Arthur sat cross-legged on his bed, his posture steady as his expression shifted between frowns, faint smiles, and deep concentration.
For the past two days, he had devoted around four hours each day to a single goal: sensing spiritual energy—a feat that could not be accomplished overnight.
From conversations with other new apprentices, he had learned that only the ones with level 4 talent and higher had succeeded in this vital step.
Arthur was frustrated, as without sensing and connecting to spiritual energy, the meditation technique they practiced was futile, as they couldn't follow the meditation pathway of their technique without spiritual energy.
A week passed. Arthur finally managed to perceive fleeting wisps of energy, but they slipped through his mental grasp like smoke. Frustrated, he rose and left his room.
The apprentice quarters were nearly deserted, most students either meditated or undertook academy tasks—minor duties that paid only a few spirit stones each month, hardly enough to fund a single potion.
"They give us the bare minimum but never intervene with our routine" Arthur murmured, his eyes drifting to the academy gates glinting in the midday sun. "Basic lectures are free, whether you go or not, it is up to you, and to learn higher level knowledge, you need to purchase the book, which wouldn't be easy to understand without a tutor—if you can pay for one."
He navigated the twisting corridors beyond the gate until he joined a crowded classroom, squeezing into an empty seat among dozens of apprentices packed wall to wall, Arthur saw Jacob and some of the other nobles he couldn't bother to remember their names, and as if sensing Arthur's gaze, Jacob looked over, nodded towards him, then looked away.
Arthur did not bother with them, as all new apprentices, due to the difficulty of sensing and gathering spiritual energy, and the deadline set by the academy, no one had time for any petty grievances amongst each other.
The deadline set by the academy was harsh but needed, as failure to progress had severe consequences: any apprentice who failed to reach the Second Apprentice Realm within 2 years would be expelled—branded a rogue, stripped of the academy's knowledge and protection.
To an ignorant mind, 2 years might seem more than enough time, but considering how long sensing, controlling, and absorbing spiritual energy took, apprentices knew it would not be easy.
Arthur's fingers brushed the silver emblem pinned to his chest—Noctis Arcanum Academy's official apprentice badge. Enchanted with a protective ward, it could withstand a Third Rank apprentice's attack long enough for the Enforcement Corps to intervene, with the ressources, knowledge, and reputation this emblem allows you to access, no one in their right mind wanted to lose the status of an academy's apprentice.
Arthur focused on the lecture, trying his best to take notes and understand the instructor's overview of the common wizarding knowledge, from herbs to spirit beasts and so on. When the session ended three hours later, he slipped into the corridor, whispering to himself:
"I must form a Spiritual Sea before I can truly advance."
He pulled up his status pane:
[Name: Arthur Collins]
[Pathways: Basic Knight (0/500) | Wizard Apprentice (250/250)]*
[Spiritual Energy: 14]*
[Physique: 11.3]*
[Vitality: 6.9]*
[Spirit: 0.8]*
[Elements: Fire and Darkness]
[Meditation Technique: Abyssal Ember Codex (0/10 000)]*
He had used some of the spirit stones he had left after buying the meditation technique to purchase enough potions, drinking them dutifully, but unfortunately, he discovered that drinking too many Minor Spiritual Potion, caused his body to overflow, making his spirit weak and fragile, unable to meditate, and he was certain that if he drank more than 3, he would die.
So for days, he drank 2 or 3 Minor Spiritual Potions each day, earning enough Spiritual Energy to fill up the Wizard Apprentice class, but he hit a wall.. Without a Spiritual Sea, he was unable to use his cheat.
***
Days later, Arthur sat cross-legged again, eyes closed, breath steady. A bright smile broke across his face. Within the depths of his mind, a tiny orb swirled—his nascent Spiritual Sea, shimmering with a soft azure mist.
"I did it!"
He opened his eyes and gave the command:
"Level up the Wizard Apprentice class!"
In an instant, the sluggish energy that once resisted his will now surged toward him like a rising tide, coiling into a vortex around his body. His veins hummed with power, his mind sharpened, and the world itself seemed to welcome him.
"I did it. I'm finally an official first rank Wizard Apprentice!"
His status panel updated:
[Name: Arthur Collins]
[Pathways: Basic Knight (0/110) | Wizard Apprentice I (0/500)]*
[Spiritual Energy: 3]*
[Physique: 12]*
[Vitality: 7.8]*
[Spirit: 2.1]*
[Elements: Fire and Darkness]
[Meditation Technique: Abyssal Ember Codex (0/10 000)]*
The orb within his Spiritual Sea now glowed, about the size of his thumb. His physical strength had improved, his thoughts clearer, his senses more acute.
"500 points to reach Second Rank…" He sighed, rummaging through his drawer. "Only eighty-one spirit stones left—and my body can't handle more than two or three elixirs a day without risking backlash."
