"By the way, since I am leaving this laboratory, I will seal off the path leading to it. That place will become an impenetrable maze, but as long as you remember to silently recite your name at the crossroads, the path will appear before you," the old wizard said.
After saying this, the wizard struggled to climb out of the window and mysteriously vanished into the night.
Alone in the room, Ivan quietly got up from the bed and walked to the window to peer outside.
The night sky was filled with stars, and there was nothing else to be seen.
On this late autumn night, a cold wind blew in through the open window, bringing a chill with it. Ivan quickly closed the window and hurried back under the covers, curling up to keep warm. It was too cold outside!
As he lay in bed, Ivan pondered the words of the wizard Lavash and realized that he would likely have to visit Piton County frequently in the future. However, the thought of encountering Baron Longa on the way filled him with unease.
Moving the entire laboratory was clearly impossible, especially since he knew nothing about magic and was unsure if relocating the magic mirror would cause harm. If the mirror couldn't connect him with his teacher, it might be impossible to restore it.
Furthermore, Ivan felt a deep sense of guilt towards Baron Longa. He felt as though he was constantly deceiving the honorable gentleman. To him, the baron's ball and the lavish banquet were merely tests to prove his abilities. And during this trial, he had encountered unprecedented good fortune, which he believed was bestowed upon him by Baron Longa.
Moreover, the baron's beautiful and charming daughter had inexplicably placed her affections on him. This burden weighed heavily on him and represented a debt that was difficult to repay.
These thoughts left Ivan feeling extremely unsettled. Perhaps there was a way for him to make amends for everything. Maybe he could find some experimental materials in the teacher's laboratory that were valuable jewels to ordinary people.
Hadn't his teacher once told him that magicians were wealthier than kings?
With this resolve in mind, Ivan's heart calmed slightly.
A night of rest was undoubtedly the most beneficial for a teenager who had been overworked.
When he woke up the next day, Ivan felt refreshed.
Dressed neatly, Ivan walked into the living room.
Although it was still early, several people were already present in the room.
The host of the villa, Baron Longa, and his brother-in-law stood under the porch at the door.
By the window, Terlbol and his son-in-law sat, sipping tea and gazing outside.
Cheerful shouts could be heard from outside the villa, likely coming from Midit and Baron Brown.
"Young Master Ivan, good morning. What would you like for breakfast? Would you prefer the apple pie baked by the lady and madam or the freshly smoked meat? You can also have two eggs, and the cheese is homemade, guaranteed to be delicious," the butler asked Ivan warmly as he approached.
"I don't eat much. Just two slices of cheese with a piece of bread will suffice. Thank you, Mr. Butler. You can take your time preparing; I'm not very hungry yet," Ivan replied.
"Oh, Ivan, you're up. Did you sleep well last night? I imagine it's not as comfortable staying outside as it is at home," Baron Longa said as he walked over.
"Thank you, Baron. For someone like me who has traveled with my grandfather and uncles, living in carriages and constantly traveling, I never feel out of place anywhere," Ivan replied. This statement was a favorite among travelers who frequently journeyed between countries, almost becoming a style or a symbol—the mark of a traveler.
Sure, here is the translation of the text you provided:
"Sure enough, upon hearing such a response, many people turned to look at Ivan, but their expressions showed no surprise, as if this was quite normal.
"Ivan, your purebred horse is truly outstanding. When it runs, you can hardly feel any bumps, like riding the wind. The horse doesn't even need to trot, it can suddenly accelerate so fast that you can hardly catch your breath.
"I bet it's the fastest horse in the entire southern Francs. If you don't ride it to the Seesburg monthly horse racing event on the first Sunday of each month, it would be a shame. I guarantee it can beat the second place by a full twenty yards," the chubby man said as he followed his brother-in-law.
"No, you better not believe what he's saying. Behind those horse races, there are some shady deals. To make you lose, someone might put nails in your horse's hooves, or quietly cut your stirrups, or even use other horses to squeeze you against the railing.
"And there are even more despicable things. There have been incidents where jockeys hid knives to stab horses and other jockeys. It's too dark and too vile. Don't let such a good horse participate in such dirty races," the elderly Baron Hendred said from the window.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I absolutely didn't mean it. It seems I had a bad idea. I never knew that under the civilized order of Seesburg, there were such dark things hidden," the chubby man quickly said.
