Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 248: Bidding Farewell to Witch Sophia

After Locke and the others returned to Lilith's Cottage, Witch Sophia first went to receive Princess Arya and her fellow tribespeople.
At the same time, Lilith's Cottage also dispatched Senior Advisor Francis. The academy's upper echelon also seemed to want to win over the intelligent magical creature race that had always maintained a neutral status.
Senior Advisor Francis proactively offered to treat the harpies for free.
However, the harpies' temperament was after all different from human wizards. Princess Arya seemed to accept, but didn't appear particularly grateful.
After Sophia thanked everyone and Lady Morgana, and distributed the spoils of war, she brought Locke back to her residence.
In Sophia's office, Sophia handed a bottle of Viridian Potion to Locke, saying, "You have many residual curses on your body, even two types of blood curse residue. It's just that your current mana and constitution are both relatively strong."
"So they haven't erupted for the moment."
"Drink this bottle of Viridian Potion. It will also adjust the mana in your body, making your mana quality higher."
Locke knew that Witch Sophia was referring to Fear Blood Curse and Thirst Blood Curse. He didn't refuse. Otherwise, relying on himself alone, to completely resolve the blood curses remaining on his body would probably take at least five years.
Battle was like this. As long as one engaged in combat with others, losses would be incurred.
Especially since this time he had been drawn into formal wizard level combat. He had greatly broadened his horizons, but at the same time, quite a few curses and hidden troubles remained on his body.
Locke opened the Viridian Potion and drank it down in one gulp. That emerald-like potion entered his body. Its medicinal effect was very gentle, continuously eliminating the hidden troubles in his body, even those hidden troubles left behind from before he went to Blood Curse Court.
This was a First Circle level potion.
Witch Sophia raised a boat ticket in her hand, saying, "This is a wizard airship ticket to the Star Domain Sea. Do you know how much one ticket costs?"
Locke shook his head slightly.
Witch Sophia sat on a stool and stretched lazily, as if finally relaxing. "Locke, this ticket is worth one hundred thousand magic stones."
Locke was stunned, because learning an advanced meditation method only required a loan of fifty thousand magic stones, yet such a ticket required one hundred thousand magic stones.
A set of Wall of the Faithless only cost one hundred thousand magic stones.
Witch Sophia smiled and said, "I sold several unique formulas and magical plant breeding methods in my possession to scrape together the money to purchase this ticket."
"Going to the Star Domain Sea requires crossing many natural barriers, so a round trip requires enormous resource consumption. For certain reasons, the price to return from the Star Domain Sea is several times this price. This price is after I waited a long time, specifically waiting for a special discount ticket. It's only a fraction of the normal price."
"Now you know how terrifying that place, the Star Domain Sea, is."
"Many formal wizards in the Star Domain Sea fall into the tragic situation of not being able to find work, unable to make a living, yet unable to afford tickets to return."
"The Star Domain Sea is a big place. Big places have the advantages of big places, but also the disadvantages of big places."
"If you come in the future, you can notify me in advance. If by that time I have some foundation there, perhaps I can help you."
Witch Sophia handed Locke a verdant ring. This seemed to be a special magical plant, a four-leaf clover connected end to end, forming a unique leaf ring.
"This is a Lucky Four-Leaf Clover Ring. Only formal wizards can use it. Normally, keep it put away. Don't show it, because this is a First Circle level magical plant."
Locke received the ring with both hands, saying, "Teacher, this is too precious."
Witch Sophia laughed, "Then will you return it to me?"
Locke raised his eyebrows and placed it into his astral ring. He changed the subject, saying, "Teacher, what is this ring's function?"
Witch Sophia nodded and said, "The Lucky Four-Leaf Clover Ring must have formal wizard level mana input to trigger the spell I've arranged in it beforehand."
"This kind of high-grade magical plant, Lucky Four-Leaf Clover, can store three First Circle level spells and instantly cast them in battle."
"In other words, I've already stored three First Circle magics [Ecological Niche Communication Spell] within."
"That is to say, you can use this magic that has located my spiritual characteristics, utilizing ecological principles, to contact me three times, and I can also reply to you three times."
