Bright sunshine, slightly humid air, the smell of fish, retro architecture, and the hustle and bustle of people constitute Lucien's first impression of "Port Padre", the largest seaside city in the Kingdom of Holm.

Several carriages drove smoothly and slowly through the street, and Lucien looked away from the window and looked back at Lazar, the magician who was in charge of greeting him and his apprentices.

"Hehe, Mr. Evans, are you satisfied with the Kingdom of Holm?" Lazar asked with his trademark smile as bright as the sun.

Lucien did not have that ubiquitous depression at this time, and his mood was very relaxed, and he replied humorously: "The ladies and ladies are very beautiful, and their costumes are also very different from the mainland style, there are complicated cake dresses, light long skirts, bright colors, beautiful lace and ruffles, folds, etc., but what disappoints me is that they seem to be a little conservative, and the clothes are all high necks, and only a white neck is exposed." By the way, Lazar, you can just call me Evans. ”

"Ha Luha, Evans, this is something you don't know how to appreciate. Lazar let out a laugh that all men understand, "I have always believed that being conservative and concealing gives people a greater desire to explore." Human nature is like this, and it is always unknowingly cherished to obtain things easily. ”

Lucien nodded slightly: "But what impresses me the most is that both men and women in the Kingdom of Holm seem to like to wear a hat?" This is very rare in Aalto, and often only clergy and elderly gentlemen like to wear soft hats.

"Evans, you've been very observant, and this is a good quality for a magician. In Holm, it is a ritual to wear a hat when you go out, and you need to get used to it later, such as the formal hats of ladies are wide-brimmed hats with a beautiful long ribbon and tassels at the back of the head, and gauze hats with hazy veils. It is usually a lightweight, small soft hat inlaid with feathers, flowers, etc. Men's hats are much more modest, ordinary people wear bowler hats and wide-brimmed hats, and we gentlemen wear bowler hats of different heights. as well as a soft hat for everyday life. ”

Lazar pointed to the top of his head, "Of course, a tie, bow tie, a suit or a double-breasted gown are also indispensable.

After slowly using the dialogue between the men to close the distance with Lazar, Lucien changed the topic without a trace: "I don't know if the road is in the Kingdom of Holm. What are the restrictions on magicians casting magic?"

"Like a sword. If you hurt someone, you will be punished by the law, but formal magicians have the status of a lord, and only a certain fine is required for less serious matters. As for the rest. Look there. Lazar pointed out the window.

Lucien turned his head to see dozens of children surrounding a middle-aged man in a gray suit next to the fountain pool in a square. He took his black top hat in his hand, and kept pulling out things from it, flowers, bread, stones, etc., and at the end of the day, a flock of white pigeons flew out, causing the children to applaud and cheer happily.

"Magic tricks. Magic apprentice?" Lucien asked, confused, as it was far away.

Lazar took a sip of red wine and nodded with a smile: "Yes, the number of magical apprentices in several countries has grown rapidly since the council began to school apprentices. There are also more and more people who cannot become official magicians. But they both know how to write, they both have a lot of knowledge, and it is easy for them to make a good living, and this apprentice should just like children and like to tease them. ”

Lucien, who already knew from Astar and Tom that the Dao Council had a magic school, was surprised and casually asked, "What is the current percentage of magic apprentices promoted to full-fledged magicians in the magic school?"

"It's a lot better than the ancient lineage. In the ancient magic empire, without a strong spiritual talent, they could only rely on potions and various dangerous magic rituals, and often there was not a single apprentice in a thousand apprentices who could advance to the mage. And now, with the study of arcane, the requirements for the mental power of the apprentices are much lower, and about five out of a hundred apprentices can become official magicians. ”

Lazar looked at Lucien with a bright smile: "However, this is not something Evans needs to worry about, you are already an official magician, and you have surpassed many apprentices. Just study the arcane arts with your heart and without any prejudice, and believe that in a year or two you will be a qualified true magician. By the way, what faction are you a magician?"

Lucien didn't hide it: "I'm good at astrological and elemental magic, but I haven't figured out what to specialize in in the future. ”

"Hehe, I happen to be an elemental mage, a member of the 'Elemental Will', have you heard of the 'Elemental Will'?" Lazar played with the empty wine glass in his hand.

Of course I've heard that I have the Holm Crown Ring now, Lucien replied with a smile as he thought, "I heard Mr. Astar, do you want to invite me to join you?"

"Haluha, Evans, you're thinking too much. Lazar said teasingly, "Unlike the 'Pale Hand', which recruits both good and bad, those who can join the 'Elemental Will' are elite magicians who have passed the assessment, and at least have a formal Arcanist rank. Hey, the 'Pale Hand' they really don't need to distinguish between good and bad, anyway, the important thing for them is the corpse, if it's not good enough, there are corpses that can come in handy. ”

Lucien listened to Lazar's slander, and could only think silently, the "Elemental Will" and the "Pale Hand" were really contradictory, and even Lazar, a magician who was obviously not a mid-level mage, couldn't help but sneer at the mention of the other party: "So it seems that Lazar, you have an official Arcanist level?"

