The wizard's journey

Chapter 2: A Wizard

Old Ham ultimately did not live to see Grim marry and have children; he was laid to rest.

It was the beginning of spring, the harsh cold winds had started to soften. After a day's work, Old Ham and Grim bought a small barrel of malt beer and a few pounds of meat from the town, planning to start renovating the house the next day, and also putting the plan to find Grim a wife on the agenda.

Unfortunately, the next morning, Old Ham could no longer wake Grim up for work.

Old Ham left with a smile, whether it was due to the good food and drink from the night before or because all his wishes were fulfilled in his dreams, he remained smiling until Grim hired a few farmers to bury him, as carefree as he had always been.

Grim also buried Old Ham's most cherished smoking pipe with him.

Old Ham's sudden departure left Grim in sorrow for a while, but life had to go on.

Grim became the owner of the two thatched cottages, along with an old horse, two gold coins, and seventeen silver coins, the entirety of Old Ham's life savings, which were now Grim's total wealth.

Of course, Grim secretly kept the "Hunting Nose Transformation and Scent Atlas" a book of witchcraft, hidden with his coins, reviewing it once or twice every night without using too much lamp oil.

This was Grim's way of peeking through a c***k in the door to the world of wizards.

Gradually, it was now summer.

Another ordinary day passed, and after the morning's work, Grim dumped the trash left over from the noble's feast at the Viscount's mansion outside the city. Then he went to the Viscount's land to collect the day's supplies prepared for the Viscount.

Sitting on the cart, Grim enjoyed the view of the blue sky and floating clouds.

A village girl named Mary, more capable than many boys, efficiently loaded the goods onto the cart.

Mary, wearing a linen apron with freckles on her face and golden hair, had a rapid heartbeat, occasionally stealing glances at Grim, comfortably seated on the cart.

Seeing the handsome man, Mary was smitten, her heart racing at the unique scent of him, reminiscent of the fragrance of Alan grass.

However, Grim paid no attention to Mary.

A year ago, by chance, Grim knew this girl liked him, as Old Ham had secretly told him. Old Ham's plan was even for Grim to marry this girl.

But Grim had to admit, he really felt nothing more than neighborly affection for this hardworking and shy girl.

So, after Old Ham's departure, Grim never took the initiative to contact her, only seeing her when loading goods each day.

Seeing Grim silent, Mary continued her work while sneakily observing him. As the goods were nearly loaded, following the routine, Grim would soon drive the cart away. Unable to hold back, Mary finally spoke up.

"Grim, this morning, a wizard passed by here, even asking for directions to Biser City. Everyone here was stunned; it's my first time seeing a real-life wizard."

Pretending to be excited, Mary sneakily watched Grim's reaction.

Hearing the word "wizard" Grim, who had been bored, suddenly became interested, incredulously asking, "A wizard? Are you sure?"

"Of course, many people here saw him."

Mary, pleased Grim engaged in conversation, eagerly responded.

Grim, excited, asked, "What did the wizard look like?"

He had never seen a wizard before.

"Hmm... The wizard wore a wide gray robe, a tall hat on his head, his face was unclear, as if shrouded in mist, and he held a frog with red eyes. Oh, he was talking to Emma at the village head."

Seeing Grim's excitement, Mary shared all she knew.

"Thank you, that's amazing!"

Grim was thrilled, having received his first real clue about a wizard since acquiring the book of witchcraft half a year ago.

He hurried towards the village head, Emma's house.

Emma, a young woman of twenty-three or twenty-four with two children, was married to a robust and hearty hunter named Sokalara.

Surprised to see Grim, Sokalara exclaimed, "Ah, Grim's here, were you lured by the aroma here? Come, come, from yesterday's hunt on the mountain east of here..."

In the kitchen, Emma emerged, with two curious children looking at Grim.

Half an hour later.

Grim left Emma's house, excitedly muttering, "Biser City, he really went to Biser City!"

Full of energy, Grim drove the cart towards the city, hoping the old horse wouldn't give out before they arrived, joining Old Ham in rest.

At the entrance of the Viscount's mansion, the arrogant steward stood with four tall and muscular knights, blocking the way.

The steward, with a sinister look in his eyes, yelled at the dozen or so peasants gathered at the mansion's entrance, "The lands you till were granted by the Viscount himself. He has every right to levy taxes as he sees fit. Are you trying to rebel? Let me tell you..."

Grim, anxiously waiting at a distance, observed the scene.

