After entering the Enchanted Magic Forest, Enlaico realized that their team was ill-suited for deep mountain travel. Starting with personal equipment, Kate insisted on carrying his bulky two-handed sword for self-defense, despite Enlaico's suggestion of a more practical spear. Other than the sword, Kate's luggage was reasonable. However, Bertina's baggage was excessive, including three sets of underwear, three sets of pajamas, three long dresses, a formal dress, and a bathrobe. Jerry, on the other hand, carried an astonishing amount of currency – five hundred gold coins, five hundred silver coins, and five hundred copper coins. Oh my!
Enlaico proposed returning to the village at the entrance of the Enchanted Magic Forest to reorganize their equipment before continuing. However, aside from Kate's slight consideration, the other two paid no attention. Bertina refused to part with her spare clothes immediately, and Jerry, well, he seemed to have a strong attachment to his coins.
After persevering for a day and a night, Bertina and Jerry finally compromised because they had endured enough hardship. The group had to turn back, and it took another day and night to wearily exit the forest. Along the way, an agreement was reached among the group: all equipment configurations would be arranged by Enlaico, and no one was allowed to object.
Upon entering the village, they first found an inn. After inquiring about the village's general situation from the innkeeper, Bertina and Jerry went upstairs to rest. Kate and Enlaico were responsible for purchasing equipment and supplies.
Many people visited this small village every year, mostly merchants buying furs and precious herbs during spring and autumn, or hunters coming to the Enchanted Magic Forest to hunt or capture rare beasts for trade. Therefore, the village had ample supplies. After a round of shopping, Kate and Enlaico not only bought the necessary equipment and supplies but also unexpectedly acquired a rudimentary map of the Enchanted Magic Forest from a fur trader. Enlaico also bought each person a set of lightweight travel outfits, considering the excellent craftsmanship and design. Enlaico even thought about asking his father to come here for some business after returning home.
In the village's blacksmith shop, Enlaico casually picked four spears and two machetes. Although he had his father's prepared folding machete with him, after looking at the two machetes, he decided to buy them. The tools produced by this blacksmith shop were mostly for the villagers' personal use, so they were crafted very finely. Despite their simple appearance, they were made using the standard method of folding iron in a thousand layers. Although they were household items, they had clearly undergone multiple tempering processes. The steel patterns on the blade were colorful, and the edges were sharp, much better than his own mass-produced machete with filed edges.
Seeing Enlaico appreciating his work, the blacksmith happily invited them to his workshop to choose suitable tools. In the workshop, Enlaico unexpectedly found several very handy tools. Among them was a well-crafted and intricately designed multi-purpose mountain pick. The owner said someone brought him the blueprint to make it, thinking it was very practical, so he made a few more. In addition to this mountain pick, Enlaico also picked three shurikens, five thin-blade knives, and a three-meter-long, index finger-thick iron chain.
On the way back to the inn, they also stopped by a local hunter's house, asking to buy his personal hunting bow and two quivers of arrows.
Returning to the inn laden with goods, the two of them found Bertina and Jerry already fast asleep.
Enlaico took out the map to study, while Kate enthusiastically fiddled with the hunting bow.
During dinner, Bertina and Jerry, exhausted from their labor, insisted on not getting up. Enleco and Kate had no choice but to dine together.
Due to the proximity to the forest, the dinner was quite abundant with a variety of wild game. Pleased with the meal, the two generously rewarded the innkeeper. In gratitude, the innkeeper answered Enleco's questions willingly and promised that by the next morning, they would have satisfactory answers to any queries.
Back in their room, Kate suddenly brought up a lingering question to Enleco: "Didn't you mention it was your first time leaving home for a long journey? Why does it seem like you're a seasoned traveler?"
"I grew up in the shop, helping my father. A majority of our customers were traveling adventurers, and since our shop also serves coffee, these wanderers often enjoyed a cup while sharing tales of their journeys during rest breaks. I learned a lot just by listening and observing," replied Enleco.
As they continued chatting, the night grew deeper.
