Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

Deep within the dark, moss-covered corridors, the silvery glow of Chen Lin's cave gradually merges with the inherent pale blue light of the earth's fissures, like dormant sparks.

He leaned wearily against the cold stone wall, his eyes closed. His communication with Ella was unexpectedly smooth, but he dared not fall asleep yet. Instead, he repeatedly rehearsed the impending storm in the depths of his consciousness in order to prepare for any unexpected events.

The following morning, as the first pale, sulfurous rays of light struggled to penetrate the cracks in the mine tunnels, Ella's figure appeared outside the Dean's Laboratory on the top floor of the Thorn Garden.

Last night, Chen Lin and Ella communicated very smoothly. They not only reached an agreement, but also agreed on a code for future communication. Therefore, Ella decided to help Chen Lin and show her sincerity in cooperating.

The heavy obsidian door slid open silently, revealing a completely different scene inside.

The air was eerily fresh, filled with the rich fragrance of top-tier magical plants. Outside the huge French windows, the ancient magical vine named "Chaos" coiled like a giant dragon, with dark golden energy veins flowing along its tendrils. However, the withered yellow leaves that Chen Lin had glimpsed last night were still conspicuously mixed in with the vines.

In the center of the laboratory, several huge crystal balls floated, while dozens of fist-sized crystal balls floated along the surrounding walls.

Dean Vivian stood with her back to the doorway in front of a carnivorous flower that was devouring some kind of small elemental spirit.

She was elegant, her dark green robe shimmering with the luster of life, her fingertips gently tracing the menacing petals of the carnivorous flower.

She didn't turn around when she heard footsteps.

"Dean." Ella's voice rang out like the scraping of cold metal, completely flat.

She bent slightly, and the stitches on her left arm looked particularly glaring under the movement.

"Assistant Ella." Vivian's voice was soft and pleasant, carrying a hint of condescending languor.

"Is something wrong?"

Ella was one of her most trusted assistants, and she had always been quite satisfied with how well she handled things.

"Target Derek violated Section 7, Article 3 of the Thornyard Laboratory Safety Regulations, which prohibits the use of offensive spells to interfere with others during apprenticeship assessments, and Section 9, Article 1, which prohibits the malicious destruction of public laboratory equipment in the academy."

Ella stated mechanically, her mechanical eye sweeping emotionlessly across Chen Lin's cave within the crystal ball, "According to the regulations, it is recommended to administer the 'Bloodthirsty Vine Feeding' punishment, targeting the dominant hand—right hand. However, he is a seed wizard apprentice of the academy, and your permission is required."

Vivian finally turned around.

Her appearance was perfect; her emerald green eyes were deep and unfathomable, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

Her gaze fell on Ella, as if she could see through the stitched robe to the writhing silver mycelium and cold metal beneath.

"Oh? Our little ice genius has finally lost his patience?" Vivian's tone held a hint of amusement.

"His mentor, Icethorn, has no objections?"

Icethorn is the code name of Derek's backer, a senior mentor known for his ruthlessness and protectiveness.

"The Icethorn Wizard is in seclusion in the Everfrost Corridor and cannot be contacted." Ella's voice remained calm. "The regulations grant teaching assistants the authority to enforce discipline in emergency situations."

Vivian chuckled softly and walked to the largest crystal ball. Inside the ball, a live image of Derek pacing anxiously in the advanced apprentice lounge was displayed.

He seemed to have a premonition of something; his face turned pale, and his eyes were filled with unease and a hidden fear.

"Rules are rules." Vivian stretched out her slender fingers, a wisp of emerald energy swirling around the tip, and gently touched Derek's image on the crystal ball.

"True thorns that can withstand wind and snow cannot grow in a greenhouse. Go, Ella, follow the rules... Wait, if he shows any sign of resistance, just get rid of him. The little guy from the academy is getting a bit restless. Let Chaos have a taste too... It hasn't been eating well lately."

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the withered yellow leaves of the magic vine outside the window, and a barely perceptible shadow crossed the depths of her eyes.

"Yes, Dean." Ella bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left.

As she turned around, her mechanical prosthetic eye glanced at the crystal ball that displayed Chen Lin's cave, pausing almost imperceptibly for a moment.

Derek paced back and forth in the spacious but cold stone lounge, the expensive fresco floor creaking under his boots.

Chen Lin's bizarre success last night and Ella's chilling warning gnawed at his nerves like venomous snakes.

He tried to contact his mentor, Icethorn, but the communication array remained unresponsive. Anxiety, like a cold tide, gradually engulfed him.

"Impossible... That monster Ella... How dare she? I'm Instructor Icethorn's most valued apprentice! I'm at the peak of level three! That good-for-nothing Chen Lin..."

He muttered to himself, trying to suppress his fear with anger. He looked at his right hand, which he was so proud of and which was imbued with the power of ice—a hand that had once easily frozen the life of his opponents, but now it was trembling slightly.

Suddenly, the heavy stone door of the lounge slid open silently.

Ella's figure, like a vengeful ghost, blocked the only exit. Behind her followed two silent, shadowy academy enforcers.

Derek's heart sank to an ice cave! He forced himself to remain calm, straightening his back, ice crystals gathering at his fingertips: "Assistant Ella? What brings you here?"

Ella did not answer.

Her mechanical eye locked onto Derek, her cold voice echoing in the empty lounge like a death knell: "Apprentice Derek, you have violated Article 7.3 and Article 9.1 of the Thorn Garden Laboratory Safety Regulations. With the approval of Headmistress Vivian, you are to be punished with Bloodvine Feeding. Execution immediately. Location: Right hand."

Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Derek's heart hard!

"What?! No! Impossible!" The color drained from Derek's face instantly, replaced by a horrified paleness and an incredulous madness.

"Dean...how could the Dean agree?! I'm a Level 3 Apprentice! I've won resource allocations for the academy! Instructor Icethorn won't allow it!"

He roared hysterically, trying to conjure an ice storm.

However, the two enforcers behind Ella unleashed a powerful mental pressure that instantly shattered the frost power Derek had gathered! An invisible force field imprisoned him firmly in place!

"No! You can't do this! Ella! You bitch! You monster! You must have been bribed by that good-for-nothing Chen Lin! I want to see the Dean! I want to see Instructor Icethorn!"

Derek was dragged away from the lounge by an invisible force, his struggles and curses echoing in the cold corridor, filled with despair and resentment.

His psychological defenses completely collapsed.

The arrogance and sense of superiority that they once had proved to be incredibly fragile in the face of the academy's cold rules and the dean's nonchalant judgment.

Fear gripped his heart like cold vines, and he finally understood that in the Thorn Garden, the so-called halo of genius was nothing more than a toy that could be crushed at any moment in the face of real power and strength.

He began to regret it, regretting that he shouldn't have provoked Chen Lin for that ridiculous sense of superiority, regretting that he shouldn't have taken action in the lab... Unfortunately, it was all too late.

He was dragged to the outermost part of the academy, to the area encircled by countless dark red blood-devouring vines and black iron fences. There, the air was thick with the stench of blood.