Windy Bay City, the docks where a ship named ‘Alate’ was moored.
“Mellie, you’re going back too.”
“Yes, back to Tidal Island.”
Conley and Ed met by chance as they hurried over, running into Mellie who had also appeared. After exchanging pleasantries, they learned that everyone was on their way home.
As they waited, people gradually started to arrive, totaling eight—all from their cohort who had joined the academy. Originally, there were nineteen people from the Aromatic Wheat Dukedom in their group; six had died over time, leaving only five who had not come.
The few of them couldn’t help but feel that something was off.
“Everyone, this is the ‘Alate’ about to set sail for Tidal Island. You may board now,” a middle-aged man called from the deck. His name was ‘Caludor,’ and he was the captain of the ship’s guard.
“Let’s go, we can’t keep the sorcerer waiting,” Conley said to the others, stepping onto the gangplank first and boarding the ship.
For long sea voyages like this, if there was no sorcerer on board, it was easy to die silently in the vast ocean. Apprentices dared not travel on such a ship, and the academy wouldn’t allow it, as it could be hard to tell if an apprentice had died or defected.
“Shall we go say hello to the sorcerer?” Conley suggested, recognizing that it was an honor for them to travel together with one.
“What if we disturb his lordship by just showing up like that?” This time, Ed didn’t agree with him.
“Captain Caludor, it’s time to set sail.”
“Very well, Lord Wind Moth.”
At that moment, a strange winged snake flew down from the second floor, gave an order, and immediately received the captain’s reply. The ship slowly left the port.
“Come up, Sorcerer Ivan wants to see you.”
Just as they were about to find rooms to settle into, they heard the winged snake shouting at them again.
Hearing this, their hearts surged with waves, and exchanging glances, they could see the astonishment in each other’s eyes. Was it that Ivan?
Reaching the second floor, they saw a familiar figure standing there.
“I had someone inform you. I thought since it has been a long time since you’ve all been away from home, you might want to return for a visit,” Ivan said with a smile, looking at the somewhat dazed group and speaking leisurely.
“We’ve met Sorcerer Ivan.” They realized it was indeed the person they had imagined. As they came back to their senses, Conley and the others quickly paid their respects in proper form.
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The identity of a sorcerer differed from that of an apprentice; there were rules that must be followed. After joining the Mongna Ant Land Cottage, they felt the presence of this status difference more acutely than ever.
“No need for formalities. Everyone just relax on the ship. In half a month, we will arrive at Tidal Island. If any small problems arise en route, help Captain Caludor take care of them,” Ivan instructed.
“We will heed your orders.”
Returning to the first floor’s deck and thinking about the people who had been part of the same cohort and came from the same place, they felt deeply moved and also roused with pride—after all, the other person was also just a 3rd Class talent.
If he could become a sorcerer, there was no reason they couldn’t as well.
The ‘Alate’ cut through the waves, and soon Windy Bay City disappeared from view.
The second floor was the key to the ship’s defenses, naturally becoming the residence of the sorcerer.
Every ship capable of long voyages was equipped with a runes sorcery array, with the control core located on the second floor. The ‘Alate’ was no exception; its formation, called ‘Green Sea Calamity Array,’ could make full use of Water-type and Wind-type energy particles for defense or acceleration.
“If you have something to say, just say it,” said Ivan, who was observing the core of the formation when Wind Moth approached hesitantly. Without looking up, he added.
“Well, you know, about taking care of the ship’s problems, you could count on me. I’m really powerful now, there’s no need to bother with those skinny apprentices,” Wind Moth eagerly shared its thoughts.
“As you wish.”
Ivan thought there must be some important matter, but it turned out to be just the creature feeling overly energetic—he let it be.
“Sorcerer Ivan, I have something to say too,” Scented Butterfly interjected, as Wind Moth scampered away happily. Ivan waved his hand, signaling it to continue:
“Based on the principle of equivalent exchange, I think we should collect a passage fee. We can’t let them ride for free. Should I handle it?”
“Forget it. We’re also riding for free. We can’t use the academy’s benefits to earn magic stones. We’re not lacking in magic stones,” Ivan rebutted, shaking his head. His trip home this time followed an old precedent set a very long time ago when most sorcerers originated from Tidal Island.
During the period when a new sorcerer’s spiritual power was depleted, the academy conveniently granted a year-long vacation, during which the transport ships they used to go home were provided for free. However, over time, the vacation period had gradually decreased to half a year.
Otherwise, outside of official duties and in accordance with the hundred-year contract previously signed, it would not have been easy for him to leave the academy and travel to Tidal Island for such an extended period.
“Alright then.”
Scented Butterfly nodded quietly in acceptance.
Ever since the two rapid wood silkworms had mutated into their current forms, Ivan, in effect, acquired two magic pets.
Characterwise, if one were to make a distinction, they represented both literature and martial aspects. Possibly because they were recently bestowed with Spiritual Wisdom and were quite new to it, their approach to tasks was a tad too eager, reminiscent of rookies just entering the workforce.
Ivan’s gaze remained fixed on the column in front of him, which was topped by a crystal ball about twenty centimeters in diameter. The crystal ball was also engraved with runes, and within it, a large amount of coarse, unrefined energy had accumulated.
This was a crystal ball that served both monitoring and energy storage, of intermediate quality, simple and crude in its function, and the core of the Green Sea Calamity Array.
“A long-voyage ship is truly an ingenious creation.”
After observing for quite a while, he could not help but sigh internally; his skill in Enchantment had greatly improved since his apprentice days.