Early the next morning, just as the day was breaking, Bertina and Jerry dragged Enleco and Kate out of bed. Despite their own struggles to get up in the morning, they were surprisingly firm when it came to waking others. Kate, feeling regretful, asked why they were awakened so early. It turned out that Bertina and Jerry, being lazy, had overslept and skipped dinner the night before. They woke up hungry in the middle of the night, quickly finished the provisions, and managed to get a bit more sleep. At daybreak, unable to endure their hunger, they decisively woke up Enleco and Kate, demanding a solution to the breakfast problem.
Reluctantly, Enleco and Kate, escorted by the pair of spoiled city babies, went downstairs to knock on the innkeeper's door. The innkeeper, still half-asleep, holding a pillow, yawning repeatedly, asked, "So early, what can I do for you?"
"Sorry, could you prepare breakfast for my two companions?" Kate apologized.
The weary innkeeper bid farewell to his beloved pillow, mumbled into the kitchen, and reluctantly began cooking.
Exhausted Enleco and Kate lay on the dining table, continuing their journey into dreamland, completely ignoring Bertina and Jerry's complaints about the cooking speed.
After Bertina and Jerry finally filled their stomachs, Enleco and Kate started to regain their spirits.
After breakfast, the innkeeper diligently reported on the questions Enleco had raised the previous night.
Satisfied with the answers and expressing apologies for dragging the innkeeper out of bed so early, Kate rewarded the breakfast with two gold coins.
With the innkeeper's warm farewell, the group left the inn. Before leaving, Enleco asked the innkeeper for two packs of seasonings and a bag of flour, supplementing their provisions and drinking water.
On the way, Bertina and Jerry were dissatisfied with their travel attire. Their original luggage was left in the care of the innkeeper. However, Jerry was particularly interested in the hunting bow originally carried by Kate, almost snatching it away. Seeing Kate's reluctant expression, Enleco regretted not selling more of them.
The group walked until noon before stopping to find a clearing to rest. By now, Bertina and Jerry had started to appreciate the advantages of their professional travel attire. Despite walking all morning, they did not feel excessively tired.
After resting for a while, Enleco gathered the others and took out three copies of the map, giving one to each person.
"Where did this come from?" Kate asked, puzzled.
"I copied it last night based on the original map. I was afraid of losing it, which would be troublesome," Enleco replied.
"I carefully analyzed this map last night," Enleco pointed to the map, "The southeast edge is marked in great detail, representing the area closest to the village. There should be little error. As we move northwest, the markings become more vague. We shouldn't rely too much on these, but the map provides a clear hint – there is a river flowing through the forest deep into the heart of the Dream Magic Forest. We can follow the river, eliminating concerns about water sources. What do you think?"
"I agree," Kate responded.
"We have no problem with that. As long as you safely lead us into the depths of the Dream Magic Forest," Bertina straightforwardly shifted the responsibility that all four should have shared onto Enleco.
Jerry had no objections, as he was determined to convince everyone, including Bertina, to adopt Enleco's opinion. He remembered the success secret his merchant father told him: "To succeed, it's easy. Just delegate all the problems to experts, and your only job is to humbly accept their advice." The first time his father said this, he had just earned his first ten million gold coins. By the time his father repeated it, his wealth had reached one billion.
Therefore, when Enleco ordered Jerry to bury all the remaining money, Jerry immediately complied without a second thought, surprising the other three.
The initial three days of the journey were not difficult. The presence of numerous people entering the mountains annually had already carved out paths for them. Along the way, they encountered locals living in the Dream Magic Forest, providing opportunities to enhance their meals. Bertina and Jerry developed a fondness for wild game during these days. Whenever they met locals, Jerry sought advice on hunting and trapping, while Bertina showed keen interest in cooking wild game. Despite not encountering locals in the later days, they had no trouble securing food, and if not for Enleco's insistence, Bertina and Jerry would have discarded the dry rations long ago.
On the fifth day deep into the forest, the terrain became increasingly challenging. Often, they had to rely on Kate to forge a path ahead. They could only cover a dozen miles each day. To maintain speed, Kate and Bertina consolidated their luggage onto Enleco.
However, a new problem soon emerged. The jungle's trees grew denser, and the ground became uneven, making it increasingly challenging to find suitable campsites. This time, Jerry had his moment to shine. Following the teachings of the great mage Piert, he specialized in wind magic, which included spells allowing flight. Jerry had just mastered levitation and the wind-wing spell. Thus, the task of finding campsites was assigned to him, and correspondingly, his luggage was carried by Enleco.
