Chapter 113: News

After advancing to a third-level wizard apprentice, the side effects of the Starry Sky Potion affected Helag much less.

The previous restlessness was now almost negligible.

“Dark Energy Shield!” Helag cast the spell, noticing a significant increase in the shield’s strength.

He felt an increase in the surrounding energy particles, though the particles had always been there. His advancement allowed him to sense more of them.

Half a month after his advancement, Helag continued his routine.

The newly advanced Helag needed time to familiarize himself with his new strength and stabilize his mental power through meditation.

Deep Blue also improved, extending its detection range to 500 meters, making it feel vastly different from before.

“Elusa?” He sensed Elusa’s carriage approaching.

Helag realized he hadn’t visited the Lord’s castle in a while, prompting Elusa’s visit.

He tidied up and went to the door.

As he reached the door, Elusa’s carriage arrived, driven by the great knight Levant.

Elusa wore a long dress, traditional noble attire, covering most of her body. She dressed formally when outside.

“Why are you here?” Helag asked, helping her down from the carriage.

Elusa pouted, “You still remember me? I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

“I told you, I needed to focus on my training,” Helag said, smoothly wrapping his arm around her waist.

“You succeeded?” Elusa sensed the unusual aura around Helag.

“Yes,” Helag nodded.

“Sixteen-year-old third-level wizard apprentice…” Elusa knew from Dino that advancing to a third-level apprentice at sixteen indicated immense potential, possibly becoming a formal wizard.

Not all apprentices became formal wizards; many remained apprentices for life.

“What are your plans now?” Elusa asked.

Helag pondered, “I’ll stay here for now. I don’t know when things will settle in Moonlight Forest. If I meet the requirements to become a formal wizard and still can’t return, I’ll need to find the resources for advancement.”

“So, you’ll leave here eventually?” Elusa asked.

Helag nodded, “Yes, I won’t stay here long.”

Elusa sighed, expecting this.

She touched her belly, “Can you give me a child before you leave?”

“I’m a third-level apprentice now; it’s hard to have children with you,” Helag shook his head.

“How do you know if you don’t try?” Elusa persisted, holding Helag’s hand.

Feeling a stir within, Helag picked Elusa up and carried her inside.

After a long time apart, they indulged in each other once more.

…

Two months later.

“Helag Merlin: Strength 8.0, Agility 7.1, Constitution 8.8, Spirit 18.6, Magic 100%.”

Helag completed the eleventh star meditation, taking nearly three months, with the Starry Sky Potion’s effect significantly reduced.

The second dot matrix lit its first point, with fourteen remaining.

Advancing to a formal wizard required twenty points of mental strength. The Starry Sky Meditation allowed five stars at the third-level apprentice stage, so Helag could meditate on four more stars.

“It’s time to prepare for advancing to a formal wizard.”

Helag considered the difficulty of obtaining the necessary resources if he couldn’t return to Moonlight Forest soon.

The ancient potion required for advancement had many high-level ingredients, hard to find.

In Moonlight Forest, Helag could buy them from Larry.

His spatial ring held many valuable items, enough to buy the ancient potion.

While he could make it himself, the cost was high.

Ancient potion-making was far more complex than the Dawn or Dawn Dusk Potions. Even with Deep Blue’s help, success was unlikely.

Helag believed ancient potions were critical resources controlled by wizard organizations, almost impossible for lone apprentices to make.

This was why potion masters like Larry held such high status; they could easily make ancient potions, crucial for wizard organizations.

Rogue apprentices rarely advanced to formal wizards, lacking access to ancient potions.

Wizard organizations controlled these resources, essentially controlling the path to becoming a formal wizard.

Besides the ancient potion, advancing required a potion called Amanda.

Amanda could stimulate potential, aiding the breakthrough to a formal wizard, and could be used multiple times.

This was why advancing before eighteen was crucial; older bodies had less potential.

Older apprentices often failed to advance, even with multiple Amanda potions, burning out their lifespan.

Many older third-level apprentices, unwilling to stop, overdosed on Amanda potions, burning out their life force.

While pondering these issues, Helag noticed his rune stone flashing.

“News from Moonlight Forest!”

Helag quickly activated the rune stone to check the message.

“Moonlight Forest and Green Hut’s war is nearing its end. A ceasefire and negotiations are underway. You can return. I’ll notify you of any changes.”

The message from Larry was sent two days ago.

Being far from Moonlight Forest, Helag received messages late.

Also, being outside, he couldn’t reply, only receive messages.

Seeing the message, Helag looked around, feeling nostalgic. “It’s time to leave.”

He didn’t rush to depart, needing to carefully plan his route back.

He ruled out the Kingdom of Violet, avoiding the eerie Creek Valley Town.

With the eastern route dismissed, he had to choose between heading north or taking a ship along the west coast to the east.

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