Capítulo 60: Journey Begins!
According to the 'Bahof elf', there was an unspoken rule aboard the ship: every cabin and sleeping space had to be 'fought for' by the apprentices themselves. There were no reservations or pre-assigned spots; strength, cunning, and determination dictated where one slept.
The only silver lining was that 'food and water' were freely available. Every apprentice could visit the dining hall at any time, tap on a table, summon a Bahof elf, and place their order.
Aside from the Bahof elves, the ship's staff also included 'ghost sailors' and 'talking photo frames' mounted along the corridors; creatures and objects bound by ancient spells to serve the ship and its passengers.
---
"How long does it usually take for the ship to reach its destination?" Leonard asked the Bahof elf, who stood perched on his table, its tiny figure animated with energy.
The elf tilted its head thoughtfully, scratching its hat with one hand. "About two years," it said. "Every time I travel, the flowers I planted in the kitchen bloom and bear fruit twice, once per year. So two harvests mean two years."
Leonard raised an eyebrow. "Two years…" That was a long journey.
The Bahof elf's eyes sparkled as it asked cheerfully, "Do you want to eat something? We're good at making nearly everything!"
Leonard shrugged. "What do you have on the menu?"
The elf spread its tiny arms dramatically. "Almost anything, sir! But if you have a dish from your hometown, just tell me how it's made; I love trying new recipes!"
Leonard paused, memories of familiar flavors stirring in his mind. "Barbecue," he said after a moment. "Let's try that."
The elf clapped its small hands excitedly. "Barbecue! Excellent choice, sir. How much would you like?"
"300 grams should be fine," Leonard replied.
The Bahof elf nodded but added with a mischievous grin, "Remember the rules: you can't waste food. If you don't finish it, we'll reheat the leftovers for you next time you visit. And reheated food never tastes as good, does it?"
Leonard smirked. "I'll finish it."
With that, the Bahof elf disappeared in a flash of blue light.
---
While waiting, Leonard drummed his fingers lightly on the table, thinking.
If the ship took 'two years' to complete a full circuit, including the return trip, then a 'one-way voyage' must take roughly a year. But the real question was whether this ship was on its outbound journey or already halfway through its return.
If there were still two years ahead of him, the journey would be excruciatingly long. Perhaps the nobles who boarded with him knew the ship's exact schedule, but Leonard doubted they would share such information freely.
A sudden 'bang' and a flash of blue light interrupted his thoughts. The Bahof elf reappeared, balancing a 'large plate' that looked comically oversized in its tiny hands.
"Sir, your barbecue," the elf announced proudly, setting the steaming plate on the table. "Please enjoy!"
The elf tipped its little chef's hat, gave an exaggerated bow, and disappeared once again in a blur of blue light.
Leonard took a bite of the food and was immediately impressed. The flavors were rich, perfectly seasoned, and expertly cooked. He now understood why the wizarding texts praised the Bahof elves as 'natural-born chefs' their skill was unparalleled.
---
After finishing his meal, Leonard continued exploring the ship and descended to the 'fourth floor'. Here, the air felt damp and stale, carrying a faint musty smell. The corridor was lined with doors, and one room caught his attention: its 'key' was still in the lock, suggesting it hadn't been claimed yet.
Leonard turned the key and pushed the door open. Inside, he found a small room with four empty beds. The space felt unused, the faint scent of mildew lingering in the air. "Looks like this room doesn't see much traffic," Leonard muttered to himself.
He shrugged, tossing his belongings onto a bed. "It'll do."
---
That night, the ship was far from quiet.
Loud voices echoed through the corridor, mingling with the sound of heated arguments. Leonard ignored the commotion, lying still on his bed with his staff resting by his side.
Then came a 'knock at the door'.
Leonard cracked one eye open but didn't move. The knocking continued, louder this time, insistent and grating.
With a sigh, Leonard finally rose, grabbed his staff, and walked to the door. He swung it open, his expression cold and unamused.
Outside stood a group of young men, their leader dressed in a 'purple and gold robe', exuding arrogance. Leonard recognized him immediately, he was the noble apprentice who had caused a stir on the deck earlier.
Behind him stood several lackeys, one of whom scowled. "Took you long enough," the man growled. "We've been knocking forever. What were you doing in there?"
The noble in the purple robe stepped forward, his lips curling into a smug smile. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said with exaggerated courtesy. "I am Anusheh Pratt."
Leonard didn't respond, his expression unreadable.
The name was familiar. Leonard had overheard it mentioned earlier on the deck, it belonged to a prominent noble family. But Leonard didn't care for titles or status. What mattered to him was survival, and these self-important nobles clearly saw themselves as predators.
Anusheh's smile faltered slightly under Leonard's icy gaze.
"Well?" the noble demanded, his tone sharpening. "Are you going to invite us in, or do you plan to stand there glaring all night?"
Leonard tightened his grip on his staff, his voice calm but laced with quiet authority. "What do you want?"
The air grew tense, the silence heavy as the group exchanged glances.
