Wizard: My magic facility can be upgraded!

Chapter 29 The Truth

Looking at the two bottles of honey-like potion, Li Ang mentally estimated the income from this commission.

Just like last time, Li Ang used the badge to summon Ginny. Not long after, the workshop door was pushed open, and Ginny's respectful figure appeared at the door.

"Apprentice Li Ang, may I ask..." She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze falling on the two bottles of honey-like potions on the counter. She froze, her mouth agape as if she'd witnessed the most unbelievable sight in the world. Pointing at the two bottles, her fingers trembling, she stammered in astonishment:

"Extremely...extraordinary? Goddess above...you...you actually concocted an extremely high-quality calming potion!"

Ginny's face was filled with disbelief; she even wondered if she was dreaming, otherwise how could it be so absurd?

An apprentice who has only been in the school for a few days has managed to concoct a top-grade calming potion that only a novice wizard could make? And two bottles of it at that?

However, Ginny quickly realized her lapse in composure and immediately bowed to Li Ang, saying respectfully:

"I'll calculate your reward for this time right away. Please wait a moment." After Ginny's careful calculation, Li Ang's reward for this time was nine shiny silver coins and a few copper coins.

Li Ang returned to his dormitory on the third floor in high spirits. The money was enough for him to eat fine food every day for a month. He could also use the money to buy some daily necessities, such as a magic lamp.

He pushed open his dormitory door and found that the room had been cleaned spotlessly, and the items on the desk were arranged in an orderly manner.

Lottie was sitting on a wooden chair in front of her desk when she heard the door open. She hurriedly stood up, forcing a smile on her pale face. Her red and swollen eyes darted away, and she dared not meet Li Ang's gaze.

Li Ang's good mood vanished instantly. He closed the door, his brow furrowing slightly. "Lottie? Why do you look so pale? What happened?"

He noticed Lottie's fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, a sign of extreme unease. Was a single failed potion-making attempt such a blow to her? Or had something else happened?

Lottie lowered her head, her voice trembling with obvious shame: "Mr. Leon... I... I'm sorry... I lied to everyone..."

Li Ang had a sudden thought and made some guesses. He didn't urge her, but just quietly looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"I...I actually...didn't condense any star particles at all..." Lottie's voice was choked with sobs as she finally mustered the courage to raise her head and look at Li Ang with teary eyes.

"The inspection upon arrival... that wizard, he... he was once a good friend of my grandfather."

She sniffed, trying hard not to let the tears fall:

"He...he took pity on the Polk family's situation, so...he tampered with the records and let me infiltrate the ranks of reserve apprentices."

Upon hearing this, Li Ang couldn't help but furrow his brow, but he didn't interrupt Lottie and continued to listen quietly to her story.

He said... he said he would only help me this once. If I still couldn't condense star particles before the first potion test a month later, then... then there would be no turning back...

"I was thinking... I had a month, and I tried my best, maybe... maybe there was still hope..." Her voice grew softer and softer, filled with despair.

"But today...the explosion in class today...Professor Edwin checked my mental abilities...he...he discovered it..."

Lottie's tears finally streamed down her face: "Master Edwin said that according to the tower's rules, I should be immediately disqualified and expelled from the tower in this situation... but... he gave me one last chance because the Polk family is a wizarding family and my grandfather had made contributions to the school..."

"A week..." she said, extending her trembling fingers.

"I only have one week. If I can successfully condense the first star within a week and independently refine a qualified bottle of 'Night Owl Potion,' he can pretend this never happened... Otherwise... Otherwise..." She couldn't finish her sentence, only looking helplessly at Li Ang, her eyes filled with fear and pleading.

"I know this is outrageous... utterly shameless..." Lottie's voice was filled with self-loathing. "Mr. Leon, you've already helped me so much... and I... I still dare to make such a request... I really don't know what to do... The only person around me who could possibly help me... is you..."

As she spoke, she seemed to have made up her mind and pulled out a notebook with a worn cover from her bosom.

Lottie held the notebook in both hands and handed it to Leon. Her cheeks were flushed red with shame.

"This...this is my grandfather's alchemy notes left behind before he passed away...it records his insights and techniques on some potion-making techniques...although...although it may not mean much to someone as talented as you...it's the only thing I can offer..."

"I know... I know this reward is far from enough to make up for the time and effort you've wasted... but I really... I really only have this much... please..."

Looking at the worn-out notebook and then at the tearful, almost collapsing girl in front of him, Li Ang's displeasure at the girl's abuse of privilege to cheat gradually dissipated.

He suddenly understood Matthew's change. Sometimes, class differences really can create a chasm. Take this matter for example. Lottie herself did nothing wrong. She just accepted the kindness of other wizards towards her and her family. But even so, Leon still felt a little unhappy just now, feeling that the girl in front of him was abusing her privileges and breaking the rules.

He reached out, but instead of immediately taking the notebook, he gently pushed Lottie's hand, which was holding the notebook, back.

Lottie's eyes dimmed instantly, filled with despair, thinking that Leon had rejected her.

However, Li Ang's voice was calm and gentle: "I can help. But this notebook is your grandfather's heirloom, and it has great significance for you and your family. Keep it safe."

Lottie froze, staring at him blankly.

"If you don't mind," Li Ang continued, "I can borrow your notes to make a copy later."

Lottie stared blankly at Leon for a few seconds, then:

"Mr. Li Ang... thank you... thank you so much..." she choked, almost incoherently, "Thank you... I really... I don't know what to say..."

Li Ang sighed slightly: "A week is a tight schedule. Go back tonight and copy the 'Basic Meditation Principles' to reinforce your memory. Come to my place for training tomorrow morning."

"As for now," Li Ang smiled and continued, "Let's go get something to eat first."

A sumptuous dinner can make one temporarily forget their troubles. After saying goodbye to Lottie, whose face had regained some color, Leon began to think about how he could help her.

His first thought was to deepen his understanding through copying, but without his own pen, he wouldn't gain much insight.

However, Li Ang dared not grant Lottie access to the quill pen so easily. After all, she came from a wizarding family, and if she discovered the pen's secret... If the pen didn't work, then there was only the calming potion. Although he had never used it directly, the calming potion's effect was to assist meditation, which should help her condense star particles.

However, since this concerned Lottie's fate, Leon dared not use the workshop's herbs directly, fearing that something might go wrong.

Looks like I'll have to go to the tower tomorrow. It just so happens that these apprentices have been suspended from classes and are all copying flyers.