Over the next half month, Ethan's life followed an extremely regular pattern.
During the day, he stayed in the Teaching Area, tackling the basic courses one by one.
At night, he returned to the villa, activated the cultivation room's runic array, and sketched new mental runes.
After the first Primal Seal was successfully condensed, the difficulty of the second one increased significantly.
The solidified rune in the center of his mental sea held its position, with the surrounding gray mist rotating slowly around it, maintaining a delicate balance.
The new rune had to find its place at the edge without disturbing this balance.
It took Ethan three days to successfully condense the second rune.
It was slightly smaller than the first, floating at the edge of his mental sea and emitting a slightly dimmer grayish-white light.
There was a faint connection between the two runes, like two stars orbiting each other, making the entire mental sea significantly more stable and larger than before.
On the morning of the fourteenth day, Ethan sat in the center of the cultivation room, staring at the magic stones before him for a long time.
Only three magic stones left.
"I need to find something to do."
He pushed open the villa door and walked along the stone path toward the Logistics Area.
The main hall of the Logistics Area was as bustling as ever.
Dozens of windows had lines of varying lengths, filled with seniors in dark robes and fresh faces like his.
The giant black stone slab on the wall continued to scroll through exchange prices and mission information.
Ethan walked to a row of stone pillars on the left side of the hall.
Each pillar was about the height of a person, with a fist-sized black crystal embedded at the top, runes flowing across its surface.
This was the academy's mission terminal, which students could use with their identity plaques.
He took out his identity plaque and pressed it into the groove of one of the pillars.
The runes on the black crystal's surface lit up, and a pale blue light projected from within, forming a light screen about two feet square above the pillar.
【Blood Bone Tower Academy Mission System】
【Student: Ethan Leo】
【Apprentice Rank: First-Tier Wizard Apprentice (Uncertified)】
【Available Missions: Unlimited】
【Please filter mission criteria below】
The screen listed filters: mission type, rank, reward range, duration...
Ethan quickly selected a few criteria: Extermination, Apprentice-level, reward 10 to 100 magic stones, duration within one month.
The screen flickered and refreshed with a long list of missions.
【Clearing Cave Rats in the Graystone Mines】 Reward: 15 magic stones, 1-3 people required, 10-day limit.
【Exterminating Bristle Wolves in the Black Iron Forest】 Reward: 30 magic stones, 2-4 people required, 15-day limit.
【Dealing with Human-Faced Wolves in the Sgor Mountains, Gold and Silver County】 Reward: 20 magic stones, 3-5 people required, 18-day limit.
...
Ethan's gaze stopped on the "Human-Faced Wolves in the Sgor Mountains, Gold and Silver County" entry.
He tapped it, and the screen popped up with detailed information:
【Mission Name: Human-Faced Wolf Pack of the Sgor Mountains, Gold and Silver County】
【Mission Rank: Apprentice-level】
【Mission Info: A pack of human-faced wolves has been discovered in the Sgor Mountains of the Gold and Silver Marquis's domain within the Thorn Empire. Reconnaissance estimates the population at 100-130, with individual strength around the Knight level. The pack has repeatedly attacked mine guards, severely impacting the progress of magic stone mining. The academy's interests are being harmed and this must be handled immediately.】
【Mission Requirements: Exterminate at least 80 human-faced wolves. Retrieve wolf ears as proof.】
【Current Members: 4 (Confirmed)】
【Duration: 18 days】
【Reward: 20 magic stones.】
【Note: Recommended for Second-Tier Wizard Apprentices or above. The location is in a remote mountainous area; the academy's teleportation array can be used (fee: 1 magic stone).】
"You're the one."
The information on the screen changed, displaying a new line of text:
【Mission accepted. Please proceed to Meeting Point 3 to rendezvous with your teammates. The meeting point is at the end of the corridor on the east side of the Logistics Hall.】
Ethan pulled out his identity plaque and turned toward the east side of the hall.
At the end of the corridor was a half-open wooden door. Faint voices could be heard from behind it.
Ethan pushed the door open and entered.
