Dusk had settled over the horizon, and the colossal vessel ofLilith's Cottage Wizard Academy cut through the waves stirred by the sea breeze.
On the deck, two to three hundred Wizard Apprentices shouted and cheered with unrestrained excitement, pointing toward a massive ship approaching three hundred meters away.
"Look! Pirates! I've never seen real pirates before!"
"The pirates on the other side are far too timid. Why haven't they come closer?"
The apprentices buzzed with speculation, utterly unperturbed, while even the sailors maintained an air of composed confidence.
It was hardly surprising that these people showed no fear toward the fabled pirates. The long-range vessel ferrying the wizard apprentices ofLilith's Cottage was manned by over fifty sailors, each a consummate knight in their own right, complemented by a chief sailor and Baron, servant to Wizard Dira—both possessing the prowess of legendary knights.
Faced with such a crew, any ordinary pirate ship would appear utterly insignificant. Even the largest pirate vessels dared not attempt a raid once Wizard Dira herself set foot aboard.
Green's gaze shifted toward the distant pirate ship.
Though slightly smaller, measuring only about seventy or eighty meters, the vessel bristled with people clinging to the railings, masts, and decks—hundreds, by rough estimate.
All men, clad in tattered garments, many missing limbs or bearing a single eye, brandished daggers, bows, and anchor ropes, shouting and gesticulating with frenetic energy, as if boundless vitality surged within them.
And why were there no women aboard the pirate ship?
The pirates firmly believed that women brought misfortune to their vessels, summoning colossal sea beasts to overturn the ship and inviting malevolent sea spirits to devour their flesh, leaving only bones. Every pirate on the seas held this superstition unshakably.
Yet Green noticed the pirate ship hesitated to approach the wizard vessel immediately. The reason was evident: the pirate captain had discovered an anomaly through his folding spyglass.
The ship… was filled with cheering children?
Suddenly, the seasoned pirate captain's expression shifted violently, cold sweat beading his forehead. His lone remaining eye reflected sheer terror as he barked at the helmsman beside him: "Turn back! Now! Immediately!"
The captain's abrupt change of demeanor startled those around him; even the monkey perched on his shoulder leapt in fright, squeaking and clinging to the railing.
The helmsman, paralyzed with fear, stammered, "Turn back?"
Clearly, the captain commanded unquestioned authority. With a metallic hook, he shoved the helmsman aside, leaving the man no time for explanation. The captain's one-armed comrade spun the wheel furiously, and the pirate ship, along with its hundreds of dumbfounded crew, vanished into the distance.
Meanwhile, aboard the wizard vessel ofLilith's Cottage, the door to the exclusive quarters of the esteemed Wizard Dira swung open, and two curious children—a boy and a girl—emerged.
The deck erupted in disbelief as apprentices and sailors alike caught sight of the children, roughly their own age, stepping out from a wizard's room.
The apprentices buzzed with speculation.
"What are these two? They don't even stay in the cabin. All that mildew we've been living in, the mushroom soup we've been drinking—I feel like vomiting!"
"Who knows… maybe they're wizard offspring?"
"Don't spout nonsense. That day, Wizard Dira announced on deck that these two are once-in-a-century prodigies of the academy. We were there to hear it…"
Despite the gossip, the children seemed utterly indifferent, exuding the same haughty demeanor once seen in Yorkris of Bitsel City, a sight enough to ruffle anyone's patience.
The girl wore a pristine white dress, her golden hair cascading in waves, amber-blue eyes brimming with apparent innocence, and a charming smile framing her lips, like a tiny princess. Yet a glance into her eyes revealed she was far from naïve, her gaze silently scornful of the crowd.
The boy, absorbed in playing with a small white mouse, ignored the deck entirely, treating the creature in his hands as infinitely more important than anyone else present—a clear air of disdain emanating from him.
"Brother Yunli, look! The pirates ran away. How utterly boring," the girl said, fluttering her golden hair, letting the wind carry it gracefully.
The boy, still preoccupied with his mouse, merely shrugged, muttering, "I told you, no pirate dares challenge the Wizard Academy's ship. You insisted on watching. The deck stinks; let's go back."
"Fine… but it's dreadfully dull…"
Ignoring the furious apprentices, the children returned to the quarters reserved only for wizards. On deck, while the sailors were unbothered, the apprentices were in uproar, their indignation peaking.
After all, who were they? The apprentices prided themselves on being elite, handpicked from thousands, destined to become great wizards. These children were merely two among many, yet their arrogance stung. And the stench! How had the children survived days in mildew-ridden cabins? Many concluded that the children simply leveraged their connection to Wizard Dira, a mere show of borrowed prestige. Green, too, was far from pleased.
Nonetheless, the apprentices dared not question Wizard Dira, and thus the pirate incident quietly subsided.
Three days later, Green was reciting The Olfactory Codex in his cabin when a knock at the door drew him out of thought. Expecting Binhansen's usual intrusion, Green was surprised to find Yorkris and Yorkliana standing there.
Green welcomed them in, offering the precious juice he had been saving—a noble preservative kept fresh for months.
Yorkris, chastened by prior events, displayed newfound composure, while Yorkliana, shy but determined, spoke first:
"Brother Green, thank you for helping us. We are truly grateful."
"Ah… it was nothing," Green replied lightly. In truth, though he had resented Yorkris before, as fellow passengers on the same vessel, courtesy demanded acknowledgment. Ultimately, it was Raffie who had decisively influenced the outcome.
"No, truly. We are deeply grateful," Yorkliana hurried to add. She then produced two small stones from her clothing, presenting them with careful solemnity.
"These are treasures my brother and I chanced upon in our youth. We later discovered they are Magic Stones, currency among wizards. We have only these remaining pieces, and we wish to gift them to you as a token of our gratitude."
Green stared in astonishment. Wizard currency? Not gold, not silver—objects of extraordinary rarity. No wonder Yorkris had once carried himself with such pride, and even Wade's earlier bribe to Wizard Arovas had involved a Magic Stone.
After a brief exchange, the siblings took their leave. Yorkris, at last, placed a hand on Green's shoulder and said earnestly, "I was wrong before," then departed without another word. Green nodded courteously, saying nothing.
Alone again, Green examined the two thumb-sized stones on his table. Even a single Magic Stone was an immense treasure for an Wizard Apprentice, and Green's curiosity soared as he studied them with keen interest.