The Synthesis Wizard

At the end of the Frost's Descent month (November), the first snow fell, blanketing Blackrock City in a pristine white.

On this same day, Sunan's Mage Hand learning progress finally reached 100%.

[Mage Hand learning progress has reached 100%, acquired Mage Hand]

A surge of information flowed into his mind. Sunan closed his eyes to process it, then opened them, focusing on a book on his desk. He uttered a series of strange syllables.

As the incantation left his lips, the book quivered, then gently rose into the air. It followed his gaze, floating effortlessly left and right, up and down.

Mage Hand allowed him to manipulate objects at a distance, making them float and move according to his will. It appeared as if an invisible hand was at work.

Among the many zero-ring spells, Mage Hand was one of the most versatile. It could be used in experiments, potion making, or even combat, saving effort and allowing for precise manipulation.

The range and weight limit depended on the caster's skill and spiritual power.

This practicality was the reason Sunan chose Mage Hand as his first spell. With it, handling potions and extracting lizard blood would become much easier.

"Which spell should I learn next?" he wondered.

With a thought, three spell books floated out from the bookshelf and landed on his desk: Acid Splash, Sleep Curse, and Flash.

The effects of these spells were self-explanatory.

After a moment of deliberation, Sunan decided to learn Sleep Curse.

To advance his bio-modification skill, he often experimented on small animals. Sleep Curse would make this process much more convenient.

With the Blackscale Lizards in retreat, there was no urgent need for him to learn offensive spells.

In truth, the combat strength of a level 1 wizard apprentice was generally not that formidable.

Initially, a level 1 apprentice was simply someone with stronger spiritual power than ordinary people, able to draw in energy particles from the surroundings and store them within their body as mana.

Later, as they meditated and increased their spiritual power, their body would be gradually strengthened by the subtle influence of these energy particles.

At this stage, a level 1 wizard apprentice was not much stronger than an apprentice knight. They had slightly more spell resistance, but were still far inferior to a formal knight.

Only after mastering two or three offensive spells could a level 1 wizard apprentice be considered to have true combat power, capable of fighting a formal knight.

This situation would persist until they were promoted to a level 2 wizard apprentice.

A level 2 apprentice could control energy particles, significantly enhancing their physique. Combined with spells, they could even challenge peak knights, and only Great Knights could stand against them.

Moreover, level 2 apprentices could contract magical pets and use magic items.

A level 2 apprentice with a magical pet and combat magic items was a force to be reckoned with, even for a Great Knight.

This was where the true gap between wizard apprentices and knights became evident.

Putting aside these thoughts, Sunan picked up the "Sleep Curse" and began to read.

[Reading "Sleep Curse Spell Model", Sleep Curse learning progress +0.08%]

[Reading "Sleep Curse Spell Model", Sleep Curse learning progress +0.08%]

Time flew by.

Following the Frost's Descent month, the harshest month of the year, the Month of Slumber (December), also passed.

On the fifth to last day of December, the Blackscale Lizards finally retreated through the snow, battered and defeated. The two-month-long war was over.

After a five-day respite, Blackrock City welcomed the first day of the Winter Harp month (January) of the Starlight Calendar year 1249.

This was the New Year of the Astral Duchy.

The cold wind howled, but it couldn't dampen the joyous atmosphere within the city. Houses were adorned with colorful decorations, and children dashed through the streets, their laughter echoing despite their rosy cheeks.

In the banquet hall of the inner castle.

Young maids bustled about, carrying platters laden with fragrant hams, cheeses, dried fruits, and fine wines.

Knights gathered around the tables, their boisterous laughter and conversation filling the hall.

Old Geller, overseeing the servants, observed the scene with a touch of emotion.

In past years, the losses caused by the Blackscale Lizards had left the former lord and the commanders with no energy for New Year festivities.

This year, however, was different.

According to Knight Jorton, they had decisively defeated the lizard bandits, driving them back to their lair before the first snow even fell.

The surrounding villages had suffered minimal losses.

Grateful for this, the serfs had sent various agricultural products to the inner castle on this first day of the New Year.

But what puzzled Old Geller was that he kept hearing that this was all thanks to Young Master Sunan.

The knights he knew all spoke highly of Sunan, their voices filled with respect.

This left Old Geller baffled.

Having lived in Blackrock City for decades, he could sense a positive change taking place, but he couldn't quite grasp its source.

"Lord Kyi and Master Sunan have arrived!"

A sudden exclamation echoed through the hall.

The hall fell silent, and everyone turned to look at the entrance.

Kyi and Sunan walked in, side by side.

Both were dressed in their finest attire, their faces, sharing a strong resemblance, were equally handsome.

Kyi, the elder brother, was tall and powerfully built, his muscles sculpted and defined like a statue.

Sunan, the younger brother, though still on the slender side, no longer appeared frail. He exuded an air of quiet confidence.

His eyes, in particular, were striking - deep and bright, they held a gaze that was hard to meet.

The arrival of the two brothers immediately captured everyone's attention.

"Lord Kyi."

"Master Sunan."

The knights bowed in greeting.

Their address for Sunan had changed from "Young Master" to "Master," a sign of their newfound respect.

Kyi strode to the front of the crowd and raised his glass.

"Thank you all for your hard work last year. Tonight, let us enjoy this feast and celebrate!"

The knights erupted in cheers, their voices almost raising the roof.

Sunan quietly observed the scene, picked up a glass of fruit wine from the table, and took a sip.

After more than two months of being nourished by energy particles, his physique had now increased to 2.79, almost reaching the peak of an apprentice knight.

And because he could absorb energy particles, he didn't have the same increased appetite as other apprentice knights, who needed to consume large amounts of food to replenish the energy expended in training.

If needed, he could even go for months without eating.

Now, he ate more for enjoyment than necessity.

Just as Sunan finished his fruit wine, Kyi came to his side.

"Why aren't you celebrating with the others?"

"I prefer a bit of quiet," Sunan replied.

Kyi, understanding his brother's introverted nature, simply smiled. "I have good news. I found the things you wanted. They should have been delivered to your courtyard by now."