Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

"Of course, I agree."

Richard accepted the crystal sphere and bowed slightly to Jolord.

"In that case, let's formalize our agreement."

Jolord retrieved a parchment filled with wizard script from a drawer.

"This is a soul contract. Once signed, you'll officially be my apprentice. I will impart my knowledge to you, and you will carry on this legacy."

The master-apprentice relationship is fundamental in the wizarding world, dating back to ancient times when wizards first started taking apprentices to pass on their lifelong knowledge.

This bond often surpasses even familial ties among wizards.

Richard took the parchment, which detailed many clauses, mostly about prohibiting the unauthorized sale of the knowledge imparted by the master.

Knowledge is precious, and apprentices are often impoverished.

Without restrictions, even minor temptations could lead an apprentice to sell their knowledge.

After signing the contract, flames erupted from Richard's signature, consuming the parchment to ash.

"By ancient tradition, Apprentice Richard, I will now enlighten you."

Jolord placed a hand on Richard's forehead and began chanting ancient wizard hymns.

Richard couldn't understand the words, but he felt his mental capacity subtly increase.

After the chant, Richard estimated his mental power increased by about 0.1.

This was far more efficient than meditation.

"The enlightenment is complete," Jolord announced, clapping his hands. He used magic to summon several thick books from the shelves.

"These books are your introductory courses. Memorize and digest them, then come to me to purchase the next set."

"Purchase?"

Richard was surprised. Hadn't he become a formal apprentice? Why was acquiring knowledge still like borrowing from a library?

"Yes, purchase," Chaxes chimed in, patting Richard's shoulder. "Don't be shocked. Anna and I also pay with magic stones for knowledge from the master."

"But why?" Richard asked, puzzled.

"It's simple—knowledge is valuable and shouldn't be easily given away. Knowledge gained too easily is often undervalued," Jolord explained, stroking his beard with an air of mystery. "Moreover, alchemy requires practice. Book knowledge alone is insufficient."

"If your skills are honed, you can earn enough magic stones through crafting magical gear or potions in the commercial district to exchange for knowledge."

Anna added, "The master's knowledge isn't exorbitantly priced. With your current skills, it won't take more than two years to earn enough stones for new knowledge."

Accepting the custom, Richard said no more.

Taking the books from Jolord, Richard left the lab with Anna and Chaxes.

"Impressive, junior. You've been hiding your talents well," Chaxes remarked, throwing an arm around Richard's shoulder like a friendly older brother.

"You really surprised both me and Anna."

Anna felt a mix of emotions. Before Richard, she was considered Jolord's most gifted apprentice in a thousand years.

But it was clear that title now belonged to Richard.

However, Anna wasn't narrow-minded and quickly put her feelings aside.

"Alright, Chaxes, let him go. As his senior, aren't you going to give him a welcome gift?"

Anna handed Richard a medal from her pocket.

"This is a badge inscribed with a deflection field, useful against physical spells like ice spike."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Chaxes frowned, realizing he had no magical gear to offer Richard.

"Junior, it's not that I don't want to give you anything, but my focus isn't on magical gear. How about I make you a small synthetic beast in a few days?" Chaxes offered.

"A synthetic beast? Are you focused on synthetic beasts, Senior Brother?"

Richard recalled the synthetic beast core he obtained during the entrance exam, forgotten in a corner, unprocessed.

"Yes, like our mentor, I specialize in synthetic beasts," Chaxes confirmed.

"The beast from the entrance exam, was that your work?"

Scratching his head, Chaxes chuckled, "That was supposed to be the mentor's task, but he passed it to me. How was my synthetic beast?"

It was indeed impressive.

Richard remembered that without the beast's injury and his magical gear, he might not have survived the exam.

"It was remarkable. I took a heart-like object from one of the beasts. Could you use it, Senior Brother?"

Chaxes paused, then seemed to understand.

"A heart? You mean a core. If you have a core, I'll customize a synthetic beast for you as a welcome gift," Chaxes promised, thumping his chest. "I may not be skilled in many areas, but I'm good with synthetic beasts."

The most complex part of creating a synthetic beast is nurturing the core. With a core, Chaxes was confident he could assemble a low-level synthetic beast from materials in three days.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Leaving the Black Tower, Richard returned to his dorm and found the synthetic beast core.

Remarkably, the core still pulsed slightly, even after months without external energy, a testament to its vitality.

Holding the core, Richard spent fifteen mental points to extract its information.

Although he could obtain this from Jolord, saving resources was preferable.

The extraction left Richard feeling as if his head had been struck with a hammer, leaving him dazed. Despite this, his mental strength, bolstered to twenty points by feedback effects, allowed him to deliver the core to Chaxes.

"What kind of synthetic beast do you want?" Chaxes asked after assessing the core's viability, listing hundreds of low-level synthetic beasts with various abilities.

Richard reviewed the list, noting powerful beasts like the seven-headed demon goat. After consideration, he chose a low-level synthetic beast called the Death Omen Crow.

This beast had minimal combat ability but possessed dark vision and the ability to see through illusions. Like regular magical pets, synthetic beasts could be connected to their owner through a soul bond, enabling shared senses. With this connection, Richard would gain the crow's abilities.

"Death Omen Crow is simple. Come back in three days," Chaxes declared confidently.

With everything settled, Richard returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed, too exhausted to move.

The mental exhaustion from extraction left him drained. Normally, he'd meditate to recover, but today, he craved sleep.

As Jolord's formal apprentice, Richard felt he had established a firm footing at the academy, bringing him closer to becoming a wizard.

He closed his eyes, recalling the breathtaking scenery glimpsed when linking to the sea of souls, a dreamy smile on his lips.

"The Astral Plane... I wish to see it."