Beyond the misty gate, a sprawling city with a sky so blue it looked painted stretched before Oz's eyes.
"I didn't take a wrong turn, did I?"
Oz murmured to himself, glancing back at the mist swirling behind him.
The last time Oz had taken a wrong turn, he'd ended up in another world altogether.
But this time, he was certain: he hadn't taken a wrong turn.
Stellarkeep was as grand as he had imagined, with its towering structure reaching the sky.
It had 12 distinct floors, each more mysterious than the last.
The first floor was a bustling commercial and entertainment district.
Streets lined with shops, theaters, and cafes buzzed with activity, offering everything from enchanted items to exotic foods.
The second and third floors were residential areas, where the city's inhabitants lived in beautifully designed homes, their street often glowing with the warm light of magical lamps.
The fourth floor was a realm of danger and adventure, filled with dungeons, labyrinths, and ancient catacombs.
On the fifth floor was Mistheaven Academy, a prestigious academy of magic where students resided within their eight dormitories.
The academy grounds were alive with the chatter of students and the flicker of spells being practiced.
The sixth floor was a lush green forest and a garden of ever-blooming flowers, a serene contrast to the chaos of the other levels.
The seventh floor, however, was a forbidden forest, dense with towering trees and crawling with dangerous creatures that prowled the underbrush.
The eighth floor housed the noble families, their grand estates standing like fortresses amidst carefully manicured gardens.
The ninth floor was eerily silent, a forest of stone statues that, legend said, would come to life and attack any intruders who dared step foot there.
The tenth floor was a massive laboratory dedicated to magical research, where arcane experiments pushed the boundaries of what was possible.
The eleventh floor was the grand library, a cavernous space where the combined knowledge and secrets of Stellarkeep were kept under lock and key, accessible only to the most learned scholars.
And the twelfth floor was the sky observatory, filled with telescopes and various intricate instruments for gazing upon the stars and studying celestial bodies in minute detail.
Each floor stood an impressive up to 100 meters high and featured a false sky that could mimic any time of day or weather condition.
Though Starry Night World was a realm of wizards, even they were bound by the needs of the human body.
Without the regular rhythm of day and night, their bodies would falter, so artificial day and night cycles were created to maintain order.
On the first floor, the city's design resembled Victorian architecture, with narrow cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings.
The air was filled with the scent of fresh pastries, and the streets bustled with people going about their daily lives.
"Oz! You took so long at the gate!" a voice called out, snapping Oz from his reverie.
Sam's voice echoed across the courtyard, his figure just visible about 30 meters away, sitting on a park bench next to Mr. Pickwick.
Oz waved in acknowledgment and began walking towards them, the wheels of his suitcase clattering softly against the cobblestones.
Mr. Pickwick looked flustered as he wrestled with a disorganized suitcase, its contents seemingly strewn about as if ransacked.
It was clear that the gatekeepers had been suspicious of the large number of suitcases they carried.
"Sorry, sorry. My documents got misplaced inside the suitcase, so I had to find them first."
Oz explained as he approached.
"We just finished too. They… They confiscated all my food."
Sam sniffled, wiping his nose with a tissue, his eyes red from crying.
Oz nodded sympathetically.
Back on Earth, customs officers were equally strict.
Traveling with a large amount of food from another country often meant it would be confiscated or subjected to hefty taxes.
"Saccus Ordinatus!"
Mr. Pickwick exclaimed, waving his magic wand with a flourish towards one of the disheveled suitcases.
Immediately, clothes and other items began to move on their own, folding and arranging themselves neatly back into the suitcase.
In just five minutes, the chaos had been transformed into perfect order.
"Huff Huff. I don't like using magic that requires concentration for several minutes."
Mr. Pickwick sighed in exhaustion.
It was clear that maintaining focus for that long was a challenge, and without it, the spell wouldn't have worked so precisely.
"Dad, hurry up! I want to buy a magic wand!"
Sam pleaded, tugging at his father's sleeve.
"We'll go to the hotel first. I'm sure Oz is tired too. We'll drop off the suitcases and have a dinner afterwards."
Mr. Pickwick replied, patting Sam on the head.
The mention of dinner immediately lifted Sam's spirits, and he beamed with anticipation.
