The World of Wizards

Moro waved his hand, undoing the little trick cast on everyone, joy overflowing from his face.

Even when Leon rudely blurted out a question about what the extraordinary was, Moro did not get angry. Instead, he cheerfully began explaining The World of Wizards to him...

"The Binding Spell and Silencing Barrier I used on you just now are a kind of basic witchcraft."

"Witchcraft is a mysterious system constructed by combining one's innate talent with a framework of knowledge. Those who master witchcraft are called... wizards."

When Moro spoke the word "wizard," a strange feeling suddenly rose in Angel's heart, as though some unseen force was urging him onward, pushing him toward an unknown distance.

That distant place was called truth—the belief pursued throughout a wizard's life.

Once that feeling arose, it was difficult to extinguish.

Angel did not know why the thought of exploring that distance had suddenly appeared. Could it be the values his mentor had taught him for over a decade, signaling to him? Was it a passing whim, or a sudden stir of the heart?

Angel did not know, but he did not suppress the longing in his heart. Instead, he carefully folded that thought away and placed it in the box of his mind, waiting for the day it would be opened.

Perhaps Moro truly was delighted. Seeing everyone around him filled with curiosity and admiration for him, and with his two grandchildren about to become Wizard Apprentices, he simply stopped holding back and, seized by the urge to talk, began telling them about the culture and systems of the Wizarding World...

Wizards were merely the collective name for this group of gifted people. Yet not every gifted person could become a wizard.

Even Moro himself could not yet be called a wizard. At most, he could barely be considered—a Wizard Apprentice.

If the wizard population were analyzed as data, 99% of them would be Wizard Apprentices. Less than 1% of gifted people could successfully break through the barrier and advance into wizards who pursued truth and put their own value into practice.

From those simple and brutal figures alone, one could see how arduous the path of a wizard was.

As Moro explained, he also spoke of the place beneath their feet—the Old Earth Continent.

To wizards from the Prosperous Continent, the name Old Earth Continent was practically a joke. Only wizards born here would call it the "Old Earth Continent." Other wizards had another name for it: Edge Island.

This world stretched beyond all bounds. To those living on the Old Earth Continent, it was so vast that they could not traverse it in a lifetime. But to wizards whose gaze rested upon countless planes, it could only be considered a "not small" island.

As for why it was called Edge Island, it was not because it lay on the edge. Rather, the active elements contained in the air here were scarce. Elemental wizards could only expend far greater effort to draw upon inert elements for battle, which was clearly not worth the cost.

Therefore, elemental wizards essentially called this place a dead land. The extraordinary beings who had once lived on this island had all withdrawn from it, and only then did it come to be known as Edge Island.

Of course, among the vast wizard system, wizards specializing in the elemental branch were only a small portion, so there was no need for everyone to withdraw from Edge Island. But in truth, regardless of which system a wizard specialized in, they would know at least some elemental spells. Since there were better continents to rest upon, why linger on Edge Island?

What "edge" truly meant was a place marginalized by wizards.

"I came this time to take Alan and Irene back to White Coral Floating Island Academy on the Prosperous Continent. I never expected to encounter an opportunity midway through the journey to break through to Advanced Wizard Apprentice. I owe it all to Viscount Pat's assistance." Moro smiled as he stroked his white beard hanging to his chest, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Before I leave, if Viscount Pat has any troubles, you may speak to me freely. On the Old Earth Continent, there are few things I cannot accomplish."

Moro's words were clearly meant to repay the favor brought by Morning Dew After Rain. They could also be understood as "settling accounts early and drawing a clear line."

Leon was still immersed in the splendor of the Wizarding World and did not react for a moment. Only when Count Eaton spoke did he suddenly come back to himself.

Eaton said, "I heard that Your Excellency intends to set out for Waterford next month to formally complete the inheritance ceremony for the viscountcy... The Pat Family has always guarded the coastal defense line, continuously supplying provisions to Vanguard Camp, making tremendous contributions to the knights' struggle against the Hailan Kingdom. If the King learned of this, I presume Your Excellency would no longer need to go to Waterford."

Of course he would not need to go to Waterford. As long as the Mone Family spoke, forget a hereditary viscountcy—even a hereditary earldom would be no problem!

What had originally been Moro's personal favor, Eaton's words clearly sought to remove Moro's intention of personally repaying it and shift it onto the Mone Family instead. If Leon accepted Eaton's suggestion, then the favor Moro owed would naturally be written off in one stroke.

Though Leon was young, he was not muddleheaded. No matter how powerful the Mone Family was, it was still a mortal noble house of the Golden Sparrow Empire. Moro might be only one man, but behind him stood another magnificent and fantastical world.

Naturally, Leon would not choose Eaton's proposal.

Leon considered for a moment and was about to speak when he felt Angel gently bump his leg beneath the table. Turning his head, he saw Angel wearing an expression as though he wished to speak but hesitated.

Leon understood at once. He said to Moro, "Morning Dew After Rain is actually my younger brother's possession. Let Angel decide for himself."

At those words, Eaton raised his brows and gave Leon a deep look. The outside world had always said that the two brothers of the Pat Family were at odds. It seemed that was merely a rumor. For Leon to hand such a great opportunity to Angel, it was clear how dearly he cared for him.

Since Leon had already made his stance known, Eaton said no more.

At this point, everyone's gaze no longer rested on Leon, but turned toward Angel, who had remained silent all this time.

Under the watch of five pairs of eyes, Angel showed not the slightest sign of stage fright. His noble bearing was fully displayed, and with the gentlemanly grace of Huaxia from another world that his mentor had taught him, Angel's expression was not only calm—even every glance of his carried a gentle, jade-like warmth.

"Speaking of troubles, I do not know what troubles my brother may have, but I... truly have two. One is the greater trouble, and it has coiled around my heart for a long time. The other is smaller, having only just arisen, and can be ignored." Angel looked at Moro. "If Mr. Moro can help me resolve my great trouble, then there is no need to mention the small one."

Moro said, "Why not tell me? What is this great trouble of yours?"

When Leon handed the right to speak over to Angel, Moro had actually been quite pleased. What troubles could a youth raised in a greenhouse possibly have? At most, he had fallen for some young lady but dared not confess, and the like... Things he considered great troubles, while outsiders would wonder what there was to trouble himself over.

Leon sighed inwardly. When Angel mentioned his great trouble, Leon already knew what Angel was about to say. It seemed Angel had decided to use this favor on Jon.

Sure enough, Angel spoke directly. "The great trouble I speak of concerns my mentor. His name is Jon. Twenty years ago, he was taken in by my father after an accident. Since then, he has taught me knowledge, but recently, my mentor's health has worsened day by day..."