Locke heard the increasingly heated argument outside his door and opened it to investigate.
He saw an adult woman wearing swordsman attire with a greatsword strapped to her back—apparently named Angela—engaged in a heated dispute with the Wizard Seedlings on the lower deck's corridor. Though her Mana felt slightly weaker than his own, Locke could tell she had indeed reached the level of a third-class wizard apprentice.
From Angela's words, Locke gathered she only possessed Level 1 Wizard Talent. This realization fueled her frustration—if accommodations were assigned by current strength, she should qualify for this deck. But the Wizard Ship allocated quarters based on future potential and talent, not present capability.
The commotion had drawn many Wizard Seedlings to their doors. Under their collective gaze, Angela's face flushed crimson with humiliation and anger.
She glared at the apprentices blocking her path. "We're all third-class wizard apprentices! My spiritual power might even surpass yours! Why do you get to stay here while I can't?"
By then, a Wizard Mentor had descended, silencing all chatter in the corridor. Locke recognized him—it was Jarvis, who had administered their earlier tests.
Mentor Jarvis regarded Angela with the indifference one might show a roadside stone. "Third-class wizard apprentice Angela, return to your assigned quarters. Don't make me repeat myself."
"But... this isn't fair," Angela protested. "My Mana is just as strong as theirs..."
Jarvis's voice turned glacial. "Were it not for the Wizard Seedling Protection Act, I'd have thrown you overboard to feed the fish by now."
"Tell me—how long did it take you to advance to third-class wizard apprentice?"
Angela flushed, hesitated, then admitted, "Fifteen years."
Gasps echoed through the corridor. Most Level 3 talents achieved this rank within two to three years—Angela had needed five times longer.
Gesturing to a Seedling he'd brought aboard, Jarvis stated, "He accomplished it in three and a half years. Most on this deck reached third-class within two to three years. Even the slower ones never exceeded five."
"In other words, they matched your current rank in less time than you needed to count the years."
His tone grew arctic. "Level 4 talents typically require eighteen months to two years. For Levels 5 and 6? Becoming a third-class apprentice is as effortless as eating or drinking—mere months to a year suffices."
Mentor Jarvis said, "This is the difference between you and them. The only reason you've become a third-class wizard apprentice now is because you're older and have studied longer. But from here on out, the gap between you will only grow wider."
"Return to where you belong."
"If you dare cause trouble again, even with the protection of the Wizard Seedling Protection Act, I will make you pay."
Mentor Jarvis turned and left.
Angela's pupils lost focus, dilating. "Causing trouble... So in your eyes, I'm just someone causing trouble..."
"I was a respected prodigy in the Koso Continent, but on this ship, I'm just a troublemaker with first-class talent."
The wizard mentor's words had undoubtedly shattered her beliefs. Angela's eyes grew despondent as she stiffly walked toward the stairs, heading for the lowest deck.
Locke closed the door. This scene was both expected and unexpected.
Most wizard seedlings came from the archipelago, where they were revered prodigies in their own worlds. But upon boarding the Wizard Ship, they would realize they were merely ordinary, possibly even of very low status.
Losing their mental balance, they would naturally act irrationally.
Sitting on his bed, Locke mocked himself, "And here I was wanting to live on the upper decks. The rooms there have better environments, with views of the artificial sky and picturesque gardens. Not to mention, the ship's wizard mentors live above deck too."
"Yet there are wizard seedlings striving desperately just to live on the level I'm on."
"The hierarchy never ends."
A flash of confidence appeared in Locke's eyes. "Wizard Talent doesn't determine everything. Someone with third-class wizard talent can still become a Formal Wizard."
Before him, the illusory Horadric Synthetic Cube spun, emitting silver sparks.
From the Horadric Synthetic Cube, Locke retrieved this time's level 5 synthesized item—a cyan jade the size of an adult's index finger.
'This formula worked.' Locke's spirits lifted. He had been carrying various gemstones with him, experimenting with different synthesis formulas.
This time's formula consisted of one level 4 Deep Blue Gem, one level 4 ordinary black onyx, and one level 4 ordinary black pearl.
Most of the time, synthesizing these level 4 gemstones would only change their color and size, increasing their mundane value. Rarely would they produce special effects like the Deep Blue Gem.
But this level 5 Cyan Jade had different attributes—[Level 5 synthesized item, Cyan Jade. A rare gem from deep underground veins, its formation remains incompletely understood. Rumored to be a hybrid gem formed from Deep Blue Gems and several natural gemstones.]
[The Cyan Jade's mental wave filtration effect is significantly stronger than the Deep Blue Gem's. Additionally, one level 5 Cyan Jade can store 10 points of Mana.]
Seeing this description, Locke paused. He immediately took out a pre-made gold ring from his backpack, embedded the Cyan Jade in it, and concealed it beneath the outer layer of ordinary blue sapphire inlay.
Locke, following the description of the entry, poured his Mana into the Cyan Jade. He felt an endless stream of Mana flowing into it.
Yet, there remained an inexplicable connection between him and the Mana stored within the Cyan Jade.
With just a thought, that Mana would return to his body.
Locke quickly grasped the function and principle of the Cyan Jade. "If the Deep Blue Gem is like a filtering sponge, then the Cyan Jade is akin to a capacitor storing electricity. By storing my mental energy, the Cyan Jade can absorb and release my Mana, stabilizing its fluctuations."
"Though the effect is similar to the Deep Blue Jewel, the underlying principle is entirely different."
"More importantly…" Locke thought, "10 points of Mana is equivalent to the total Mana of a third-class wizard apprentice. Patty's Mana is also just 10 points."
"But now, I can store 10 points of Mana within the Cyan Jade."
"This means I effectively have 10 more points of Mana than any other third-class wizard apprentice. In battle, I can cast Spells more times."
"Even in daily research and study, this extra Mana significantly boosts my efficiency."
Locke realized the value of the Cyan Jade. 'The Cyan Jade must be incredibly valuable in the Wizard World. At the very least, I haven't seen anything similar aboard the Wizard Ship.'
'I'd better not let other wizards see that I possess such an item.'
(End of Chapter)