Warlock of the Magus World – Redux

[A level 1 acolyte is someone with a stronger Spiritual Force than an average person's. At the same time, he can move mana particles and store them inside his body. However, he is incapable of conceptualizing the creation of magic power. Only a level 2 acolyte will be able to access a magic spell's formula and cast the spell in its complete form.] -Recited the A.I., as Leylin pondered on his next course of action.

'Moreover, we also know that level 1 acolytes and higher are capable not only of resisting the negative effects of mana radiation, but they even draw spiritual energy from it. Thus enhancing their ability to store more mana inside their bodies which results in a never-ending cycle... There's no use beating around the bush any longer. I must reach the first level of an acolyte's expertise within the next month. I can't move my timetables back any further...' -Leylin stared intensely at his hands as he curled them into fists.

He was feeling his need to grow stronger pulsing through his veins.

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In the next two weeks, Leylin would report to work at Kroft's laboratory every day. He would assist in the cleaning of the experiment lab, and sort out a few insignificant experiment resources.

In this period, he had seen Kroft's genius apprentice Merlin, who was also his senior. Merlin was extremely tall and had a very taciturn personality. He was constantly immersed in his experiments. Besides Kroft, his interactions with Bicky and Leylin were minimal.

Whenever Leylin wasn't at the lab, he spent his daytime letting Aralis record and break down everything from the free public lessons.

The free lessons in Abyssal Bone Forest Academy were not that plentiful, and they only consisted of things like the history of Magi, the ancient Byron language, basic Potioneering, essential magic spell theory, etc.

Since they often attended classes together, Leylin's friendship with his room neighbor Bill had gotten more substantial as the days went by. As for Kaliweir and the others, because they had been designated to various mentors and their rooms were not close, they barely ever saw each other. Still, it was not a lost cause and they were always friendly when they occasionally crossed paths with Leylin.

"Hey, Leylin! Could you tutor me in anatomy after classes? I want to major in it, but I could not attend yesterday's final lesson..." -Bill made up his mind to ask his friend for help.

"No problem. I'll see you at the Dining Hall at seven o'clock." -Leylin gently said, as he nodded his head.

"I'll be there! Thanks a lot!" -The boy with brown hair beamed at Leylin's reply.

The information of the few paid lessons in the academy was not allowed to be traded in private. With the public lessons, nevertheless, there were no such restrictions. Leylin had asked around, and it seemed that the higher level acolytes did not think much of the measly wages one could get from tutoring, whilst the lower level acolytes did not have much confidence to teach and failed to meet the requirements. Hence, this benefitted him greatly.

'Potioneering Masters are rather rare amongst Magi, and a huge investment is needed to become one. However, after succeeding, one can make money at a terrifying pace... I have only studied here for half a month and I've already scored 2 magic crystals with my private lessons. Of course, Merlin can brew and sell a random potion and earn ten times that; but I'll eventually get there.'

[Why so cheery this evening, Doctor?] -Asked Aralis with a playful tone.

'If my calculations are accurate, I am about to become a level 1 acolyte. Not only will I be able to resist the mana radiation from the academy's buildings, but I will also be able to attempt basic potion brewing at last.' -Leylin was satisfied with his results so far.

He took off his robes and stretched a little. Forthwith, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began the meditation for the night.

The room quietened down, and only the faint sounds of Leylin's breathing could be heard. Leylin's chest moved with an undulating pattern and his expression was serene, with only some restless movements beneath his eyelids.

After about an hour, several black spots of light radiated from Leylin's forehead, just like fireflies. These light spots hovered around Leylin and then returned to his forehead again.

Once the black-colored spots of light entered Leylin's body, he felt his whole body shudder. The muscles on his face twitched, and large beads of sweat rolled down. Very soon, he went back to having a peaceful mood.

After some time, Leylin opened his eyes.

'There it is... I am a level 1 acolyte now. I could have advanced five days ago, but since I stopped to stabilize my Spiritual Force, it could not be helped. Although, this speed of half of a month is only slightly inferior to a regular fourth-grade acolyte, so it is fine.'

One reason for Leylin to prolong the date of his advancement was to let his Spiritual Force grow with a solid foundation, and another was to keep a low profile.

A regular third-grade acolyte must take around a month's time to turn into a level 1 acolyte after receiving the meditation technique. As for the half a month, that was the measure of a fourth-grade acolyte. Naturally, Leylin did not want to undergo any examinatioms caused by suspicions of his aptitude test having gone wrong.

