The cool wind felt through the opened windows of the Treevine Bus, caused people to have leisurely thoughts.
“For some reason, every time I sit in the Treevine Bus while looking at the white clouds under my feet. I smell the light fragrance of gra.s.s and trees carried by the blowing breeze. Then suddenly, my mood gets better.” Shalem says as he puts his chin on his palm and leans against the window to look at the quiet and peaceful Tree Spirit court.
Outsiders always say the Savage Grottoes is the gathering place of outrageous Black Wizards. But everyone in the Mirror World knows that life in the Mirror World is sometimes more gentle than in the Outer World.
“I heard a friend say there was a meditative magic pattern at the bottom of the bus to prevent apprentices from arguing in the first place.” Nausica also feels the light breeze as her long hair is scattered by the wind. A random lift of her locks may produce many amorous thoughts.
“Speaking of which, what has Miss Nausica been doing lately?” Shalem looked back, full of wonder and worry in his eyes.
Nausica looked intently at the distant clouds: “Nothing in particular, just receiving and completing tasks to earn some contribution points for spell books.”
“Really?” Shalem squinted with some disbelief: “I think you’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately.”
Nausica smiled charmingly and suddenly reached over to Angel’s shoulder and said:
“If I do not fight ah, how would I move to Apprentice Town as soon as possible? Angel is lonely, isn’t he? Would you like this big sister to come live with you?”
Angel, who was thinking about Sky Tower, was suddenly held by Nausica. He swiped her hand away quickly.
“Even if you move to Apprentice Town, it’ll probably be rare for us to meet. If you guys don’t show up, I will seldom leave Apprentice Town. The times I’ve been out in the past four months can be counted on my one hand.” Angel said.
“Alas… the path of a Wizard is a lonely one.” Shalem sighed.
“Yes.” Nausica’s voice was vague as if it had been blown away by the wind.
Nausica gently led the topic to other ones. Shalem was not too aware, but Angel was aware of what was happening and he thought: I guess there’s something else Nausica’s trying to hide as she is taking on her tasks these days. But since she doesn’t want to talk about it. I’m not going stick my nose and pry into her business.
There were four people in the carriage, and at a certain platform, one of the apprentices got off. As a result, there were only three people left in the Treevine Bus.
The Treevine Bus went onto the next stop as Angel suddenly said, “Last time I didn’t get a chance to take you guys to the underground market. I had said before that I would, so when we get back from Phantom Island. Shall I take both of you and go see it?”
Shalem and Nausica looked at each other and then Shalem said, “Actually, during your practice, Nausica and I went to the underground trading market. It was really big and amazing. I also suggested that if we can’t rent a house in Apprentice Town. We can rent a house in the underground trading market. But later, I learned that the price of renting in the underground trading market is more expensive than in Apprentice Town.”
“However, we did find that some of the low-level spell books sold to the public are cheaper than in the High Cloud Library.” Nausica adds.
“So you’ve been there already.” Angel felt a little guilty about not fulfilling his promise in time: “I’ve been practising these days and have neglected these things.”
Shalem showed a look of comfort as he consoled: “It doesn’t matter. When the business with Phantom Island is over, let’s go to the underground trading market together. I’ve recently finished remembering two spells and just want to go down there to see if there are new ones available.”
“I’d like taking a look too. Let’s go together when we are finished.” Nausica also said.
After talking, Angel had some new ideas. He wants to head to Promi Alchemy Shop to find David and ask him something.
As the three continued chatting freely on some topics. Shalem seemed to remember something and asked Angel. “By the way, you didn’t answer the question I asked before.”
Angel froze for a moment and wondered, “What’s the question?”
“It was you who asked me to come with Miss Nausica to see you. You said you had something to talk with us about.” Shalem said.
Nausica saw that Angel was very cautious when Shalem asked this question earlier and was reluctant to let anyone else hear the response. So she was curious about what he was going to talk about.
…
“In fact, this is actually internal news expected to spread in the next few months. I don’t know if I should tell you two right now.” Of course, what Angel wanted to talk about is Sky Machinery City Purification Wizard Garden. He had some thoughts and wanted to partic.i.p.ate in the Sky Tower compet.i.tion, but he knows about the cruelty in the Sky Tower’s compet.i.tion. He is afraid that when he speaks about what he knew, Nausica and Shalem will also have ideas of partic.i.p.ating in the compet.i.tion.
“Is it so mysterious?” Shalem’s curiosity was in complete suspension.
Angel looked at the expressions of his two friends. Both showing curiosity at his secret news. He sighed slightly in his heart and did not know whether it was good or bad to break the news to them.
Angel glanced vaguely at Nausica. It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t talk about it but from his previous conversation with Shalem. Nausica seemed obsessed with getting stronger. And with how important the Purification Wizard Garden is for growing stronger, all Wizard Apprentices are clear of the benefits.
