Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 19 Three Months and the Arrival of the Wizard Ship (4500)

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the dormitory at Aurelian Academy, Locke cleaned up everything in his room, moved out of the dormitory, and stored the extra items in the family manor house where the Augustin family now resides.

During these three months, with Professor Alder's help, Locke learned the spell "Skull Explosion" on the third day of the final period.

To practice [Skull Explosion], you don't need to kill a person; you only need to kill some livestock and use the resulting death energy.

Although the accelerated learning has made some mistakes, these can be corrected through practice on the wizard ship.

So, it doesn't really matter.

After completing the second trick, Locke felt his mental strength increase by at least 30% again. However, because there were no magical resources on Corfu Island specifically for testing mental strength, Locke did not know the exact value of his current mental strength.

At the villa where the Augustin family is currently residing, Count Augustin and Gloria held a farewell banquet for Locke, and even invited many prominent families from the surrounding area under the pretext that Locke was going on a long trip.

Of course, these people only knew that Locke was going on a long journey. They thought he was going to travel from one kingdom to another, but they didn't realize that the so-called long journey meant leaving the continent of Corfu and heading to a wider world.

Sienna Brown and her daughter went to great lengths to ingratiate themselves with Locke at the banquet, knowing that Locke now held the highest position in the family.

She wanted to get Locke closer to her daughter, but Locke was always indifferent.

Gloria hugged Locke tightly, then whispered in his ear, "Brother, if you ever see Mother again, please say hello for me."

"No matter what lies ahead, our family will always be your warmest harbor."

"Remember to go home and visit, don't end up like your mother and sister...our dear sister, who never came back."

Locke nodded slightly. The past few months had deepened his bond with the family.

Count Augustine walked over and patted Locke on the shoulder. "You've grown up, so I'm at ease letting you go."

"You don't need to worry about family matters."

"Because of you, the Frankish emperor returned the Count of Augustine to us, restored our titles, and even betrothed a princess to your elder brother, Goria."

Count Augustine's lips curled into a mocking smile as he glanced at the nobles and dignitaries at the banquet. "These people always have the most sensitive ears, which is why they're all rushing to curry favor with us."

Locke then asked one more question. "A marriage to a princess? The Frankish emperor is quite generous. Father, have you agreed?"

Count Augustine and Gloria exchanged a smile, and the count said, "Why not? Your elder brother has met that delicate princess and is very satisfied."

"For the sake of the family, it would be of great benefit to our family if the future Count Augustine could marry a princess of the Frankish Empire."

“Of course,” Count Augustine said in a low voice. “It’s all because of you. If you’re well, then we’re all well.”

"The person the Frankish emperor truly wants to please is you."

"But I just want you to be safe, Locke."

Locke nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart. At least in this strange, alien world, there were still some family members who cared about him.

He now feels a greater sense of identification with the Augustinian family.

Locke said, "I will take good care of myself."

"In the future, if I have the opportunity, I will return from the wizarding world and come to Corfu again."

"If a family produces a wizard, the chances of their descendants having wizarding potential will greatly increase, and perhaps the elder brother's offspring will also be able to enter the wizarding world in the future."

"Of course, this is just one possibility."

Goreia's eyes lit up. Lately, he had indeed envied his younger brother.

I envy him for being able to become a wizard.

It's a pity he didn't have the aptitude for wizardry, but it would be good if his descendants did.

Now he understood: the so-called wizards were figures even the emperor of the Frankish Empire, which was about to unify the Corfu continent, had to curry favor with.

Locke said briefly, "Alright, it's time. I'm leaving."

Locke bid farewell to his family and boarded the carriage arranged by Aurelian Academy downstairs, heading to the docks outside the city.

Dean Tungus and the others were already waiting there.

Today is the day the wizard ship arrives, and also the day he officially enters the wizarding world.

At the dock, Aurelian Academy had already arranged for soldiers to seal it off, so there were very few people there at the moment.

Only Dean Tunguska, Professor Old, Patty and Cord, and their respective families.

Because they need to leave Corfu by boat, and without the resources of a formal wizard, it is impossible to cross the Endless Mystic Sea and return to Corfu, the academy has sent someone to invite their families here to say goodbye.

