<h4>Chapter 404 Beneficial</h4>


    Adam was slightly taken aback. "You would let me choose from everyone present here?"


    Usually, when a Magus formed a contract with a spirit from the Spirit World, a lot of steps were involved.


    Firstly, the Magus had to research the information about the type of spirit they were looking for. Once they gathered enough information, they would then have to find the location of the spirit.


    However, this was already done by Professor Whitaker. Wood spirits were one of the best when it came to healing magic and the matriarch of this vige was the professor''s contractor.


    Adam and the rest of the students didn''t have to spend time and effort bothering about the initial steps since it had already been taken care of.


    Moreover, Professor Whitaker had also given them the details about the ritual involving the summoning of andmuning with the spirit.


    All the students had to do was negotiate the contract with the spirit and then sign it.


    Usually, it was always the spirits that visited the Magi in the material world. However, Adam had taken thepletely opposite route.


    The Matriarch nodded. "Of course, you can''t sign a contract with me. Summoning a Rank 3 being like me wouldpletely deplete your mana reserves and is honestly not worth it."


    She paused for a moment before continuing, "On the other hand signing a contract with a Rank 1 spirit would also be counterproductive. So you must choose a spirit that shares the same rank as you."


    Adampletely agreed with her. He nced around at all the wood spirits hovering around him. Some were looking at him curiously, while others seemed nervous.


    He could see that dozens of these wood spirits were Rank 2 Magi, but in the end, he still couldn''t choose from any of them.


    The youth looked back at the Matriarch and asked sheepishly, "My Lady, is it alright if you choose a contractor for me?"


    "You want me to choose?" The Matriarch was a little taken aback, not having expected Adam to throw the responsibility at her.


    "Yes, mydy," Adam replied with a ttering smile. "I believe your choice would be far better than mine. You know your people better than I do. Moreover, I believe, as Professor Whitaker''s contractor, you would have my best interest in mind."


    The Matriarch was speechless. She wasn''t surprised by the ttery from the youth''s mouth. As a powerful Magus, she has met her fair share of spirits who would try to win over her to receive some benefits.


    But the fact that Adam would use Professor Whitaker''s name, with whom she had a very good rtionship, made her feel that now she was forced to suggest the best Rank 2 Magus in her vige.


    The Matriarch didn''t like this one bit. However, on second thought, she didn''t quite mind allowing her most talented Magus to sign a contract with Adam.


    To her, Adam came across as an enigma. Not only was his soul several times stronger than his physical body, but he was also able to wander around in the Spirit World for long periods of time.


    The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Moreover, she had this strange feeling that it would be highly beneficial for her and her vige to cultivate a good rtionship with Adam.


    Something about this youth made her feel very warm and pleasant. It was unlike how she usually felt about outsiders--people from the material world.


    When the Matriarch realized this, she was astonished.


    This kid... He doesn''t seem like a being from the material world at all. It''s almost as if...


    Her thoughts were disrupted when Adam suddenly called out to her, "My Lady, if you agree to my proposal, shall I start preparing the ritual?"


    "…Yes, you may begin," said the Matriarch after a few moments.


    Having received her permission, Adam coated his finger with mana and began carving runes on the forest floor.


    Seeing the pure nature of Adam''s mana, the Matriarch was once again taken aback. She could also sense the element of wood in the youth''s mana.


    Wood spirits, as their name suggested, had an extremely high affinity with the element of wood. It was only natural for the Matriarch to recognize it at first nce.


    She couldn''t help but ask, "Magus Constantine, you seem to have a natural disposition toward the wood element. Have you perhaps ever thought of embarking on the path of herbalism?"


    As Adam carved intricate runes and geometrical patterns on the forest floor, he chuckled, "My Lady, I am already a Herbalist."


    The Matriarch''s eyes shone with interest as she nodded her head in approval, "That is praiseworthy, young Magus."


    Wood spirits, apart from being born with innate healing magic, were a race that specialized in growing and caring for nt life.


    It could even be said that the area where a wood spirit shone the most was when they were working with nts and herbs. Thus, they could be formidable helpers to Herbalists.


    So not only is he a talented Magus, he is also a Herbalist. This boy is full of surprises! The Matriarch thought to herself.


    Having already made her decision to foster a good rtionship with Adam, the Matriarch nced at one of the wood spirits hovering beside her and gently asked, "Yavia, would you like to be this young man''s contractor?"


    Yavia stood at slightly less than six inches tall; she had a slender and delicate build and her wings resembled a dragonfly''s.


    Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders and was adorned with tiny flowers. She bore a striking resemnce to the Matriarch.


    "Mother! Didn''t you say you wouldn''t let me be someone''s contracted spirit?!" Yavia yelled out in shock.


    The Matriarch chuckled seeing such a reaction from her daughter. Yavia was the most talented wood spirit in the vige, someone who would seed her as the next vige head.


    Naturally, she didn''t want her daughter to be contracted with a nameless Magus from the material world.


    Although the contract between a summoner and a spirit wasn''t a lifelong one, the Matriarch still thought that it was beneath her daughter, whom she considered to be even more talented than herself.


    She gently caressed Yavia''s cheeks and stated, "Well, now things have changed. I have a feeling that bing this young man''s healing spirit would be very beneficial for you."


    Yavia hesitated for a few moments, fidgeting with her fingers. In the end, she nodded. "I will do as you say, Mother."


    "Good," the Matriarch smiled.


    Right at that moment, Adam had finished carving thest of the runes. He got back to his feet, dusting his palms.


    He looked at the Matriarch and then at Yavia. "Alright, the ritual is ready. Shall we begin?"