When the sailboat was finally filled with Wizard Apprentices from various regions, it slowly set sail.
To the astonishment of everyone present, the Gray-Robed Wizard raised his hand and summoned a massive spectral Megalodon. Its body was ruined and incomplete, as if torn apart by countless battles, yet it still radiated an oppressive aura. With a single incantation, the specter was fused directly into the ship's netherbone structure.
The instant the fusion completed, everyone felt it…The netherbone… was alive.
The sails were furled, yet the ship did not slow. Instead, the waves themselves seemed to assist it, surging beneath the hull and propelling the living vessel swiftly through the sea.
Lynn stood by the railing, the sharp wind brushing against his cheeks as he stared at the coastline shrinking into the distance. His heart was filled with anticipation, mixed with a faint sense of finality.
Once he left, it would likely be difficult to return.
But there was nothing in the mortal realm tying him down. No family, no attachments, nothing worth lingering for.
As he was lost in thought, a figure in luxurious attire walked straight up beside him.
The newcomer wore an exquisitely tailored dark blue velvet coat, with intricate family crests embroidered in silver thread along the cuffs and collar. The emblem depicted an eagle with outstretched wings, entwined tightly by thorns.
He appeared to be around Lynn's age. His features were handsome, yet his complexion was unnaturally pale. His eyes carried a calm composure that did not match his youth, along with a trace of undisguised melancholy.
"Good day, sir."
The youth spoke first, his voice steady and gentle, clearly shaped by noble upbringing.
"Judging by the direction you came from, are you from near Black Marsh City? I am Alphonse Hess."
His tone remained calm when he spoke his surname, but the name Hess itself carried weight.
Lynn's heart stirred slightly, A prince of the Hess Kingdom?
This was no minor figure. And yet… how could someone of such status end up joining what was clearly a Dark faction? His circumstances were not as comfortable as his title suggested.
Lynn kept his expression composed and returned a polite smile.
"Good day, Your Highness Alphonse. My name is Lynn, and I am indeed from Black Marsh City."
Alphonse waved his hand and let out a faint, self-mocking laugh.
"There is no 'Your Highness' here. Just Alphonse. An Apprentice like you."
His gaze fell on Lynn's ordinary black robe and the linen shirt he wore beneath it.
There was no contempt in his eyes, only mild curiosity.
"To be assigned to a top-floor cabin, Lynn, your talent must be truly outstanding. It seems Black Marsh City has produced a real gem this time."
"Just luck," Lynn replied modestly.
Then, seizing the opportunity, he asked, "Alphonse, how much do you know about the Wizard World? And about the faction we're joining?"
Alphonse was momentarily stunned that Lynn addressed him so naturally by his given name. Then he gave a wry smile.
It seemed this fellow truly did not place much importance on princely status.
Leaning against the railing, he looked down at the grayish-blue seawater rolling beneath the ship and spoke in a low voice.
"My knowledge is limited. Most of it comes from fragmented records in the royal secret archives, and from what I've heard from a few well-informed Apprentices on the ship these past days."
"The Withered Bone Spire Academy we're joining does not have a good reputation among orthodox Wizard organizations. It is regarded as a place for blasphemers and followers of death."
He paused briefly, organizing his thoughts.
"It is said the rules there are extremely simple, and extremely cruel. Knowledge is paramount, and strength is honored."
"Apprentices are considered the private property of their tutors, who hold absolute dominion over them. As for competition among Apprentices… the mortality rate is said to be terrifyingly high."
"The losers might end up as materials on someone's experimental table, or be crafted directly into undead servants."
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
This was almost exactly what he had anticipated. It seemed the One-Eyed Wolf had not been exaggerating. Still, hearing it confirmed by a prince made a chill creep into his chest.
"If the Apprentice attrition is that high," Lynn asked calmly, "doesn't the Academy intervene?"
"Intervene?" Alphonse's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"They wish for it to be so. After all, the corpses of Apprentices are valuable materials as well. The Academy's philosophy is said to be: 'Death is the best teacher.'"
"They only fear resources being wasted on mediocrity. As for survival of the fittest among Apprentices, they see it as a necessary process to select the strong."
He turned his gaze toward Lynn, his tone cautious.
"Therefore, Lynn, your talent is both an advantage and a danger. High-quality 'materials' like you are rare."
"Once we arrive, we must be extremely careful. We need to guard not only against the dangers of missions and experiments, but also against… the people around us."
His eyes flicked meaningfully toward the other Apprentices scattered across the deck. Many stood in small groups, their gazes occasionally drifting toward Lynn and Alphonse.
Lynn took a slow breath and nodded. "Thank you for the warning."
After a moment of thought, Lynn asked another question.
"What about the power system? Besides necromancy, what else does the Academy focus on? What do we learn first?"
Alphonse shook his head.
"I don't know the details. But I've heard that upon entry, all Apprentices must first learn a Meditation Method, construct a spiritual core, and learn to manipulate Negative Energy particles."
"This is the foundation of all necromancy, and many other forms of Dark Sorcery."
"Without stable spiritual power and proper control over Negative Energy, one cannot even perform basic skeleton revival. Forcing it will only result in backlash."
He gestured briefly to himself, then to Lynn.
"Those with talent may pass this stage faster. But after that, the path branches."
"There is Necromantic Construction, focused on building undead armies. Soul Engineering, which studies souls, curses, and essence. And disciplines like the one practiced by the adult who led us onto the ship, who is obsessed with Flesh Modification."
"Flesh Modification…"
Lynn recalled the Gray-Robed Wizard's compound eyes, bone-blade arm, and tentacle-like legs. A chill ran through him.
While such modifications might grant strength and strange abilities, he had no interest in becoming something that was neither man nor monster.
Of course, if he ever lost an arm or a leg, that would be another matter entirely, a full "cyber" prosthesis would actually be quite cool.
"In short," Alphonse concluded, "the Wizard World is far more brutally honest and dangerous than most imagine."
"There, strength is the only currency. We must become Formal Wizards as soon as possible if we want to truly control our own fate."
He looked at Lynn with sincerity.
"With your talent, as long as you grow cautiously, you will surely gain a foothold in the Academy. When that day comes, I hope you'll look out for me."
The intent behind his words was clear. He wished to form an alliance and held Lynn in high regard.
Lynn understood this perfectly, and he also had a favorable impression of Alphonse. Despite his royal status, the young prince showed no arrogance and spoke with genuine sincerity.
In an unfamiliar and dangerous world, having an additional ally, especially one with special status and broader access to information, was never a bad thing.
"Let's look out for each other, Alphonse."
Lynn extended his hand, and the two exchanged a light handshake and matching smiles.
The moment was broken when other Apprentices from Black Marsh City approached.
Having achieved his goal, Alphonse excused himself politely, showing little interest in interacting with the others.
As he left, several girls stared after him with bright, starry eyes.
Especially Mary.
After enduring the darkness and conditioning of the Nightingale Pavilion, her desire to cling to the strong had reached its peak.
That included the likes of Lynn, and now, Alphonse too.