443 Reunion (1/2)

Outside of the windows, green fields and thriving forests were retreating quickly. Sitting in this steel monster marching forward fast and smoothly, tasting the delicious black pepper steak, Louise felt that she was in a dream. Ever since she arrived in Holm, everything she saw was beyond her imagination.

Magic apprentice could cast spells in public and not worry about attracting the Church; The magic steam train station was built right in the city within the sight of ordinary people passing by; The enormous steel monster, although it carried hundreds of people, could move so fast and smoothly…

Louise thought that only senior-rank sorcerers could get on the magic train, but it turned out that the train was even accessible to apprentices. What she saw right now was completely different from what the old books told her about the ancient Magic Empire.

Louise would have thought that she was already in a new world if she had not seen how people in Holm lived their life: They were just a bit more conservative in dressing, and other than this, they were not different from the people in the Duchy of Violet.

However, to some degree, this was a new world for Louise. Her life had turned to a new page from here!

Louise stroke her black hair gently, her heart filled with determination and hope. She came from an ordinary noble family, where magic had been a secret tradition for several generations. The family members who failed to awaken their blood power would study magic instead. In this case, her family could always access the magic potions for turning a person into a knight. Therefore, there will always be knights in the family, and its status and title could be ensured.

However, all methods and insurances were fragile against the hands of fate. Her family was involved in the war against the heresy in the north, and most male members died on the battlefield. The female members then either married or remarried. In the end, only a very young Louise and her grandfather were left, so some remote relatives started coveting their wealth and title.

Failed to awaken her blood power, Louise had no choice but to step onto the road of magic. The sorcerer recruited and sheltered by her grandfather was her first teacher.

The amazing world of magic attracted her deeply. However, the it could not provide her with peace and safety. Day by day, she lived like a intimidated mouse, worried that someone would discover her secret. Until one day, she found out by accident that the famous musician, Silvia, was in fact the apprentice named White Honey that she knew. She was therefore inspired and started to also use her music talent to cover her secret identity of a magic apprentice.

Then, she inherited the wealth and the mysterious materials from her family, which she used to trade the silver moon magic potion from her teacher and became a formal sorcerer. To hide her spiritual power, she used almost all of her heritage and savings to exchange for the Holy Water and successfully awakened her blood power, which enabled her to control animals. She also became a quite famous musician because of her blood power.

However, she was still not satisfied with the situation. The fact that her own teacher was killed by the night watchers when exploring relics in the forests caused her to frequently awake from nightmares in the middle of the night. Terrified one day that the night watchers would show up in her room, she desperately studied and worked as a musician, hoping to become more and more famous so that one day she could get to know some major nobles and receive their protection.

”I'm not asking for too much. All I wanted is to study magic quietly in peace. It seems that such a simple wish could never granted.” Each time when the past came to visit at midnight in her dream, she would lament like this.

Yet one day, when the arrival of a sorcerer called Professor opened the gate to a new world in front of her, she finally saw hope. The only pity was that she had to say goodbye to her beloved music and the Aalto Musician's Association.

”Miss Louise?”

The young sorcerer sitting in front of her woke her up from her memory.

Louise put on a soft smile and said, ”Sorry, the amazing magic steam train triggered some memory of mine. Mr. Pan, please continue with the Allyn's Dumbest Ways to Die… It's very interesting, and enlightening as well.”

Her voice was like a piece of smooth silk. Elegant and gentle, with a hint of melancholy, Louise was unique from most female sorcerers. There were, of course, female sorcerers who looked even more gorgeous than Louise, but the aesthetic air of a musician was hard to be ignored.

Klein, the young sorcerer whose black hair was combed back neatly, also grinned and said, ”that's right. I could never imagine that there could be so many dumb things happening during experimentation, exploration, and everyday life. I gotta be careful. I don't want to become a joke between sorcerers after I died.”

Mr. Pan carried the typical features of a Holmish and had a bright smile. ”We're almost there. When you guys have settled down in Allyn, we can have dinner together. I've got more stories.”

When Pan was speaking, he took a few shy glances at Louise.

On his opposite side sat Louise, Klein, Zapataro (Flame), and Ricardo (Hanger), who had been absent-minded all the way since he saw the city of Heidler — Some apprentices never leaved Aalto; some died on their way; and in the last, only the four of them, two sorcerers and two apprentices, successfully arrived at Sturk.

Hanger and Flame were actually not qualified for coming to Allyn, since Stuart would only send sorcerers and selected apprentices here. But they managed to be included in the trip by pretending as Philosopher's students..

”Almost there? I don't see it…” Louise looked out but saw no hint of a city.

Pan smiled and pointed up. ”Allyn is above the clouds. You can't see it from here.”

Louise nodded and turned back her eyes. After a second of hesitation, she asked with a slight smile, ”Mr. Pan, may I ask you a question?”

”You're more than welcome, Louise. Also, you can just call me Pan.” Pan secretly omitted the ”Miss” when addressing Louise.

Louise asked, somehow a bit nervously, ”Pan, do you know a sorcerer called Professor?”

Since Professor was on the Cleansing List, she assumed that he should be relatively well-known in Allyn.

Philosopher, Hanger, and the others all turned to look at Pan. Professor was the only sorcerer in the Congress that they knew off.

”I do know him. He's on the Cleansing List and is a member of the Will of Elements that I just mentioned. But most sorcerers have no idea who he really is, including me.” Pan shook his head.

They all felt a bit disappointed, and Klein asked, ”Did you ever guess who he is?”

Before Pan could answer, the apprentices burst out in exclamation.

Outside of the window, the rails went straight up into the air and the train speeded in midair. The green fields, forests, and cities underneath became smaller and smaller.

”It's a miracle of God…” Klein murmured. Influenced by the Church in Aalto for most of his life, Klein immediately had these three words jumped into his mind when he saw the train flying.

And when he saw the inverted, floating mountain peaks, the cloud-covered magic towers, the beautiful gardens, and the magnificent city of Allyn, Klein did feel that they were all made by a god.

”Welcome to Allyn.” Pan bowed slightly, his left hand on his chest.