Arcane Lord

Outside the town, a market similar to last year existed, but compared to the lively scene in the square, it was much deserted.

Of course, no matter how deserted it is, it is still a market held once a year, and there are still a lot of people.

But the problem is - the Lion and Fire Circus has disappeared. Xia Duo walked around here and asked a possible result from the vendor.

"Did you stay in Conifera City?" Sha Duo murmured.

In fact, he also knew that even if the Lion and Fire Circus came this year, it was unlikely that Mu Yan would be there, and even trying to contact Mu Yan through the Lion and Fire Circus might not be possible.

After all, Mu Yan mentioned that time that he would only live in the circus temporarily, and then he would travel around, with an uncertain schedule.

Not being able to see Mu Yan, Xia Duo felt a little disappointed, but everything in life would never go as he wished, so he picked up his mood and returned to the Mage Tower.

It is indeed lively outside, but that is not his liveliness. One day, he will hold Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year, Qingming, Dragon Boat Festival and other celebrations from his hometown in Daxia. That is his liveliness.

…

On the top floor of the Tower of Time, in the lord's study.

Niya stood by the projection window, looking at the bustling scene in the square outside. From time to time, magic fireworks rose into the sky, level with her eyes.

"Niya, the inheritor, the time agreed upon with Bishop Ambril is still half an hour away."

"I know." Niya looked away from the window and sighed softly, "Alas, my father still couldn't come back after all!"

After returning to the desk and sitting down, Niya had no intention of reading any more documents or information. At this moment, worry about her father occupied most of her thoughts.

She pushed the paperwork away from the table with some irritation and asked casually: "Ta Ling, how many new apprentices have you accepted this year?"

"Ten."

"What?!" Niya could hardly believe her ears, but the tower spirit's words could not be deceived, so she asked again, "How many people came to the Mage Tower to take the assessment?"

She had some doubts about whether this year's assessment content was too difficult, so that the pass rate was too low. Only ten people were accepted, but in previous years, there were at least ten people!

"Ten."

The passing rate is 100%, which is in line with the passing rate in previous years. After all, those who can take the assessment must be smarter than the average person. Otherwise, there is no need to waste this time, energy, and most importantly, money.

The Tower of Time does not set a high threshold for recruiting apprentices. Basically, anyone can come as long as they are of age, but it is hard to say whether they can successfully become a mage apprentice or even a formal mage.

The threshold is so low, it stands to reason that there can't be as few as ten people!

This was something Niya couldn't figure out, and she continued to order the tower spirit, "Bring the archived information of those ten people!"

"Also, how many apprentices chose to leave when their contracts expired this year?"

The apprenticeship contract lasts for three years. When the contract expires, as long as you fail to become a mage apprentice, you must leave unconditionally. Once you become a mage apprentice, you can always stay in the mage tower.

In previous years, it was usually those who failed to become mage apprentices who left. After all, apprentices' wages were too low, and they had to pay extra money in order to study.

People who become mage apprentices generally want to become official mage. They know that once they leave, they can almost be said to be insulated from the path of magic. These people are unwilling to leave if possible.

Niya instinctively felt that something bad had happened, but she couldn't tell what it was specifically. She just subconsciously asked about the situation of the other apprentices.

But Taling told her that the result was not so ideal, "Inheritor Niya, 72 apprentices chose to leave this year."

"Impossible!" Niya retorted subconsciously. She knew that the number of new apprentices had never exceeded 50 in the past three years. This was definitely not the batch three years ago!

She immediately realized that many apprentices who originally wanted to stay in the Mage Tower had given up on the path of magic.

In Niya's eyes, leaving the Mage Tower is tantamount to giving up the path of magic. There are no such good conditions as the Mage Tower outside!

At this time, the tower spirit had already sent over this year's information for ten new apprentices. It was on the desk in front of Niya and could be reached by reaching out.

Niya checked the land one by one, "Billing, from Savile Town."

"Stark, Saviletown."

…

With a "pop" sound, Niya slapped all the information on the table. She had already realized what was wrong. She also paid attention to other things. Niya began to rummage on the bookshelf behind her.

The document was in a very conspicuous position and was not difficult to find. It seemed like someone could have put it here. Niya opened the document and found on it a decree she had signed earlier——

"Specific Implementation Steps for Opening and Conferring Land to Official Territory Citizens of Savile Territory"

Niya still remembered how proud she was when she signed the decree. Her father didn't say anything at that time, but just took out the archive and put it on the bookshelf behind her.

Now it seems that the land may be more attractive to ordinary people than the ethereal magic.

None of the ten newly recruited apprentices this time are ordinary civilians. Those who can have Savile Town household registration are at least small and wealthy craftsmen, traders, and relatives of military officers.

"Stupid!" Niya couldn't help but cursed. Is there anything in the world that can change your destiny more than learning magic!

Without even checking, she could roughly deduce that most of the apprentices who left the Mage Tower should be from ordinary families.

But why can't they bite the bullet and persevere!

Niya rubbed her eyebrows. She felt relieved as soon as they left, but she had a headache. The consequences of the loss of apprentices could not be seen in the short term, but in the long run, the foundation of the official mage was shaken.

That’s it this year, who knows what it will be like next year!

But the decree cannot be changed at will. Not only will it cause a loss of authority to the outside world, but it will also make her lose face in front of her father!

Moreover, his father would be very disappointed if he personally abandoned the decree he signed! Since taking over the territory, Nia has been working hard to do her best and make her father proud of her.

"Nia, the inheritor, the time agreed upon with Bishop Ambril is still - 10 minutes!"

"..."

Today, her father is not here. She must take his place in the daytime celebrations. There is also an event to distribute holy water to the people in the evening. Niya can only temporarily put aside her apprenticeship, put on a set of ceremonial robes, and left the mage. tower.

…

On the other side, the Daxia Territory in the south.

Lord Epps was looking at the sudden riot of magic network in the lock with some madness. He knew that the lock was about to collapse, and the plane crystal was about to appear!

He has been waiting for this moment for too long!

"After all, we still couldn't find the plane crystal before the Mystery Lock collapsed!" Epps sighed with emotion.

Even within the mysterious lock that was about to collapse, he took out a bottle of elf fruit wine with great interest, without using a cup, just holding the bottle and pouring it directly into his mouth.

While drinking, he admired the scene of the collapse of the Mystery Lock, and at the same time chanted like an aria in the almost confused Elvish language:

"What ingenuity and skill!"

"Pity!"