Early in the morning.
The fog had not yet dissipated.
A dark carriage drove into the path, and the driver used his skillful skills to make the wheels avoid the ups and downs of the terrain.
Karl lifted the curtain, looked at the familiar road, and asked: "Is this the way to the manor outside the city of Earl Rekton?"
"Yes."
Tim, who was sitting opposite, wore a top hat and a white tie, like a guest dressed up for a banquet.
He raised his cane and pointed outside: "At the same time, this is also the way to the manor of my mentor, 'Senior Wizard Apprentice' Adolf."
"Adolf?" Carl's eyes moved slightly: "The pharmacist?"
"Yes." Tim nodded: "The mentor's research focuses on pharmacy."
"What is a wizard?" Karl asked: "And why did you bring me here?"
"Hehe..." Tim chuckled: "You will know when you get there. In short, this is a field that many people will never be able to touch in their lifetime."
Karl asked many times about 'wizards' along the way, but the other party kept silent.
Although he didn't know what he would face next, he had a feeling that this trip would change his fate.
That's why he agreed to follow the other party.
"We're here!"
The U-shaped Iron Gate opened to both sides. The surface of the stone wall was obviously mottled, and the wooden sign with the name was covered with vines.
This is a dilapidated manor. There is a breath of time passing everywhere.
An old gardener was trimming flowers and plants with scissors in his hand. Seeing Tim, he bowed with some effort.
"He..." Karl looked at the gardener with suspicion: "Has he practiced breathing techniques?"
The moment the other party's eyes swept over, the poisonous wolf breathing technique started to work spontaneously, and a warning flashed in his mind.
Although it was only a moment, it was definitely right.
"Yes."
Tim nodded, with a casual look on his face: "Old Harry is a knight."
"A Knight?"
Karl was shocked.
Knights are rarer than nobles. Even if they are old, they are big shots in the city. Now they are here to trim flowers and plants for people.
"Let's go."
Tim quickened his pace: "Don't keep the mentor waiting for a long time."
Karl retracted his gaze and hurried to catch up.
The manor was large yet empty. Walking along the lawn, he came to an old castle building before he saw a figure again.
"This way!"
Tim led the way and came to a side hall for receiving guests. Someone was already waiting inside.
"Teacher."
The old man sitting in the middle was wearing a long gray suit, his white hair was casually scattered, and his appearance was upright. Although he was old, he must have been very masculine when he was young. His eyes were cloudy and dim, and he seemed to be uninterested in everything.
This depressed attitude made him look a little decadent.
Adolf!
A senior wizard apprentice.
The ancient manor, the mysterious wizard, the scrutiny of the people around him, and the inexplicable atmosphere made Karl subconsciously become restrained.
"It's been a few years."
Looking at Karl, Adolf's eyes cheered up a little, and he muttered: "I didn't expect that there would be another potential seed in Sino City, and it's just the right time to come."
He didn't say when, but just waved to the side.
"Siebel, go test his talent."
"Yes."
A young girl heard the words and walked out.
The girl held a crystal ball the size of a human head, walked slowly to Karl, and smiled.
"Relax."
"Just put your hands on it."
"Hands." Karl came back to his senses: "Okay."
He followed the other party's instructions and placed his hands on the surface of the crystal ball. Then he felt his body tremble.
It was as if an electric current flowed through his hands to his whole body.
In the next moment.
"Ughh!"
Karl groaned, feeling as if his mind had exploded, and an inexplicable pain came over him.
The pain came and went quickly.
When he came to his senses, his hands had left the crystal ball, and the girl lowered her head and stared at the crystal ball carefully.
The originally transparent crystal ball, without knowing when, had a colorful glow that kept changing.
After a while.
"Level four."
The girl turned to look at Adolf: "Teacher, his talent level is level four, but his mental power is much stronger than that of ordinary people, and it is easier for him to be promoted to a wizard apprentice."
"Level four?"
Adolf sighed, obviously disappointed: "It's a bit low."
Then he said: "According to the ancient 'Wizard General Rules', when a seed with talent is discovered, it should be guided onto the right wizard path."
"Karl, I will teach you meditation, but whether you can become a wizard apprentice depends on your own efforts."
"Old sir." Karl finally had time to ask the doubts in his heart: "What is a wizard?"
"What is a wizard?" Adolf pondered, and gave an answer after thinking for a moment: "A so-called wizard is a being who has mastered some special powers in the process of pursuing knowledge and truth."
"Special powers?" Karl's eyes lit up: "Like the kind Miles used?"
"Yes."
Adolf obviously knew what happened yesterday, and nodded: "This Miles you mentioned, as well as Siebel, Tim, and me, are all this kind of people."
"Then what is a wizard apprentice?" Karl asked again.
"It's very difficult to become a real wizard. Before that, you have to be a wizard apprentice." Adolf smiled and stroked his beard: "My lifelong pursuit is to become a formal wizard."
"Karl." Tim said: "There are not many formal wizards in the entire Gondor Kingdom, and there are only two senior wizard apprentices in Sino City."
"The mentor being one of them."
Karl was confused.
"Then..."
His throat rolled.
"What is the talent level?"
"Most people in this world do not have the talent to become a wizard, and talents are high and low, not the same." The girl named Siebel explained: "We usually divide the talent level into five levels, the first level is the best, and the fifth level is the worst."
"Level 4..."
"It's quite ordinary."
She said it politely. In fact, most people with level 4 talents can only become junior wizard apprentices in their lifetime. It is very rare to become an intermediate wizard apprentice.
Not to mention formal wizards.
Karl could also sense the change in the other party's tone, but he didn't care about it.
He didn't even know what a wizard apprentice was, let alone the impact of talent level on the future.
"Old Master... Teacher."
Karl bowed to Adolf and changed his address: "After learning the meditation method you mentioned, can I have the ability like Miles?"
"No!"
Adolf shook his head: "Meditation can increase your mental strength and have the ability to cast witchcraft, but you still need to learn the corresponding witchcraft to master special powers."
"Witchcraft?" Karl asked: "What witchcraft can I learn?"
"Karl."
Adolf chuckled and said: "In the wizard world, everything is priced, especially knowledge."
"You call me teacher, and I will also teach you meditation, but learning witchcraft requires an additional price."
"Price?" Karl said: "Gold coins?"
If he can have the ability of Miles, it is worth spending money.
"No." Adolf shook his head and rejected it: "I don't need gold coins."
"But you have something that interests me."
"…"
Karl lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and then took out a ring inlaid with royal blue jade from his body.
...
You can read advanced chapters in P@treon: [email protected]/BilPreda