The old man wore a tall and sharp-brimmed hat on his head, draped in a reddish-brown robe.
The snow-white long beard and deep wrinkles covering the old man's face indicated that he was the oldest person Ivan had ever seen.
The wrinkles on the old man's face were unlike Mr. Hyde's at all.
Mr. Hyde's wrinkles were deeply etched from years of exposure to the elements, but the wrinkles on the old man's face resembled a spider's web, covering every inch of exposed skin, each one a mark of time.
Although Ivan didn't know much about this mysterious old man, he had already guessed his identity.
A wizard, this old man must be a wizard!
Although Ivan had never seen a wizard before, and in fact, he had never heard anyone around him mention seeing one either.
Wizards were just too rare.
But the descriptions of wizards had been deeply ingrained in everyone's hearts.
The distinctive pointed hat, loose wizard robe, holding a wand, and a cauldron - this was the image of a wizard in legends.
And the old man before him, except for not holding a wand, everything else matched the image of a wizard from the legends.
"Are you a wizard?" Ivan's voice trembled, not out of fear, but out of excitement.
Indeed, to see a wizard with one's own eyes was a rare opportunity for an ordinary person.
These people with magical powers were so scarce, and most of them did not like to show themselves. It was said that these wizards spent their days focused on their magical research and did not interact with outsiders.
"Yes, I am a wizard, or more accurately, I am an alchemist," the old man said with a smile. "I see you are soaked through, very uncomfortable, right?"
With that, the old man pulled out a handful of silver-white powder from his robe sleeve and sprinkled it on Ivan.
Ivan felt extremely nervous, even trembling. He didn't know what the wizard was going to do, and whether this action would harm him.
Ivan's worries were absolutely justified. The wizards in legends were strange folks who often liked to turn the unfortunate into frogs or squirrels.
Ivan silently prayed that he wouldn't encounter such a strange and dangerous character.
Just as he was filled with fear and unease, countless bubbles emerged from his body, more and more, until Ivan was completely enveloped in a bubble.
Ivan could clearly feel these bubbles seeping into his clothes, sucking away the rainwater, multiplying and absorbing more moisture.
Soon, Ivan felt completely dry.
The bubbles slowly floated down to the floor, forming a ring, with Ivan standing in the center.
"Great, you are truly a great wizard," Ivan exclaimed.
"Drying up this rainwater makes me great? Haha, I can't accept your praise," the old man chuckled.
Stepping out of the bubble pile, Ivan asked, "Great wizard, for you, this may not be anything special, but for us ordinary people, it is truly a great feat."
"I was once an ordinary person too, all wizards were once ordinary people. You too can become a wizard. Are you willing to learn these magical knowledge?" the old man asked.
"Is that so? That's truly wonderful! I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of becoming a wizard's apprentice," Ivan exclaimed with boundless excitement. He had never entertained such a thought before, as encountering a wizard was almost unheard of, let alone being chosen as a disciple by these legendary and discerning individuals.
However, as the initial excitement waned, Ivan's thoughts turned to Mr. Hyde, Audrey, and Herbert with their elusive skills. He didn't want to deceive this esteemed old wizard who held him in such high regard.
Anxiously, Ivan spoke, "But I have tasks that I must complete. Have you heard of Lord Keweielle Egret Hyde? He is a common nobleman and also the leader of the thieves' guild in the southern region of Franston. Although I am unsure of the specifics of my task, Mr. Hyde has invested greatly in it, and I doubt he would easily let me depart."
"Hyde?" The old wizard appeared surprised, furrowing his brow. "You, my child, are quite remarkable to confide in me. You could have learned magic from me first before sharing this, but you chose otherwise. Well done!
"I have some knowledge of Mr. Hyde, and we have even collaborated in the past. At that time, he was not yet a nobleman. Can you shed light on what he wishes for you to do? While you may not have all the details, you must have some inkling."
"Tell me, perhaps I can assist you. Hyde knows of my abilities, just as I am familiar with his. We can come to a mutually beneficial agreement."
"In terms of specifics, I am not entirely clear. Mr. Hyde simply aims to groom me into a nobleman, by the name of Ivan Baindite," Ivan explained.
