Wizards: Starting with Fairy Crests

019: Lab Assistant

"I never knew you were a potions genius!"

All the apprentices present were shocked.

Hossman had told Lynch that the fastest apprentice to master Potions under his tutelage had done so in just one week, but what Hossman didn't mention was that the apprentice had already received in-depth training in Potions and the corresponding pharmacological knowledge before that.

Lin Qi, on the other hand, truly went from nothing to something, from a complete novice in potions to completing the preparation of a potion in just one week.

Such talent is simply extraordinary.

In an instant, all the apprentices in the laboratory focused their attention on Lin Qi, their faces filled with obvious envy and jealousy.

Potions is one of Hossman's strongest subjects, and the amazing talent he has displayed in potions suggests that he will receive a great deal of resources and training in the future.

Hossman laughed, his admiration evident on his face: "Not bad, not bad at all. You're really lucky. I didn't expect to be able to recruit two apprentices with such outstanding abilities in potions in such a short time. That's really good."

He paused, then took out a magic stone pouch and tossed it to Lin Qi: "There are 100 magic stones in here. You can also choose an apprentice-level spell model from me. Tell me, what do you want to learn?"

Suppressing his excitement, Lin Qi asked, "Any type is fine?"

Hossman nodded and said gently, "As long as I know how."

Lin Qi quickly said, "Appraisal technique, teacher, I want to learn the appraisal technique."

Hossman asked in confusion, "Appraisal? Why would you want to learn that?"

At this stage, most apprentices would want to learn powerful spells that can be immediately applied in practice. Although the Appraisal spell has a powerful effect that transcends the rules, its application is not very common during the apprenticeship period.

After all, the substances that an apprentice can identify can actually be found by looking up information, without having to pay a price for it.

However, Hossman didn't delve into it further. He nodded and said, "Alright, since you've made your choice, I'll respect it. Besides, identification is an essential skill in potion-making, so it's a good thing to learn it early."

With that, he waved his hand, and a thick magic book appeared in his hand.

He handed the book to Lin Qi: "This is the apprentice-level Appraisal Technique. Take it back and study it carefully. Appraisal Technique is used a lot in potion making. Your choice is good and very prescient."

Seeing this, the apprentices around them once again looked on with deep envy. When had Hossman ever treated them with such kindness?

Hossman continued, "How about this, you don't need to go to the nursery lab anymore. From now on, you can stay by my side as my assistant, help me with my experiments, and learn something from me."

Upon hearing Hossman's words, the surrounding apprentices' expressions became noticeably strange, and they all turned their gazes toward Jackman.

The latter's body visibly trembled slightly.

Wizard Hossman had publicly stated long ago that there was a vacancy for the experimental assistant position and that one would be selected from among his apprentices. Based on his performance during this period, everyone assumed that Jackman would be the one.

Lin Qi quickly replied, "Yes, teacher."

He was somewhat surprised by how highly Hossmann valued him; it was something he hadn't expected at all.

But this is a good thing; he didn't want to do that kind of lousy job at the nursery for a long time.

"Of course, that's after everything is over," Hossman continued.

At this point, Hossman's expression turned serious. He then turned to all the apprentices and said, "I have called you here today because I have something important to tell you. It concerns the most core secret of our Gray Tower, and it also concerns your lives."

Everyone quickly focused their attention.

Hossman slowly began, "This is one of the secrets of the highest levels of the Gray Tower, and also... the key to determining the ultimate fate of most of you."

"Here," he began slowly, posing his first question, "does anyone know the history of our Gray Tower?"

After a brief silence, an apprentice named Eric, who was usually quite proactive, replied, "Master, I saw it in the 'South Coast Chronicle' in the library. The Grey Tower was built about three hundred years ago by the great 'Ash Lord' Astaroth deep in the Grey Mist Forest."

Hossman nodded slightly and said, "Very good, Eric the Apprentice. You're right, at least that's what the book says."

His tone abruptly shifted, his voice growing even deeper: "Then, has any of you considered, or rather, dared to consider—why would Lord Astaroth, a esteemed second-level wizard, choose to expend so much effort building the Gray Tower deep within the Gray Mist Forest, a place with relatively sparse elements, teeming with monsters, and a harsh environment?"

The apprentices looked at each other, speechless. Spreading wisdom? Even they themselves didn't quite believe such a grand reason. Order? When had the wizarding world ever truly known "order"?

Without waiting for their answer, Hossman revealed the answer directly, his voice eerily calm: "It's for raising livestock."

"Raise?" an apprentice repeated unconsciously, his face full of confusion.

“That’s right, breeding,” Hossman affirmed, his pale amber eyes as cold as glass in the glowing moss. “The entire Gray Mist Forest, this seemingly vast, dangerous, and opportunity-filled land, is in essence a huge and sophisticated breeding ground.”

He raised his hand and pointed out the laboratory window, as if pointing to the entire jungle: "And we, the Gray Tower, including myself and the other formal wizards in the tower, are only here to maintain the smooth operation of this breeding farm and ensure the quality and stable supply of 'food'."

The apprentices were astonished.

Even powerful, legitimate wizards are merely servants who take care of monsters? This clearly overturned their understanding.

Hossman continued, "This monster is called the Nightmare Beast. You don't need to know what kind of monster it is. Just know that it is powerful and important enough that the entire Gray Tower was built because of it."

The moment the words "Nightmare Beast" were uttered, the temperature in the laboratory seemed to drop several degrees. Several apprentices couldn't help but shiver.

"It sleeps, waking up once every sixty years." Hossman's voice was flat, as if stating a natural phenomenon unrelated to himself: "And when it wakes up, it needs to eat. Its favorite 'food'..."

"Not ordinary flesh and blood, but souls filled with fear, desire, and the marks of struggle, and possessing a certain mental strength. Or rather, apprentices like you who have struggled to survive and even become 'delicious' under the 'selection' mechanism of the Gray Mist Jungle."

"boom--!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the minds of every apprentice!

A breeding ground? Food? Nightmare Beasts? Awakening every sixty years... to be fed on?!

Shock, bewilderment, disbelief, and finally, a chilling fear spread across every face. Some people's pupils constricted, while others instinctively took a step back and bumped into the lab table with a soft thud.

Some people's faces turned deathly pale instantly, and their lips lost all color; others' bodies began to tremble uncontrollably, their eyes filled with the despair of being deceived and sentenced to death.

They endured humiliation, danger, and exploitation with all their might, believing they were climbing the path to becoming wizards, only to find out... they were merely trying to mold themselves into more palatable snacks for the awakening of a sleeping monster?!

The laboratory was deathly silent, save for the heavy, suppressed breathing of the apprentices and the barely audible chattering of their teeth.

The moss patches on Hossman's skin, bathed in the pale green light, seemed to become a kind of cold, hard testimony.