Golden sunlight, like mischievous sprites, joyfully sprinkled onto the ground through the gaps in the forest's branches and leaves.
Dago woke up early to deliver the packaged jerky and deerskin to the Town's butcher shop and leather store, then returned to the Shelter.
He stood outside the Shelter's clearing, letting the forest wind blow for a while, feeling his sweat dissipate a bit. Recently, the surrounding Chi Deer had begun to treat the forest near the Shelter as a forbidden zone, not daring to trespass.
Therefore, Dago's hunting in the nearby forest area became increasingly difficult, but fortunately, he had already saved up ten low-level magic stones.
This was enough for his tuition to attend classes at Aynak Wizarding Academy, but unfortunately, he didn't have enough for the Academy's accommodation fee.
According to Old Marico, the tuition fee was only for learning spells and magic at the Academy; the accommodation fee was charged separately.
If one chose to live in the Town, while it was safe and convenient, it was noisy and crowded, which would greatly affect a Wizard's Meditation practice. It was better to find a quiet place to live alone in the wilderness.
Otherwise, Old Marico wouldn't have moved to live in the forest. In fact, many auditing Apprentices from the Academy also lived in the forest.
“This black-hearted Academy seems intent on sucking the blood dry from Apprentice Wizards.”
Dago cursed silently in his heart.
Before one has the ability to resist, the atrocities inflicted by the world can only be endured in silence.
Dago was no longer as insecure as when he first transmigrated. After a month of living alone, he had gradually grown accustomed to this rhythm.
After much thought, he decided not to hunt that afternoon but to go to Aynak Wizarding Academy to register and learn magic. To steadily continue on the path of a Wizard, one ultimately had to return to the Academy.
.......
After a morning of diligent practice in the Shelter's clearing, Dago brought up his current system panel.
【"Wizard Universal Meditation Method" (Beginner 101/1000); "Air Bullet" (Beginner 110/1000)】
Constantly progressing, constantly getting stronger.
At noon, Dago gulped down deer blood soup and chewed on dried venison.
He lowered his head, looking at his much stronger body. He still remembered what his body looked like when he first transmigrated; back then, he was a malnourished skinny fellow.
Now, he had nurtured himself to be fair and strong, even growing several centimeters taller.
After eating and cleaning up, Dago retrieved his Apprentice robe from under the bed and put it on.
Now, the Academy robe draped over him made him appear somewhat tall and slender.
He also found a small silver mirror left by his predecessor from the glove box, and looked into it. In the mirror, a youthful face with a hint of scholarly air appeared.
Fair and smooth skin, a high nose bridge, azure blue eyes, and long black hair falling loosely.
Dago smoothed his dark hair back. In the mirror, the young man was handsome with a touch of nobility.
“He certainly looks presentable now.”
Dago muttered, secretly pleased.
He tied the Level Two Apprentice badge with a string and hung it around his neck. When he activated his mental power, the crystal in the badge lit up with a sapphire blue glow.
Dago contentedly hid the badge inside his Apprentice robe, pushed open the door, and walked out slowly.
The sunlight, as if free, spread across the forest, dazzling and brilliant.
Following this familiar path he traversed daily, Dago knew it like the back of his hand. In less than half an hour, he arrived at the Town.
“Aynak Wizarding Academy, I'm here...”
Dago gazed deeply at the Academy, shrouded in white mist on the mountain peak, and whispered.
Then, clutching his money pouch, he walked straight to the Wizard Hall.
He found the same counter as last time, but it wasn't the same girl; it was an older woman. Dago walked over, a little disappointed.
“Hello, I'd like to register for enrollment as a Level Two Apprentice Wizard at Aynak Wizarding Academy.”
“Alright, Apprentice Sir, the Academy tuition is ten low-level magic stones. If you wish to register for Academy accommodation, an additional five low-level magic stones are required.”
The woman said without lifting her head.
“I won't be registering for accommodation, just enrollment is fine.”
Dago took out his money pouch, counted ten low-level magic stones, handed them to the woman, and said.
“Then you're choosing to commute. If any accidents occur while living outside, the Academy will not be responsible.”
“Additionally, you must arrive on time for the Academy instructor's lectures. If you agree, I will issue you a certificate now, and you can report to the Academy.”
“Alright, no problem, I agree.”
The woman counted the magic stones and turned to deposit them into the safe behind her.
She also took out a gilded card from the safe, bearing the Aynak Wizarding Academy's emblem.
She handed it to Dago, who took it, tucked it into his cloth pouch, and walked out of the Wizard Hall.
Dago walked towards the mountain peak, a direction he had never taken before, until he reached a tall and solemn stone gate.
The four guards at the entrance were imposing, their steel plate armor reflecting a cold light under the sun.
Just as Dago was about to enter, the guards raised their spears to block him. At this moment, an Academy Apprentice dozing at a walnut table under the stone gate noticed him and slowly got up to greet him.
“What are you doing? Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter here.”
The Academy Apprentice spoke, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
“I am a newly registered Level Two Apprentice Wizard at the Academy.”
Dago took out the gilded card and showed it to him.
“Oh, so you're a new Apprentice. Alright then, follow me.”
