The next day.
Hua Pei District, Tin Saint School residence.
The monthly Faction meeting was held on the top floor of Atbolde's residence.
Colin arrived fashionably late by carriage.
He hadn't slept the previous night.
Partly it was because after advancing to a First Rank Wizard, his need for sleep had greatly reduced, and partly it was because of the urgency of departure...
Luckily, the Superbrain was potent, and he mastered all the newly purchased witchcraft in just one night.
"Wonder why Atbolde specifically requested my presence," Colin thought as he walked up the stairs of the villa.
This morning, after finishing his meditation, he was about to take a short rest when Marjorie suddenly came to notify him of Atbolde's summoned meeting.
He initially didn't want to go, since the monthly meetings weren't mandatory.
But Marjorie mentioned that Atbolde had specifically instructed him to be there...
As he pondered, he had already reached his destination.
Creak—
Pushing open the door, the aroma of food hit him instantly. As usual, two tables full of delicacies were spread out before him.
"Look who has arrived—" Atbolde watched him and said with a rare, vivid smile on his face.
Then with two snaps, two small Fireworks Skills soared and exploded in mid-air, scattering dazzling trails of colorful light powder in all directions.
"Congratulations on successfully advancing to a First Rank Wizard, Colin."
Behind a shower of falling light points, the benevolent-faced Atbolde smiled and congratulated him.
Colin was slightly startled.
"Instructor Atbolde," he greeted, slightly bowing.
"Thank you," he added.
In his past life as well as now, he was never one for many words...
Just, as far as his memory went, it seemed no one had ever celebrated for him quite like this.
"Congratulations," Marjorie was the first to step forward and congratulate.
Fanny also smiled and congratulated with a tone filled with envy and disbelief. Although friendly, her manner was noticeably more respectful than before.
After all, even within a Faction, the hierarchy among Wizards was ingrained deep in the bones of everyone in this world.
It's worth mentioning that they had performed the Fireworks Skill just now.
"Thank you." Colin smiled in response.
"Apprentice Colin, I truly hadn't seen it before... Didn't you say you were an Advanced Wizard Apprentice on a remote island?"
Nehemiah suddenly injected into the conversation, his tone a mix of shock, not entirely shock... and seemingly laced with some other emotions.
"Nehemiah—"
Sitting at the dining table, quiet and just observing them, Lillian suddenly spoke up:
"A Wizard's respect is based on strength, now you should address Colin as 'Senior'."
"Right, what Lillian said." Nehemiah paused, changing his tone quickly without altering his expression, "Senior Colin."
"Colin's practiced meditation method happens to be compatible with the Tin Saint Meditation Method."
Atbolde timely interjected, interrupting their conversation.
"Sit down, Colin, I have something more to say to you all," he added.
Seeming to know something, Lillian also got up from her seat and sat down on one of the five chairs lined up next to Atbolde.
Once they had all seated, Atbolde surveyed the room and then slowly began,
"There are mainly two purposes for this meeting, one is to celebrate Colin advancing to an Official Wizard, and the other is to bid farewell... to say goodbye to Lillian and Colin."
"They are about to depart for the Southern Sea Domain."
"Lillian and Colin... heading to the far Southern Sea?" Joe muttered hardly audibly, obviously hearing this news for the first time.
Surprise was clearly etched on Fanny's face as well.
"This trip to the far Southern Sea, Lillian has been preparing for a long time... I have nothing to worry about," Atbolde continued.
He gazed at Colin, slowly stating, "Just you, Colin..."
"You've just advanced to an Official Wizard, probably not even familiar with the meditation method of a First Rank Wizard, let alone First Rank witchcraft..."
"Although this time you are only responsible for the Alus Association, and you can return when the meeting ends, I still have some concerns."
As he spoke, Atbolde mysteriously produced a seed from somewhere.
A dark golden seed, seemingly crafted of metal.
"So, I've prepared this for you—Elf Armor," Atbolde tossed the dark golden seed into the air, and it seemed to float towards Colin as if held by an invisible hand.
Snap.
Colin instinctively caught the seed, the sensation in his palm was not as cold as it appeared, but rather warm and comfortable.
"Go back and refine it with your spirit, nourish it well with Magic Power... With it, ordinary First Rank Junior Wizards won't be able to harm you."
Before Colin could open his mouth to express his gratitude, Atbolde continued:
"And for you, Nehemiah." He tossed a black soft armor toward Nehemiah, which was clearly not as advanced as the golden seed in Colin's hand by its appearance.
"Since you've chosen to go to the Southern Sea Domain, this black armor is also gifted to you... In terms of power, it can endure the full force of the Fireball Technique cast five times by an Advanced Apprentice."
"Yes," Nehemiah bowed his head and briefly replied, taking the black armor.
"Thank you, Atbolde Instructor," Colin finally found a chance to interject, clutching the Elf Armor and sincerely bowed in gratitude.
Although Colin's words were brief, Atbolde could clearly feel the sincerity in them.
But as for Nehemiah...
The contrast between the two made him inwardly frown.
Although the black armor was far inferior to the Elf Armor, the Elf Armor's requirement was at least that of a First Rank Wizard, and Wizard Apprentices who forcibly use it would quickly end up with their Magic Sea exhausted and shattered.
The black armor was indeed the best among the witch tools he had on hand suitable for Wizard Apprentices.
Yet, Nehemiah hadn't even expressed a word of thanks...
But perhaps it was because he had grown older—his temperament was no longer what it once was, and his personality was now much milder than before.
He didn't want to waste energy dwelling on these matters.
Thinking back, Nehemiah was once his most valued Apprentice, the only one in their faction who still had some hope of advancing to an Official Wizard.
But now, more than a dozen years had passed, and Nehemiah remained only an Advanced Apprentice.
"Since you've chosen to go to the Southern Sea Domain this time, if you still hope for a chance to become an Official Wizard, then stop looking back and forth."
Atbolde sighed internally and watched Nehemiah, speaking earnestly.
Seemingly not expecting Atbolde to say such a thing, Nehemiah visibly flinched, then silently lowered his head.
After a long while, he finally spoke slowly:
"I will."
"Thank you, Atbolde Instructor."
Seeing this, Atbolde nodded in satisfaction.
"That's all I have to say; don't gather around me. Go chat, eat."
"Alright," replied Colin and the others.
The maid musicians nearby timely started playing music.
"The day before using the Elf Armor, it's best not to eat meat."
As Colin approached the dining table to grab some food, he heard Lillian beside him remind.
Colin slightly paused, the chicken leg in his hand hanging in mid-air, undecided whether to put it down or not.
He turned to look at Lillian.
While picking up a juicy steak, Lillian continued explaining:
"The Elf Armor, crafted by High Level Elves, is a delicate work of art, and its strong defense is just an added feature."
"If you eat meat the day before using it for the first time—"
Lillian forked the steak, then put it down, a clear shadow crossing her face as she spoke two words.
"You'll vomit."
"Believe me, although there are no other effects besides vomiting... You definitely wouldn't want to experience such agony," Lillian bit into her steak and mumbled with emphasis.
Colin nodded, without hesitation, put the chicken leg back, and then picked up another utensil to grab some fruit.
After he had finished doing all this, Lillian finally got to her main point.
"Tomorrow, the Wizards accompanying at the Alus Association meeting will have a brief meet-and-greet outside the Yista School premises around eight in the morning, don't forget to go."