The Greater Good's Grand Ambitions

Another calm summer morning.

The sun had been up for a while. Manus had finished his morning exercises, which were now almost entirely ineffective, and was slowly, meticulously eating breakfast at the table.

Food at home still tasted best.

Baked toast spread with butter and sprinkled with spices had a unique flavor. Together with potato wedges, fried eggs, and a plate of washed cherry radishes cut in half, it was enough to put anyone in a good mood at the start of the day.

Manus speared half a cherry radish and put it in his mouth. Its crisp sweetness and texture washed away the lingering heaviness in his mouth.

After two unchanging years of Hogwarts food, he was so sick of it that he found it dull. If skipping three meals a day had not been so shocking, he would not even have wanted to make the trip to the Great Hall as part of his daily routine.

After greeting his parents, Manus returned to his room. He had no plans to visit the secret base today; shortly, he would be heading out to meet with several Broomstick companies.

It was already his third day back in Cokeworth. Rather than feeling unfamiliar with home after being away for half a year, Manus found it even more familiar and reassuring.

Cokeworth was the old stronghold he had cultivated for years. Before the Mage Tower was fully manifested and able to enter the Material World, this place was his core and absolute home ground.

However, even in Cokeworth, he could not block out troubles coming from beyond it.

Thinking back on the information and intelligence he had obtained through the Pseudo-All-Knowing Mirror yesterday and the day before, Manus felt a trace of irritation.

Over the past two days, he had asked the