Chapter 565: Chapter 565: Academy Island
How far Tom can go depends entirely on his own effort and luck.
Duke will only provide so basic support, but won’t take care of everything like a babysitter would, at least not as much as Shari would.
In this era, a slave is always a slave, an insurmountable class divide.
As a slave, you are inferior in every way and cannot enjoy equal treatnt.
However, this was Tom’s own choice, and he did not regret it.
The Storm Dragon Eagle landed at a secluded cliff on the West Coast of the Appalachian Continent. Below, a brilliantly lit city, even glowing in the daylight, nestled by the winding bay—Harbor City.
It was Tom’s first ti here, and everything he saw filled him with wonder.
Unlike the simplicity and tranquility of the Florence Continent, Harbor City was filled with an atmosphere of clamor and indulgence.
Even before approaching, the air was filled with a myriad of energy fluctuations, the aftermath of magic experints, the strange slls of alchemical products, and the unique scents emitted by various alien races.
The towering buildings varied in style with spires, dos, and even lofts suspended in midair. The bustling streets were filled not only with human wizards but also blue-skinned mbers of the Sea Race, tall Hill Giants, and so unidentified creatures cloaked in shadows.
The city’s hallmark is its entertainnt industry, with casinos, gladiatorial arenas, auction houses, and taverns offering various exotic services—it’s a paradise of relaxation and spending for wizards.
Duke was already accustod to all of this, while he led a wide-eyed, overwheld Tom toward the seaside.
They followed the coastline to find a deserted bay filled with black rocks.
Duke then sent a ssage with the Black Sail Badge and waited quietly by the shore.
The sea breeze carried a salty tang, and the waves crashing against the rocks made a monotonous sound.
Tom stood uneasily behind Duke, curiously and nervously looking around, not understanding why they had stopped at this desolate seashore.
Duke, though not looking back, noticed Tom’s deanor and was inexplicably reminded of his own deanor when he first waited by the sea with Lucas.
About a few minutes later, the air on the previously empty sea ahead started to ripple like water.
Soon afterward, a worn-out little wooden boat, looking as if it might fall apart any mont, appeared unannounced on the sea about ten ters from the shore.
A skinny figure was rowing—a hunched form draped in a ragged, light-absorbing black cloak, entirely dark-skinned, and clearly not a human head.
The Dark Entity exuded a cold, dead, chilling aura that instinctively made Tom uncomfortable.
The gaunt Dark Entity said nothing, only grinned with a big toothy smile, gesturing for Duke and Tom to board the boat with its claw-like hand gripping an ordinary-looking oar.
Duke sensed the Dark Entity’s sycophancy and casually tossed a piece of smoked deer heart over.
But to Tom, that ingratiating smile seed particularly grotesque.
Yet Duke seed unaffected, evidently accustod to it.
He glanced at Tom and plainly said, "Follow."
With that, he stepped forward, seemingly on an invisible staircase, crossing the sea in a few steps and landing steadily on the little wooden boat, which didn’t even sway.
Suppressing his fear, Tom thought of his own vows and his determination to pursue power, gritted his teeth, and awkwardly imitated Duke to step onto the small boat.
Once both were on board, the gaunt Dark Entity began rowing.
Its rowing motion was stiff and silent, and the little wooden boat turned away from the shore, heading toward the seemingly empty, vast sea.
As the boat sailed about a hundred ters out, Tom couldn’t help but look back at Harbor City one more ti, only to be shocked to see the coastline, the brilliantly lit city, and the entire Appalachian Continent vanished like a mirage.
All around was nothing but boundless gray mist, the rickety little boat beneath him, and the silent rower.
"This is a Dark Entity, you’ll often deal with them in the future. Prepare more smoked deer hearts; they love those," Duke said casually.
Tom nodded, carefully rembering Duke’s words.
At this point, he no longer feared the Dark Entity as much and instead beca sowhat curious, occasionally glancing at it and observing carefully.
The little wooden boat sailed through the gray mist, seemingly for a long ti, or perhaps just an instant, as ti and space beca blurred and indistinct here.
Finally, in the thinning mist ahead, the outline of an island gradually beca clear.
Duke looked at the island ahead, feeling a bit nostalgic, as it had been so ti since he last ca to Academy Island.
The little wooden boat silently docked at a secluded pier on the island’s edge, and the gaunt Dark Entity stopped rowing, becoming like a statue, motionless.
Duke led Tom ashore, and imdiately, two wizard apprentices in black standard robes with a solemn aura approached. They evidently knew of the ferryman’s arrival through so ans.
"Lord Duke." The two apprentices respectfully saluted Duke. When their gaze swept over Tom, who appeared a bit nervous and uneasy behind Duke, they displayed a hint of scrutiny but not much surprise.
Evidently, it was not uncommon for an Official Wizard to bring soone to Academy Island.
Duke had already reported this matter, as bringing soone in to beco a Wizard Apprentice with the authority of an Official Wizard was almost without any threshold.
Duke nodded slightly, briefly: "Handle the formalities for a new apprentice."
"Yes, please follow us."
Guided by the two apprentices, Duke and Tom arrived at the administrative hall on Academy Island. The hall was spacious but deserted, and the light cast through the stained glass ford mottled shadows on the floor.
The air was filled with the mixed scent of parchnt, ink, and so antiseptic, as several clerks processed docunts behind the counters efficiently and coldly.
Duke went directly to an empty window. The middle-aged witch clerk behind the window, seeing the Black Sail Badge on Duke’s chest, imdiately put down the quill in her hand.
"My lord, what can I do for you?"
"Register a new apprentice, Tom." Duke gently nudged Tom forward, "His aptitude has been preliminarily confird; he can practice the ditation Technique, and his identity is as my attendant slave."
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