“Where is this?”
Upon awakening, Pearney immediately observed her surroundings and found herself in a simple bedroom. The air was dense with particles. She concentrated for a moment, recalling the events that had transpired before, and quickly checked her condition.
Aside from a heavy head, no unfortunate events had occurred, which eased her concerns considerably.
The most pressing issue was to figure out where she was.
“Hmm hmm.”
As she stepped out of the bedroom, a dusty moth flew towards her, signaling her to follow.
Pearney suppressed the doubts in her heart and trailed behind the moth. She walked through the house, which was bigger than she had anticipated, and entered a special room where she saw more insects and a familiar figure.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Ivan, it was you who brought me back,” Pearney completely relaxed, then she thought of something and looked around, “Where is that guy Toyennes?”
“Don’t worry, there’s no one named Toyennes in the world anymore.”
“Dead—it’s good that such a menace is dead, but it’s too easy on him.” Hearing that Toyennes was dead, Pearney couldn’t quell her hatred and vehemently cursed a few times.
“Heh, what, were you still thinking about becoming a sorcerer and finding trouble with Toyennes?” Ivan laughed.
“I was considering that,” Pearney nodded unabashedly. If she hadn’t been overpowered, she would have killed Toyennes back on Lahr Island, “By the way, is this your academy?”
“Toyennes’s death must be kept secret.”
Ivan had no plans to report to the academy to avoid complications. Toyennes had died in a strangely atmospheric place, and it would be difficult to investigate his death, so it might as well be forgotten.
“Ok.”
“As you guessed, this is Mongna Ant Land Cottage.”
“So, have you now become an official sorcerer?” Pearney had already noticed the sorcerer robe on him, but she was somewhat in disbelief.
“Otherwise, how could I have kept you alive, how could I have brought you inside the Mongna Ant Land Academy?” Ivan said, as the sorcerer’s academy was not somewhere one could enter at will. Apprentices had no right to bring outsiders in, especially when the outsider was an apprentice from another academy.
Mongna Ant Land Cottage and Lierre Songster Sanctuary were both members of the Flash Vortex Alliance, but the Flash Vortex Academy Alliance was a loose alliance. Today, only matters involving the “Power of Flash Vortex” could make the four academies advance and retreat together.
Hearing his affirmative reply, a shock of surprise flashed through Pearney’s eyes, and her emotions became complex for a moment.
At their last meeting, after realizing the gap between them, she had silently resolved to catch up. She had not expected that upon meeting again, he had already become a sorcerer.
The speed of his progress was simply unattainable for her.
Thinking that if he were not an official sorcerer, they might have scarcely escaped Toyennes’s clutches this time, Pearney felt quite relieved and gratefully said:
“Thank you, Ivan—Sorcerer.”
“No need to be polite, it was just a hand-off.”
“It may have been just a hand-off for you, but for me, it was my only life.” Pearney didn’t like this saying; it seemed to devalue her life. “Hmph! Consider it a favor I owe you, which I will repay sooner or later.”
“As you wish.”
Ivan didn’t really care.
He was currently in a silkworm house specifically used to house rapid wood silkworms, which contained large quantities of their preferred mulberry wood cabinets, mulberry wood pieces, mulberry wood shelves, and some Green Mulberry Water.
As a sorcerer, he had the authority to post tasks in the grand hall. He had registered a task requiring mulberry wood, and a large batch had been delivered the same day, with more than one variety of mulberry wood, which was very convenient.
If he had a dedicated Shadow Ant servant, it would have been even more convenient without him having to appear himself.
Now, two silkworm cocoons hung on the mulberry wood shelf in front of him; one the size of a fist, and the other the size of a head, both transformations of the rapid wood silkworms affected by unusual events. Find exclusive stories on empire
Under the stimulation of newly introduced energy, the two rapid wood silkworms had entered a state of metamorphosis shortly after their return. The cocoons they produced were larger than the first ones.
Especially the rapid wood silkworm that had absorbed Toyennes’s power, which had produced a cocoon many times larger.
He also noticed that both cocoons were growing at different rates, which indicated that the metamorphosed rapid wood silkworms would change in size. Thinking of Randall’s words about mortality rates during metamorphosis, he couldn’t help but worry a little.
“Sorcerer Ivan, do you also rear insects?” Pearney, observing the insects around, asked curiously.
“I am a genuine Insect Control Master.”
“Aren’t you a Potion Master and an Enchanter too?”
Pearney remembered that he was originally a Potion Master and he had said he had joined the Enchantment Group. How had he become an Insect Control Master now?
“Yes, my mentor is one of the top Insect Control Masters on the Moon Pincer Peninsula, and as his proudest student, I’m obviously an Insect Control Master.” Ivan replied.
“What about time and energy?”
“I have strong learning capabilities and can support myself in multiple directions.”
“What about resources? That must cost a lot of resources, right?”
“You forgot, I am a Potion Master with decent skills, and ever since joining the academy, I have never run out of magic stones.”
Hearing such an obvious statement, Pearney was at a loss for words, her eyes reddening with envy. It seemed that apart from his innate 4th Class talent, she was utterly insignificant compared to him.
