The mayor's mansion was far more luxurious than the viscount's estate, Nidhogg thought to himself.
The hall was crowded, and Nidhogg eagerly looked inside. There, a wizard in a wide gray robe sat at the highest point of the hall, his face obscured by a misty veil, just as Mary had described.
In front of the wizard was a table with a crystal ball emitting a soft glow, enveloping the entire hall in a mysterious aura. Beside the crystal ball was a red-eyed frog, croaking incessantly.
Is this what a wizard looks like?
Nidhogg felt a surge of excitement. It was his first time seeing a wizard, one who wielded mysterious and powerful magic. In front of the wizard’s crystal ball stood a chubby girl with brown hair, her eyes closed in nervous concentration as she touched the crystal ball.
The crowd in the hall held their breath. There was silence for a long time, and Nidhogg finally noticed the children standing behind the wizard, three of whom were about his age.
Is it her?
The first girl Nidhogg saw was pouting, clearly unwilling. She was the one who had discarded the "Guide to Nasal Adaptation and Scent Atlas" at the viscount’s manor during winter. Over the past months, Nidhogg had learned that she was the only daughter of Bissel City’s mayor, possessing considerable power.
It seemed that the rotund noble from before was indeed the great mayor of Bissel City.
The other two appeared to be siblings, although Nidhogg couldn't tell if they were brother and sister or simply looked alike, sharing similar features.
The boy wore a proud expression, his chin held high as he stood behind the wizard, sneering at each person who came forward for the aptitude test, much like the fellow collecting gold coins at the mansion’s gate.
The girl seemed a touch shy, probably not used to such attention from so many people at once.
"Could they be the ones tested and found to have wizard potential?" Nidhogg speculated.
Nidhogg was correct; the siblings were indeed discovered to have wizard apprentice potential in the city before Bissel. Being singled out among hundreds if not thousands gave a sense of soaring ambition, and the nobles, usually so aloof, were now fawning over them, giving Yorkris the sensation that he was the center of the universe, the favored child of destiny.
Yorkris scornfully regarded those eager to test their wizard potential. If it were so easy to become a wizard apprentice, how could it be that among the three cities visited, only he, his sister, and that dullard outside were chosen by Master Arnvolds?
In this city, having the mayor’s daughter selected was impressive enough, especially since her spot was secured through bribery.
"Mental power 6, unqualified, next," the mysterious wizard announced.
The chubby girl touching the crystal ball looked disappointed and, under the urging of those behind her, stepped away.
"Sigh, another failure."
"Yes, it seems there’s little hope for us here."
People who had held their breath sighed. After a day's worth of aptitude tests, only the mayor’s daughter had been found with wizard potential.
If not for already paying their gold coin, many would have given up by now.
"Mental power 5, unqualified, next."
The boy before the crystal ball shrugged and left dejectedly.
One by one, the hopefuls departed after their tests, and as Nidhogg edged closer, a sense of despair began to grow within him.
It seemed becoming a wizard wasn’t easy.
The boy ahead of him, whom Nidhogg recognized as the son of the Moon Bay Tavern owner, was named Wade. Moon Bay Tavern was the most luxurious place in Bissel City, so undoubtedly, Wade had plenty of gold coins.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Wade stood nervously in front of the crystal ball, touching it and closing his eyes as the ball glowed softly.
"Mental power 9, not... hmm?"
Quick-eyed Nidhogg noticed Wade discreetly handing the wizard a pouch filled with strange stones, about two or three dozen of them.
Astute as he was, Nidhogg quickly realized they might be bribes.
"Alright, stand behind me," the wizard said after accepting the pouch.
Wade beamed with excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, Master."
Then he eagerly took his place behind the wizard.
Nidhogg's expression soured. He had nothing with which to bribe the wizard. Undoubtedly, this renowned wizard wouldn’t be interested in the single gold coin left in Nidhogg’s possession.
Nidhogg, his thoughts in chaos, stepped up to the crystal ball, unsure of what to do.
"Place your hand on the crystal ball and close your eyes," the wizard instructed.
Following the wizard's words instinctively, Nidhogg complied. Suddenly, he felt the hall grow silent, as if the world had been placed under a vast dome.
“What’s happening?” Nidhogg opened his eyes to find the people in the hall frozen in place.
The mayor’s daughter was mid-tear, with droplets suspended in mid-air. Yorkris was sneering with bared fangs.
Turning around, Nidhogg saw the obnoxious boy who had collected the test fees, throwing a gold coin into the air, now suspended mid-flight.