On the nineteenth morning in the jungle, they encountered magical beasts native to the Dream Magic Forest for the first time. That morning, while Bertina prepared a pair of quails, Jerry showcased his hunting skills. He had scouted the area and found a trap that had caught a group of quails the night before. Two of them were destined for breakfast.
Bertina skillfully handled the roasting quails over the fire, letting the fat drip onto the flames, creating waves of rich-smelling blue smoke. The other three sat around the fire, eagerly awaiting their breakfast.
"Smells delicious," Kate exclaimed.
"Lucky us, starting the day with a feast," Enleco said.
"Yeah, yeah, this journey has been quite challenging. If it weren't for the delicious food, I might not have lasted," Jerry candidly admitted.
"Very well, very well. Tear these two quails into seven portions, one for each," a strange voice suddenly came from behind them.
Startled, the four turned to look and were terrified to find a giant wolf over two meters tall with three heads sitting behind them.
"A magical beast!" Kate exclaimed, raising the spear in her hand to strike the giant wolf.
Simultaneously, Enleco also reacted. He pulled Jerry, who was still stunned, and retreated with Bertina, who had fallen by the fire.
The giant wolf paid no attention to Kate's spear thrust and walked directly to the fire. The spear struck the wolf's back, making a sound as if hitting a stone.
The giant wolf slowly approached the fire, picking up the fallen delicacies and savoring them with relish.
"Not bad, not bad. Cooked food is always better," the middle head of the giant wolf commented while eating.
"A wolf that can talk!" Jerry exclaimed foolishly.
"Fool, it's a high-level magical beast that can speak. It's in trouble; it's a descendant of the ancient magical beast Fanlir. With three heads, it's at least three hundred years old. These magical beasts are born elemental magic users, capable of simultaneously using three different elemental magics," Bertina explained, sharing her knowledge with everyone.
"Four types, it's four types of magic," the giant wolf corrected.
Bertina cautiously asked, "Mr. Wolf, you don't intend to eat us, do you?"
"Of course not. Roasted quail is much tastier than you," the giant wolf replied.
This statement somewhat reassured the four young adventurers.
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"Well then, these two quails are yours. We'll leave immediately," Kate said, moving toward her companions.
"You can go, but the little girl stays," the giant wolf spoke with a tone reminiscent of a bandit.
"What do you want with me?" Bertina asked, her voice trembling.
"Don't worry; I'm not interested in your body," the giant wolf reassured.
"A perverted wolf, making jokes like this," Bertina couldn't help but think.
"Wow, an old pervert," Jerry expressed his opinion.
"It seems there's no immediate danger," Enleco analyzed the situation.
"My attacks are completely being ignored," Kate, the proud descendant of a knight, found herself in the biggest crisis of her life.
After a brief discussion between the four humans and the wolf, the giant wolf insisted on joining them, and the group decided to continue the journey together.
After two days of peaceful coexistence, everyone, except Bertina, was no longer afraid of the giant wolf. Surprisingly, Jerry developed a keen interest in the wolf.
During dinner, everyone sat around the campfire. Only at this time did Bertina feel less afraid of the magical beast, knowing that well-fed beasts usually don't show aggression.
"Hey, old wolf, do all magical wolves like cooked food?" Jerry couldn't resist asking the question he had been curious about.
"Those silly beasts, what do they know about gourmet food," the old wolf glanced at Jerry.
"Yeah! You can even distinguish whether it's Enleco or Bertina who made the food," Jerry poked fun at others. Because there was an additional wolf now, they had to prepare a larger feast, and the old wolf ate a lot. Jerry didn't mind the extra burden; in fact, he found it easier since the old wolf took care of hunting. Bertina and Enleco helped with the cooking. During meals, the old wolf would pick out the dishes made by Enleco and give them to others, only eating what Bertina prepared.
"Of course, the cooking methods for women and men among you humans are exactly the same, but the results are completely different. It was the same five hundred years ago, and after five hundred years, there's been no progress," the old wolf remarked.
"Five hundred years ago? So, you got used to eating cooked food with them," Bertina remarked.
"What kind of person was your original master?" Jerry asked further.
