—I never imagined I'd place first before making it onto the Sanjiang list, but your support kept me there for several days running, and I'm incredibly happy about that. I never dared to hope I could beat the big-name authors, since the difference in readership base is plain as day, but being able to stay a little longer is wonderful. Please keep supporting me with your Sanjiang votes～
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Once all the magic materials and items he could currently obtain were in hand, Lucian stopped his tutoring of Sage, Smale, White Honey Sugar, Mercury, and the other Magic Apprentices. He lowered his voice and grinned slyly. "Heh, that's where we'll end things this time. When I attend the next gathering, I'll explain more for all of you."
Having already realized that knowledge was equivalent to money, and being desperately short of funds and hungry for more, Lucian naturally wasn't going to trade his knowledge away carelessly for some useless trinkets. Besides, his own foundations were far from solid—before he went back to consolidate, review, and study further, saying too much would only expose his ignorance. Maintaining an air of mystery was the best approach.
Receiving guidance on so many difficult arcane problems from a seasoned, erudite, fully-fledged mage left Sage and the others thoroughly satisfied. They even felt that what they had given in return was far less than the value of what they had gained. So they all rose, placed their right hands to their foreheads, and performed the deep bow of respect that ancient mages used to honor their mentors, expressing their heartfelt gratitude.
"Professor, next we will begin exchanging items and 'knowledge,' as well as holding our arcane discussions. You are welcome to observe," Sage said to Lucian, brimming with joy.
The so-called arcane discussion was distinct from "tutoring"—it involved everyone freely voicing their opinions on various arcane problems and debating with one another. It was completely open. If you didn't wish to offer your views on even a single problem, you were free to leave once the item exchange was done. Sage, on behalf of all the Magic Apprentices, inviting Lucian to observe meant he could simply listen without saying a word.
Of course, in the eyes of Sage, White Honey Sugar, Mercury, and the other Magic Apprentices, a gentleman of such vast knowledge and formidable power certainly couldn't possibly care about the rudimentary, apprentice-level arcane problems they discussed. If he could be persuaded to attend, however, he might suddenly take an interest in some topic and offer a comment or two—and that would be exactly the kind of harvest they had always hoped for.
There were still some apprentice-level spells that Lucian had been unable to analyze smoothly, owing to interference from knowledge he had brought over but not yet fully mastered. In terms of spellcasting, combination, and technique, he was also still limited to what he had gleaned from the Witch's notes and his own trial-and-error. So when he heard Sage's invitation, it was as if he had been struck by a deluge of money. He suppressed his excitement and answered calmly, "Very well, I'll listen in."
"Thank you, Professor." White Honey Sugar was the first to speak, her hoarse voice carrying a hint of sensuality.
After all ten Magic Apprentices had finished exchanging items and knowledge, the discussion began in earnest.
Since most of the difficult arcane problems that needed tutoring had been resolved by Lucian today, and many more had been settled during the knowledge-and-item exchange just now, after tackling only a few remaining thorny issues, they moved on—as Lucian had hoped—to the analysis of certain spells and the practical casting and combination of specific magic. These were smaller, application-oriented questions.
Although each Magic Apprentice had certainly held back their own unique techniques and knowledge, even the general discussion on magical application was enormously rewarding for Lucian. It went a long way toward filling the gaps in his apprentice-level practical skills, bridging some of the chasm between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. He listened with total absorption, every ounce of his attention focused.
Unfortunately, with his hood drawn low, in the eyes of White Honey Sugar, Oak, Sage, and the other Magic Apprentices, the powerful and enigmatic Professor appeared to hold their shallow discussions in utter contempt—sitting quietly to one side, lost in contemplation of far loftier problems. That brought them all a twinge of disappointment.
Around twenty minutes past midnight, the Magic Apprentices ended their discussion and casually exchanged some information about the Melzer Black Forest and several well-known ruins in the surrounding area. Then the secret gathering officially came to a close.
As they respectfully escorted the Professor out of the basement, Sage spoke with earnest sincerity. "Respected Professor, if there is any news about Wraith Dust, I will tell you directly at the next gathering. Of course, if you would prefer not to waste time, you could give me a way to contact you."
Lucian shook his head. "If there's any news, you can tell the Owl. He knows how to reach me." Although Smale wasn't necessarily reliable, having a go-between gave Lucian far more room to maneuver. Besides, he knew Smale's true identity—covert observation was a given.
Mercury let out a soft sigh, looking somewhat deflated. "Then, Professor, will you come to the gathering in two weeks?"
The eyes of the other Magic Apprentices, hidden beneath their hoods, seemed to converge on Lucian.
"It depends. I might venture deep into the Melzer Black Forest, or it could be a critical window for a magic experiment. I can't say for certain what things will look like two weeks from now." Lucian intended to make his attendance at the secret gatherings appear entirely random, so that no one could predict his movements.
"At least he didn't refuse outright!" Mercury and the other Magic Apprentices consoled themselves with a small measure of relief. They had been worried that without the draw of the *Arcane* journal, this mysterious "Professor" would stop coming altogether.
Lucian's haul this time went well beyond practical magical know-how—it included a good deal of tangible material as well. Chief among these was a full set of magic laboratory apparatus, which was by far the heaviest. Fortunately, Lucian had been keeping up his physical training during this period, and his strength had grown considerably compared to before. That saved him from looking undignified—or losing his composure and his vigilance—while climbing the ladder out of the basement.
Once outside, Smale used telepathy at close range to communicate with his Familiar, the owl Doro. Only when Doro swayed and wobbled its way through a confirmation that nothing was amiss did Smale signal that Lucian and the other apprentices who had followed them out could depart.
The night was deep and dark, like a bolt of fabric dyed pitch-black. Lucian casually chose a direction entirely different from everyone else's and set off at a brisk, unhurried walk, weaving through the familiar slums—left here, right there.
When he reached a relatively open spot, Lucian stopped abruptly and spoke in an icy, chilling voice: "You there. Come out. Stop following me."
Silence. Nothing but pitch-black silence.
"I've already spotted you. No more hiding. If you have business with me, there's no need to creep around in the shadows—you can simply come forward and ask." A terrifying aura of cold emanated from Lucian, as though a powerful spell was on the verge of being unleashed.
In truth, Lucian had noticed nothing at all. He was simply being cautious, employing the blustering trick favored by villains and wicked mages to smoke out any potential follower. After all, behind people like Mercury and White Honey Sugar stood real, fully-fledged mages.
In the profound darkness, just as Lucian was preparing to bluff one more time before circling his way home, a crow atop a tree ahead cawed loudly and took flight, heading off in another direction—apparently startled by the sound of his voice.
Whether he had truly been trailed by someone's Familiar or summoned creature, or had simply startled a passing crow, Lucian was quite satisfied with the result. He shook his head with an air of knowing profundity. "Really now…"