Departure and News

The next day, after a night of preparation and packing, Ryan finished his morning routine and groomed himself early before heading straight to the top floor of the wizard tower to find his teacher.

Following the standard procedure of passing the Tower Spirit's detection and magical warnings, Ryan pushed open the heavy doors.

"You're here quite early. I thought you didn't like going out? Why so proactive this time?" Yefalin's cool, clear voice echoed through the room.

Today, Yefalin was wrapped in a simple yet elegant set of mage robes that accentuated her perfect figure. Her ocean-blue hair cascaded smoothly, and her long, slender, fair legs were encased in black silk stockings. She radiated the noble and refined temperament of a true mage, a stark contrast to the graceful yet languid person she had been yesterday.

She was currently leaning against the intricately carved railing of the tower's balcony, overlooking the beautiful and elegant Silverymoon bathed in the morning sun, lost in thought.

Watching the perfect, elegant back of this woman, Ryan felt a sudden ache in his heart, and a wave of reluctance washed over him.

In all his years in Faerûn, he had never been close to his family. He had left home thousands of miles away at a young age to study in the unfamiliar city of Silverymoon, and had been under Yefalin's tutelage ever since. Although Yefalin was quite strict with his discipline, she had always cared for his life and well-being, sparing no effort in his cultivation. It could be said that this woman had played the role of both teacher and mother to him in this life.

Ryan naturally held respect and attachment for Yefalin, and he did not want to leave the teacher who had always treated him with such care. However, he also knew he could not stay under her protection forever; a fledgling eagle must eventually leave the nest to spread its wings, for the vast, boundless sky was its true stage.

Although Ryan had always maintained a mindset of "leveling up first," he was not afraid to face the world if he had to; he would simply ensure all preparations were made beforehand. He was the type of person who would only join a raid after buying all his gear, replenishing his potions, and ensuring he was at full status.

"Teacher, it's just that I'm reluctant to leave you, which is why I came to say goodbye so early." Ryan steadied his emotions and spoke to Yefalin with a feigned, relaxed smile; he did not want her to worry about him.

"The mission items you need to transport are on the experimental table. Because they have been imbued with special magic, they cannot be stored in a bag of holding; you must carry them on your person. And do be careful."

Yefalin looked at the handsome, golden-haired youth before her, his slightly youthful face full of confidence. Knowing her student's temperament, she naturally understood this was a facade he had put on to put her at ease.

Ryan masked the slight unnaturalness on his face. He had always kept the secret of being a Planeswalker deep in his heart, and the small demi-plane he had inherited was always hidden behind the cover of the bag of holding his family had given him. Yefalin had never suspected him all these years, and Ryan felt that once he returned from this mission, it would be time to come clean with his teacher.

A flash of reluctance crossed Yefalin's eyes. Looking at her favorite student, she instructed, "Be careful in everything when you are out. Once the mission items are delivered, do not get involved in the affairs of the Mages Guild."

"Understood, Teacher. Please rest assured, I know my limits," Ryan replied, walking to the experimental table to pick up the mission items. It was a palm-sized box carved from suppression stone, its magnificent surface shimmering with the faint glow of magical runes. Ryan was curious about what material could require such solemn sealing, but in the end, he remained silent.

Curiosity was indeed essential on the path of a mage exploring the truth, but if one's curiosity was too great, it could truly get one killed.

"Curiosity killed the cat" was a famous saying that held the same meaning in Faerûn.

"Now that you have the items, set off quickly. Although there is plenty of time, it is better to deliver them sooner," Yefalin began to issue her dismissal.

"Very well, Teacher. Take care of yourself. I am departing now." Ryan tucked the box into his robes, bowed to Yefalin's back, and turned to leave.

Only after Ryan had stepped out of the room did Yefalin turn around, her slender, fair fingers brushing away the moisture from the corners of her eyes. Watching his retreating figure, Yefalin felt as if she were seeing a noble, strong fledgling eagle leaping into the air, ready to soar into the boundless, magnificent blue sky.

"Bill, how much of the information I asked you to look into have you gathered?" In the tavern, filled with the aroma of food and the noise of the crowd, Ryan asked his personal attendant, Bill, while wearing a dark hooded mage robe that concealed his sun-bright golden hair.

Bill looked at his young master, feeling a bit nervous, and stammered, "Y-young Master, I only... I only found out a little. I am sorry, Young Master."

