Ch. 41 - Sycophants & Suitors

Robb finished his shift at the herb shop. Lady Elena had been strict as ever today, yet showed surprising patience while teaching him to prepare an antitoxin potion.

"Don't be late tomorrow." The old woman reminded him as he left. "I have a few new formulas that need your help testing."

Walking back to the dormitory, his mind was churning.

It had been some time since he'd officially become an Elementary Apprentice. Though outwardly little had changed, he could clearly feel the shift in how people around him behaved.

"Apprentice Robb!" A familiar voice called from behind, interrupting his thoughts.

He turned to see Gregory, a fellow Initiate who almost never spoke to him.

The son of a merchant family, Gregory had a well-established habit of sucking up to the powerful and looking down his nose at anyone with mediocre or poor aptitude.

But now, his attitude was entirely different. He jogged over with an obsequious grin plastered across his face.

"I heard you've passed the apprentice certification? How truly admirable!"

"What do you want?" Robb asked flatly.

"Oh, nothing urgent at all." Gregory's smile grew even more fawning.

"I just wanted to ask if you might need a capable assistant? I have extensive experience in document management and research, plus I'm skilled in bookkeeping and three ancient languages. If there's anything you need..."

Robb instantly understood the man's intent, he was seeking protection, hoping to become his servant.

In the Black Mist Order, becoming an apprentice's servant at least guaranteed basic survival rights. For Initiates who saw no hope of advancing, it was a fairly decent outcome.

"Not interested. I prefer working alone." Robb refused without hesitation.

Gregory's smile faltered, but he forced it back into place. "If you change your mind, you can find me anytime! I'm in Room 34, west wing..."

Robb had already turned and walked away before he finished.

But he'd barely gone a few steps before another voice stopped him.

"Apprentice Robb~"

A voice dripping with saccharine sweetness drifted from the side.

Robb saw an attractively figured female apprentice approaching with light, deliberate steps. Her dress was worn looser than usual, revealing generous expanses of fair skin.

Robb recognized her as Isabella, an Initiate from some noble family in the south.

In his memory, this woman had been close with Emily, the two had frequently attended various apprentice gatherings together.

"I hear you have quite the talent for potioneering." Isabella batted her large eyes, her voice honeyed.

"I happen to be very interested in that field. I was wondering if you might offer me some... guidance?"

She deliberately pressed close, trying to nestle her ample curves against his arm. A wave of heavy perfume mixed with something suggestive washed over him.

Robb's sharp perception caught the calculating worldliness lurking behind her manufactured adoration.

What made him even more uncomfortable was that through the heightened awareness gained from his [Mage Apprentice] class change, he could distinctly detect an indescribable quality about this noblewoman.

She was clearly no innocent maiden, but someone well-versed in the bedroom arts through considerable experience.

Just as Robb was subtly sidestepping her advances and preparing another refusal, several more female Initiates closed in around him.

Each was dressed to provoke, their words laced with brazen innuendo.

"Apprentice Robb, I can do anything for you..."

"My family has connections within the Farwynd Kingdom. If you need..."

"I've been trained since childhood in all manner of... pleasing. I guarantee I can..."

The words turned Robb's stomach.

He knew exactly what they were after, attaching themselves to a newly High Apprentice, trading their bodies for security.

In their eyes, he was nothing more than a new object to cling to, a tool to be discarded at convenience.

"Enough!" Robb said coldly, simultaneously projecting an invisible pulse of spirit energy.

This was the new ability he'd gained upon becoming an Elementary Apprentice, Psychic Storm. While it only produced a disorienting effect against opponents of the same rank, it was more than sufficient against these Initiates.

[Psychic Storm (Beginner) EXP +1]

Perhaps because the Psychic Storm ability had been registered as a formal skill, Robb felt his control over it was significantly stronger than when he'd first acquired it.

An invisible wave rippled outward from him. The Initiates crowding around immediately felt a wave of dizziness.

Their thoughts scattered into confusion. Some staggered backward. A few simply sat down on the ground, faces blank.

"I have no interest in any of you, and I don't need servants." Robb's voice was calm but carried a biting chill.

"Don't bother me again. Otherwise, I won't mind teaching you lot a lesson."

With that, he turned and left, leaving a cluster of Initiates still reeling from the Psychic Storm, exchanging glances in which they each saw burning jealousy and resentment.

Back at the dormitory, he'd barely locked his door when knocking came.

"Hey. It's me. Arnor." The familiar voice filtered through.

Robb opened the door to find the golden-haired Thirteenth Prince standing there, his expression somewhat heavy.

"I hear you gave those Initiates quite the unforgettable lesson in the corridor just now?" Arnor's lips curved, but the smile seemed forced.

"Word travels fast..." Robb stepped aside to let Arnor in. "Those people were like dung stuck to the bottom of my shoe. Got on my nerves."

"Perfectly normal." Arnor shrugged. "In the Black Mist Order, every newly High Apprentice goes through this kind of 'welcome ceremony.' Initiates with no hope of advancing always want to latch onto the newest rising star."

Robb nodded, then noticed something was off about Arnor's demeanour. His usual elegant confidence was still there, but his eyes held a new thread of worry and inner conflict, as though something weighed on him that he couldn't easily voice.

"What's wrong?" Robb set down the brewing vessel he'd been organizing and studied Arnor seriously. "You look like something's bothering you."

Arnor sighed and sank into a chair. "It's nothing. Just some tiresome demands from the family again."

He managed a thin smile, then redirected.

"Anyway, I heard you just passed your Apprentice Certification. That's great news. How did things go with the higher ups? They didn't shortchange you on resource allocation, did they?"

Robb didn't answer immediately. Instead, he poured two cups of the herbal tea he'd just received from Lady Elena and handed one to Arnor.

"Thanks." Arnor accepted the cup and took a sip. "What is this? Not bad."

"A blend of tranquility herb and moonroot." Robb sat across from him. "Lady Elena says it helps with mental fatigue. Looks like you could use it right about now."

The corner of Arnor's mouth twitched, Robb's words had clearly struck a nerve.

He stared into the liquid in his cup, seemingly deliberating how to respond.

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