Chapter 171: Instruction
Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion
Facing the apprentices’ attitude, Tom realized how rebellious these young teenagers could be in this age, so he hurriedly clarified, “I want you folks to understand that the Congress of Magic is not like the past ancient magic empire, and most of the sorcerers in the congress will still be willing to accept you as his or her apprentice even after you have studied under Mr. Evans, as long as you’re not Mr. Evans registered apprentice.”
Hearing Tom’s words, a few apprentices raised their heads.
“I know many of you once heard from Mr. Astar that lots and lots of sorcerers, because they could not keep an open mind toward arcana, failed to make the breakthrough upward to middle or high-rank mage level. However, as you folks can see, Mr. Evans is a real sorcerer already before his twenties, and this talent is quite precious even in the congress. Compared with those old-school sorcerers, Mr. Evans might be able to provide you folks with great new insights, and maybe one day Mr. Evans will become a mentor!”
The title, mentor, was especially used to respect those high-rank mages. Across the continent, high-rank mages were very rare, even in the Duchy of Violet.
Tom’s words clearly showed that he saw the great potential in Lucien, especially because of the task had Lucien perfectly fulfilled before.
As many of them were quite shy, some young apprentices started to whisper to each other again.
At this time, Sprint, who clearly viewed himself as the leader of the apprentices, responded in a quite firm attitude, “I still prefer to study arcana on my own.”
“I agree. We’ve all got our own schedules.” Katrina nodded.
Tom’s face looked a bit gloomy now. He rather felt awkward for Lucien.
When Tom was about to say something else, Lucien finally started to talk to the apprentices, “Everyone needs to make their own choices, and I understand. What about the others? Anyone wants to study arcana with me?”
The six or seven teenagers standing close to Sprint and Katrina exchanged a look among each other and lowered their heads again, and the rest of the apprentices went back to silence as well.
Even the teenagers who wanted to give it a shot felt quite hesitant again.
At this time, finally, one teenager boy took a step forward and said in respect, “Mr. Evans, can you be my teacher?”
“Annick?!” The rest of the apprentices were very surprised.
“You sure, Annick?” Lucien smiled.
Annick was a plain-looking teenager boy, however, at this time, his blue eyes were shining with hope.
“Yes, Mr. Evans,” answered Annick sincerely. “I come from a family of magic, and I’ve been infused with all kinds of exciting legends of the great sorcerers since when I was a kid. However, it has been a hundred years since our family produced the last real sorcerer. I believe in your talent in magic, Mr. Evans… You becoming a real sorcerer at such a young age makes me believe in your wisdom. I hope that I could have the pleasure to become your student, even for only a short period of time.”
Annick’s family had been falling in the past years. Annick’s spiritual power potential was greater than his family peers, and hence he was burdened with the great hope from his parents and relatives. However, Annick’s arcana talent was not as impressive as that of his spiritual power, so he understood that he needed to seize every possible opportunity that he encountered.
“Well… Welcome, Annick.” Lucien nodded, “Let’s work together.”
Then, following Annick, another two teenager apprentices volunteered.
“Mr. Evans, I want to learn from you as well.” Layria’s voice was crisp, and her big eyes looked very sincere.
“Me, too. Mr. Evans.” Heidi joined them as well with his slightly chubby face with few freckles on it.
As they were speaking, both of them slightly pulled Annick’s shirt from behind, as if they were showing their support to him.
Lucien was a bit touched by their pure friendship. He smiled and said to Annick, Layria and Heidi, “No problem. Three students is enough. I cannot handle teaching more.”
Subconsciously, Lucien used the word “teaching”, since he never felt that his understanding toward arcana was inferior to most of his peers.
Hearing that, a few more apprentices who did not seize the chance fast enough started to feel a bit regretful.
“Congratulations to you three.” Tom gently applauded, “The rest of you folks should keep working hard.”
