Ashen Lord

Chapter two：Dark Wizard

"He he he, Sain, you did a good job. You actually found mature Starlight Grass, which happens to be necessary for one of my upcoming experiments..." A hoarse voice came from a middle-aged wizard in a black robe in front of him. The wizard's large hood covered most of his face, revealing only half of his dried-up and wrinkled visage, as well as a murky yellow eyeball.

When facing the intermediate magic beast, the brackish water giant crocodile, Sain managed to maintain his composure throughout. But when facing this dark wizard, Sain's body couldn't help but tremble slightly. Sain believed that as long as this black wizard gently extended his finger, even the most ferocious magic beast giant crocodile would have to be as obedient as a kitten, crawling at the feet of the black wizard. This is the power of magic, the majesty of the dark wizard! It is the true synonym for terror and despair.

"Then, Sain, as magicians, we generally adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange. So, what is your request?" The black magician named Moses pointed his magic wand with his pale fingers and asked the young man in front of him.

Taking a deep breath, possibly due to the large movement and excited emotions, Sain's wound was pulled, and a trace of blood seeped out of the black magic apprentice's chest again. But the pulling of the wound did not cause any pause in Sain's movements or words.

He bowed ninety degrees forward, with a very humble and respectful tone, and said, "I want to become your apprentice, Mr. Moses, to help you solve problems and explore the true meaning of magic."

The bent waist did not hear a reply and remained motionless throughout.

The magic quartz clock recorded the slow passage of time. Sain couldn't see the expression on the face of the black magician Moses, only a thin, bony finger tapping slowly on his magic wand. It was not a comfortable feeling to have one's fate in the hands of others.

But Sain knew that as long as Moses was willing to take him as an apprentice, he would at least have a better grasp of his own destiny than over seventy percent of the magic apprentices in the city of Mosobra. He wouldn't end up as a specimen on an experimental table one day because of an ill-tempered black magician.

The wait was long, and the wound on Sain's chest even oozed a small pool of blood onto the ground. In normal circumstances, defiling the laboratory of a prestigious black magician would have serious consequences. However, strangely, Moses did not blame Sain for it. Sain was so focused on his hope of becoming Moses's apprentice that he didn't even notice this detail.

"Hehehe, I heard that old lady Agnetha and that old man Colonso have also praised your performance in magic class."

"Why don't you go and worship them as teachers?" The suppressed and quiet atmosphere was finally interrupted by Moses's casual question.

Sain had his own reasons for choosing Moses as his master, but he knew that his reasons were difficult to explain. Should he be honest and say that he thought Moses behaved more "normally" in the black magic academy.

He wasn't like Agnetha, who would occasionally go crazy, or like Colonso, who always liked to use his apprentices for magic amputation experiments.

Master Moses's main course at the Black Magic Academy was "Introduction to Alchemy" and "Fundamentals of Fire Elements". Sain's physical constitution was particularly compatible with fire elements, and the limited magical knowledge he possessed was also primarily focused on fire magic. Therefore, after much consideration, he chose to apply to the low-key Moses for apprenticeship. Even the three starlight grasses he risked his life to obtain were important neutralizers in the process of magical alchemy."

For ordinary dark wizards, the value of Starlight Grass is not actually high.

But for Mosido, it does have considerable value because it is difficult to cultivate artificially and only grows in the wild.

After a moment of contemplation, Sain said in a low voice, "Because I feel that Master, you have gone farther on the path of magic than Master Anginia and Master Colonso."

"Only by following you can I grasp the true essence of magic."

Sain's answer quickly caused Mosido to burst into laughter. However, due to Mosido's voice always being hoarse, this quiet laboratory appeared even more eerie under the backdrop of Mosido's laughter. Mosido's mood was very cheerful due to his self-praise and the suppression of the other two dark wizards. But the real factor that made Mosido determined to take Sain as his apprentice was the latter's last sentence.

"Grasp the true essence of magic? Not for the pursuit of greater power?!"

"Hmph! Sain, if you really understand that knowledge is the source of power for us magicians, then you are better than over 90% of the apprentices in the Black Magic Academy."

"Even many bored formal black magicians are often tempted by power."

"Maybe these guys have been underground for too long and have gradually forgotten the true essence of magic," Mosido snorted coldly.

A green magic beam of "muscle regeneration" was shot from Mosido's wand.

This is an advanced healing magic from a great and formal magician. At the moment when Sain saw this green beam of light, the long-held burden in his heart finally fell.

At the same time, there was also fatigue from deep within the body and itching from the flesh buds growing on his chest.

"Go back and rest for a while. I agree to take you as my fifth disciple."

"There is still a trace of paralysis toxin in your blood. Did you eat blue moss?" Mosido asked.

"Yes, Master. I used some blue moss to treat the wound on my way back to the city of Mosobula," Sein respectfully replied, addressing him as "Master."

Blue moss is a relatively common low-level plant with little magical value, but it can have a certain paralyzing effect on muscles.

However, the cost of using it is that blue moss itself is poisonous and requires corresponding detoxification afterwards to neutralize the toxins.

The black mage Mosido gave a very cold impression, but it must be said that Sein made an absolutely correct decision this time.

A large bottle of intermediate detoxification potion was taken out of Mosido's black robe.

Accompanying it was a short wand and a medal. Both the wand and the medal emanated a strong magical wave on their surface.

This was the first time Sein had seen real magical items.

The former was a magic wand, which was a gift from Mosido to Sein as a token of his apprenticeship. Although it was just a "little thing" made by Mosido in his spare time, it was a veritable treasure for Sein.

Among them was a corrosive acid that could dissolve the scales of advanced magical beasts.

The latter medal was the key for Sain to freely enter and exit Moses' laboratory in the future, and it was also considered a symbol of Sain's status as Moses' apprentice.

"Go back and rest for a while. Come to my laboratory in three days. I happen to have an experiment that requires your assistance," Moses said after handing the three face-to-face gifts to Sain, waving his hand.

It wasn't until this moment that Sain dared to look up at Moses. What appeared in front of him was a slightly gloomy face with yellowish eyes of a middle-aged man under his black robe.