The old wolf nudged Jerry's head with its own, and its enormous wolf eyes stared at Jerry, making him feel uneasy, "Although I'm full, I wouldn't mind a little dessert after dinner."
"Yes, yes," Jerry nodded repeatedly.
"So, what kind of people were the humans who traveled with you before?" Enleco pressed the question, signaling to Kate not to act now. It was clear that redirecting the old wolf's attention to another question was the right approach.
Sure enough, the old wolf, despite being an intelligent magical being, fell for the tactic.
"They were much stronger than you guys. Xinlo'an was a powerful warrior, Lusia was an excellent priest, and Tikoloni was the best archer I've ever seen," the old wolf explained.
Hearing the magical creature praise humans, Enleco felt relieved.
That night, the events during dinner kept everyone awake for a long time.
In a daze, suddenly everyone felt the ground shaking, and the distant roar of a group of beasts echoed.
"What's happening?" Everyone quickly crawled out of their tents.
The old wolf had already leaped onto a nearby giant rock. Everyone swiftly climbed up to the rock and looked into the distance.
The distant glow of lightning illuminated the rolling thunderclouds, casting a brilliant light over a vast expanse of the forest. Above the forest, a small cluster of lightning flashed intermittently on the left and right. It was unclear what it was. Countless shadows of giant beasts moved around in the forest, and massive trees either fell due to the impact of these creatures or were struck and shattered by the rolling magical lightning. A thick cloud of dust rose into the air.
As numerous trees fell, the four could gradually discern the situation below. In an area of about two hectares, several strange beasts with spines covering their backs, tails longer than their bodies, and the ability to run on two legs were surrounded by several clusters of lightning. Whenever these creatures attempted to break free from the encirclement, the lightning would converge into a large electric web, forcing the creatures back.
"That seems to be an advanced lightning magic—Thunder Barrier, but it doesn't quite look like it," Jerry remarked. Lightning attribute magic is not something every wind mage can easily cast. While Jerry's mentor, the great mage Piert, is skilled in using lightning magic, he believes Jerry is unlikely to grow to the point of wielding such magic anytime soon. Therefore, he hasn't provided Jerry with extensive information about lightning attribute magic.
"Did any of you notice," Belitina said, "there's a gap in the lightning barrier!"
"No, tell us quickly," Kate urged.
"Yeah! I didn't see it either," Enleco added.
"Really disappointing, keeping us in suspense," Jerry complained.
"There's a small opening in the southwest; the power of the lightning can't reach there. I saw a monster escape from that spot," Belitina replied.
"Oh, right! My teacher mentioned that lightning attribute magic has a major flaw—it can be easily grounded by metallic objects," Jerry suddenly recalled.
"Got it. There must be metallic objects in that area. By the way, when dealing with opponents using lightning magic in the future, let's stick a small metal object like a knife into the ground first," Belitina suggested.
"Sigh, in the past five hundred years, human intelligence seems to have degraded a lot," the old wolf said with a disdainful snort. "The Thorn Dragons are a subspecies of dragons, possessing the strong defense common to dragonkind. Ordinary magic doesn't have much effect on them. This lightning magic can't effectively harm Thorn Dragons; its purpose is just to trap them within the barrier. Surrounding them on all sides but leaving a gap, luring the trapped ones to break out through the opening, and then setting traps outside the gap—aren't these tricks the usual tactics used by you humans?"
After listening to the old wolf's explanation, Kate and Enleco, sitting on the outer edge of the huge rock, nearly fell off.
"Goodness! A wolf with military tactics," all four of them simultaneously thought.
Indeed, Thorn Dragons continued rushing out through the gap, but once they emerged, they were shrouded in a mist and disappeared.
After an hour, all Thorn Dragons were engulfed by the mist without exception.
A burst of lightning rolled through, and the forest immediately returned to tranquility.
Suddenly, there was a crackling sound, and a lightning ball appeared out of nowhere above everyone's heads. After the lightning dimmed, a shadow could be seen floating in mid-air. Although the light was too weak to see clearly, one could vaguely sense that it was a human.
"So, it's you! Hehehe, I was actually looking for you," a series of sharp and high-pitched voices pierced everyone's ears.
"Be careful, magical attack!" Even though Enleco didn't know what kind of magic was being used, the intense discomfort prompted him to quickly warn everyone.
