Chapter Sixteen: A New Life

  I sat by a small stream at the foot of a mountain, staring motionlessly at the float, the water in the stream flowing slowly, the warm sunset light shining gently on the surface of the water, occasionally blowing over the gentle breeze rippling the surface of the water, and the glory of the setting sun scattered into countless fragments on the surface of the water, looking from a distance, as if a golden mirror was broken, with golden lights jumping everywhere.

  Every evening, I sit by this small stream to fish. Teacher Ankara says that being close to nature can help me deepen my understanding and communication with the elements, and fishing is the most relaxing for my mood. Carefully feeling every subtle movement of the fish biting the hook also makes my senses more acute.

  It's been almost three years since I came to Ankala teacher's magic tower. I've gone from being a country bumpkin who didn't understand anything to becoming an experienced magic apprentice. Ankala teacher said that after a while, through his assessment, I'll be able to become a real magician, albeit just a primary one. Ankala teacher is the only great magician in the empire. The assessment for a primary magician only requires an assessment by a great magician, whereas the assessment for an intermediate magician requires going to the Magician's City - Larsen to take the assessment, and you must also have a letter of recommendation from a great magician.

  According to Tissen, who was quieter than me and followed the teacher to learn magic earlier, Larsson is a city founded by magicians and almost an independent magical kingdom. Nearly all of the continent's magicians are concentrated there, and in that city, there are many powerful magicians like Master Ankala, and even more powerful ones reside there. What I yearn for most is Larsson, this magician's city - it's actually a city floating in the air, as Tissen put it, "The Floating City".

  Good heavens! A city floating in the sky! How magnificent, how grand, how mysterious! The thought of it makes me yearn for that unseen city. When I first heard about such a city, my stunned and bewildered expression was scorned by Tyson for a long time.

  I actually knew that much, Tyson doesn't like to talk, especially not with me. He usually just buries his head in his studies and doesn't say a word to me all day. I only found out he took the intermediate exam because I heard he went to Larsen, so I tried to get him to tell me about it. The teacher is always busy and rarely has time to spend with us. He's often away from home and sometimes doesn't come back for a month. When he does come back, he's always busy in the alchemy lab. Most of my magic learning is taken care of by Tyson, the teacher only instructs me at critical moments, usually just for four or five days, trying to cram all the knowledge into me. As for magic practice, he just teaches Tyson and has him supervise me instead.

  The float suddenly moved, startling me out of my reverie. A fish was biting! I quickly focused my attention on the water's surface. The float bobbed up and down on the water, and the sensation transmitted through the fishing line told me that a fish was probing the bait on the hook. The float moved again, and the temptation of food finally overcame its innate caution. The float suddenly sank downward - now was my chance! I swiftly lifted the rod, and a fairly large fish was pulled out of the water. The greedy fish had swallowed the hook whole, and it was caught by the mouth. As I pulled it out of the water, the sunset's rays shone on its scales, sparkling brightly. A triumphant feeling filled me with laughter from the heart - oh, greedy fish! You wanted to enjoy a delicious meal, but didn't realize you'd become someone else's food instead.

  Actually, we humans are like this sometimes too. Clearly our rationality tells us that it's a trap, but greed blinds our eyes, and the result is often the same as this fish, falling into someone else's trap. At any time, in any era, there will absolutely never be a lack of such foolish people. But then again, when I'm ridiculing others, won't I also be just as reckless in front of temptation?

  I smiled wryly to myself, tossed the fish into the basket beside me, rebaited the hook and cast it out onto the water again, waiting for the next fish to bite.

  When it comes to fish, my specialty is grilled fish. I recall that initially, I used the delicious grilled fish to get the taciturn Tyson to put down his research and waste his precious time talking to me about Larsen's affairs. This gave me the opportunity to obtain some of Larsen's descriptions that made me yearn for more. Unfortunately, Tyson is a very self-controlled person, and after eating my grilled fish once, it would take him a long time to be tempted by me again. Moreover, what makes me even more disheartened is that every time he eats my grilled fish, the next day his training becomes even stricter, as if being seduced by my grilled fish was all my fault. However, I must also thank him for his strict requirements, as my magical level has been constantly increasing, and soon I will become a formal magician.

  Another fish was pulled out of the water by me, I lowered my head and took a look at the basket, it's almost full, today's harvest is not bad, can start roasting fish now. I put away the fishing rod, went to the small woods by the stream to collect some withered branches and leaves, also cut down many dry branches from the tree using wind blade technique. I carried the branches to the edge of the stream, ignited the pile of leaves with fireball technique, the flames gradually grew bigger, igniting the piled up branches. I inserted two forked branches on both sides of the fire, then placed the threaded fish on top, eyes fixed on the fire, occasionally flipping the fish over, and sprinkling some seasonings on top of the fish, soon, the fish was roasted to golden brown, the aroma of fish mixed with the fragrance of seasonings spread through the air, even gods would be attracted by this smell.

  As a magician, I didn't feel any glory, but magic has indeed brought me many benefits. I can easily use Wind Blade Technique to cut down high branches, I can use Fireball Technique to ignite dry wood, and now I can even use Water Dragon Whirl to help me wash clothes. Although at first, I always ended up shredding my own clothes, but under my persistent efforts, I finally managed to wash them with ease.

  "Hmph! All day long, you only know how to eat, drink and have fun. Good magic is being used by you to roast fish and wash clothes. Noble magic is being used for such lowly things. I really don't understand why the teacher would take a liking to you. Even if you achieve something in the future, it's likely that you'll lead magic astray." A cold voice sounded from behind me, I didn't move, but handed a roasted fish back towards the sound, and after a long while, the owner of the voice hesitated before taking it.

  "Tyson, you always say that. Which rule says that fireball technique can't be used to light a fire, and which rule says that wind blade technique can't be used to cut withered branches? Magic has its value as long as it's used in a useful place, what's wrong with expanding its application? Besides, don't you think this is also a good way to practice magic? Come on, eat while it's hot, roasted fish tastes best when eaten immediately, right?" I said with a smile, without turning my head.

  "Hmph, you're just good at running your mouth. If only you had this much enthusiasm when learning magic!" Tyson sat down beside me with an icy demeanor and started devouring my roasted fish, his speed not betraying his disdain for the fish I cooked.