Wizard

A figure burst out of the forest onto a green grassy slope.

He started at a jog, gradually slowed to a brisk walk, and finally ambled along as if taking a stroll.

After walking some distance, just as he was about to reach the lake at the foot of the slope, he finally stopped.

"Phew... phew..."

"I'm exhausted after running just a few steps. This body is way too weak."

Ronan stood by the lake, panting heavily as he complained and took off his shoes.

He tied his two deerskin boots together by their laces and hung them around his neck. Then he vigorously rolled up the hem and sleeves of his cumbersome robe before carefully stepping into the water one step at a time.

When the icy lake water covered his ankles and slowly enveloped his calves, Ronan scooped up some water and splashed it on his face. He immediately felt so refreshed that his entire body relaxed.

At that moment, the rippling surface of the lake reflected the wavering image of a young man.

Chestnut hair, thick brows, and a high nose—his features were fairly handsome. But his eyes were dull, his skin lacked color, his face was puffy, and the dark circles beneath his eyes were especially pronounced, giving him an air of bloated decadence that bordered on sleaziness.

"This is... what happens when you reward yourself too often, huh?"

Splash—

Ronan slapped the water, scattering his reflection, then slowly turned and walked back toward the shore.

A lush walnut tree stood on the bank beside the lake, surrounded by wild thatch. Ronan lay beneath it with his hands behind his head, staring at several black mountain goats leisurely grazing on the distant hillside as he thought.

By his count, this was already the third day since he had transmigrated here.

The original owner of this body had also been named Ronan—Ronan Damien—and he had been the son of a Kingdom Earl.

After he had accidentally been found to possess the potential to become a wizard, his family had sent him across a great distance to study in this Wizard Gathering Place.

Unfortunately, the guy's aptitude had been poor, and he himself had not tried hard enough. After nearly half a year, he was still circling outside the gates of wizardry, living a truly miserable life.

If Ronan had not taken over his body, then barring any surprises, the original owner would probably have been forced to pack up and leave in a few months. Thinking of this, Ronan could not help feeling deeply aggrieved.

If only he had transmigrated half a year later. By then, the original owner should have returned to his family's Earl Territory.

After taking over the body, he could have happily experienced the life of a noble young master—riding horses, drinking tea, and playing cards with his personal little maid every day.

"Born at the wrong time."

Ronan let out a long sigh, sat up, and put his shoes back on.

Today was the first day since his transmigration that he had formally tried to leave home. He planned to cross the hill in front of him, take a look at the edge of the forest, and thoroughly explore the small map of the surrounding area.

But before he had taken more than two steps, the several black mountain goats grazing on the distant slope suddenly scattered in panic.

The next second, two small figures appeared in Ronan's field of vision.

One chased the other at high speed, and dazzling flashes of light burst forth between them.

"Fuck!"

Ronan's pupils contracted, and his expression instantly tensed.

Without much hesitation, he immediately turned around one hundred and eighty degrees and ran.

Fragments of memories flashed rapidly through his mind.

At the very center of the Hoddam Wizard Gathering Place stood the Hoddam Wizard Academy.

The entire academy was protected by an enormous Rune Array. It was peaceful and tranquil, a secluded paradise for cultivation and residence.

Beyond that were marketplaces and residential areas of all sizes built around the academy. Although they lay outside the Rune Array's protection, Academy Wizards managed them on ordinary days, so order remained relatively stable.

The place where Ronan currently was lay in the wilderness at the border between the town and the forest. It was already outside the "safe zone." No one managed it, so naturally there were no rules to speak of.

Whenever wizards dueled, killed, sought revenge, or robbed others of treasures, they usually chose this area.

Ronan had only heard about it before. He had not expected to actually encounter it today.

As he was about to run into the forest, Ronan hurriedly glanced back and happened to see one of the two figures on the distant slope slowly collapse to the ground. His heart tightened. He immediately dared not look again, only burying his head beneath his robe's hood and sprinting forward according to his memories, trying to get as far away from the conflict as possible.

It was not that Ronan was timid.

The main thing was that he was only a tiny Level 1 Wizard Apprentice, the absolute bottom rung of the Wizard World.

And so far, he had not even mastered a single zero-tier spell. If he got into a fight, he would be nothing more than a lamb waiting for slaughter.

If you had no strength and ran into big shots killing each other, why wouldn't you run? Stay there and wait to be killed by the shockwaves? Ronan raced past shrubs, dirt mounds, and mud pits. He twisted and turned through the quiet forest until he finally stopped before a tall, dense oak tree.

The oak was covered in a dense tangle of old vines. Nestled among the vine-wrapped branches was a gray wooden hut.

This was Ronan's "home."

The hut had been built in the tree to guard against the wild beasts of the forest. The hut itself had almost no protective capability.

But seeing his little home still gave Ronan a slight sense of security.

The treehouse was a full seven or eight meters above the ground. Without even pausing to catch his breath, Ronan grabbed a vine hanging from the tree and laboriously climbed up.

Once he reached the treehouse, he fished out a brass key from beneath his neck.

Click. Bang!

He quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and slammed it shut.

The little house was hot and damp, and the air carried a faint smell of mildew.

Although it had windows, the leaves and vines outside blocked them, leaving the room dimly lit.

Inside the dark, silent little house, Ronan leaned against the wooden door and panted heavily, his heart pounding like a drum.

His mind raced. What if the wizard on that hillside came looking for him after killing someone, intending to silence him? Should he flee immediately? Where could he go? Was there still time? Only after his thoughts ran wild until his heartbeat gradually settled did Ronan let out a breath. Feeling his way to the table in the middle of the room, he grabbed the water jug and gulped down several mouthfuls.

Scrape—

Flint struck flint, sending sparks flying, and a candle was lit.

The dim yellow candlelight quietly illuminated Ronan's gloomy, somber face.

Nothing had happened so far, so no one would probably come to his door to silence him. But the brush with danger had still left him too unsettled to sit still.

It had descended right beside him without any warning, catching him completely off guard!

He had been lucky enough to avoid it this time, but what about next time? And the time after that?

Such things were hardly rare in the wilderness, and every murderous wizard had a different temperament. What if he ran into someone moody and bloodthirsty? Ronan's expression shifted before he suddenly seemed to make up his mind.

"Move! I'm moving into town tomorrow!"

But after rummaging through every box and cabinet and gathering all his possessions, he counted them... and could only helplessly abandon the idea.

The original owner had actually left behind quite a bit of wealth. After all, he had been born a noble. But the Wizard World used magic stones as currency, and ordinary gold and gemstones were worthless here.

All the magic stones Ronan possessed did not even add up to one whole stone, while just the security deposit for renting a place in the town's residential district required one Low-Level Magic Stone.

As for the academy district? A month's lodging in the student dormitories there started at one magic stone.

"Unless I choose to sell the things I brought from the academy."

Ronan felt depressed.

Selling his inheritance would mean completely abandoning his identity as a wizard and giving up this path. If he did that, what would be the point of staying here? He might as well buy a boat ticket and return home.

"Forget it. I'll just tough it out."

"The Treehouse Area is dangerous, but plenty of people live there. As long as I'm careful, go out less, and interact with people less, danger may not necessarily come looking for me..."

Ronan could only comfort himself that way.

After his frantic run and emotional turmoil, coupled with the dark, stuffy little house, exhaustion washed over Ronan the moment his taut nerves relaxed.

His eyes drooped, and he fell into a deep sleep just like that.