Wizard World

Moro waved a hand, undoing the little trick he had cast on everyone. The delight on his face was unceasing.

Even when Leon lost his composure and asked him what the extraordinary was, Moro did not get angry. Instead, he happily began explaining the world of wizards to him...

"The binding spell and silencing barrier I used on you just now are basic witchcraft."

"So-called witchcraft is a mysterious system built by combining one's own talents 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. It was as though some unseen force was driving him onward, pushing him toward an unknown distance.

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

Once such a feeling arose, it was difficult to extinguish.

Angel did not know why the thought of exploring that distant place had suddenly emerged. Could it be that the values his mentor had taught him for over a decade were signaling him? Was it a passing whim, or a sudden impulse?

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

Perhaps Moro truly was very happy. Seeing the curiosity and admiration in everyone's eyes, coupled with the fact that his two grandchildren were 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 wizard world...

Wizards were merely the collective term 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 best, he could only barely be called—a wizard apprentice.

If the wizard population were analyzed through 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.

This simple and brutal figure alone showed just 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 without bound. To those who lived upon the Old Earth Continent, it was so vast that they could not finish traversing it in a lifetime. But to wizards whose gaze encompassed 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 at the edge. Rather, it was because the active elements contained in the air here were scarce. Elemental wizards could only expend far greater effort to draw in inert elements for battle, which was clearly not worthwhile.

Thus, elemental wizards generally 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 called Edge Island.

Of course, among the vast wizard system, wizards who specialized in the elemental school were only a small portion, so there was no need for everyone to withdraw from Edge Island. But in truth, no matter what system a wizard specialized in, they would more or less know 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.

"This time, I was taking 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 a high-level wizard apprentice. I owe it all to Viscount Pat's assistance." Moro smiled as he stroked his white beard that hung to his chest, his eyes curved into crescents. "Before I leave, if Viscount Pat has any troubles, you may tell me. On the Old Earth Continent, there are few matters I cannot handle."

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

Leon was still intoxicated by the splendor of the wizard world and did not react for a moment. Only when Count Eaton spoke did he suddenly come to his senses.

Eaton said, "I heard that Your Excellency intends to depart for Waterford next month to formally complete the inheritance ceremony for the viscount title... The Pat Family has always guarded the coastal defense line, continuously supplying provisions to the vanguard camp and making an immense contribution to the knights' resistance against the Hailan Kingdom. If the king were to learn of this, I imagine Your Excellency would no longer need to go to Waterford."

Of course he would not need to go to Waterford. So long as the Mone Family said the word, not to mention a hereditary viscountship—even a hereditary earldom would be no problem!

This had originally been Moro's personal favor. Yet with those words, Eaton clearly wanted to remove Moro's intention to repay it personally and transfer it to the Mone Family instead. If Leon agreed to Eaton's proposal, then Moro's debt of gratitude would naturally be wiped clean in one stroke.

Though Leon was young, he was not muddle-headed. No matter how formidable 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 pondered for a moment and was just about to speak when he felt Angel lightly bump his leg beneath the table. Turning his head, he saw Angel wearing an expression of hesitation, as if he wanted to speak but held himself back.

Leon understood. He said to Moro, "Morning Dew After Rain actually belongs to my younger brother. Let Angel decide for himself."

When those words were spoken, Eaton raised a brow and gave Leon a long look. The outside world always said that the two brothers of the Pat Family were at odds. It seemed that was merely a rumor. To hand such a great opportunity to Angel showed just how much Leon cherished him.

Since Leon had already made his position clear, Eaton said no more.

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

Under the watch of five pairs of eyes, Angel showed not the slightest sign of stage fright. His noble bearing was fully on display, and coupled with the manner of a gentleman from the other world of Huaxia that his mentor had taught him, Angel's expression was not only calm—every glance of his carried a gentle, refined air.

"Speaking of troubles, I do not know what troubles my brother has, but I myself... truly have two. One is a greater trouble, one that has lingered in my heart for a long time. The other is smaller, one that was only just born, and can be ignored." Angel looked at Moro. "If Mr. Moro can help me resolve my greater trouble, then there is no need to mention the smaller one."

Moro said, "Why not tell me? What great trouble do you have?"

When Leon handed the right to speak over to Angel, Moro had actually been quite pleased. What trouble could a youth raised in a greenhouse possibly have? Nothing more than fancying some young lady and not daring to confess, and the like... What he considered a great trouble might be something outsiders would think hardly worth troubling over.

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

Sure enough, Angel spoke bluntly. "The great trouble I speak of concerns my mentor. His name is Jon. Twenty years ago, my father took him in by chance, and afterward he taught me knowledge all these years. But recently, my mentor's health has worsened by the day..."