Everyone in the hall seemed to be frozen in time. Was this a different reality?
Wait!
Nidhogg noticed a table in the corner with plates adorned in intricate patterns, far too luxurious for common folk. The plates were filled with exquisite pastries and fruit, intended for the wizard aptitude test but more decorative than functional.
Yet, above the fruit platter, two creatures with colorful, soft tentacles and multitudinous eyes floated like jellyfish, swaying gently.
This... this was unbelievable!
What were these things?
Nidhogg felt himself trembling, his face likely pale. Although he had long yearned for the mysterious world of wizards, having the door cracked open just this little bit filled his heart with endless unknowns and fears.
This was a world unlike the reality he knew.
Gathering his courage, Nidhogg cautiously approached the bizarre creatures. But as he neared the table, they seemed startled and swam to the wall.
The wall rippled like water as the creatures easily melded into it and vanished.
Dumbfounded, Nidhogg was stunned by the creatures' disappearance into the wall.
Approaching the table, he noticed that among the four regular candles was one that seemed unusual.
While topped with a burning candle, the candlestick itself was not the finely crafted ornament of aristocrats but a cooked pig's head.
Nidhogg puzzled over why initially this candlestick had seemed normal, and only upon closer inspection did it appear outlandish.
Eerily, the pig’s head’s eyes moved, fixing intently on Nidhogg’s, locking their gazes together.
A creepy atmosphere pervaded.
"Haha! Finally, I have reached the ultimate realm! Sky! Earth! Evil dragons! Nothing can stop me now!"
Suddenly, a boisterous laugh echoed from this eerily silent world. Perhaps because Nidhogg’s mind reaction was slowed, he felt no fear at the interruption, turning to look at the source of the voice.
It was a novel, the kind noblemen read to entertain themselves when bored, detailing the adventures of a minstrel.
The story followed a poor young man who fell in love with a noble lady, overcoming her family's objections, and through various opportunities, defeating the world’s most powerful evil dragon to prove himself and win her heart.
In general, it was a cliché, uninspiring tale illustrated with sketches showing the protagonist defeating evil foes.
"Dear me, what’s going on," Nidhogg stammered, looking at the novel.
A small paper figure slowly rose from within the book, complete with human features and an exaggeratedly surprised expression, staring blankly around.
The paper character was precisely the protagonist depicted in the novel’s illustrations.
While more detailed than the rough illustrations, with fine human expressions, it was still plain that its essence was merely a standing paper figure, the reverse side filled with printed words.
"What a place is this, where I’m not a god?" the paper figure shouted in panic, looking around in bewilderment.
Suddenly, it noticed Nidhogg, a grave expression crossing its face as it drew a paper sword and pointed it at him.
“Who are you? A god from the divine realm?"
"Who are you, a god from the divine realm? Who are you?" The floor tiles cracked, forming a lengthy fissure that opened and closed like a mouth, echoing the paper figure's words.
While Nidhogg and the frozen nobles stood above the fissure, none fell through.
As if the mouth was an illusion, it parroted the paper figure's words repeatedly.
A scarlet tongue emerged from the pitch-black crack, slithering from beneath Nidhogg's feet. Nidhogg could clearly see the tongue made from countless tiny serpents writhing together, swiftly ensnaring the dumbstruck paper figure atop the book.
With a series of shrill cries, the paper figure was swallowed into the depths of the fissure.
"This can't be real..." Nidhogg shook on the spot, stunned.
Suddenly, a dazzling light radiated from the crystal ball, and Nidhogg found himself whisked beside it. As he touched the crystal ball, the world around him resumed, and the sound of people talking filled his ears.
"Mental power 12, impressive, stand behind me," the wizard instructed.
Pale-faced, Nidhogg rose numbly and took his place behind the wizard.
Glancing around, all the anomalies had vanished, even the noble reading the minstrel’s tale remained unperturbed. The pig’s head candlestick and floor fissure were gone, leaving Nidhogg to wonder if it had all been an illusion or a dream.
"Damn it! How did this guy get wizard potential?" someone cursed.
"Uh-oh, my kid used to bully him. I hope he doesn't come back for revenge!" another muttered in panic.
The hall buzzed for a moment before the wizard's cold huff restored silence. Yet, the mayor’s daughter and Wade, the tavern owner’s son, glanced at Nidhogg in surprise, but seeing his servant’s attire, they sneered, losing interest in conversation.