"Seesburg itself is a racecourse, but neither you nor I are jockeys or racehorses," Viscount Terbol said sarcastically.
Just as the atmosphere in the hall became awkward, Baron Brown and Midit walked in from outside.
"What were you talking about just now?" Midit asked with a smile.
Midit and Baron Brown had beads of sweat on their foreheads, and steam was rising from their collars, cheeks, and hair.
"Having fun?" Baron Longa asked, apparently not wanting to discuss the previous issue.
"It was great, but it's a pity that the space here is too small, and we can't really run," Baron Brown shouted.
"Oh, Ivan, that's a great horse. Next time you come to Seesburg, you must ride it. Just ride this horse around the streets, and everyone will recognize you," Midit said excitedly.
"Ivan, you don't need to rely on a horse to make everyone know you. You are outstanding yourself," Baron Longa said with a smile.
While they were joking, the butler brought breakfast, one for Ivan and the other two clearly prepared for the two sweaty barons. Obviously, these two couldn't wait to finish breakfast and go for a ride.
After breakfast, Ivan calculated that it was time to say goodbye. He didn't want to wait for Lady O'Neil to wake up, nor did he want to wait for the baron's daughter to finish her morning work, which would make him very embarrassed.
When Ivan got up to bid farewell, he clearly saw the regretful expression on Baron Longa's face. However, when he heard Ivan say that he was leaving to quickly get to his magic teacher's place to show the sealed magic book to the teacher, the baron had no reason to detain him.
However, he still made Ivan promise to visit this villa again in a few days and tell him about the discovery of the magic book, before reluctantly letting Ivan leave.
As he left, the beautiful and charming young lady escorted Ivan all the way to the depths of the forest.
Ivan rode his horse and galloped at full speed. When he reached the fork at the end of the road, Ivan looked around to make sure no one was there. He then controlled the horse to stand in front of a low tree wall, where the passage to the laboratory originally led."
When Ivan silently repeated his name "Ivan Baindite" as instructed by his teacher, the low tree wall suddenly split open to the sides, revealing a small path in the middle.
Riding his horse, Ivan galloped swiftly along the path and soon arrived in front of the laboratory.
After dismounting, Ivan didn't need to knock on the door this time. He opened the door and walked in directly.
The room was empty, and the transparent passage leading to the top of the tower had disappeared.
A mirror was placed in the position where the passage used to be.
It was an ordinary mirror, similar to the one in Ivan's own room, standing at the height of a person and four feet wide. The only difference was the strange symbols engraved on the edge of the mirror, which were not complex and much simpler compared to the inscriptions on the ring and the magic notebook.
On the table closest to the door, where the teacher had instructed, several scrolls of parchment were laid out.
Ivan walked over and gently picked up the parchment.
The first parchment read: "My dear student, in order for you to gradually master the knowledge of magic, I have cast a spell on the textbook left for you. What you see is only what you can currently comprehend. Only when you fully grasp the existing knowledge will the more profound content reveal itself. This is to help you progressively solidify your knowledge. This magic has another benefit - only you can read the content above. When you wish to learn from the parchment, simply silently recite your name, and the words will appear. Wishing you smooth learning, my student."
After Ivan finished reading this parchment, it suddenly turned into a ball of flames. Before Ivan could fully react, the flames burned out in an instant, leaving no trace, not even a speck of ash.
Ivan stared in astonishment at this scene, which happened so suddenly, without smoke or heat. The parchment disappeared without a trace.
After a while, Ivan regained his composure, picked up the second parchment, and silently recited his name as instructed by the teacher.
An astonishing sight unfolded - as his gaze swept over it, clear words slowly appeared on the previously blank parchment.
As Ivan finished reading one page of text, the words gradually dissipated, and the text of the second page appeared.
The first stage of the course consisted of six pages, mostly containing knowledge and guidance, including some exercises. The final section detailed three magic experiments, recording each step, required materials, and precautions, but did not reveal the results. The bottom few lines were blank, indicating that the results would only be visible after the experiments were completed.
