Inside the cave, they actually found **three Purple Clover Flowers**. Sisi carefully wrapped them up and handed them to Thundershock to store in his spatial bag.
Finding even one would have completed the quest, but **more flowers meant better rewards and higher grades**.
Exiting the cave, the group pressed deeper into the forest—now well beyond the outer edges. Here, **Level 3 and 4 magical beasts** began appearing sporadically.
With Sisi and Eric's current magic power, **Level 3 was their limit**. But with Thundershock acting as a **nimble meat shield**, drawing attacks while they unleashed spells from the rear, even **Level 4 beasts fell to their combined firepower**.
By the end of the day, their haul was impressive: **two Level 3 Earth Cores and one Level 4 Wind Core**—enough to fetch a decent sum. Thundershock also collected **several vials of beast blood** for his scroll-making.
His only disappointment? **No high-level beasts appeared.**
For **intermediate scrolls**, ordinary materials worked fine. But after crafting **advanced scrolls**, he'd realized something: **unless the beast blood matched the spell's rank, the scroll's power was compromised.**
In other words—**a Level 5 Wind Spell needed Level 5 Wind Beast blood!**
This trip, he'd hoped to **gather high-tier materials**.
That night, they set up **two tents**, lit a campfire, and shared a warm meal. Thundershock even sprinkled **a circle of powder** around their campsite.
"What's that?" Sisi poked her head out, curious.
"**Balsam pollen.**" He shook the bottle. "**Repels snakes and insects.**"
*This guy… is way too thorough!* Sisi felt utterly outclassed. Despite her two prior adventures, **she'd never considered such details.**
"Thundershock is **such a girl**," Maria teased from inside the tent.
"Professor, that's borderline slander. I protest!" He finished his task and headed to the other tent. "It's all **basic knowledge** from books."
"We have **so much to learn**," Maria whispered to Sisi, sticking out her tongue.
As for **night watch**, Thundershock didn't need to explain. If the others didn't know **this basic rule**, they had no business adventuring.
They split into two shifts: **Sisi and Eric took the first half**, while **Thundershock and Maria covered the latter**—when fatigue made guards slack, a risk best left to the most vigilant.
Inside his tent, Thundershock meditated, absorbing elemental energy to **expand his meridians** and store more spiritual power. At his level, **three to four hours of meditation** sufficed to keep him sharp all day.
When midnight came, a yawning Eric stumbled in to swap shifts.
Maria emerged drowsy, blinking sleepily. Mid-yawn, she spotted Thundershock and **covered her mouth**, flushing cutely.
"Professor, you can keep sleeping. **I'll handle watch alone**," Thundershock offered, settling by the fire.
"It's **my duty**," she insisted, joining him. A faint, floral scent drifted over as she sat close.
Stoking the flames, Thundershock struck up conversation—**anything to fight the boredom of the long night.**
"Professor, you're an **advanced mage**. Why teach at Fayer Magic Academy? Wouldn't serving a noble offer **better prospects**?"
A well-equipped mage's gear cost **a fortune**—a decent staff alone ran **thousands of gold**, let alone rare artifacts.
Thundershock knew that **intermediate mages earned the right to a staff**, but Maria's was **mediocre at best**, its embedded core **only Level 5**.
"You all hate being tied down. Did you think **I'd feel differently**?" Maria tossed a log into the fire, sending sparks flying.
Gazing at the stars through the leaves, she murmured, "**Many on this continent value freedom—not just me.** The academy's advanced mages? **All like me.** We refuse to be nobles' tools. Yes, we lack funding, but we **live as we choose**, without bowing to anyone. Even Headmaster Laurent—**if he'd had support, he wouldn't be stuck at Archmage at his age.**"
Thundershock nodded. **Everything had a price.** Maria had chosen **freedom over power**.
"Besides, **I don't believe wealth alone brings strength!**" Her smile was serene, her tone light.
"And **you're too beautiful**. Any noble would **covet more than your magic**," Thundershock said bluntly.
"**Since when do students talk to professors like this?**" Maria flicked his forehead, feigning sternness before smoothing her skirt primly. "But… you're not wrong. Don't men say **beauty spells trouble**?"
"Professor, you're **devastatingly gorgeous**."
"You're too young for such thoughts." She glared.
*Sis, my body's twenty-one.*
"Professor… do you know **why I can't cast spells**, yet have **so much mana**?" Watching her ethereal profile, her **unwavering integrity**, he decided to reveal **the Dragon-Tiger Sect's cultivation methods**.
In this world, beyond **Tifa and Uncle Oak**, only **these three** felt like family.
"Oh! I'd **meant to ask** after your first practice lesson, but we got busy." Maria turned, eyes sharpening.
**What secret is he hiding?**