'Reach Fourth Ring in two years? Aren't you thinking too highly of ?'
Ian heard Malrick's suggestion and thought bitterly. He couldn't understand why that old man believed he could reach the Fourth Ring in just two years.
'But... in two years, isn't it ti for the expedition? What opportunity could I have if I reached the Fourth Ring by then?'
He thought in pure surprise. As far as he could rember, after two years, it would be ti for the Expedition.
The Expedition, as the na suggested, was a large-scale event organized by all Eight Ring Organizations in the Calvora Continent. In essence, it was a wizard operation on other planes beyond Aetherion to seize resources and gain promotions.
In the Arcane Passage, it was a major arc where the protagonist, Carl, gained countless benefits and treasures by raiding other planes.
However, he rembered that at the start of the Expedition, Carl had just reached the Third Ring Wizard level and was nowhere near the Fourth Ring. So, he really didn't know what opportunity Malrick was talking about.
"Hey, can you tell one thing honestly?"
Just as Ian was musing over things while rubbing the rough token in his hands that had appeared inexplicably, he heard Yela's curious voice from the side.
"Hmm? What?"
"Tell honestly, did you... perhaps use a love potion on those two girls?"
Yela asked while staring into Ian's eyes as if trying to see the truth.
From the way she looked, she seed genuinely suspicious that Ian had done sothing to Lyra and Aurora.
Otherwise, she couldn't think of any reason why they would be so reluctant to leave him, even in front of such a good opportunity.
"Did sothing happen to you?"
Ian didn't answer her question but instead asked one of his own, looking concerned.
"What could happen to ? Why are you changing the topic? Did you really do it or not?"
Yela beca even more suspicious, thinking Ian was trying to divert the conversation. But his next words left her completely stumped.
"Then, why are you suddenly acting stupid? Do you really think I need a love potion to get girls?"
Ian rolled his eyes at the dense girl, who only appeared mature due to her age.
Who did she think he was? Would he really use such a lowly thod to attract girls?
"Hey! Who are you calling stupid? You're rude! Now that you have so connection with a Sixth Ring Organization, you've beco so bold?"
Yela felt offended by Ian's words and questioned him while pointing a finger at him.
"I've always been bold, okay? By the way, weren't you about to return and submit your mission? Why are you still here?"
Ian didn't want to waste any more ti. So, he reminded her while glancing at the knights waiting for her, their large bags filled with what was probably Elentum Ore.
He also noticed that after Malrick disappeared, Zane already left without waiting for anyone. However, Ron was still there, waiting for him along with the other apprentices.
"Oh, Damn, I almost forgot. It is all because of you."
"Wizard Ron, take care of these apprentices—I have to submit my mission first. Hey, where did that bastard Zane go? Didn't he know we had to submit a mission?"
After Ian's reminder, Yela suddenly rembered her plan and imdiately left, cursing Zane for not waiting for her.
"You were the one who wanted to ask sothing, okay?"
Ian was speechless at the undeserved bla. But by then, Yela was already far away, so he didn't bother and made his way toward Ron.
"Okay, it's ti to enter the Mystic Circle. Follow ."
Seeing Ian approach, Ron adjusted his wizard robe, gripped the staff in his arm, and slowly walked forward on the cobblestone path leading away from the large platform.
"Yes, Sir Wizard."
Once Ron moved ahead without waiting, all the apprentices hurriedly followed behind.
Ian, too, followed closely but suddenly felt a sense of loneliness.
Now that he thought about it, this was the first ti he was completely alone, without anyone by his side.
'Well, I'll get used to it.'
Ian consoled himself.
Well, there was still Ignysyl on his shoulder, sleeping, but since that was his pet, it didn't really count.
"Damn, my sister didn't even rember when she left. How cruel."
Just as he was walking behind the crowd, enjoying the refreshing density of mana in the air, Ian heard a dissatisfied whisper from the front.
Curious, he looked in that direction and saw Henry sulking and muttering to himself.
