"Just so happens, I have a lead on a formal Wizard's ruins..." Jiamen said.
After hearing Leilin's response, the smile on Jiamen's face grew even wider.
"Ruins? A lead? And you actually dare to go out?"
Leilin was somewhat surprised. From an outsider's perspective, Jiamen — as the one who killed Toressas, the genius apprentice of a hostile faction — had already earned the hatred of that faction's formal Wizard. At a time like this, he still dared to venture out for exploration?
After hearing Leilin's words, Jiamen's face immediately darkened.
"That old bastard, I'll kill him sooner or later!!! I'll turn his corpse into a specimen and put it in my laboratory..."
After finishing his curse, Jiamen explained to Leilin: "The Black Night Lighthouse is still quite powerful. Under that lord's mediation, neither the Gothic Sage's Cottage nor the White Forest Castle would dare to retaliate now — unless they want to be destroyed immediately!"
"On the contrary, as time passes — especially since the ceasefire was only signed for twenty years — my situation will only become more dangerous. That's why I need to strike back somehow, to make my own life a bit more secure!"
"Advancing to formal Wizard?" Leilin raised an eyebrow, guessing at Jiamen's thoughts.
"That's right! The only one who can deal with a Wizard is always another Wizard!" A flash of longing crossed Jiamen's face. "Once I become a formal Wizard, why would I need to fear their revenge?"
Leilin nodded. Jiamen's reasoning was sound.
The Academy and a mentor's protection both belonged to others — they could be snatched away at any time. Only power that was truly one's own was the most reliable!!
After learning the basic details, Leilin actually grew more composed, slowly leaning back in his chair.
"Then, two questions — where are the ruins, and why come to me?"
Jiamen took a deep breath, knowing that unless he threw out some real intelligence, Leilin would never take the bait.
"I can't reveal the exact location, but I can tell you the general area — somewhere near the Harp Mountain Range..."
The moment the words "Harp Mountain Range" left Jiamen's mouth, Leilin's pupils contracted ever so slightly, but he quickly concealed it. The shift happened in the blink of an eye and went completely unnoticed by Jiamen.
"As for why you?"
Jiamen gave a slight, bitter smile. "The Harp Mountain Range is teeming with deadly venomous creatures and miasma. We need a Potionology apprentice by our side to ensure our safety... Within Black Bone Forest Academy right now, the only Potionology apprentice I know well who has reached Third-rank is you..."
Leilin paused for a moment, only now recalling the fact that fewer than fifty apprentices remained in the Academy.
In the past, Black Bone Forest Academy had held over a thousand apprentices, with no shortage of Potionology apprentices among them. Jiamen could have taken his pick.
But after the Blood Battle ended, Jiamen's pool of options had shrunk dramatically — to the point where only Leilin remained!
"I don't know whether the ruins Jiamen mentioned were left behind by the Crimson Grand Wizard, but since that evil spirit Romand was able to find clues to an inheritance, it's entirely possible that Jiamen discovered something too..."
Thoughts churned rapidly in Leilin's mind, though outwardly he wore an expression of hesitation.
"The war just ended. It's too dangerous to leave the Academy right now..."
"According to the information I've obtained, this is a formal Wizard's ruins. Inside, there may even be intelligence and materials on how to advance to formal Wizard — isn't that exactly what you need? And as long as you agree to go, when it comes to the spoils..."
Seeing Leilin's expression, Jiamen grew anxious and couldn't help but start pressing harder, piling on additional incentives.
Leilin put on a show of struggling with the decision, and finally told Jiamen he would go back and think it over for a few days.
Seeing Leilin like this, Jiamen had no choice but to agree.
After all, from his perspective, Leilin had already shown some interest toward the end.
Sure enough, the very next day, Leilin sought out Jiamen and informed him of his decision to join.
...
Early morning. Leilin and Jiamen rode two black horses, departing from Black Bone Forest Academy under the glow of dawn.
Before leaving, Leilin cast a distant glance at the enormous tomb rising above the grounds of Black Bone Forest Academy.
The grey stone structure was still covered in cracks, just as he remembered — but perhaps it was his imagination, the fissures seemed a bit smaller than last time.
As if this colossal tomb were a living thing, slowly repairing itself.
"When I return again, everything may be different!"
Leilin took one last look at Black Bone Forest Academy and vanished into the Dark Night Forest.
...
Five days later. The Marsh Duchy, outside a small town in the western region.
Beside the main road, three apprentices were waiting.
Clip-clop, clip-clop!!! Under the three apprentices' gazes, two knightly figures appeared at the far end of the road.
The two riders came to a stop before the three, revealing the faces of Leilin and another unfamiliar apprentice.