Fearing Locke might change his mind, Professor Alder shoved a material list and preparation process into his hands and left without looking back. “Come find me within the week. I’ll welcome you, dear Locke.”

Locke frowned at the black leather notebook, noticing blood-like stains on its cover. After a moment’s thought, he tucked it away and hurried to Dean Tongus’s office.

Alder’s deal was indeed tempting.

Mastering another spell and boosting his mental strength before boarding the wizard ship would be beneficial.

Moreover, with his dual primary elemental affinities, focusing solely on plant magic and neglecting dark magic would be a waste.

As a novice in the wizarding path, Locke decided to seek Dean Tongus’s advice.

This time, at Dean Tongus’s office, Patty was present, along with a roughly ten-year-old girl with twin ponytails, chatting and laughing with the dean.

All three turned to Locke as he knocked and entered. Dean Tongus’s face lit up with joy. “Locke, congratulations! You’ve become a third-class wizard apprentice.”

“Wonderful news.”

“I’ll host a banquet tonight to celebrate.”

Patty froze, then looked at Locke with envy. Her expression was complex. Locke was the last to join their society but the first to become a third-class wizard apprentice, a true wizard.

Thinking of her Level 2 talent compared to Locke’s Level 3, Patty sighed inwardly. In the wizarding world, the gap in talent was disheartening.

If the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 was this vast, what about Level 4 or 5?

How great the gap must be between her and those wizard prospects.

Patty said to Locke, “Congratulations, Locke.”

Locke nodded to her. “Patty, I believe you and Kode will soon become third-class wizard apprentices too. Keep it up.”

His words encouraged Patty, who nodded and rallied herself. “Yes, thank you.”

“That’s why I came to the dean for help. Teacher Tongus’s guidance on Scorching Spark has sped up my progress significantly.”

Dean Tongus directed his mental energy toward Locke, but Locke’s mana instinctively reacted, unable to fully deflect the dean’s power yet still protecting him.

Dean Tongus nodded. “On Corfu Island, we lack tools to precisely measure your mana.”

“Once you board the wizard ship, you’ll have ways to accurately gauge your current mental strength and mana.”

“Based on my experience, your mental strength is likely between 11 and 13 points, higher than most third-class wizard apprentices, and your mana is very pure.”

“This proves your hard work over these two years wasn’t wasted.”

“Your first plant magic spell has a high degree of completion, which explains your elevated mental strength.”

Dean Tongus smiled. “Honestly, your learning speed has exceeded my expectations.”

“If I didn’t know Corfu Island lacks magical resources to accelerate your growth, I’d think you used expensive and rare resources.”

Locke thought of the Deep Blue Jade but couldn’t explain how he acquired so many magical gems on low-magic Corfu Island, so he remained silent.

Dean Tongus gestured to the girl beside him. “By the way, Locke, I haven’t introduced her yet.”

The girl looked up at Locke curiously, her eyes gleaming with cunning, awe, and strong curiosity.

Locke said, “I was just about to ask, Teacher. Who is she?”

Patty smiled. “This is Teacher Tongus’s newly adopted daughter. Since you’ve been secluded completing your spell, we haven’t had a chance to tell you.”

Dean Tongus said, “Yes. You, Kode, and Patty will leave Corfu Island in three months, leaving me, an old man, on this remote island with no one familiar from my world by my side.”

“My students will all be gone.”

“That would be too lonely for an old man like me.”

“So, I adopted a daughter.”

“This way, I’ll have a sense of home here.”

Dean Tongus smiled. “Yulian Frank is a lovely girl, the sixth princess of the Frankish Empire. Her father willingly gave her to me…”

“Yulian, greet Mr. Locke. He’s my most outstanding student.”

Yulian stepped forward from Dean Tongus’s side, slightly bending her knees and lifting the edges of her princess dress in a curtsey. “Brother Locke, please guide me in the future.”

Locke nodded to her indifferently, his expression neutral.

Clearly, despite being only about ten, Yulian Frank was not as naive or innocent as she appeared.

Her willingness to abandon her status as a princess of the Frankish Empire to become Dean Tongus’s daughter suggested ulterior motives.

But Dean Tongus had surely considered this, so if he said nothing, Locke had no reason to comment.

Seeing Locke’s lack of interest, Yulian’s eyes flashed with reluctance.

Before coming here, her biological father, the emperor of the Frankish Empire, had instructed her not to offend any wizard and to do her utmost to win the favor of all wizards here for her motherland’s sake.

Especially Dean Tongus.

So, upon seeing Locke, Yulian had hoped to capture his attention and foster goodwill toward the Frankish Empire.

Unfortunately, unlike Patty and Kode, Locke was completely uninterested.

This made Yulian feel a pang of worry, fearing she had earned his disfavor.

Yulian said with a hint of grievance, “Uncle Locke…”

Locke’s eyes flashed with impatience. He had come to consult Dean Tongus, not to chat with an overly self-aware little princess.

Dean Tongus coughed, rare sternness in his tone as he scolded Yulian. “Yulian, as the junior, how can you call Locke by his name? You should call him Uncle Augustine.”

“Now, Yulian, leave us.”

Dean Tongus could prioritize. To him, Yulian Frank was more like a pet than a daughter.

Locke, however, was his most outstanding student.

In the future, when Locke went to the wizarding world, he would be part of Tongus’s network, and his family might benefit from Locke’s support.

So, he wouldn’t let a pet cause any trouble for his prized student.

Yulian sensed the cold indifference in Dean Tongus’s words, the deep contempt of a wizard for a mortal, an uncrossable divide.

Trembling, Yulian curtsied to everyone in the office, apologized with a quivering voice, and quickly left.