And sensing soone's gaze on him, Henry suddenly turned his head only to et Ian's eyes head-on.
"Crap!"
To Ian's surprise, Henry imdiately cursed under his breath and hurriedly slipped into the crowd, as if trying to hide from Ian's sight.
He looked quite afraid?
'What's with this guy?'
Ian was baffled by his strange behavior.
Why did it seem like Henry was scared of him? As far as he rembered, he hadn't done anything that would terrify him this much.
"Well, we're finally here."
Just as Ian was puzzling over Henry's odd behavior, he heard Ron's voice from up ahead. After passing through a few narrow corridors, they finally arrived at their destination.
"This is the registration hall of the Mystic Circle, where you all need to register your nas."
Ron said while signaling toward the grand hall that appeared in the apprentices' vision.
The hall was massive, with multiple rooms, staircases, rows upon rows of scrolls on the bookshelves, and neatly arranged desks and furniture made of unknown wood.
Although the area was vast and impressive, one look was enough to tell that it was a common administrative hall ant for day-to-day activities.
After all, they could see a large number of apprentices lining up everywhere, busy with sothing. Occasionally, they could even spot a wizard's figure shuttling through the crowd.
All in all, the place was quite lively.
"Hey, Wizard Ron! You're finally here."
Just as everyone was busy looking around while following Ron, they heard soone from the front desk calling out.
"Oh... what a surprise, Miss Celia. I didn't expect to see you here."
Ron was surprised to see soone unexpected in front on a high-backed wooden chair behind the front counter of the grand hall. But he imdiately composed himself and replied with a smile,
"Yeah, fortunately, it didn't take long, thanks to Wizard Yela and Zane."
While Ron was talking, Ian noticed that the girl appeared to be around their age, wearing a neatly pressed apprentice robe with a distinct symbol—one similar to the one he had seen on Zane's robe.
Although her appearance was rather ordinary, her impressive wizard attire and the certain aura around her marked her distinguished status. Ian could already sense that she was a Third-Class Apprentice, just like him.
"That's good to hear. Are they the ones chosen from that place this ti? How are their talents?"
Celia smiled, looking at the crowd with curiosity while asking Ron.
"Yes, a total of 18 apprentices. Their talent is good enough to start, I suppose. At the very least, they are nowhere near Miss Celia."
Ron smiled, complinted the girl in front of him, and asked with a curious look.
"By the way, do you need anything from ? It's quite rare to see you in the reception hall."
Given Celia's status, he couldn't understand why she was here.
"Oh... it's nothing serious. Master Drevan has invited you to his residence, and he asked to take care of these apprentices for you while you're busy."
She stated her purpose, causing both Ron and Ian to be surprised.
'Master Drevan... isn't he the one Malrick seed to have visited just now? That ans...'
Ian imdiately realized who Celia was referring to, making him feel stunned.
"Oh? Master Drevan wants to see ? Then, it wouldn't be good to keep him waiting," Ron said in surprise.
"Miss Celia, my apologies, but it looks like you'll have to handle them for now."
"Don't worry, Sir Wizard. I'm free, and it's only right for to assist you."
"Good, then. I'll be off."
Ron nodded at Celia and imdiately left the hall, heading toward Drevan's residence. From his appearance, he seed quite normal and unwilling to keep a Fourth Ring wizard waiting.
'It should be alright.'
Watching Ron's figure disappear into the corner of the hall, Ian thought to himself. After all, Ron was actually under his control, and if soone found out, that would be very bad.
However, Ian was confident he wouldn't be discovered. According to the information he had received from the Gravekeeper, Nether Sight was an uncanny and incredibly rare ability.
So, unless that wizard thoroughly examined Ron up and down, he shouldn't be exposed.
"Okay, since Wizard Ron is now busy, let handle your affairs. You've already heard my na—I'm Celia, the direct disciple of Master Drevan, one of the Fourth Ring Wizards of the Mystic Circle."
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