He pushed open the door. Before him stretched a pitch-black corridor, with faint specks of light visible in the distance.
The damp peeling walls carried the smells of rust and moldy wood into Zheng Qing's nostrils, making him sneeze.
"Ah-choo!"
With that sneeze, the iron door behind him slowly closed.
It cut off the light behind him, as well as the distant chimes of Westminster Abbey.
"Such a strong sense of déjà vu," the young scholarship student chuckled. He no longer felt the unease he had the last time. Instead, he skillfully drew out his spellbook, opened to the title page, and softly recited:
"The Little Stars Shine, three and five in the east!"
Three or five twinkling starlights suddenly appeared before Zheng Qing, like enormous fireflies. They danced merrily, tracing beautiful trails of light through the dark basement passage and illuminating the surroundings.
This was an Illumination Spell commonly used by students. It consumed little magic and summoned cold light, making it well suited for use deep in the library or while hunting. Compared with spells like "The East Shines Bright, The Moon's Light," "The Sun Rises Brightly," and "The Moon Rises Brightly," "The Little Stars Shine" demanded far greater skill. Students often used it to compete, seeing who could summon the most little stars and make them fly in the prettiest patterns.
Zheng Qing had learned this spell from Dylan.
After walking several dozen steps down the corridor and turning a corner, he found the familiar staircase quietly standing a short distance ahead.
"Click."
Zheng Qing opened his Pocket Watch and checked the time.
It was 9:46 p.m., less than a minute since he had left Puji Island and the school where he had lived for half a year.
"Magic really is amazing," the young wizard muttered. He