[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems":3,"chapter-wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1265072,1693,"Chapter 2: Professor Alder","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>In the academy corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke was pondering ways to break his predicament when the history teacher, Alder Franklin, suddenly appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder Franklin, about sixty, wore a black eyepatch over his left eye and gold-rimmed glasses over his right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A student accompanied him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke recognized her instantly: Angel McLincoln, the youngest daughter of Viscount McLincoln from southern Anjou Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and the original Locke had been part of the same social circle at the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Angel was chatting and laughing with the old man, while Professor Alder spoke to her with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Angel, I know you can’t afford this semester’s tuition. I can’t waive it, but I can offer you a way to earn money. Come to my office after your last morning class to copy historical texts for an hour each day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Alder said with a kind smile, “The pay is ten gold coins per session.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten gold coins a day wouldn’t cover a semester’s tuition at Aurelian Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since her family cut off her funding, maintaining her former lifestyle was a struggle, and her old friends had turned against her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was desperate for money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel said, “Professor, I’m willing. Thank you for this opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re truly a kind person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never realized how generous you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Alder smiled, then noticed Locke Augustine, his expression flickering with surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange, it’s been over a week.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Alder’s smile widened as he addressed Locke, “Locke, you haven’t come to my office for three days. Are you facing difficulties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still welcome you to copy historical documents for an hour each day. Your work has been excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the most outstanding student I’ve seen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke frowned, alarm bells ringing in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his transmigration was triggered by the original Locke’s death, which happened after copying documents for this old man for less than a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no matter how he sifted through the original’s memories, he couldn’t understand how copying history books led to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the days before his death, the original grew weaker, more listless, and increasingly frail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the final day, while copying texts in Alder’s office, he returned to his dorm in a daze and died suddenly, allowing Locke’s soul to take over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke hadn’t figured out why copying texts was so dangerous, so he absolutely refused to work for Professor Alder again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke forced a smile, trying to sound normal. “Professor Alder, thank you for your praise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m looking for other part-time work recently…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder waved dismissively, “Until you find something, you can keep working for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Start today at noon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be waiting in my office. I’m very pleased with your work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke’s heart skipped a beat. This old man wasn’t letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Targeting Anjouans like him for work was likely deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke quickly declined, “Professor Alder, I appreciate your high regard, but I’ve been feeling unwell lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder smiled, “Feeling unwell doesn’t stop you from working. Young people face hardships. I know you’re in low spirits, but that’s exactly why you should work harder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, Angel will be copying texts in my office this noon too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel thanked Alder, “Thank you, Professor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect a teacher to help me in such tough times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced at Locke with confusion and suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t understand why Locke would refuse Alder’s kindness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With their families’ support gone and daily expenses at the academy so high, how could they afford to reject the professor’s offer? Did they have better options?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Alder nodded, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke glanced at Angel, this naive girl, and persisted, “Sorry, Professor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m really tied up for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder’s smile vanished, replaced by clear displeasure. He stared coldly at Locke, “Then, Locke, history is a mandatory course. Besides tuition, you’d better settle this semester’s history course fees soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I expect you to pay the six hundred gold coins for the course by our next meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, don’t bother attending.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>History, language, and swordsmanship were Aurelian Academy’s three mandatory courses. Failing to pay for them would likely mean expulsion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder took a few steps, then added, “Of course, if you work for me, I can delay your course fees for another month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you change your mind, Locke, come to my office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still think your work is excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feigning anger, Professor Alder turned and stormed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel hurried after him, then paused, turned back to Locke, and scolded, “Locke, what’s wrong with you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You made the professor angry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s being kind. Who else would give Anjouans like us such an opportunity? You’re so ungrateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d better apologize to him. Things aren’t like before. You’re no longer an earl’s son, and I’m no longer a viscount’s daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel rushed off to catch up with Alder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke watched her, shrugging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angel had been part of his circle, always orbiting the original Locke due to her lower status as a viscount’s daughter. But with Anjou’s fall, she no longer needed to curry favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d considered subtly warning her out of goodwill, but now saw it was unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Character shapes fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her attitude, if he warned her, she might betray him to Alder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke began to think. “History class is twice a week, with the next one in three days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I can’t find a solution, I’ll either be expelled at the next history class or forced to resume copying texts for Alder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need a way out, fast. Or I need a plan for what to do if I leave the academy. Returning to Anjou is too dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Become a wandering noble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke glanced at the synthesis cube, which showed forty-five minutes until completion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Language class is starting soon. I’ll head there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The most important courses at Aurelian are the three mandatory ones, but they’re ranked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Language class is likely the most critical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then history, then swordsmanship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke recalled that in other academies or places, grammar teachers typically held lower status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this medieval-like era, martial prowess was valued far more than culture among knights, so swordsmanship should outrank history and language.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at Aurelian Academy, that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the language teacher, also the academy’s dean, held immense authority, often overriding other courses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Outstanding Graduate quota was tied to any course, logic suggested language class was the most likely candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That might be his way out.\u003C\u002Fp>",1059,"2026-06-05T16:22:57.670Z",1,"novelbin.me","8f2862dbc2f60812a5ca39502855795030cc933e0381c6a5b15617e5e3ae92b8","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-3","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-1",578,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-cover.jpg"]