The room was small, about twenty square meters. A square table sat in the center with a crystal lamp at each corner. There were a few chairs against the wall, three of which were already occupied.
Hearing the door open, the three people looked up simultaneously.
Sitting directly opposite the door was a tall young man with short brown hair, several small scars on his face, and wearing a worn set of leather armor. He looked Ethan up and down and raised an eyebrow.
"A newcomer?"
Ethan nodded and sat down at the table.
"Ethan."
"Raymond." The tall youth tilted his chin toward Ethan, then gestured to the other two. "This is Leah, and this is Carl."
The girl named Leah had her black hair tied in a ponytail and wore deep gray robes with a small cloth pouch hanging from her waist. Her gaze was scrutinizing, her lips slightly pursed.
Carl was a round-faced young man who seemed more approachable than Raymond or Leah. He nodded to Ethan in greeting.
"Just one more to go." Raymond leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "We'll talk business once everyone's here."
A few minutes later, the door was pushed open again.
A young man in deep blue robes walked in. He had a lean build, neatly combed blonde hair, and a reserved smile on his face.
"Sorry I'm late." His voice was moderate. His gaze swept over the group, finally lingering on Ethan for an extra moment.
"Take a seat." Raymond gestured to the empty chair. Once the newcomer sat down, Raymond straightened up. "Everyone's here. Let's confirm our situations first. The mission requires exterminating at least eighty human-faced wolves and retrieving their ears. The reward is twenty magic stones, distributed by contribution. Speak up now if you have objections."
No one spoke.
"Alright." Raymond nodded. "Let's start with our strength. I've condensed eighteen mental runes and mastered three cantrips: Fireball, Wind Blade, and Stone Skin."
Leah spoke, her voice somewhat cold. "Sixteen runes, mastered two cantrips: Ice Arrow and Slow."
Carl rubbed his hands together, looking a bit embarrassed. "I'm not as good. Fourteen runes, only mastered one cantrip: Acid."
After the three finished, their gazes fell on the blonde newcomer.
"Cedric." He raised his chin slightly. "Seventeen runes, mastered three cantrips: Lightning, Wood Evasion, and Spirit Detection."
Raymond nodded and turned his gaze to Ethan.
"And you?"
"Three runes," Ethan said calmly.
The room fell silent for a moment.
Raymond's brow furrowed as he looked Ethan over.
Leah's gaze grew sharper, while Carl shifted uneasily in his seat.
The smile on Cedric's face stiffened for a second before returning to normal.
"How many cantrips do you know?"
"None."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the atmosphere turned cold.
Raymond leaned back, tapping his fingers on the table, a clear look of hesitation on his face.
"No cantrips?" He shook his head. "You're not a good fit. We're going to cull a pack of human-faced wolves, not go on a picnic. Over a hundred Knight-level wolves—people will die."
Leah also spoke up, her voice icy. "Only three runes and doesn't even know a cantrip. He'll just be a burden."
Carl opened his mouth as if to say something but swallowed it back, his eyes showing a hint of sympathy for Ethan.
Cedric didn't say anything, but a faint, indiscernible smile curled his lips as his gaze lingered on Ethan, as if he were looking at a curiosity.
Ethan didn't respond. He simply reached into his storage ring and pulled out his short spear and small round shield, placing them on the table.
Raymond's eyes twitched as they fell on the two Wizardry Tools.
"So you have two Wizardry Tools. No wonder you dared to accept. With those, you can at least fight, but you still need to be careful. Human-faced wolves aren't ordinary beasts; they're intelligent and will coordinate their attacks. Though not as smart as humans, they're among the cleverer demi-human species. Stay behind us when the time comes; don't charge ahead."
Ethan nodded without saying much.
After confirming everyone's status, Raymond pulled a piece of parchment from his tunic and spread it on the table.
It was a simple map marking the general route from Blood Bone Tower Academy to the Sgor Mountains in Gold and Silver County, as well as the specific location of the mine.
"Let's go. For our mission, we can take the academy's Teleportation Array 18. It'll take us directly to the mine."
Raymond put away the map and led the way out of the room.
Rate on N.U.