Ivan picked up the third parchment, which detailed how to use the magic mirror.
The magic mirror has two uses. The simple one allows distant people to understand one's information by writing on the mirror, which is not difficult for Ivan, as the only thing he needs to do is to prepare a special ink.
Detailed materials and methods for making the ink are listed on parchment, and it doesn't seem too difficult.
As for the second method, it is not something Ivan can master at the moment.
Through the magic mirror, one can freely converse with people in distant places. The mirror can display a person's image, and another significant use is to transmit special spells or magic arrays, which is currently beyond Ivan's reach.
On the last piece of parchment, the old wizard wrote: "My student, I must say you have done remarkably well, and for that, you should be rewarded. I have completely restored the ethereal life form, the magical puppet created by Kaimertidi, which is one of his masterpieces.
"That puppet now belongs to you, but until a new magical contract is established, it will remain safer in the laboratory. As for the method of establishing the contract, once you have learned everything recorded in the parchment I left for you, you will naturally know what to do.
"Furthermore, to express a bit of apology from this incompetent old teacher, I have left another gift for you. For a wizard, one's inherent magical strength and knowledge are equally important, and most magical experiments require a certain amount of magical support. If I were by your side, I could provide you with assistance in terms of magic, but I need time to study Kaimertidi's magical notes. Therefore, I am giving you a 'Sorcerer's Stone Tablet.'
"This is a legacy left by the ancient Antair people, a crystallization of ancient magical wisdom. The manufacturing method has long been lost, and I found this stone tablet in a site of the ancient Antair people. This stone tablet can store magical elements, and although the quantity is not large, the stored magic is sufficient for experimental needs. You can use your own power to fill the stone tablet with magical elements, or you can ask other wizards for help.
"If you study successfully, you should be able to find a way to use this stone tablet on your own, which is not difficult. This stone tablet can also allow you to quickly cast three pre-prepared spells, which may be quite convenient for you.
"However, my student, remember that this stone tablet can be used by any wizard. Although most wizards have noble character, there are still quite a few evil individuals. When you seek help, it is best to clearly identify the person. This stone tablet cannot establish a contract, and if it is lost, it will no longer belong to you. Unless you have the ability to reclaim the stone tablet."
After reading the parchment, Ivan shifted his attention to the two items on the table.
One was a smooth, light gray stone tablet, about the size of a palm, with shallow grooves carved on it. On the back of the tablet were three coin-sized recesses, presumably the stone tablet. The ancient Antair people were an ancient civilization long lost in the river of history, leaving behind only some ruins to prove the existence of this ancient civilization.
Next to the stone tablet was a silver coin, which, apart from being more shiny and bright, was no different from a regular silver coin. The only distinction was that the coin was not stamped with the image of the king but with a mysterious and intricate magic array, identical to the one on the back of the magic notebook left by Kaimertidi.
Filled with curiosity about the gift left by Professor Lavash, Ivan knew that it would be safer to keep these magical items in the laboratory until he had the ability to use them, as Audrey had once taught him.
Therefore, Ivan resisted the strong desire to carry them with him and focused his attention back on the parchment.
For Ivan, running back and forth to the laboratory all day long was obviously not feasible. Lai was over a hundred kilometers away from Piton, which was quite a distance, and encountering the Baron Longna's family here would be quite embarrassing.
Ivan didn't want to get into that kind of trouble.
He estimated that once a week should be about right.
Therefore, no matter what, the experimental materials and equipment had to be moved back to Mr. Hyde's manor.
Ivan carefully studied the contents of the parchment regarding the experiments. The equipment needed was quite simple, requiring only a No. 9 crucible and a No. 7 mortar. As for the set of handmade tools mentioned on the parchment, they were placed on the table.
But where could he find those materials? Although he recognized some things, most of them he had never even heard of.
Ivan glanced around at the countless drawers on the walls. If he had to search through each cabinet one by one to find what he needed, it would be an extremely daunting task.
"How on earth am I supposed to know where the sapphires and turquoise are stored in which drawer?" Ivan sighed heavily.
Just as he was feeling dejected, a faint buzzing sound suddenly came to his ears.