceress Andaya, who wanted to know about the incidents that had occurred in the secret realm. Wolban had no choice but to select what he could share and recounted the events.
“Blood Hunters, remember the records are sealed, they have quite the background,” Andaya mused.
“Luckily, Ivan acted promptly and prevented that Blood Hunter from growing stronger, otherwise, the consequences would have been difficult to predict,” Wolban added.
“A spell that exceeds the apprentice’s limit?”
“Yes.”
“Based on the Mage’s Hand, combined with runes and a runes sorcery array disc?”
“Exactly.”
Andaya asked a question, and Wolban provided an answer.
More than just Wolban had witnessed the event. He was closer and saw it more clearly. Such methods left him in awe.
After listening, Sorceress Andaya fell into contemplation.
After a pause, Wolban proposed, “Mentor, I think we could further attract Ivan. He has 3rd Class talent and is currently lacking resources for advancement. Now is a good time; he would be grateful to us.”
Andaya glanced at him and slowly shook her head.
“Mentor, I respectfully ask, why not seize the opportunity to attract someone so talented and capable?” Wolban continued, eager to advocate for Ivan. In his eyes, as long as one could become an official sorcerer, nothing else mattered, for there would be plenty of time to slowly resolve any other issues.
Moreover, Ivan was someone who should be on their side. They couldn’t allow families of sorcerers to sway him.
“It seems you two have a good relationship,” Andaya commented.
Wolban remained silent, believing he wouldn’t let personal relations affect his judgement, yet he had no way to prove it.
“You’ve said he is a person of talent and pride. Let’s wait and see, let him struggle and face rejection. When the time comes that he feels utterly frustrated, we’ll extend our help. He will be more grateful and more inclined to serve us,” Andaya revealed her strategy. For an apprentice with 3rd Class talent to become an official sorcerer was not an easy task.
There was plenty of time to wear him down, down to his last breath.
Wolban opened his mouth but couldn’t find anything to say.
On one hand, he had an inexplicable feeling that it might not take Ivan very long at all, as the other was someone known for breaking through expectations. On the other hand, once Ivan displayed a weakness, the conditions they would offer him could become exceedingly strict, which was not something Wolban wished to see.
However, as only an apprentice, he was unable to influence his mentor’s decision.