60: The dream of a fireball

After celebrating with his friends, Green walked towards the historical moment of financial independence.

Green then returned to his normal study life.

The courses for the fourth five-year period were very few, and Green had only chosen Pharmacology.

Pharmacology is a subject that, the further one progresses, the more it emphasizes practical application.

In the requirements for the fourth five-year grand examination, the Apothecary title for an Apprentice held the greatest weight in the assessment.

2-Star Apprentice Alchemists still needed to take some theoretical courses, which were generally not a problem and could be easily passed.

3-Star Apprentice Alchemists passed directly, with no assessment required at all... Therefore,

Green's daily routine now was:

He only had a key lesson once every few days.

For the Knight Life Ignition Potion, he collected materials once a month, and it took him seven or eight days to refine them all.

As for the two intermediate Wizard Potions required for the assessment—the Intermediate Sobering Potion and the Intermediate Mana Recovery Potion—Green was limited by his financial resources. He could spend five or six hours a day using up the materials, and after that, he couldn't do anything without more materials.

Knight training had long since ended, and Mentor Jordan had already begun teaching the next batch of Apprentices.

Mentor Jordan's final words to Green were:

“Green, in your current state, simple training can no longer bring you any progress. Only by accepting the baptism of the battlefield and blood can you continue to advance.”

“When you are ready, I will arrange a suitable combat team for you and take you to battle.”

Green immediately replied, “Teacher, I'm not ready yet. I'll come find you when I am.”

He then fled in a panic... Green was living well in the Academy now, had earned money, and saw the hope of becoming a 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist. Where would he find the motivation to go out and fight for his life?

Now Green was very timid; even Formal Wizards could fall into the hands of those Black Wizards.

“My small body won't go join the excitement. I'd rather develop steadily in the Academy,” Green thought, chickening out... For the first time!

For the first time since arriving at Plant Heart Wizard Academy!

Green experienced the feeling of being bored stiff.

He had three or four hours of free time every day, so idle he didn't know what to do.

That evening, Green wandered over to Oakes.

Holding a large glass of iced dark beer, he invited Oakes, who had just returned from the lab, looking exhausted:

“Oakes...”

“Tired from studying today, aren't you? How about a drink to unwind?”

“Green, are you on vacation again?!”

“What did you do this time? How come I don't know?”

Oakes asked curiously. The previous two times Oakes saw Green so leisurely drinking, it was because Green had pushed himself too hard, exhausting his mental energy and needing a break to recover. So, when Oakes saw Green so relaxed, he assumed Green had once again exhausted himself mentally... “Didn't do anything?”

“I'm bored stiff every day now. So I'm looking for you to have a drink. Coming?” Green replied.

“You're idle?”

“You have nothing to do?”

Oakes retorted, a little puzzled. Green, in his impression, was not a person who indulged in pleasure.

“Aren't you trying to become a 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist? Aren't you going to refine potions?”

“No materials. Those few materials are gone in a few hours. I don't have the extravagance of you, Young Master Oakes, to use materials freely, as much as you want!” Green jabbed at him.

“Then why don't you find something else to do?”

Oakes ignored Green's sourness, thought about Green's current situation, and wanted to find something for Green to do.

Seeing Green so lackadaisical now, drinking and vacationing in front of him, Oakes felt inexplicably annoyed.

I want a vacation too, but my old man makes me refine potions every day.

No, I must find something for Green to do.

Otherwise, if he keeps wandering in front of me all day, my mentality won't hold up... Oakes pondered deeply in his heart.

Pharmacology? No, Green has no money.

Classes? Also no, there aren't many classes now.

Knight? No, Green is already a Grand Knight, no need.

Demonized Plants cultivation? Also no, Green now has enough talent and resources to specialize in Pharmacology.

Oh, right, didn't Green want to become a Peak Wizard Apprentice?

A Peak Wizard Apprentice cannot be achieved simply by the strength of a Grand Knight, unless he can comprehend a spiritual secret technique like Mentor Jordan.

Wizardry? That's right, it's Wizardry.

As an orthodox White Wizard, and an Elemental Wizard, how can one not master a few proficient combat Wizardry spells?

... Oakes made up his mind and said with a smile:

“Green, have you forgotten something?”

“What about your dream of becoming a Peak Wizard Apprentice?”

“At your age, how can you afford to play around?”

“Time is precious. Do you want to follow in Mentor Jordan's footsteps?”

“If that were truly the case, I think Mentor Jordan would split you in half.”

Green looked utterly confused.

When did I ever want to follow Mentor Jordan's old path? How come I don't know?

“Oakes, please be clearer, I don't quite understand.”

... “Green...”

“I ask you, what is the most powerful offensive method for us Elemental Wizards?”

Oakes looked like he was disappointed in Green.

“That must be fireball carpet bombing!”

“Boom... Boom... Boom...”

“The art of explosion, how beautiful you are.”

Green looked intoxicated, a magnificent scene of the world being carpet-bombed by fireballs appearing in his mind.

“Then why didn't you go to Radiant Fire Wizard Academy? They are the masters of fireballs.”

Oakes was truly speechless.

He hadn't expected Green to be so enthusiastic about exploding fireballs... “Uh, wasn't my elemental perception test image plants and blood?”

Green came back to his senses, a little embarrassed.

“Hmph, Green, don't forget.”

“Our Plant Heart Meditation Technique is a superior Meditation Technique, not comparable to those trashy ordinary Meditation Techniques.”

“The mana cultivated by our Meditation Technique has a 1.5 times extra mana bonus for wood-type and plant-based Wizardry.”

“So, put down your unreasonable thoughts.”

Oakes criticized him unceremoniously.

“Carefully select a few plant-based intermediate Wizardry spells to build your Wizardry combat system.”

“This is our Elemental Wizards' true specialty.”

“Every Peak Wizard Apprentice will have a mature combat framework.”

“Now you just happen to have time. Instead of practicing Wizardry, you're here drinking. You're wasting your life, do you know that?”

... “Oh, Wizardry...”

“How could I forget about that...”

“My mind was so full of studying that my brain turned dull.”

“Oakes, thank you for the reminder.”

“I haven't really touched Wizardry in years; I completely forgot.”

“I'm going now, my great fireball, here I come...”

Oakes watched Green's cheerfully running figure and shook his head...