Hearing this response, Tom realized he had overlooked the rebellious and stubborn psychology unique to their age, and that he had indeed left many things unclear. He hurriedly said, "There are some things I think you need to understand first. The current Magic Parliament is not the Magic Empire of the past, and today's magicians don't hold the outdated concepts of the old ones. As long as you haven't truly become Mr. Evans's apprentices, even if you've studied magic and arcane arts with him for a while, it won't prevent you from becoming the disciple of some powerful figure in the future through your own talent and hard work."
"I know Mr. Astar has surely warned you—countless ancient-lineage magicians, unable to accept the concept of arcane arts, unable to accept integrating the fruits of exploring the world into magic, never obtained the Archanist rank before death, nor achieved any major breakthrough in magical power. The proportion of such people advancing to mid-level or high-level magicians truly can't compare to apprentices like you who have accepted arcane arts from almost the very beginning."
"But you must see, Mr. Evans is a formal magician under twenty. Even at the Parliament headquarters, such talent falls in the excellent range. He is so young, so clever, possessing the golden conditions for accepting completely new concepts—nothing like those rigid old fogeys. And he has ample time to advance. Perhaps in the future, you'll address him as Mentor Evans!"
"Mentor" was a title reserved for high-level magicians. Such powerful individuals were rare anywhere, even in the Altor Duchy. Even counting Cardinals, members of the Holy Sword Knight Order, and Heavenly Knights, there were no more than twenty of them.
Though Tom's words contained some exaggeration at this point, his high regard for Lucian was still quite apparent. On one hand, Lucian was young enough to be a formal magician, so his spiritual power talent was definitely not low. On the other hand, the assassination attempt on Brown had left a deep impression—intelligence and composure at critical moments were essential qualities for most successful people.
These words dispelled the magic apprentices' reservations while showcasing Lucian's bright prospects. Most of the youths grew eager to try, but they possessed both the rebellious independence of their age and the shyness equally characteristic of it, unwilling to be the first to step forward.
As the atmosphere brewed and fermented, Splinter—who considered himself the leader of the apprentices—stood up again, answering with a slight hint of defiance: "Mr. Evans, I still think it's better for me to study arcane arts on my own."
"Mm. Each of us has our own study arrangements. We can't let you disrupt them." Katrina also spoke, a bit stubbornly.
Tom's face turned gloomy again. He had completely underestimated the stubbornness of children this age who refused to admit they were wrong, and the arrogance that came with talent and ability. He clearly meant well for them, wanting them to befriend a young magician of enormous potential, yet it had turned out like this.
Just as he was about to try persuading them a few more words, Lucian spoke: "Everyone has their own choice. I understand. What about the rest of you—anyone want to study arcane arts with me?"
The six or seven magic apprentices around Splinter and Katrina looked at Lucian, then at the two of them, then lowered their heads, scuffing their toes back and forth. No one was willing to be the first to step forward, afraid of being accused by companions of disregarding friendship.
Their silence infected those children who had been eager to try, making them want to step forward yet too embarrassed to move.
In the midst of this oppressive silence, someone suddenly spoke with evident respect: "Mr. Evans, I would like to study arcane arts with you."
"Anik? You?!" The apprentices looked at Anik in surprise—his light yellow, fluffy hair and blue eyes dancing with a glimmer of hope.
Lucian looked at Anik's ordinary face and smiled: "Anik, are you sure?"
"Yes, Mr. Evans. I come from a magic family. I grew up surrounded by wondrous legends of all kinds of magicians, fed since childhood with the image of formal magicians as powerful and noble. But our family hasn't produced a single formal magician in a full hundred years. To now be able to meet you, a young formal magician, and study arcane arts and magic with you for a time—this is the opportunity I've dreamed of." Anik answered earnestly.
Affected by his family's decline, Anik—though his spiritual power was outstanding and he received the uniform expectations and care of his relatives—still lacked confidence in whether he could become a formal magician. Moreover, his own talent for arcane arts was not outstanding; he wasn't like Splinter and Katrina, confident that they could advance before the age of twenty through talent alone. So he often told himself to seize every opportunity, and befriending a formal magician—a gentleman about to become a city council member—was unquestionably one.
Lucian nodded gently: "Welcome, Anik. Before we head to Alinor, let us study hard together, make daily, er, progress together."
Under the strange and complex gazes of the other magic apprentices, two more voices rang out.
"Mr. Evans, I'd also like to study arcane arts with you." The voice was crisp, and the speaker—Laylia—had delicate features like a porcelain doll. Her large eyes gazed earnestly at Lucian. Nearly fourteen, she looked only eleven or twelve due to delayed development.
"Mr. Evans, may I come to you with Anik to ask about arcane arts questions as well?" The voice had a habitual upward inflection at the end, as if perpetually acting spoiled—Hettie followed after. She had a bit of baby fat, features that couldn't be called pretty but were rather cute. Even the faint sprinkling of freckles on her face added a touch of playful liveliness.
At the same time, the two of them quietly tugged at the clothes behind Anik's back, as if to say: As friends, we support you.