Chapter 312 - 025: Apprentice
Chapter 312: 025: Apprentice
The books crashed heavily onto the floor, making a dull thud and stirring up a cloud of fine dust.
The apprentices widened their eyes, staring at the hefty magic tomes in undeniable disbelief, completely stunned on the spot.
Lynch waved his hand, and the books floated automatically to the front of each apprentice.
He said slowly, “These books were carefully selected by me, and each one corresponds to your respective specialties: alchemy, rune studies, array formation, plantology, bloodline study, and the matching magic models.”
“Each subject has its unique value, and as my apprentices, you will have the opportunity to delve deep into this knowledge.”
The apprentices thought they had misheard.
Saul summoned the courage to step forward and ask, “You… Are you saying you’re going to teach us magic? Actual magic?”
Lynch nodded, “Yes.”
Pausing, he pointed to the books before them, “Open the books in front of you.”
The apprentices hesitantly picked up the books in front of them and flipped them open. When they saw the authentic magic knowledge written inside, they were utterly astonished.
“Magic models! They’re really magic models!”
“It’s actual magic…”
The apprentices were in disbelief.
It must be understood that during Tristan’s era, though there was a master-apprentice relationship with him, it was, in reality, nothing more than a relationship of slave and master—no, to be precise, not even that, but more akin to laboratory subjects destined for brutal experimentation at any moment.
Outside the necessities of experiments and work, they had only been taught some meditation and basic magic knowledge. Beyond that, they hadn’t been taught anything else. Though labeled wizard apprentices, in truth, they were merely ordinary individuals with spiritual power.
Now, Lynch was willing to teach them real magic—it was impossible for them not to be excited.
Before they could recover from their excitement about finally learning real skills, Lynch gave them another enormous surprise.
“Additionally…”
Lynch’s gaze swept across the apprentices with appearances that could only be described as monstrous, “If you cannot accept your current selves and wish to return to your original forms, you can come to me. Of course, the premise is that you diligently study the content I teach you.”
The apprentices’ bodies shook visibly.
Tristan had carried out all kinds of brutal experiments on them. Each of them had undergone significant modifications, transforming them into unrecognizable beings, neither human nor ghost—a lineup of monsters.
Furthermore, most of these modifications weren’t conducted following reasonable magical logic. Tristan hadn’t taken their survival into consideration whatsoever. The modifications didn’t provide any benefits but rather subjected them instead to constant, unbearable torment.
Mila, the alchemy apprentice, was the first to step forward. She had been transformed into an alchemy monster similar to Grant, with her chest cavity being opened and a magic core created through alchemy implanted inside. The core was connected to her body via countless tiny metallic pipelines, supplying energy to her mechanical limbs.
Being turned into a monster was one thing, but what caused her far more pain was the core, which periodically released scorching energy. During those moments, Mila felt an agonizing pain, as if she had fallen into molten lava—a pain that made her wish for death.
At this moment, upon hearing Lynch’s words about being able to revert, Mila’s emotions surged dramatically, “Is it true? Teacher, is it really true? Can you truly restore my body’s original form?”
Lynch nodded, smiling, “Of course.”
Pausing again, he added, “But the premise is that you seriously study what I teach you—meditate sincerely and cultivate diligently. Without sufficient spiritual power to support you, you won’t make it into the lab.”
This wasn’t entirely just to motivate them. The modifications performed on them were far too crude, causing extensive damage to their physical structures. Even with Lynch’s mastery of secret skills, reversing them required a certain level of cooperation from their spiritual fields.
If Lynch’s willingness to teach them authentic magic knowledge had initially left them stunned, his current statement was outright thrilling.
Flora’s octopus-like tentacles tightened around the cracks between the stone tiles, tears hanging like suspended crystals refracting the glowing light of the crystal ball; Mila’s mechanical hands clenched tightly, her chest core pulsing with a glowing stream of burning red; Saul and Regga jumped excitedly.
