Dean Tungus soon returned to his residence.
He observed the three apprentices with satisfaction regarding their current progress. Patty Eisa and Code Newman were advancing steadily, but most gratifying was Locke's learning speed, which slightly exceeded his expectations.
Initially, Tungus had worried that without financial pressure, Locke might revert to his former laziness and require some disciplinary nudging.
However, after spending this period together, he had dismissed that concern.
Among his three apprentices, Locke possessed the greatest talent and was also the most diligent.
Thus, Dean Tungus now looked at Locke with a smile, genuinely pleased with him.
After guiding Patty Eisa and Code Newman, Tungus turned to Locke and said, "You wish to purchase Magic Vine Seeds from me?"
"That makes sense."
"You've indeed reached the stage of completing your spell model."
Dean Tungus continued, "Mastering Vine Hand requires specific magical plant seeds because this cantrip model is derived from the complete first-tier spell, the Magic Vine Spell."
"Therefore, you must use the corresponding Magic Vine Seeds—specifically, the seeds of Mandala Vine."
Dean Tungus produced a graphite box and carefully opened it, revealing four rough-looking seeds, each about the size of a thumb, resembling small potatoes.
With delicate precision, he used tweezers to extract one seed and placed it into a small flowerpot filled with soil.
"The seeds of Mandala Vine have been specially cultivated by formal wizards from our higher academy over dozens of generations. As a result, their traits are stable, highly resilient, and difficult to kill."
"Simply bury it in soil, and it will gradually take root and sprout. However, you must water it once a week, expose it to sunlight daily—though avoid direct sunlight—just as you would care for an ordinary plant."
"While Mandala Grass won't die easily, poor growth quality will negatively impact your spellcasting and hinder your advancement to a third-class wizard apprentice."
"You should have already studied the relevant knowledge about Mandala Grass in your books."
Locke nodded.
In addition, he would need to irrigate the seed daily with his own spiritual energy.
Initially, this would be quite challenging.
At his current stage, he was essentially just an ordinary person with some foundational mystical knowledge. Actively channeling spiritual energy to modify the seed was nearly impossible.
The reason it could be done was that Mandala Grass seeds had been specially designed by formal wizards using plant magic. Even so, it would still take him considerable time to learn how to properly infuse the seed with his spiritual energy.
Dean Tungus added, "The first Mandala Grass seed will cost you 5 Magic Stones. Subsequent seeds will no longer receive subsidized pricing, so the second seed will cost 15 Magic Stones."
Locke raised an eyebrow. "Dean Tungus, are these seeds really that expensive?"
"Of course," Tungus replied.
"However, these magical seeds are generally quite difficult to kill."
Dean Tungus closed the graphite box and covered it with two layers of silk. "Moreover, magical resources on Corfu Island are precious. I only have four Mandala Grass seeds in total. After giving you one, only three remain."
"If during the remainder of my life, a fourth wizard apprentice candidate appears who chooses the Vine Hand spell model, I will have no magic vine seeds left to provide for their training."
Dean Tungus continued, "The only time Aurelian Academy replenishes its magical resources is when there's a change in deanship."
Locke nodded, abandoning his thought of asking Dean Tungus for two more Mandala Grass seeds.
If he could obtain three Mandala Grass seeds, he could synthesize them into a level 2 composite item, directly improving the seeds' quality.
But now Locke dismissed this idea.
There were two reasons.
First, magical resources on Corfu Island were too scarce, and his request would never gain Dean Tungus's support.
Otherwise, wizard apprentice candidates at Aurelian Academy wouldn't be able to choose the [Vine Hand] spell model for training in the next fifty years.
Dean Tungus had to consider the possibility that future academy students might have the highest Wood Element particle affinity, just like himself.
The second reason was that synthesis could bring unpredictable changes.
If he rashly used these currently most important items for synthesis, it might prevent him from completing the Vine Hand spell.
That would be counterproductive.
'After leaving Corfu Island, when I take the Wizard Ship across the endless mystic sea to the southeastern region, I can find my own way to purchase Mandala Grass seeds for synthesis experiments. It won't be too late then,' Locke thought. 'My current goal is to use the Deep Blue Gem to quickly become a third-class wizard apprentice and learn my first spell.'
Dean Tungus said to Locke, "By the way, Locke, some of your family members have come looking for you outside the academy recently."
"They were initially stopped by the guards outside Aurelian Academy. They seemed to have some trouble, but I helped resolve the issue and found them accommodation near the academy."
"You might want to visit your family members soon. Here's their address."
Locke was momentarily stunned. He had been so focused on his studies recently that he had forgotten about the Augustine family, the original host's family.
After glancing at the address, Locke thanked the dean, "Thank you, Teacher Tungus."
Locke stood up, collected his textbooks, picked up the flowerpot containing the Mandala Grass seed, nodded to Patty Eisa and Code Newman, then left the room.
Even though he had been completely focused on his studies and largely avoided other matters over the past six months, he had still heard about some events occurring on the Corfu Continent.
After occupying the Kingdom of Anjou, the Frankish Empire suddenly launched an attack on the Kingdom of Norman and conquered it within four months.
As a result, another sixth of the academy's students found themselves in the same awkward position as the Anjou people had been half a year earlier.
In their letters to him, the Augustine family mentioned that after fleeing the Kingdom of Anjou, they had sought refuge with distant relatives in the Kingdom of Norman.
Now it seems that with the fall of the Norman Kingdom, the protagonist's family has once again found themselves with nowhere to turn. This time, they took the risk of evading their pursuers and sought refuge at the Aurelian Academy.
Fortunately for them, Locke currently holds a special status at the Aurelian Academy as a promising wizard candidate, which ensures their protection under the academy's shelter.
In these times, with the Corfu Island and the Frankish Empire having destroyed two major kingdoms, the remaining four kingdoms on the mainland combined occupy less territory than the Frankish Empire. The Aurelian Academy might be the only place left that can offer them sanctuary.
Locke walked along the elegant corridors of the academy and saw several students from the Norman Kingdom weeping as they recounted the atrocities committed by the Franks, while students of Frankish origin mocked them mercilessly.
Locke thought to himself, 'It seems the Frankish Empire's true ambition is to unify Corfu Island. The island will descend into greater chaos, and a world war within Corfu is inevitable—one that will engulf everyone.'
"Peace will vanish."
'But this has little to do with me.'
'After all, in a year and a half, I'll be leaving aboard a Wizard Ship. With my connections, the Augustine family should also receive Dean Tungus's protection. As long as they stay near the Aurelian Academy, they can at least live in relative safety.'
Out of the corner of his eye, Locke spotted the figure of Professor Olde, the History class instructor, appearing in the elegant garden corridor of the academy. Professor Olde smiled at him and nodded in greeting before briskly walking toward the weeping students from the fallen Norman Kingdom.
Clearly, he was about to take advantage of these poor students who had just lost their homeland.
(End of Chapter)