The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 58: News

The fat wizard apprentice studied Hutson for a moment before giving a slight nod.

"Everything checks out. You can go."

Hutson hesitated, glancing at the unusual security surrounding the outpost.

"Did something happen?" he asked.

The fat wizard sighed, rubbing his temple.

"Green Lodge has launched multiple attacks on us recently. To ensure security, all wizards entering Moonlight Woodland must undergo an identity check."

Hutson’s expression darkened slightly.

"Things escalated that quickly?"

It had only been a few days, yet the situation seemed far more dire than he had anticipated.

The fat wizard apprentice tucked away the Faceless Bamboo Segment and waved a dismissive hand.

"No need to worry too much. As long as you stay inside the forest, you’ll be safe. Just don’t travel alone if you have to leave."

Hutson nodded but cast a skeptical glance at the outpost’s meager defenses.

"You’re taking a big risk guarding the outpost with just a few men."

The fat wizard let out a bitter chuckle.

"Orders are orders. No point running—we’d just get reassigned elsewhere."

A full-fledged wizard could at least escape if things went south, but wizard apprentices like them? They’d be sitting ducks if Green Lodge attacked in force.

Hutson folded his arms.

"Are there forced deployment orders as well?"

"Of course." The fat wizard shrugged. "If an emergency arises, everyone—regardless of rank—can be drafted. Right now, you’re just a first-tier apprentice, so you’re not expected to do much. But once your power grows, you’ll be assigned missions just like the rest of us."

Hutson didn’t reply.

A Bloodstained Message

As they spoke, the Hellsteed arrived, ready to take Hutson back into the heart of Moonlight Woodland.

Hutson boarded the carriage, pulling out his sigil stone and opening Tavern Threads, a wizard discussion network.

As expected, dozens of threads about Green Lodge’s recent attacks flooded the forum.

"Three first-tier wizard apprentices were murdered while harvesting Sleeping Mushrooms in Moonlight Forest!"

"I saw the crime scene—bodies were strung up in the trees. Green Lodge is getting out of control!"

"We’ve lost over twenty people in just a few days..."

"Why is Green Lodge acting like lunatics all of a sudden?"

"Apparently, someone placed a bounty—killing a third-tier wizard apprentice earns fifty magic stones."

"Damn, I’m worth that much? I’m tempted to claim my own bounty."

Hutson scrolled through the posts, his expression growing colder by the second.

This wasn’t a random series of skirmishes.

This was calculated.

Green Lodge was ambushing apprentices who were out on missions—as if they knew their exact locations.

"Do we have a traitor?"

The thought struck Hutson immediately.

There was no way so many wizards could be attacked this easily without an information leak from within.

His fingers hovered over his sigil stone as he checked for messages.

Still no response from Bessie.

A growing sense of unease coiled in his chest.

They should have replied by now...

Three days had passed since he escaped from Thousand-Needle Stone Forest. He had messaged Bessie right away, asking if they had made it out alive.

But there had been only silence.

Then—

His sigil stone flickered.

A message.

From Bessie.

"Emma is dead."

Hutson stared at the words, his mind blanking for a moment.

For a split second, he had hoped they had all made it out.

But Emma—one of the strongest among them—was gone.

Another message came through.

"She died saving me... She didn’t have time to escape."

Hutson let out a slow breath.

Bessie and Emma had been closer than most wizard apprentices ever dared to be.

Wizards, by nature, walked solitary paths. Friendship, real friendship, was rare.

Losing someone like that was...

He could only imagine how much it hurt.

Another message from Bessie followed.

"Hutson, can you take me to see Master Larry? I want him to craft me a Dusk-Dawn Potion. I must become a third-tier apprentice. I must become a wizard."

Hutson didn’t hesitate.

"No problem. I’ll take you there tomorrow."

It just so happened that he had already planned to meet Larry the next day to discuss the refinement process of the Dawn Elixir.

Bessie’s response came quickly.

"Thank you, Hutson."

Then—silence.

Hutson exhaled slowly.

Then, he opened Larry’s chat window and explained the situation.

The master alchemist responded almost instantly.

"Fine with me. A commission is a commission."

