Whispers on the Wind

When the wind fell still, another sorcerer stood nearby, having watched the two of them in silence for a long time.

That sorcerer was Hachir.

The wind had left Hachir's hair and robes in disarray, but unmistakable shock still flickered in his eyes.

He had thought Ryan would simply learn the spell Wong had shown him, given the talent he had displayed so far.

He had never expected Ryan to build on it and cast an even more powerful spell.

It was breathtaking.

The evening wind that had swept through Kamar-Taj had lifted more than objects into the sky. It had blown away everything Hachir thought he knew.

He stared at Ryan. "Just how many times are you going to surprise us?"

Every moment he spent with Ryan left Hachir feeling inadequate.

At this rate, Ryan would wear away every scrap of Hachir's confidence as a sorcerer.

Hachir and Wong exchanged a glance.

Wong cleared his throat. "Ryan."

"I'm here," Ryan answered respectfully. The spell Wong had shown him was profound and intricate.

Without his Super Brain, he might not have learned it at all.

Ryan suspected Wong was far more formidable than the original story had made him seem.

Wong, meanwhile, was in turmoil. He had never met a sorcerer like Ryan.

Talented yet humble. No wonder Hachir had been willing to ask him for help on Ryan's behalf.

Now Wong was eager to teach him, too.

Ryan was unquestionably a candidate for Sorcerer Supreme. Even without a good teacher, he was bound to become Sorcerer Supreme.

It would only take longer.

Wong no longer had the slightest reservation about teaching Ryan. He was delighted.

After all, if he taught Ryan, one day he would be able to say he had taught the new Sorcerer Supreme.

"Good. Very good."