Dean Bruce could clearly hear the urgency in Nicholas William's voice. Turning around, he smiled warmly at Nicholas and asked softly, "You're really hoping I leave, aren't you?"
"How could that be?" Nicholas William quickly replied, "I'd wish for nothing more than for you to always stay by my side, teaching magic. Why would I want you to leave?"
Seeing the anxiety and nervousness on Nicholas William's face, Dean Bruce decided not to tease him any longer. Smiling, he said, "Instead of wasting ti worrying about these things, you should calm your mind and focus on your training. If you can fully grasp the magic I've taught you, then no crisis in this world could pose a threat to us as master and disciple."
After saying this, Dean Bruce didn't even glance at the dumbfounded Nicholas William. He squeezed his legs together, and with that, Firebolt shot out of the camp at an incredible speed, racing into the forest.
Dean Bruce wasn't exaggerating—no matter the enemy, as long as his disciples could fully comprehend the magic he imparted, he would be rewarded greatly. This would allow him to quickly boost his own power and defeat any foe!
Nicholas William wasn't aware of this. Blinking in confusion, he rely assud that Dean Bruce had supre confidence in his own abilities.
However, Nicholas represented an entire family and had to approach everything with caution.
Unfortunately, Dean Bruce was his ntor. Not only could he not control him, but he had to obey every command. Otherwise, he'd be branded as a disrespectful ingrate, one who betrays their teacher—sothing despicable.
Although in this world, there were plenty of people who betrayed their masters, Nicholas didn't want to beco one of them.
Taking a deep breath, Nicholas William made up his mind. When he returned, he would consult the family elder on how to comprehend the Slumber of the Dead spell. At the sa ti, he would make sure to explain everything about Dean Bruce to his sister, Jennie William, to prevent her from doing anything rash.
The warhorse was indeed far superior to ordinary horses. Even in the densely forested, rugged mountains, Firebolt's speed remained unaffected, moving as if the terrain were flat.
Feeling the wind whipping against him, Dean Bruce almost felt as if he were flying. However, horseback riding was a skill, and after so ti, it wasn't Firebolt who grew tired but Dean Bruce himself. Unable to keep up the pace, he had to slow down and continue at a more leisurely pace through the mountains.
Dean Bruce didn't mind, though. As he rested, he pondered ways to make horseback riding easier and more sustainable.
There was no doubt that the warhorse, which had been recomnded by the soldiers, was extraordinary. Despite the occasional beast blocking their path, Firebolt still managed to bring Dean Bruce to Stanlow City faster than expected, arriving just before the gates closed.
The soldier from earlier hadn't lied to Dean Bruce—Stanlow City's defenses had indeed been significantly bolstered. As night drew near, more people arrived, causing the guards on duty to beco visibly tense.
It wasn't until Dean Bruce rode into view on Firebolt that the soldiers guarding the gate relaxed. Upon seeing his magical robes, they exhaled in relief.
Their eyes then fell upon Firebolt's sleek coat and the horse's bright, alert eyes. The soldiers' pupils constricted in shock, and their gazes toward Dean Bruce shifted with newfound respect.
Having served as gatekeepers for so ti, they could tell that Firebolt was no ordinary horse—it was a warhorse from the military!
Anyone riding such a majestic steed must be soone of high status. They certainly couldn't afford to offend such a person, nor would they dare to try. As they approached to ask questions, smiles were already plastered on their faces.
"Honorable Mage, may we ask where you've co from? Do you have a travel permit? In the past few days, so officials from the Nine Provinces Alliance have arrived, and security has been tightened. We ask for your understanding."
Hearing their deferential tone, Dean Bruce was slightly surprised. His gaze swept over the guards, and noticing their sincere expressions, he beca even more curious.
Though intrigued, Dean Bruce maintained his composure. Calmly, he pulled out his travel permit and handed it to them.
One of the soldiers respectfully stepped forward, carefully accepting the permit. He glanced at it briefly before handing it back to Dean Bruce.
They had no choice—Firebolt was simply too magnificent, and combined with Dean Bruce's calm deanor, it led them to assu he was a military officer. Naturally, they didn't dare inspect the permit too closely.
As Dean Bruce tucked away the permit, the guard cautiously spoke up again: "Sir, the city is under strict regulations now. If you plan to stay at an inn, mbers of the Nine Provinces Alliance will surely co to inquire about you. Do you have another destination in mind?"
Upon hearing this, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel fortunate. Thankfully, he had secured the travel permit and found a warhorse at the military camp, leading the Stanlow guards to misunderstand his status and offer helpful advice.
