"Yes, I knew about it a long time ago."
This sentence was like a spark that ignited the fire within everyone.
"Then why didn't you destroy it earlier?! If you did... then- then so many people wouldn't have died!" Crystal shouted, crying. She felt like she was being played with this entire time, and all her efforts to defend her friends were for nothing.
Adam had gone too far this time and distanced themselves away from Adam.
Adam noticed their reactions and asked, "So you think that I should save people for your sake?"
Quentin barged forward and bellowed, "For our sake?! What are you talking about?! Look -- there are only six of us left, and everyone who died here died for you, buying time for you. You - you're despicable."
Adam looked at him weirdly, "I never let anyone die for me. They did it on their own accord."
Quentin laughed, "Then how do you think you survived until now? Without everyone's help, you would be food for the fishes."
"You're mistaken," Adam replied. "Because of me, all of you survived. You were relying on my help."
Hearing this, Quentin yelled angrily. Adam wasn't wrong, but was he morally correct?
Adam ignored him and continued, "Take responsibility for yourselves. I'm strong enough to survive. I have no obligation to defend any of you."
Quentin couldn't take it anymore, and started to conjure a fireball to kill Adam. Randy darted forward and pushed Quentin to the ground. For some reason, he felt that Adam was correct.
"Quentin, forget it," Randy said. He was great friends with Quentin, and he couldn't watch Quentin and Adam fight.
"Wait, Adam! Stop!"
"Watch out!"
Nobody expected Adam to fight back -- he conjured ten fireballs at once and launched them towards Randy and Quentin.
Quentin and Randy turned pale, the smell of death creeping up towards them. They closed their eyes and held onto each other, hearts full of dread and regret. They were just about to reach the Mage Continent, but they were about to die at the hands of their 'companion'.
Suddenly, a water curtain blasted from the sky, shielding Quentin and Randy from the fireballs. The water shield looked thin, but it was able to fizzle out the fireballs into nothing.
Mage Erin appeared on the deck.
"There are only six little guys left. I can't let you kill them."
"Greetings Respected Mage Erin," the six bowed in unison. Quentin and Randy looked at Mage Erin with gratitude, then stared daggers at Adam.
Adam felt that human values were weird. They didn't blame the mages for putting them in this life-or-death situation, but they put the blame for the weak dying entirely on Adam's head.
"This is unfair. They bully the weak and fear the strong," Adam thought to himself.
"Respected Mage Erin! I request to sanction Adam, he-" Quentin complained.
Mage Erin glanced at him and interrupted, "Enough." She ignored Quentin, and made a remark in her heart. If he was this emotional, he wouldn't be able to survive in the Mage Continent.
"Adam, you are strong and intelligent. Since you already knew that the fireball runes were bait for the beasts, why didn't you destroy it earlier? Tell me, and these ether crystals are yours," Mage Erin asked Adam with a smile. She knew Adam would become an official mage in no time.
Hence, she needed to treat him well.
"It's too obvious. I don't think mages will leave such obvious bait."
Mage Erin nodded, "That's right. If you had destroyed it earlier, you would have greater challenges to face -- say, swimming to the Mage Continent," she covered her mouth to hide her giggle. That would be an interesting test for the next batch of apprentices.
"The wise are always given preferential treatment," she thought to herself.
"Secondly," Adam continued. "It's a good way to gain experience. I can gather a lot of information about these magical beasts and with my strength, I am in no danger."
Mage Erin nodded. From a Mage's point of view, human life is an asset to them. She finds Adam interesting -- his way of thinking is similar to that of a mage's.
Ophelia and the others felt chills running down their spine. Regret and fear sprouted within them, and they doubted their ability to adapt to the asocial indifference of mages.
Mage Erin smiled, "That is interesting. Here are the crystals -- well then, for the rest of you, I have good news. Starting today, you can return to your cabins to rest. We will arrive at the Port of Karachi in three days and we will teleport to the Moldo Mage Academy to start your life anew."
This was great news! The tense nerves of the apprentices loosened, and some of them even collapsed on the ground. They could finally breathe.
A month of battling and death traumatised them and left them unable to get good rest. Even if conjuring runes and casting spells could replace sleep, their mental exhaustion was taking a toll on them.
This experience would haunt the five apprentices for years to come, except for Adam.
At least they were much more mature than before, and they understood that they were lucky enough to survive this entire ordeal. Now, they had to work harder to acquire as much knowledge and as many resources as possible and do their best to become stronger.
After Mage Erin's announcement, she vanished. Obviously, saving Quentin and Randy was just a matter of convenience. She simply wanted to obtain the shattered ether crystals, but she didn't really care anymore.
Adam's relationship with the other apprentices had gone extremely sour. Ophelia and Crystal huddled together and avoided Adam. William kept his distance alone. Quentin and Randy held deep hatred for him. Adam thought that as long as there was a chance, they would try to kill him.
Of course, they won't have the chance. Anything that threatens him will be destroyed.
He'll give them a chance however.
Adam was soon forgotten among the five apprentices. The five of them partied in the dining hall to celebrate their survival, but Adam wasn't invited.
The sailors appeared again -- they no longer looked at the apprentices with envy, but with awe. Those who survived this gruelling trial must be revered.
In the last three days, Adam had not left his room except to eat. He continued to optimise the mental strength rune and study the ether crystals.
This crystal held great energy within it.
However, the crystal can be considered a secondary-tier crystal -- it isn't pure, but it is suitable enough for apprentices to use. As long as you possess a shard of the crystal, you can use it as a mana dispenser to continuously cast spells until the energy in the crystal is drained.
"It's no wonder the Black Mage says that energy ores are the lowest resources available. Ether crystals are too powerful."
Adam collected the three pieces of crystals. Even though it was little, it would be of great help to him in the initial stage of his apprenticeship.
Three days passed in a blink of an eye. Adam came to the deck, and he could see that there were many more ships that were parked by the bay but during their entire journey, they had never seen another ship. He wondered how big the ocean of this world is.
"This is it, the Mage Continent," everyone muttered to themselves. The long voyage and countless sacrifices led to setting foot on this mystical land.
The four Mages came to the deck at the same time.
The Black Mage said softly, "Isn't it great?"
Crystal cheered, "I see it! The Mage Continent! We're almost there!"