"Ivan Baindite? Ivan Baindite, that name rings a bell," the old wizard mused, furrowing his brow in contemplation. After a prolonged pause, he suddenly exclaimed, "I understand what Hyde intends to achieve. It is not solely his plan; Mel Dofen is also involved, undoubtedly Mel Dofen. They are old friends, after all."
Ivan listened in bewilderment, unsure why the old wizard mentioned Mr. Mel Dofen. However, the revelation of the friendship between Mr. Hyde and Mr. Mel Dofen, despite their differing social statuses, hinted at the old wizard's deeper knowledge.
Just as Ivan prepared to inquire further, the old wizard seemed to anticipate his thoughts and gently remarked, "I have a rough idea of the task Mr. Hyde wishes for you to undertake. This matter holds great significance for many, and I do not wish to impede Hyde's plans.
"However, your task is fraught with danger. Given my regard for you, our paths crossing is no coincidence, and I am committed to aiding you. Henceforth, you are my student. Inform Hyde that you are under my tutelage, and he will ensure your well-being. Upon completion of your task, return here to delve into the study of magic with me."
"Master, you clearly seem to know everything. Can you please share some insights with me? I have been deeply troubled by this matter," Ivan said.
"Hyde may not have informed you because the timing was not right. He will reveal everything to you when the time is appropriate. You must be patient," the old wizard replied. "By the way, before we proceed, there is a task I need you to undertake."
"What task is it? I will do my utmost to accomplish it," Ivan hastily responded, though he was unsure if his abilities would be of any help to a wizard.
The old wizard gestured towards the stormy and thunderous scene outside and said, "My student, do you not find it abnormal that lightning is so densely concentrated here?"
Indeed, Ivan had long felt that the immense power of lightning concentrated within a few dozen miles of this forest was peculiar. During a typical thunderstorm, one or two lightning strikes hitting the ground were rare enough to witness, but here, not only was the lightning dense, but it struck the ground repeatedly, as evidenced by the charred trees.
If this question had been posed by Etek, Ivan would have undoubtedly approached it from a perspective of natural phenomena and geography. However, coming from a wizard, it was evident that this anomaly was caused by some mysterious force.
"Is it because of magic? Has magic summoned the lightning to this land?" Ivan inquired.
"Yes, indeed," the old wizard replied, quite pleased with his disciple's astuteness. He continued, "You may not be aware, but the area where the lightning gathers is known as a forbidden zone of magic. Within that area, the distribution of thunder spirits and the magnetic field conditions are entirely different from elsewhere. In that zone, our actions as wizards become quite challenging. You see, what sets us apart from ordinary people is our powerful mental strength, but in that forbidden zone of magic, this strength attracts a large number of thunder spirits. Thunder spirits are the most destructive spirits in the natural world, and a large gathering of them can destroy everything."
"So, you need an ordinary person to help you enter that domain?" Ivan asked.
"Yes, I need you to help me find a book. You may not have heard of the name 'Kaimirtdi.' In the world of magic, he is quite renowned. Kaimirtdi was a prominent figure among the magicians of the era of Franston III.
"He lived for two hundred years, serving as the teacher of Franston IV, imparting all knowledge to him besides magic. He was also the teacher of Franston V. If not for his firm refusal to hold public office, he would have been the prime minister of these three dynasties.
"However, like all magicians devoted to the study of magic, Kaimirtdi relinquished fame and status. His achievements were great. As a supreme alchemist, he invented many things, such as gaseous life forms, flying ships, colossal stone statues, and more. Unfortunately, all his research findings were lost, and Kaimirtdi never took on any magic apprentices."
In the last ten years of his life, Kemirtedi traveled around the world, and the location of his tomb became a mystery. No one knew for sure if he had truly passed away, with his complete disappearance at the end of that year being considered his date of death. For centuries, finding the magical notes left by Kemirtedi had become a dream for any magician.
During the reign of Franc IX, a magical notebook left by Kemirtedi in his early years was found in the deep mountains of Baburong, mentioning the giant stone statues. Franc IX ordered the Magic Association to construct these eleven-meter-high, fifty-ton giant stone statues, hoping to use this super weapon to completely defeat Derrizhi. However, the statues were not invincible, and human wisdom proved to be more powerful than any magical weapon.
