Locke waited in Witch Sophia’s office for a full two hours before she finally had time to attend to him again.

But he didn’t feel slighted in the least.

After all, Sophia was a formal wizard. He doubted any of the other wizard prospects who had arrived in the southeast quadrant by ship had even glimpsed the hem of a formal wizard’s robe yet.

Still, those two hours weren’t wasted.

Though he couldn’t understand a single diagram in the scrolls Sophia was working on, at least he got a glimpse of just how complex First Circle potions could be.

Two and a half hours later, Witch Sophia picked up the five glass vials Locke had prepared using the Mana Centrifugal Extraction Technique to isolate specific bloodline essences.

“Hmm. You’re quite proficient.”

She studied him. “For a third-class wizard apprentice of your background, this could even be called exceptional.”

“Your mana fluctuations are far more stable than those of ordinary wizard prospects. That might be a unique talent, stable mana means you have a significant advantage in potion-making.”

“From now on, you’ll handle the simpler separation and extraction tasks in my lab.”

Locke glanced at his left hand. By consuming Deep Blue Jades, he could indeed keep his mana fluctuations unnaturally steady.

Sophia pondered for a moment. “In return, I’ll pay you three magic stones per day.”

“Does that sound acceptable?”

“Of course, Mentor. I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Locke had no idea what the standard pay for an assistant was, but he chose to trust Sophia.

She was a First Circle wizard, his mentor. She had no reason to cheat him.

Hell, even if she paid him nothing, what choice did he have?

The chance to work alongside a formal wizard in potion-making was something countless people would kill for.

The only reason he had this opportunity was that the academy had assigned him to Sophia, and he was her first student since her promotion to formal wizard.

Sophia nodded. “I calculated that rate based on what an outstanding second-class wizard apprentice assistant would earn.”

“I know things aren’t easy for you right now.”

“So, within the rules, I’ll do what I can to help.”

She tapped a parchment on her desk. “Also, I took the liberty of arranging a tuition loan for you. Sign this contract.”

“It’s for a thousand magic stones, repayable over fifty years at half a percent interest, exceptionally low. The standard rate for student loans is five percent.”

“This money can only be spent on tuition, so you won’t receive the stones directly. The academy will deduct it.”

“Otherwise, no one would lend such a sum to a third-class wizard apprentice like you.”

Locke frowned in confusion.

Sophia sighed. “Attending Lilith’s Cottage isn’t free.”

“As third-class apprentices, you don’t fully belong to the academy yet.”

“You’re essentially paying for the privilege of learning here. Only second-class apprentices are considered true members of Lilith’s Cottage.”

“So, you must pay 100 magic stones per year in tuition, plus fees for specialized courses. The 100-stone tuition is already heavily discounted, a single public class would normally cost over a hundred stones alone.”

“Consider it a five-year grace period the academy grants prospects.”

She adjusted her monocle. “Additionally, you must pay another 100 stones per year to your mentor for private instruction. That’s 1,000 stones over five years.”

“Most overseas prospects from poorer families take out academy loans to cover it.”

She eyed him. “Do you have magic stones, Locke?”

He shook his head immediately.

So that was how it worked.

He’d assumed Lilith’s Cottage was providing free education.

But of course, the academy wasn’t a charity.

And even these terms were a steep discount.

Sophia pushed the contract toward him. “Then sign.”

“This is the lowest-interest loan I could secure for you. Don’t worry, I signed a similar contract myself once. My interest was five percent.”

“The new student advisor was supposed to explain all this. Clearly, he couldn’t be bothered.”

Her fingers drummed the desk irritably. “I’ve already contacted the academy’s higher-ups via message ring to have him disciplined.”

“Honestly. A formal wizard’s time is precious, and here I am explaining basic administration.”

“And if you hadn’t been told, some of you might’ve signed predatory contracts from outside lenders.”

Her glare sharpened. “I wouldn’t put it past them to omit this deliberately.”

Locke signed without hesitation.

A formal wizard had no reason to swindle him.

In her eyes, he was as insignificant as a gnat.

He remembered the crushing magical pressure of the formal wizard from Four Seasons Garden aboard the ship, how it had felt like his bones would melt, even though the wizard hadn’t been targeting him.

Once Locke signed, Sophia added her own signature.

“Since only my endorsement secured this low rate, I had to cosign.”

Locke felt a pang of gratitude. “Thank you, Mentor.”

Sophia’s lips quirked slightly. “You are my first student.”

“Naturally, I’ll take greater care.”

“Besides, this cost me nothing. A thousand stones is a fortune to you, but to me? Pocket change.”

She straightened. “My goal is to help you reach 50 mental strength points within four years, advancing you to second-class apprentice.”

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll come here daily at 4 PM to learn the Vine Hand supplementary spells, [Green Grasp] and [Poison Berry Shot].”

“You’ll also attend the three public courses.”

“Additionally, I’ve taken a batch order for Viridian Potions. Using the extraction technique, you’ll isolate 15 vials of dryad blood essence for me each day.”

Since Sophia was being unusually forthcoming, Locke ventured a question.

“Mentor, what are Viridian Potions?”

To his surprise, she answered.

“A First Circle healing potion that purges negative energy. Primarily used against necromancy curses from black wizards, Decay, Terror, and Thousand Sores.”

“It’s the most effective antidote for those afflictions in the southeast quadrant.”

She tapped a ledger. “Potion-making is Lilith’s Cottage’s primary export. I’ve been commissioned to brew a batch for Decay Curse victims.”

“Hence why I’m busy. Unless it’s urgent, don’t disturb me outside lessons. I can only spare one hour daily for your training.”