The Academy Apprentice led Dago to the side of the marble stone gate.
There, a silver device the size of a shoebox, with a crystal lamp exposed at the top, was mounted on the stone wall.
“Take out your Level Two Apprentice badge and drip it into the hollow under this box. When the crystal above the box lights up green, you can enter.”
“Oh, and you can give me your enrollment certificate now.”
Dago complied, handing the gilded card to the male Apprentice and taking out the badge from his neck. He placed it under the box and waited, but the crystal above showed no reaction.
“Please wait a moment. It takes some time to record your mental power fluctuations for the first time.”
The male Apprentice collected the card and said indifferently.
No sooner had he spoken than the crystal above the box lit up with a green glow.
“It seems you've been recorded. If you're a commuting Apprentice, you need to come here and drip your badge before entering the Academy, so no one will stop you.”
“Oh, and one more piece of advice: once you're at the Academy, guard your magic stone pouch carefully.”
The Academy Apprentice yawned as he spoke, then returned to the walnut table to continue dozing.
Dago nodded, striding across the marble stone gate, thereby stepping into a brand new world.
.......
This Academy was built on a massive platform carved directly into the mountainside of the peak.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting streaks of golden light, adding a mysterious touch to the entire Academy, making one feel as if they were in an ethereal realm, their soul purified along with it.
Dago took a deep breath, instantly feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Ahead of him stood a colossal rock, at least three or four stories high, with the words “Aynak Wizarding Academy Welcomes You” carved in Wizard script on its front.
The rock was surrounded by a flowerbed, adding a splash of colorful vibrancy to the otherwise stone-paved ground.
Dago walked around the giant rock and flowerbed. He noticed a large rune carved on the back of the rock, but he didn't recognize it.
Before him, there were three diverging paths and a signpost.
Based on the signpost, Dago chose the middle path, which led to the Academy Castle, the main teaching area of Aynak Wizarding Academy.
Reaching the end of the path, he saw a majestic and grand Academy Castle, like a mysterious giant beast crouching.
The castle was bristling with spires, shimmering with mysterious light under the sun, and its windows, like the eyes of a giant beast, stared ahead.
The castle walls were built from ancient stones, weathered and heavy with the passage of time, as if each stone told a long history.
Countless students in Apprentice robes moved through it, bustling about. This was a miniature Town society, holding the joys and sorrows, births, aging, illnesses, and deaths of countless people.
Dago shook the thoughts from his head and randomly stopped a female Apprentice carrying books on the road.
“Hello, excuse me, where do new students report?”
Dago asked her, rubbing his head with an apologetic expression.
The female Apprentice was clearly displeased at being stopped by Dago, but still replied coldly: “Report? If you're only reporting now, just go directly to the Academy Dean's Office.”
The female Apprentice then pointed in the direction of the Academy Castle's majestic gate and quickly walked away.
Only Dago remained standing still, speechless for a long time. Are all the Academy's Apprentices so competitive? They don't even want to say a few extra words.
Dago stepped into the ancient castle gate, his eyes dazzled; it was too complex.
At a glance, countless staircases were built in the center of the castle, with rooms densely packed. Fortunately, there was a main map of the Academy Castle posted on the side, otherwise Dago would have to go to great lengths to ask for directions again.
It took him a considerable amount of time to painstakingly locate the Academy Dean's Office on the map. Dago fumbled his way over, pushing open the ornate door.
“Eeya,” a sound, and he saw a fat Wizard with his ankles crossed on a walnut desk, sound asleep in a large leather chair.
“Knock knock!!” Dago forcefully knocked on the ornate carved wooden door.
“What is it, what is it!? Who's the blind one who doesn't want to get along!?”
The fat Wizard was instantly startled awake, shouting angrily.
“Hello, Wizard, new student reporting.”
Dago said with an innocent expression.
“New student reporting at this hour? Grab your textbook and get out, don't disturb my dreams.”
The fat Wizard waved his hand impatiently, casually pulling a black-bound Wizard book from a cabinet under his desk and tossing it to Dago.
His eyes were hazy, a look of disdain and dismissal, clearly not fond of Dago.
“Thank you, Wizard.”
Dago picked up the black-bound Wizard book from the blanket, looking at the blank cover.
Just as he was about to say something, a powerful and chilling aura rushed towards him.
“You know, interrupting someone's sleep isn't a very polite thing to do.”
The fat Wizard said, squinting and yawning.
Dago pouted and said nothing, tucking the book into his arms. He turned, closed the door tightly, and retreated to wander aimlessly around the Academy Castle.
After a long while, the fat Wizard slowly woke up and stretched with a big yawn.
“I did a great deed today! I confiscated a Wizard book, 'Emerald Life', forbidden for study, and saved an Academy leek, hehe!!”
The fat Wizard muttered happily, then opened the desk drawer, but didn't see the black-bound Wizard book.
“Where's my credit?”
The fat Wizard frantically opened and searched other drawers, but found nothing.
“Never mind, never mind. I don't know which student stole it. This book isn't fun; it can cause disability at best and death at worst. Anyone with sense will return it sooner or later.”
The fat Wizard didn't take this matter to heart; he only wanted to finish work and go out for a big meal.
