A dark, stormy winter night with heavy gray clouds in the sky. Torrential rain falls steadily but not overwhelming, with fierce winds and an intense, chilling atmosphere. The scene is very dim, with no visible moon or stars, hidden behind thick clouds. Occasional flashes of lightning flicker within the clouds, briefly lighting up the dark surroundings, creating an eerie effect. The ground is wet, with only a few puddles scattered, and raindrops fall on rooftops and earth. The storm feels cold, dark, and mysterious, but not flooded or overly watery. [https://files.oaiusercontent.com/file-l4WSHYGD9agTFQgYIE1oiFNi?se=2024-11-06T13%3A23%3A48Z&sp=r&sv=2024-08-04&sr=b&rscc=max-age%3D604800%2C%20immutable%2C%20private&rscd=attachment%3B%20filename%3De382962d-2031-4e06-b27e-19b2d74be978.webp&sig=w%2B04xhO0O7rn7QixqwyLD%2BfK95IDWliUNmT/3Z3KJoM%3D]
Winter had set in for a while, and the gray clouds had hung heavily in the sky for days, finally bursting forth one night in a storm.
It was as if the sky's reservoir had opened its gates, and torrential rain poured down like a waterfall. The fierce wind whipped the rain, creating a chilling night. In the thick, inky darkness, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, only the sound of countless raindrops hitting the ground, rooftops, and puddles.
The moon and stars hid behind the heavy clouds, unwilling to gaze upon the rainy, dark world below.
Occasionally, flashes of lightning flickered within the clouds, briefly dispelling the darkness for a second or two. The lightning brought booming thunder, merging with the monotonous sound of rain to create a deep symphony.
The drainage system on the streets wasn't great, and the continuous downpour turned the ground into small streams.
Two pairs of footsteps splashed through the rain that flowed wildly across the street, making their way through the pitch-black curtain of rain.
Amid the noisy rain, two voices could be faintly heard, their words shattered by the downpour. From their tones, one was old and the other young.
"Why did the teacher keep you after class again? Did you argue with him?" the older man asked.
"Mr. Laberge said the 3rd Tier spell 'Shadow Stealth' can avoid detection in the unicorn's celestial domain," the boy replied, his voice muffled and stubborn. "You once told me that only the Divine Magic spell 'Holy Shadow' that resonates with the celestial domain can sneak up beside a unicorn."
"Yes, your teacher was indeed wrong. But you can't blame them; many of them have spent nearly their whole lives in the wizard tower. How could they have a chance to hunt wild unicorns? They can only guess based on imagination,
"But you must not argue with your teachers; they are your elders and the ones imparting knowledge to you. You need to respect them; otherwise… you'll be kept after class, and I'll have to come pick you up myself." The older man first agreed with the boy, then scolded him.
"The practical magic and beast taming teachers just talk nonsense and have bad tempers," the boy complained. "If only you taught at the wizard academy, all the apprentices would flock to hear your lectures, and no one would pay attention to Mr. Laberge."
The older man shook his head and laughed, "Forget it. I'm already exhausted from teaching you in my spare time. I can't handle a whole bunch of mischievous kids like you."
"Besides the boys, there are many girls too. Tisana from the neighboring potion class is quite pretty, and there's Phoebe, she seems to be the daughter of a Marquis..." The boy spoke candidly, holding a black umbrella while the old man beside him held another.
Side by side, they walked as the sky poured down endless raindrops that pattered against their umbrellas. Rain streamed off the edges, creating a curtain of water.
"Professor Korm likes to sing while mixing potions, and he sings worse than a crow. So, we've nicknamed him 'Stinky Mouth Crow'. Today, Benjamin muttered the nickname under his breath, and 'Stinky Mouth Crow' heard it. He ended up being punished with the Levitation spell to stand upside down for an entire afternoon..." The boy cheerfully shared the day's amusing incidents from the wizard academy, his youthful voice carrying far along the deserted, rain-drenched streets.
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"Uncle?" The boy stopped and turned back.
The old man had suddenly stopped walking. Holding the umbrella with one hand, he stood quietly in the pouring rain, seemingly deep in thought. The boy noticed that in his other hand, the old man gripped his wand.
"Uncle, what's wrong?" the boy asked again, puzzled.
"Eddie, come to my side, throw away your umbrella, and watch out for the dragons in the sky," old Tony said, then tossed his umbrella aside. The black umbrella was quickly swept away by the wind to the other side of the street.
