Wizard, I Have Another World – Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Wizard

Morning.

The fog had yet to dissipate.

A pitch-black carriage drove onto the path, the coachman skillfully maneuvering the wheels to avoid the uneven terrain.

Karl lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the familiar road, and asked:

“Is this the road to Earl Rexton’s manor outside the city?”

“Yes.”

Tim, sitting opposite him, wore a top hat and a white tie, looking like a guest dressed up for a banquet.

He lightly raised his cane and pointed outside:

“And it’s also the road to my mentor’s manor, ‘Senior Wizard Apprentice’ Adolf.”

“Adolf?” Karl’s eyes flickered:

“The alchemist?”

“Yes.” Tim nodded:

“My mentor’s research focuses on alchemy.”

“What is a wizard?” Karl pressed:

“What are you bringing me here for?”

“Hehe…” Tim chuckled:

“You’ll know when we arrive. In short, this is a realm that many people will never be able to touch in their lifetime.”

Karl had asked about ‘wizards’ many times along the way, but Tim had remained tight-lipped.

Although he didn’t know what he would face next, he had a feeling deep down that this trip would change his destiny.

That was why he agreed to come with Tim.

“We’re here!”

The U-shaped iron gate swung open to both sides, revealing a stone wall with obvious mottled patches. The wooden sign bearing the name was covered in vines.

It was a dilapidated manor.

Everywhere exuded an air of time’s passage.

An elderly gardener was trimming the flowers and grass with shears. He saw Tim and bowed with some difficulty.

“He…” Karl looked at the gardener, his eyes filled with suspicion:

“Has he cultivated a breathing technique?”

The moment the gardener’s gaze swept over him, the Venomous Wolf Breathing Technique spontaneously activated within Karl, and a sense of alarm flashed through his mind.

Although it was only for a moment, he was certain.

“Yes.”

Tim nodded casually:

“Old Harry is a knight.”

“A knight?”

Karl was startled.

Knights were even rarer than nobles. Even in old age, they were important figures in the city, yet here he was, working as a gardener.

“Let’s go.”

Tim quickened his pace:

“Don’t keep my mentor waiting.”

Karl withdrew his gaze and hurried to catch up.

The manor was large and empty. They walked across the lawn and arrived in front of an old castle building, where they saw another figure.

“This way!”

Tim led the way to a side hall specifically for receiving guests. Someone was already waiting inside.

“Mentor.”

The old man sitting in the center wore a gray robe, his white hair casually draped over his shoulders. His features were dignified, and although he was old, it was clear that he must have been very charismatic in his youth.

His eyes were cloudy and dim, as if he had no interest in anything.

This dejected attitude made him look somewhat 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 reserved.

“It’s been a few years.”

Looking at Karl, Adolf’s eyes brightened slightly, and he murmured:

“I didn’t expect that there would be another promising seed in Signo City. And you’ve come at the right time.”

He didn’t say what time it was, but just beckoned to his side.

“Sybil, go and test his talent.”

“Yes.”

A young girl stepped forward at his words.

The girl held a crystal ball the size of a human head and slowly walked to Karl’s side, smiling sweetly:

“Relax.”

“Just put your hands on it.”

“Hands.” Karl came back to his senses:

“Okay.”

He followed her instructions and placed both hands on the surface of the crystal ball. Then he felt a tremor run through his body.

It was as if a current of electricity was surging through his hands and into his entire body.

The next moment.

“Ugh!”

✿✿✿

Karl groaned, feeling as if his mind was exploding. An inexplicable pain shot through him.

The pain came and went quickly.

When he came to his senses, his hands had already left the crystal ball, and the girl was looking down at it carefully.

The originally transparent crystal ball now had colorful lights swirling within it, constantly changing.

After a while.

“Level four.”

The girl turned to Adolf:

“Mentor, his talent level is four. However, his mental power is much stronger than that of ordinary people, making it easier for him to become a Wizard Apprentice.”

“Level four?”

Adolf sighed, clearly disappointed:

“A bit low.”

Then he said:

“According to the ancient ‘Wizard’s General Rules’, when a talented seed is discovered, they should be guided onto the correct path of wizardry.”

“Karl, I will teach you meditation, but whether you can become a Wizard Apprentice depends on your own efforts.”

“Old sir.” Karl finally had the chance to ask the question that had been on his mind:

“What is a wizard?”

“What is a wizard?” Adolf pondered for a moment before giving his answer:

“A wizard is someone who, in the pursuit of knowledge and truth, has mastered a certain special power.”

“Special power?” Karl’s eyes lit up:

“Like Miles?”

“Yes.”

Adolf obviously knew what had happened yesterday and nodded:

“The Miles you speak of, as well as Sybil, Tim, and myself, we are all this kind of people.”

“Then what is a Wizard Apprentice?” Karl asked again.

“It is very difficult to become a true wizard. The process of learning before that is being a Wizard Apprentice.” Adolf smiled and stroked his beard:

“My lifelong pursuit is to become a Full-fledged Wizard.”

“Karl.” Tim chimed in:

“There are only a few Full-fledged Wizards in the entire Gando Kingdom, and even in Signo City, there are only two Senior Wizard Apprentices.”

“My mentor is one of them.”

Karl was impressed.

“Then…”

He swallowed:

“What is a talent level?”

“Most people in this world do not have the talent to become wizards, and even those who do have talents of varying degrees.” The girl named Sybil explained:

“We usually divide talent levels into five grades. Grade one is the best, and grade five is the worst.”

“Level four…”

“Quite average.”

She was being polite. In reality, most people with level four talent could only become Junior Wizard Apprentices in their lifetime, and even those who became Intermediate Wizard Apprentices were very rare.

Let alone Full-fledged Wizards.

Karl could also sense the change in her tone, but he didn’t mind.

He was still confused about what a Wizard Apprentice was, let alone the impact of talent level on his future.

“Old sir… Teacher.”

Karl bowed to Adolf, changing his form of address:

“After I learn the meditation you mentioned, will I have the same abilities as Miles?”

“No!”

Adolf shook his head:

“Meditation can increase your mental power and give you the ability to cast spells, but you still need to learn the corresponding spells to master special powers.”

“Spells?” Karl asked:

“What spells can I learn?”

“Karl.”

Adolf chuckled:

“In the world of wizards, everything has a price, especially knowledge.”

“You call me Teacher, and I will teach you meditation, but learning spells requires a separate payment.”

“Payment?” Karl said:

“Gold coins?”

If he could have the same abilities as Miles, it would be worth spending money.

“No.” However, Adolf shook his head in denial:

“I don’t need gold coins.”

“But you have something I’m interested in.”

?

Karl looked down, hesitated for a moment, then took out a ring with a sapphire embedded in it.