The name 'Pratt' immediately rang a bell for Leonard. It was the name of the 'royal family' of the Kingdom of Erdoru. The young man standing in front of him, exuding arrogance and authority, was clearly a member of that lineage, one of the nobles who carried his family's pride with every step.
Anusheh's voice carried a smooth, almost practiced charm as he spoke.
"The top two floors are likely reserved for the wizards who boarded the ship earlier. This floor, however, has been allocated to the apprentices who boarded from Bangor Port. Given that we're all from the same place, we should be working together, don't you think?"
Leonard listened silently, his sharp gaze fixed on the royal apprentice.
"Many of my royal ancestors have joined wizard academies," Anusheh continued, his tone carrying a subtle note of superiority. "Some of them are now fully-fledged wizards. What you might not know, however, is just how difficult it is for ordinary wizard apprentices to become formal wizards in these academies."
He paused, as if to let the gravity of his words sink in, then continued, "Becoming a formal wizard requires vast knowledge and rigorous experimentation. Both of these demand significant resources. Ordinary gold and silver? Useless among wizards. The true currency of our world is 'magic stones.' Without them, progress is impossible."
Leonard's expression didn't shift, but internally, he was already weighing the implications of the young noble's words.
Anusheh adjusted his robe, clearly relishing his own speech. "That's why I've established the 'Erdoru Wizard Apprentice Mutual Aid Association.' It's a place where apprentices like us can share resources, trade knowledge, and even barter for materials. If you're interested, I invite you to join us. Room 108 on the first floor. You're welcome anytime."
With a practiced smile, he stepped back and added, "Oh, and it's worth noting; apprentices like us would be wise to form alliances. These academies... they don't care about you unless you stand out. And standing out is always easier when you're part of a strong network."
As he turned to leave, Leonard called out, "How long do you think this voyage will take?"
Anusheh paused mid-step, turning halfway back with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "About half a year, give or take."
Leonard nodded silently as Anusheh departed, closing the door behind him.
---
Inside the quiet room, Leonard sat in thought, his mind turning over the young noble's words. 'Half a year.'
That was enough time. With steady meditation, Leonard calculated that his 'mental strength' could reach the standard of a 'third-level wizard apprentice' by the time they arrived. His current arsenal of spells was already sufficient: 'ten zero-level spells' and 'one first-level spell.'
But the real issue lay with his 'materials'. The supplies he had prepared before boarding were limited. At most, they would allow him to perform 'ten to twenty experiments'. Once they were gone, his progress in daily tasks and, by extension, his experience; would grind to a halt.
Still, there was a solution. 'Mutation experiments' required specific resources, but 'necromancy experiments' only needed one thing: a corpse. And corpses, Leonard thought grimly, were far easier to come by than rare magical ingredients.
His eyes darkened with resolve.
---
The next few days passed quietly. Leonard spent most of his time meditating or working in his room. He ventured out only to eat, tapping on the dining table to summon a Bahof elf for meals.
He did take the time to visit the 'Erdoru Wizard Apprentice Mutual Aid Association' in Room 108. But it only took one visit to confirm what he already suspected.
The so-called "mutual aid society" was nothing more than a facade.
The other wizard apprentices, mostly nobles or their lackeys, made a show of promises and camaraderie. Some tried to convince Leonard to 'hand over his wizarding inheritance', while others proposed that he conduct experiments on their behalf. A few even suggested he become a follower of their families, promising that their ancestors, formal wizards; might grant him knowledge in return.
Leonard smiled politely but saw through their empty words. "For a clueless civilian wizard, these offers might seem tempting," he thought. "But to me, they're just childish attempts to take advantage."
He never returned to the so-called mutual aid group.
---
One night, the ship was quiet, drifting through the 'dark sea' like a ghost ship. The faint creak of wood and the distant splash of waves were the only sounds.
Suddenly, the ship lurched violently, as if it had struck something. The impact sent a shudder through the vessel, and the once-still sea erupted into a chaos of 'wind and waves'.
Two wizard apprentices sitting on the deck glanced at each other nervously, their eyes drawn to the eerie 'lights' glowing on the water's surface.
Before they could react, a 'wave surged upward', and out of the sea shot a 'black spike', sharp as a blade. The spike pierced one of the apprentices clean through the chest, blood spraying across the deck.
The second apprentice screamed, his voice shattering the tense silence as he scrambled backward, trembling in fear.
---
Hidden in his room, the 'alchemy laboratory' glowed softly with the light of magical reagents. Leonard was hunched over the laboratory table, carefully mixing ingredients for a new experiment.
But something unusual drew his attention.
To his left, the 'statue of Poseidon' an artifact sealed by his teacher Alfonso; began to emit faint 'blue bubbles'. The air around it thickened, carrying the unmistakable tang of 'saltwater.'
Leonard straightened, narrowing his eyes as he observed the statue. He placed the reagent in his hand down carefully, his senses on high alert.
Something was happening.
Whatever it was, it had just disrupted the fragile peace of the ship.
Leonard turned toward the door, readying his staff. "It seems the journey is about to get interesting."
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