Eileen, who opened her eyes exactly on time, subconsciously looked at the flowerpot placed on the windowsill.
In the black terracotta pot, a lush, elbow-length winter mallow stood tall and graceful in the warm sunlight.
Occasionally, a playful ray of sunshine would slip out from behind the curtain, adorning the velvety stems and branches with a sparkling, warm, and lovely glow.
'Well done. If we can confirm it's non-toxic, then it's very likely to transform from a wild vegetable into a cultivated one. Eileen, you've made history.'
Recalling the message Mr. Ajev had sent, a surge of excitement flushed Eileen's dark, thin cheeks.
She hadn't expected that the wild vegetable she had cultivated on a whim could receive such high praise from Mr. Ajev.
"Mother, did you see? I've met a mentor in my life. He's very capable. Under his guidance, I've finally found a direction to strive for. I will continue to work hard to free more people from the suffering of hunger."
Eileen whispered a prayer to her mother, then excitedly jumped off the soft couch.
She put on her fluffy white magic robe, carefully and meticulously tucked the purple snow wood wand Mr. Ajev had rewarded her with into her belt, and then conjured a 'Spring of Cleansing' to wash her face.
Afterward, she quickly matured a low-lying fruit tree on the balcony, picked a fruit, popped it into her mouth, hugged the winter mallow pot, and rushed out of her private dorm.
She couldn't wait to see Mr. Ajev and show him the results of her research.
She had a premonition that it was definitely non-toxic.
Along the way, many magic apprentices pointed at her.
This made Eileen, who usually had zero presence, a little uncomfortable. The keywords like "purple snow wood wand" she vaguely overheard made her realize why she had become the center of attention.
Despite this, her face remained calm, but deep down, a hint of shyness and pride uncontrollably sprouted.
After all, receiving the admiration of a great figure like Ajev was a matter worth being proud of, wasn't it?
The wind brushed past her ears, lifting her hair, and the sunlight was so beautiful.
Her steps became lighter and faster, even carrying a joyful bounce.
However, as she passed a corner, she subconsciously slowed down and moved to the side of the road.
This was because a red-robed Archmage around fifty years old was walking towards her.
Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Archmage March, a member of the [Willis Magic Plantation Association].
She had intended to let Archmage March pass first, but unexpectedly, he stopped, his sinister face like an eagle staring at her: "Purple snow wood wand? Are you Ajev's assistant, Eileen?"
"Yes, Lord March." Eileen quickly placed her right hand over her chest and bowed in greeting.
"As a magic apprentice, running and jumping around in a panic, what kind of behavior is that?" March reprimanded.
Eileen lowered her head, not daring to speak.
She didn't know why she had angered March, but her early life had long taught her a truth: as long as one possessed absolute power, some anger didn't need a reason.
Just as a child could casually crush a beetle without anyone blaming them.
Eileen's silent posture reminded March of Ajev's indifferent expression, and his heart grew even more irritated.
He sneered, "You don't look like a noble mage at all, more like a lowly farmer!"
Eileen still hung her head without a word, her dark and thin face as calm as a stubborn rock.
Eileen's attitude made March even more infuriated!
If Eileen had retorted, shown anger, or even just clenched her fists, his mood might have improved significantly.
But she was too calm!
Her appearance of being willing to endure any scolding or beating made his humiliation feel like hitting empty air, making him irritable, depressed, and furious!
Just like facing that detestable Ajev.
Just now, he had represented the [Willis Magic Plantation Association] and visited Ajev, expressing their willingness to give up some plantation profits in exchange for some of the magic apprentices Ajev had requisitioned.
Unexpectedly, Ajev refused directly without even thinking.
No matter how eloquent March was, using both threats and inducements, all he got was one sentence: 'Go ask Dundaniel about this. If he agrees, I'll agree.'
Ajev's words depressed March to the extreme. He even suspected if Ajev was Dundaniel's spokesman?
Or perhaps, Dundaniel was not satisfied with their offer?
