Jeming checked roughly, finding that the content written on the Scroll was similar to the light screen in front of the Alchemy academy's promotional display, but slightly more detailed.
During the apprentice period, the academy's Alchemy Workshop will provide basic accommodation, systematic knowledge teaching, and a limited quota of experimental resources.
Apprentices need to complete the learning tasks assigned by the academy and the chores specified by the workshop to earn credits, which can be exchanged for more advanced knowledge and resources.
The obligation is that apprentices must serve the workshop on the frontline for thirty full years after reaching the rank of a First Level Official Wizard or completing ten years of study.
During this period, they need to follow arrangements and complete various tasks, including but not limited to refining Magic Potions, repairing equipment, and participating in research projects.
The cost of breach is frightening, not only involving huge compensations of Points and resources but also damages to the Soul's Origin, which can lead to a decline in Spiritual Power or, in severe cases, the disintegration of the Soul, making life worse than death.
As to why breach doesn't lead to death, it's obviously because wizards themselves are excellent research materials; the workshop wouldn't waste them in cases of manpower shortage.
"I have no problem, Professor." Jeming raised his head, his eyes firm.
Professor Clark glanced at him, a glint flashing in his eyes, and his previously smug smile toward other professors unknowingly had turned into a stern expression.
He nodded, signaling Jeming to drop a droplet of blood onto the Scroll and extract a wisp of Spiritual Power from Jeming's mind to merge into the Scroll.
The blood seeped, the Spiritual Power merged, and the Scroll burst into a more intense radiance than before.
Complex Runes flickered and darted, finally transforming into a stream of light that entered the Apprentice Badge in Clark's hand.
The Alchemy Cauldron pattern on the badge seemed revived, glowing slightly.
The contract took effect.
Professor Clark put away the Scroll and returned to a calm tone: "Good, since you've chosen Alchemy, you must have patience and awareness. There aren't many thrilling adventures here, just day-by-day experiments, calculations, and failures. But if you can persevere, the rewards won't disappoint you."
He took out two thick books and a heavy-looking wooden box from under the table.
"This is the Basic Alchemy Manual, covering all fundamental knowledge a Junior Alchemy Apprentice must grasp. From material identification to Magic Potion configuration, from basic Rune engraving to the simplest Alchemy Armor, your basic credits will be assessed from these contents." Professor Clark handed over the top book to Jeming, its pages heavy in hand.
Clark then handed over another slightly thinner book:
"This one is the Basic Meditation Method. There's ten days before official classes start, during which you must grasp and get started in it. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of a month's resources."
"In this box are your basic tools and some commonly used basic materials. The academy has public laboratories, but you need to schedule usage time, and any material consumption needs to be recorded. Exchanging for more advanced materials requires credits." He handed the wooden box to Jeming as well.
"Finally, some basic rules." Professor Clark's expression became serious, "First, safety first! Alchemy Experiments are dangerous, and any negligence could lead to explosions, toxic gas, or worse outcomes; the operational norms must be strictly followed! Second, no private fights in the workshop; any dispute is to be submitted to the professors for judgment. Third, respect knowledge; all borrowed books and used equipment must be carefully maintained. Fourth, Points are your only currency in the workshop, so strive to earn them."
After speaking a few more sentences, feeling he had covered almost everything, he waved his hand: "Your dorm is in area one, there's a map in the enrollment handbook. Go now, master the Basic Meditation Method as soon as possible, ignite the Spiritual Flame, and remember to preview the Basic Alchemy Manual. You can come to ask me if you have questions, but preferably issues you couldn't solve after thinking and practicing on your own."
Jeming once again respectfully thanked the professor, donned the badge representing an Alchemy Apprentice, then turned to leave the Alchemy area with the heavy books and the wooden box.
Following the directions on the map by the roadside, Jeming quickly found the Alchemy Apprentice dormitory.
The entire dormitory building seemed made of an unknown Metal, gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight.
In some dorms, there would occasionally be faint explosion sounds, and at times various scents, temporarily unrecognizable by him, drifted in the air.
Fortunately, the dormitory's ventilation and safety systems were pretty good; those dispersing gases were quickly siphoned away, seemingly not leading to severe casualties... probably.
Jeming looked at a Wizard Apprentice foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and being quickly dragged away by a group of silver humanoid Golems, falling into silence.
…Well, it seems not so safe after all.
Finding his room number, he opened the door with the Apprentice Badge.
The dormitory space was not large, about ten square meters or so.
Besides the independent bathroom near the entrance, the room's furniture consisted only of a bed, a desk, and a chair.
The most eye-catching was a somewhat outdated small experiment table in the corner and some glass vessels and test tubes placed on the desk, along with an exceptionally delicate mechanical clock.
This is the place where he would live and study for quite a long time, conditions a bit simple but sufficient as a dormitory.
Jeming placed the Basic Alchemy Manual and the Basic Meditation Method on the desk, opened the slightly heavy wooden box, neatly arranged inside with various basic Alchemy Tools—cauldron, mortar, measuring cup, tweezers, small flame sprayer, etc., along with some bottles and jars containing powders, liquids, and plants of various colors.
Without carefully organizing the contents inside, Jeming plopped down on the chair, feeling the energy wave and atmosphere around him starkly different from his internal True Essence System, gazing a bit absentmindedly at the sky outside the window.
The Basic Alchemy Manual and experimental tools at his hand, unfamiliar glass vessels on the desk, and the magnificent and mysterious academy building complex outside the window all silently told him—he had stepped into a brand new world.
"Hu…"
Taking a few seemingly weary deep breaths, Jeming restored a bit of spirit.
Although the process seemed quite smooth, his spirit had been in an extremely tense state all the way until now could he slightly relax.
"Still a bit careless…" Jeming shook his head, sighing.
With Jeming's keen perception, he was certainly aware of those Logistics Element professors' particularly heated gazes and realized he seemed to have become too conspicuous.
"This is a problem caused by insufficient information, given today's performance; it seems the subsequent action plans need to be slightly adjusted…"