“Return to human form! Did you hear that? Teacher said we can return to being human!”
“This is amazing! Absolutely amazing!”
“I really don’t have to remain a monster anymore?”
The entire hall erupted, apart from Alya and Kali, whose emotions remained calm—the rest of the apprentices were swept with uncontrollable excitement.
Mila tightly gripped her magic tome, “I will work twice as hard, Teacher!”
“I definitely will!”
This sentiment was shared by all the apprentices.
Afterward, Lynch discussed several details with them, including the cultivation thresholds necessary to restore their bodies, before the apprentices left with their respective magic tomes. At this moment, everyone couldn’t wait to begin their practice.
Before they departed, Kali sought out Lynch. Unlike other apprentices, whose modifications had turned them into unrecognizable beings, Tristan had mainly conducted bloodline experiments on Kali, implanting the blood of blood bats in an attempt to raise him toward the ancient vampire lineage.
These modifications had caused few external changes in Kali, other than his skin turning pale and his teeth becoming sharper.
Unlike others, whose modifications yielded no gain, Kali had experienced noticeable physical enhancements due to the fusion with the blood bats’ blood—making him the only apprentice whose alterations had provided positive results.
Thus, Kali wasn’t too interested in restoring his original body; he approached Lynch primarily to address the side effects of the modifications, such as bloodthirst, inability to withstand sunlight, and the constant coldness that made him unable to perceive warmth.
Lynch pondered, “Hmm… Completely eradicating them is unlikely, as these traits are intrinsic to blood bats. However, significantly reducing them to a degree that won’t hinder daily life is possible.”
Kali exclaimed excitedly, “That’s enough! More than enough!”
Currently, Kali felt as though his body was being roasted by fire whenever it was daytime; even hiding in caves offered no relief.
Joyful, Kali left.
Now, the room was left with only Lynch and Alya, the apprentice master.
Lynch sat back at his desk and instructed Alya, “Alya, pour me a glass of water.”
Alya quickly brought him a glass of water.
She stood in front of the desk, gazing at Lynch. The emptiness usually in her eyes now carried an evident hint of puzzlement, as though she didn’t understand the purpose behind Lynch’s actions.
Lynch raised an eyebrow, “Do you have a question?”
Alya replied truthfully, “I don’t quite understand. Why are you doing all this for us? Isn’t it unnecessary?”
They were, after all, just slaves.
Lynch leaned back in his chair and responded truthfully, “If I were to frame it in grand terms, it’s because I’m ambitious and unsatisfied with this small Wizard Tower. To achieve my ambitions, I need to cultivate a reliable team.”
“Elevating you raises your value in helping me expand my territory.”
This was no secret; after all, such efforts were mutually beneficial. Aligning their objectives and building a unified circle of interests earlier would help the group’s growth and development.
Alya seemed momentarily stunned.
She still couldn’t fully understand, “But… But we’re just a group of slaves. What you’re talking about is something we can’t possibly achieve. Just like Wizard Tristan said—we’re dumb, useless, and worthless, existing solely as his experimental tools or instruments to relieve his boredom and desires.”
Just what had Tristan done?
Such precious apprentice resources left in his hands had been treated merely as tools to satisfy his wild experiments and depraved desires?
Lynch was speechless.
He asked, “What were you before you entered the Tower?”
Alya answered succinctly, “A female slave.”
Lynch’s lips twitched.
It seemed likely they wouldn’t be able to communicate effectively.
After some thought, he snapped his fingers, retrieving a book from his space ring—a religious-themed storybook collected during his travels across the Seven Kingdoms. It told the story of a slave who rose to become a Divine Servant through relentless effort.
Lynch said, “You’re studying the Light Element. This story anthology aligns well with your magic type and fits your current situation. Take some time to read it—you might find your answers within.”
“Alright, I’m heading off to cultivate. Help me tidy up.”
With that, he turned and left.
Alya glanced at the book’s cover, reading the title: “Divine Servant.”
Then, she flipped open the pages…