Chapter 41: The Circle of Magical Apprentices

  Smael looked at the mysterious magician shrouded in a black robe, and the shadow cast by the hood covered his entire lower face. He suddenly felt an inexplicable chill, eeriness, and deep-seated terror, like staring into an endless abyss, giving him immense pressure. If he hadn't known that this was a necessary attire under the control of the church, Smael would have thought that the other person was a black magician from ancient times who specialized in studying forbidden magic.

  After donning the "Avenger of Frost", Lucien discovered that there was a constant influx of icy coldness into his body, making his soul as clear and cool as ice, his will as thick and immovable as a mountain. Ordinary apprentice-level magic that acted on the soul, will, or spirit would have no effect, and this will could even mimic the formal knight's explosive aura, slightly revealing it to intimidate others.

  Lucien slowly walked into the room and casually closed the door behind him, then sat down on a stool as if he had returned to his own home, seemingly completely disregarding Smeyer's vigilant gaze. After sitting down, Lucien responded in an intentionally distorted voice:

  "I met a witch by chance several weeks ago, and through her I learned that there was a magician from the mainland Magic Council headquarters in Alto. I'm looking forward to it, so I made an appointment to meet that magician. You should understand how painful it is to live in hiding, always afraid of being discovered by the Church. I really want to go to a place where magicians can learn magic freely, but unfortunately, before the appointed time arrived, the witch was burned to death by the Church. Because I'm worried that the Church is secretly monitoring the ruins of the witch, so I just secretly observed and waited for things to pass for a while before going to ask that young man named Lucien, but then I met your owl Doro."

  As for Smael's question of whether he was an official magician or not, Lucien neither affirmed nor denied it, as if he had never heard of it.

  It seems that for this kind of secret gathering of magic apprentices, the witch thought it was normal. Moreover, since she didn't get the information and materials she wanted, she didn't record it in her magic notes, after all, those notes were mainly used to record her own experiences and insights in learning magic.

  Lucien's response made Smael let out a long sigh of relief, for the same experiences, emotions and identity as magicians had brought their relationship closer together. Among Altor's magician apprentices and magicians, they were like small characters struggling to survive in desperate situations, and once they found someone of the same kind, they would first think of uniting together. And a formal magician, if he really wanted to kill himself or rob him of his belongings, could have done so directly just now, how could he possibly defend against a formal magician?

  He chose his words carefully, then spoke hastily: "Mr. Magician, as you can see, I've known the witch for several months and invited her to a secret meeting of some magic apprentices in Alto. About a month ago, she suddenly told us that she knew a strange, formal magician who wanted to get in touch with us further, and if he was trustworthy, she would introduce him to join us. Soon after, she joyfully told us that the other party was a formal magician from the mainland magic council headquarters, where one could study magic openly and freely."

  "We, the apprentices of magic, were all thrilled about this matter and invited the witch to invite him to our gathering. Mr. Magician, we also hate living in hiding, being discovered by the church at any time, and want to go to the Continental Magic Council headquarters through this magician. However, he was delayed due to something and couldn't attend for the first time, only entrusting the witch to send over a copy of "Arcane" magazine from 25 years ago. After reading this issue, we all believed that the Continental Magic Council really existed because the content on it was unimaginable to us, and many were even incomprehensible."

  "But before our second meeting, news arrived that the witch had been burned to death. Since I was the only one who knew the witch, after confirming that the church didn't suspect me, I hastily moved from the Violet Lily district to the Copper Crown Inn, in order to observe and search for any messages the witch might have left behind, as well as the whereabouts of that formal magician gentleman. Similarly, because I was worried about being secretly monitored by the church, I waited all these days before taking action."

  Lucien gazed at Smiley's expression, seeing that his excitement, shock, surprise, disappointment and regret were all very real, and what he said was also quite logical. He roughly confirmed the content of his words, feeling slightly disappointed in his heart, thinking that he would have heard about the Continental Magic Council.

  After calming down, Lucien slowly opened his mouth: "It's really a pity. Perhaps the witch was taught to grab it together when she met that magician. A magic apprentice, which formal magician from the Magic Council headquarters can attract the attention and attention of the church?"

  Smail nodded: "I think so too, what a pity." A disappointed expression was hard to conceal.

  The owl said loudly: "This is really a tragedy!"

  "By the way, where is that issue of Arcane you mentioned earlier? Can I take a look?" Lucien asked, bringing up another important matter.

  Smile wryly: "Mr. Magician, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, this issue is circulated among us in turn, and it's not in my hands now, hehe, there are many articles on it, every word I recognize, but when they're connected together, I don't understand what they mean, maybe only a formal magician like you can understand, if you don't mind, why not attend our secret gathering, then you'll be able to see it."

