Chapter Forty: The Hidden Realm

The tasks assigned by the Shadow Ring were always different, each carefully matched to the strength of the individual wizard apprentices within the academy.

“Hughes!”

Hearing someone call his name, Hughes turned around.

“Billy!” Hughes looked at Billy and noticed how much he had changed; his wizard's robe had been replaced by heavy leather armor.

“Hughes, have you taken up a task yet? Want to join our team?” Billy asked eagerly as soon as he saw Hughes.

“I’m sorry, Billy. My mentor has already arranged a task for me this time. Perhaps next time, we can work together,” Hughes replied, full of genuine regret.

“That’s unfortunate,” Billy said, a bit embarrassed.

“Have you taken on your task yet? How did it go?” Hughes broke the awkward silence by speaking first.

“It’s somewhat dangerous, but our team consists of five people, including me. With mutual support, it shouldn’t be too problematic.”

“That’s good.” As he spoke, Hughes seemed to remember something and took out two vials from beneath his robe.

“These are natural potions, brewed by myself. I don’t need them, so you can have them. Though, I hope you won’t have to use them,” he said, handing the vials to Billy.

Coming from a wizard family, Billy naturally recognized the potions and understood their value.

“Hughes, these potions…” Before Billy could finish, Hughes placed the vials firmly in his hand.

“It’s alright. If you don’t use them, just return them to me later,” Hughes joked lightly.

“Alright!” Hearing this, Billy paused, then accepted the potions without further protest.

Truthfully, Hughes couldn’t help but covet the formula for the concentration potion kept by Billy’s family, but their relationship wasn’t close enough yet. He would have to nurture the bond slowly; there would be time to discuss such matters later.

The academy’s mandatory tasks had to be completed by every apprentice.

All the newly admitted apprentices to the Shadow Ring had already left on their assignments, so now only the second and third-level apprentices remained in the academy.

No longer required to work in the laboratory, Hughes had plenty of time for meditation and potion-making each day.

The number of potions he produced kept increasing, and his collection of magic stones was growing rapidly.

With Lindsay selling his potions, Hughes’s reputation was spreading. He was now hailed as a once-in-a-century genius potion-maker.

Hughes himself cared little for such titles. He focused on his experiments, simply dealing with those who sought him out, never wishing to get too entangled with others.

“It’s time again for patrol,” Hughes glanced at the clock and realized it was nearly time for his shift. He quickly dressed, grabbed his crystal pendant, and headed out.

His patrol area was not large—a patch of woodland reserved by the Shadow Ring as a habitat for wild beasts. Though the creatures rarely ventured out, there was always the possibility, and some claimed to have seen mutants altered by energy radiation.

Hughes had patrolled for over half a month without encountering anything unusual.

Activating the crystal pendant, Hughes began his patrol, walking slowly and methodically. This pace made the two-hour patrol pass quickly.

Time flew, and soon a month had passed. It was time for Hughes to submit his assignment.

The attendant took his crystal pendant, checked it briefly, and informed Hughes his task was complete.

The task hall was busy with apprentices returning from their missions, many smelling strongly of blood, their leather armor battered and torn, some even missing limbs.

Billy had not yet returned, but Hughes doubted anything serious had happened.

Three days later, Billy came back and sought out Hughes, telling him that if not for the two vials of natural potion Hughes had given him, someone in his team might have died.

Hughes simply expressed he was glad to have helped, and after a short conversation, Billy, exhausted from over a month of fieldwork, went off to rest. He was deeply grateful to Hughes, which was precisely what Hughes had hoped for.

The academy resumed its tranquil routine. Hughes continued his usual life, though his relationship with Billy had improved considerably. Hughes met Billy’s team, whose members were as strong as Billy and placed great trust in him—how Billy had earned that trust, Hughes did not know.

The team all recognized Hughes; his reputation as a genius potion-maker was widely known.

Hughes did not presume to accept the title, but he did sell some potions to them at prices much lower than those in the trading zone, which delighted them—every magic stone was hard-won, after all.

One day, news swept through the Shadow Ring, causing an uproar.

The two deans of the Shadow Ring and Moonlight Garden had jointly discovered a hidden realm and planned to let their apprentices enter and explore it.

The news sent waves throughout the academy as everyone dreamed of venturing into the secret realm.

Hughes was thrilled when he heard it. He’d been troubled by the slow progress of his meditation techniques, and perhaps this hidden realm would be an opportunity; the wizards who possessed such a place must have been formidable.

“Mentor, have you heard about the hidden realm?” Hughes entered the laboratory, asking Wizard Matt with curiosity.

“How could I not know? The entire Shadow Ring is talking about it.”

“So, mentor, what about this hidden realm?”

“You want to go?” Matt looked Hughes over.

“This hidden realm is newly discovered and unstable. If wizards like us enter, it could collapse. But with your abilities, you might be able to gain some benefits inside,” Matt seemed unconcerned about the hidden realm.

“Yes, mentor!”

“The details will be announced soon—within days, the academy will provide precise information. You should start preparing,” Matt said, returning to his work.

Hughes remained silent, his mind already scheming.

Just as Matt predicted, five days later the academy released an announcement.

Hughes read the information in the task hall:

“The hidden realm will open in seven days. The Shadow Ring and Moonlight Garden will jointly explore the wizard’s secret domain. The realm is the residence of a second-level official wizard from three thousand years ago. Due to its age, its energies are unstable. Only first and second-level apprentices will enter. The treasures found will be divided: apprentices choose a third, the rest goes to the academy. All apprentices should prepare accordingly.”

Some rejoiced, others worried. Many second-level apprentices had lingered at their level for too long; this hidden realm was an opportunity. In contrast, third-level apprentices were indignant, feeling the academy was unfair. Some hot-tempered individuals even began to curse loudly.

“Looks like I need to make some plans,” Hughes thought as he read the announcement.

That evening, Hughes quietly went to Lindsay’s shop, intending to obtain additional natural potion recipes in preparation for the hidden realm.

“Hughes, I know what you’re planning, but I must tell you this hidden realm is not as simple as it seems. Carelessness could be fatal,” Lindsay grabbed Hughes as soon as he entered, warning him urgently.

Hughes felt a chill at these words.

“What do you know?” Hughes closed the shop door behind him.

“I’m still investigating. Several wizard families have joined forces to look into this hidden realm. Results should come soon.”

“Is the hidden realm dangerous?” Hughes asked, puzzled.

“We don’t know yet. The dean has already stationed guards at the entrance, letting in only a few. The danger is uncertain, and the information from the academy doesn’t match what’s inside. So, Hughes, until we know more, don’t act recklessly for the sake of what lies within,” Lindsay looked at Hughes with grave seriousness.

“Alright. Let me know when you have news.” Despite Lindsay’s warning, Hughes still asked for more natural potion ingredients, and Lindsay readily agreed.

When Hughes returned to his dormitory and opened the door, he found a letter slipped under the threshold.

“There’s something strange about the hidden realm. Wait for exact information—Billy.”