Within the vast botanical garden, artificial mountain ranges rose in layers while a man-made sun hung high overhead, emitting specific magic radiation. Locke was certain this was a far more advanced cultivation device than the Radiation Cauldron—likely a Magic Isochronous Resonance Cultivation Device.
In this space that resembled a small alternate dimension, even the breeze carried traces of magical fluctuations.
Numerous high-ranking slaves worked throughout the garden as First-Class Wizard Apprentices moved among them, instructing Second-Class Wizard Apprentices on Magic Plant maintenance or personally tending to more delicate specimens.
A Second-Class Wizard Apprentice contracted to the public garden bowed to Locke. "Lord Augustine, welcome to the most important area of Lilith's Cottage—the Public Botanical Garden."
"Please follow me. This section is private cultivation space. The five hundred acres of Magic Plant fields you'll be maintaining belong to the public Magical Fields—allocated by the academy to First-Class Wizard Apprentices like yourself who also serve as Breeders, with management responsibilities rotating among you."
Locke understood—it somewhat resembled the well-field system.
Most Magical Fields in the public garden were communal, but at least one-third were allocated as private cultivation space for distribution.
The Second-Class apprentice stole a glance at Locke, his youth drawing attention. Most workers here came from the seventy-two local wizard families—connections secured such coveted positions.
Remembering how he, with his excellent background and privileges, had remained a Second-Class apprentice for nearly five years while this overseas-born Wizard Seedling had already advanced to First-Class, a pang of frustration arose—though he dared not show it before Locke.
The apprentice could only dutifully explain Locke's responsibilities as they walked nearly seven kilometers through fields of diverse Magic Plants. Slaves harvested mature crops—mostly Potionology ingredients rather than combat varieties.
"Lord Augustine, we've arrived. You'll oversee these five hundred acres for one month before rotation." The apprentice bowed obsequiously. "The garden provides complete Nutrient Solutions, Nutrient Soil, specialized farming tools, Magic Insecticides, and targeted Magic Herbicides."
"Should you require anything, my lord, I'm at your service. Additionally..." He smiled ingratiatingly, "You may subcontract tasks to Second-Class apprentices—simply supervise their work."
"Some of these Magic Plants are too dangerous, and Second-Class Wizard Apprentices might not be able to handle them. Moreover, according to the academy's regulations, you must at least supervise in person."
"Lord Augustine, I am Thomas Beren. If you need anything, feel free to come to me."
Locke gave a surprised glance at this Second-Class Wizard Apprentice. Beren... he must be a member of one of the seventy-two local wizard families, the Beren family. That family seemed to have a few First Class Wizard Apprentices as well.
However, like the Reeves family, those First Class Wizard Apprentices had no chance of advancing further, and their lifespans were nearing their limits.
The seventy-two local wizard families had always faced the problem of a lack of successors.
Locke replied indifferently, "Hmm, I understand."
After Thomas left, Locke turned his attention to his surroundings. Apart from himself, there were many other First Class Wizard Apprentices tending to the academy's public fields.
Each person was responsible for roughly five hundred acres.
At a glance, there were at least twenty or so First Class Wizard Apprentices working here.
'First Class Wizard Apprentices have long lifespans. Second-Class and third-class wizard apprentices who fail to advance within ten years lose the academy's support and are even forced to drop out, becoming wandering wizards,' Locke mused. 'Or they might be compelled to join lesser academies.'
'But First Class Wizard Apprentices themselves hold significant value. The academy can continue supporting them indefinitely. They also have lifespans of at least two hundred years, so the number of First Class Wizard Apprentices in the academy must be quite substantial.'
'They accumulate over time and remain here.'
Advancing from a First Class Wizard Apprentice to a Formal Wizard often takes over a decade. Those with slim chances of advancement—some who have been stuck as First Class Wizard Apprentices for fifty or sixty years—still strive for that final push to become Formal Wizards.
If one doesn't become a Formal Wizard before the age of forty, the chances of success drop drastically, though it's not entirely impossible.
These First Class Wizard Apprentices were often surrounded by attendants and numerous Second-Class Wizard Apprentice students orbiting around them.
When Locke entered, a few First Class Wizard Apprentices glanced at him, some nodding briefly before ignoring him completely.
