CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 84: I REALLY ENVY THAT YOU’VE MADE IT

The male apprentice put away the fragments and handed a note to Ron:

"’Magic Circuit Optimization’ is in the seventh classroom on the east side of the third floor, at one in the afternoon; ’Spiritual Stability Techniques’ is in the third classroom on the north side of the fifth floor, at three in the afternoon. Don’t be late."

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you." The attendant added:

"As a new elementary apprentice, you have the privilege to choose any basic course for free. However, this opportunity is available only once, so I suggest you choose wisely."

Ron’s eyes lit up, this was an unexpected gain. He immediately decided to save this free spot for a more expensive course in the future.

He took the note, thanked the person, and was about to leave.

"Wait a moment, Apprentice Ron." The attendant hesitated slightly and reminded:

"Since you are on the ’observation list,’ the school will pay more attention to you, hoping you will... perform well."

Ron nodded, contemplating it deeply.

This attention was both an opportunity and a source of more pressure and scrutiny.

Leaving the teaching area, he decided to go to the canteen first to eat something and prepare for the afternoon lessons.

Just as he sat down with his tray, Ron noticed a few young people in elementary apprentice grey robes having a quiet conversation not far away.

Judging from their tired expressions and the stains on their robes, they seemed to have just returned from some sort of fieldwork task.

One of the tall, skinny ones noticed Ron; his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly waved, "Hey, Ralph! Long time no see!"

Ron recognized him as Carl, a candidate apprentice from a merchant family who luckily passed the final elimination period alongside him at the time of enrollment.

"Carl, long time no see, did you just come back from a mission?"

"Yeah, collecting Magic Crystal Flowers in the Edge Forest, for three whole days."

Carl rubbed his eyes wearily, but there was a touch of pride in his voice, "The reward was fine, fifteen Magic Stone Fragments."

The short, stout apprentice next to him interjected:

"That was all because Carl knew the ’Gentle Wind Technique’, which drove away those poisonous insects. Without him, we might not have made it back alive."

Carl waved his hand and turned his gaze to Ron:

"Let’s not talk about that, I heard you’re apprenticing under Lady Allen? You really hit the jackpot working there!"

"Pretty fortunate, indeed." Ron said modestly, "Lady Allen has deep insight into Magic Potion Making, and I’ve learned a lot from her."

"Truly envious of you." Carl said with a wry smile:

"We have no special talents, just slogging through in the towers. You know, for us average-gifted elementary apprentices, it takes at least eight to ten years to advance to middle apprentice."

Another short, stout apprentice joined in:

"By the way, I heard Lady Allen doesn’t take apprentices easily."

He said, with a slight hint of jealousy: "She’s very picky about assistants, having changed over a dozen, none satisfactory to her."

Carl gave his companion a hard elbow and turned to Ron:

"Ignore him, he’s just envious. Honestly, Ron, now that you have such a stable job, you don’t need to take those dangerous commissions. We elementary apprentices without a strong foundation can barely make a living."

Ron noticed the envy in Carl’s eyes.

In the Black Mist Jungle, where the gap between classes is extremely vast, life as an elementary apprentice is indeed arduous.

Though they passed the candidate period elimination, they are still at the bottom of the school, with hardly any hope of advancement.

"What do you plan to do next?" Ron asked.

Carl’s face darkened: "Taking the next collection task, going to the ’Screaming Swamp’ to collect a plant called ’Crying Vine’. The pay is decent, thirty Magic Stone Fragments, but..."

"But that place is too dangerous." The short, stout apprentice continued, his voice full of fear:

"Last month, five elementary apprentices went there on a similar task, only one returned, missing an arm."

"But we have no choice." Carl sighed:

"You know, Ron, we elementary apprentices aren’t considered part of the internal members of the school. Only upon advancing to middle apprentice are we formally recognized by the school. Then we can qualify for duties and have stable Magic Stone income."

"That’s true." Ron nodded, recalling the situation Andre once mentioned:

"It’s said that in the Mortal Realm, they can even be received with honor by the King and appointed as real nobility."

Middle apprentices not only have increased spiritual power and Magic Power, but also see their magic’s power multiply several times.

"Exactly." Carl’s eyes flickered with desire, his voice low and urgent, his body involuntarily leaning forward:

"My father once witnessed a middle apprentice casting a spell, turning a dozen soldiers into ash in moments."

He gestured explosions, his face reflecting imagined flames:

"Even a so-called one-thousand-men foe Official Knight on the battlefield can barely match a middle apprentice."

The short, stout apprentice sighed deeply, shoulders slumped, eyes blankly staring at the table patterns:

"The school hardly values us elementary apprentices. To them, we’re almost worthless."

He clenched his fist, then released it: "So we can only live in those cramped intermediate towers, the days worse than during the candidate period."

Carl smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"Actually, we’re already quite fortunate."

He waved his fists in an exaggerated gesture:

"Outside, countless wandering apprentices and extraordinary alien races are desperately trying to get in; Black Mist School is the top extraordinary gathering place in this region."

His gaze shifted to a middle apprentice with a Sapphire Badge on his chest in the distance.

The person was chatting and laughing with several companions, with a temperament completely different from the numbness and fatigue of these elementary apprentices.

"I don’t plan to linger here too long." Carl suddenly lowered his voice:

"If there’s no hope of advancement in two more years, I plan to leave Black Mist Jungle and try my luck elsewhere."

Ron looked at him in surprise: "Leave? To where?"

"I heard that the ’Jade Tower’ in the far east of Black Mist Jungle has recently started expanding, recruiting apprentices."

Carl’s eyes showed a trace of resolution: "Although its reputation in the Wizard World is far beneath Black Mist School, with only two or three Official Wizards, it’s said that the advancement system there isn’t as harsh."

"But... leaving Black Mist Jungle is dangerous." Ron reminded.

"Staying is equally dangerous." Carl smiled wryly: "At least leaving offers a glimmer of hope, rather than slowly rotting here."

Listening to their conversation, Ron felt a wave of sighs in his heart.

If not for the existence of his Golden Finger, he might also be like these apprentices now.

Struggling bitterly at the bottom of the school with no hope... even passing the candidate period would have been difficult, making his situation even worse.

"I have to go, I have class in the afternoon." He bid the two apprentices farewell, "I wish you success in your commission."

Carl forced a smile:

"Thanks, keep in touch. Honestly, Ron, we’re all envious of your stable work under Lady Allen; it’s an opportunity most elementary apprentices can’t even dream of achieving in a lifetime."