Warlock Apprentice

The magic letter from the Profound Alchemy Association eased the heavy atmosphere in the hall. Angel and Greya temporarily set aside their concerns about Toby’s impending ordeal tomorrow, chatting about the Profound Alchemy Association for a while.

However, as the hands of the wall clock ticked closer to dawn, Greya grew restless once again.

She began to recall in her mind whether there were any other ways to assist Toby in advancing, but such thoughts had eluded her over the past few months, and she naturally came up empty now as well.

In her anxious unease, the hands of the wall clock moved to 5 a.m. Though the continent remained shrouded in darkness, those in the Sky Mechanical City could faintly glimpse the pale white light of dawn emerging on the horizon.

Suddenly, Greya stood up: ”I’m heading out.”

Without saying where she was going, Greya transformed into a haze of ghostly light and vanished from the hall. Angel extended his senses, discovering that Greya seemed to have gone to the main district.

Angel also stepped out of the hall and went into the courtyard.

The courtyard was quiet; Sharley and Asaz were not there, leaving only Toby immersed in his Dream Twin realm.

Amid the scent of soil and blossoms, Angel stood silently and gazed into the distant sky. From sparse blackness to faint gray, and then gradually into pale white hues.

This transition lasted for more than two hours. By 8 a.m., the sun bathed the earth.

Greya returned from outside at that moment. Angel noticed a particular fragrance that accompanied her. While Greya typically carried scents—often of alcohol or lingering culinary aromas—this time, her fragrance was a blend tinged with Shulomon’s floral notes.

”Did you visit Fragrant Plaza?” Angel asked curiously.

Greya nodded slightly: ”I went to find Lianna and traded for a bottle of fragrance from her.”

Greya flipped her hand over, revealing an elegant perfume bottle in her palm, shaped like the graceful curves of a woman. Its stopper resembled blue velvet in both color and texture—a luxuriously designed piece, shimmering faintly with starlight.

But in contrast to the bottle’s opulent exterior, the fragrance inside was a transparent liquid, resembling pure water, where only faintly glimmering light traces could be seen.

”This is Golden Oak Water.”

The effect of Golden Oak Water is to help one focus their mind and achieve greater concentration. Uniquely, though labeled a fragrance, it doesn’t disperse any scent when diffused using fragrance sticks. In comparison to water, it is even purer.

A fragrance without scent—a rarity in itself—and one particularly favored by male Wizards.

Greya chuckled self-deprecatingly: ”I think I’ve gone mad. I could create similar effects with culinary fragrances, yet I still opted to trade for this bottle.”

Greya worried that even the faintest trace of fragrance in the air might distract Toby. Golden Oak Water, though expensive, guaranteed not to diffuse any scent.

Angel, on the other hand, felt that whether or not Golden Oak Water was used wouldn’t make much difference. At Toby’s level of Extraordinary Life, a small boost in concentration was essentially inconsequential.

However, he refrained from pointing this out. Perhaps Greya’s purpose in using Golden Oak Water was not solely for Toby but also to provide a solace for her own frazzled and uneasy heart.

As golden sunlight illuminated the dewdrops on the courtyard’s flowers and vegetation, Toby flapped his wings and emerged from the Illusionary Realm of the Dream Twin.

After coming out, Toby soared through the air, circling several times and delivering a tune that resembled music but also carried an eerie wailing tone before slowly landing before them.

Judging by Toby’s previously resounding cry, its spirit seemed wholly restored. Yet, Greya remained deeply concerned, bombarding it with nonstop questions until she realized her endless inquiries might impose psychological pressure on Toby—and abruptly stopped.

Toby, however, didn’t comprehend Greya’s intricate thoughts. After her questioning ceased, it chirped a few times in response, signaling that it was ready to begin its ordeal.

”Are you certain you’re ready?” Angel asked with a serious expression, to which Toby nodded resolutely.

Seeing the determination and confidence in Toby’s eyes, Angel finally nodded in agreement: ”Then... let’s begin.”

While he said ”begin,” the ordeal wouldn’t commence immediately; some preparations were necessary first.

With a mere thought from Angel, a strange and extraordinary door materialized instantly before him.

Toby’s ordeal would take place within its Mind Space; however, unforeseen accidents could occur along the way. Thus, to err on the side of caution, they decided not to let Toby undergo the ordeal within the Sky Mechanical City.

Passing through the door felt akin to piercing through a crystalline barrier. On the other side of the door, they entered into an utterly lightless Void.

Angel spoke: ”Here will suffice.” Engaging in the Void ensured significant protection against scrutiny and prevented environmental or external damage. Most importantly, Toby had confronted Extreme Resentment Thoughts within the House of the Heart in a simulated Void before. Though the real situation would differ, the familiarity of a similar environment might offer Toby a sense of relaxation.

Once inside the Void, Toby nodded to Greya and Angel, showing no hesitation as it flew into the distance. Soon, its figure disappeared from view, though Angel and Greya could still trace Toby’s location through its energy trajectory.

Toby found a secluded spot, settled down, and closed its eyes to enter a meditation state.

After about half a minute, waves of ripples suddenly emanated from Toby’s body. As the ripples spread outward, a black mist gradually burst forth from within, swiftly enveloping Toby entirely.

Witnessing this, Angel’s gaze grew solemn. He understood well that Toby was now perceiving the sealing within its being.

If Toby could break through the seal that Frost had placed on it long ago, the ordeal would officially begin.

Time passed bit by bit; no one knew how long had elapsed when faint noises suddenly emanated from the black mist.

At first, the sounds were low and muffled, progressively becoming sharp, ascending to a high pitch, and ultimately... an unprecedentedly terrifying soundwave burst forth amid turbulent air currents and expanded outward from the black mist.

”Roar—” The ear-piercing noise extended all the way to where Greya and Angel stood.

Though the specifics within the black mist remained unseen, the blurred outline of a massive creature inside could faintly be discerned. Yes, the descriptor was a ”massive creature.”

The air currents surged like tides, reaching their proximity as well.

Venomous, clammy, obscure, envious, frenzied... Within the currents lay all manners of negative sensations—emotions and physical experiences alike.

As they perceived the currents, they understood.

Toby had, at this moment, broken through the seal.