He’s definitely going to try and compete in Sky Tower compet.i.tion himself, but he has just been promoted to an apprentice. If he goes and starts competing in the Sky Tower compet.i.tion, it is 100% certain that these two will start to wonder. And when the news of the Purification Wizard Garden spreads, they will naturally understand his intention when he starts partic.i.p.ating in the Sky Tower compet.i.tion. At that time, Shalem may be unaware of Angel’s concealment. But Nausica, who struggles hard every day to grow stronger. She may feel entangled, and the friendship between the two may become estranged.
That’s why Angel is going to talk about it.
Angel had been silent for a while before he began speaking to them slowly. Instead of talking directly about the Purification Wizard Garden, he looked at Nausica and asked:
“Nausica, you know about Sky Tower, right?”
“Yes.” Nausica was surprised. Instead of looking at Shalem, Angel talked to her.
“Have you ever thought about climbing the tower?” Angel talked to her again.
Nausica didn’t know what Angel’s intentions were, but she said earnestly, “I’ve thought about it. But with present my strength, I can only be mixed up with the apprentices on the first floor, right? I want to wait a little longer for my wings to harden before I begin climbing the tower.”
“What about you?” Angel looked at Shalem and asked again.
Shalem hurriedly waved his hand. “I’m not partic.i.p.ating. I’m not interested in fighting.”
Angel knew Shalem would answer that way, so he didn’t mind at all. “I have internal news on a situation.” He whispered. “When both of you hear it, don’t pa.s.s it onto others. At least in the next few months don’t tell anyone about it.”
Nausica. “Okay.”
Shalem nodded. “No problem, my lips are sealed.”
With the confirmation from the two of them, Angel said calmly. “I may go and begin climbing the tower in two months.”
“Climbing the tower?!” The two looked at Angel in surprise.
Shalem said anxiously, “Angel, are you crazy? You said so yourself. You were just promoted a week ago, and now you haven’t even learned any spells yet, right? How can you decide to join the tower compet.i.tion? The battle compet.i.tions do not limit struggles of life and death. You can end up killing people!”
“Although Sky Tower is a testing ground for Second Level Apprentices, those are experienced veterans who have fought a hundred battles. You are being too reckless.” Nausica also frowned.
Angel gave a “peaceful” look to the two and said. “Don’t worry, I’m not going there to kill. I am sure. I’m going into the compet.i.tion to climb to the top of the tower.”
Hearing Angel’s a.s.surance, although the two were slightly relieved. They were still puzzled and asked doubtfully. “Then why are you going to climb the tower?”
Angel did not hide the news this time but began talking about Sky Machinery City’s Purification Wizard Garden.
“Only when you can get to the top of Sky Tower will you get an invitation to Infinity Battle Tower. Only then will you be eligible to partic.i.p.ate in the Purification Wizard Garden.” Angel said. “So, I’m giving it a try.”
“Ah, so that’s the reason why you want to partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion. It turns out the reason is for the Purification Wizard Garden… which can improve the success rate of advancing to a formal Wizard. But the goal of becoming a Wizard is too far away from us. It’s a little too early to prepare for it ahead of time, right?” Shalem said.
“The effects of the Purification Wizard Garden are to remove dark wounds and impurities from the body in an all-round manner. The sooner we go, the better the effects will be.” Angel said.
“Why is it the case that the sooner we go, the better? Shouldn’t it the case be the opposite with a top Third Level Wizard Apprentice going to the Purification Wizard Garden to maximize the benefits?” Shalem asked doubtfully.
“Sky Machinery City is opening up the Purification Wizard Garden up to everyone. I don’t know about the details. But housekeeper Goode said the reasons are very complicated. One of the reasons is the Purification Wizard Garden are only for lower and mid-level apprentices. The higher the level of the apprentice in the Wizard Garden, the less effective it will be. Generally speaking, there are some arrogant Third Level Wizard Apprentices that disdain to partic.i.p.ate.”
“But there are also apprentices who have been stuck as a Third Level Apprentices for many years and are willing to fight for this opportunity.”
Angel paused: “This is an opportunity for me. It’s not difficult for me to get to the top of Sky Tower using a few means. Moreover, the news has not widely been spread yet. Many powerful characters are not climbing Sky Tower at this time. If you go and partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion now, you can stagger others in the compet.i.tion.”
Shalem: “Listening to you talk about it feels like climbing the tower is already a done deal… Why can’t I think of any way to climb the tower?”
Nausica kept silent and suddenly said, “Magic pattern scrolls?”
Angel shrugged: “This is one way, but it requires too much contribution points… I’m thinking of another way.”
“What method?”
“Alchemy weapons!”
…
After getting off the bus at Falling Cloud Leaf Platform, Angel stretched himself out, followed by a thoughtful Nausica and a tight-faced Shalem from behind.
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to join the Sky Tower compet.i.tion? How can your face be tighter in thought than Nausica’s?” Angel laughed and joked with him. Nausica, as Angel had expected, made it clear on the spot that she would partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion and expressed her grat.i.tude to Angel. On the other hand, although Shalem is also interested. Thinking of his own strength. He made it clear that he would not be partic.i.p.ating in the Sky Tower compet.i.tion.
“I’m not thinking about the Sky Tower compet.i.tion,” Shalem said. “I’m just a little nervous. Why is… Why are there so many people here?!”