It was a business deal, after all. There was no reason to refuse.

Hutson leaned back against the seat.

"Ai chip, estimate how long until I finish my final Star Meditation cycle?"

Lately, the weight of reality had been pressing down on him.

Everything—the growing conflict, the rising death toll, the feeling of being powerless—was pushing him to get stronger, faster.

"Estimated time: 35 days."

Hutson muttered the number under his breath.

Then, he closed his eyes and entered meditation.

The next day, Hutson met Bessie at Lion’s Café.

Locke was there as well.

Same table.

But this time—there were only three of them.

The absence was palpable.

Hutson’s eyes flicked to Bessie. Her eyes were red, but she held herself together.

He exhaled.

"My condolences."

Bessie’s hands clenched into fists.

Her voice was low, edged with fury.

"I will make them grieve as well."

Hutson studied her carefully. Her emotions were spiraling.

"Bessie, revenge shouldn’t be rushed."

Her gaze flicked toward him—intense, but restrained.

"I know."

Locke spoke next.

"It was my fault. I couldn’t protect her."

Bessie shook her head.

"No. You did everything you could. If it weren’t for you—if it weren’t for the heavy earth element in Thousand-Needle Stone Forest—none of us would have survived. Locke, you did enough."

Silence hung between them.

Then, Bessie stood.

"Let’s go, Hutson."

Hutson led her to Master Larry’s workshop.

This time, Larry himself came to greet them at the door.

Larry sighed deeply, his expression heavy with regret.

"I heard about Miss Emma..." His voice was low, filled with genuine sorrow. "I still remember when she attended my lectures—so full of life, so eager to learn. It’s a shame... truly a shame."

Bessie’s grip on her coffee cup tightened, and for a moment, her composure wavered.

"Thank you, Master Larry, for remembering her." Her voice was quieter now, the weight of grief pressing down on her once more.

Larry gave her a slow, understanding nod, then straightened, his tone shifting to a more business-like manner.

"Back to the matter at hand—commissioning a Dusk-Dawn Elixir will cost 100 magic stones. Miss Bessie, I assume you’re aware of the price?"

As he spoke, he poured coffee for both of them, the steam rising in soft tendrils between them.

Bessie took the cup without hesitation.

"I’ve already prepared the payment." She said it with absolute certainty, as if money were the least of her concerns.

Hutson raised an eyebrow at the figure.

100 magic stones...

Alchemy really is a profitable business. The upfront investment is massive, but once you master it, the returns are incredible...

Larry leaned against the table, his gaze sharp as he looked directly at Bessie.

"There’s one crucial warning, Miss Bessie," he said gravely.

"You must only attempt your advancement when your mind and emotions are fully stable. If you drink the elixir while in turmoil, the consequences could be... catastrophic."

His words carried weight, a clear warning backed by experience.

Bessie met his gaze and nodded firmly.

"I understand, Master Larry. Thank you for the warning."

Satisfied, Larry continued, relaxing slightly.

"Good. Now, you only have enough ingredients for one attempt. Normally, I’d insist on having at least two sets of materials to ensure success—but for you, I’ll make an exception."

He took a sip of his coffee before adding,

"I’ll start the refinement process in about seven days. Once the potion is complete, it will remain effective for only one month. You must consume it within that time to complete your advancement."

Bessie bowed slightly, her voice steady.

"I’m grateful for your help, Master Larry."

Larry smiled faintly, raising his cup in a mock toast.

"Then let’s hope for success—both in my craft and in your future."

Hutson’s Questions

After Bessie left, Hutson remained.

He had questions of his own—about the refinement process of the Dawn Elixir, about potion stabilizers, about the intricate balance of spiritual catalysts.

Larry, to his credit, held nothing back.

He answered every question in meticulous detail, even offering insights from his own experiments, refining theories Hutson had only glimpsed in ancient texts.

As their discussion deepened, satisfaction flickered across Larry’s face.

Hutson’s understanding of alchemy was precise, methodical—every detail, every nuance, he grasped with ease.

Larry was a seasoned master, but few apprentices absorbed knowledge like Hutson did.

He watched the young wizard carefully, and for the first time in a long while, he felt something rare—

Genuine admiration.