Otherwise, if he had recklessly entered Stanlow City and checked into an inn for the night, he might have run into mbers of the Nine Provinces Alliance. Even if a fight didn't break out, there would undoubtedly have been so conflict or tension.
As for finding Lina Jones?
Visiting a woman late at night? That wouldn't be proper.
After a mont of thought, Dean Bruce calmly asked, "Is the Temple of Wisdom still open?"
"The Temple of Wisdom? If I recall correctly, it's related to the moon. It doesn't close at night, and there are often worshippers praying to the moon," the guard replied.
The guards exchanged glances, and then several of them spoke up, "Sir, if you're connected to the Temple of Wisdom, that's great news. The people from the Nine Provinces Alliance are incredibly arrogant—they don't respect us at all. The only ones they don't dare to show off in front of are the mbers of the major temples. The rest of us have had to suffer because of them."
"Thanks for the warning." Having confird his destination, Dean Bruce smiled slightly at the guards. Then, he urged Firebolt forward, passing through the gate and disappearing into the passageway beyond.
As Dean Bruce's figure vanished into the darkness, the guards couldn't help but express their envy. One muttered softly, "Mages who accompany the military are always incredibly powerful. This one even has ties to the temple. No wonder he's got such a magnificent warhorse!"
"Ah, I'm so jealous. If I could have a horse like that, I wouldn't even mind dying ten years earlier!"
"Pfft!"
A snicker rang out, causing the soldier's face to flush red in embarrassnt.
"Co on, stop dreaming. Warhorses like that aren't for soldiers like us. Even in the army, only high-ranking officers can get their hands on one!"
"Don't aim too high. Let's just focus on getting by in our own lives," another guard chid in.
After a brief pause, the soldier who had warned Dean Bruce sighed and said, "Close the gates, it's ti for us to rest. Let's hope tonight remains peaceful."
Although Stanlow City was close to Notting City, it was much more prosperous. Even late at night, the city was brightly lit. Every house had special crystals hanging outside, emitting colorful lights that illuminated the entire city.
There were also many more people walking the streets, with vendors lining both sides of the roads, shouting to attract custors. The bustling scene caused Dean Bruce to feel a surge of admiration. If Stanlow City was already this lively, what would Saint Laurent City be like? It must be comparable to life in a modern city.
The temples in the city were also quite prominent. Even though this was Dean Bruce's first ti in Stanlow City, it only took a glance to spot several massive statues shining under the night sky, standing tall in various corners of the city.
As Dean Bruce's gaze swept across the scene, his eyes were drawn to a statue of a goddess holding a book. Without hesitation, he walked in the direction of the sculpture, and soon, following the flow of people, he arrived in front of a temple.
The temple doors were wide open, and there were no guards stationed at either side, which montarily left Dean Bruce surprised.
On second thought, he realized that the temple was filled with fervent worshippers, so perhaps guards weren't necessary.
After tying Firebolt to the side, he stepped through the entrance and felt as though he had entered a completely different world—the noise from outside was entirely shut out.
Looking up, he noticed the walls towering high above. The ceiling was adorned with intricate designs, faintly glowing. Combined with the grand hall's overall layout, it gave the impression of standing beneath a starry sky.
[Why does the Temple of Wisdom seem to be connected to the stars and the moon? ] Dean Bruce furrowed his brow, deeply puzzled. His thoughts returned to the mont when Lina Jones had absorbed moonlight to activate the Relics, further fueling his suspicions.
As he glanced around the hall, he saw three doorways. The two on either side were open, and people were moving in and out of them.
Curious about the Temple of Wisdom, Dean Bruce imdiately approached to take a closer look.
Inside the rooms behind the doors were smaller chapels, each housing statues about the height of a person. The statues looked similar in shape and appearance, the only difference being what they held: one held a book, and the other a staff.
It reminded Dean Bruce of how, in the modern world, people would go to church to pray to priests. Here, people approached the statues in order, bowing respectfully and offering money before kneeling nearby with their eyes closed, lips moving silently as if they were reciting prayers.
Since crossing into this world, Dean Bruce had co to believe in the existence of gods, but as soone from the modern age and with a higher education, he knew that gods wouldn't help him for no reason. Naturally, he wasn't about to kneel and worship.
After confirming there was nothing suspicious about the side chapels, Dean Bruce turned toward the central doorway.
This ti, he finally encountered resistance. Before he could even get close to the closed door, a woman dressed in a long white robe, holding a book, stepped in front of him and blocked his way. She spoke in a calm but firm voice, "Devotee, your heart is not sincere enough to enter the inner sanctum of the temple!"
"..."
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