The bright sunshine, the slightly humid air, the faint smell of fish, the retro and elegant buildings, and the noisy crowds constitute Lucien's impression of "Port Padre", the largest seaside in the Kingdom of Holm.
First impression of the city.
Several carriages drove smoothly and slowly through the streets. Lucien looked away from the car window and looked back at the magician Lazar who was responsible for welcoming him and his apprentices.
"Haha, Mr. Evans, are you satisfied with the Kingdom of Holm?" Lazar asked with his signature smile as bright as the sun.
At this time, Lucien lost the ubiquitous depression and felt very relaxed. He replied humorously: "Madam, the ladies are all beautiful. Their clothes are also very different from the mainland style. They have complicated cake skirts.
There are light long skirts with bright colors, beautiful lace, ruffles, pleats, etc. However, what disappoints me is that they seem a bit conservative. All the clothes have high collars and only a section of their fair necks are exposed.
By the way, Lazar, just call me Evans."
"Haha, Evans, it's because you don't know how to appreciate it." Lazar laughed in a way that all men understand. "I always believe that being conservative and covering up can give people a greater desire to explore. Human nature is like this, it is easy to get things.
I always don’t know how to cherish it.”
Lucien nodded slightly: "But what impressed me most is that in the Kingdom of Holm, both men and women seem to like to wear a hat?" This is very rare in Alto, and often only clergy and senior citizens
Only older gentlemen like to wear soft hats.
"Evans, you are very observant. This is a good quality that a magician needs to possess. In Holm, wearing a hat when going out is a kind of etiquette. You will also need to get used to it in the future. For example, ladies' formal hats are worn behind the head.
Wide-brimmed hats with beautiful long ribbons and tassels, as well as gauze hats with hazy veils, are usually light and small soft hats inlaid with feathers, flowers, etc. Men's hats are much simpler, and ordinary civilians wear round hats with wide rims.
Hats, for us gentlemen, top hats of varying heights, and everyday bonnets.”
Lazar pointed to the top of his head, "Of course, a tie, bow tie, suit or double-breasted dress are also indispensable matches.
After slowly narrowing the distance between him and Lazar through conversation between men, Lucien changed the subject without revealing any trace: "I wonder what restrictions are there on magicians in the Kingdom of Holm?"
"It's like a sword. If you hurt someone, you will be punished by law. However, formal magicians have a status equivalent to that of a lord. For less serious matters, you only need to pay a certain fine. As for the rest, look there." Lazar pointed out.
Looking out the car window.
Lucien turned around and saw dozens of children surrounding a middle-aged man in a gray suit next to a fountain in a square. He held his black top hat in his hand and kept looking at it from inside.
They took out things, flowers, bread, stones, etc., and finally a flock of white doves flew out, making the children clap and cheer happily.
"Magic trick, magic apprentice?" Lucien asked doubtfully due to the distance.
Lazar took a sip of red wine, smiled and nodded: "Yes, since the Parliament began to educate apprentices in schools, the number of magic apprentices in several countries has increased rapidly, and more and more people cannot become official magicians.
But they all know words and have a wealth of knowledge, making it easy for them to earn a good life. This apprentice probably just likes children and likes to tease them."
Lucien, who had already learned from Astaire and Tom that there was a magic school in the Parliament, was surprised and asked casually: "At present, in the magic school, what is the ratio of magic apprentices to formal magicians?"
"It has improved a lot compared to the ancient inheritance. In the ancient magic empire, if you did not have strong spiritual talent, you could only rely on potions and various dangerous magic rituals. Often, not one of a thousand apprentices could advance to the level of magician. But now.
, with the learning of arcane arts, the mental requirements for apprentices have been reduced a lot, 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 you need to worry about Evans. You are already an official magician and have surpassed many apprentices. You just need to work hard and speak without any prejudice.
Learn arcane magic, and I believe you will be a qualified real magician in a year or two. By the way, what sect of magician are you?"
Lucien didn't hide anything: "I'm good at star system and elemental system magic, but I haven't decided what I will specialize in in the future."
"Haha, I happen to be an elemental mage and a member of the 'Will of the Elements'. Have you heard of the 'Will of the Elements'?" Lazar played with the empty red wine glass in his hand.
Of course I have heard of it, I now have the Holm Crown Ring, Lucien thought as he smiled and replied: "I heard Mr. Astal mentioned it, Lazar, do you want to invite me to join?"
"Haha, Evans, you are thinking too much." Lazar said jokingly: "We are different from organizations like the 'Pale Hand' that absorb good and bad regardless of whether they are good or bad. Those who can join the 'Elemental Will' have passed the examination.
Elite magicians need to have at least a formal arcanist level. Hey, they really don't need to distinguish between good and bad in the 'Pale Hand'. Anyway, the most important thing to them is the corpse. If it's not good enough, there are still corpses that can be sent.
It’s useful.”
Lucien listened to Lazar's slander and could only think silently. The "Elemental Will" and the "Pale Hand" were really contradictory. Even Lazar, a magician who was obviously not an intermediate level, could not bear to mention each other.