Leylin stretched his hands, and a layer of black-colored light wrapped around his arm like a jacket's sleeve. It also felt cold, and the air around it chilled imperceptibly.

Leylin's face contained an expression that no fourteen-year-old should have. So sinister, that it could utterly freeze anyone's soul in an instant.

Five seconds later, the obscure energy retracted back to nothingness.

Leylin then snapped his fingers, and a layer of faint blue light lit upon his body, which made his clothes wet. Leylin's expression went back to normal, and then with another snap, a layer of red light shone. As his body was enveloped by the red light, water vapor emitted from his formerly-damp clothes.

Very soon the water was all evaporated, and the room quickly vented it out with a magic extractor formation that kept the oxygen flowing inside.

[This is similar to taking a shower. How convenient.]

Leylin rubbed his temples: 'I already meditated earlier, so now I can only sleep to replenish my Spiritual Force. My mana reserves are still too low with my current power, and I soon end up tired. But it is fine... I anticipate only steady progress from today onwards...'

He leisurely got inside his bedsheets and entered a profound sleep.

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The next morning, Leylin was filled with vigor as he got off the bed and headed to Professor Kroft's research lab.

"Oh? This energy movement... Could it be?" -The teacher in the white robe was startled, and immediately looked at Leylin who had walked in at that very moment: "Leylin, you have broken through! Congratulations!"

Leylin slighlty lowered his head in acknowledgement.

"It has only been twenty-odd days since you started meditating! It seems like your aptitude amongst the third-grade acolytes is outstanding, and it almost reaches that of the fourth-grade acolytes! I knew you had a bright future ahead when I accepted you as my apprentice." -Kroft smiled with gratification.

"I humbly thank you, Professor Kroft. If not for your guidance, I wouldn't have made it this far." -Leylin bowed deeply, as he lied through his teeth.

"Furthermore... I heard that you've been teaching other acolytes information from the public lessons that you've attended, for some extra magic crystals. It seems like your learning and memorizing abilities are rather outstanding. From what I see now, you have the capability to learn information of a higher tier."

"Then you already know what I intended to ask you for." -Leylin told cryptically.

Kroft nodded his head and moved the apparatus on his table aside. He then retrieved some strange items from a locked cupboard in the corner of the lab and placed them on the table.

There was a huge book with a yellow cover, a crystal ball, and a test tube filled with a yellowish liquid.

'Ah, the topic he is willing to instruct me in for free. These personalized teachings can cost up to 10 crystals per session. But here he is, in the disposition of letting me have it at no charge. Normally, it is the trashy professors who do that, but this one is actually competent and well respected... Excellent.'

[He absolutely is the Niceguy Teacher.]

"These three items represent my 3 areas of specialization: The book on the left represents the Neutralization of Energies, the crystal ball represents Medicine, and the test tube represents Potioneering. Now, make your choice." -Kroft delivered solemnly.

"I choose Potioneering."

"I knew you would choose this, hehehe." -The middle-aged Kroft showed a grin filled with pride.

'Only a fool would've chosen differently.' -Leylin mused.

"Potion brewing is extremely complex and one of the most difficult arcane arts to master. The slightest mistake will result in a failure. Every one of the Potioneering Masters that exist today has spent a vast amount of resources and effort to accumulate their experience... Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, sir. I believe am."

Kroft nodded and handed the yellow test tube to Leylin: "Then, this is yours now. Just drink from it directly."

Leylin opened the wooden plug and poured the yellowish liquid into his mouth.

An obnoxious sewer stench infiltrated his senses, and the smell lingered in his nose and Leylin's face turned red. He barely managed to swallow it as he gasped for air.

'Ugghhh for fuck's sake, what is this abomination made of?!' -An unimaginable stench constantly shocked Leylin's nerves, making him feel like he was close to fainting.

[Hahaha! Doctor, hang in there!] -Aralis took fun in her Master's situation.

Leylin looked at Kroft, and at this moment, the professor looked like a noodle, twisting and distorting. The professor's lips opened and closed and he spoke sporadically, which brought about a lot of noise. It sounded like the friction produced between two metals, or some broken radio with poor signal.

"How do you feel?" -Kroft's voice rang.

Leylin touched his head, the sensation bringing along some sense of reality. The surroundings quickly turned back to normal, and Kroft stood there with an amused bearing.

"I'll live..." -Large amounts of sweat trickled down from Leylin's head.

"The information has already been transferred into your brain. Do some light meditation after today's work and you'll be good to go."

