Harvest!!

The two chatted a bit more, and their conversation gradually drifted, eventually landing on their respective destinations. Seizing the right moment, Matthew naturally asked how Sutton planned to return to his wizard academy.

To avoid raising Sutton's suspicions, he kept his tone casual and casually mentioned that his own mentor was usually negligent in his guidance, leaving many basic matters unexplained.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of understanding crossed Sutton's gaze, as if he were no stranger to such situations.

He nodded slightly first, a touch of empathy in his voice as he murmured in agreement, “Your mentor is indeed somewhat derelict in his duties. However, this is quite common among wizards—Official Wizards are often engrossed in their own research or missions, so the energy they can spare for apprentices is indeed limited.”

After a brief pause, he steered the conversation back to Matthew's key question, his tone steady and clear, as if stating a piece of common knowledge: “As for how to return to the academy... it is actually not that complicated.

“When the academy admits apprentices, they should give everyone a dedicated introductory guide. It is not an ordinary book, but a magical creation imprinted with the academy's mark.

“You only need to focus your mind, slowly pour your Spirit into it, and at the same time circulate your mind according to your academy's exclusive meditation method. The pages will then naturally reveal a guiding path.

“Sometimes it is text, sometimes images, and it might even project the direction directly into your consciousness... Follow it, and you will find your way back to the academy.”

He looked at Matthew with a calm gaze and added flatly, “This is not only a guide for the journey back, but also a signal from the academy to its apprentices. If you can awaken the map's location, it means things have settled down.”

Hearing this, a heavy weight was lifted from Matthew's heart.

Although he did not understand why it had to be so troublesome, there had to be a reason for things to be set up this way.

Sutton's words were like a ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds, instantly clearing away his greatest confusion.

His expression immediately turned solemn, and he thanked Sutton from the bottom of his heart, “Thank you for your guidance, Brother Sutton.”

Sutton waved his hand, his tone remaining flat. “It's a small matter. Once you break through to a Second-Grade Apprentice, you will naturally develop many intuitive senses. By then, you won't even need to pour your Spirit in to know how to return. Your mentor probably thought so too.”

Matthew was overjoyed and thought to himself, “So that's how it is!”

He then recalled the subtle addition to Sutton's words—“If you can awaken the map's location, it means things have settled down.” This vaguely implied that during certain “extraordinary times,” this return path might be temporarily concealed or blocked.

Combined with the “dark wizards wreaking havoc” and “unrest” Sutton had mentioned earlier, Matthew felt a stronger sense of reality regarding the dangers and complexities of the wizarding world.

“It seems,” Matthew realized, “that returning to the academy is not just about knowing the way, but also a verification of one's status and eligibility. Only when the ‘storm has passed’ or when ‘one is permitted to return’ will the path reveal itself.”

The atmosphere between the two seemed to soften and grow slightly closer due to this practical and crucial exchange.

A moment later, a figure slowly walked out of the breach in the villa.

Matthew carried a slightly bulging cloth bag in one hand, the crisp clinking of glass bottles colliding faintly echoing from within.

His steps were steady as his gaze swept over the messy state of the courtyard, finally landing on the heavy bag in his hand.

His harvest from this trip far exceeded his expectations. Not only had he gathered information about the “yellow-haired youth” Sutton and caught a glimpse of the tip of the wizarding world's iceberg, but he had also unexpectedly obtained three bottles of the Blood-Burning Potion.

The dark red liquid was contained in delicate crystal bottles. Even through the cloth, he could feel the unstable yet surging energy fluctuations contained within.

Matthew did not entirely believe Sutton's words about how “fellow wizard apprentices should look out for one another.” It was just like his schooling days in his past life—classmates did not necessarily share genuine sincerity. Benefits, competition, and calculation were often the norm.

The wizarding world would probably only be more realistic and cruel.

For now, Matthew could not see through what kind of considerations or purposes lay behind Sutton's friendly attitude.

He stopped dwelling on it. The most urgent matter at hand was to return to the inn as soon as possible. Aidan's situation was still unclear, and the subsequent trouble that tonight's commotion might trigger required his immediate attention. After all, if he returned too late and Aidan summoned Regg to stand up for him, things would get troublesome.

As the night deepened, Matthew quickened his pace, his figure quickly vanishing into the shadows of the street.

...

Meanwhile, the yellow-haired youth stared at Matthew's departing back, his gaze carrying a hint of complex yet calm contemplation.

There was a reason why he had been so peaceful toward Matthew.

The moment Matthew stepped into the laboratory, Sutton had already sensed the faint yet genuine fluctuation of Spirit on him—it was the mark of a wizard apprentice.

Under the boundary where wizards and mortals seemed to exist in two different worlds, meeting a “peer” who had also set foot on this path—even if he had only barely crossed the threshold—was enough to make him let down some of his guard and feel a touch of instinctive closeness. After all, he had not met anyone on the path of wizards for a long time.

Furthermore, this area was within the territory of the Fire Vortex Tower. He was merely a guest here, so he naturally did not dare to act rashly.

In addition, Sutton was well aware of his current state. The injuries he had sustained in his conflict with the dark wizards had not yet healed, and his strength was far from its peak.

If he were to actually fight this young apprentice named Matthew, the outcome would be uncertain. Even if he won, attracting other wizard apprentices from the Fire Vortex Tower would only bring endless trouble! If he attracted dark wizard apprentices instead, it would practically be a catastrophe. Otherwise, why would he have stayed cooped up in the basement?

What was more, the truly valuable core materials and items in the laboratory had long been transferred. What remained were merely superficial things, not worth risking his life to fight for.

At this thought, an imperceptible ripple passed through Sutton's eye.

Although the dark wizards' plundering was gradually subsiding, this place was still not a spot where he could stay for long. According to common logic, this storm should completely blow over within a few months.

...