Besides exchanging information and complaining about their studies, the three also shared their recent plans. Xia De didn't mention the Founding · Silver Moon, planning to bring it up after the final appraisal next week, while the doctor had already accepted the academy's bounty for obtaining the keeper-level relic, the forged philosopher's stone.
Even knowing that this matter was related to the sage-level relic, god's gift box, and the insane plan of the Mercury Blood organization, the doctor still intended to participate. He planned to invite Miss Louisa to join his plan, but cautioned Xia De absolutely not to get involved, as there would definitely be Ring術士 combat in the end.
Compared to Four Ring and PentaCircle Ring術士, Xia De was almost still an ordinary person.
Miss Louisa's plan for next week was much simpler; besides assisting the doctor, she was determined to study at home and absolutely not go out. During the exam season at the end of July, she had to pass at least five exams to have a chance of advancing to the fifth year by the end of this year.
The pretty blonde girl had already gathered the four different Ling Runes for Four Ring and was now just waiting to perform the ritual to connect the Sublimation Words of low-level Ring術士, directly advancing to PentaCircle. These matters had been reported to Saint Byron's, and the academy would send a mentor to Tobesk this autumn to assist with this crucial sublimation.
Therefore, the cultural and theoretical exams were the biggest obstacle preventing her from entering the fifth year.
Diviner Miss Annette still hadn't returned to Tobesk City, and Priest Augustus didn't appear until that evening, so Xia De didn't have a chance to ask what the "God's Afterglow" mentioned by that Old God was.
He did try to bring it up once in front of Doctor Schneider and Miss Louisa, but neither of them reacted, treating it as some kind of religious metaphor.
"Indeed, if such things could be easily uncovered, it wouldn't match the difficulty of the corresponding event. It's like a simple commission can't yield high rewards... except for Mia."
Xia De comforted himself, planning to personally visit Priest Augustus at the Dawn Church when he had time.
Of course, the Priest's absence wasn't due to an unfortunate accident. Later in the evening, he sent someone to the psychology clinic with a letter, explaining that the church had arranged a temporary meeting that afternoon to discuss the activity arrangements for the Dawn Church's Holy Prayer Festival, which was to be held in July.
The Dawn Church holds a grand religious celebration every year in late July, on the longest day of the year, which believers call "Holy Prayer Festival" and heretics call "Holy Prayer Festival." So Priest Augustus would likely be quite busy for the next month, as an Old Priest who had participated in countless Holy Prayer Festivals, he was an important organizer of the event.
And it was very common for only three people to attend a study group meeting that was supposed to have five, like today. Everyone had their own life and plans, and life was always full of bizarre surprises, as stated by Miss Louisa, the Writer.
"Ha, that's not a quote; those are my own words, written in my short story 'A Midsummer Night's Wish,'" the pretty blonde Writer said with a hint of pride.
Upon returning home to Saint Delan Square that evening, Xia De immediately learned the spell 【Frog's Leap】, bringing the total number of spells he mastered to six, including the three basic spells.
The spell learning materials were the clear liquid from ground frog internal organs and four complete frog skins, all provided free of charge by Miss Louisa. She even provided more than a dozen dried frog legs for Xia De to use as casting materials.
Xia De would have to prepare these things himself in the future, so the doctor instructed Xia De that he could set aside a special room in his home for alchemy, potion preparation, and herb cultivation.
Xia De planned to open up the floorboards on the first floor sometime later to see if there was space in the basement. That night, he and the orange cat Mia both had trouble sleeping due to the smell of the frog materials.
But at least he learned the spell. He applied three-quarters of the clear liquid from the ground material to his two legs, and the four frog skins were wrapped around his ankles and knees. He pricked the wrapped knees and ankles with a steel needle until they bled. In this injured state, he recited the incantation provided by Miss Louisa.
Xia De once again demonstrated his ability to "understand when listening and reading, but not when speaking or writing." After reciting those strange syllables, he understood that this was a method of witch-gu sacrifice, seeking the help of the killed frogs.
"Kill them and then ask for their help?"
Although he didn't understand this behavior, after enduring the nausea and urge to vomit, drinking the last quarter of the clear liquid, and continuously jumping while injured amidst dry heaves, he finally learned this sixth spell.
"Since you are me, can you complete these terrible studies for me?" he still had the presence of mind to ask in his mind, but the usual murmur of the woman in his ear did not appear this time.
Since he learned it, he had to try it out. Xia De cleared the furniture from the living room, leaving enough open space. While reciting the incantation, he kneaded the dried frog leg with his fingers. As the feeling of strength in his legs gradually became apparent, he seemed to see a cyan halo appear around his legs.
He casually tossed the frog leg away. As the spell was completed, he suddenly leaped upward, soaring into the air. After a 360-degree turn in the air, he landed steadily on both feet with a thud.
"Oh! This is truly amazing!" Xia De thought with a smile. The feeling of strength had not diminished, indicating that the spell's power would last for quite some time. Just as he was about to try again, he saw the orange cat lying on the sofa staring at him with wide eyes.
Then, Mia stood up on the sofa, tried to jump a few times slowly, and then suddenly leaped forcefully. The entire orange cat, mimicking Xia De's earlier movements, performed a pretty turn in the air and then fell onto the sofa.
The sofa was soft, and Mia hadn't jumped very high. So she struggled a bit and stood up, looking up to see Xia De watching her. She then turned her back to Xia De and lay down again, curling into an orange cat ball in the corner of the long sofa, seemingly determined to ignore Xia De.
"Hmm..."
Actually, having a cat at home brings enough joy to offset the cost of cat food and daily care. At least, seeing the money for high-end cat food on the coffee table, while Xia De would be happy, he wouldn't experience this kind of heartfelt joy.
Of course, there were unhappy things that night too. The smell of the frog skin and clear liquid didn't completely disappear until the next morning. And the taste in his mouth, Xia De suspected he would remember for a lifetime.