After all, Locke had only recently become a First Class Wizard Apprentice. Some of these individuals were just a few steps away from becoming Formal Wizards, while others, though without hope of advancement, had been First Class Wizard Apprentices for fifty or sixty years, rich in experience.
Moreover, most of them wore Breeder badges.
When they noticed the Breeder Assistant badge on Locke, a hint of disdain inevitably flickered in their eyes, and they naturally had no intention of befriending him.
Wizards were pragmatic.
Since they saw no benefit in associating with him, these senior First Class Wizard Apprentices had no interest in him.
Some of the more seasoned First Class Wizard Apprentices gathered in small groups, chatting or exchanging insights, leaving the work to the Second-Class Wizard Apprentices they had hired.
Locke overheard a few First Class Wizard Apprentices flattering a female apprentice named Mary.
"Senior Mary, you must be the closest among us to becoming a Formal Wizard... How enviable."
Mary spoke with detachment, her tone cool. "Yes. Next year I'll participate in the Breeder Competition to start accumulating resources. A First Class Wizard Apprentice needs vast resources to become a Formal Wizard."
"You all should start preparing early too."
The group of First Class Wizard Apprentices surrounding her laughed in response.
"We're still far from that stage. It might take us another decade or more to reach where you are now, Senior Mary."
"I recently took on an academy mission—cultivating a batch of Vervain Magic Plants. Earned quite a few Magic Stones from it."
"That was probably issued as an emergency task for the Blood Curse Court," Mary remarked. "Vervain doesn't have many other uses. I heard the academy retaliated against the Blood Curse Court by introducing Vervain—which causes magical allergies in vampires—into the upstream water sources they use. Rumor has it many wizard apprentices from the Blood Curse Court died because of it."
As they chatted, Mary suddenly looked up and noticed a young male First Class Wizard Apprentice nearby. She nodded slightly and greeted him warmly. "Angron, you're here."
"I heard you obtained your Breeder Assistant Certificate. Didn't expect it to be true."
Angron largely ignored the others, acknowledging only Mary with a nod. "My recent project on the Mental Strength Enhancement Potion hasn't been going well. To broaden my perspective, I applied to take the Breeder Assistant Certificate under Teacher Harun Vera and started working in the public Botanical Garden."
"Mary, I didn't expect to find you here too. That's perfect—we can exchange ideas. At least I won't be stuck with no one to talk to. That would be too dull."
Mary smiled and nodded in agreement. She had been thinking the same—conversations with the other apprentices around her weren't particularly enlightening.
Angron's gaze briefly flickered toward Locke in the distance. The unfamiliar face caught his attention momentarily, but he soon turned his focus back to Mary, a fellow candidate for Formal Wizard status, engaging her in lively conversation.
Locke withdrew his observations of the people around him. He had no intention of initiating greetings. When you were weak, it was better to focus on self-improvement rather than forcing social connections. Friends would naturally gravitate toward you when you became stronger. Otherwise, trying to force your way into those circles would only backfire.
What Locke hadn't anticipated was encountering Angron, the First Class Wizard Apprentice, here. The man looked physically robust, his body packed with muscle—a stark contrast to the typical image of a wizard apprentice. His cropped hair gave him a clean, sharp appearance, but his gloomy eyes hinted at a ruthless nature, the type who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Locke turned his attention to the five hundred acres of Magical Field he was responsible for. "The academy must have considered that I only have a Breeder Assistant Certificate, so they didn't assign me overly complex Magic Plant care tasks. What I've been given are the simplest plants."
"That's just as well."
"It'll make my job much easier."
"First, I need to remove specific harmful fungi from the Phoenix Feather Flowers. That requires a special Sterilization Gel."
For the rest of the day, Locke worked diligently in the public Botanical Garden. Yet, despite his efforts, no other First Class Wizard Apprentices approached him for conversation, and the lower-ranking apprentices didn't dare disturb him either.
Thus, Locke found himself in peace and quiet.
By evening, when Locke returned to his cluster of wooden houses, he entered the small and medium-sized botanical garden gifted to him by the Reeves family. The minotaur slaves had already tidied up the garden, spreading large amounts of nutrient soil throughout.
Locke inspected the area. "In about a week, we should be able to cultivate twenty new acres of magical fields," he noted.
His gaze then shifted to the Synthetic Cube rotating in mid-air, currently synthesizing three ordinary Palm Fire Lotuses.
In a week's time, his third Magic Plant should be ready.