44: Awards Ceremony, a New Beginning

In examination room number three, 15 Pharmacology apprentices underwent a series of challenging assessments.

After two days, only three people successfully passed all the assessments.

These three individuals will all be awarded the title of One-Star Pharmacology Apprentice by the academy.

This also means that Green Anglet and the other two can embark on the formal wizard's path, starting to learn the refining of various Low-level Wizard Potions, including Knight series, Mana series, Spiritual Power series... (unlike those apprentices who specialize in refining only Knight series potions).

A 20% pass rate is indeed very difficult.

If Green Anglet didn't have his cheat, he would probably be one of the 80% of failed apprentices.

As expected, the 80/20 rule also applies in the Wizard World.

After all assessments were completed, the chief examiner announced:

All Pharmacology apprentices, gather at 3 PM in the large classroom number eight on the second floor.

There will be an annual year-end assessment and award ceremony for Apothecary apprentices, where results and rankings will be announced and rewards distributed... At noon, after Green Anglet finished his meal, he took a rare nap in his dorm.

He slept for a full two hours to recover his vitality.

Green Anglet had been a bit drained while assessing the refining of Mental Power Water.

At 2:50 PM, Green Anglet met up with a few friends in large classroom number eight.

He had barely chatted with Oakes and the others when the leaders entered...

Everyone immediately quieted down.

It was the same group who appeared at the opening ceremony last time, including the academy's teaching supervisor, grade supervisor, the Apothecary Mentor representative—Mentor Serena, and five other unfamiliar mentors.

This time, Mentor Serena, a kind old lady with a head full of silver hair, presided over the assembly...

The old lady's gentle voice carried a hint of A sense of vicissitudes (a sense of vicissitude/world-weariness):

“Children, it’s the end of another year.”

“This year, eighty-six diligent and hardworking children have been earnestly studying Pharmacology, and your efforts will be rewarded.”

“Now is the time to reward the children who have achieved results after a year of hard work.”

“At the same time, for those children whose harvests were not as desired...”

“Do not be discouraged; you are still young, and the journey of life is still very long...”

“One setback does not represent anything. My wish and expectation for you is to be indomitable.”

“On the wizard's path, there is never a lack of failure. But true powerhouses are all those who have emerged from countless failures.”

“I also hope you learn from these 18 students who passed the assessment, learning their excellent qualities and unyielding will.”

“Only through perseverance can one achieve success...”

“Now, let us together bestow the noble Wizard's Blessing upon these 18 new One-Star Pharmacology Apprentices.”

“May their path of exploration in Pharmacology be smooth sailing! And may they reach new heights on the wizard's path.”

Green Anglet, Oakes, Allie, and 15 others, a total of 18 people, all stood up.

Accepting the blessings from mentors and classmates, a few emotional ones even cried with excitement.

Green Anglet, however, did not cry. Instead, he exchanged glances with Oakes and Allie, and they all smiled happily.

Only they knew the hardships and exhaustion of this past year.

At this moment, everyone felt relieved... Achieving the desired good result was the best reward for Green Anglet.

Green Anglet's future path became even broader and more promising.

Having obtained the title of One-Star Pharmacology Apprentice in advance, Green Anglet's third major five-year examination was now secure... “Students, this time, I observed your assessment throughout.”

“There were many children with excellent aptitude and comprehension...”

“Among them, six apprentices achieved remarkably excellent results. The academy has decided to give them their due reward—adding all six of them to the academy's Pharmacology reserve talent training list.”

“Let us bless them once again.”

“They are Green Anglet... Oakes Riole...”

“For these apprentices, the academy has already assigned your new Pharmacology mentors and Pharmacology laboratories.”

“Now, please follow your respective mentors.”

“Other apprentices may leave on their own.”

Green Anglet had some questions in his mind. Why was this ceremony so simple? It ended after just delivering the important information.

There were no speeches from leaders or anything, which made Green Anglet a bit unaccustomed.

Green Anglet cast a questioning look at Oakes.

Oakes instantly understood, patted Green Anglet's shoulder, and said:

“This is different. The last opening ceremony happens once every five years and has greater symbolic significance, so it was more grand.”

“This time, it's just a celebration among us Pharmacology people, a couple of blessings are enough.”

“Hurry up, my mentor is calling me.”

At this moment, Green Anglet also heard someone calling his name.

Not daring to delay, Green Anglet scurried to a tall, thin middle-aged mentor. What surprised Green Anglet was that Westley was also beside the middle-aged mentor. Their figures were quite similar; both looked weak from excessive late nights.

“Are you Green Anglet?”

“Yes, Mentor, I am Green Anglet,” Green Anglet replied.

“Let’s go, follow me...”

“I am the Pharmacology mentor assigned to you by the academy. You can call me Teacher Bridger.”

The middle-aged mentor strode out, being the first to leave the classroom, speaking as he walked.

“Understood, Teacher Bridger,” Green Anglet said obediently.

“I’m very busy, so I’ll just tell you some key points on the way. For the rest, you can find Westley. He’s been in my laboratory for several years and is very familiar with everything.”

“For welfare issues and daily studies, just find Westley.”

“I will take half a day each month to teach you. At that time, you can ask all the questions you’ve accumulated to save time, understand?”

“Understood, understood...” Green Anglet agreed.

“If you understand, then that’s it. You don’t need to follow me anymore; go find Westley.”

After speaking, Teacher Bridger sped up, breaking into a run, and in a few steps, he cleared the stairs and went upstairs.

Leaving Green Anglet standing there foolishly... “Green Anglet...”

“Green Anglet...”

Westley swayed over to Green Anglet, rousing him from his daze.

“You’ll get used to it...”

“Teacher Bridger is like that. He’s rushing to do an experiment.”

“In the future, you’ll only see him once a month. Normally, he doesn’t handle anything.”

“Then how do I learn to refine potions? I don’t even know where the laboratory is?”

Green Anglet said, feeling frustrated. This was his first time encountering such a hands-off mentor.

“Don’t I still have me? Teacher Bridger must have handed you over to me.”

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to the laboratory first to get acquainted.”