Warlock Apprentice

After finishing talking about this matter, Angel began waiting for Rhein to speak about the second issue.

However, Rhein did not immediately start speaking. Instead, he slowly extended his hand, and two card illusions appeared in front of Angel.

The cards were square, one white and one golden.

No other content could be discerned from the illusions; they were purely two blank cards.

However, Angel understood Rhein’s meaning.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, ”Is this... an invitation?”

Rhein nodded: ”Yes, a mentor invitation.”

Angel was silent for a moment: ”Lord Rhein means for me to take on apprentices?”

Rhein carefully observed Angel’s expression: ”You seem to be unwilling to take on apprentices?”

Angel nodded.

Rhein did not ask Angel why he didn’t want to take apprentices but said, ”Taking or not taking apprentices is your choice, but I suggest you can give it a try.”

The memory ended, and Angel looked toward the Tree Spirit sitting across from him in the carriage.

The question Rhein hadn’t asked before, the Tree Spirit asked at this moment.

Tree Spirit: ”Speaking of, taking on apprentices has many benefits for you. You can get more organizational resources and have future assistance. Why are you unwilling?”

Facing Tree Spirit’s inquiry, Angel pondered for a moment and said: ”I am not ready to be responsible for others’ futures.”

After Angel finished speaking, the air fell into a brief silence.

Angel lifted his head and saw the Tree Spirit looking at him with a strange expression.

”What’s the matter? Is my answer strange?”

Tree Spirit: ”Not just strange, extremely strange. You don’t think that taking on an apprentice means treating them like Sanders treats you?”

Angel: ”Isn’t it?”

In Angel’s impression, all the mentors he met, whether it was his enlightenment mentor Jon or the one who led him on the path to the Transcendent, Sanders, were the same.

”Of course not.” The Tree Spirit rubbed its temples: ”Now I understand why you directly refused Rhein’s proposal before.”

”You should know that mentor invitations have two kinds: golden invitations and ordinary white invitations.” The Tree Spirit explained to Angel’s confusion.

When a Talented One receives a golden invitation, it means ”I value you highly.” Receiving a white invitation means ”you can study with me.”

These two invitations represent the mentor’s two attitudes. Those with a golden invitation are valued more, while those with a white invitation simply have a normal teacher-student relationship.

”Actually, even if a Talented One receives a golden invitation, the relationship with the mentor is not necessarily like Sanders with you.” In Tree Spirit’s eyes, Sanders’ relationship with Angel was akin to a personal apprentice, a bond closer than family.

For the general public, the teacher-student relationship is limited to ”teaching and learning.”

”I heard you taught Alchemy at Ashliea Comprehensive College for a while?” The Tree Spirit changed the subject while explaining and asked Angel.

Angel nodded: ”Yes.”

”During that teaching period, what do you think was the relationship between you and the students?”

Angel pondered: ”Instructor and listeners?”

”In other words, just a normal teacher-student relationship.” The Tree Spirit paused: ”Rhein suggested that you take apprentices with this meaning. The Talented Ones you take on are like teaching them, and they come to listen and learn.”

”You don’t need to be responsible for their futures. You only need to teach them Transcendent knowledge in class, and once class is over, you don’t need to manage them. If they achieve something, it brings not only a reputation boost but also benefits you.”

Angel frowned: ”Sounds like a blanket, hands-off approach?”

”Pretty much.” Seeing Angel’s brows furrowed, the Tree Spirit continued: ”This is actually the common phenomenon in the Wizards’ Realm. Wizards don’t just ignore apprentices and be irresponsible. You should know, what they give is their accumulated experience and knowledge. These are priceless and precious, so even if it’s hands-off, apprentices don’t lose out.”

”Even if you issue a golden invitation to a Talented One, you don’t need to be responsible for their future. Because you are the one holding the knowledge, you have absolute dominance over sharing it.”

The Tree Spirit’s words shook Angel’s thoughts to some extent.

He had seen similar situations, like how Flora treated Baruba, colder than strangers. Or how his friends Serum and Nausicaa never mentioned their mentors.

Angel saw it and understood, but because it was not related to him, he subconsciously ignored it.

His thoughts remained on the Eastern Earth’s mentoring concept taught by Jon. Thus, in his concept, taking apprentices was a solemn issue.

He overlooked the difference between civilizations and the uniqueness of personal cases versus common cases.

”You don’t have to be responsible for others, whether their futures or their goals. You only need to be responsible for your own life.” The Tree Spirit paused: ”So, after freeing yourself from these shackles, you can truly give it a try.”

The Tree Spirit persuaded Angel for the pure reason that this behavior of taking on apprentices would also strengthen his connection with the Barbarian Cave. Additionally, Angel’s mastery of powerful Alchemy, although they already sent people to study at Ashiliya Academy, having someone get Angel’s guidance would be more beneficial than the academy.

Angel pondered for a moment: ”I will seriously consider it.”

Angel was somewhat convinced by the Tree Spirit, but he wasn’t ready to seek out apprentices immediately, mainly because he didn’t have the leisure time.

Indeed, should he really take apprentices, even if not responsible for their futures, he would need to spare teaching time. Currently, he wanted to fill in his knowledge gaps. When he wants to refresh his knowledge someday, it’s not too late to start teaching.

After finishing this topic, the Tree Spirit and Angel talked about recent events in the Barbarian Cave.

Since Angel wasn’t often at the Barbarian Cave, he listened intently to Tree Spirit’s explanations.

Initially, the Tree Spirit mentioned normal matters, but soon, it became more of a rant.

For instance, the Tree Spirit currently ranted mostly about Lianna.

The reason being that Lianna was organizing a Tea Party, and many witches would come. She wanted to host it on the Eternal Tree; for venue arrangement and décor elements, she often sought Tree Spirit.

Lianna frequently presented extremely demanding requests, such as creating a dedicated Tea Party space inside the trunk of the Eternal Tree, or using the Life Pool’s essence as ambiance, and collecting the core fragrance of the Eternal Tree...

”I am already sick of this Tea Party; it’s best if it’s not held,” the Tree Spirit sighed.

Angel: ”If it really isn’t held, I believe everyone in the Barbarian Cave, from top to bottom, male or female, would complain.”

The Tea Party, although forbidden for males, still brought joy to many men due to so many witches coming. And the witches were happy too since networking was inherently a beneficial thing.

Moreover, the Tea Party was an event comparable to Stargazing Day, capable of acquiring substantial information, intel, technology, and secrets, making it highly valued by the upper echelons.

If the Tree Spirit genuinely dropped everything, it would likely cause a public outcry.

”Even if it must be held, I hope it’s elsewhere... preferably not in the Mirror World,” the Tree Spirit said with distress.