"Don't worry, this fellow's voice has always been like this, it's not any magic," the old wolf explained.
"What are these annoying brats doing?" the sharp voice continued.
"We are trainees from the Sophian Kingdom's Magic Association, undergoing a trial process," Kate quickly replied.
"Oh, why come to the Dream Magic Forest then?" the voice continued.
"Our destination is the laboratory of the mage Chris in the Dream Magic Forest," Kate answered.
"These Magic Association guys actually used my lab as a training ground without notifying me," the piercing voice said indignantly.
"What? You're the great mage Chris?" everyone asked in surprise simultaneously.
"You all step aside first, don't hinder me from catching the wolves," Chris said.
"Haha, you've learned a few new spells, and now you're getting arrogant again, thinking of catching an old man like me? Impossible," the old wolf sarcastically remarked.
"Hehehe, for the genius that I am, there's nothing I can't handle," Chris said.
"Do you think that with your newly mastered Thunderbolt Magic – Teirubotto, you can defeat me?" the old wolf continued to taunt.
"Teirubotto, what kind of magic is that?" Kate asked Jerry.
"Any magic with such a peculiar name must be ancient magic; how would I know?" Jerry replied.
"But does that old wolf understand it?" Bertina retorted towards Jerry.
"Come on, don't compare me to that old monster; I'm just an ordinary person," Jerry pleaded.
Suddenly, a bright flash of lightning streaked across, and a huge rock collapsed with a rumble.
"Wow! It's on!" Jerry exclaimed.
Kate and Enleco quickly grabbed Jerry and Bertina, each, and started to run.
In the past few days, everyone had deeply experienced the strength of the old wolf. It was not something that human strength could withstand.
Clearly, Chris, the apprentice mage, also possessed extraordinary power, far from typical for a human.
In a nutshell, it was a showdown between two super monsters. If ordinary humans got involved, they would suffer a gruesome fate. Fortunately, the arduous journey of the past few days had honed their agility. They swiftly maneuvered through the dense forest, dodging fallen giant trees and evading small lightning bolts. Thankfully, in extremely urgent situations, Bertina could always use her weak but effective "Water Barrier" magic to minimize the damage. So, when the group reached a relatively safe place, apart from numerous scratches, they were intact from head to toe.
"Oh my goodness! This woman's temper is exceptionally bad," Jerry sighed.
"I'm so scared! We still have to ask her to grade our trial performance!!" Bertina reminded.
Kate and Enleco, exhausted from dragging the two for their lives, hadn't considered this issue. Now, with Bertina's reminder, they couldn't help but look at each other, feeling overwhelmed.
Originally, they never thought that the mentorship trial would be challenging since the magic users they had encountered so far were quite reasonable. Even troublesome mages like Victor were generally easy to handle. Typically, the most challenging part of the trial process was reaching the trial destination. For example, the arduous journey through the Dream Magic Forest and the unpredictable appearance of Ketin Island.
The thunderous roars echoed continuously, the earth shaking incessantly, and the air emitted a burning smell. The raging fire had engulfed vast stretches of the forest, illuminating the pitch-black night sky. The flames, combined with the stars in the sky, created a spectacular display. Shattered wood fragments and flying stones struck nearby trees, causing branches, leaves, and debris to scatter.
The battle between humans and wolves was awe-inspiring for the four trial participants. While mage battles were usually interesting, they were rarely intense. It was like two strong men standing against each other, each throwing punches or kicks, competing in strength, speed, and endurance. Moreover, each mage had their preferred magic attack methods. For instance, a mage skilled in water magic might lack knowledge about fire magic because the fundamental principles of the four elemental magics were often opposing. Fire magic was inherently fierce, water magic was soft and gentle, wind magic was energetic, and earth magic was solid and stable. Different magics suited different mage natures, and, conversely, different mage natures could influence their magical abilities. For example, Jerry, who was lively and active, excelled in wind magic. If, hypothetically, he were to switch to earth magic, which was grounded and stable, his performance would likely suffer. Of course, advanced mages could study one or two additional elemental magics beyond their primary affinity. However, mastering all four elemental magics required reaching the advanced stages of a Grand Mage. For instance, Lawrence, a Grand Mage, was proficient in all four elemental magics. Even Piert, a Grand Mage himself, only mastered wind and fire magics. Victor's true strength remained unknown. However, even a mage as accomplished as Lawrence couldn't simultaneously use high-level magic from all four elemental affinities. Adjusting meditation techniques was a time-consuming process, and no one had heard of a mage in the world who could achieve this feat.
