The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth
Chapter 2: Green Forest, Equivalent Exchange

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Green Forest, Equivalent Exchange

The newcomer’s collar was greasy, and his hair was a mess, as if he had just woken up.

He had slightly dark skin and a scratch on his cheek from some unknown creature. The stinging pain made him furrow his brow as he chewed.

Seeing Wang Ya’s cold expression, his brow smoothed out. He wiped his greasy hands on his clothes and said, a little apprehensively, "Don’t be like that. We’re brothers in misfortune, both excluded."

"I just woke up late and missed the hot food. We both chose Extraordinary Cultivation, so can’t you give me a friendly smile?"

"Perhaps you could start by washing your hands and getting rid of that rotten clam smell," Wang Ya said, his lips barely moving.

"No, no, no, you don’t get it. This is the scent of a mature man, a badge of honor worth praising."

The boy, named Gray, said, "I’ve always believed that Extraordinary Cultivation is just as good as anything else. So what if they have Elemental Energy? I bet when we get to the Dark Land, those guys won’t be able to conjure a single spark even after six months."

"The ’Ancient Physique’ Cultivation Witchcraft works wonders on my ’Kebik.’ His claws have already started to change, but his personality has gotten more irritable too."

Flashing his yellowed teeth, the boy said with complete confidence, "I’ll definitely complete this Witchcraft within five months."

The image of a cold-blooded lizard with brown, leathery skin immediately appeared in Wang Ya’s mind.

’The Ancient Physique Cultivation Witchcraft is indeed a good match.’

He also understood that the creature’s irritable nature and its tendency to scratch its master meant that Gray’s Spiritual Power perception was lacking and the Consciousness Seed he had planted hadn’t rooted itself deeply enough.

Once the Cultivation Witchcraft was complete, the Consciousness Seed would transform into a Consciousness Brand, allowing for perfect control over the Extraordinary Cultivated Creatures.

’This sloppy guy, despite being hardworking, clearly hasn’t found the right way to root the Consciousness Seed.’

’Subtle mental influence is key. Rushing it will only have the opposite effect.’

Wang Ya didn’t say anything, nor did he offer any critique. He just nodded slightly. "Compared to Elemental Energy, Extraordinary Cultivation is indeed simpler at a fundamental level. Within the Wizard System, they represent two different Wizard Paths."

They were only casual friends.

And they were the only two who had chosen Extraordinary Cultivation.

The new students generally believed that strengthening oneself directly was the correct path.

There was nothing wrong with that.

But basic Witchcraft hardly constituted choosing a Wizard Path.

Only after learning a vast amount of wizarding knowledge and clarifying one’s goals would a Wizard Path truly begin to take shape.

"Look at them, all smiling so happily. Just wait until we get to the Dark Land. When they can’t complete their Witchcraft curriculum in six months, they’ll be crying their eyes out."

Gray gave the middle finger to the heated atmosphere of the crowd.

The two of them left their corner in the shadows.

Arthur seemed to notice, but he merely shot them a disdainful glance before looking away. ’Mediocrities with low aptitude. Choosing the Extraordinary Cultivation path just shows their lack of ambition. They aren’t even worth a second look.’

The salty sea breeze whipped at their faces and ruffled their hair. On the deck, Gray yawned, "Well then, see you tomorrow, Wang Ya."

"See you tomorrow."

The sea at night was profound, as black as ink—so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

He pulled up his collar. The light in the corridor stretched his shadow long and narrow. The vibrations coming from beneath his feet were from the steam-powered gears.

The vibrations were already much fainter in the bow section of the ship. Treading on the red carpet, Wang Ya looked at the red wooden door before him. Before he could even knock, a hoarse voice came from within.

"Come in."

A black robe enveloped a frail body. Beneath the hood, dry, bark-like skin clung to bone, and a pair of sunken eyes stared at Wang Ya.

"Greetings, esteemed Tuta Wizard."

This was the second time Wang Ya had entered the Captain’s Room. The spacious area was lit by only a few candles, the heavy Darkness pressing in on the dim light. There also seemed to be a faint smell of blood in the air.

He bowed slightly to show his respect.

The Tuta Wizard, sitting on the sofa, was shrouded in shadow, his expression unclear. From beneath his long robes, the wrinkled, sagging skin of an old man’s right hand emerged, clutching a wooden box.

Wang Ya’s gaze was fixed on it; he couldn’t look away. It was the most important thing to him.

"A young soul, brimming with vigorous Vitality. How I long for it."

The Tuta Wizard said with a sigh, "Back then, that little one had nearly bled out, but she still insisted on crawling to me."

"Wang Ya Harak, you are fortunate. Fortunate that you have Wizard Qualification, and fortunate that you have good luck."

The box opened, revealing a ghastly white Finger Bone.

Wang Ya’s heart grew even heavier than his gaze.

The Harak Kingdom, buried in ruins... a memory buried in the depths of his heart, resurfaced.

The King had many children. The sagacity and martial prowess of his youth could not stand against the incompetence and depravity of his twilight years.

Palace maids, servant girls, and prostitutes had all borne him children.

Green Forest was born around the same time as Wang Ya, one of hundreds of princes and princesses.

In the cold Royal Palace, the two of them depended on each other.

Ten years later, grievances echoed across the land, and chaos was rampant.

Life in the Royal Palace remained monotonous. Green Forest, who was always trailing behind him, had grown hair greener than nature itself. She would also force him to drink various nutritional supplements, acting like a little mother hen.

Just four years after the war began, the city walls were lined with the heads of dukes and ministers, and the young king took his own life on the throne.

Everything changed. Even though he had suddenly awakened his past life’s memories and gained the Eye of Truth... it was all too late. He had no Power to change anything.

He was to be beheaded, his head hung on the city wall, his life ending amidst the cheers and applause of the common people.

The fear of death made him relive a sensation remarkably similar to his previous life, when he had died of shock and exhaustion after pulling an all-nighter gaming.

But the ending was different this time. It was his sister, Green Forest Harak, who rode a horse, burst into the inner city with unstoppable force, ignored the enemy soldiers, and plucked him from the ground like a chick, throwing him onto her steed.

Then, she carried him away from the war-torn city.

He was completely stunned.

But that unnatural Power came at a price. Her forest-like hair vanished with the wind, and her flesh and blood dissolved into nothing.

He hugged the ghastly skeleton, fell from the horse, and took the impact of the jagged stones with his back.

When he opened his eyes again, a figure in a black robe stood before him. The figure pulled back his hood, revealing a grim smile. "Wang Ya Harak, just as the little one said, you do possess Wizard Qualification. Though it’s quite average. So, will you come with me?"

"Although I have preserved her soul within this Finger Bone, it won’t last long. There are ways to solve this, but you will need to pay a price," the Tuta Wizard added. "And there is also the price for me having intervened to stabilize her soul."

The price could be Magic Stones, Extraordinary Items, or other resources, as long as it was equivalent.

This is one of the fundamental principles of the Wizard World: the principle of ’Equivalent Exchange’.

"Of course, I can allow you to owe me this price for the time being."