Chapter 34: You Are What You Eat
"He's already twenty-nine." The woman curled her lips. "If he doesn't reach the third level of apprenticeship by thirty, he'll never have a chance. The Tower Master won't support failures—any apprentice over thirty must leave within a month."
"If you're looking for him, try Dormitory 1016." With that, she moved to close the door.
"Wait a moment." Saul quickly pressed his hand against the door. "Senior, was it you who handled the corpse today—the one without any wounds?"
The woman frowned, clearly impatient. "Yes. What about it?"
"That corpse was rather unusual."
She sneered. "I've already dealt with the dangerous aspects. The rest is your job."
She pushed the door closed, completely ignoring the fact that Saul's hand was still on the frame. He barely managed to pull it back in time to avoid injury.
Standing outside, he pondered.
"As expected, the first step in the mortuary process is some kind of purification or exorcism. The second and third steps—my part—are more about material collection. My role, in truth, is mostly cleanup, while also filling in any missing details."
As for the senior's cold demeanor, Saul wasn't bothered.
Most people in the Wizard Tower were incredibly indifferent.
Rather than expecting kindness, it was better to become strong enough to instill fear.
He stepped back, picked up the cleaver from the ground, and strolled back to his workspace.
"Still, I learned something important today." He wiped the blood off his hands. "If I don't reach the third level by thirty, I'm out. I'm twelve now, so I have eighteen years."
"...That’s too far ahead to think about. I should focus on passing the third-month assessment first."
If he couldn't pass the test, if he couldn't eliminate the ever-watchful Sid, all future plans would be meaningless.
Time ticked away. As the blue sand in the hourglass ran out, night arrived.
At seven, Saul returned to his dorm, waiting for Kongsha.
He sat with his elbows on his knees, fingers clasped tightly together.
His pale skin intertwined with the stark whiteness of bone.
One hand felt ice-cold; the other was numb.
Tonight, he would finally learn what Kongsha wanted from him.
And what this arrangement was all about.
1:00 AM
A faint sound came from the hallway.
Saul got up and opened the door.
Standing outside was Kongsha, hooded as before.
She wore a silky, robe-like gown, flowing around her figure—a seductive silhouette in the dim light. She looked, for all the world, like a landlady sneaking in for a midnight visit.
Having been here once before, she walked straight to his desk and sat down.
Saul, meanwhile, remained by the door, unmoving.
"Why are you standing so far away?" Kongsha chuckled. "I'm not going to eat you."
Her words carried an unsettling double meaning.
Saul didn’t move.
Kongsha simply crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.
"How much magic power do you have now?"
"...Four joules." Saul lowered his head in apparent shame.
Kongsha smirked, unsurprised—pleased, even.
"Still refusing to take the potion I gave you? You only have two months left. Do you really think you can increase your magic power by six joules in that time?"
Saul gritted his teeth, his hands trembling. Finally, after a long silence, he spoke through clenched teeth.
"Please, Senior… save me."
As if all hope had drained from his body, his posture collapsed.
Kongsha raised a brow, about to mock him further. But then, something shifted in her expression—her smirk softened into something almost warm.
"If you behave and listen to me, I won’t let you die in the test two months from now. In fact, if you do well, I might even give you another potion. That way, your potential won’t be completely ruined. You might still have a shot at reaching the third level."
Saul's head snapped up, eyes shining.
"Really, Senior?"
Kongsha smiled, her expression growing even gentler.
"What, no dreams of becoming a true wizard anymore?"
Saul lowered his head, his cheeks flushing red.
"I… I now understand how difficult that is. I just want to reach the third level before thirty… so I won’t be kicked out of the Tower."
Kongsha hesitated for a moment.
"The third level… Yes, you must reach it before thirty. So, you even know about that?"
Saul caught the shift in her demeanor.
Keeping his head bowed, he stole a glance at her—then quickly averted his eyes, maintaining his submissive act.
Kongsha was a second-level apprentice, and she didn’t look like some teenage girl.
Was she also desperate to reach the third level?
Kongsha, lost in thought, didn’t tease him further. Instead, she pulled out a small vial and tossed it onto the desk.
Saul fumbled, barely managing to catch it.
"This is the first potion. Its effects last one month, so you must finish it within that time. It will greatly enhance your meditation speed, pushing your magic power to around seven joules before the test. The night before the assessment, I’ll bring you the second potion."
"The second potion will temporarily boost your magic power by three joules. Passing the test will be easy."
"This is your last chance!"
Saul examined the vial. The liquid inside was clear, like pure water.
"May I ask, Senior, what’s the name of this potion?"
Kongsha scoffed. "Even if I told you all the ingredients, you wouldn't be able to replicate it."
But she didn’t realize—Saul already knew.
[Solunar Calendar, Year 314, June 25th, Clear.
Today is a great day. You obtained a bottle of The Elemental Fairy's Ultimate Filth.
Ugh… Are you really going to drink this?
Well, as a wizard, there's nothing you can’t eat. A drop rapidly restores magic power. A full bottle… skyrockets it.
Wait—a full bottle?
In three years, you’ll make excellent spellcasting material.]
Saul's eyelid twitched. He forced an uneasy expression, rubbed his nose, and asked hesitantly, "What do I need to do for the second potion?"
Kongsha sighed and stood.
She stepped close to Saul, tracing a delicate finger along his cheek.
"I’ve always liked how perceptive you are. You work in Kaz’s mortuary, don’t you?"
Despite the deliberate softness in her voice and her distracting touch, Saul caught the key detail—she cared that he worked in the mortuary.
"Was the mortuary her goal all along?"
Her actions made sense now.
She had tampered with her elemental affinity deliberately.
Because Saul had high mental aptitude but poor magical talent, he was the perfect candidate for mortuary work.
Which meant…
Saul hesitated, casting a timid glance at Kongsha. "Senior… Taking things from the mortuary is forbidden. There’s a guard at the end of the corridor."
Kongsha withdrew her hand. "A blind, deaf slave. Nothing more."
Saul remained silent, waiting for her next words. A sentry stationed at the second-floor entrance—no matter how disabled—couldn’t be ordinary.
"Take this."
Kongsha pulled out a piece of soft leather.
It was a pale yellow, striped with black markings. The reverse side bore a dizzying runic array. One glance was enough to make Saul feel nauseous.
"Wrap the materials with the runes facing inward, the stripes outward. That way, the slave won’t smell them on you."
Saul, already secretly using the mortuary’s resources to enhance his body, felt no guilt.
Survival came first.
He had no illusions about being part of the Wizard Tower. Protecting its interests meant nothing to him.
"What materials does she need?"
Kongsha leaned in, gripping his shoulders.
Inside the glass dome of her head, murky liquid sloshed, and one by one, eyes rose to the surface, pressing against the glass—staring.
"I need a brain. From a first-level apprentice. Preferably… a second-level one."
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