I'm just wondering if Apprentice Magicians search effect was activated when Apprentice Magician was destroyed as a result of battle or if the card that had a spell counter attached to it was destroyed.

When Apprentice Magician is destroyed in battle.



Waldo10032 – The Fiendish Duelist says:
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"All the counselors hate the waiters
And the lake has alligators
And the head coach wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something called Ulysses"