That day, Ivan had just returned to his own Twin Towers after a trip to the three-story round tower.
He had recently spoken with his mentor about the matters of the academy, and indeed Randall was quite knowledgeable about them.
However, like most sorcerers, he believed that the Three Great Families had significant influence and didn’t think that the Hunting Team had the ability to oppose them. He also didn’t want the academy to face any major upheavals, so he chose not to get involved.
At this moment, Ivan’s thoughts were certainly the same as his mentor’s. He also didn’t want to get overly involved, and instead wanted to focus on enhancing his own strength. Without strength, all else was in vain.
“What’s the matter? You look distracted. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of returning to Tidal Island.” As he entered the living room, he saw Justine staring blankly.
“No, wherever you are, that’s where my home is. I don’t miss Tidal Island at all,” said Justine with a shake of her head, speaking playfully.
“Haha, once you become an official sorcerer, you’ll have the chance to go back,” Ivan laughed. He didn’t believe her words though; Justine probably missed Madam Selina.
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“Do I really have a chance to become an official sorcerer with a 2nd Class talent?” Something stirred in Justine’s heart, but then she became somewhat despondent. She had been at the academy for some time, and had gotten to know Gina, who had told her many things.
Among them, there were many examples of apprentices who had failed to advance to official sorcerers, even one with a 5th Class talent.
“With me here, there will be a chance,” Ivan said with conviction.
It wasn’t just an attempt to comfort Justine. He always felt that there was great potential to tap into with the Black Magic Wind Array. With further research, he believed he could give Justine an opportunity to become a Level 1 Sorcerer.
However, he guessed that Justine’s limit was probably being a Level 1 Sorcerer.
“You yourself need to work harder as well.”
“Is the Meditation Method ‘Ode to Spring Dew’ really safe to practice? Shouldn’t I wait until I’ve officially joined the Mongna Ant Land Cottage? I don’t want to become something strange due to the increased curse power.”
Justine believed his words, but she still had her worries.
“Since I have the origin of that Meditation Method in my hands, what are you worried about? I think you’re just not ambitious enough. You should learn from Gina on this matter; at least she isn’t as lazy as you,” Ivan said with amusement as he looked at her. In terms of cultivation, Justine really lacked enthusiasm, far less than when she was concocting potions.
“That’s not true,” protested Justine unwillingly. Then, out of curiosity, she asked, “How did you come to have the origin of that Meditation Method?”
“I found it thanks to Toyennes,” Ivan replied openly, recounting how Toyennes had survived with the help of a magic pet, and how he had eventually come across the ‘Ode to Spring and Summer’.
When she heard that a large amount of curse power might appear every five years, Justine became anxious. Her face turned into a look of distress; Ivan had never mentioned this to her before.
“How much longer is there?”
“If that statement holds true, less than two and a half years remain. So you need to pull yourself together, gradually strengthen your power, or you might actually turn into something strange.”
“Alright,” Justine nodded forcefully, then said solemnly, “Ivan, can I ask you for a favor?”
“Speak,” Ivan looked at her curiously, it was rare to see her so serious.
“If, and I just mean if, if I turned into an ugly monster, remember—help me find peace. I definitely don’t want to turn out like that,” Justine said nervously and earnestly.
“Okay,” seeing her expression, Ivan nodded slightly, and added, “With me here, I won’t let that happen to you.”
To be honest, this thinking did not fit a sorcerer’s mindset. As someone on the path of sorcery, you should not fear any power, even curses. They should be controlled by research, not surrendered to.
With the ‘Ode to Spring and Summer’ Meditation Method in hand and a deeper exploration, he was confident that he could manage any potential situations.
“I know, I just mean in case it happens.”
“Let’s not talk about this anymore, I have something to show you.”
Then, Ivan led Justine to the protection chamber.
The chamber was sparsely furnished, with only a large stone dais resembling a stump and a metal pillar standing in the middle of the dais. Both the dais and the pillar were inscribed with numerous runes, dazzling to the eyes.
Just like the ‘Green Sea Calamity Array’ on the Alate, this runes sorcery array here was heavily encrypted, preventing any bits of comprehension.
“What are we doing here?”
“To summon a pair of Shadow Ant servants.”
Ivan placed several newly acquired materials around the array dais, the most conspicuous being an egg-like thing, black and lumpy. It had cost him 180 credits, and along with the other items, almost 200 credits.
A pair amounted to four hundred credits; the items used by sorcerers were exorbitantly expensive.
He gestured for Justine to step back a bit, then added some magic stones and element stones as energy sources to activate the array dais.
The runes lines came alive one after the other, flowing vividly.
“Gurgle, gurgle.”
In the next second, strands of unique energy were drawn down along the metal pillar, mixing with other energies into the black beast egg, which trembled slightly. Like a bubble, it swelled up, quickly exceeding one meter in diameter, forming what seemed to be a black light orb.
“Where is this special energy summoned from, exuding such a rich insect aura, much denser than that of the rapid wood silkworms, and much more ancient?”