"There's a family-favorite hotel nearby; the Pickwicks always stay there whenever we visit Stellarkeep."
Mr. Pickwick added as they began walking towards their destination.
The three of them walked side by side, their figures creating an odd contrast—Mr. Pickwick, tall and broad, towering over the thin, wiry frame of Sam, with Oz somewhere in between.
After about five minutes of walking, they arrived at a charming three-story hotel.
Its design was unique, appearing to be almost embraced by a massive tree, its wooden beams blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings, giving the impression that the hotel was a part of the forest itself.
A wooden sign, gently swaying like a swing from one of the tree's branches, bore the name 'Floral Hotel.'
The hotel's lobby was a riot of color, filled with potted plants brimming with various flowers.
As they approached, the flowers seemed to sense their presence, blooming instantly to reveal vibrant petals in a dazzling array of colors.
"Where's the hotel staff?"
Oz wondered aloud, his gaze sweeping over the lobby, which was adorned with several large, ornate paintings.
"Hi! Can I help you?"
A cheerful voice suddenly chimed in.
"Let me introduce myself; my name is Hannah."
To Oz's surprise, one of the paintings began to move, and a figure emerged from it, stepping out and making her way to the reception desk.
*Whoa*
*Whoa*
Sam was startled by the sight of the moving painting, and Oz also startled in response to Sam's shock.
"Is this place one of the accommodations for the Misthaven entrance exam participants?"
"Exactly, sir. This accommodation collaborates with Misthaven to provide lodging for participants. We only need to verify the name and verinomus of the registered participants."
In Misthaven, all identities use verinomus because it's an advanced form of identification that is extremely difficult to forge or manipulate.
"My name is Samuel Pickwick."
The clerk, with a practiced motion, held Sam's hand and recited a spell.
"Verinomus!"
A golden aura surrounded Sam, shimmering like a protective shield.
This magical verification process ensured that Sam was indeed a registered participant.
Hannah, the clerk, carefully noted Sam's details in the guest book, using a quill that seemed to float above the page.
The same process occurred with Oz. The verification spell was efficient and precise, confirming their identities in mere seconds.
"Thank you. Here are the keys for two rooms. The rooms are on the 3rd floor, numbers 302 and 303. Enjoy your stay."
After receiving the keys from Hannah, we were greeted by a hotel staff member who was dressed in a uniform adorned with magical sigils.
He used a spell to levitate our luggage, which floated effortlessly behind him as he led us to the elevator.
We followed him towards a large, ancient tree situated in the hotel's grand foyer.
The tree's branches, thick and gnarled, moved gracefully, and with a soft rustling sound, carried them to the 3rd floor.
After placing the luggage in the room, the staff member returned to the lobby using the elevator.
Although magic is highly convenient, it is exhausting and requires significant concentration, which is why he needed to use the elevator to conserve his starlight.
Magic lesson 101: What is starlight?
It can be said that starlight functions similarly to mana in games.
In verinomus, there are millions of stars, but not all of them emit light.
The stars that do emit light are what refer to as starlight.
When a wizard uses their magic, the starlight within verinomus temporarily dims as it is consumed.
This dimming effect reflects the temporary reduction in magical capability.
After a period of time, the starlight gradually returns to its full brightness, allowing the wizard to use magic again.
Non-wizard are individuals who do not possess any starlight at all.
They lack this magical measure, which is essential for spellcasting.
In this world, there is no concept of mana drain or mana transfer, as starlight is not a tangible substance but an abstract measure.
It is used solely to quantify how much magic can be performed.
Unlike physical resources, starlight is an imaginary construct that helps gauge a wizard's magical potential.
"Let's take a short break and have dinner at 7 p.m. After that, we'll go buy your magic wand."
"Awesome!"
Sam's excitement was palpable, his joy resembling that of a child eagerly anticipating a new toy.
*Clack*
The door clicked open as the key turned.
Oz then pulled the door handle, revealing the room.
It was clean and modestly spacious, measuring 2.5 meters by 3.5 meters—just enough for his suitcase.
However, for the Pickwick family with their eight suitcases, space was a bit cramped.
"Ah, finally a soft bed!"
Oz jumped onto the bed with abandon, rolling around in sheer delight.
The mattress, made of latex and springs, was a luxury compared to the thin, hard bedding he had been accustomed to.
