Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 283 Entering the Forbidden Forest
In room number 31, Christine cast a plant spell—a soundproofing spell—that caused small wildflowers to sprout on the floor, effectively blocking out sound.

She gave Locke a wry smile. "Locke, you're about to become a full-fledged wizard, aren't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't need to buy so many breakthrough resources. You really have a lot of magic stones."

Christine gave Locke a reassuring look. "It's alright, senior, I'll shield you from some of the view for now."

Christine gave a wry smile as she pondered how to provide a reasonable explanation to the outside world.

Locke said to Christine, "Thank you, senior. I don't want too many people to know that I'm about to become a formal wizard."

"Thank you so much for helping me this time. If we hadn't been in a private room, I would never have been able to hide my identity."

Christine nodded slightly. "It's nothing, really, it's just a small favor."

“If you can break through and become a formal wizard, Professor Harlan Vera will be very happy.”

Christine immediately realized that, based on her understanding of Locke's talent and the amount of magical resources he had purchased, it was almost certain that Locke would break through to become a formal wizard.

Of course, only someone who could obtain resources comparable to those of a formal wizard during his apprenticeship could have such a feat.

That's their own skill.

Putting everything else aside, the potions and special magical resources Locke purchased would cause a wizard with insufficient physique to explode and die even if they only consumed a third of them.

If Locke can truly absorb all these magical resources, then in a way, his talent is truly astonishing.

However, if she helped Locke during his apprenticeship and he became a formal wizard, then she would have gained the favor of a formal wizard at a very low cost.

This was entirely beneficial for Christine, so she was slightly pleased and assured Locke that she would deceive all the formal wizards who tried to inquire.

Locke put all the resources he won into his astral ring, and then, when the auction ended, he followed the Green Witch Christine, disguised as her apprentice, and they sneaked out together.

After the auction ends, there is a blind potion guessing game where you have to guess the type of potion. Some wizards stay here to watch the game, so the crowd is quite chaotic, making it easier to sneak in and take advantage of the confusion.

Locke wasn't particularly interested in this kind of exhibition-style competition.

Locke returned to his residence and glanced at the alchemy hut where Sophia had originally lived. Now, only the bare ground remained, and he lived alone nearby.

Locke had some strange feelings in his heart.

He exhaled a breath of stale air and began preparing to head to the Forbidden Forest. Thanks to his previous experience, his application to enter the secret realm was approved very easily.

Almost on the third day, Locke became the team leader of the Forbidden Forest Secret Realm, in charge of leading the five first-class wizard apprentices from Lilith's Hut into the Forbidden Forest Secret Realm.

Even Harlan Vera didn't realize that Locke was going to the Forbidden Forest with the intention of breaking through to become a formal wizard.

Harlan Vera assumed that Locke, like his previous visits to the Wizarding Realm, was simply there to acquire magical resources and fragments of memory echoes.

Harlan Vera, along with Locke and five other first-class wizard apprentices, arrived at the entrance to the Forbidden Forest.

The entrance to the Forbidden Forest is located in a grove of trees north of Lilith's Cottage, the port city. The Forbidden Forest is a unique geographical feature of the Southeastern Region, stretching east to west and covering an extremely vast area.

If the southeastern corner region is merely the shoreline of a pond, then the Forbidden Forest is the dense forest that runs through that shoreline. Countless powers are hidden within it, and it is protected by a mysterious force.

As a result, for so many years, the wizards of the southeastern corner region have not been able to conquer this highest-level wizarding secret realm, and can only wander around its perimeter. Harun Vera pointed to a deep forest ahead and said, "This is the safe entrance to the Forbidden Forest in the direction of Lilith's Hut, Mistilen Road."

"This place is protected by the power of the Mysterian magic, so it is relatively safe. No dangerous magical creatures will escape from here, and no treants hiding here will suddenly attack any wizards who enter."

"You can enter the Forbidden Forest through the Mistlin Trail."

Harlan Vera said to Locke, "The Forbidden Forest is a special place. It's a public secret realm, so you might encounter students from other wizarding organizations there. Of course, as long as you stay within our designated area, you will absolutely not encounter anyone with magic power that has broken through to the apprentice level."

"The first headmaster of Lilith's Hut, Myster's magic will continue to protect you."

“Locke, the Forbidden Forest is a very special secret realm. Once you die in it, you are truly dead. This is not the Echoing World. As the team leader, you must do your best to represent the academy and protect these five wizards.”

Harlan Vera explained, "You are the best among them."

Locke nodded: "Yes, teacher."

According to the academy's rules, as the team leader, I have certain authority to command these wizards.

Harlan Vera said, "Yes, I've always trusted you to get things done."

“There are some magical materials in the Forbidden Forest that are perfect for making potions. You can gather some and bring them back. Once you return, I plan to formally begin teaching you life field magic. By simulating the inscription of a life field, I can increase your chances of successfully becoming a formal wizard,” Harun Vera said.

Locke nodded.

Harlan Vera laughed, "You're much less troublesome for me than Angron."

Locke pointed to the green barrier behind Mistlin Drive and asked, "Professor Harlan, is that the large life force field barrier of Lilith's Hut?"

Harlan Vera looked up at the distance Locke was pointing to, nodded slightly, and said, "That's right. The large barrier around Lilith's cabin, the life field, can stimulate the life force of magical plants and trees, forming an invisible barrier that resists external magical forces."

"It has now been activated routinely due to the necessity of responding to war."

"Because we can borrow the magic of the Magic Sunflower Hanging Garden, we don't need to spend too many magic stones. With this barrier, the black wizard and his group cannot enter Lilith's Hut."

Harlan Vera said, "So the Academy can confidently send formal wizards into their heartland to launch an attack on them."

"This gives us a huge advantage."

Ultimately, in a total war, the outcome is no longer determined by individual strength, but by the combined strength of both sides.

Harlan Vera said to Locke, "However, your First-Class Wizard Apprentice Academy badges allow you to freely enter and exit this barrier. Similarly, the Wizard Seed badges you wear allow you to enter and exit the barrier even more easily."

"That way, it won't cause you any inconvenience."

“Alright, time’s up. You can go in now.” Harlan Vera turned to look at the five students, his smile vanishing, replaced by an extremely serious expression. “The Forbidden Forest is very dangerous. You’d better follow Locke’s instructions.”

All five students lowered their heads in agreement, avoiding direct eye contact with Harun Vera.

(End of this chapter)