Almost all sixteen giant stone statues were destroyed, with only one being subdued and transported to the capital city of Palin in Derrizhi, where a Victory Memorial was built in the city center, with the statue becoming a monument in front of the hall.
Although the giant stone statues failed, they dealt a heavy blow to Derrizhi in the initial stages of the attack, with the six most fortified cities on the border being reduced to rubble. As a result, Kemirtedi's magical research findings became a sought-after treasure for people.
When I was in my twenties, still a magical apprentice, I traveled to various countries with my teacher, and finding Kemirtedi's magical notes became my lifelong dream. However, forty years passed with no success. Later, I worked at the Magic Association in the capital of Franc IX for nearly twenty years, and my dream from those days had long been shattered. It was during that time that I met Hyde and Dofen.
Five years ago, Dofen told me about the peculiar natural phenomenon in this forest. Although he mentioned it casually at the time, it piqued my great interest. Initially, I did not expect that all of this would be related to my long search for Kemirtedi's treasure. When I saw the situation here, I immediately speculated that the unusual gathering of thunder spirits was due to the presence of a special magic array.
This magic array was fascinating; it not only repelled magicians but also regularly absorbed the energy of lightning from the air, constantly replenishing itself. It was a sophisticated magical device capable of self-maintenance and replenishment. I searched through all the books and found no similar instances; this was indeed a masterpiece of a magician.
Interestingly, since Kemirtedi's death hundreds of years ago, this strange phenomenon had never occurred here. This situation lasted only a few years, during which the only event was a baron from Piton building a villa in the central area of this region.
This sudden phenomenon is by no means accidental. I speculate that perhaps the baron inadvertently opened Kemirtedi's treasure, but for someone like him, an ordinary person, the invaluable treasure remains unknown. Unfortunately, for a magician like myself, that place is forbidden territory.
"Do you want me to enter the forbidden land and help you find the treasure left by Kemirtedi?" Ivan said excitedly. This was too easy for him, as he was originally planning to go to that place, and according to the old magician, the villa was indeed Baron Lonar's home and his destination for this visit.
"Yes, that's right. I know this is quite dangerous. When Kemirtedi's first treasure was discovered, the five magicians involved in the excavation, along with hundreds of workers, all perished. Kemirtedi had cast a special curse in his magic notebook.
"It was a unique spell that could unleash a powerful 'mental wave,' potent enough to kill all living beings. Neither magicians nor ordinary people could withstand such an attack.
"But rest assured, the magical world has long had a solution for this. After Kemirtedi's treasure was unearthed, the Magic Association spent over twenty years and finally found a way to counter this mental impact. The magicians created a unique gemstone that could absorb the energy of mental magic.
"When I realized that what lay before me was Kemirtedi's second treasure trove, I spent a full three years creating this gemstone. Look!" Saying this, the old magician gestured, and after a moment, a metal butterfly floated up lightly, with a blue sapphire ring hanging from its delicate legs.
The old magician took off the ring and handed it to Ivan. The ring was made of an unknown metal, light and shiny, with inscriptions on the inner wall that Ivan couldn't understand. Embedded on the front was a large blue sapphire, the largest gemstone Ivan had ever seen, with a peculiar pentagonal cut on its surface.
Through this transparent blue sapphire, one could clearly see the densely inscribed runes at the bottom of the ring, the long runes resembling a book.
"Natural blue sapphire is a very useful mineral, used to enhance the gathering and invocation of water and wind elements, and is the most commonly used material for making water and wind magic wands. The blue sapphire also has a unique property. Although it is not as useful as emerald or cat's eye stone as a medium for casting mental magic, it can effectively absorb the energy of mental magic, making it often used for storing magical energy."
Ivan took the ring, feeling its light and shiny texture. He carefully examined the blue sapphire on the ring, as if he could see the faint shimmer inside the gem and the mysterious runes at the bottom of the ring. The ring exuded a mysterious magical aura, stirring in Ivan a desire to explore the unknown.