Grand Warlock: My System Gave Me Infinite Classes

The male apprentice collected the shards and handed Robb a slip of paper:

"Magic Circuit Optimization is in Classroom 7 on the East side of the third floor at 1:00 p.m. Mental Stability Techniques is in Classroom 3 on the North side of the fifth floor at 3:00 p.m. Don't be late."

"Oh, almost forgot to tell you," the attendant added: "As a newly promoted Elementary Apprentice, you're entitled to one free foundational course of your choice. But you only get one shot, so choose wisely."

Robb's eyes lit up, an unexpected bonus. He immediately decided to save the free course for a more expensive one later.

He took the slip and thanked the attendant, just about to leave when,

"Wait a second, Apprentice Robb," the attendant hesitated slightly. "Since you're on the 'Observation List,' the academy will be keeping a closer eye on you. I hope you'll… make a good impression."

Robb nodded, a few extra thoughts swirling in his mind.

That kind of attention was both an opportunity and a burden, it meant more scrutiny, more pressure.

Leaving the academic tower, he decided to head to the cafeteria first and fuel up for the afternoon's classes.

As soon as he sat down with his tray, he noticed a few young men in junior apprentice robes chatting at a nearby table.

Judging by their tired faces and stained clothing, they had just returned from some kind of field assignment.

One tall, skinny one spotted Robb and lit up. He waved excitedly.

"Hey, Reyne! Long time no see!"

Robb recognized him, Karl, a merchant's son who had entered the academy the same year as him and had narrowly survived the final elimination period.

"Karl! It's been a while. You guys just came back from a mission?"

"Yeah, we were collecting mana crystal flowers in the forest outskirts. Three whole days."

Karl rubbed his eyes tiredly, though there was a note of pride in his voice.

"The pay wasn't bad, 15 magic crystal shards."

The chubby apprentice next to him cut in: "Only because Karl knows a breeze spell. He kept the poison bugs away. If not for him, we might not have made it back."

Karl waved off the praise and turned to Robb: "Anyway, enough of that. I heard you're apprenticing under Lady Elena? Man, you really lucked out!"

"Guess I got lucky," Robb replied modestly. "Lady Elena has deep knowledge in Alchemy. I've learned a lot from her."

"You're so lucky…" Karl gave a bitter laugh. "Guys like us, with no special gifts, can only slog it out between towers. You know how it is, for us average Elementary Apprentices, it takes eight to ten years just to qualify for Intermediate Apprentice."

Another apprentice leaned in: "And they say that old crone Elena doesn't take apprentices lightly."

He added with a tinge of jealousy: "She's picky as hell. I heard she's gone through a dozen assistants and none could satisfy her."

Karl elbowed his friend hard and turned back to Robb: "Ignore him, he's just jealous. Seriously though, Robb, now that you've got a stable job, you don't even need to take those risky commissions. Us low-tier guys barely scrape by on them."

Robb saw the envy in Karl's eyes.

In a place like the Black Mist Forest, where the hierarchy was brutal, life for Elementary Apprentices was hard.

They may have survived the trials, but they still sat at the bottom, nearly invisible, with no real shot at advancement.

"So what's next for you guys?" Robb asked.

Karl's face fell a little.

"Our next job is collecting 'Weeping Vines' from the edge of the Screeching Swamp. The pay's good, 30 magic shards, but…"

"But that place is deadly," the chubby apprentice interrupted, voice trembling. "Five Elementary Apprentices went there last month. Only one came back, and he was missing an arm."

"We don't have a choice," Karl sighed. "You know, Robb, we Elementary Apprentices aren't even considered true members of the academy. Not until we hit Intermediate Apprentice. Only then do we get official recognition, and steady shard income from assigned duties."

"Yeah," Robb nodded, recalling what André had once told him: "I've heard that in some mortal kingdoms, Intermediate Apprentices are treated like nobles, land and all."

Intermediate Apprentices not only gain massive increases in mana and mental power, but their spells become exponentially more powerful.

"Exactly," Karl's eyes gleamed with yearning, his voice low and eager, his body leaning forward. "My dad saw it himself, one Intermediate Apprentice wiped out a squad of soldiers with a few spells."

He mimed a blast with his hands, eyes reflecting imagined flames:

"Even those so-called 'one-man-army' knights can barely hold their own against a Intermediate Mage."

The chubby apprentice gave a long sigh, shoulders slumped, staring blankly at the tabletop's grain: "The academy doesn't care about Elementary Apprentices. We're worthless to them."

He clenched his fists, then relaxed them:

"That's why we live in those crammed towers. Life's worse than it was in the trial phase."

Karl chuckled bitterly and shrugged: "We're actually the lucky ones."

He threw a playful punch in the air: "Out there, there are tons of wandering apprentices and outsider freaks clawing to get in. The Black Mist Academy is the top magic hub in this region."

His eyes drifted toward an Intermediate Apprentice across the hall, wearing a sapphire-badged uniform.

That person laughed and chatted easily with peers, completely different from the numb, exhausted aura of the juniors.

"I'm not gonna rot here much longer," Karl suddenly muttered, lowering his voice.

Robb blinked.

"You're leaving? Where would you go?"

"Heard the Emerald Tower in the far east is expanding," Karl replied, eyes resolute. "They're recruiting openly. Not as famous as Black Mist, only two or three formal witches, but their promotion system is way less brutal."

"But… leaving the Black Mist Forest is dangerous," Robb warned.

"Staying is dangerous too," Karl laughed bitterly. "At least if I leave, I have a shot. Better than decaying in place."

Listening to them, Robb felt a heavy sigh rise in his chest.

If not for his system, he'd likely be just like them, struggling at the bottom, with no hope in sight… he might not have even survived the trial phase.

"I've gotta run. Got class this afternoon," he said, bidding them a quick goodbye. "Good luck with your commission."

Karl forced a smile: "Thanks. Let's stay in touch. Honestly, Robb, we really envy you. Working under Lady Elena… that's something most Elementary Apprentices could only dream of for a lifetime."