The Traveling Wizard of Worlds

"Hello, Mr. Blair." August gave a slight bow.

Adding "Mage" after a name is a form of address used between formal wizards. August was, at best, an apprentice, so he couldn't use that title. Mr. Mardo had already reminded him of these basic magical courtesies in previous conversations.

"Mage Mardo, didn't you tell him?" The large tree's eye swiveled upwards, and August sensed Blair's displeasure.

"Excuse me, did I say something wrong?" August asked, somewhat bewildered, wondering if he had been rude in some way.

A brief moment of awkwardness appeared on Mardo's usually calm face, then he turned to August and explained: "Mage Blair is a noblewoman."

August was immediately embarrassed. He never imagined such a gruff voice belonged to a woman, which left him momentarily speechless.

"It matters not. Both of you, come in. The meeting is about to begin, and you are the last to arrive." The tree face sighed, seemingly a bit helpless.

Then, something magical happened: another opening appeared beneath the tree's face, and some things emerged from within, beginning to expand on the bark's surface.

Soon, a small door, just wide enough for one person to pass through, appeared on the surface of the large tree.

*Click!*

August heard the sound of a lock opening, and the small door creaked ajar. August looked and discovered that the human face on the bark had vanished.

"Take my hand. First-timers often get lost inside." Mardo extended his right hand, indicating for August to take it.

"Lost?" August wasn't timid at that moment and naturally took Mardo's hand, but he asked him another question.

"You'll know in a moment." Mardo opened the door and led August inside.

After the darkness, August's eyes brightened, and he saw a dazzling garden where countless flowers of unknown name bloomed and colorful butterflies danced among them.

"It's so beautiful, if only I could stay here forever," August exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

"Don't get lost." Mardo's words were like a bucket of cold water over his head. August immediately snapped awake, realizing he had unknowingly become captivated by the beautiful scenery.

"This is the Garden of Illusion. If those who enter it don't have strong mental defenses, they can easily get lost. As for their fate..." Mardo sneered, "You know why the flowers grow so well here, don't you?"

August gazed at the beautiful garden before him and felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet. This seemingly beautiful place was a cruel trap.

"Of course, since it's your first time, nothing will happen if I guide you. Once you officially join us, Mage Lior will cast a spell on your Mercury Serpent symbol to make you immune to the effects of this garden."

August was about to ask more when he saw Mardo extend his hand forward, as if touching a calm lake, causing a ripple of water composed of air within the illusion.

"We are here."

August felt as if he had passed through a soft veil. The scenery changed, and Mardo pulled him into another space.

The sound of noisy chatter reached his ears, and he thought he had returned to the free market of Stonehaven.

Before him lay an open plaza, paved with white flagstones. The sound came from a large hall in the center of the plaza.

This hall had a high, vaulted ceiling supported by thick stone pillars, and beneath it stood about twenty people dressed in various ways.

"Mardo, you're always so punctual." At that moment, a female voice was heard beside them. August looked and saw a beautiful woman in a dress.

"Hello, Mage Blair." Mardo smiled slightly and embraced her.

"Uh... Excuse me, Ms. Blair, I didn't know beforehand." August felt embarrassed upon realizing who she was. After all, mistaking a woman's gender was extremely rude, especially when her power far exceeded his own. In such a situation, it was best to apologize sincerely.

"It's fine, blame Mardo for not explaining it clearly," she replied naturally, not seeming to mind much. She then linked her arm with Mardo's. "Let's go. Something important has happened lately, and we need to discuss what to do."

After that, she led Mardo away without explanation.

"Wait, the new guy's matter isn't finished yet." Mardo was stunned for a moment, then remembered August.

"That can wait. Let's go first; Father is already impatient."

August realized that Blair felt something more for Mardo than just friendship. It was evident from her way of speaking: she didn't add "Mage" but called him by his name, as if he were family.

However, Mardo didn't seem to notice this and treated Blair like an ordinary friend.

August shook his head, no longer thinking about the emotional entanglements between these Formal Mages. His next concern was what to do himself.

He couldn't just follow them; that was clearly a gathering place for formal mages, and there was no place for an apprentice like him to speak.

"It seems you've run into a problem?" Just as August was secretly worried, a handsome blond man slowly approached him.

"You're right. I wonder, 'Who am I? Where do I come from? What am I going to do?'" August shrugged, joking with him.

"Haha, my friend, you're very interesting, but I still have to ask: do you need help?" The blond man sported a beaming smile and extended his right hand. "Reinster."

"August," he extended his hand and shook Reinster's, exchanging names.

"So, you are Vance, the Conscience of Stonehaven, Mr. August?" Reinster asked.

"Those are just names given to me by bored people. If those adults paid me a salary, perhaps my title would now be 'The Tongue of the Empire'?"

"Hahahahaha!" Reinster burst into laughter. "It seems we have an interesting new companion this time, much more interesting than those who only focus on sorcery."

Jokingly, he walked ahead: "Follow me, the apprentices gather in the back garden."

The two bypassed the hall and followed a flower-lined path to the back garden.

Quite a few people had already gathered, mostly young faces, but some appeared to be in their twenties or thirties, making them seem somewhat out of place.

"Welcome everyone to our new companion!" Reinster walked to the center of the crowd, raised his hand, and clapped, drawing everyone's attention.

The people who were still talking stopped and looked at August, who was standing to one side.

"Good evening, everyone. I am August, and I hope to get along well with all of you in the coming days." He removed his hat and bowed.

After returning the bow, everyone nodded in greeting and then resumed their discussion.

"If you have any questions, you can ask me; I guarantee I'll tell you everything I know." At that moment, Reinster seemed to notice August's discomfort and purposefully approached him, leading him to an empty bench.

"Thank you!" August expressed his gratitude. "Mr. Reinster, are everyone here apprentices?"

"Of course! Formal mages wouldn't come to listen to us apprentices discuss." Reinster nodded.

"So, what's the purpose of everyone gathering here?" This was also August's question; he wanted to know the discussion topics so he could join in and quickly integrate into the circle.

"It's about the problems everyone encounters in their daily study of Sorcery. Of course, you can also exchange materials and other items here," Reinster explained. "Naturally, you can also exchange or purchase wizarding knowledge, provided both parties are satisfied."

August nodded. He needed basic knowledge of the magical world. The legacy from his family's elders wasn't detailed, and many parts were unclear, leaving him confused during his studies.

He just didn't know what price they would have to pay for these things. In his previous life, they said knowledge is priceless, and it was probably the same in this world; the value of wizarding knowledge would likely be even higher.