Formal Wizards, Whom Mortals Must Not Meet Eyes With

Sally first glanced at Nova, then, as if afraid he might object, hurriedly held out her hand. "Welcome to our Esmond Gathering. I'm Sally, a teaching assistant of the Esmond Gathering."

Under Sally's expectant gaze, Leo took her small hand. "My name is Leo Danville, Wizard Sally."

After confirming Leo's membership, Sally smiled.

Only then did Sally look at Nova. "Senior Nova, thank you for bringing such an outstanding Wizard Seedling as Danville to our Esmond Gathering."

Nova said, "It's nothing. My Nova Assembly no longer lacks members. Still, it would be a pity for a Wizard Seedling with Level 3 mental aptitude to miss the path of a Wizard, so I recommended Danville to your Esmond Gathering."

"Danville..." Nova turned to Leo. "In the Wizard world, we abide by the principle of equivalent exchange."

"I helped you today partly because of your mental aptitude, and partly because I'm investing in your future as a Wizard. So remember this: you owe me a favor."

As Nova spoke, his easygoing smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

Leo said, "Yes, Lord Nova. I will remember your help today."

Nova nodded slightly. "Though it was a coincidence, joining the Esmond Gathering is indeed a very good outcome for you."

"Sally, Danville not only has Level 3 mental aptitude, but also possesses some talent in Potionology."

Hearing that Leo had talent in Potionology, Sally's expression turned slightly strange, though she did not take it seriously.

Sally could tell that Leo was a Prossian, and what Prossians excelled at was combat. As for delicate work like Potionology, it was simply not their strength.

"I wish you a smooth journey at the Tower of Dawn, Danville."

Leo watched Nova's departing back, his thoughts drifting.

This polite Wizard, who seemed cold yet actually treated everyone around him equally, had left a deep impression on Leo.

It made Leo feel that this was the image a transcendent being, one who stood above ordinary people, ought to have.

Watching Nova depart, Sally said, "Danville, Senior Nova is a very formidable Wizard. Even Mentor Esmond speaks highly of him. He is currently the person closest to becoming a Formal Wizard in the entire Tower of Dawn. The favor you owe him probably won't be easy to repay."

Leo asked, "Wizard Sally, what is a Formal Wizard?"

"You'll learn that later," Sally said. "Wait here for a while. I'll go register you."

After Sally left, a Wizard Seedling walked over to Leo. "Hello, my name is Dean Chris."

"I'm a fisherman from an earldom in the Sogla Empire."

Chris was the tallest among the Wizard Seedlings, standing at one meter ninety. Yet compared to a Prossian like Leo, he was still somewhat inferior.

Standing before Leo, he was a full head shorter.

Chris had dark skin, broad palms, and calluses on his hands.

Leo shook Chris's hand. "Hello, my name is Leo Danville. I used to be a mercenary warrior in an earldom."

Chris raised his head and looked up at Leo. "I've seen Prossians before too. You're all so tall and strong."

Leo said, "I'm not even considered tall among Prossians."

Chris then greeted the others one by one.

Chris's initiative in greeting everyone livened up the atmosphere.

A young girl said, "My name is Molly. My father is a gem merchant. This is my first time seeing a Prossian, Danville. You really are tall."

"My name is John. My father is Earl Aivel of Sogra," said a young man with an aristocratic air.

Molly said enviously, "You're actually an earl's child."

Chris said in surprise, "John, you're actually an earl's child? That's incredible. I never thought I'd become classmates with an earl's child."

A trace of pride appeared on John's face.

At that moment, the last young man who had yet to introduce himself said, "So what if you're a noble? At the Tower of Dawn, even if you're a prince, you can only bow your head before Wizards."

The young man's words displeased John. He said, "That isn't right. As nobles, compared to ordinary commoner Wizards, we are more capable of learning and have a greater chance of becoming Wizards."

The young man said coldly, "Whether one can become a Wizard depends not on status or upbringing, those insignificant things, but on mental aptitude. You and I both have Level 2 mental aptitude. At the Tower of Dawn, that is the most ordinary qualification."

Chris said, "All right, you two, stop arguing. Since we have joined the same Wizard Gathering, we'll be companions in the same boat from now on."

Ignoring Chris's attempt to mediate, John looked at the young man. "You deny the importance of status. It seems your family must be very ordinary, perhaps even poor."

John's words carried a mocking edge.

The young man was not angered. He merely said, "My name is Sono. As for status, it has no meaning here."

The atmosphere became tense as Sono and John spoke.

Just then, the sky suddenly darkened.

Leo raised his head.

A dragon-like creature, hundreds of meters tall and bearing three enormous dragon heads, slowly descended into the harbor district from the sky.

At that moment, John and Sono's dispute became utterly meaningless.

Everyone's eyes fell upon the colossal creature.

Chris swallowed. "The biggest fish I've ever seen probably wouldn't even count as an appetizer before that monster."

"Look, there's someone on that monster," John said in surprise.

Upon the creature's central dragon head stood a man in a white robe, his gaze sweeping lightly across the surroundings.

The moment Leo and the others met his eyes, they felt an unbearable discomfort and oppression throughout their bodies.

Molly even began retching.

Just then, Sally's gentle voice rang out. "Lower your heads quickly. Do not meet his eyes."

Hearing Sally's words, Leo and the others hurriedly lowered their heads and stopped looking toward the creature.

After shifting his gaze away, Leo clearly felt the abnormal sensation in his body disappear.

At some point, Sally had returned. She raised her head and watched the departing creature. "I didn't expect the central region to dispatch a Formal Wizard. It seems this batch of Wizard Seedlings has produced a rare Level 6 mental aptitude."

"All right, they've left. You may raise your heads now."

Leo and the others raised their heads again. Chris said with lingering fear, "Wizard Sally, that person just now was...?"

"A Formal Wizard," Sally explained. "Formal Wizards are the highest-ranking Wizards at the Tower of Dawn. They generally reside in the central region and leave it only under very rare special circumstances. Formal Wizards possess powerful Mental Radiation. Even when they do not intend it, the radiation around them can severely affect those nearby."

"When you encounter a Formal Wizard, even if you have already become a Wizard, it is best to keep your head lowered and not meet their eyes."

"There is a saying in the Wizard world: the gaze of a Formal Wizard is like the eye of death."