Sophia retrieved two documents from her Astral Ring, handing one to Edwin and the other to Locke.
Edwin gave Sophia a slightly puzzled look, finding it somewhat strange that she would share such materials with her student. In his view, matters concerning Blood Curses held little significance for an apprentice.
However, since Locke was her student, Edwin refrained from commenting further and merely smiled. "It seems you hold your apprentice in high regard, Sophia."
Sophia replied matter-of-factly, "Indeed. He has remarkable talent. I believe his intuition may prove valuable to us someday. Moreover, Hussein Quinn represents the next generation of the Blood Curse Court, so nurturing outstanding successors is also our responsibility."
Edwin chuckled but said nothing more.
Both Edwin and Locke began reviewing the documents.
As Locke read through the materials, he grew increasingly disturbed by the sinister nature of the Blood Curses employed by the Blood Curse Court.
First and foremost, a Blood Curse targeted an individual's Bloodline—not just their physical body, but their entire lineage. Essentially, by cursing one person, the curse would extend to and kill all their blood relatives.
But this was merely the most basic form of Blood Curse. Many variations had since evolved.
The Mother-Child Giant Corpse Blood Curse, for instance, had shifted its focus from lineage to social connections.
Edwin remarked calmly, "Sophia, according to your report, the Mother-Child Giant Corpse Blood Curse spreads by cursing everyone who has spoken to the victim—a First Class Wizard Apprentice—within the past month."
"Even a single exchanged word fulfills the curse's conditions."
"Have I misunderstood?"
Sophia nodded. "That's correct. This is an adaptation of the original Giant Corpse Blood Curse. The original curse spread through physical contact—anyone who had intimate contact with the victim within a month would be cursed, along with their social connections, creating a chain reaction."
"But this new variant only requires verbal interaction, lowering the transmission threshold. The trade-off is that its lethality has been reduced to one-third of the original, which is why the First Class Wizard Apprentice is still alive."
"Otherwise, he would have died long ago."
Edwin nodded. "So it's a deliberate weakening of the curse to enhance its spread. Not particularly sophisticated, but still impressive for a First Class Wizard Apprentice."
Sophia countered, "Not necessarily. Even though it belongs to a First Class Wizard Apprentice, its expanded transmission range makes it harder to eradicate. Though its lethality is reduced, it has become far more persistent."
"Or perhaps, even if we were to intervene seriously and resolve this matter, how would the academy's higher-ups view it? I suspect they would prioritize saving face by preventing us Formal Wizards from acting directly. Instead, they'd likely send Lilith's Cottage's most outstanding First-Class Wizard Apprentices and Potionology Assistants to attempt solving this Blood Curse."
"Though I dislike saying it, I'm afraid the academy leadership considers face-saving quite important."
Wizard Edwin nodded in agreement: "True, maintaining appearances is indeed crucial."
"I propose we sustain his life with potions for now. If we can last a month, we might reduce the Blood Curse's spread radius."
As Wizard Edwin and Sophia the Witch discussed, the many Second-Class and Third-Class Wizard Apprentice assistants present grew visibly pale. They'd all engaged in verbal exchanges with this First-Class Wizard Apprentice patient.
This meant they'd all been drawn into the Blood Curse's range.
The curse seemed specifically designed to target them.
Many apprentices who'd considered themselves healthy now felt chills down their spines—they'd been cursed all along.
The Blood Curse's activation mechanism was terrifying: upon the cursed individual's death, it would immediately begin harvesting all connected victims until either all were dead or the curse was forcibly broken.
Thus, though currently healthy, if that First-Class Wizard Apprentice patient suddenly died, they'd immediately suffer the curse's effects and perish.
Though alive, they might as well have been walking corpses already.
Meanwhile, Locke was encountering such a curse for the first time.
Studying the documents in his hands, he felt inwardly astonished.
This curse represented the Blood Curse Court's signature Spell—a specialty where they'd developed the deepest expertise in the entire Southeast Corner Domain.
'What an eye-opener,' Locke thought, glancing at Sophia the Witch. 'No wonder my teacher brought me to witness this. A Potionology Assistant who's never seen such phenomena would always lack something essential.'
Locke rapidly considered solutions, only to dismiss them one by one. Ordinary antidote potions couldn't neutralize a Blood Curse.
Even the Bear Spirit Bile Antidote Potion—typically effective against curse magic—would have minimal effect here.
That potion worked by enhancing magical resistance to strengthen a wizard's defenses against curses.
But this Blood Curse operated through sustained social connections and relationships. Unless one possessed Formal Wizard-level resistance, stronger magic resistance merely bought brief respite without addressing the root cause.
Moreover, Locke had already witnessed clinic attendants administering Bear Spirit Bile Antidote Potion to the First-Class Wizard Apprentice patient as recklessly as pouring water.
Finding himself momentarily helpless, Locke harbored no negativity—after all, having just qualified as a Potionology Assistant, lacking both experience and accumulated knowledge made failure expected.
The Blood Curse Court wasn't to be underestimated.
With the help of the laborers, that First Class Wizard Apprentice finally managed to sign the contract with his own hand.
Once the loan agreement was signed, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling that their lives might just be spared.
"Now that the contract is signed, he'll have the money for treatment," Edwin the Wizard said indifferently. "Take him to a single room on the third floor. A Blood Curse like this shouldn't remain on the second level."
"Sophia, have your apprentice work alongside mine. Let's go discuss the other issues over there. This isn't the only troublesome Blood Curse—two new, even more difficult ones have appeared on the third floor."
"Those were cast by Formal Wizards from the Blood Curse Court, far more challenging to resolve than this one. We should deal with those two first."
"Agreed." The Witch Sophia turned to Locke and nodded. "Go with the laborers. Be careful."
"As Potion Masters, this is where we can truly exert our greatest strength. Confronting these cursed forces is also the moment we create better potion formulas."
Locke bowed and said, "Understood, Master."
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