Originally, Lucien wanted to say, "So, Lazar, are you an elite magician?", but thinking about it, it was ironic, so he changed his words and asked the arcanist level.

Lazar's back straightened slightly, and his right hand playing with the red wine glass paused, trying to make his smile flat: "One of the first-level elemental magic 'Lazar's Burning Hands' that I improved earlier this year was evaluated by the Council's 'Arcane Review Committee', and I obtained two Arcane Points, plus the previous eight, and finally became a first-level Arcanist and a Second-Ring Magician. After that, he was absorbed as a member of the 'Elemental Will'. ”

Although he tried his best to cover it up, there was a clear sense of complacency and satisfaction in his tone and description.

"Lazar, you don't look very old?" Lucien didn't understand how difficult arcane points were for beginner mages, but was slightly surprised by Lazar's second-ring mage level.

Lazar picked up the wine bottle on the small wooden table fixed between the two of them, and poured a little red wine into his glass again: "I just turned twenty-two years old, hehe, two years older than Evans. ”

Because of the calm temperament, there is not much immaturity. Often mistaken for about twenty years old, Lucien took the opportunity to report his age as twenty years old, distinguishing him from the eighteen-year-old musician Lucian Evans: "Lazar, you are a wonderful genius. ”

"Huh. Nothing, I'm too far from those true geniuses. For example, Mr. Ulysses in 'Elemental Will' has an unimaginable talent for research in the field of elemental magic. At the age of twenty-two, he had already become a second-level arcanist and a middle-level magician, and now at the age of thirty-three, he is a fourth-level arcanist and a five-ring elemental mage. And there are quite a few of the same geniuses as him. Like Larry and Mr. Timothy within the organization. ”

Lazar did not have much jealousy of these geniuses, because his thoughts of comparison with them had long been destroyed by their achievements. It's not a character on a grade that can't be compared, there's no need to be jealous," and the genius I admire the most in the field of elemental magic, except for the Grand Arcanist Lord Hathaway, is the princess of the Kingdom of Holm, Lady Meredith. She was awarded the 'Holm Crown' at the age of twenty-three, and was a rare genius with an arcane level exceeding the magic level since the founding of the Magic Council. After winning the award, she was only a first-ring elemental mage, but she turned out to be a fourth-level arcanist, but unfortunately, ......"

I touched the "Mo" ring in my pocket. Lucien had the feeling of hearing acquaintances in a foreign country: "I know the story of Lady Meredith, and I admire it from the bottom of my heart, except for the last choice. ”

Lazar shook his wine glass, watching the blood-red liquid ripple in the transparent glass, and his smile became brighter: "As a member of the Elemental Will, I take the place of the deceased Lady Meredith, Xie Evans, your admiration. Hehe, although we don't have the idea of inviting Evans to join us, but a genius who can learn ancient magic and become a full-fledged magician before the age of twenty, I don't think any organization will refuse to observe you. ”

"In addition to the guidance of mid-level and high-level magicians, numerous arcane research materials, complete laboratories, and sufficient materials and wealth, joining the Elemental Will may also obtain the advancement rituals of two legendary magic professions, one is the 'Elemental Dominator' jointly owned by the Council and the Royal Demon Court of Holm, and the other is the one who can only advance by studying both the alchemy system and the elemental system, and it is also our unique 'creator'. ”

"Evans, as long as you can achieve the official Arcanist rank before the age of thirty, the door to the Elemental Will will be open!"

Actually, it might be more appropriate for me to replace Ms. Meredith, and Lucien, who was playing with Holm's crown ring, was bored and scolded, and was more satisfied that he didn't receive the invitation directly.

In this regard, Lucien agrees with Astar's words, when the level is low, it is better to avoid getting involved in the competition of the internal organization of the Magic Council, study and research with peace of mind, and wait for the strength to grow before making a choice.

"I'm good at the astral and elemental systems, and if I want to join the organization in the future, I will definitely give priority to the elemental will. Lucien tried to be as sincere as possible.

Seeing Lucien's expression, Lazar nodded with satisfaction: "If you specialize in the astral system, you can also choose the tower." ”

It seems that the relationship between the "tower" and the "will of the elements" is not bad.

Then he looked outside: "Evans, are you going to be in 'Port Padre' for a few days, or are you going straight to Alinge." ”

"I can't wait to go to Alinge. Lucien replied without hesitation.

Lazar smiled and put his glass down, and then let the coachman drive straight into an ordinary-looking garden villa.

As soon as I crossed the gate, the surroundings immediately turned gray, as if a mist had fallen.

When he came out of the "fog", Lucien saw a scene he could not have imagined, eight railroad tracks laid in pairs in front of him, and a dark and gloomy eight-car "train" stopped closest to him.

Annick and the other apprentices in the carriages behind were shocked by the strange sight and made a noisy noise.

"Welcome aboard the magical steam train to Alinge. ”

Lazar was pleased with Lucien's surprise and stretched out his right hand in an inviting motion. (To be continued.) )