Among the things he missed from Earth, a good mattress was high on his list.
The comfort of this bed was a welcome change after having slept on surfaces as hard as the floor below.
Typically, after a long journey, one would feel tired, but Oz didn't experience this.
After his body was rejuvenated by his master, he no longer felt fatigue or hunger as long as he had starlight.
His revitalized body remained energetic, and although he didn't need food or sleep, he enjoyed both for the pleasure they brought.
Oz took out several books from his suitcase. Though they appeared to be novels and stories, they contained more than met the eye.
Wizards keep their secrets well-guarded. The books were encrypted with patterns only readable to those who knew the method.
On the surface, the book's cover suggested romantic tales similar to 'Romeo and Juliet,' but when read in a specific way, it revealed hidden magical formulas and spells concealed within its pages.
"Confusion spell."
Oz focused on learning a formula that would disorient a target, causing them to lose their sense of direction and spin around aimlessly. He needed a practice target.
Most spells in the book were categorized under "night sorcery"—a type of magic that is silent and undetectable, making it as elusive as something lurking in the night.
This branch of magic was developed exclusively by his maste.
"Ah, I have an idea!"
Oz exited the room and searched for the luggage staff member.
He found him assisting with another guest's luggage, so he approached quietly.
With a precise gesture, Oz aimed his finger at the staff member.
"Vagabundus!"
A barely visible burst of energy shot from his hand.
However, before it could reach the staff member, it was blocked by the moving branches of the tree, which had reappeared to carry the guests.
"Vagabundus! Vagabundus! Vagabundus!"
Oz repeatedly cast the spell, but the tree's branches intercepted the magical blasts.
— Should I just burn this tree down?
"Vagabundus!!!"
Frustrated, Oz no longer paid attention to the direction in which his spell was cast.
To anyone else who could see it, the path of the spell would resemble a fly's erratic flight when sprayed with insect repellent—spiraling unpredictably before eventually landing on one of the guest.
—Ah, wrong target. But that's not my concern.
The guest began to look confused, repeatedly attempting to enter his room only to find himself walking toward the public restroom instead.
After several attempts to enter his room, he would always end up back at the restroom.
"Oh, so that's how it works."
Oz paused, considering other potential uses for this spell.
*Clack*
The sound of the door from room 302 opened.
Sam and Mr. Pickwick emerged with cheerful expressions.
"Oz, let's eat. There's a restaurant across the street that specializes in Stellarkeep cuisine. I bet you've never tried it before. It's on me."
Proudly, Mr. Pickwick showed off a flyer depicting various dishes, some of which I didn't even recognize.
"Ha ha ha. Alright, Mr. Pickwick, I'm hungry too."
—Wasn't that a crocoduck earlier?
One of the menu items featured a whole roasted crocodile, which, upon closer inspection, had wings.
After locking their room, the three of them took the elevator down and walked across the street.
The restaurant's building was made of white marble, designed to resemble a miniature version of Stellarkeep.
Above the entrance, a sign read 'Stellitle.'
Near the entrance were several display cases with moving food items, likely to attract customers.
One display even featured a winged crocodile with a mouth that opened and closed.
—Yep, that's definitely a crocoduck.
*Kyaaa*
A scream echoed from the direction of the hotel.
It was now apparent that the hotel building had been lifted into the air by the large tree that had previously only embraced it, resembling a treehouse.
On one of its branches, a guest was unconscious, having been spun around like a high-speed Ferris wheel.
The tree was moving as if dancing, or more precisely, it seemed to be confused.
—Ah!
Among the many people present, Oz was the only one who understood the cause.
It appeared that the spell he cast earlier had affected the tree, causing it to become disoriented and turn the hotel into an amusement park.
"Dad, do hotels in Stellarkeep usually dance like that?"
"… There are many crazy things here son, but this is the first time I've seen a hotel dance."
The three of them shared the same expressions: a mix of confusion, awe, and fear, as the hotel's inhabitants screamed as if they were on a ride at an amusement park.
Each time the hotel spun, the noise from the guests grew louder.
*KYAAA!*
*HELP!*
From that point on, the hotel became known as the 'Dancing Tree Hotel,' attracting more visitors due to its new amusement attraction.