Kord's family were all serfs of a lord, but it is said that they have now been granted commoner status by the emperor of the Frankish Empire and given a large amount of wealth, making them moderately wealthy.

Similarly, Patty's family went from being merchants to becoming minor lords.

When Locke arrived, he nodded to Codd and Patty, and then walked toward Dean Tunguska and Professor Ald.

Professor Olde's eyes flickered, but he said nothing, simply standing silently and calmly watching Locke.

He knew in his heart that for others, there might be another chance to see Locke in this lifetime, but for him, this was goodbye forever.

Suddenly, a strong wind swept across the dock, whipping up sand and dust. In the distance, on the hazy ocean, a huge shadow appeared, tearing through the sea and sky as it approached the dock of Corfu.

Full of oppression.

It was like a small mountain pressing down on the dock.

Compared to this, the ordinary boats docked at the pier were like the difference between a primitive wooden boat and an aircraft carrier.

Locke felt an immense pressure looming over him for some reason, but it seemed to be more than just psychological. He soon discovered that even his body was reacting; his knees ached and his eyes felt hot.

Locke noticed that Patty and Codd were even more exhausted, with sweat beading on their foreheads, clearly under immense pressure.

Their family members, in particular, showed signs of being unable to stand steadily.

Dean Tungus looked at the three of them and said, "It's alright. This is probably your first time facing demonic pressure. You'll be fine after a rest."

“If an ordinary person were to stay under such high magical pressure for a long time, they might suffer permanent damage. But you are all third-level wizard apprentices, or close to the level of third-level wizards, so you just need to take a nap and you will probably be able to adapt.”

"After all, it is rare to find such a high level of magical pressure in the natural environment."

Locke asked, "Teacher Tunguska, what is magic pressure? It wasn't mentioned in the book you gave me."

Dean Tungus was taken aback when he saw that Locke could still speak, and then said, "Locke, once you're on that ship, you'll soon know what demonic pressure is."

"I... have nothing more to teach you."

"You will have to walk your own path in the future."

"Once you're on the wizard ship, listen to the wizards on board and never do anything that violates the rules or provokes anyone." "The wizarding world is different from the small world on Corfu. It's more of a survival-of-the-fittest place, but it's also full of possibilities."

“All three of you are my students and friends. Now that you’re on the wizard ship, you must learn to take care of each other.”

Dean Tungus bowed slightly to the three of them. "I hope that when I see you again, one of you will be a fully-fledged wizard."

"Only by becoming official wizards will you have enough resources to return to your hometown; otherwise, it will be very difficult for you to come back."

Dean Tungus said, "We will do our best to take care of your families. Don't worry, with your connections, their lives on Corfu will be absolutely worry-free."

"The Tungus family in the wizarding world will know that you are my students, and perhaps they can offer you some assistance."

"Go on, my students."

A huge ship docked at the pier. It was still a wooden boat, but its size was like that of a giant cruise ship.

Its overall shape resembles a three-masted ship, but Locke believed that its propulsion was definitely not wind power.

Such a large ship could not possibly be propelled by the wind.

On the wooden boat, some planks floated down, forming an openwork staircase in mid-air, layer upon layer, step upon step.

It extends down from the deck of the tall wizard ship.

Dean Tungus quickly raised the files about Locke and the other two, and the three files flew automatically toward the wizard ship.

Ten seconds later, a detached voice came from the wizard ship: "On Island 31, there are three potential wizards. Two are third-level wizard apprentices, and one is an ordinary person."

"Locke Augustine, Patty Isa, Cord Newman, board the wizard ship within one minute."

"Reward each of the second-class wizard apprentices, Zach Tungus and Anlu Ald, with 15 contribution points."

Dean Tungus and Professor Olde showed a hint of joy on their faces.

The contribution points from these schools of thought are even more valuable than magic stones, which is the main reason why they traveled thousands of miles to this barren land.

These contributions will eventually be used by their respective families, becoming the cornerstone of their clans.

But they were still saddened, because all the apprentices they had trained for many years were about to leave Corfu, and for a long time to come, the Academy of Orleans would be left with only the two of them.

It may take several years, or even more than a decade, for the next qualified wizard to enter the academy.