"It's fine, don't be nervous. I won't punish you; it was an unintentional oversight anyway. Just tell me what you've managed to find out." Ryan used a fork to spear a piece of the Stage Hall Tavern's signature venison and popped it into his mouth, feeling the delicious juices spill onto his tongue, and spoke in a pleasant, relaxed tone.

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master!" Bill let out a sigh of relief. Although he knew his young master was always easygoing and had been very kind to the maids and servants back at the estate, this was the only formal task the young master had assigned in recent years, and he had failed to complete it. He felt like a total failure.

Sigh. Thinking of this, Bill sighed inwardly. He had been sent by Ryan's mother, Lady Chris, to look after Ryan, but he had been in Silverymoon for six years now, and the most work he ever did was running errands to help the young master buy various spell components. As for daily life, the young master was completely self-sufficient and so mature that he didn't seem like a child at all.

However, the youth was a truly good master—kind, easygoing, and not stingy or strict like typical nobles. He was also a prominent figure at the magic academy and had been taken in as a formal student by a legendary mage, with a bright future ahead. Bill felt proud and honored to serve such an excellent master.

"Young Master, I have been asking around the taverns lately and even spent money to buy a few pieces of information through the Thieves' Guild channels. I have recorded everything you might be interested in in this report. Please, have a look." With that, Bill handed the parchment from his pack to Ryan.

"Oh, let me see." Ryan put down his knife and fork, used a cantrip to clean the grease from his hands, and reached out to take the parchment to read.

"Recently, a white dragon known as 'Madness' has been wreaking havoc near the Great Glacier in the North. It is said to be robbing travelers and caravans on the trade routes and demanding beautiful maidens as tribute. Due to the severity of its actions, many northern cities have issued bounties for it."

Ryan shook his head. Since when did mindless white dragons start having such bizarre tastes as demanding maidens? It seemed its strength wasn't bad either; it was likely another mutated variant dragon.

In Faerûn, legends of dragons were never in short supply, and becoming a great dragonslayer had always been one of the goals pursued by mercenaries and adventurers.

Variant dragons were an extremely special category among dragons. They were born unique, possessing extraordinary talents that set them apart from their peers. Their growth in strength exceeded that of their age group, and once they matured, their power was formidable, often becoming the stuff of legends recorded as natural disasters.

"Thultanthar, located in the Anauroch Desert above the ruins of the old Netheril Empire, sent envoys to Thay today, intending to build an alliance with the Red Wizards. The Elven Empire and the Silver Marches remain reserved regarding this union of two neutral-evil forces and are watching the situation closely."

Ryan smiled. It seemed the remnants of the magic empire weren't having an easy time after returning to the world of Faerûn; otherwise, the proud arcanists would never have voluntarily lowered their heads to approach other factions.

Then again, it was to be expected; the gods would not sit idly by and let Thultanthar grow in peace.

"It is rumored that a princess of the Silvershield Family in the Baldur's Gate region is gaining fame. Because she has been vigorously cracking down on bandits and monsters throughout the Sword Coast, local law and order have even improved. People call her the 'Uncrowned Princess' and the 'Princess Who Dances with Nine Swords'."

Heroes emerged one after another. The world was vast, and it certainly never lacked legendary figures, Ryan thought with admiration.

Of the entire parchment, these three pieces of information were what Ryan cared about most. The rest were just bits and pieces of gossip—nothing more than which lord's land had been raided by monsters, who had discovered an ancient magical ruin, or even scandalous news about a certain countess being caught by her husband with her lover in their own open-air pond.

"Alright, you've done a good job, Bill. Go pack up; we are heading back to Waterdeep this afternoon." Ryan nodded at his attendant.

As for the current situation in Faerûn, Ryan only wanted a general understanding. He didn't care too much about whether the intelligence above was entirely accurate; he knew that rumors circulating in taverns could only be taken as entertainment. The real inside story was often hidden deep in the darkness, far beyond the reach of people's eyes.

After Bill left, Ryan slowly finished the venison and the silver-moon nut cheese on the table. Once he had finished his meal and downed a glass of mellow ale, Ryan let out a long breath.

"I had long heard that the Stage Hall Tavern's signature venison and cheese were the best in Silverymoon. Having tasted them myself today, they truly live up to their reputation."

After resting for a while on the birch-carved chair, Ryan stood up and walked toward the target he had been observing for some time. He headed straight for a wealthy, pot-bellied merchant in luxurious clothing and said with a smile, "Hello, my name is Chris, a mid-level mage. I would like to have a word with you."