Locke said to Dean Tongus, “Teacher Tongus, I’d like to ask what I need to do in the next three months.”

Dean Tongus thought for a moment and smiled. “Nothing else, really.”

“In such a short time, I can’t teach you a second spell.”

“And my focus will mostly be on Patty. She and Kode haven’t completed their first spell models yet.”

Dean Tongus’s subtext was clear: his main effort would go to Patty, while Kode was somewhat left to fend for himself.

After all, as long as someone had wizard talent, even if minimal, they could join a wizard organization, though the rank of that organization would vary.

With Kode’s Level 1 talent, the lowest, Dean Tongus had half-given up on improving his performance, letting him survive on his own. He decided to invest his final three months in Patty.

This couldn’t be blamed on Dean Tongus; the wizarding world was always this cold and pragmatic.

Locke nodded, noting the similarity to what Alder had said. He glanced at Patty and said carefully, “Alder wants me to help him make a potion. Teacher, this is the potion’s name.”

“Should I agree?”

Dean Tongus took the black notebook from Locke and glanced at it. “As I suspected, it’s Stone Crab Blood Essence Potion.”

“His lifespan is at its limit. Continuous use of necromantic life-borrowing rituals has prolonged his life but corrupted his mana, pushing his already frail body to the edge.”

“So, he wants to use the Stone Crab Blood Essence Potion to modify his bloodline, strengthening his human body with the blood of a magical creature from the wizarding world.”

Dean Tongus sighed. “His mana is too chaotic now, so he needs your help.”

“He’s violated countless academy rules, so he doesn’t trust me, fearing I’ll act against him to uphold those laws.”

“Honestly, I’ve been as lenient with him as I can. We’re all struggling, so unless absolutely necessary, I won’t take extreme measures.”

Locke asked, “If I successfully make the potion, can Alder extend his life?”

Dean Tongus shook his head. “Your first attempt has a very low success rate. Potion-making requires extremely stable mana, which demands talent and at least a decade of rigorous practice.”

“Unless you use expensive resources to forcibly stabilize mana fluctuations within a certain range.”

“Even if you get lucky and succeed, his outcome won’t be good.”

Dean Tongus explained, “This is essentially biological modification of his body, something a second-class wizard apprentice can do, but it typically takes decades and long-term planning. Otherwise, it’s easy to turn oneself into a monster or lose sanity.”

“He’s too hasty.”

“I’m not optimistic about him.”

Dean Tongus thought for a moment. “But he’ll likely offer you a generous reward, so you can take the deal.”

“Since he’s providing the materials, you won’t lose out. Even if you fail all attempts, you’ll gain valuable experience.”

Dean Tongus smiled. “Having potion-making experience before boarding the wizard ship could be a unique advantage.”

“You’re already leaning toward plant magic. If you also have potion-making experience, you might get lucky and catch the eye of a potion-focused wizard organization.”

Locke nodded thoughtfully.

Dean Tongus added, “On the flip side, Alder can’t do much to you anymore.”

“Though his mana is stronger and he knows more trick spells, giving him more options, he’s too old.”

“Even if he gets angry and tries something against you, he’s no match for you.”

“He’d only be asking for trouble.”

With Dean Tongus’s analysis, Locke resolved to accept the deal.

Locke glanced at Patty. “By the way, Dean Tongus, I have a private matter to discuss.”

Patty tactfully left the office.

Dean Tongus looked at Locke kindly. “Go ahead.”

Locke took out the black iron ring he’d received from Earl Augustine, the keepsake from the original Locke’s mother.

He hadn’t shown it earlier because he didn’t know what it represented.

But now, as a wizard apprentice with a deep mentor-student bond with Dean Tongus over two years, he felt ready to ask if the dean recognized the ring.

Dean Tongus took the ring, puzzled. “It looks like an ordinary ring. What’s this about?”

“Hm?”

Dean Tongus quickly sensed something unusual. When his mana touched the ring, it showed no reaction, as if insulated.

He realized the ring’s extraordinary nature.

Their mana was powerful enough that ordinary objects would react to it.

But this seemingly plain ring was far from simple. It was incredibly sturdy, almost entirely insulated from mana, like a mana insulator.

This meant the ring was exceptionally durable and hard to destroy.

After careful inspection, Dean Tongus returned the ring to Locke, his tone serious. “Locke, hide this ring well. Avoid showing it casually in the wizarding world.”

“This ring isn’t a magical item, but its material is highly unusual, likely Still Iron.”

“That’s a magical insulator, an extremely expensive material even for formal wizards. Of course, Still Iron has a narrow use, and this ring is too small to be used for anything significant, so it’s not that valuable.”

Dean Tongus added, “But to avoid trouble, keep it out of sight.”

“Your decision to ask Patty to leave was wise. This thing could be problematic.”

Dean Tongus poured two cups of tea for himself and Locke. “Where did the ring come from?”

Locke answered truthfully, “It might be from a relative.”

Dean Tongus nodded. “I don’t recognize the symbol on it. It could be an organization’s mark, a school’s emblem, or a wizard’s personal sigil.”

“It likely doesn’t originate from the southeast quadrant.”

“Keep it safe. I’ll keep it confidential. I’m stuck on Corfu Island anyway.”

Locke tucked the ring away, inwardly puzzled. Where was the original Locke’s mother from?

The material of her keepsake was so costly. Did this mean she was more than just a wizard apprentice?

Oh well.

Locke dismissed the cloud of doubt. It wasn’t his concern. He’d look into the ring’s origins later if he could.

If he found something, he’d give the Augustine family an answer. If not, it wasn’t his fault.