“My dear students, once again the time to leave the Howling Abyss Academy has arrived. This time there are five students who will experience their first outpost session and I hope that you, as their seniors will help these five students who have shown potential to grow. Also, I do not hope to see another one of you dying.” said Magus Sept while clearly gesturing towards Fraser, Elise, Adrian, Nicholas, and Elizabeth.

Thus every senior glanced towards the five students, causing every single of the five to feel pressured.

“Since there are five newcomers, I will shortly explain what this outpost session is about. I as a Magus of the Howling Abyss Academy have the duty to guard an outpost in the Howling Abyss for three years in the time span of 12 years. Naturally, the Magus rotate every three years thus forming the circle of 9 years staying in the Academy or staying elsewhere and 3 years at an outpost in the Howling Abyss to protect it from creatures.” explained Magus Sept before allowing Fraser and the other newcomers to digest the information.

“Since a Magus oftentimes has disciples they are also taken along in order to support the Magus in the smaller tasks as well as the disposition of weaker creatures in order to lessen the burden on their Mentor. So prepare to live in an outpost for a longer period of time, pack your necessary gear and get ready to move out in a week.” said Magus Sept before nodding at every disciple in the chamber and proceeding to slowly walk out and thus leaving the inner chambers.

However, before stepping out he turned his head one last time and said:

“Congratulation on reaching Apprentice Level 2 Fraser. Also, Elizabeth since you already reached Apprentice Level 3 then I will give you the meditation techniques for Apprentice Level 4 and 5. Just talk to me when we reach the outpost. Also, Fraser if you reach Apprentice Level 3 then come and visit me.”

As soon as Magus Sept stepped outside of the inner chambers his disciple began to chatter.

The loudest was the group of newcomers, Fraser not included. Their voice echoed through the chamber.

“Argh! I was supposed to celebrate my birthday in a few weeks, I already invited a lot of Apprentices. Declining the party sounds the best but it will leave a bad image for me.” wailed Elise.

The rest of the senior apprentices just whispered and thus Fraser couldn’t hear anything specific.

Just as Fraser deemed the time to be a waste of time someone stood up causing every gaze to be directed at the source. It was the muscular woman who stood up and began to speak in a deep tone: “We will meet in a week at the chambers before following Mentor Sept towards the outpost. Normal students of Mentor Sept will be directed towards their assignments. Else everything will happen just like last time.”

Without any sort of agreement, the muscular woman continued: “Also the newcomers will have no assignment than staying alive. Just as Mentor Sept ordered.”

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Moving her head towards the newcomers the muscular woman continued: “Just a piece of advice, the outpost is rather dangerous and there is little to no entertainment other than a small library which is free to access for members of the inner chamber so take some toys with you.”

Finished talking the muscular woman walked out of the inner chamber, on her side the wooden elf.

One by one the senior disciples of Mentor Sept left the inner chamber.

“Don’t forget to take something interesting to kill time with you. Else you will be bored out of your mind. Remember, it is three years.” whispered Emium to Fraser while he stood up and walked out of the inner chamber.

As if following the example of the senior students Fraser stood up silently and walked towards the exit.

Because Fraser actually feared the senior students a little bit as they obviously could suppress an Apprentice Level 3, Emium scared the other four newcomers without even doing anything, he only stood up when all of the seniors already left.

Just as he arrived in front of the exit a female voice tried to stop him:

“Fraser, how about talking with us four about the preparation? The outpost sounds dangerous and even though I am from a family with three rank Magus in it, I have never heard of the 12 year cycle. Apparently, there are even students dying, so how about we sit down and discuss on a plan in order that every one of us gets out alive?”

It was Elise who tried to stop Fraser.

‘Either she is lying to me or she is not someone important in her family. I guess that the last part has a higher probability, after all a Magus at the age of 200 years is considered to be in his prime, then how old can a Magus live? Probably around 400 or 500 years. Maybe even longer. If we can assume that a Magus only has two children and each generation also only has two offspring and takes a duration of 20 years, then after five generation there are already 62 relatives for the Magus. Not even considering the few perverted people who would have more wives. Just look at my father, Duke Rosethorn. Even he has more than two wives and adding the more than half dozen of mistresses, even he doesn’t care about the less talented of his children. So my choice is obvious.”

“Sorry Elise, I have to start preparing my materials for the three year time period in the outpost.” declined Fraser before continuing to walk out.

Because Fraser now knew that Elise, Adrian, and Nicholas were considered to be new students of Magus Sept as well and not any more powerful senior disciples, he didn’t have the usual hidden respectful voice. Instead, he replied in a cool manner as if declining a friend because one was in hurry.

This, in turn, made Adrian upset and thus came his mocking as he shouted behind Frasers back: “We don’t need a grade 3 talent, as you will amount to nothing.”

The last voice Fraser could hear before the door closed was the voice from Elise trying to reason with Adrian, however, it somehow made Adrian even more upset bordering to angry and Fraser could even hear how he gnashed his teeth together.

‘This Adrian is way too spoiled, probably not as experienced as I thought. Or he is smitten by Elise so much that he wants to eliminate every single threat he has in order to acquire her love. It doesn’t matter what he wants, he is now an enemy as he has shown clear hostile behavior towards me. I remember there was a proverb: Friends come and go, but enemies stay forever.’

With this thought, Fraser walked along the halls of the Howling Abyss Academy and planned the next steps he would take in order to be prepared for the outpost where he would stay for three years.

As Fraser couldn’t utilize the facilities of the Howling Abyss Academy he needed to take a lot of stuff with him. And in order to acquire the stuff he needed to make a lot of magic crystals, in other words, he decided to create basic explosion potions for the entire next week in order to acquire the necessary materials for the three year-long stay at the outpost.