The Traveling Wizard of Worlds

"So, if I want to acquire knowledge about the apprentice stage, what price must I pay?" August asked Reinster.

"You've come to the right person!" Suddenly, Reinster's eyes gleamed with excitement, and he pulled a thick book from the backpack on his back.

"These are my mentor's notes from his apprentice stage, meticulously recording his experiences and summaries from that period. If you want them, they're worth five gold coins." He now looked like a street vendor in the market, having lost his previous cheerful and attractive demeanor.

One gold coin in this world weighs about 30 grams (in Earth units), which is roughly equivalent to $2,025 in gold. This meant he would have to pay $10,125 in gold for this notebook.

The price made August frown. Although his manuscript fees had always been high, since transmigrating, after daily expenses, he had only saved about $27,945, which amounted to 13 gold coins and 80 silver pieces over the past few years. This would instantly take away almost a third of his assets, causing August to hesitate for a moment.

Seeing August's expression, Reinster immediately deduced that August was capable of paying but wasn't entirely convinced to buy. So, as a successful salesman of the magical world, Reinster began to pitch the notebook.

"My mentor was a High Mage. He left this notebook for me when he departed from here. It meticulously records all his experiences, from his apprenticeship to becoming a Formal Mage. In it, you'll find answers to almost all the problems you'll encounter during your apprentice stage."

As he spoke, he feigned a sigh: "If it weren't for the difficulties everyone faces in advancing, how could I bear to share such valuable knowledge with everyone?"

August looked at him, realizing that the handsome and familiar Reinster was quite shameless. He was selling a book, yet he still tried to sound conceited.

He was sure this guy was selling a copy. He believed that mysterious mages must have a way to duplicate the book's contents. Now, August suspected if this guy's primary reason for actively helping him was to promote his products.

Nevertheless, August asked for a preview, and Reinster agreed. Although he could only randomly flip through two pages, it was enough for August to assess the notebook's quality.

So he gritted his teeth and bought the notebook. Though it pained his heart, he also felt a little happy, as some problems that had troubled him for a long time finally had a solution.

Before coming here, he had anticipated the possibility of transactions, so he carried approximately half of his net worth with him, just in case wizard-related items were too expensive.

August counted out five gold coins and reluctantly handed them to Reinster.

"Excellent! For this pleasant transaction, I'll give you extra information." Reinster gestured for him to come closer.

August leaned in.

"Later, when the mages finish their discussion, there will be a banquet. There are three things in the food. You first..."

---

### The Grand Feast

August and the others waited a while and saw that the mages, who had been discussing intensely in the distance, seemed to have reached an agreement. They gathered in groups of two and three, chatting and laughing.

Someone gestured to them, indicating that they, the apprentices, could also approach. August and the others immediately interrupted their discussion and rushed to one side of the hall.

"Today's discussion has successfully concluded! Now, let us enjoy the feast with joy!" A white-bearded old man, dressed in a navy blue robe and a wide-brimmed pointed hat that perfectly matched August's image of a wizard, laughed heartily.

He waved his right hand forward, and instantly, three long tables appeared out of nowhere, connected end-to-end and firmly supported on the ground. Immediately afterward, he waved his arm again, and first, pristine tablecloths covered the tables, and then, suddenly, exquisite dinnerware appeared.

"Mage Lior's Summoning Charm* is always amazing, no matter how many times you see it!" Reinster exclaimed beside him, and August perceived the envy in his voice. How could he not feel the same? This was one of the few opportunities he had to see a formal mage cast a spell.

Although Mr. Mardo was his examiner and also a formal mage, and August had relatively more contact with him, August had only seen him perform once, and even then, he couldn't see clearly because it was dark.

"Is this the wonder of mages!" A deep longing surged in August's heart; he, too, wanted to possess such incredible abilities.

The previous matter was not yet over. Mage Lior, one of the founders of the Mercury Serpent, clapped his hands. August focused his attention, but nothing happened at the table except what was already there.

"Look at the sky!" someone shouted, and everyone looked up at the ceiling.

"Oh! How incredible!"

They saw a pile of food in the sky, aligned and slowly flying towards the tables on the ground. These meats and fruits even had a pair of small wings, slowly descending onto the tables.

"[Beautiful Transformation]!" he heard someone exclaim again, and August secretly remembered the name of this spell.

"How can there be no black tea at this moment?" As if showing off, he spread his hands, and instantly, the teacups on the table flew towards everyone present.

Then, several teapots with four long legs, steaming, scurried from a distance and poured steaming black tea into everyone's cups.

August watched these scenes, and the longing in his heart intensified. He decided that, in the future, he could no longer treat the legacy of mages so frivolously. He had to approach it with the same enthusiasm with which he had approached the university entrance exam in his previous life.

"You too can achieve these things, as long as you study seriously and delve into the Path of the Mage." Lior stroked his beard and encouraged the envious apprentices: "Now, everyone, enjoy!"

The scene immediately became lively, and the apprentices eagerly discussed Grandmaster Lior's exquisite Transformation.

Even the formal mages were discussing it.

"Mage Lior's magical power is deepening. This type of Transformation not only tests a mage's magical power and mental strength but, above all, their control over spells. Among us, only Mages Lior and Douglas can achieve it, right?"

"Indeed, the High Mage Position is still very far from us."

August was no longer concerned with these matters. He was selecting ingredients from the table according to the information Reinster had provided him.

"First, the Roman fish roe." August found the small dish of black caviar on the table and spooned some onto his plate.

"Then, the hollow flower juice." August took a bottle with clear liquid from the table and poured some over the caviar.

"Finally, the Moonberry jam." He then took another spoonful of red jam and poured it onto the plate.

Of course, this was his main purpose. To not make his intentions too obvious, he also took some other food for his plate.

He also saw some apprentices who, like him, targeted these three items and tried to hide it as he did.

The amount of caviar was very small, probably only enough for six people, but none of the Formal Mages touched this food, clearly for some reason.

When he finished taking his food, August clearly saw Grandmaster Lior looking at him with approval, and Mardo also nodded with satisfaction.

Then August sat down to the side, next to Reinster.

"Now you can finally tell me what these foods are for," August asked, irritated. He particularly hated such half-explanations.

Reinster had told him to take a bit of each of these three ingredients, not to skip any, but he hadn't told him the specific reason.

"Relax. Do you know anything about magical potions?" Reinster countered.

"Of course."

Mages use magical materials to refine potions with wonderful effects. These potions are usually very valuable. According to the notes left by his family's ancestors, no matter what kind of potion, refining it is very difficult. However, a potion's effect is far greater than directly using raw materials, so almost all types of potions are scarce in the magical world.