However, now they had witnessed it firsthand.
Before them, a human and a wolf were fiercely engaging in simultaneous high-level magic from all four elemental affinities.
The strength of the old wolf was undeniable. Several days of interaction had made the four trial participants acutely aware of it. Three-headed magic wolves were born wielders of all four elemental magics, a fact Kate's mentor had informed them of at the beginning of their journey. Due to three independently thinking heads, a three-headed magic wolf could simultaneously use three different elemental magics. Being an intermediate-level magical creature of the earth affinity, the wolf's four claws possessed potent earth-based attack capabilities. Thus, when the old wolf simultaneously employed four types of magic, no one found it surprising.
However, when Kris responded in kind with high-level magic from all four elements, everyone was astonished.
Initially, they had assumed Kris was only proficient in lightning magic, perhaps also skilled in wind magic. Throughout the journey, they had only seen her using lightning magic. Little did they expect that, when she and the old wolf clashed, she immediately unleashed a series of explosive fireballs and ice spears. Periodically, she employed wide-ranging earth magic – Quicksand Art – to hinder the wolf's movements. Astonishingly, she never stayed in one place, always appearing from all sides using a magic called "Tyrbolte."
An hour passed, and surprisingly, the intensity of the duel between the two adversaries showed no signs of waning. However, the old wolf was now at a disadvantage. The forest had been completely burned down, exposing the wolf's vulnerable form, making it an obvious target. Kris, on the other hand, continued her relentless teleportation, making it impossible for the wolf to land an attack. If it weren't for the wolf having three heads, allowing it to see in all directions, it would have failed long ago. Nevertheless, the wolf's situation was equally grim now.
Recognizing this, the old wolf suddenly froze in place, using its three heads to focus on different directions, blocking the incoming fireballs, ice spears, and lightning.
Observing this, Kris also ceased her attacks and, for the first time, stabilized her position, hovering above the wolf's heads.
"Thank goodness, the fight is finally over," Bertina sighed in relief.
Kate and Enrico exchanged glances, silently sharing their thoughts.
"I think we should retreat a bit further."
"Agreed, I see it the same way. That old wolf won't surrender so easily."
Having spoken, the two pulled Jerry and Bertina, retreating to a distant place. They ran until they reached a hilltop, where the four of them finally came to a stop. From there, they could see the silhouette of the old wolf in the distance.
After a long period of silence, suddenly, the old wolf let out three long howls to the sky. The sharp sound waves tore through the forest, like stones hitting water, creating ripples that lingered in the forest. The vast canopy resembled turbulent waves that couldn't settle for a long time. The sky was filled with swirling dark clouds forming concentric whirlpools. The four standing at a distance felt an immensely powerful force. Jerry and Bertina could hardly stand steady, and the nearby giant trees emitted groans, the sounds of the forest trembling.
In the midst of the howling, the old wolf rose to its feet. Beside it, a fierce hurricane uprooted trees. The relentless tempest engulfed everything around it—rocks, trees, soil, rivers. A colossal vortex connecting heaven and earth, sweeping countless lightning bolts, sparks, ice columns, and stones. Within a radius of one mile, everything was flattened and ground to pieces.
The four trial participants had never witnessed such a terrifying scene, taking shelter behind a large rock in the lee of the wind.
Listening to the sharp wind and the sound of trees breaking and colliding, occasionally seeing enormous trees, embraced by several people, being rolled up like leaves and swiftly carried away by the colossal hurricane.
Each person was filled with fear.
After an unknown duration, the wind subsided. For quite some time, Enrico regained his senses and nudged Kate.
"It seems to be over," Kate said, peering out.
Then, cautiously, they climbed to their feet, trembling, and carefully ascended the rock to take a look.
Before them lay ruins. The hurricane had carved out a massive crater nearly a kilometer in diameter in the middle of the forest, and all the trees around slanted toward the center of the crater.
With great difficulty, the four reached the center of the crater.
