Chapter 34: Paying Fines with Gold, Exchanging for Scrolls

On his first day entering the Mage Tower, Xia Duo asked the Tower Spirit about many of the Mage Tower's rules, one of which was that loud noises were not permitted in the Library, because the Transcription Room was not soundproof.

Those who read and transcribed books there needed a quiet environment most of all, and now—

Sure enough, several Apprentices had already rushed out of the Transcription Room with faces full of rage; it was true that Mages were good at focusing, but that did not mean they enjoyed noise pollution.

Xia Duo saw one of them running toward the administrator, while others gathered around, seemingly prepared to take action.

However, just as Xia Duo was preparing to see if a brawl would actually break out, two flashes of white light flickered; that furious fellow vanished, and another flash of white light appeared among the other group.

"What happened?"

"Nuersi triggered a prohibition!"

"Nuersi was preparing to cast 【Trembling Shock】!"

"Poor Nuersi, I don't think he'll last until the end of the month before he's bankrupt!"

"Haha!"

After a burst of whispered complaints, these few Apprentices dispersed and returned to the Transcription Room.

With that furious fellow gone, the Library was quite quiet, and Xia Duo clearly heard the complaints from not far away, which counted as him learning what punishment those two Official Apprentices who had vanished would receive.

A fine!

This result left Xia Duo both shocked and angry; this rule of using Gold Coins to pay for penalties was truly realistic. If Xia Duo were a rich man, he would certainly be happy, but he was not.

Fortunately, most Mages were rational and orderly; as long as there was no conflict of interest, it would not affect Xia Duo.

But this feeling of entrusting one's own safety to the rationality of others was truly unpleasant. Furthermore, heaven knows if some unprovoked disaster might fall upon Xia Duo's head, such as being caught in the crossfire of some out-of-control experiment.

Ultimately, it was because the order here was different from the original Earth, and Xia Duo himself was not yet strong enough.

Hurriedly leaving the Library Layer, Xia Duo did not return to his dormitory but instead came to the Public Level. He prepared to exchange for a Magic Scroll; back when he was registering, Mage Leonard had mentioned giving him the permission to exchange for 10 Zero-Ring Magic Scrolls.

Previously, because Xia Duo did not understand Magic, he had never gone to exchange for them, but now, having just asked Kelin in the afternoon, he knew that as long as one mastered the technique of 【Read Magic】, even if Spell Identification was insufficient, one could still self-study through Learning Scrolls or unencrypted Spellbooks.

As for how to practice, Dien had just demonstrated it for him.

At the thought of being able to get a Magic Scroll immediately and start self-studying, Xia Duo felt incredibly fired up; he was finally starting to grasp power.

Although he knew in his heart that learning by following a scroll was always just a clumsy imitation, and he might not be able to understand why the structure was that way, or what the Principles and rules between different structures were.

The gap between having a scroll and not having one was enormous; if Dien had a 【Mending】 Learning Scroll, he might have already become an Official Apprentice.

But one had to become an Official Apprentice before they could exchange for a Learning Scroll; this regulation, similar to Catch-22, almost forced all Apprentices to be geniuses.

Otherwise, even if one were lucky enough to become an Official Apprentice, there was no telling how far one could go afterward.

Generally, if one did not succeed in three years, most would just give up.

That Xia Duo could obtain a Learning Scroll while still a beginner was definitely no small advantage.

Public Level, Material Requisition Office No. 6.

By asking the Tower Spirit, Xia Duo confirmed that this Material Requisition Office was right next to the Elevator on the Public Level, only it was not the Elevator Xia Duo usually used, and he had never noticed this place before.

Coming here for the first time, he was still a bit nervous, because this Requisition Office was specifically for the collection or purchase of finished products like Magic Equipment, scrolls, and potions.

Inside was an Official Mage and an Official Apprentice; when Xia Duo entered, the two were taking inventory of materials. Seeing Xia Duo enter, that Apprentice immediately asked:

"Apprentice Xia Duo? You don't come here often. Is it a scroll or a potion? Scrolls are 10 Gold Coins, potions are 20 Gold Coins. How many?"

Xia Duo did not quite understand what he meant and hurriedly stated his purpose, "I want to exchange for a Learning Scroll."

"Oh—"

That Official Mage let out a sound of surprise and turned his head, "You are the Apprentice that Mage Leonard brought back?"

"It is me."

Xia Duo was somewhat fearful; he did not want any relationship involving an Official Mage. For him right now, his greatest hope was to be a nobody, and for no one to pay him any attention.

Especially an Official Mage; whether it was favor or ill will, a newcomer like him who had just entered the Domain of Magic could not afford it.

"Don't be nervous, I was just asking casually. I heard Mage Leonard was sent out by the lord to execute a mission; I didn't expect him to bring back an Apprentice and even grant exchange permissions. I'm just curious."

The kinder the Mage's attitude, the more terrified Xia Duo felt, but he still had to bite the bullet and say, "I am just an ordinary person; Mage Leonard just brought me back while he was on his way."

Xia Duo's words were not a lie; he was indeed brought back while on the way, but there was no need to mention the transaction between Mu Yan and Leonard.

Seeing Xia Duo's reserved appearance, the Mage did not delve deeper but instead brought up Xia Duo's purpose, "Speak, what scroll are you preparing to exchange for?"

"A 【Light】 Learning Scroll," Xia Duo hurriedly replied.

This was something he had already thought through before coming. Although he really wanted to learn an offensive Spell, he was a beginner after all, and he was self-studying, so he had to consider the risks.

The Spell Laboratory was not omnipotent; Xia Duo still had no idea what would happen if an offensive Spell went out of control.

It was better to start with 【Light】. He had asked Dien, and 【Light】 was considered the easiest Magic for an Apprentice to master.

Hearing Xia Duo's request, this Official Mage's lips moved, seemingly communicating with the Tower Spirit, but very quickly he confirmed Xia Duo's Permission Level, turned around, took a scroll from the shelf behind him, and handed it to Xia Duo.

Xia Duo hurriedly took the Learning Scroll, and at the same time, a familiar hollow, mechanical voice rang in his ears, "Apprentice Xia Duo, exchanged for one 【Light】 Learning Scroll, exchange permission -1."

Looking at the other two people in the room, that Apprentice had already started to continue taking inventory, while the Mage looked at Xia Duo with a kind expression.

"Did you hear the Tower Spirit's prompt?"

"Yes."

"Transaction complete. A piece of advice: do not become overly obsessed with the effects of a Spell. The Principles and rules contained within it are the true Knowledge, which is what we Mages pursue."

Seemingly having seen Xia Duo's thirst for power, this Mage actually gave Xia Duo a pointer.

"Yes, I will remember it. Thank you, Master Mage."

"No need to call me Master Mage; in the face of truth, we are all Apprentices. I am He Sai. If you are interested in taking Elvish as an elective, you can take my class."

"Yes."

"Go on out."

Xia Duo felt as if he had been granted an amnesty and quickly left the Material Requisition Office; although Mage He Sai had left a good impression on him, the moment he thought about how the other party was an Official Mage who could easily kill him if he wished, Xia Duo could not bring himself to feel any sense of closeness.

He was still too weak, not just weak in power, but also weak in knowledge; if he were strong in even one of these, he would have some degree of reliance, rather than being an expendable Apprentice like he was now.

However, Xia Duo still remembered the advice from Mage He Sai, which was actually in line with his own intentions, but obtaining the power for self-preservation in the early stages was also necessary; Xia Duo had his own plan and would not be easily swayed.