[{"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-9":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},1265079,1693,"Chapter 9: Six Months","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Six months later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Dean Tongus’s residence, Locke, Patty Aisa, and Kode Newman sat together, studying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to Aurelian Academy’s limited magical teaching resources, Tongus alone taught all their courses, despite their differences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke couldn’t complain; his courses were discounted, requiring only ten magic stones instead of over a hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teaching quality had minor flaws, but it was acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke had grown close to Patty and Kode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were commoner students with wizard talent: Patty had Level 2 talent, Kode Level 1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kode, a red-haired, freckled, reserved boy, seemed unapproachable but was merely shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke broke the ice with him in a day, becoming friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strong learning ability stemmed from his wizard talent, albeit the lowest grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kode said he saw very few elemental dots after drinking the Emerald Element Potion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patty, outwardly cold but kind-hearted, had helped Locke six months ago when he sought her aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio, now close, formed a small clique in other students’ eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During a mana control lesson, Kode asked Locke a question. After Locke’s answer, Kode said admiringly, “Locke, you’re so smart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I studied for over two years, but you caught up and surpassed me quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patty also looked impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both, being studious commoners, admired academic excellence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke nodded slightly, twirling the Deep Blue Jade ring on his thumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In three months, he matched Patty and Kode’s progress; in another three, he surpassed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several factors explained this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, Locke’s Level 3 wizard talent, lower-middle tier, outstripped Kode’s and Patty’s, making his base learning speed three to four times Kode’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gap would only widen, like a snowball rolling downhill. Early on, lower-talent prospects could keep up with effort, but the divide grew over time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This showed why wizards valued talent so highly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was a second reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke glanced at his thumb. Six months ago, he discovered synthesizing Level 3 sapphires into a Level 4 [Deep Blue Jade].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had it crafted into a ring, finding that its mental stabilization effect calmed his mood, doubled his focus time, and boosted his learning speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This allowed him to catch up to Patty and Kode so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Deep Blue Jade was consumable, lasting only about two weeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he needed to keep synthesizing Level 4 sapphires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried synthesizing other items, but Level 4 versions only became more exquisite and valuable, with no special effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made him wealthy in mundane terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, for his wizard path, only one useful synthesis recipe existed: three Level 3 sapphires into a Deep Blue Jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke wasn’t rushed. His exposure to the wizarding world was limited, and Corfu’s low-magic setting restricted resources. In the true wizarding world, he’d find more useful recipes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Horadric Cube ensured he’d never lack resources, like the Deep Blue Jade boosting his studies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Tongus’s residence, Patty said to Locke, “By the way, you probably don’t know, but Angel, who kept pestering you, died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over five months ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke paused, engrossed in studies recently, momentarily forgetting Angel. Then he recalled the girl, like him, ensnared by Professor Alder six months ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke nodded. “I warned her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She didn’t listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patty said, “Alder’s been getting worse. Those who died were noble heirs. Isn’t he afraid of trouble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tongus said he’s a second-class wizard apprentice, 150 years old, at his lifespan’s limit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s using magic to borrow lifespan from regular students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kode, face flushed, said, “I don’t like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can he? Many didn’t know and lost their lifespan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke nodded. “Focus on our studies. The academy will handle Alder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alder, nearing death, was on the edge of madness. Locke wouldn’t meddle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patty suddenly asked, “Do you think we’ll become like Alder one day? The person we despised?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kode opened his mouth, hesitant, picturing Alder’s growing insanity and fearing he might end up the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patty laughed. “I’m kidding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why so serious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kode was shaken, but she laughed. “We’re young. Lifespan worries are far off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Locke glanced at her, recalling Tongus saying Alder’s wizard talent was Level 2, one below Locke’s, equal to Patty’s, and above Kode’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his textbook, Locke reflected. After six months of focused study, he’d built a solid magical foundation, far from his starting point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can start cultivating magical vines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grow them, modify them with spells to resonate with my mana, and gradually master my first trick spell model—Vine Hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Corfu lacks magical vine seeds. I’ll need to buy them from Tongus. Since Vine Hand is one of five trick models for Corfu natives, he must have the seeds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Per the academy’s tone, the seeds wouldn’t be free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d likely owe more magic stones.\u003C\u002Fp>",772,"2026-06-05T16:22:57.670Z",1,"novelbin.me","3e050abcb468106e0483839a517ebdd44c54c542f2c7dcacb31ba277ea9b2065","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-10","wizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-chapter-8",578,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-starting-with-synthesized-gems-cover.jpg"]