The alchemical tools were made of magic-friendly metal, each inscribed with fine stabilizing runes. They could withstand high-intensity magical modulation—essential for advanced potion research.
The protective under-armor, woven from a blend of extraordinary materials, wasn't a true enchanted item, but its quality was excellent. It offered significant protection without compromising mobility.
By market value, these two items together would cost at least one or two full magic stones.
"I'll take these two," Robb said, pointing to the list, his voice careful. "The alchemy set and the protective under-armor."
The attendant nodded, recording the selection. "Typical choices for an alchemy apprentice. Practical and unassuming. Please wait a moment while I retrieve them."
As she left the test chamber, Robb found himself pondering once again—why had Madam Elena gone to such lengths to help him?
Was it simply his talent for alchemy? Or had that enigmatic old apothecary seen something deeper in him?
Whatever the reason, he quietly committed the favor to memory. In a place like the Black Mist Forest, such genuine help was extremely rare.
Before long, the attendant returned with a fine wooden case and a neatly folded piece of dark teal fabric.
"These are your chosen items," she said, handing them to Robb along with a slim booklet.
"And this is a guide to the rules and resource sites for Elementary Apprentices. I recommend you read it thoroughly."
Robb carefully opened the box to inspect the items.
Inside was a set of beautifully crafted tools, each gleaming with a metallic sheen and etched with delicate stabilizing runes on the base.
"This set is nearly flawless for apprentice-level work," the attendant commented. "It's suitable not only for basic potions, but also for more advanced formulas. Used properly, it'll serve you for a long time."
Robb closed the box and examined the under-armor.
It looked like ordinary cloth at first glance, but its texture was incredibly supple and cool to the touch—clearly not mundane.
"Thank you for your help," he said politely. "Is there anything else I need to take care of?"
"Not at the moment." The attendant handed him a faintly glowing green badge.
"Wear this. It marks your status as an Elementary Apprentice and grants you access to several restricted areas within the academy."
Robb accepted the badge and pinned it to his chest.
The runes on the badge immediately resonated with his spiritual energy, emitting a soft glow.
"Madam Elena has helped me before as well," the attendant said, her tone turning solemn. "And since she holds you in such regard, allow me to offer you a piece of advice."
Her voice grew sharp with seriousness:
"Elementary Apprentices may have passed the basic selection, but within the academy's hierarchy, you're still near the bottom. Especially someone like you… who advanced unexpectedly. You'll be more prone to attracting unwanted attention."
As he turned to leave, she added in a meaningful tone, "Act with caution and keep a low profile. That might be your most important survival tactic for the foreseeable future."
Robb nodded. He fully understood what she meant.
After his encounters with Darude and Marcus, he'd gained a visceral understanding of the Black Mist Forest's unwritten rules.
By the time he left the central hall, night had already fallen.
Holding tightly to the alchemy set and the under-armor, Robb felt a mixture of excitement and vigilance.
Becoming an Elementary Apprentice meant he had taken his first real step forward in this dangerous world.
But it was only the beginning—the road ahead would be long and full of uncertainty.
With that thought, he headed back toward the dorms.
Technically, now that he was a registered apprentice, he was entitled to move out of the candidate dorms.
However, since the incident with Darude, most of his neighbors had cleared out, leaving him with a large, quiet space. Considering that new housing required a hefty fee in magic crystals, and his current place was free—he decided to stay.
...
Back in his room, Robb locked the doors and windows, checking for any signs of surveillance before unpacking his new equipment.
He started with the alchemy set, carefully removing each tool from the wooden case and laying them out on the table.
The quality was even better than expected—The cauldron was made of a rare blue-silver alloy that evenly distributed heat and resisted magical corrosion.
The distiller had micro-rune inlays at every junction, allowing precise control of steam flow. Even the seemingly ordinary measuring cups and stirring rods were made of special materials that didn't interfere with magical reactions.
[Alchemy Experience +1]
Just familiarizing himself with the tools improved his skill level. Robb was delighted—this set would significantly accelerate his progress in alchemy.
Next, he examined the under-armor—a potential lifesaver.
At first glance it looked like normal clothing, but upon closer inspection, faint runes shimmered within the fabric.
When he ran his fingers over it, the material adjusted to his touch—flexible and incredibly resilient.
"Exquisite craftsmanship," Robb murmured, carefully folding the armor and setting it aside.
But he had more urgent matters to attend to—he needed to raise the zero-circle spell "Mucus Splash" to Adeptlevel, the final requirement for his [Apprentice Wizard] class transition.
He mentally reviewed the necessary criteria:
[Combat Class – Apprentice Wizard (★1.5) Advancement Info]
[Advancement Requirements:]
Spiritforce ≥ 2.0 ✅
Basic Meditation Technique at Adept Level ✅
One spell at Adept Level ❌
"Only one condition left," Robb told himself. "It has to be tonight."
He looked around, searching for a target to practice on.
His gaze settled on a stone block near his bed—something he'd set aside specifically for spell training.
He took out the Simplified Stardust Elixir he had brewed under Madam Elena's guidance and sipped a small amount.
A cool sensation spread from his throat through his entire body, and his mind became razor sharp.
[Simplified Stardust Elixir – Effect: Slightly increases spiritforce stability; slightly increases casting precision]
"Alright, time to go for broke!" Robb took a deep breath and began channeling his energy.
With his spiritforce now transformed by his breakthrough, his control was at a whole new level.
The previously vague sensations were gone. Now, energy flowed clearly—like transparent water he could guide at will.
Robb closed his eyes and recalled Darude's notes on sound magic.
Sound was essentially vibration at specific frequencies—and spiritforce could be tuned the same way.
That gave him a whole new avenue to explore—he began synchronizing his spiritual energy with specific frequencies.
Surprisingly, this approach was similar to what he'd instinctively discovered while practicing "Mucus Splash."
The difference was, this time he was doing it intentionally—calibrating the vibrational frequency of his spiritual energy.
Like a plucked string, his energy began to hum in resonance.
As he fine-tuned the frequency, he could clearly perceive every detail of the spell model—every energy node, every junction.
[Casting: Mucus Splash]
[Optimized Casting Method Detected]
[Simplified Stardust Elixir Active: Spell Model Stability Slightly Increased]