The wizard's journey

Chapter 5: Knowledge?

After a day's journey, Grim finally learned that the mysterious wizard was named Arowoz, and their destination was a wizarding school called Lilith Cottage.

The journey to this wizarding school was very long, requiring at least two months of sea voyage.

"Before we reach the Zerlato seaport, we will visit two cities. During this time, if you have any basic questions, I can offer you a free answer once." Arowoz spoke slowly on the small path taken by the seven people.

After observing for a day, Grim noticed that among the six wizard apprentices, Gilrom was the closest to the great wizard. Naturally, Gilrom almost acted like a servant to Arowoz, busy tending to the wizard's needs and receiving several benefits from the wizard.

However, Gilrom was disliked by the other five wizard apprentices. His disdain and arrogance towards the other apprentices were evident on his face, as if he considered himself superior.

"Master, you are truly great. The spiritual meditation method you taught me the day before yesterday is somewhat obscure and profound, and I still haven't understood it..." Carrying a large bundle of the wizard's miscellaneous items, Gilrom, being closest to the wizard, had the chance to consult him first.

Seeing this, Wade, who also wanted to ask the wizard questions, cursed silently: "Damn slave." Shrugging, Wade quietly followed behind.

Yorkris, walking with his sister Yorklianna at the back, disdainfully observed the two scrambling to approach the wizard to ask questions, thinking: "Hmph, two fools without wizarding talent. Once we reach the wizarding school, and I become a great wizard, they'll be licking my boots."

Yorklianna, on the other hand, was silent, seemingly a girl without her own opinions.

Grim did not rush forward to ask the wizard questions, as he had two questions he wanted to know, but the wizard only allowed one question to be asked.

What caught Grim's attention was the wizard's use of the word "free."

Does this imply that consulting official wizards at the wizarding school is not free?

Wanting to cherish this free opportunity, Grim thought it over and focused on Lafi, who was sulking at the back of the group.

This girl, the daughter of the lord of Biser City, was forced by her father to go to Lilith Cottage, being the only one among the six wizard apprentices who was not there by choice.

Perhaps she knew more about the wizarding school than the others.

The two questions that interested Grim the most were what the wizarding world was truly like and why wizards could master mysterious magic and witchcraft.

The latter question seemed profound, but the former, the daughter of the lord, must know something about it.

Thus, Grim quietly approached Lafi.

"The world of wizards?"

Lafi, still in sorrow, gave Grim a puzzled look.

When Grim approached her, Lafi, accustomed to too many experiences, thought Grim was trying to get close to her, a common occurrence among nobility, especially since she was the daughter of the lord, having encountered seemingly accidental meetings countless times from childhood.

However, although Lafi disliked nobles who sought closeness, she disliked low-status commoners even more. Under normal circumstances, Lafi would never have shown Grim any kindness, but considering the life she would face...

Observing Grim's face filled with longing and aspiration, a look of sorrow appeared on Lafi's delicate face, followed by a sigh.

"In fact, the Wizarding Continent is not as wonderful as you think. The first point is that the status you currently possess has no value there, as you may never be able to return in your lifetime."

Grim was shocked, unable to return for a lifetime?

Could it be imprisonment?

It seemed Grim misunderstood, and Lafi gently explained, "Before becoming an official wizard, we will live forever in that place called the Wizarding Continent, an immensely vast area. Don't bother imagining its size; it's much larger than you can imagine. There, wizards hold supreme power, or rather, the power wielded by wizards is supreme..."

After half a day, Grim was deeply shocked by everything Lafi said. If the world of wizards was truly as Lafi described, it was certainly not as wonderful as he had imagined.

"In the world of wizards, without power, magic stones, it's best to keep a low profile forever, doing what you should, or death will be a common occurrence" Lafi stated coldly.

Grim swallowed hard and, after some time, began to slowly accept this harsh reality, even hesitating whether to withdraw.

After all, the world of wizards as described by Lafi seemed too terrifying, with human life seemingly worthless, and no nobles to regulate the wizards.

As a minor wizard apprentice like himself, he could be eradicated by a powerful wizard at any moment.

He was merely a commoner who had never seen the world.

Seeing Grim's fearful expression, Lafi did not want to further discourage him and shook her head.

"Of course, the Wizarding Continent is not as terrible as you imagine. It has its own operational rules, governed by wizarding schools with unimaginable powers."

Silently following the group, after a long silence, Grim finally lifted his head, his gaze firm.

If he retreated due to fear, although he might return to Biser City for a comfortable life, he would also lose the only chance to truly witness this marvelous world!

Moreover, recalling the visage of the viscount's old butler, the times he and Old Ham were bullied by knights...

Now, as a wizard apprentice, even the high and mighty lord must treat him well, the difference...

Seeing Grim's resolved gaze, Lafi scoffed.

"It's good you made the right choice. I bet if you dared to mention withdrawing to Lord Arowoz, he would have disposed of you with ease. Look, like those over there."

Grim and Lafi, lagging behind the group, followed Lafi's pointing finger and Grim was instantly horrified.

Ahead of the group lay seven or eight bandits with axes and scimitars, their clothes ragged, lying in disarray, their eyes filled with fear. The wizard had acted so swiftly that Grim hadn't even realized their group had been attacked before the enemies were almost entirely eliminated.

Boom!

A red-eyed frog, seven or eight meters tall, fell from the sky, landing precisely on the last bandit still trying to escape in the distance.

With a "plop", the bandit turned into a pile of blood and flesh, leaving Yorkris, who was beside Arowoz asking questions, completely stunned, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Grim felt his legs weaken as well, knowing without looking that his face must be terribly pale, not much better than Yorkris at the front of the group.

On the other hand, Lafi, although looking distressed, remained relatively composed.

The frog shrunk again and hopped onto Arowoz's hand, the wizard continuing to lead the group as if nothing had happened.

After more than an hourglass's time, Grim respectfully stood beside the wizard to ask his question.

"The principle of wizards mastering the power of witchcraft and magic? Hmm, that's a good question," Arowoz the wizard actually praised Grim, adding, "Very good!"

Grim was surprised by the wizard's commendation.

"I have guided many wizard apprentices, and over ninety percent of them have asked me to teach them murderous witchcraft, ignoring the essence of being a wizard. The remaining ten percent ask miscellaneous, random questions with no pattern. None have asked a question that truly grasps the essence like yours."

Grasping the essence? What essence had he grasped?

Grim was puzzled.

Arowoz then directly handed Grim a book.

"To answer your question with a quote from a great wizard, 'Grant me endless knowledge, and with myself as the fulcrum, I will lever the boundless worlds.' Thus, for a wizard, real power is the knowledge they possess and their own magical power. However, at the end of the day, you'll find that all of a wizard's power fundamentally comes from the knowledge they hold."

Arowoz pointed to the book in Grim's hands: "This 'Meditation Guide' is a gift from me, containing some of my past insights."

Grim held the "Meditation Guide" his eyes reflecting disbelief.

"Using one's magical power as the fulcrum and endless knowledge as the lever to move boundless worlds? If both one's magical power and acquired knowledge form the basis of a wizard's strength, why does Arowoz say that knowledge is the source of all a wizard's power?"

One question led to another, leaving Grim somewhat confused.

However, seeing Arowoz moving on, seemingly only willing to answer one question per person without further discussion, Grim did not dare to follow and ask more.

Grim failed to realize that these questions, if answered, represented the knowledge of the wizarding world.