A startled scream erupted from the caravan.
Locke turned to see a female mortal worker among the wagons—she was the one who had screamed, her terrified gaze fixed on a small hillside.
The hillside appeared to be a minor burial ground, littered with skeletal remains. Among the bones, a few incomplete natural undead creatures shuffled mechanically.
'Hmm, in an environment this saturated with negative energy, it's hardly surprising that some natural undead creatures would emerge even without Spiritualism School spells.'
Locke pondered from his seat in the carriage. 'At this point, the dead here probably spawn all sorts of bizarre undead creatures—just a matter of probability.'
Albert, sharing the carriage with Locke, seemed to be visiting the heart of the Blood Curse Court for the first time as well. His eyes darted around until he finally leaned in and whispered, "You seem pretty calm, Locke."
"This Black Wizard territory is downright bizarre—full of weird things."
Locke shrugged. "It's manageable, senior."
Their carriage suddenly jolted as if it had struck something.
Both Albert and Locke glanced down at the muddy path, spotting a black wooden log—roughly human-sized—wedged against their wheel. Carved into the wood was a sinister human face, its hollow gaze seemingly locking onto them, as if extending an invitation.
Albert's brows shot up. "What the hell is this?"
"Coachman, just drive past it. Some idiotic thing got in the way."
Locke recognized it immediately—a cursed object.
It was laced with Curse Magic, though far too weak to affect either of them. To Albert, it might as well have been air. But for any mortal unfortunate enough to encounter it here, it would spell disaster.
"The curse saturation here is overwhelming. Might as well boost my Magic Resistance. Not like these Black Wizards are Potionology experts—they won't notice." Frowning, Locke retrieved a vial of Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion from his Astral Ring. Enhancing his Magic Resistance would minimize run-ins with such cursed objects.
Clearly, some reckless cursed entity had just targeted them.
Locke downed the potion in one gulp, and immediately, his Magic Resistance shifted, developing broad-spectrum curse resistance.
Albert's eyes gleamed with interest. "So that's the Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion?"
Locke glanced at him, puzzled. "You've heard of it, senior?"
Albert nodded. "Mhm. I keep up with new developments, so I'm a bit more informed than most. This project's been making waves lately—drawing a lot of covert attention."
"Though I'd only heard rumors. Never seen the actual thing."
"Locke, mind selling me a vial? I'd like to try it myself."
Locke shook his head slightly. "We're in this together—no need for transactions. If you want one, I'll give you a vial."
"I just thought you might have a better Counter-curse Potion, senior..."
Locke directly handed a bottle of Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion to Albert.
Albert drank it, and within less than half a minute, a look of relief spread across his face.
"That feels good. The discomfort from those curse energies constantly seeping into my skin through the air and altering the nature of my Mana is gone."
Albert explained to Locke, "Every Potionology Assistant has their own area of expertise. Potionology is already vast—it's rare to find someone who excels in all aspects."
"My research focuses on status-enhancing Magic Potions. Like the new formula you took earlier—that must have been Sophia's work, right? It's quite impressive indeed."
Through the Nibelungen Sub-Ring's astral communication system, Albert praised Locke's Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion: "Everyone, I recommend trying the Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion. Based on my experience..."
"After taking it, all the strange sensations in this cursed land disappear. I suspect even the Blood Crow Wasteland's natural suppression of White Magic Spells might be negated for us."
His words immediately sparked heated debate within the Nibelungen Sub-Ring network.
First, students of Gabriel and Madam Morgana's First Class Wizard Apprentices expressed disbelief, bordering on opposition.
After all, no potion had ever demonstrated such effects before.
They suspected Albert's own formidable Magic Pressure was the main factor, with the potion merely playing a supporting role.
But Madam Morgana silenced their arguments. "Wait—how many research papers have you actually read about the Blood Crow Wasteland's suppression mechanism against White Wizards before declaring this 'impossible'?"
"The prevailing theory is that the wasteland's air is saturated with curses, creating a blanket suppression effect on White Wizards. That's why no potion has solved this issue before."
"But I've read several of Locke's B-grade papers. Emerald Iris Lichen and Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion are broad-spectrum decursing agents, so they might actually work."
Locke was surprised—he hadn't expected Madam Morgana to read his articles.
Upon reflection, he suspected she likely purchased and studied all reasonably competent papers related to her research interests to stimulate her thinking.
She certainly wouldn't lack Contribution Points.
As everyone's teacher—and their teachers' teacher—Madam Morgana decisively ended the debate.
Through the Nibelungen astral subsystem, she declared: "First Class Wizard Apprentices Reed and Wilson, you two will assist Locke in recording experimental data on the Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion during this mission."
"Locke, submit a paper about the potion's application in the Blood Crow Wasteland immediately upon your return. I'll have Wilson and Reed share their data with you—though they may write supplementary articles based on it."
Locke blinked, feeling somewhat speechless because his teacher was Sophia the Witch, not Madam Morgana.
Yet, barely half a day after following Madam Morgana's orders, she had already scheduled his essay assignment.
Locke glanced at the carriage ahead, but Sophia the Witch showed no reaction. Left with no choice, he had to accept Madam Morgana's overstepping arrangements.
Albert deactivated the Nibelungen Sub-Ring and smiled at Locke. "So, how is it? Teacher Morgana is quite strict, isn't she? She never considers our personal opinions and just assigns tasks directly."
"You'll get used to it."
"She treats everyone this way—no one gets special treatment."
Locke's expression turned odd as he looked at Albert. "Senior, although you closed the Nibelungen System's connection, mine is still open. Madam Morgana asked me to relay that she heard everything you just said."
"She wants you to write a two-thousand-word self-reflection as soon as you return."
Albert's face instantly stiffened.
Andy's voice came through the Nibelungen Astrology System. "Locke, give me a bottle of Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion too. That way, my strength won't be suppressed."
"Sophia the Witch and Gabriel the Witch, you two should also try it."
"If the Bear Spirit Emerald Bile Potion works for us, its effects should be even better for First Circle Wizards like you."
Inside the carriage ahead, Sophia the Witch and Gabriel the Witch exchanged glances. Sophia nodded slightly. "I never expected my student to play such a significant role in this mission."
"He even managed to obtain the internal map of the Curse Formula Research Institute for me."
Gabriel the Witch looked surprised. "Really? That's a huge help. But how did a First Class Wizard Apprentice like him pull that off?"
Sophia shook her head slightly. "The wonder of magic lies in the fact that any wizard, through effort, can accomplish many unimaginable things."
"Possibility—isn't that precisely what we value most in our teachings?"
(End of Chapter)