"Even if I'm in the Star Domain Sea." Sophia explained, "The distance between the Star Domain Sea and the southeastern quadrant is even greater than the distance between the mundane world where you were before and the southeastern quadrant."
"There are countless natural barriers in between, so other than using this method, individual wizards basically have no other possibility of communication."
Witch Sophia said, "Of course, when you use up one of the First Circle level magics hidden within, you can store one of your own plant magics in it. In battle, an extra instant-cast spell will be very useful."
"But the prerequisite for using it is—you are a formal wizard."
Witch Sophia handed Locke a stack of magic books. "This is the subsequent cultivation path and knowledge compilation for breeding studies and potion studies that I've specifically prepared for you."
"Do with it as you wish."
"After I leave, the academy should have you choose a new wizard mentor." Witch Sophia said, "I hope you won't choose Lady Morgana."
Seeing Locke show a strange expression, Witch Sophia shook her head slightly. "Lady Morgana's temperament is ultimately different from yours and mine. If you become her student, she'll only cultivate you into another version of herself."
"Going there will only add unnecessary hardships. Moreover, you already have an established direction. Your mana is already 600 now, right..." Witch Sophia nodded and said, "Very good, and it hasn't even been a year."
"You may very likely reach 800 mana within three years. No, wait. You have large quantities of magical resources on hand, and after this time, your magical plant will be heavily purchased by the academy. With these magical resources supporting you, you should quickly approach the level of formal wizard."
"So you even more cannot choose Lady Morgana. She'll only restrict you. I recommend you choose Halen Vera. With your current status, you have the right to make this choice."
"Geniuses always have privileges."
Witch Sophia understood Locke's current state better than others. In others' eyes, Locke was still only a first-class wizard apprentice who had just advanced.
Because as long as a first-class wizard apprentice became a formal wizard before age forty, they could be said to have decent aptitude.
Locke was currently only just over eighteen years old.
In the eyes of a super genius like Witch Sophia who advanced quickly, even if someone had just advanced to first-class wizard apprentice a year ago, a year later they might not be unable to attempt formal wizard.
Witch Sophia said, "Although Halen Vera has many flaws as a person, for you, he has one greatest advantage. He's most willing to help geniuses succeed, respecting that each genius's personality is different."
"I just need to remind you, no matter what, don't forget to revere power."
"Only by revering magic can you master magic, rather than being controlled by magic."
Witch Sophia's expression was very complex. "Locke, at Halen Vera's side, you'll possess the true privileges that a super genius would have, those privileges you couldn't have with me."
"You'll obtain many, many things. That will be the true test for you. Don't forget your original intention. This is my final advice to you."
"This is also a phrase Lady Morgana gave me. Even having reached my current level, I still constantly remember this phrase."
Locke bowed to Witch Sophia. "Teacher..."
Witch Sophia rubbed her brow and smiled, "Alright, now is a time for happiness. Everyone should feel happy."
"Locke, tomorrow you can see me off alone. I'll leave Lilith's Cottage at noon tomorrow."
Locke nodded, "Of course, Teacher. Then I'll go prepare now. I'll prepare a special farewell banquet for Teacher."
Witch Sophia nodded with a complex expression. After Locke left, she sighed and placed a farewell letter on the desk.
"This way will be simpler."
...
The next morning, Locke walked into Sophia's office, which had already been emptied out. A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"I should have guessed." Locke looked at a farewell letter on the empty desktop and sighed, "Teacher Sophia tricked me once."
Locke waved his hand and immediately used Summon Tomb Spirit to read the information about what happened in this room. After reading the Ogham language, he said, "Teacher should have left last night."
"It seems she didn't want to experience the farewell, so she deliberately deceived me, saying she wouldn't leave until noon today."
"Thinking about it now, the actual date of her ticket should have been last night at midnight."
Locke looked at the empty office and suddenly felt somewhat unaccustomed. "Formal wizard... Star Domain Sea..."
"Teacher, you're quite certain I'll become a formal wizard. Thank you."
"I will definitely go to the Star Domain Sea!"
Locke instructed his servants to clean these empty rooms. At the same time, he returned to his own residence. First, he needed to immediately digest these resources plundered from the black wizards.
Better to avoid complications from delays.
It was better to quickly convert those resources into his actual mana.