Synthetic Wizard - Chapter 180 - 129: Life Is Short—Seize Every Second (Part 2)
Chapter 180: Chapter 129: Life Is Short—Seize Every Second (Part 2)
Aside from that, Sunan has already discussed with Kei to establish a Knight Academy in every province and build a more comprehensive and expansive talent reserve system for the future knight guard.
In light of this, the opening of the New Magic Plant Garden has become imperative.
After all, more Dragon Blood Fruits and Silver Moon Flowers are needed.
The matter of the Knight Academy is manageable; it doesn’t require Sunan to personally handle it. Kei has been entrusted with the arrangement and staffing. Sunan only needs to occasionally check on it.
However, the opening of the Magic Plant Garden requires his personal involvement.
“But it seems like I’ll need to be busy only for one or two more years.”
“Sherman and Cole’s meditation is going smoothly; they might soon be promoted to Level 2 Wizard Apprentices.”
“By then, the task of opening the Magic Plant Garden can be entrusted to them.”
Level 2 Wizard Apprentices are essentially capable of handling things independently. Many tasks Sunan can let them do without everything needing his personal attention.
By that time, he can free up his hands to do more things.
Like exploring the underground world to seek out descendants of the ancient Exotic Beasts.
For instance, researching more powerful constructs.
“Alright, that’s enough for today.”
Concluding the final sorcery test, Sunan announced the assessment’s end, glanced over the forty-odd students in front of him, and turned away without saying much, only offering a brief encouragement.
He would not reprimand students for not putting in effort.
After all, it’s their choice.
He provides a platform for equivalent exchanges, where the students’ efforts can pay off; whether they want to work hard is entirely their choice.
As long as they abide by the base’s rules and don’t harm its interests, Sunan generally doesn’t interfere much with the students’ actions.
This is also a common characteristic of many Wizard Academies.
Even the Black Wizard Academies, which adhere to cruel competitive principles, respect student autonomy in certain aspects.
Of course, the outcome of not working hard in a Black Wizard Academy is often rather tragic.
After Sunan’s figure disappeared at the entrance of the magic training room, the students seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as if a burden was lifted.
Immediately afterward, some displayed joyful expressions, while others looked dejected as if mourning.
“It’s over. I failed three times in a row at casting the spells earlier. The teacher must think I’m dumb now.”
“Same here. I made mistakes at the very beginning of the potion twice; it’s so embarrassing.”
“Ethan is still amazing; he succeeded in creating the Strength Potion on his first try!”
“I was just lucky.”
Ethan humbly smiled and turned to glance at Sherman and Cole, with a hint of envy in his eyes.
“Still can’t compare to Senior Sherman and Senior Cole; the teacher personally said the two seniors can soon construct the third star ring.”
Mentioning this, the crowd looked at Sherman and Cole with eyes full of envy and admiration.
Once successfully constructing the third star ring, one can advance to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.
Reaching this stage truly qualifies one as a competent apprentice.
Unfortunately, most of them had only recently constructed their first star ring and had a long way to go before reaching Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.
As the group busily chatted, a half-human-high cloud of smoke suddenly floated in from outside, pausing briefly before heading toward Sherman.
“It’s a Fog Monster!” a student said.
The Fog Monster is a semi-virtual creature, its entire body like smoke.
They serve as messengers in the base. Just by paying a little Spiritual Power, one can ask them to help transmit messages or carry light items, making them very convenient.
This was naturally Sunan’s summoned other-worldly ’helper.’
The Fog Monster gently floated over to Sherman, extending a wisp of gray mist, wrapping it around Sherman’s ear, making a faint humming sound.
This is the unique Fog Race language of the Fog Monster, quickly translated into comprehensible language via the magic item Sherman carried that has a constant language understanding effect.
The next moment, Sherman’s face suddenly changed. He turned and swiftly ran out of the magic training room.
Leaving the crowd bewildered and at a loss.
…
Old Roger ultimately didn’t make it through this winter.
Passed away at the age of sixty-five.
