Time passed, day by day.
At Flying Fish Port, the sorcerer’s ship that had moored for a month was leaving the harbor today.
Outside the dock, Justine and Madam Selina came to see off Ivan, Madam Selina had almost recovered by now, only needing some time to rest, but she still wore a black veil.
With a serious expression, Justine said, “You’ve given me and my mother a new life. Whether you come back or not, I’ll wait for you in Mulberry Valley, always.”
Ivan’s gaze flickered, and he looked at the girl in front of him, “Hmm, I will remember that a girl named ‘Justine’ is waiting for me in Mulberry Valley.”
Their eyes met, and he could see the tears that she hadn’t shed in her eyes.
He gave a nod to Madam Selina standing beside him, turned around, and walked toward the interior of the dock; he did not look back even after boarding the sorcerer’s ship.
As for his betrothed, Justine, it wasn’t right to say he had no feelings for her, but it also wasn’t quite true to say his feelings were very deep. He had, however, done everything he could for Justine up till now.
He taught her apothecary, stripped some of the curse’s power, left her books of magic with Insect Control Skill and Tracking Technique, left rapid wood silkworms and freezing water midges, and taught Bat’s Eyes, among other things.
As for the future, Ivan really couldn’t guarantee anything; he didn’t even know where the Sorcerers Academy was located, let alone what awaited him ahead.
“What are you thinking about? It’s a happy occasion to be entering a resource-rich gathering place for sorcerers,” he thought to himself aboard a sorcerer’s ship larger than the Dark Lahr. The ship was pulled by a giant whale, and as for the Dark Lahr, he had no idea where Sorcerer Bernardson had arranged for it to go.
He turned and took one last look, taking in the entire Flying Fish Port. Continue your adventure at empire
His gaze paused on a familiar part of the wall, where he saw a familiar figure—the ever-news-sharing Donnie from the Swordsmanship Hall.
Perhaps sensing someone looking from the ship, Donnie hurriedly jumped down from the wall battlements and disappeared from sight.
A couple of days ago, Ivan had actually visited the Swordsmanship Hall but didn’t see Donnie. He asked Instructor Quincy to give Donnie a box containing three Ocean Blue Potions; it seemed Donnie had received them.
He hoped that his friend would progress even further on the path of the knight.
Ivan withdrew his gaze and glanced at the second floor, not bothering the sorcerers upstairs uninvited.
He arrived quite early and hadn’t seen any other apprentices.
There were guards on the ship, and he could sense that these guards were not weak—likely all of Knight Class. Upon inquiry, a guard took him to a small room on the first deck’s outer side. The room was well furnished with bedding and all, looking very much like a small dormitory. It appeared this voyage would not be short.
Ivan’s luggage was only one rather large carry-on case. The mulberry wood case was actually solid, hiding nearly three hundred rapid wood silkworms inside. Aside from the twenty left for Justine’s self-defense, he had brought the rest with him, and two-thirds of them had not yet signed a magic contract.
By his estimation, the strength of a mature rapid wood silkworm was comparable to that of a squire, and when thirty or forty of them formed a group, even a knight would have to tread carefully.
The existence of the rapid wood silkworms compensated for his shortcomings in attack-type magic.
Strength: 3.6, Agility: 5.0, Body Constitution: 5.0, Spirit: 3.9
In the last ten or so days, he had been focusing on practicing the Bat’s Eye Breathing Method, coupling it with a set of Breathing Secret Medicine and the nutrition potions he brought from the island, which greatly enhanced his Combat Energy, especially his agility attribute, which increased by 1.5 graduated degrees.
Strength increased by 0.3 degrees, body constitution by 0.3 degrees.
At the same time, he sketched out the 13th meditation rune, increasing his mental power by 0.3 degrees.
Strong mental power was an advantage, as it allowed for deft control over various forms of power, including the newly grown Combat Energy.
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With the mastery of Level 4 Knight Breathing Skill, his understanding and control of Combat Energy far surpassed that of an average Knight. Once the amount of his Combat Energy reached the current height, he effortlessly fathomed the techniques of a high-level Knight, manipulating Combat Energy to wrap around his weapon.
Ivan stared at the membrane of light in his vision, continually summarizing his recent gains and losses until a knock on the door resounded, the figure standing outside was Pearney.
“Come in.”
“Ivan, I will not be going to Mongna Ant Land Cottage on this trip.”
The first sentence she said upon entering took Ivan by surprise. What did she mean by that? Could it possibly mean that she was going to transfer to another academy?
Ivan asked in astonishment, “Will Sorcerer Bernardson agree?”
Pearney responded, “Strictly speaking, we have not really joined Mongna Ant Land Cottage. With Sorcerer Ungar’s intercession, Sorcerer Bernardson has already agreed.”
It appeared the Hobson family and Sorcerer Ungar had an extraordinary relationship. As for her choice, Ivan had no right to comment. Who wouldn’t want somebody to look after them at the Sorcerers Academy?
Pearney then added somewhat sheepishly, “Sorcerer Ungar said that Toyennes was a member of the Mongna Ant Land Cottage Hunting Team. His prior conduct caused the Hunting Team to pay a heavy price, and Dark Lahr was part of that price.
The Hunting Team members are ill-tempered, and as Toyennes’ apprentice, you would definitely be targeted and troubled if you went to Mongna Ant Land Cottage. You must be extremely careful.”
Ivan was astonished. “No way, are we the victims here?”
As one of the victims himself, he hadn’t sought compensation from anyone. And now, he was expected to take the blame for Toyennes? Was there no sense of justice in this world, no law or order? Right, probably there was no law where sorcerers gathered; the sorcerers made the rules.
Because the Hunting Team suffered losses due to Toyennes, they would naturally take a dim view of Toyennes’ students. This was truly undeserved misfortune.
Pearney said, “We are indeed Toyennes’ apprentices, the only remaining ones, so once you get to Mongna Ant Land, it is best not to join the Hunting Team. Lay low for a while and wait for things to blow over before you do anything.”
Ivan nodded heavily, weighed down by the situation.
No wonder Pearney had not met with him previously at Flying Fish Port; she had a new destination, probably one that required confidentiality and avoiding suspicion. Pearney had connections, but he had no choice. The thought of being affected by Toyennes’ bad reputation deeply troubled him.
“Which academy will you be going to?”
“Lierre Songster Sanctuary, the academy where Sorcerer Ungar is,” Pearney revealed, without hiding anything and then added, “This academy is versed in the power of curses, you know. The problem with us has to be resolved sooner or later.”
“You’re right, congratulations to you, and thanks for the heads-up.”
Ivan had previously intended to discuss with Pearney about transferring the curse, to deal with it once they were at the academy. Now that Pearney had a better option, he wisely did not bring it up, as she might not have believed him anyway.
The two of them renewed their Secret Method Seals to ensure they would stay in contact if the opportunity arose. As Pearney was preparing to leave, a noticeable noise emerged from outside.
Outside, the two saw about a dozen young men and women who were likely the new apprentices recruited this time, their attire indicating they came from either wealthy or noble families.
Seeing the apprentice robes on Ivan and Pearney, the youths looked up to them with a mixture of awe and expectation, many of them offering respects and greetings.
Ivan spotted a familiar figure, the eldest sister from Cassia Swordsmanship Hall — Mellie Cassia. Toyennes had missed recruiting apprentices twice before, yet now she had boarded the ship heading to the Sorcerers Academy.
Ivan gave her a nod as a sign of acknowledgment.
At that moment, a guard approached and informed Ivan and Pearney that a sorcerer requested their presence, asking them to come to the second floor.
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