Ian was captivated by the dazzling, art-like apple. Pandero urged him on from the side.
"Hurry! Eat it quickly, don't let the old witch see it. She'll definitely snatch it away from you." As Pandero spoke, he shoved the golden apple into Ian's mouth.
"Cough Cough!"
This was Ian's first time trying to eat something from the 'Twilight Zone'. Pandero's actions were a bit rough, and Ian almost choked. Fortunately, the apple, larger than a fist, melted in his mouth the moment it touched his tongue.
"Ian is glowing!" Ariana's exclamation rang out.
Ian couldn't see her expression.
Because he now felt a warm and strange power instantly flowing through his entire body, a sensation as if his soul was being cleansed, making him close his eyes to savor the feeling.
His body seemed infused with vitality and energy.
"Bang~"
This wasn't Ian exploding, but rather the sound of something metallic hitting the wall in the hall. Immediately after, Ian faintly heard Pandero's panicked voice.
"That woman heard me call her an old witch! Let's go! Let's go!"
"Ian, we'll wait for you in the town!"
...
Ariana and Pandero's voices intertwined, gradually drifting away into the distance.
Ian didn't know how much time had passed. When he opened his eyes again, the furniture in the hall had returned, and the witch was looking at him with a complex expression on her face.
"I didn't expect them to actually find it..." The witch's tone was filled with wonder.
"I remember you saying that you cut down the last golden apple tree in the world?" Ian couldn't check his changes through the panel while in the 'Twilight Zone'.
All he felt now was an unprecedented clarity in his mind.
"Clearly, before I cut down the last golden apple tree, someone had smuggled a seed here." The witch explained, making Ian's eyes widen.
"Before me, there were others who could do this?" Ian was quite surprised.
The witch, however, shook her head.
"Foolish little one, no wizard is as special as you, so naturally, no wizard would receive the same favor as you. What I meant was that someone brought a seed here."
"I don't know how it was done, but there have been many brilliant wizards throughout history. Many past legends could have achieved such unreasonable things."
The witch gazed at Ian's youthful face, whispering softly.
"After all, the reason legends are legends is that they can create miracles out of the impossible." The tapestries on the walls seemed to tremble slightly as the witch spoke.
The flames in the paintings appeared to burn even more fiercely.
"Maybe I can find some useful information in the school's library." Ian nodded thoughtfully. There certainly wouldn't be many wizards throughout history who could be called legends.
"You'd be better off asking that damn butcher friend of yours. Since he could bring you this golden apple, it means he already knew where the golden apple was planted."
The witch gave Ian a look as if he were an idiot, rolling her eyes dramatically.
"His memories are also fading," Ian replied helplessly; of course, he had thought of this approach.
"Then he's truly pitiful." The witch gave a sarcastic smile.
"Professor, I apologize on his behalf. He's always been a very reckless guy." Ian lowered his tone, speaking sincerely, "I promise to find your mirror and anything else you want, as compensation for his deep apologies."
Hearing this, the witch's expression softened a bit.
"I only want my mirror." After a slight pause, she added, "And that western dragon he promised to catch!"
Wow!
Sure enough!
The witch had indeed been hiding deep in the castle, eavesdropping!
"Of course, no problem!"
Ian quickly nodded in agreement. However, although his frustrated teacher's expression had calmed down, she couldn't help but curse Pandero again.
"Damn troublemaker! Wretched executioner! Disgusting, despicable plunderer!" She continuously piled on unflattering titles for Pandero.
"He must have been an extraordinary person when he was alive?" Ian tentatively asked.
He could tell that the witch knew a lot about Pandero.
"My foolish apprentice, why do you always ask such idiotic questions?" The witch gave Ian a disdainful look.
"The answer has already been presented before you, but you've chosen to ignore the truth." The witch sighed heavily, her words leaving Ian utterly confused.
What had he ignored?
Why couldn't he realize it himself?
"Professor, I admit I'm an idiot. So, can you tell me who he is?" Ian couldn't contain his curiosity.
"You're a Pigwidgeon, but I'm not."
The witch scoffed, "Tell you, so you can tell him, and then he'll remember and continue to cause trouble here for many more years. Do you think I'm the kind of person who would bring discomfort upon myself?"
Professor Mara clearly didn't like Pandero.
She made too much sense and Ian didn't even know how to respond.
"Did you know? All the creations in this castle, and even the abilities I've shown you, these aren't magic. They're just shaping brought about by Cognition."
The witch suddenly began to reflect very abruptly.
"Cognition?" Ian felt somewhat surprised.
"Yes, in this land far removed from the mortal world, Cognition determines what you can achieve here." The witch nodded and continued to patiently explain.
"I believe in the power of knowledge, while he believes he can achieve anything he sets his mind to... Three times, he proved that his Cognition is firmer than mine."
The witch subtly explained why she couldn't compete with Pandero.
Her tone was filled with reluctance and... loneliness.
"This can happen too?!"
Ian could hardly imagine someone using "the power of thinking" in the 'Twilight Zone'.
"Yes, so unreasonable. Knowledge, surprisingly cannot compete with belief. Isn't this also a kind of impossible miracle?" The witch sighed deeply.
Just as Ian was still pondering whether her words contained some hint, the witch looked up.
Her gaze fell on the scattered pieces of armor outside.
"You're responsible for reshaping these guards for me."
Another sudden twist.
Making Ian unable to help but be stunned. Just moments ago, they were talking about Pandero. How did Professor Mara suddenly make a 365-degree turn?!
Ugh!
The thought process of an old woman!
"Huh? Didn't we agree that he'd find you a dead dragon to guard the door?" Ian widened his eyes innocently.
"That's compensation. This, however, is your duty as an apprentice." The witch sneered, picking up one of the potion books Ian had brought in.
"I only know how to make dolls, not how to make moving iron men." Ian spread his hands.
The witch responded with a cold smile.
"If you don't know, then go and learn."
Such familiar words.
"Is this the new homework?"
Ian was already starting to feel his presence fading.
"I don't expect you to learn it in a few days, but I'll regularly check your progress." The witch, reading the potions text, tore another piece from her gown.
"Next time, go back to that little girl's town first, then come find me." With a gentle toss, the densely written rune-covered fabric landed in Ian's hands.
"I'm afraid there won't be enough time." Ian's figure was already starting to fade.
"There will be enough time. It's different now." The witch's voice carried a light but certain tone. She never looked up again, continuing to read the copied book Ian had brought in.
"Tick~ tock~ tick~ tock~"
The clock ticked on.
Ian abruptly opened his eyes to the real world.
For once, he didn't check the time on the wall or look at the piece of gown in his hand. Instead, he eagerly opened his personal panel first.
(End of Chapter)
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