At this moment, Leylin discovered a block of new data inside his brain.

'If such was the only price to pay in order to get this kind of privileged information, I'd pay it twice without blinking. Aralis, you know what to do. Classify and prepare this new knowledge for my review.' -Leylin thought with determination.

[I'm glad to see it did not take away your focus. You had me worried there for a moment, Doctor.]

'Somehow, I am not convinced.'

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"Goodbye, I'll see you tomorrow." -After saying goodbye to his seniors and mentor, Leylin did not go to the Academic Hall or the dorms as he tended to do once he was done at the lab.

Instead, he made for the Trading Post. What he noticed first was that no Magi could be found. As he expected, only acolytes would trade in this large and bustling area. People would repeatedly come and go, and there was not a single part of the hall without either a stall, a store, or acolytes hurriedly passing by.

'Consolidated Magi would most likely buy and sell their stuff one-on-one or in a more specialized trading center. This is nothing but a flea market for Magi wannabes. I shall make use of it, nonetheless.'

Leylin could see a variety of goods on sale, ranging from weapons, armor, and potions; to strange contraptions, parts of animals and monsters, and even some low-grade magic artifacts like the one Jayden had used on the dirigible.

But what the Farlier heir was here for was none of that merchandise. Rather, he was looking for what would enable him to continue progressing as a Magus in the future.

After searching for some minutes, he eventually came upon what he needed. He stopped at a stall that offered everything related to Potioneering. Alchemy sets, recipes, ingredients, and of course potions too.

'These must've come from Merlin...'

[How do you know they're not from Bicky or Kroft?]

'Bicky's product is too impure to be sold here. Kroft's is too high-quality. His potions are probably made on commission for true Magi clients.'

Leylin got close to an alchemy set that was labeled as the best the stall had to offer. It had everything one could ever need to brew a potion, except the ingredients. The materials of the set had been scanned by Aralis and she notified her Master that this was indeed worth his money.

"I'll take this alchemy set, an elementary strength potion recipe, and enough ingredients for 20 attempts." -Leylin confidently demanded.

The fatty with a worn-out grey acolyte robe who owned the place smiled dumbly, and then he said: "Haha! An assertive customer who knows what he wants AND doesn't need to ask for the price! I've been blessed, it seems."

"I am quite busy, so you can skip the pleasantries. Can you put them in a boxed package? I don't want the set getting damaged in transportation." -Leylin tapped his right index finger on his left bicep, as he had his arms crossed.

"Sure, sure! But... are you sure you can pay? No offense, but now that I've taken a closer look at you, you do kinda appear to be a newbie." -The fatty said as he scratched his neck.

[He thinks that because, unlike him, you actually wash your clothes. Maybe dirtiness is a requirement for advancing to level 3 acolyte.]

"I think I should take my business elsewhere." -Leylin turned around on his heel.

"Wait...! Don't make a decision you might regret. You have truly chosen wisely; this is probably the best alchemy set available in the entire Trading Post. I'll wrap it up immediately, and I'll even throw in an extra batch of ingredients. What d'ya say?" -The fatty smiled to reveal his lousy denture.

"Here. Four magic crystals." -Leylin put them on the stand.

"Four?! You gotta be kidding me! This is worth seven crystals at least! You're abusing me for my good faith!" -The vendor was irate and he slammed the counter of his stall, making the crystals jump and roll close to the edge.

"As you said, I know what I want; but I also know when something is unsatisfactory. Your ingredients are of sub-par quality and look to have been exposed to the elements for at least a week. Do you expect me to pay full price, considering the likelihood of a failed experiment is dramatically increased like this? Just take the money, give me the package, and be grateful that I decided to patronize your stall this first and last time." -Leylin told curtly, his expression remaining that of a statue as it had been since the beginning.

"Shit..." -The vendor muttered, as he took the crystals and gave Leylin what he had bought.

Without saying another word, Leylin took out the recipe from the box, had Aralis scan it, and he then burnt it to ashes in front of the fatty.

[You know he's gonna badmouth you to the other vendors, right?]

'I just ripped this sucker off by 2 crystals, and indeed bought the best set I could've possibly gotten my hands on. In subsequent transactions, I'll be a tame and happy customer to the other vendors, buying mostly recipes and ingredients. They won't be on alert if buy low-price supplies in bulk. Plus, that living bag of manure surely does not have a good reputation with his fellow merchants...'

[Don't tell me you chose his stall because you planned to screw him over in the first place.]

Leylin only scoffed, as he went back to his room.