Old Tony raised his wand, and the swirling black umbrella in the darkness suddenly burst into flames.
Eddie was startled, the light from the burning umbrella briefly illuminating the darkness. In the relentless rain, a figure in a long robe stood like a drenched flag on the ground.
Eddie, anxious, dropped his black umbrella and ran to old Tony's side, also pulling out his own wand from his space bag.
The fire was extinguished by the torrential rain, and the robed figure once again disappeared into the dark, deep gloom.
Old Tony placed his palm on Eddie's shoulder, shook his wand, and magic repelled the rain around them. The raindrops paused in the air momentarily but then continued to fall to the ground, splashing everywhere.
The short-distance teleportation spell failed.
Old Tony tightened his grip on the wand and pointed ahead where the robed figure had vanished, saying loudly, "They've even set up a spatial blockade; it looks like they prepared well for this ambush."
No one answered him, and old Tony didn't expect a response.
He leaned closer to Eddie and said, "The real magic combat lesson starts now. Cast all the defensive spells you know on yourself!"
Eddie trembled slightly, gripping his wand tightly like old Tony. He whispered the incantations:
"1st Tier Blade Defense."
"Low-level Shield."
"Magic Deflection Halo…"
In his panic, he mispronounced several syllables and had to start over.
Old Tony traced circles above Eddie's head with the tip of his wand. High-tier Magic Immunity, Mirror Shield, Advanced Blade Defense… one by one, high-tier defensive spells enveloped him.
Old Tony didn't forget to teach: "Combat Tip One: Always stay calm."
Several high and low-tier magical halos spun around Eddie, wrapping him in a sphere of colorful magic.
Eddie anxiously looked at old Tony. "Uncle, I can protect myself. You should cast your defensive spells first."
They stood in the pouring rain, the cold wind howling past their ears. Without the shelter of their umbrellas, the winter rain quickly soaked through their clothes, chilling them to the bone.
Eddie shivered and waved his wand, trying to cast a "Water Repelling Shield" for both himself and his uncle.
Old Tony stopped him. "A Water Shield would create a curtain of rain that blocks your vision. Remember, Combat Tip Two: Life is always more important than temporary comfort."
A glimmer of yellow light appeared ahead, revealing the previously vanished robed figure in the downpour. He also wasn't using any rain-avoidance spells, allowing the heavy rain to drench him.
In his hand, he held a dark blue wand, and a yellow orb of light began to shine from its tip. He moved forward, weaving through the rain, getting closer to old Tony and Eddie, almost within the effective attack range of most spells.
"I don't understand," old Tony said while preparing his defensive spells, "Why are you looking for trouble with me when we're both wizards?"
He didn't really care about the answer; it wouldn't change the outcome anyway. He was just using the conversation to draw his opponent's attention and buy some time.
"You're too close to adventurers and too far from wizards. The Wizarding Alliance in the kingdom has long had its eye on you," the robed figure in the rain replied in a deep voice.
"So you became a noble's lapdog to bite me?" old Tony scoffed. He had a good reputation in the wizard community and wasn't about to believe this robed man.
The robed man had moved into the effective attack range of most spells. The yellow orb of light at the tip of his wand suddenly brightened, but it still didn't illuminate his face beneath the hood.
His raspy voice cut through the rain, carried by the wind: "Some people find you too troublesome and want your life. If you're smart, perhaps we won't have to duel on this terrible stormy day…"
While old Tony was trying to attract his attention with conversation, the robed man was doing the same.
"Crack!" A sharp, bright lightning bolt shattered the darkness, piercing through the rain curtain and lunging toward old Tony from behind!
Old Tony, originally facing the robed man, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He spun around quickly, casting a 4th Tier spell, Electric Field Deflection, to block the lightning.
"Ha, just a little trick," old Tony sneered. He had anticipated an ambush from behind.
He was a High-tier wizard skilled in 4th Tier magic. To successfully assassinate him, the robed man could only be another High-tier wizard. Those who could wield 5th Tier magic held themselves in high regard and wouldn't stoop to the petty business of late-night ambushes.
Just one High-tier wizard wasn't enough; there must be another one lying in wait to strike. And given the heavy rain, the effectiveness of the fireball spells wizards typically used would be greatly diminished, forcing the attackers to rely on lightning-based magic.
"Your ability to respond is quite impressive," a weathered voice came from behind.
An elderly man leaning on a staff stood across the street, the magic crystal embedded in his wand illuminating his aged face. It was he who had just cast the 4th Tier spell, Thunder Spear.