This wizard only wishes to be a teacher

Breathe, breathe…

Lucien forced himself to calm down.

After all, he truly couldn't defeat Nolian, and with his usual witch tools sold off, his combat power had plummeted drastically.

Although the academy officially prohibited infighting, there were indeed many ways to cause trouble without repercussions.

More importantly, that newbie with level three talent had clearly made up his mind, and even if Lucien had a falling-out with Nolian, even if the newbie was willing to learn from him, Lucien was somewhat afraid to bind with him.

Once bound, it could never be undone.

Such a student, even with good talent, what use was he to Lucien?

Moreover, level three talent was just mediocre.

Lucien's expression changed again and again.

But in the end, he forcefully suppressed all sorts of negative emotions, realizing that at this moment, all he could do was to minimize losses rather than puff up in false bravado.

But he couldn't be completely weak either, for in this cruel Wizard World, the weak wouldn't elicit sympathy, but would instead invite more people to step on them.

So, after being slightly silent for a while, he looked at Nolian somewhat coldly, and in the cruel and common tone of wizards, he said, "Five magic stones."

The smile on Nolian's face slightly receded as he sized up Lucien, his expression uncertain as he silently weighed the pros and cons of the magic stones.

However, as a rational wizard, he quickly calculated their worth. If Lucien's offer had been ten magic stones, he definitely wouldn't have accepted, but with five magic stones, it seemed not worth it to pressure this severely injured fellow any further.

After all, this was a third-level Wizard Apprentice who had managed to survive an encounter with a Formal Wizard. Although his strength was greatly diminished, who knew whether he had any destructive, mutually assured destruction tactics...

Thinking of the five magic stones that the newbie called Yellen had given him, along with various tempting promises, Nolian's pale yellow eyes flashed, and he smiled. "Alright, five magic stones it is. Let's sign the wizard contract now."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and immediately, five magic stones the size of pebbles flew out and landed on the floor of Lucien's laboratory.

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

The sound of magic stones hitting the floor was crisp.

Lucien took a deep breath and took the two contracts Nolian tossed over, sweeping them with his spiritual power. After not finding any trap in the terms, he imprinted his Spiritual Imprint on them.

"Heh, then I shall not disturb you any further." After getting his own copy of the contract, Nolian chuckled and strode away.

Lucien stood quietly outside the laboratory, using deep breaths to relieve the feeling of suffocation and frustration in his heart.

Strength is the foundation of maintaining interests.

Lucien couldn't help thinking of this saying. Moreover, he was no longer in the relatively peaceful world before his transition, but in the bloodier and more brutal Wizard World!

In the Wizard World, there could never be options to give up or slack off!

Darkness, rationality, cruelty… these were mainstream in the Wizard World.

Here, when you are weak, you hope others will be reasonable, but when you are strong, others will hope you'll be reasonable.

Moreover, in the Wizard World, perhaps the fate of the weak would lead them to their enemy's dissecting table, and after death, they might become a valued addition to their collection.

If his strength hadn't waned, then Nolian would never have come knocking, and had he been promoted to a Formal Wizard, even if he had violated the oath within the academy and slain Nolian, at most he would have suffered some hardships…

Lucien's expression underwent various changes until finally, his gaze hardened.

Strength! Strength! Strength!

With a gentle exhalation, Lucien finally turned around with firm steps.

Experiencing this frustration and helplessness once was enough!

...

Among all those present, Carly, the seemingly invisible girl beside him, was the most anxious.

Taking advantage of the moment when Lucien seemed to be spacing out at the entrance of the laboratory, she stealthily and carefully bent down to pick up the five Magic Stones that had fallen to the ground and placed them on Lucien's experiment table.

Afterward, she quietly returned to her original spot, hanging her head low like a timid little quail.

With the keen Perception of a Wizard Apprentice and the corner of his eye, Lucien also noticed Carly's subtle action, and warmth involuntarily filled his heart.

Realizing that his student seemed to harbor some fear inside, Lucien once again reduced his aura a bit, turned around, and tried to speak as gently as possible.

"What is your name?"

"Carly. Carly Mayer." Seemingly reassured by the gentle tone in Lucien's voice, Carly mustered her courage, raised her head, and looked at Lucien.

He was a handsome man with black eyes that seemed to hold wisdom. His voice was kind, and although he had just been bullied right to his doorstep, Lucien still seemed to behave with proper etiquette, resembling the noble gentlemen that those old nobles always claimed to be, but seemed to only exist in books.

The only flaw was that the man's complexion was a sickly pale, but considering what Nolian had said about Mentor Lucien possibly not living past two months due to serious injuries, Carly understood and felt a tinge of regret.

At least for now, Carly felt that her mentor was a good person with a very gentle temperament.

"Carly... Alright, I will call you Carly from now on." Lucien murmured thoughtfully for a moment and then looked at Carly, who was somewhat uneasy.

This was a new blood with relatively poor potential.

Based on experience, the probability of a first-rate Wizard Apprentice advancing to Formal Wizard was less than one in a thousand.

So, based purely on Talent, this little one was not suitable for binding.

However, Lucien now had no other choice.

Moreover, at least the little one seemed quite obedient, and Lucien's first impression of her was fairly good.

Of course, the most important point.

Lucien felt that she was somewhat similar to himself; both had "just recently" entered the Wizard circle and had not yet fully adapted to the harsh atmosphere of the Wizard World.

Protecting such a little one, when capable, seemed in some way like protecting the original version of himself.

With these thoughts, Lucien made his final decision.

"Alright, Carly, would you like to become my student, Lucien Kevin? If you do, then leave a Spiritual Imprint on this Apprentice contract." Lucien looked at Carly seriously and asked. At the same time, he initiated the system's binding procedure.

"Mentor Lucien, I am willing to become your student," Carly said quickly after a brief pause. She also carefully examined the standard contract from Greybone Academy, then left her spiritual mark on it.

"I swear to always follow the truth; I swear not to reveal any knowledge gained from my teacher without his permission..." Under the influence of the contract, Carly subconsciously recited a series of vows.

On the other side, a series of notifications popped up on the semi-transparent panel in front of Lucien.

[Binding successful]

[Generating character panel for student {Carly Mayer}...]

Soon, a semi-transparent panel appeared in front of Lucien, but before he had a chance to examine it closely, a notification attracted his attention.

[Your student Carly has developed reverence for you, Admiration +1]