Neither the old wolf nor any trace of Chris could be seen.
"It's over. The trial mentor is surely dead," Jerry said in despair.
"Not necessarily. If she can't win, she can always escape. That magic called 'Taelbot' is very convenient for that," Bertina suggested.
"If she's willing to escape," Enrico retorted. "Given her personality, she might want to test the power of the old wolf's magic."
"You know me well!" A sharp voice floated down from above.
Everyone was startled. Looking up, they saw a black sphere suspended in the sky, slowly extending an arm, followed by a head.
A woman dressed in splendid attire emerged from the black sphere.
Strangely, the sphere could barely accommodate half of the woman's body. It was unclear how she fit in there.
The four people stared in astonishment at this powerful mage. The vast difference between her formidable magical prowess and her apparent age was the most shocking aspect. The mage appeared only four or five years older than Kate.
The mage atop their heads wore an exquisite and glamorous pink lace dress, visible even from the four's position. Beneath the dress, there was a pair of white silk shorts. Her long golden-red hair was coiled into two pointed buns resembling goat horns. A high forehead adorned with a ruby necklace. The four were utterly unable to connect the elegant and slightly childish beauty before them with the formidable sorceress.
"Who's in charge here?" Chris asked.
The young trial participants, still stunned, hadn't processed the situation, and none of them stepped forward to answer.
Suddenly, an extremely cold torrent of ice water, accompanied by large chunks of ice, poured onto the heads of the four trial participants. The hard ice chunks hit them, leaving them with bumps all over their heads.
"Someone step forward," the sharp voice demanded, growing even louder.
Kate was unceremoniously pushed forward.
"Who organized you?" Chris asked icily.
"Master Karens from Newna City," Kate replied.
"Karens, you're Karens' disciples," Chris's chilly tone warmed slightly.
"My laboratory is about seventy miles north-northwest from here, approximately five or six days' journey."
"Respected Grand Magus Chris, may I have the honor of addressing you as Teacher? My admiration for you is like the rushing river, and your spell 'Telperion' is something I aspire to learn endlessly. With my limited abilities, I fear I may not master even one percent in my lifetime. Therefore, merciful one, could you kindly take me under your guidance, allowing me to cherish a beautiful memory within my lifetime? I once had the privilege of experiencing 'Telperion,' and I wish to preserve this wonderful memory for ten thousand years," Jerry unleashed a relentless stream of flattery, a skill inherited from his shrewd merchant father.
Listening to this lengthy flattery, Enleiko gained a rough understanding of Jerry's father—a cunning merchant.
The intention behind this flattery was clear to anyone; Jerry wanted to hitch a ride. Enleiko prayed that Chris would handle Jerry generously.
Sure enough, a burst of sharp laughter echoed through the sky.
The four young people's expressions changed dramatically. This laughter was too familiar to them—like the warning sirens before Chris erupted.
The four found themselves once again plunged into contemplation, whether due to surprise or shock.
"This woman is really..." Enleiko contemplated his own troubles. "Perhaps Master Karens shifted the destination to the Dream Magic Forest to fulfill his own goals. To achieve his objective, there's probably no better candidate than this crazy female mage before us. It seems I should seek advice from Jerry more often; his flattery is a handy skill when dealing with female mages."
"Wow, Jerry, you really hit the mark with us. In fact, when the great Chris Magus effortlessly defeated that old wolf, we thought, if we were fortunate enough to become disciples of such a grand magus, what an honor that would be!" Thinking and doing were inseparable for Enleiko, given that his family ran a general store and he was a "merchant." When it came to flattery, he never lagged behind, and he even remembered to include Kate and Bertina, knowing that he couldn't rely on Kate, a knight from a knightly family, or Bertina, a cleric from a cleric family, to possess the skill of flattery!
"Hehehe, get ready, we're hitting the road." Clearly, Enleiko's flattery was quite enjoyable for Chris as well.
With a sharp sound, and without hearing Chris utter any incantation, a series of lightning bolts shot out. Intense pain and powerful paralysis stabbed every nerve in Enleiko's body. If he could just faint at this moment, that would be extremely fortunate. However, clear agony tortured the four young people, and the scene before them blurred. Yet, they could vaguely sense the surroundings rapidly changing with each jolt, accompanied by a new intense electric shock.