The gray-robed wizard's insect-like compound eyes swept over the group of apprentices, now shivering from the cold after climbing down from the bird's back. His gaze briefly lingered on Slade, his compound eyes narrowing as if refocusing.
Slade suddenly felt exposed, as if everything about him had been laid bare. His heart tightened.
X-ray vision?
Could this old man have taken an interest in me?
Without a word of greeting, the gray-robed wizard, his voice slightly hoarse, gave a curt command:
"Board."
The massive "Ship of Bones" already carried several apprentices from other cities. They regarded the newcomers, Slade and his companions, with varying degrees of curiosity and disdain.
Slade, dressed in humble linen, quickly became the subject of their scorn.
Another lucky poor boy.
The gray-robed wizard, however, seemed to recognize Slade's worth. He turned to the boatswain and commanded, "Take him to the top-floor single cabin."
This order immediately caught the attention of the other apprentices aboard; cabins were typically assigned according to one's talent.
Top floor?
Clearly, Slade was no ordinary apprentice!
In an instant, the tone of everyone's gaze shifted, some curious, some envious, some even jealous.
There were only a few top-floor cabins, and the wizard himself resided there.
Slade felt a wave of attention, each gaze seemingly probing into him. For a moment, it felt like he was under a magnifying glass.
But no one dared speak out, not even the boldest.
Fair?
This was the ship of a dark wizard. Fairness was the last thing anyone could expect here.
"Wow, you're pretty brave!"
The other six apprentices from Blackswamp City, including Mary, instinctively gathered around Slade, forming a small group around him.
In such an unfamiliar environment, with so many new faces, sticking together was a natural instinct.
But they were all clearly out of place. Their talents were weak, and they were quickly assigned to the lowest cabins.
Their noble status and privileged backgrounds counted for nothing here.
In the wizarding world, everyone was an apprentice, and on this ship, there were many sons of city lords and high-ranking nobles.
Even worse, there was a prince from the Kingdom of Hess, someone most people preferred to avoid.
Mary, eager to stay by Slade's side, tried to follow him to the top deck, but was swiftly turned away.
Slade had no intention of dragging along this troublesome woman anymore.
Reluctantly, Mary followed the others to the lowest deck.
After finding their respective rooms and settling in, they agreed to meet on the deck later.
When the sailboat, brimming with wizard apprentices from all corners, finally departed, it set sail into the unknown.
To everyone's astonishment, the grey-robed wizard summoned the fractured spirit of a Megalodon, binding it to the "Netherbone."
The sails lowered, and the sea itself became the vessel's driving force, propelling the "Netherbone" forward.
Slade stood at the ship's railing, the wind brushing against his cheeks, his eyes fixed on the receding shoreline. A sense of anticipation filled his chest.
This could very well be his final journey.
But he had no attachments left in the mortal world, and nothing to regret.
As he reflected on this, a figure approached him with graceful strides.
The newcomer was dressed in a finely crafted deep blue velvet coat, embroidered with a silver family crest on the cuffs and collar, an eagle soaring amidst thorny vines.
Around Slade's age, the young man was handsome, though his face bore an unhealthy pallor.
His eyes dislayed a maturity beyond his years, tinged with a hint of sadness.
"Good day, Your Excellency," the young man spoke first, his voice calm and gentle, a testament to his noble upbringing.
"By your direction, I gather you're from near Blackswamp City? I am Alphonse Hess."
The name "Hess" carried weight, implying royalty.
Slade felt a flicker of interest. A prince from the Kingdom of Hess? Certainly, a figure of importance in his homeland.
But... a prince of such a prestigious kingdom joining this dark wizarding faction? It seemed something was amiss.
He responded with a composed smile, "Good day, Your Highness Alphonse. I am Slade, from Blackswamp City."
Alphonse waved dismissively, a wry smile on his lips.
"Here, there is no 'Your Highness,' just Alphonse, an apprentice like you."
His gaze shifted to Slade's simple black robe and linen lining, but there was no mockery in his eyes, only curiosity.
"Being assigned to the top-floor cabin, Slade, your talent must be exceptional. It seems that Blackswamp City has truly produced a prodigy."
"Just luck," Slade responded humbly before asking casually, "Alphonse, how much do you know about the wizarding world? And what about the faction we've joined?"
Alphonse blinked in slight surprise at Slade addressing him by his first name but then chuckled softly.
