"Then I'd be happy to hear about these experiences," Laine nodded. He knew a bit about the Jialan Council recruiting apprentices, but didn't fully understand.
"Every year after the Winter Festival ends and before the Green Grass Festival begins, casters among the Jialan Witches who have no apprentices or lack them will leave Celestial Vault Castle and travel across the continent. Of course, I'm not saying it has to be during this time. At any time, whenever a girl is proven to have caster talent, we bring them to Celestial Vault Castle for a physical examination. In the warmth of the hearth and surrounded by delicious food, these naive girls think they've arrived in heaven..." Veronica seemed to be reminiscing as she pointed at the witch with her apprentice, "Like that, girls with potential will be chosen by female witches or female sorcerers and granted the status of a wizard apprentice. This is largely the same."
"But wizard apprentices must listen to their mentor's guidance. They become excellent servants of their mentor, strictly required to follow any of their mentor's instructions. If a servant becomes too useless, she will be eliminated and remain a servant for life. You understand what I mean, right?" Veronica said, looking at the young wizard apprentice following her mentor, covering her mouth and laughing, "Because their value for life is only as a servant."
"I can understand, like knights and knight squires," Laine spread his hands, indicating he understood.
"So, the talented and hardworking girls often win their mentor's affection. They always believe that if they perform the best, they will quickly win the favor of their mentor and be taught more spells and the secrets of magic. Only I kept one eye open because I felt that mentors wouldn't be willing to let go of these best and most excellent servants," the female sorcerer's tone was full of sarcasm: "The female parliamentarians aren't as noble as you might think, Laine. They seldom let their best servants go for further learning."
Laine widened his eyes; he understood.
The worst apprentices remain apprentices for life, and the best and most excellent... also become lifelong apprentices due to their mentor's suppression?!
"So you, you deliberately pretended to have mediocre talent? Worked hard to hide your astonishing talent, while secretly learning?" Laine was somewhat speechless.
"Yes, at the time, I, Veronica, was a wizard apprentice who wasn't extraordinary, wasn't useless, somewhat useful, but not greatly so. This ultimately allowed me to advance smoothly to the Elite Tier and become an official wizard," Veronica said, sarcastically smiling, before linking arms with Laine again, "How about that? Am I impressive?"
Sweat appeared on Laine's forehead; the elimination system within the Female Mage Council truly left him at a loss for words. Looking at Veronica beside him, with her sweet beauty and impressive figure, he suddenly felt a little heartache, so his tone became gentler, "And then?"
"Then I should have faced more... like exclusion from colleagues, suppression from other members. I might have incurred injuries from an odd incident that significantly reduced my power, or been accidentally disfigured by another female sorcerer's spell... the jealousy among women is terrifying," Veronica said, watching Laine with a flash of complex emotions in her eyes, "At that time, I was dodging everywhere. I was only at Celestial Vault Castle during the three days the library was open to me each month. It was then a young Ranger Knight arrived alone at Celestial Vault Castle with his gains. I had a duel with him, and he became my partner. His identity made other witches wary, so finally, Veronica was free from the shackles. She showcased her talents without restraint and gained the favor of Speaker Margaret, becoming the leading witch of this generation."
After saying that, Veronica cheekily smiled: "That's my story."
"I remember I was only a Ranger Knight at the time, a warrior at the peak of the Elite Tier, merely an adopted child of a lord, not even close in line of inheritance. Was I that powerful?" Laine thought to himself that his projected identity wasn't that impressive.
"Beyond that, you are also the godson of the Duke of Imperial Griffin, have you forgotten? You're well acquainted with Jialan, everyone knows you wouldn't stand idly by if an accident befell your friends, right?" Veronica reminded Laine, "Even though they don't know I am your partner, they know we're friends."
Finally, Laine admitted the female sorceress was right. His godfather was the Duke of the Imperial Griffin, currently the Griffin General and Grand Master of the Griffin Knight Order. No witch dared to provoke such a powerful figure, even though the Jialan Council was strong. If they truly crossed paths with a powerhouse like the Griffin Knight Order, the Jialan Council would certainly hand over the troublemaker immediately.
A massive Griffin Army overwhelming, just thinking about it is exciting.
"So this is a gamble, some win, some lose. Looking at it now, this girl won, and won a lot. But some aren't playing by the rules; they're eyeing chips already bagged by the girl," Veronica said with irritation and resentment in her voice, "They pretend not to know these chips were won from betting everything by the girl, yet tell her there was an issue with the previous game, and she needs to start again? Now everyone knows where to place their bets!"
"Tell me, Laine, can you find me a reason not to dislike Trovik?" Veronica's voice was very soft, "We used to mind our own business, neither of us bothered the other, but she crossed the line. I just want her to get lost, as far away as possible, and not to touch my things. She should find someone else, not touch my partner."
"... It seems I understand women too little. I always thought you might become friends because you're similar in age, skill, and both are beautiful spellcasters," Laine uncomfortably expressed his thought.
"Laine, everything you've listed is why we're enemies. We're not knights; we're witches!" Veronica said irritably, her arms crossed as she walked ahead of Laine, "So don't think about mediating our relationship; you just be my good partner."
"Alright then." Laine finally gave up on the plan he had never expressed.
Seeing the man listen to her, the witch smiled brilliantly, her smile blossoming like flowers. She pulled Laine toward their destination, "Come on, let's see if there's a high-quality maid in the slave market, the house is too quiet."
"No, Veronica, finding a maid is not the priority right now. Do you remember our mission?" Laine grabbed Veronica's small hand, her heel almost slipping, but Laine immediately held her, "Careful, your shoe heels are too high."
"It's alright; when I'm tired, you can carry me," Veronica said, playfully punching the man in the chest, then said, "The council said to track a Fallen Demon Hunting Master. Trovik wouldn't tell me the details, and I'm not keen on asking."
"Didn't she explain everything to you?" Laine thought for a moment. It occurred to him that it was unlikely for these two women to discuss things thoroughly since Veronica kept urging Teresa to get lost. This update is available on novel✶fire.net
Laine had to explain the situation to Veronica.
"Every day, hundreds to thousands of fleets dock at Marinburg. Just registered enterprises and guilds number in the hundreds. Laine, tracing the Fallen Hunter's whereabouts from the wharf is almost impossible. We need another approach." Veronica pulled Laine, "Let's head to Shield Coin District, talk to the Ocean Church, and inquire about recent ship registrations. See which vessels from Nord are there, then systematically investigate."
"Makes sense, every ship's arrival and departure must be registered with the Ocean Church. They need to purchase the Sea God Compass and Sea God Mark!" Laine quickly conceived a specific plan, "We only need to find out which ships sailed from Nord Port; our target search will be greatly narrowed down!"
"Exactly, how about that? Trovik wouldn't have thought of this, would she?" The witch kissed Laine's cheek, "Let's get going, my partner, as usual, you deal with the priests, and I'll ask the Secretary."
"No problem!" Laine was pleased. Their partnership had never grown distant from short separations and only grew tighter with each increase in individual abilities.
This is a true partnership and comradeship.