  After seeing that the formal magician didn't make any dangerous moves even under strong pressure, Smayle felt that he was trustworthy and not an evil magician with a brutal heart or bad intentions. So, he boldly invited Lucien to attend his secret gathering, thinking that if he could ask for advice from this magician at that time, some of the difficulties in his magic might be perfectly solved, allowing his strength to increase.

  Lucien thought for a moment, feeling that with the "Ice Snow Avenger" ring on him, he had some self-defense capabilities. Moreover, exchanging ideas with other magicians and magic apprentices would greatly benefit his own magical studies. Additionally, under the church's control, there was a natural sense of closeness among magic apprentices and magicians. Therefore, Lucien thought it necessary to take some risks and asked, "What do you all do at this secret gathering?"

  The mysterious magician's tone relaxed, Smiley suddenly became spirited and hastily explained: "Because Alto was once the core of the ancient Hillvannas Magic Empire, many magicians hid here to secretly teach their apprentices and maintain their own magical heritage. Moreover, due to this reputation, students who occasionally obtained magical inheritances from various places in the Kingdom of Valore also came to seek out key magical materials and guidance."

  However, under the control of the church, it was initially difficult for each magician and apprentice to meet each other. Later on, they gradually encountered each other while purchasing materials or adventuring in nearby ruins, leaving behind secret ways to contact each other. In Alto, due to various accidental relationships, different magical circles were formed, each holding secret gatherings to exchange magical materials, discuss magical problems, etc.

  "Our little coven of magic apprentices was formed about seven or eight years ago when a few of us were on an adventure deep in the Melzerwald forest. We hold secret meetings every two weeks, and after that, those original apprentices introduced other trustworthy magic apprentices they met along the way. The more people we have, the easier it is to find materials, spells, spell circles, potions, etc., and also to discuss magical problems better. Ah, at our gatherings, everyone dresses up like you, Mr. Magician, except for the newcomers, no one knows each other's identities or whether they have any other magical connections."

  "If Mr. Magician can join our circle, I believe that with your strength, you can become the core of this circle, and I am willing to introduce and guarantee for you."

  There was such a secret gathering, and Smell had also seen apprentice-level magical items, even formal magical items that others had obtained through inheritance. Therefore, after the initial panic and excitement, he began to have some doubts about the true strength of the black-robed mage in front of him.

  However, the fact that the other party was able to track down Madoro with ease and find himself without making any noise made Smeyer decide to treat him as a formal magician, and it's not too late to judge through magic questions at the gathering.

  Knowledge is forever the best standard for judging a magician's true strength!

  "I need magical materials, potions, and that issue of 'Arcane' magazine. Lucien made up his mind to attend the secret gathering of magic apprentices: "When and where will you hold the meeting? My magic lab was destroyed recently, I need a complete set of magic lab equipment, if it can be prepared in advance, I'd be happy to participate."

  Smile smiled: "This Saturday night, we will have a party, specifically in the sewer where, has not been decided yet, please magic Mr. You leave me contact information, after Friday night confirmation, I directly contact you." He tried to make his smile kind and sincere, but unfortunately, the eagle nose and gloomy temperament slightly broke the atmosphere.

  "Don't go to the sewer, something big has happened there recently and the church is closely monitoring it." Lucien reminded in a hoarse voice, "Don't ask what it is or how I know, once you've confirmed the location and time, draw a simple graphic mark on the corner of the wall of the eighth house opposite the witch's ruins, I'll see it."

  That's where Aunt Elisa lives next door, and Lucien can see it directly when he goes to eat without worrying about being discovered on purpose.

  "What, the sewer is being closely monitored?!" Smiley was extremely surprised, and then became fearful. If it weren't for meeting this mysterious magician, he and his companions would probably be in great danger. Therefore, he trusted Lucien a bit more in his heart, and reduced a lot of his guard. "Alright, Magician, let's agree on the meaning of each graphic symbol, and how should I address you? A code name will do."

  After agreeing on the meaning of the graphic symbols and asking Smael's name and code, Lucien stood up and patted his black robe: "You can call me 'Professor', by the way, my recent death spirit system magic experiment needs black fungus and resentment dust, you can also prepare in advance."

  "'Professor'? What does that mean?" Smir looked at Lucien as he slowly walked to the door, opened it and went out, then closed it gently, just like after visiting a friend casually. "The two words 'teach' and 'grant' are simply connected together, is this a newly created word? It's completely impossible to judge his usual identity from this title."