March didn't know.
Facing the unyielding Ajev, he could only suppress his towering rage and storm off.
On his way out, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could turn back and smash the Forest of Magic!
Unexpectedly, at a corner, he encountered Ajev's assistant, Eileen.
"Winter mallow? What are you doing with that winter mallow?" March's gaze shifted to the flowerpot in Eileen's arms.
Eileen pursed her lips and whispered, "This is Mr. Ajev's experiment. He asked me to take it back and look after it for him."
Eileen deliberately brought up Mr. Ajev, hoping to escape this inexplicable trouble.
Unexpectedly, her words piqued March's curiosity.
He narrowed his eyes, and the flowerpot in Eileen's hand instantly became lighter, floating towards March under the grip of an invisible mage hand.
March examined it briefly, and his expression suddenly turned ferocious.
"You're lying?"
"I... I'm not."
"This is just an ordinary winter mallow. You still dare to say it's an experiment? If it were a real experiment, would they allow a magic apprentice like you to take it out of the laboratory? Do you think I don't understand Wood Element magic?"
March sneered.
With a loud crash!
The terracotta flowerpot was violently smashed to the ground, sending countless shards of pottery and soil flying. The lush winter mallow was completely shattered!
Eileen's pupils contracted sharply. She ignored the scattered fragments and quickly knelt down, trying to salvage the winter mallow.
Unexpectedly, March grabbed at the air, and the winter mallow was directly gripped by an invisible force, instantly crushed into vegetable paste.
Eileen, who was trying to salvage it, froze!
She looked at March with a look of disbelief, completely unable to understand why he would do such a thing.
"Hmph, as a magic apprentice, your conduct is so improper, it's simply an insult to magic!" March reprimanded, and after the scolding, he added a sarcastic remark: "A crooked tree casts a crooked shadow!"
After saying that, he strode away.
In the distance, several magic apprentices stopped and watched, their expressions either gloating or filled with lingering fear.
Some even excitedly posted this incident anonymously on the school forum.
Eileen froze.
She stared blankly at the vegetable paste on the ground. After a long while, she calmly got up, cast Earth magic, cleared the scattered soil into the garden, and then left with a calm expression.
Arriving at the Forest of Magic, Mr. Ajev was sorting seeds, which were clearly yesterday's harvest.
He saw Eileen and greeted her warmly, asking about the winter mallow cultivation.
Mr. Ajev's gentle demeanor eased Eileen's bad mood considerably. She showed a sincere smile, described the winter mallow cultivation in detail, and then took out the purebred seeds she had specifically saved last night.
"Well done. I'll have Doman check if it's poisonous later and mutate it if possible. If we can improve its taste, this is likely to be our laboratory's first achievement!"
Yu Sheng'an's words made Eileen feel even better. She quickly said, "Sir, how about I cultivate a batch first and keep more seeds?"
"No need, let Doman do it. His magic is abundant, no need to waste it. Save your magic, you have important tasks today."
The importance in Yu Sheng'an's words made Eileen's expression freeze for a moment. Her heart suddenly ached, and she forced herself to hold back and said, "Yes!"
Before long, magic apprentices arrived one after another. Their gazes towards Eileen carried a hint of strangeness.
Because Ajev was present, no one dared to discuss it openly.
After a while, Doman arrived with his granddaughter, Dorothy.
As expected, the magic apprentices who learned that Doman was also participating in the magic experiment were greatly surprised, and they increasingly felt that Mr. Ajev possessed profound Wood Element magic.
After assigning the tasks, Doman suddenly leaned towards Yu Sheng'an and said, "Mr. Ajev, I heard March caused trouble for Eileen. Do you need my help?"
His granddaughter had told him about this. The moment he learned about it, he was overjoyed.
Because this would be his best opportunity to curry favor with Ajev.
Yu Sheng'an was surprised to hear this: "March caused trouble for Eileen?"
Doman was astonished: "You didn't know?"