The four apprentices soon arrived at the bustling Port of Karachi after stepping through the portal at the Tower. After leaving the building, William couldn't help but whisper, "Adam, your equipment -- are these...?"
Before Adam could answer, the devil popped out sneering, "My master is paranoid of the last incident, so he thought it'd be better to equip himself with magic items fit for a qualified mage."
"If you're prepared, you don't have to worry about anything," Adam simply replied, kicking the devil aside.
William shivered. Ophelia was equipped with heavy armor and a sword that was broader and taller than her; Crystal, being a disciple of the Black Mage, had no shortage of powerful trinkets hanging on her body. It seems that he was the only one lacking in terms of equipment.
"If there aren't any issues," Adam interrupted his thought process, not allowing him to wallow in his depression. "We'll set off for the ship on the other side of the Port of Karachi and take the ship back to the island."
No one replied. William was dejected; Ophelia was indifferent; Crystal wasn't listening. The devil popped back out, incredibly interested in the port. It was livelier than the Academy, and the devil intended to check the place out.
"Master! Could I..." the devil pleaded, but Adam ignored them, getting into a small hover car and rushing towards the other side of the port.
The mandatory tasks issued by the Academy are unpaid for, since it was the contractual obligations of the apprentices. However, the Academy provides the person-in-charge with a fund and all expenses made will be under the provided fund. If an apprentice were to exhaust the budget, they can also apply for reimbursement for funds. In addition, all materials obtained in the process of the task are counted as the apprentices.
The four boarded a smaller, but faster ship compared to the ship they boarded to come to the Mage Continent. The journey was much faster too, taking only half a month instead of three full months.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you have a pleasant journey! However, I need to remind all of you that you are not allowed to practise elemental magic on board."
The captain of the ship reminded everyone sternly. He was an apprentice just like them.
Along the way, Adam stayed in his room, optimising and transforming his meditation runes. During this period of time, he didn't communicate with his other three members. William once thought of knocking on Adam's door to ask about the mission, but decided to wait until they had arrived on the island.
Half a month passed in a blink of an eye. At noon, the ship arrived at the southern harbour city of Madeira Island.
The devil immediately popped into existence and exclaimed, "Master! Were you really born in such a barren place?"
"It is a barren place," Crystal smiled. "But it is our hometown after all -- Adam, could you give me some time after our mission is over? I want to visit my family in the North."
"But how could I refuse?" Adam replied. "What about you, Ophelia?"
Ophelia simply nodded.
The Duke had already sent his men to stand by at the port day and night. As soon as William exited the ship, the servants rushed to William and dropped to their knees, exclaiming, "Master William! You're finally back -- let us inform the duke, he will definitely be happy upon hearing the news!"
"In that case," William smiled bitterly. "Come to my house to rest. My father will brief all of us on the mission."
All of them agreed and strolled towards the Duke's mansion. Adam remembered how bustling the southern port harbour was, but he found that the once lively street markets were dead and derelict.
"William?"
"This isn't normal," William said, his eyebrows visibly scrunching. "The southern port harbour is definitely the most prosperous city on Madeira Island. Something must have happened."
Everyone quickened their pace and soon arrived at the outside of the Duke's mansion. Adam found the Duke waiting outside for them, as well as many other people he had not seen before. The Duke seemed to be in poor condition.
William's face changed dramatically upon seeing the Duke's condition. He rushed forward to hug his father, but didn't know where to place his hands, for the Duke was bruised and injured everywhere; where his left arm once was, a stump remains.
"Father, who hurt you like this?" William trembled angrily.
"William, my son, welcome back," the Duke smiled painfully. "Miss Ophelia, you are dazzling as ever; Adam, I remember you. Welcome back; and this beautiful lady..."
"Crystal, Your Excellency."
Crystal said softly, smiling.
"William!" a lady shouted, rushing out of the crowd behind the Duke. "William, where is my son? I trust that he is under great care, right?"
The Duke coughed, "Save your questions for later -- the banquet is about to start. Our children must be exhausted."
Although the crowd was unwilling, they all entered the Duke's mansion at his orders. The banquet was incredibly luxurious, but the food felt tasteless -- William was too worried over his father's state; the crowd was worried for their children. The lady previously had no more patience and pestered William once again.
"Mrs. Richard," William frowned, swallowing a piece of steak. "Of everyone, only the four of us managed to survive."
William's answer caused an immediate uproar among the crowd. The noble families had high hopes, sending their talented children on board in hopes they would be able to return to honour their ancestors. However, they couldn't accept that their children had perished on board.
"Impossible! How could my child possibly die under the Mage's protection? You must be lying to me! You're a liar!" Mrs. Richard accused hysterically, grabbing William's arm.
William gently pushed her arm away and replied calmly, "Mrs. Richard, be decent. My father has already warned you, all of you, the dangers of becoming a Mage. I mourn for the deaths of my brothers, but they knew what they were signing up for."
Adam silently finished his food before leaving. The same is true for Crystal and Ophelia; they had no interest in interacting with the nobles.
"How could my son possibly die, then?" Mrs. Richard pestered. "Is he not talented? How could he possibly perish among those two lowly, poor people!" William frowned upon hearing this, fully knowing the two people she was referring to were Adam and Crystal.
However, Adam ignored it. Even the once sensitive Crystal remained silent. After becoming an apprentice, every mundane thing about ordinary people was no longer interesting to them.
William was incredibly unhappy, however. Adam and Crystal were his guests, and as the host, he couldn't let his honourable guests be insulted by a lowly noble.
William kicked the chair behind him as he got up, magic surging through his body. The temperature of the air rose sharply as he conjured a blazing spray of fire in front of him. The lady was forced back by the flames, falling to the floor. William continued the dazzling display and warned in a loud, deep voice, "Everyone! I will only say this once -- be respectful. Otherwise, don't blame us for what's to come!"
The Duke looked at William and smiled with relief; even if he died, William would carry on the Alfred name.
"Mr. William," a meek voice sounded from the crowd. "Could you tell me how my child, Quentin Brown, died? The Great Mage praised him, after all."
Quentin? William was stunned for a moment, the flames fizzling out on his hand. He had never seen Quentin's father before, so he didn't recognise him.
He lowered his head involuntarily, not wanting to answer.
Adam, who was just about to leave the banquet, stopped in his tracks and answered loudly, "I killed Quentin."
Quentin's father stood up from his seat, but resisted his anger and asked Adam, "Your Excellency, why did you kill my child?"
The Duke frowned. He didn't expect such a scene to happen.