As Locke stepped onto the floating wooden staircase, Dean Tunguska suddenly called out, "Wizards, I have been away from my family for many years, and I miss them terribly. I wish to write a letter to my family; could you please help me send it?"

"This is just a request from an old man who has been away from his hometown for many years..."

A detached voice came from the wizarding ship. "Zak Tunguska, a second-class wizarding apprentice, just do your job. Coming to the Wildlands to find wizarding talents for the school was something you voluntarily signed the contract for."

We don't owe you anything.

Dean Tungus sighed. Although he had expected it, he still found it hard to accept such a ruthless rejection.

He took a deep breath; he should have expected things to turn out this way.

He had been respected on Corfu for many years and seemed to have begun to forget the ruthlessness and indifference of the wizarding world.

Locke glanced back at Dean Tunguska, gaining a deeper understanding of the wizarding world.

A wizarding apprentice, who has been away from home for decades, is stationed on a low-magic desert island for the sake of his school, yet even his request to send a letter is ruthlessly rejected.

Locke remembered a term that Dean Tunguska always used—equivalent exchange.

Wizards in the wizarding world adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange, and rationality and ruthlessness are the norm there.

Dean Tungus couldn't afford to pay the wizards on the ship to send him letters, so his request was naturally rejected immediately.

Locke was the last apprentice to step onto the deck of the wizard ship. After he boarded, the floating wooden staircase behind him automatically disintegrated piece by piece and flew back to the wizard ship.

Locke turned to look at Corfu. By then, the wizard ship had already started moving, so he saw Corfu rapidly moving away from him, getting smaller and blurrier.

He also saw Professor Old, who had remained silent, nod slightly to him, then turn and walk away quickly.

Locke stood on the deck, bowing slightly to the distant Corfu, a place now far away, in remembrance of his teachers…

Patty and Cord exclaimed in surprise, with Patty saying, "I never expected the wizard ship to be like this; it's not gloomy at all."

"What's going on with the sun...?"

Locke turned around, only to find that instead of the gray sky and sea along the Corfu coast, he was greeted by a clear blue sky, white clouds, a rainbow hanging in the sky, and a dazzling sun.

He looked up and down and found that the sky looked like this only when he stood on the wizard ship and looked up. If he stood on the edge of the wizard ship's deck and looked out at the distant ocean, he could still see the gray, endless, mysterious sea sky that never saw the sun.

In other words, there is an artificial sky above the wizard ship, and in that artificial sky there is an artificial sun.

The deck of the wizard's ship wasn't just bare planks; there were flower fields on the planks, with lush green grass, many grain crops, and also many beautiful flowers.

The environment on the deck is more like a beautiful garden with everything you could want.

Locke and the other two were extremely surprised.

"Hehe, hello there, you're quite surprised, aren't you? I was surprised too when I boarded the ship this morning." A young voice appeared behind Locke and the others.

Locke turned around and saw a teenager dressed in a white swordsman's uniform, carrying a silver cross sword.

This man was very handsome, with blond hair and a warm smile.

“My name is Raun Guerrero, and I come from the continent of Schleswig.”

"Before you boarded the ship, there were already about three groups of students boarding today."

"The wizard mentors here are different from those on our mainland. They don't like to talk to people much, so I think you may not know anything since you just boarded the ship. So let me introduce the current situation to you."

"This ship has an artificial weather system, which allows wizards to freely manipulate the weather and grow crops so that they can be self-sufficient."

Locke was surprised that someone would greet him as soon as he boarded the ship. He nodded to Raun Guerrero and said, "Raun, hello, I am Locke Augustine."

Led by Locke, Patty and Cohen also reluctantly greeted him.

However, the two were somewhat wary and didn't want to talk much with Raun Guerrero.

After chatting with Locke for a few moments, Laun said, "The wizard mentors on the ship have arrived. They will arrange accommodations for you."

"If you need anything, feel free to ask me for help. I'm leaving now."

Locke turned his head and saw three wizards dressed in black robes walking towards him in the distance. These wizards were clearly more powerful than Dean Tunguska and Professor Ald.

Patty and Cord became even more nervous in the face of the unfamiliar wizard.

(End of this chapter)