Chapter 195: Donald’s Reminder
Translator: Kris_Liu Editor: Vermillion
The next morning, when the warm sun was shining in the sky, a carriage was driving down a remote road toward a large building in a dark green forest.
“Lucien, when you’re done with the procedures, I’ll introduce you to Jerome and Rock, and then you’ll be able to exchange your books with them,” Lazar, still wearing his black long coat, looked out of the window and stared at the green trees, “but you have to remember that you can’t exchange spells with any sorcerer, unless that spell is over a hundred years old. Although learning magic or arcana can be very secret, and the congress also encourages sorcerers to exchange their knowledge, but if no purchase record can be found with the new magic you use in public, you’d be in big trouble. You’ll need to either pay hundreds of times more money, or even stay in jail for ten years, and your corresponding memory will also be erased.”
Lucien nodded. “I see. Thanks, man. I really appreciate all the help you’ve offered me.”
At the same time, in Lucien mind, he felt that this strategy adopted by the congress was very smart. Since one’s earning of arcana points relied largely on how many times his or her paper was cited, ideas and knowledge exchanging between sorcerers could give every sorcerer better chance to get their papers to be more influential. However, new spells were different, as they directly meant power, and needed to be protected carefully.
“No worries, after all, we are friends, aren’t we?” Lazar waved his hands casually and smiled, “Actually almost every influential group has a few unique spells that have never been submitted to the board, including us, the Will of Elements. Our group and Holm Royal Magic Academy jointly own a legendary magic, Element Breakdown, which is created by the grand arcanist, Hathaway Hoffenberg. If you join our group, when you become a ninth circle sorcerer, you can buy this magic and try to analyze it, and that will definitely bring you lots of benefit when you want to upgrade to a legendary level.”
Lazar was promoting his group obviously, and he got a bit excited. In his eyes, Lucien was a very promising sorcerer.
“I will think about it…” said Lucien thoughtfully.
Actually, because of Natasha, Lucien did not mind joining the Will of Element at all, so even if one day his identity as Professor was exposed, he still had a powerful group backing himself up, however, on the other hand, Lucien was also very interested in studying soul, since this was a world where soul did really exist.
And, if Lucien was going to join the Will of Element, he wanted to enjoy more attention from the group, instead of becoming one of its common members like the many ordinary members in the Hand of Paleness.
The memory of what Lucien witnessed in the viscount’s castle was still fresh.
Understanding why Lucien was being quite hesitant, Lazar grinned and changed the topic, “So are you still distressed with the money you just spent buying the materials?”
“For sure.” Lucien frowned. The seventeen purified elements he just bought cost him two high-quality Wave Stones, and what Lucien had now was only one Wave Stone, two Thales, one arcana point, and some different kinds of experiment materials. Lucien felt that he just got robbed.
“Cheer up, man.” Lazar patted Lucien on his shoulder, “Just be grateful that the school has the other forty-eight purified elements, and doing experiments there is much cheaper, or it could even be free if your experiment was also part of the apprentices’ class. Besides, you don’t even need to rent a place there! The school generously offers you a small house with a garden.”
“You’re right, Lazar.” Lucien held his head a bit higher. He was hoping that publishing his first paper could save him out of the financially difficult situation, and before he came here, Lucien had sent his agreement letter back to Common Arcana and registered the school’s address with the journal to stay in contact with them.
A while later, the carriage slowly stopped in front of a black iron gate of the ancient magic empire style. A black golem, seemingly made of iron, came and opened the gate.
…
On the third floor of the black magic tower.
Lucien, wearing white shirt, brown vest, and double-breasted black coat, was sitting in front of an old, ordinary-looking, bare-headed man, who was wearing a black magic robe stitched with silver and white patterns.
“Welcome, Evans. I’m Donald, headmaster of Douglas,” said the level-four arcanist, fifth circle sorcerer, who was organizing some paperworks.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Donald.” Lucien stood up from his seat and bowed slightly, “Please just call me Lucien.”
“Good. As another Mr. Lucien Evans we have here prefers us to call him K, I’ll just call you Lucien then.” When Donald was saying, he handed Lucien a folder, “Take a look. These are the courses we have so far in Douglas.”
Lucien opened the folder and carefully read it. In the folder, Lucien saw Common Tongue, Ancient Magic Empire Language, Pit Language, Demon Language, Basic Magic Potion, Basic Element, Basic Electromagnetism, Basic Necromancy, Basic Magic Construction, Basic Alchemy, …, Introduction of Magic Circle, Magic Analysis, Basic Summoning, …, Culture and Customs, History and Music.
“Music?” Lucien was surprised.
“Ha, students also need to relax a bit, right?” Donald touched his white moustache and smiled, “Our last music teacher just got fired because he violated one of the rules of the school. Lucien, are you also interested in this position besides your other teaching job? Can you play any musical instruments?”
“I’m quite good at piano and violin.” Lucien nodded and asked directly, “If I also work as a music teacher, can I get a higher salary?”
“Two more arcana points per month.” Donald nodded cheerfully, “But remember, keep your distance from some female apprentices. They are quite… say, ebullient. By the way, I heard that there’s also a musician all the way across the strait in Aalto whose name’s also Lucien Evans, and he’s good at playing piano as well. Quite interesting.”
Lucien put on a polite smile and did not say anything. Right now, he was only interested in making more money.
“So… Let’s see.” Donald looked down at his folder, “Since you just joined the congress, and you probably need more time to work on your own arcana study first, what about you start with teaching Ancient Magic Empire Language, Magic Creatures and Demon Language? That’s… ten lessons a week, and you’ll be teaching two classes.”
“No problem.” Lucien agreed with Donald immediately. In his book, Astrology and Elements, Demon Language was introduced as part of magic pact and summoning knowledge.
Then Lucien added, “Can I choose the two classes, though?”
He hoped that he could teach the class in which his three apprentices were.
“I think so. All the courses are under re-arrangement right now,” said Donald. Then, he registered Lucien’s name for the two classes. One of them was the class called Thorn Tree, where Lucien’s three apprentices were in. Lucien would also be teaching music there.
After all the paper works were done, Donald crossed his hands and leaned his chin against his hands, “I have to tell you something first, Lucien.”
“Go ahead, please, Mr. Donald,” said Lucien sincerely.
Donald’s voice became low, “You know, working here in a school is a dream for many junior-rank sorcerers, and Douglas ranks the best among all the schools, therefore, we never considered anyone having no arcana level to be one of our teachers. However, you’re an exception, since a gentleman in Affairs Committee spoke highly of you, and recommended you to us. Therefore, this school’s a place not only for the apprentices to grow, but also for you. I personally don’t see anything wrong with offering the talented ones more resources to grow, but you shall not waste the resources given. If you cannot get your official arcana level in a year, you’ll be fired.”
“I’ll try my best,” responded Lucien humbly.
“I trust you, though, Lucien. Many teachers in Douglas, although they haven’t become middle-rank arcanists or sorcerers yet, have their specialities. For example, Mr. K is a level two arcanist. Exchanging with them can benefit you a lot,” said Donald earnestly.
Lucien nodded sincerely, “Thank you for reminding me, Mr. Donald. May I ask who’s the gentleman in the committee? I’d like to thank him as well.”
“You don’t need to know,” said Donald directly. “Maybe when you become a middle-rank sorcerer, he’ll pay more attention to you. Anyway, during the day, the lab is open only to students. When school’s over in the afternoon, you can use the labs for free. To conclude, observe the school rules and start working tomorrow.”
Donald handed Lucien a nameplate and a few pages of paper, on which there were two hundred school rules.