In this era, that’s already considered rare longevity.
In truth, Old Roger’s health had never been good.
Ailments from his youth made his body become much weaker after he turned fifty.
Until Sherman entered the base, sending back a fair amount of gold coins every month, allowing Old Roger to retire comfortably without working, nurturing his health at home.
Later, Sherman even exchanged for a bottle of lesser Dragon Blood Potion, diluting it for Old Roger to take regularly, making his body slightly more robust.
If not for that, with all of Old Roger’s ailments, he might not have lived past sixty.
Even so, Old Roger still couldn’t hold on past the winter of sixty-five.
Fortunately, he passed away peacefully.
Fell asleep and didn’t wake up the next day.
Until the servant sensed something amiss, entered the room to check, and realized Old Roger had passed, hurriedly notifying Sherman.
Knowing Old Roger didn’t like extravagance, Sherman didn’t make a show of it, holding only a simple funeral before burying Old Roger.
Standing before Old Roger’s tombstone, Sherman gazed silently with a vacant expression.
If it were his former self, he’d surely be crying inconsolably by now.
But after five years at the base, he was no longer the crybaby who’d sob at the slightest thing.
Not crying doesn’t mean the sadness surging in his chest is lessened.
“Sherman…”
Attila, standing behind him, hesitated to speak, gazing at Sherman with sorrow.
She had never seen this side of Sherman.
Typically, Sherman often wore a smile, even when facing difficulties, he’d just let out a self-deprecating sigh and then muster his efforts, never had he been consumed by deep sadness as he was now.
“Condolences.” Cole, having arrived unnoticed, stood behind Sherman.
Sherman exhaled deeply, turning to the two, his face expressionless, revealing no emotion.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
He glanced at the somewhat gloomy sky, his voice subdued as he spoke:
“I’ve just suddenly realized that human lifespan is so brief; decades pass in the blink of an eye.”
“Will we one day die too, lying quietly in a grave like Old Roger?”
“Everyone dies eventually,” Attila replied, wondering.
“What about the teacher?”
Attila hesitated, stammering, unable to speak.
In their eyes, Sunan was the most formidable figure in the world.
Powerful, knowledgeable, possessing vast influence and exceedingly rich resources.
If it were the teacher, perhaps he could truly achieve eternal life.
Cole remarked calmly, “Eventually humans will die, but powerful wizards won’t.”
“Didn’t the teacher say that Official Wizards’ lifespan is over a thousand years, True Spirit Wizards can survive ten thousand years without dying, virtually akin to immortality.”
Attila smiled wryly, “Do you think we can become Official Wizards?”
“Just firm your goals, strive toward them; there’s no point overthinking,”
Cole looked ahead resolutely.
“No matter how long it takes, I must become an Official Wizard!”
Cole approached Sherman, speaking calmly, “Grieving for the deceased is understandable, but you must quickly pull yourself together. If you wish to continue walking the wizard’s path, such things will only become more frequent, you must learn to cope.”
Sherman glanced at Cole curiously, “Are you comforting me?”
“If that’s how you want to interpret it.”
“I always thought you disliked me.”
“I just don’t like you, but your efforts and abilities earn my respect. Having you as a rival is advantageous in urging me forward; I don’t want you to sink into despair.”
Saying that, Cole deeply looked at Sherman, then turned and left.
Not until Cole’s figure had vanished did Attila react, surprisedly saying, “It’s the first time I see Cole like that; he actually comforts people too.”
Sherman chuckled silently, gazing complexly toward the direction Cole left.
“You’re right; despite his odd temperament, his nature isn’t bad.”
“Previously, I felt we didn’t need to rush strengthening ourselves, methodically and steadily learning ought to suffice. But now I think Cole’s words hold merit.”
“Life is short. Even as a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, one only has a lifespan of a century or two; with such limited time, striving to become an Official Wizard truly requires seizing every moment wholeheartedly.”
Sherman sighed deeply.
At this moment, a sense of urgency grew within him like never before.
To become stronger, faster!