Some things, once mastered, can unlock understanding across many areas. After his spiritual power moved up a level, the completion degree of rune lines during enchantment naturally reached one hundred percent, and he was already capable of fully explaining the effects of 3D runes with planar rune lines.
The knowledge from Intermediate Enchantment Skill stated that once one mastered 100% completion of rune lines, one could engrave 3D runes bundles, and if one were to etch six or more 3D runes bundles onto an item, it was possible to create a mid-level magicalized item.
To produce a high-level magicalized item, a complete runes sorcery array needed to be etched onto the item, as with the current sea vessel.
It’s worth mentioning that low-level magicalized items require three to four runes bundles, intermediate level six or more, and high-level twelve or more 3D runes bundles, and only with twelve or more 3D runes bundles can a complete runes sorcery array be formed.
A sorcerer’s magicalized items are significantly smaller in size compared to a sea vessel, and it’s not an easy task to etch a runes sorcery array onto them. The requirements for the material are high, and even higher for the Enchanter.
Ivan was now at the level where he could produce mid-level magicalized items, but that didn’t hinder him from studying the runes sorcery array on the sea vessel, especially since he had the time.
Several days passed in a flash, and the Alate was still sailing swiftly over the sea.
Sea voyages aren’t always smooth sailing, and on this day, accompanied by a roar from the Brute Force Whale carrying the ship, there was a sudden violent rocking of the vessel, nearly capsizing it.
The Alate had encountered a color-changing cuttlefish that was hunting by stealth. Its massive tentacles immediately entwined the passing Brute Force Whale from above, causing the whale to thrash angrily and struggle involuntarily.
The Alate began to shake as well.
From the Crystal Ball, Ivan spotted the enemy, a giant eight-tentacle monster not smaller than the Brute Force Whale. He immediately activated the ‘Green Sea Calamity Array’ to add a protective layer to the Alate.
Upon reaching the balcony of the second floor, he extended his palm and reached out toward the sea surface on one side of the ship.
The spell he used was his customary ‘Black Magic Hand’, a transparent giant hand with a black gleam appeared on the surface of the water, plunged into the sea, and grabbed~ the head of the giant eight-tentacle monster with precision.
The eight-tentacle monster instantly felt its body stiffen, unable to exert any strength, and the tentacles wrapped around the Brute Force Whale relaxed.
With a forceful flick, the enormous body of the eight-tentacle monster was dragged out of the water and fell back towards the sea surface.
“That was close, such a large sea beast.”
“What danger? With Sorcerer Ivan around, no sea monster dares stir up trouble.”
“Yes, indeed, the might of a sorcerer is worlds apart from us.”
This scene was clearly witnessed by the apprentices below, who couldn’t help but once again marvel at the formidable power of an official sorcerer.
The next second, their attention was drawn to another figure.
“You big dummy, stay still, let go of that eight-tentacle monster and leave it to me to deal with,” the Wind Moth hurried forward, issuing a stop order to the Brute Force Whale that was about to seek revenge.
With no other choice, the Brute Force Whale stopped moving forward reluctantly.
Soon after, another massive winged snake appeared on the surface of the water, engaging in battle with the giant eight-tentacle monster, causing waves to ripple across the sea.
In terms of size, the Wind Moth was like a child facing an adult in front of the eight-tentacle monster, but affected by the previous attack, the eight-tentacle monster was still reeling.
“This brute, clearly capable of wind control and poisoning, insists on fighting with his body, so crude,” the Scented Butterfly, floating at Ivan’s side, constantly shook its head in disdain as it looked at the scene on the sea.
Seeing the Wind Moth taking the upper hand, it stopped any intention of stepping forward to help.
Ivan could also see that the Wind Moth had a distinct advantage. He began to reflect on the spell he had just used.
“It still needs improvement.”
In the past few days, apart from watching over the two rapid wood silkworms undergoing transformation, he had also been organizing his spells.
After learning the Level 1 Mage’s Hand, he used it as a basis to deduce the Level 1 Black Magic Hand. Drawing on his experience researching the Black Magic Wind Array, he had achieved results in just a few days, with only the fine-tuning of details remaining.
Besides the Black Magic Hand, he had other spells to organize, including the Thorny Jungle, Insect Shadow Eyes, and Powerful Immobilization Technique, which needed to be optimized from Level 0 to Level 1 and he aimed to further develop applications for spells such as the Summer God Chain, Flower Tree Shield, and Insect Silent Breath Skill.
He also had ideas for constructing new spells, based on the Level 0 magic ‘Green Shadow Smoke’, he could pull ‘wind’ out separately from the Black Wind magic array, combine it with the Flower Illusion Poison from the Meditation Method ‘Flower Breath’ and others. He could definitely research a formidable Level 1 spell.
During this half-year return home, he still had plenty of things to keep him busy.
A few minutes later, the victorious Wind Moth returned. As it approached, a wave of energy tinged with a green glow fell upon it.
“No need, no need, how could I possibly be injured?” boasted the Wind Moth nonchalantly to Scented Butterfly, an undeniable pride in its tone. “Sorcerer Ivan, I have some good stuff.”
A bead and a heart.
This action displayed a not inconsiderable expertise in dissection.
Ivan unceremoniously took its spoils of war and passed over a large bottle of Green Mulberry Water in return. Although Scented Butterfly and Wind Moth had undergone significant changes in appearance, some of their silkworm nature remained, and Green Mulberry Water was still their favorite food.