"Lord Berkeley, what's wrong?"
On the edge of a cliff, Colin turned back and asked, puzzled.
"Wizard Lap has ordered that all apprentices are temporarily banned from leaving the Wizard Territory."
"Temporarily banned from leaving?"
"It might be temporary, or it might be long-term."
"Wizard Lap has ordered that all apprentices must return to the Wizard Territory," Berkeley explained. "I am on my way down the mountain to call back the apprentices who returned to the city earlier."
"If there's no urgent matter, don't go down the mountain. Return to the Central Castle."
Having said this, he began to levitate, preparing to fly to Blackstone City.
Colin frowned slightly, watching Berkeley with hesitation.
After such a significant event in Blackstone City last night, to say he had no concern at all about how Renee and the others were faring... was undoubtedly impossible.
He did indeed want to take a look in the city.
Moreover, he had some things to retrieve.
Wizard Lap's ban made him feel somewhat uneasy...
'Perhaps temporary, or perhaps long-term...'
Just in case, it was better to return home and take all the important things with him.
"Lord Berkeley," he spoke, bowing slightly in request:
"May I go to Blackstone City and then immediately return?"
Berkeley looked back at him, pondered for a moment, and then said:
"Yes, I will take you down. In return, you must assist me in notifying all School members to return to the Wizard Territory."
Colin nodded slightly.
Berkeley added, "You only have ten minutes to deal with your own matters."
"After notifying all the apprentices, I will wait for you for ten minutes. After ten minutes, whether you have finished or not, you must return with me to the Wizard Territory."
"Understood, Lord Berkeley," Colin nodded.
Ten minutes was enough; he simply wanted to see how things were in the city.
"Hmm."
Berkeley, with Colin, soared from the ground and flew towards Blackstone City.
...
The cool wind whistled past his ears.
Soon, they arrived in front of Blackstone City.
The modest city gate swept by beneath them.
In the blink of an eye as they passed, Colin noticed two Steel-armored Guards were on duty in front of the gate.
'Price must be gradually restoring order to Blackstone City,' he surmised silently.
Last night's raid involved only School members; Price was not among them.
They flew over Blackstone City.
As he had surmised, Blackstone City was beginning to restore order.
Patrolling guards could be seen everywhere on the streets.
Next to some burned-down buildings, officials were recording something.
Although cries of disturbance still could be heard, most of the common folk had already accepted reality.
Some sat or lay resting by the roadside, some ate food, and others had already begun to dismantle and repair their damaged homes.
...
"...Yes, it's Wizard Lap's order."
Outside the gate, Colin faced an apprentice and answered.
"Okay, I got it," the apprentice nodded reluctantly, spoke two words to the woman next to him, and then hurried towards the Wizard Territory.
After giving a slight nod to Colin, the woman closed the door.
Colin stood at the door and let out a soft breath.
City Lord Price had called the Patrol Department's guards to maintain order within the city.
Wizard Lap's summoning order was quite urgent; calling back the guards and then letting them inform the School's apprentices would undoubtedly delay things.
Plus, there weren't many School members who had returned to Blackstone City, so Berkeley decided to notify the School members personally.
He was responsible for part of them.
The one just now was the second to last one on his list.
He continued walking towards the next apprentice's residence.
Swoosh.
A figure flew towards him.
"Colin," Berkeley landed beside him, "I've already notified the last apprentice you're responsible for."
"Now, I'll take you to do your own thing."
He paused and asked, "Where are you headed?"
"Palm Street," Colin said softly, "Thank you, Lord Berkeley."
"No need to thank me, just saving time," Berkeley replied indifferently, taking him flying towards Palm Street.
'It seems I really need to learn some Flying Witchcraft as soon as possible.'
Colin felt the breeze against his face and silently vowed to prioritize learning Flying Witchcraft.
Soon, Palm Street appeared before them.
Colin immediately spotted his own two-story gray villa located at the highest point of the terrain.
It was intact, and the courtyard wall was undamaged.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Berkeley brought him straight down into the yard.
Huff—
The black horse in the stable neighed in fright.
"I'll wait for you outside," Berkeley said after setting him down, then flew out again.
"Master!" Arthur, startled by the noise from the detached house, pushed open the door, calling out in surprise.
At the same moment, the main house's front door also opened.
"Master!" Renee called out joyfully, rushing over to Colin.
"Master," the following Demi caught up and cheerily greeted.
"Mm," Colin nodded, surveying the three of them and noting nothing unusual except for some signs of fatigue, and smiled.
Then he walked into the house, making casual conversation with Renee.
"Not long after the master left last night, there were bright lights and huge explosions in the distance.
And then there were several more explosions before some creatures engulfed in flames appeared," Renee recounted as she followed by his side.
"Some people tried to loot in the chaos, but no one dared to come here..."
Colin listened to Renee's story while mentioning a couple of sentences about the real reasons behind the events.
With that, he entered the bedroom.
"I have to leave again soon," Colin paused briefly, turning to Renee.
"The School has summoned all members back to Wizard Territory and issued a prohibition; I likely won't be able to return for a while."
Renee was taken aback.
"Okay, Master," she said, bowing her head.
The blood-red rose pattern on her collarbone was vivid and alluring.
This was the result of a post-Limit Breaking Blood Pattern Transformation.
It also granted her the strength between a Peak Knight and a Great Knight.
"Purchase a large ship capable of ocean voyages in the east of the city for me. The simpler the control, the better."
"...Yes, Master!"
Renee looked up excitedly, taking the Magic Stone that Colin handed her.
Colin gave a slight nod, but sighed inwardly as he pushed the door and entered the bedroom.
Life was like a torrent; he could only be carried away in its rapid flow.
He arrived at the Meditation Room.
He packed up the sea charts, a summary booklet for advancing to an Advanced Apprentice, some important books, the remaining image crystals he had been accumulating over three months, and a portion of the Magic Stones he kept here into a gray backpack.
This was the main reason for his return.
After the events of last night, he decided to carry these significant items with him.
Especially the sea charts; without them in dire situations, he would be helpless.
After packing, he pushed the door and left.
"I'm done with my tasks, Lord Berkeley," he said as he walked out the front door to Berkeley, who was waiting nearby.
Berkeley nodded slightly.
Swoosh!
He took off swiftly, carrying Colin back to Wizard Territory.