“That’s right, the outer defensive barriers of the academy were transformed from the dwellings of the Tidal Flats Ant Beings. Before this, the Ant Beings lived here for an unknown period. Naturally, their constructed defensive barriers carry the scent of insects.”
“It seems that the Tidal Flats Ant Beings possess some ancient insect lineage.”
“The Meditation Method of the Black Beard Chapter couldn’t have been left by the Tidal Flats Ant Being, could it?”
Ivan thought of many things for a moment, realizing that the Mongna Ant Land Cottage itself was an object worth studying; it was a pity it wasn’t his turn to research it.
Soon, the runes lines dimmed.
The light sphere cracked, and two small creatures leaped out. They had tiny insect antennae on their heads, and their entire bodies looked like solidified black ink. Their height was around one meter fifty, and they were genderless.
They were Shadow Ant servants, a kind of element creature born with a certain level of intelligence, designated by the academy as exclusive servants for easy movement within the institution.
“Greetings, Master.”
“Mm, from now on, you will be Mulberry One, and you are Mulberry Two.”
Ivan extended his finger, touched the forehead of one of the Shadow Ant servants, and branded it with his mark, transferring to it some basic information to acquaint it with the Twin Towers.
Then it was the turn of the other Shadow Ant servant.
“Greetings to Sorcerer Ivan, greetings to Madam Justine.” After comprehending the information in its mind, the Shadow Ant servant respectfully greeted them once more.
“If you ever need anything, just command these two,” Ivan said.
“Okay.”
Ivan tested them a bit and found that, although the material used to shape the Shadow Ant servants was expensive, it was indeed worth it; they could do all sorts of menial tasks, consumed little, and didn’t require wages.
According to the academy regulations, he was entitled to summon a team, which meant ten Shadow Ant servants, but he would need to accumulate enough credits first.
A new day.
Ivan followed another Shadow Ant servant to the Vice Dean’s office.
“Hello, Sorcerer Ivan. Vice Dean Lidia is waiting for you inside.”
“I am aware.”
He nodded to the young maid outside, then knocked on the office door and, hearing a voice from within, pushed the door open and walked in.
Besides Vice Dean Lidia in the office, there were also two sorcerers present, both part of the academy’s upper echelon. The middle-aged man sitting on the left was another Vice Dean—Victor Steele; and the middle-aged woman on the right was the chief steward of the Talent Nurturing Team—Ove Watkin.
After recognizing the other two individuals, Ivan couldn’t help but feel a sense of heaviness in his heart; such an assembly usually spelled trouble.
Nevertheless, he greeted all three of them.
“My apologies, Sorcerer Ivan; I forgot to inform you that two other sorcerers would be present,” Teresa said, gesturing with her hand as the office door slowly closed.
“Vice Dean Lidia, might I have come at a bad time?” Ivan’s thoughts whirled, considering what they might want from him, and he soon had a suspicion.
“No, we’re here specifically to wait for you, Sorcerer Ivan,”” Sorcerer Ove spoke.
“Indeed,” Victor added.
“Then I am truly flattered to receive such attention as a junior sorcerer.” Thinking of the academy’s certain regulations and the basic principles that sorcerers adhered to, Ivan felt more confident.
“May I know the reason for which the leaders are seeking me out? Please, speak freely.”
Victor looked at the other two before slowly asking, “I’ve heard that you comprehended a special runes sorcery array at the Kanda magic stone mine, is that so?”
As expected, Ivan replied without showing his thoughts:
“Not entirely; I only roughly grasped some elements at the Kanda magic stone mine. After returning to the academy and using the related Raw Stone Array Disc, I gradually perfected it. I’ve named it the ‘Black Magic Wind Array.’ The Black Magic Wind Array has currently only reached the level of a runes bundle array and is still some distance away from becoming a full sorcery array.
Unexpectedly, Vice Dean Steele knew about it as well. It seems my sense of confidentiality needs to be strengthened. I really should learn more from the three sorcerers.”
On hearing this, Teresa’s eyes flickered, aware that he was alluding to a lack of secrecy in her household, but she pretended not to grasp the implication.
“Exactly, the Black Magic Wind Array—quite an impressive achievement. You must be well aware of its effects; it is no exaggeration to say that it could play a significant role in strengthening our Mongna Ant Land Cottage,” continued Victor.
The other two nodded in agreement, looking at Ivan with admiration.
Ivan said, “That’s my honor. If the academy requires it, I’m willing to set forth my efforts to create it. I am but a junior under Vice Dean Lidia, and it’s my duty to create Enchantment items for the academy.”
Teresa smiled, “Well said, creating enchanted items for the academy indeed falls under the responsibilities of our Enchantment Group.”
“Sorcerer Ivan, I’ll be blunt,” Victor continued, “would you be willing to provide the academy with the blueprint for the array, contributing to the academy’s strength?”
The audacity to ask so blatantly even knowing it’s presumptuous!
Ivan derided inwardly, having made it clear he was only willing to create the array for the academy, even if an exchange was to be made, they should at least show some sincerity.
Contribution?
Do sorcerers need this kind of thing?
Seems like the Three Great Families have gotten too accustomed to throwing their weight around, forgetting the very principles that sorcerers live by.