It seemed this boy wasn't fazed by his princely status at all.
He leaned against the ship's railing, his gaze drifting over the grey-blue sea, and spoke in a low voice.
"My knowledge is limited, mostly gleaned from snippets in royal archives and overheard conversations with more knowledgeable apprentices aboard."
"The Bone Spire Academy we've joined... has a poor reputation among the more orthodox wizarding circles. They're seen as 'blasphemers,' 'worshipers of death.'"
He paused briefly, collecting his thoughts.
"It's said that the rules there are both simple and brutal, knowledge reigns supreme, and power is paramount."
"Apprentices are, in essence, the property of their mentors, who hold absolute control over them. The competition among apprentices... is said to have a terrifyingly high death rate."
"Those who fail might become raw material for experiments or be turned into undead servants."
Slade's eyes narrowed; this was exactly what he had suspected. The one-eyed wolf hadn't exaggerated after all.
Despite hearing the confirmation from the prince, Slade felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
"With such high attrition among apprentices, doesn't the academy care?"
"Care?" Alphonse's lips curled into a bitter smile.
"They couldn't care less. Even the bodies of dead apprentices are useful materials. It's rumored that their philosophy is 'death is the best teacher.'"
"They fear wasting resources on the mediocre. The 'survival of the fittest' among apprentices is seen as a necessary culling for the strong." This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Alphonse's gaze locked with Slade's, his tone taking on a warning edge.
"So, Slade, your talent is both a blessing and a danger. High-quality apprentices like you are rare... and such rarity makes you a prime target."
"When we arrive at the academy, we must be extra cautious, not just of the dangers inherent in missions and experiments, but also of... the people around us."
His eyes flicked to the other apprentices scattered about the deck, casting furtive glances at them.
Slade took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up."
What a joke!
A group of naive apprentices targeting me?
Do they think that I, this "calculator," am just some insignificant nobody?
After a moment of contemplation, Slade asked, "What about the power system? Besides the common necromancy, what other focuses does the academy have? And what will we learn at the beginning?"
Alphonse shook his head. "I'm not sure about all the specifics, but I've heard that once all the apprentices enter the academy, their first task is to learn 'meditation,' build a 'spiritual core,' and master the manipulation of 'negative energy particles.'"
"This is the foundation of all necromancy, and even many dark magic spells."
"Without a stable mental foundation and a natural affinity for controlling negative energy, even basic spells like skeleton resurrection are impossible. Trying it without the proper control will only backfire."
He gestured toward himself, then toward Slade. "People like us, with talent, might progress faster, but after that, the path branches out."
"There's [Necromancy], which focuses on raising undead armies; [Soul Engineering], which delves into the nature of souls and curses; and [Flesh and Blood Modification], like the one who brought us aboard the ship..."
Slade shuddered at the thought of flesh and blood modification, recalling the grey-robed wizard's eerie compound eyes, bone-bladed arms, and tentacled legs.
This kind of self-modification might grant special powers and enhance strength, but he had no interest in it.
He didn't want to become some twisted, inhuman monster.
Of course, if he lost an arm or a leg, that would be a different story.
The "cyber" prosthetics were actually quite cool.
"In any case, the wizarding world is much more brutal and unforgiving than anyone expects," Alphonse concluded.
"There, power is everything. We need to become formal wizards as soon as possible to control our own fate!"
"Slade, with your talent, if you proceed carefully, you'll definitely establish yourself at the academy. I'll need your help then."
His words were sincere, clearly showing that he had great confidence in Slade's potential.
Slade understood the meaning behind his words and appreciated them. He also had a favorable impression of Alphonse.
Although he was a prince, Alphonse was approachable and seemed genuine.
In this unfamiliar world, having a friend, especially one with such a unique status and broader experience, was never a bad thing.
"Let's look out for each other, Alphonse," Slade said, extending his hand for a friendly handshake.
They exchanged smiles, but the moment was broken when the other apprentices from Blackswamp City arrived.
Alphonse, having only intended to make friends with Slade, didn't engage in much conversation with the others before excusing himself.
As he walked away, the girls on the ship couldn't help but watch, their eyes shining.
Mary, in particular, after enduring the darkness and harsh training at Nightingale's Pavilion, had reached the peak of her desire to align herself with the strong.
Slade felt the same way... and so did Alphonse.