“We will, Mr. Tom.” Sprint took a glance at the three Lucien’s students, turned around and continued to do his study again, and so did Katrina.
Tom shrugged to Lucien, “Young kids… Anyway, Mr. Evans, please just pick a room on the third floor, whichever you like, to stay for the week. In seven days, we’ll leave for Allyn. During the seven days, avoid going out as much as possible.”
Lucien nodded, “I’m looking forward to the trip in seven days.”
After Tom left, Lucien asked his three students to sit down in a half circle-shaped couch and started to do his own introduction, “I’m Evans, from the west side of the continent. I’m more into the School of Element and Astrology, but no mastery yet. Feel free to discuss any questions you have with me, please.”
“Mr. Evans, nice to meet you,” said the chubby-faced girl, “I’m Heidi, and I come from Syracuse. I was recommended by a sorcerer in my country to Mr. Astar and then arrived at Sturk. Within a couple of weeks’ study, I’m already an apprentice in training. I’m currently with Element Meditation, but also studying the rest of the schools as well.”
Heidi was the most outgoing one among the three apprentices, so she introduced herself first. As a young teenager, she could not help showing off a bit of her talent.
Following Heidi, Layria said to Lucien in respect, “Mr. Evans, I’m Layria from a common family in Gusta. Since my referrer is a gentleman from the congress, I’m currently practicing Magnetic Resonance Meditation. Mr. Astar told us that, no matter which school we choose to specialize in, basic arcana knowledge is always indispensable, so I’m very looking forward to your instruction.”
“I’m from a small town in the Duchy of Violet, Mr. Evans,” said Annick. “I study Astrology and Element, too.”
Then, before Lucien asked for the arcana books, Heidi already carried all her books to him, “Mr. Evans, can you understand all of them? In most cases, I have no clue at all.”
“Me neither,” agreed both Layria and Annick.
Taking over the books from Heidi, Lucien started to leaf through them.
The first book was The Significance of Modelling, and its preface wrote:
“In the ancient magic empire time, the belief that prevailed is that understanding the different meanings of the corresponding parts of a magic model is unnecessary and inappropriate, instead, copying the models existing inside of the magic creatures is enough. However, as long as there is myth, there should be an answer; as long as there is an answer, there should be a way to discover it. And if we cannot find the way, it is because we are not on the correct path.”
Lucien strongly agreed with the author of the book. He believed that the basic principles of science should be shared by both Earth and this world. Although there must be differences, there should always be ways to identify the differences, as long as one was willing to bravely make hypothesis and carefully verify them.
Lucien turned the book to the front page again, and he was very surprised to find the familiar name on there: the author of the book was Yaroran Hathaway, the maker of Natasha’s Thunder.
Since his three students were still waiting, Lucien did not spend any extra time on exploring who was Yaroran Hathaway. In a reasonable speed, Lucien browsed through all the books and copied them in his spirit library.
“Mr. Evans, how do you think?” Seeing that Lucien put down the last book, both Heidi and Layria asked at the same time.
Lucien found that, despite the fact that all the content was about the magic world, the basic science principles and knowledge lying underneath was about junior high school or high school level, so he nodded slightly and explained, “The reason why you three could not understand is the lack of the corresponding basic knowledge, since the knowledge in these books is built upon other more basic books. And among these basic books, you three should work on Basic Geometry of Magic and Common Algebra first.”
“Are these two books also hard to understand?” Layria asked a bit concernedly.
“I’ll read them with you.” Lucien tried to encourage them, “The two books should not be too difficult if we’re willing to spend lots of time on the exercises.”
“Lots of time on… the exercises…?” murmured Layria confusedly. Clearly, she did not really get the idea “exercise”, and neither did Annick and Heidi.
As a university student who had experienced the nightmarish college entrance examination in the country in his original world, Lucien started to pray for the three teenagers out of sympathy.
Obviously, they still had no idea of how much work they would be asked to do soon.
