Lord of Smoke and Dust"

Chapter 12: Senior Sister Phyllis

After a sumptuous dinner, not only did Sain's belly become round, but even his spiritual power and magical energy had increased slightly. A faint tingling sensation appeared on Sain's arms and various wounds on his body. The fact that the dinner, made from the meat of magical creatures and magical beasts, had such an effect was something Sain had not expected.

"It seems like our mentor values you a lot. I haven't had such a sumptuous dinner in a long time," said Senior Sister Phyllis.

"Sometimes, when experiments are intense, we just drink a nutritional potion to get by," Phyllis told Sain.

During the dinner, Mentor Moses and Senior Brother Zoro returned to the laboratory on the first floor, seeming to have found new inspiration during their discussions. As a result, Sain mainly dined with Senior Sister Phyllis.

Moreover, it was Sain's conversation with Senior Sister Phyllis that made him feel a touch of warmth different from the cold atmosphere of the Black Magic Academy.

"It's true that our mentor values me greatly, and you're also so beautiful and considerate," Sain replied respectfully. His compliments weren't just flattery; he genuinely felt a different atmosphere among Mentor Moses and his disciples compared to other Black Magicians.

Contrasted to the evil Black Magicians who liked to treat their apprentices as experimental subjects, the atmosphere in Mentor Moses' group was noticeably better. Sain considered himself lucky for having chosen to apprentice with Moses, who was known for his low-profile nature.

As Phyllis explained to Sain, this sumptuous dinner, composed of meat from magical creatures and beasts, not only quickly restored their physical and mental strength but also significantly helped Sain's recovery. As a low-ranking apprentice who had his first taste of such a feast, Sain gained more benefits than his two senior disciples, especially in terms of increased spiritual power and magical energy.

Phyllis wore a hint of approval on her face in response to Sain's compliments.

Which woman wouldn't appreciate being praised for her beauty? Especially in the Black Magic Academy, where magical apprentices generally competed with each other, Phyllis hadn't heard such praise in a long time.

What Sain didn't know was that in the Black Magic Academy, Phyllis, a senior apprentice of great strength, was given the nickname "Black Widow." Compared to Lilianya, a more famous female apprentice, Phyllis wasn't necessarily weaker.

"I can see that you're very close to becoming an intermediate apprentice, but your injuries will likely push your promotion back by two months, but that's not necessarily a bad thing," Phyllis said. "Did you switch to the meditation technique given to you by the mentor?"

"Not yet, I have mainly focused on studying the two magic notebooks the mentor gave me today," Sain replied honestly.

Phyllis smiled, expressing her approval of Sain's intelligent approach. "It's a smart decision. You need time for your body to adapt if you change your meditation technique too quickly. I suggest you change it after you advance to an intermediate apprentice."

"Besides, the annual academy awards are just two months away. With your abilities, promotion to an intermediate apprentice will likely place you at the bottom. Why not stay as a low-ranking apprentice and compete for a good ranking in the exams?"

Phyllis's advice resonated with Sain, and he nodded in agreement.

He could see that until his body fully recovered and he could assist his mentor with experiments, Senior Sister Phyllis would be his main guide within Mentor Moses's group. His respectful and composed demeanor further earned Phyllis's smile.

After leaving his mentor's place, Sain returned to his own dormitory. Since it was quite late, few people were moving around the Black Magic Academy. In the past, Sain rarely ventured out at this time of night, but now he had no concerns. His reputation for single-handedly killing Irk, causing a commotion with Lelina in the dark streets, and eliminating scar-faced Jock had earned him a name within the academy. Having such a reputation could reduce problems for those with less power.

However, Sain noticed that Lelina hadn't returned yet. She was with her new mentor, Master Ferena, who seemed to be quite challenging to deal with, judging from her behavior in the dungeon. Given the dark nature of the Black Magic Academy, her willingness to pay a valuable energy crystal to help Lelina indicated that she valued her as well.

After the mentor's banquet, Sain settled into a routine that involved shuttling between his dormitory and Mentor Moses's laboratory. Mentor Moses, despite his substantial resources, couldn't provide his disciples with magical creature ingredients every day. Apart from the occasional meat-heavy meal, Sain mainly consumed regular food. This included two instances where he tried the nutritional potions mentioned by Senior Sister Phyllis.

While the nutritional potions could barely be classified as alchemical concoctions and were simple enough for even an ordinary apprentice to prepare, they had a particular taste that left a lasting impression on Sain. His reluctance towards these potions lasted for quite some time.

Contrastingly, Phyllis insisted that Sain prepare dinner regularly, appreciating his culinary skills. During this period, Sain noticed that Senior Brother Zoro and Mentor Moses were often absent. It made him wonder if, at a certain level of magic, one could do without food. Sain couldn't help but ponder this while returning to his familiar lodgings.