He had learned this lesson the hard way. Exceeding his soul's limit by taking four potions in one sitting had left him unconscious for an entire day and week for a few more, his body wracked with pain.
"Let's get on with it." He retrieved one of his final potions and downed it in a single gulp.
[Minor Spiritual Potion consumed...]
[Spiritual Points absorbed (24)]
"Twenty-four? That's way less than before." Frowning, he grabbed the last potion and drained it.
[Minor Spiritual Potion consumed...]
[Spiritual Points absorbed (22)]
"Damn it" Arthur sat down, checking his status while thinking, that was when he noticed the new changes. "Before the breakthrough, I had fourteen points in my Spiritual Energy, and after my breakthrough, they became 3, the same with the Basic Knight Spiritual Energy needed, it became 110.
It's as if my soul, becoming stronger, judged the quality of the spiritual energy and gave it another value… Now, despite absorbing forty-six more, I only have forty-nine in total."
He checked his status again:
[Name: Arthur Collins]
[Pathways: Basic Knight (0/110) | Wizard Apprentice I (0/500)]*
[Spiritual Energy: 49]*
[Physique: 12]*
[Vitality: 7.8]*
[Spirit: 2.1]*
[Elements: Fire and Darkness]
[Meditation Technique: Abyssal Ember Codex (0/10 000)]*
"Plans change," he muttered, pushing away his frustration. "But now that I'm officially First Rank, I can claim my first spell… But I can't make it known that I broke through, after all, a normal apprentice with 3rd rank talent needs at least a month or two to break into first rank apprentice, and that is only possible after managing to control and absorb spirit energy"
Getting a spell couldn't be delayed, Arthur remembered some rumors and news he heard from other apprentices, they said that a couple of the late arriving caravans disappeared, and the academy issued an investigation, as many of the senior apprentices could be seen coming and going. "I am not sure if attacks like that are common or not in this continent, but I am still a mere first rank apprentice, so I shouldn't worry about it and stay in the academy" Arthur thought.
He recalled his lessons: an apprentice could inscribe only one zero-level spell at First Rank, two more at Second Rank, and up to four additional spells at Third Rank. Choosing the first spell wisely was crucial—it would remain part of his core repertoire for his apprenticeship duration.
"It must serve me well in battle—and beyond."
Determination flared in his eyes as he left his room, steps firm, heading towards the Exchange hall.
***
"Claiming your spell early—before solidifying your rank—is impulsive. Many apprentices have been robbed or deceived out of theirs," cautioned a Third Rank apprentice behind the counter, his tone equal parts warning and disdain.
"I am aware," Arthur replied, offering a respectful smile. "However, I understand that to inscribe a spell into one's Spiritual Sea, one must not only master the runic pathway but also etch it flawlessly. A single slip could damage the Spiritual Sea itself, requiring days or weeks of recovery before attempting again. I'd rather practice the script now and avoid wasting precious time when it matters most."
The older apprentice raised an eyebrow but said nothing more, sliding a worn leather tome across the counter. Arthur flipped through the catalog of low zero-level spells, as any higher would not be suitable for a first rank apprentice.
For his affinity with Fire and Darkness, as well as the need for versatility, a few spells caught his eye:
Ember Spark — A basic Fire cantrip that conjures a flickering flame, useful for ignition or a minor burn in close quarters.
Shadow Veil — A Darkness incantation that dims light in a small radius, helpful for concealment or momentary escape.
Flicker Bolt — A Fire-based dart of heated air and spark, slightly more focused than Ember Spark, it stings but won't kill.
Gloom Whisper — Allows Arthur to dampen sound around him for a few seconds, muffling footsteps or whispered speech.
Mage Hand — The classic neutral cantrip, conjuring an ethereal hand to manipulate objects at a short distance—an apprentice's indispensable tool.
Runic Light — A neutral spell to conjure a steady, hovering light orb, convenient for exploration or working in darkness.
Aegis Flicker — A feeble, instant ward that can deflect the weakest of projectiles—useful in emergencies but drains quickly.
Cleanse Touch — A trivial cantrip to purify a small item or patch of skin—practical but mundane.
Arthur read each entry with care, weighing their potential.
He knew that this first spell would accompany him for all of his early Apprentice period—woven into every duel, every ambush. It must be more than trivial utility.
Arthur's gaze lingered on Shadow Veil and Flicker Bolt. One offered misdirection, the other, a direct means of attack. But Mage Hand's versatility nagged at him too.
"I already made my choice a long time ago, even practiced its pathway… But seeing these options is making me doubt myself.. But I can't back down now" Arthur remembered his days practicing the Mage Hand's pathway bought from the exchange hall, a version prepared for apprentices to practice with, lacking the crucial runes.
He had made up his mind a long time ago after checking the suitable spells, but Mage Hand was a must have for all apprentices, recommended by the 3rd rank apprentices that taught the free classes, and he agreed.