It was a common occurrence around this time each year for a large group of peasants to protest at the Viscount's gate, only to be dispersed after a brief confrontation with the towering knights, the duration of the ordeal varying each time.

"Peasants! Insolent peasants!" shouted the steward, "Drive them away!"

In just a short moment, the four knights dispersed the crowd by force of arms.

The steward, furious, puffed up in anger.

Grim, not wanting to delay further, discreetly drove his cart into the Viscount's estate as the steward roared, "Stop right there!"

After a cursory glance at Grim and the cart's cargo, the steward scolded, "Why are you so slow? Do you not wish to work anymore?"

Grim grimaced, already frustrated.

This old man had already extorted two silver coins from him this month, and with a monthly wage of only four silver coins from the Viscount's estate, the steward's greed was unbearable.

"Sir, I was here on time. It was the peasants blocking the way that delayed me" Grim retorted, not as patient as Old Ham.

The steward, as if stung by a wasp, became livid, his face turning red as he pointed at Grim and shouted.

"You scoundrel! How dare you talk back? It seems the Viscount has been feeding you for nothing! Fine, fine... don't bother coming back tomorrow. Get out!"

Afterwards, the steward stormed into the yard, turning to the knights, "If this peasant shows up tomorrow, break his legs; otherwise, you don't need to come back either."

Grim stood beside his cart, seething with rage, silently cursing that the steward would meet Old Ham the following day.

Suddenly, Grim thought of something, parked his cart under a nearby large tree, and ran towards a blacksmith shop in the small town.

"Hey, Charles."

Grim greeted an apprentice blacksmith.

When Grim was still begging in Biser city, there had been nine beggars begging together, and Charles was one of them.

Over time, everyone found their paths; Grim was taken in by Old Ham, Charles became an apprentice in this blacksmith shop. The whereabouts of the others remained unknown.

"Grim!"

The apprentice, brightening upon seeing Grim, approached with large strides and patted Grim on the back, "What brings you here?"

Standing nearly Charles feet tall, the apprentice was covered in the sour scent of sweat, now bulkier than Grim, with a full beard and cheeks reddened from years of working near the forge, his rough hand causing Grim discomfort upon contact.

"Charles, I came to ask you something. Heard a wizard came to town?"

Grim whispered.

Charles's expression changed.

"How did you know? Indeed, a wizard has arrived, apparently to recruit students with the potential for wizardry. However, assessing whether one has the potential requires a gold coin."

Speaking softly, Charles gestured towards the old blacksmith "The old man took his son there, only to find out the boy had no potential. Now, he's sore about losing that gold coin."

Grim's excitement soared, "Where's the wizard?"

Charles looked shocked, "You're not thinking of going, are you? A gold coin is no small sum, and we don't have money to waste."

Grim hesitated momentarily.

Losing a gold coin would be a significant setback for someone with just over two gold coins, but missing this opportunity might mean never getting another chance.

Finally, Grim nodded decisively.

After a moment of shock, Charles said, "He's at the Lord's Manor. It's said the Lord's precious daughter has been identified as having wizard potential, the only one in Biser City."

"Thanks, Charles."

Grim was thrilled, even forgetting the unpleasant incident with the steward at the Viscount's estate, his mind entirely focused on the wizard.

Desperately, Grim sprinted back to his small thatched cottages, pulling out a box hidden in the most secret spot, filled with a considerable amount of silver and copper coins.

"I must become a wizard! I must!"

After counting out a hundred silver coins and giving it some thought, Grim also took the "Nose Hunting Transformation and Scent Atlas" a book of magical witchcraft, hid the box well, and ran back to Biser City.

As it was summer, the days were long, and fortunately, it hadn't gotten dark yet.

The Lord of Biser City was the most noble aristocrat in the area, reportedly the only Marquis in the region.

Unless one ventured to other city jurisdictions, what the Lord said was law, even the Viscount had to obey.

Grim had only ever seen the Lord's Manor from a distance; usually, it was heavily guarded by seven or eight knights, but now, many people were entering and exiting.

Most of those coming and going were city shop owners or nobles, each with their offspring, usually looking disappointed.

Knowing the wizard was inside, Grim rushed in without hesitation.

"Stop, you need to pay a gold coin to enter."

At that moment, a boy about Grim's age scolded him.

Grim, feeling the pinch, handed over a small bag of silver coins to the boy, who disdainfully tossed it into a box behind him without counting.

Grim was taken aback by the boy's attitude, likely just a farmer's son who had somehow lucked out, wondering where his arrogance came from.

With equal disdain, Grim followed the crowd into the Lord's Manor.