He couldn't help but sneered: "So, Lazar, you have a formal arcanist level?"
Lucien originally wanted to say, "So, Lazar, you are an elite magician?" But thinking about the irony, he changed his mind and asked about the arcanist level.
Lazar straightened his back slightly, stopped playing with the red wine glass with his right hand, and tried to keep his smile calm: "The first-level elemental magic I improved at the beginning of this year, 'Lazar's Burning Hand', was approved by the parliament for arcane magic.
After the committee's evaluation, I gained two arcane points, plus the previous eight, and finally became a first-level arcanist and a second-level magician. After that, I was absorbed as a member of the 'Elemental Will'."
Although he tried his best to hide it, his tone and description still clearly showed his complacency and satisfaction.
"Lazar, you don't look very old?" Lucien didn't understand how difficult it was for junior magicians to obtain arcane points, but was slightly surprised by Lazar's second-level magician level.
Lazar picked up the red wine bottle on the small wooden table between the two of them and poured some red wine into his glass again: "I just turned twenty-two, haha, I am two years older than you, Evans."
Because of his calm temperament and not much immaturity, he is often misunderstood as being around 20 years old. Lucien took advantage of the situation and reported his age as 20 years old. This is different from the 18-year-old musician Lucien Evans:
"Lazar, you are truly an outstanding genius."
"Haha, nothing. Compared with those real geniuses, I am still far behind. For example, Mr. Ulysses from the 'Elemental Will' has unimaginable talents in the field of elemental magic. Twenty-two
At the age of 33, he had already become a second-level arcanist and a mid-level magician. At the age of thirty-three, he has become a fourth-level arcanist and a fifth-level elemental mage. And there are many other geniuses like him,
Like Mr. Larry and Timothy within the organization.”
Lazar doesn't feel much jealousy towards these geniuses, because he has long been destroyed by their achievements and has no desire to compare with them. They are not on the same level and cannot be compared, so there is no need to be jealous. "And the field of elemental magic allows me to
The genius I admire the most, besides the Grand Arcanist Hathaway, is the Princess of the Kingdom of Holm, Ms. Meredith. She won the 'Holm Crown' award at the age of twenty-three, which is also rare since the establishment of the Magic Council.
A genius whose arcane level exceeds the magic level. After winning the award, she, who was only a first-level elemental mage, turned out to be a fourth-level arcanist. It's a pity..."
Touching the "Mo" ring in his pocket, Lucien felt as if he heard an acquaintance in a foreign country: "I know Ms. Meredith's story. Except for the last choice, everyone sincerely admires her.
"
Lazar shook the wine glass and looked at the blood-red liquid rippling in the transparent glass. His smile became brighter: "As a member of the Will of the Elements, I thank Evans for your admiration on behalf of the deceased Ms. Meredith. Haha, although we
I haven't thought of inviting you to join Evans yet, but for a genius who can learn ancient magic and become an official magician before the age of twenty, I don't think any organization will refuse to observe you."
"In addition to the guidance of intermediate and high-level magicians, numerous arcane research materials, complete laboratories, sufficient materials and wealth, joining the Will of the Elements may also provide you with the advancement rituals of two legendary magic professions. One is with
The 'Elemental Dominator' jointly owned by the Parliament and the Holm Royal Magic Court, one can only advance by studying the alchemy system and the elemental system at the same time, and he is also our unique 'creator'."
"Evans, as long as you can obtain the formal arcanist level before the age of thirty, the door to the elemental will will be open!"
In fact, it might be more appropriate for me to replace Ms. Meredith. Lucien, who was playing with Holm's crown ring in boredom, cursed and was quite satisfied with not receiving the invitation directly.
In this regard, Lucien more agrees with Astal. When the level is low, it is best to avoid getting involved in the competition within the Magic Council's internal organizations, study and research with peace of mind, and make a choice when your strength grows.
"I'm good at the astrology system and the elemental system. If I want to join an organization in the future, I will definitely give priority to the will of the elements." Lucien tried to be sincere and perfunctory.
Seeing Lucien's statement, Lazar nodded with satisfaction: "If you specialize in the star system, you can also choose the tower."
It seems that the relationship between "Tower" and "Elemental Will" is not bad.
Then he looked outside: "Evans, do you want to spend a few days in Port Padre, or go directly to Allinge."
"I can't wait to go to Arlinge." Lucien answered without hesitation.
Lazar put down the wine glass with a smile, and then asked the driver to drive directly into an ordinary-looking garden villa.
As soon as we crossed the gate, the surrounding area immediately became gray, as if mist had descended.
When he came out of the "fog", Lucien saw a scene that he could not imagine at all. Eight railway tracks were laid out in pairs in front of him, and a dark and gloomy eight-car "train" was parked closest to him. .
Annick and other apprentices in the carriages behind were shocked by this strange sight and made noisy noises.
"Welcome aboard the magical steam train bound for Allinge."
Lazar was very satisfied with the surprise of Lucien and the others, and stretched out his right hand as an invitation. (To be continued. Please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!)