No wonder he had become an official sorcerer in such a short period of time.
While Pearney was lost in thought, Ivan casually handed her a Mental Power Recovery Potion.
“I’ve looked over your condition, and it’s not a big problem. Just rest for two or three days. This is a Mental Power Recovery Potion; it might be somewhat effective for your symptoms,” he said.
“As for the curse mark, I’m afraid I must disappoint you. It will grow back; currently, there’s no way to eradicate it.”
Pearney, without being polite, took the potion and put it in her pocket, then rolled up her sleeves and looked at the spot where the original mark had been. Indeed, a faint, familiar aura took root there.
What relieved her was that the ominous power of the curse had been sent away, leaving only that last trace.
“Do you think Toyennes’s words can be trusted? The transmission of curse power every five years, plus the remaining three years, and the matters of mutation and reproduction,” Pearney asked worriedly, thinking about some other issues.
“Given my understanding of Toyennes, there’s a high likelihood it’s true. Even if there’s a deviation, you should treat it as real, just like you said earlier. You only have one life, and you can’t afford to be careless,” replied Ivan.
After a dozen seconds, Pearney nodded helplessly.
Seeing Ivan’s unchanging expression, as if confident in dealing with the situation, she slightly opened her mouth but eventually didn’t ask more intimate questions.
The next day.
The two silkworm cocoons had obviously grown considerably, especially the one that had received Toyennes’s power, which had doubled in length on the original basis, turning into an ellipsoidal shape.
Compared to it, the other changed more gently.
“Don’t be so lazy these days. Keep a good watch on them, and inform me immediately if there’s any situation. Understood?” Ivan really worried for the first rapid wood silkworm.
According to Randall’s statement, the greater the change, the more perilous the transformation. The first one’s transformation seemed to be headed in an extreme direction; it was uncertain if it could survive.
“Mhm mhm.” The Silkworm Queen nodded its head, its confused look somewhat troubling.
Suddenly, Ivan felt that he must find an assistant quickly, and a Shadow Ant servant would be quite suitable.
Needing to recuperate, Pearney stayed temporarily at the Twin Towers. She also took walks around the tower to see the different scenery of Mongna Ant Land Cottage compared to Lierre Songster Sanctuary.
That night.
Moonlight fell from the ant land barrier, carrying a magnificent purple tint, also illuminating the Twin Towers.
In the meditation room and hearing a faint tapping outside, Ivan waved his hand, and the door slowly opened.
“What’s the matter?”
“Come here for a moment.”
Following Pearney, they went to her temporary bedroom.
Pearney turned back to close the bedroom door, her apprentice robe falling to reveal her delicate and charming physique, along with her emerald-green hair, exuding a youthful and captivating aura.
“Not bad, Miss Pearney,” Ivan glanced and nodded approvingly.
“Hmph! Don’t act like you don’t understand,” Pearney glared at him with a flirtatious look and forced calm, “I don’t like being indebted to others. You progress so quickly, I suppose it’s hard to catch up. I’ve decided, this is how I’ll repay you.”
“Are you serious?” Ivan looked at her with a hint of confusion.
“It’s already like this, how could it be false? Ever since I embarked on the path of a sorceress, I never planned to marry anyone. However, everyone needs a companion. Miss thinks you’re not bad and has taken a fancy to you. What about you? Now that you’re a sorcerer, you won’t look down on me, an apprentice, right?”
Pearney approached step by step, her eyes swarming with enduring affection.
“You also aren’t bad; the sorcerer fancies you too,” Ivan responded, drawing her closer and leaning in.
Actually, sorcerers were never a conservative group, especially after becoming official sorcerers.
According to common characteristics, the higher the level of life, the more difficult it is for the species to reproduce. Sorcerers are no exception. With their power and lifespan changes, sorcerers seldom strictly adhere to marrying and having children.
In the eyes of many sorcerers, love is less reliable than knowledge, and a marriage isn’t as binding as a contract.
Not to mention male sorcerers seeking lovers, many sorceresses also keep consorts, not only from the Human Clan. Mongna Ant Land Cottage has some such sorceresses.
Ivan was not a sorcerer who followed the norms either.
After making this decision, Pearney stayed a few more days at Mongna Ant Land Cottage, mingling with Ivan.
A week passed, and Pearney decided to return to Lierre Songster Sanctuary. Seeing her determined to leave, Ivan didn’t overly insist on her staying.
“In a few days, I plan to make a trip back to Tidal Island,” he said.
“What are you going back for? Indeed, having become a sorcerer, it makes sense to go back once.”
“Not just to visit relatives. I need the Breathing Method of Legendary Class Knight, and I plan to go look for it there.”
“Take a letter to my uncle for me,” she said.
That day, Ivan saw Pearney off on the ship heading to Rainbow Tide River where she could return to Lierre Songster Sanctuary via a detour.
Shortly after Pearney left the Twin Towers, the transformation of the two rapid wood silkworms reached its final moments, forcing Ivan to pay even closer attention to their changes.