The great Wizard King from Hogwarts challenged the Waste Stone of the Magic Academy.
Topps had imagined countless possibilities for why John had helped him.
But he had never imagined that the help had been for the sake of a battle.
The Wizard King?
The stirring of magic he had once felt deep within his heart had made Topps a devout believer in magic.
So that was it.
That was the Wizard King.
The king of magic had appeared with the utmost pride.
The magic he pursued had earned the Wizard King's recognition.
This was why he had persisted.
In his daze, Topps seemed to return to the past.
To the man who had accomplished nothing even in his twenties.
Until that day, when magic's favor had arrived with a rhythm that inspired longing.
Topps looked at the magic in his hand.
It was what he had spent his entire life trying to prove.
The Wizard King had given him this opportunity.
To challenge a king with magic.
Win or lose, it would be an immense honor.
His fingers slowly closed, and Topps understood.
His magic returned to his body.
This was the reason.
The Wizard King needed no other reason. So long as you made magic shine, his favor would descend upon you.
Topps found peace and let go of his feelings of inferiority.
When he raised his head again, gratitude remained on his face, but the loneliness and self-doubt had faded.
He wanted this, even yearned for it.
To challenge the Wizard King before him with the pride of the Waste Stone's magic.
Gripping his rough oak wand, Topps bowed deeply.
"Please allow me... to challenge you."
Topps drew a deep breath and said earnestly, "I know the Divine Book has made its choice, but I still want