"District Thirteen? You're really lucky!"
In what looked like an office, Duroin flipped open Leilin's transfer order after dispatching the wizards ahead of him. He let out a surprised cry, then scanned Leilin up and down with the kind of look one gives a rare animal.
"You're an Apothecary! And you've been assigned there? Kid, did you offend someone or something?"
Leilin could only answer with a bitter smile.
"Fine! Fine! As long as the order is legitimate, I won't ask any more questions. Here, take this — it's a map!"
Duroin shoved a parchment scroll into Leilin's hands.
"District Thirteen sits on the border between our forces and the Dark Wizards. Your job there is to look after the patch of Dark Datura nearby, and when the Dark Wizards attack, send a signal from the communication tower. That's all there is to it!"
Then Leilin was practically ushered out of the office like someone chasing away a plague.
There was nothing Leilin could do but roll his eyes.
...
Traveling at Leilin's speed, even with Number Two and Number Three as deadweight, he still arrived at District Thirteen before nightfall.
It was a small elevated plateau. Surrounding a sea of black datura flowers was a temporary fortress constructed with earth-elemental magic.
After presenting his credentials, Leilin met the previous person in charge — a tall, gaunt male wizard.
"The communication tower is in the center of the fortress, right next to your room. I'm leaving all my belongings to you. Also, a few more apprentices have been transferred in recently — they're all under your command now!"
The gaunt wizard rattled off his instructions in a rush. Once the handover was complete and Leilin had signed, he immediately fled the place as though running for his life.
The speed of his departure even startled Leilin.
"Well then... I'm afraid I've landed myself in serious trouble," Leilin said, unfolding the map.
On the map Duroin had given him, District Thirteen's plateau jutted like a nail straight into Dark Wizard territory. It was surrounded on three sides by enemy forces, and a Dark Wizard army could descend at any moment.
The forces at Leilin's disposal amounted to a handful of Wizard Apprentices — and perhaps himself, a fully-fledged Wizard. That meager strength could only serve as an early warning system and a way to relay messages.
"...Whatever the case, let me take a look at my subordinates."
Leilin walked to the center of the stone fortress's great hall and issued a summoning command: "I am the newly appointed Guard Wizard! All apprentices who hear my voice, assemble in the great hall immediately!"
Leilin's voice was not loud, yet it carried eerily to every corner of the fortress.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed, and roughly a dozen apprentices jogged into the great hall.
Their clothing was a motley assortment. Although they all wore the standard Apprentice Grey Robe, the academy emblems and decorations were all different — clearly these were leftovers picked up from various academies, a ragtag band.
The energy fluctuations coming from these apprentices were roughly in the Second and Third rank. Upon seeing Leilin, they all bowed respectfully, though traces of uncertainty lingered on their faces.
Leilin smacked his forehead. The previous wizard had left in such a hurry that he hadn't even bothered to do a formal introduction in front of the whole fortress.
Still, during the handover, the gaunt wizard had already transferred the insignia of authority to him.
Leilin pulled a black scepter from inside his sleeve. Immediately, defensive runes of various colors shimmered throughout the entire hall, assembling into a magical defense array.
The scepter in his hand was the control hub for the fortress's defensive magic, as well as the symbol of authority for the wizard in charge.
When the apprentices saw the dark scepter in Leilin's hand, comprehension finally dawned on their faces.
"Greetings to the Guard Wizard!"
"Mm. My name is Leilin. Now — you!" He pointed at an elderly-looking apprentice. "Step forward and tell me, is this everyone?"
The old man shuffled forward timidly and reported to Leilin: "Y-Your Grace, aside from a few newly arrived apprentices who are still lingering, all the apprentices in the fortress are here..."
Just then, several apprentices crept into the great hall.
With them came a younger but deeply anxious voice: "Sir! We are the newly transferred apprentices! We sincerely apologize — we were on patrol duty earlier and got held up. May we come in?"
Even here, Leilin, as a Wizard, held immense authority over these apprentices. He could assign them tasks at will, and if necessary, he could even execute them on grounds of disobedience.