Chapter 154: Oz Is Wonderful!
The girl opened a small door, and Dorothy, summoning her courage, held Toto tightly and followed her companions inside.
They walked through a dimly lit corridor, feeling both nervous and excited.
"So, is Oz really a true magician or not?" Everyone chattered away, discussing the question.
Only Aurora, who already knew the full truth, remained calm and silent, not joining in on the lively debate.
Pushing open another door, they entered a vast circular chamber.
A brilliant chandelier, crafted entirely from erald, hung from the ceiling, shining as brightly as the sun. In the center of the room stood a massive green marble throne, gleaming with dazzling gemstones.
Dorothy took a deep breath and gathered her courage. "Respected and great Oz, are you here?"
She suddenly recalled what Magrito had once said:
"Oz uses magic tricks to take on different forms while hiding behind a screen."
Dorothy’s gaze swept the room, and sure enough, she spotted a screen tucked into a corner.
"Is Oz hiding behind there, using a fake magical image to et us?" she couldn't help but wonder.
The Scarecrow seed to have the sa suspicion.
Dorothy stepped toward the screen, intending to check behind it.
But just then, a voice, aged and wise, echoed from behind the throne.
"Yes, I am here. I am the Oz you seek."
From behind the grand throne erged a small old man.
His skin was as wrinkled as dried tree bark, and he was short in stature, lacking any imposing presence. Yet, his expression was kind and gentle, reminding Dorothy of her uncle and aunt back ho.
"You’re Oz?" Everyone was stunned. "I thought you'd look... terrifying!"
How could the great and fearso Oz be this unassuming old man?
Oz shook his head.
"That was never necessary. Those forms were only ant to maintain my authority. But I do not need to make you fear or intimidate you. I can et you with my true appearance.
"From now on, I will also reveal my real form to the people of Erald City."
Hearing this, Dorothy imdiately felt a wave of goodwill toward the old man.
Oz wasn’t scary at all, nor did he seem like a fraud.
This king was nothing like the rumors!
"Tell , why have you co to see ?"
As he spoke, Oz clapped his hands, casting a spell.
A teapot on the table began to heat up on its own. Then, it floated into the air and poured tea into each of their cups.
The sight left everyone speechless.
"Amazing!" the Tin Man exclaid.
"As expected of a great magician!" the Scarecrow said.
"So this is real magic? It’s nothing like stage tricks!" Dorothy said in awe.
Excited, she stepped forward first. Facing this magician who had demonstrated his incredible power, she spoke sincerely:
"Great Oz, I am just a humble and gentle girl nad Dorothy. I wish to return to my holand.
"My ho is on the plains of the Kingdom of Sass, where my uncle and aunt live. Your country is beautiful, but I have been away for so long—my aunt must be terribly worried.
"If you can send ho directly, that would be wonderful. But if you are unwilling to help , then please take to see my companion Aurora’s teacher—the great magician Rhine. Aurora said that he has the ability to send ho."
Oz, the wrinkled old man, nodded kindly.
"In a little while, I will have a soldier take you to et the great magician Rhine.
"You may have heard along your journey—Rhine is also my teacher. He is a wise, kind, and compassionate sage.
"From what I know, no magician is greater or more knowledgeable than Rhine. He will surely be able to send you ho."
Dorothy was overjoyed.
Oz was even more approachable than she had imagined.
He agreed to her request without hesitation, without making things difficult for her or demanding anything in return.
"That evil magician Magrito really did lie to us. Oz never tried to scare us with so terrifying illusion—he’s such a kind and reasonable person! How could he be a fraud?"
Next, the Scarecrow stepped forward.
He bowed deeply, doing his best to make his posture as perfect as possible, and said,
"I am rely a Scarecrow, stuffed with straw, so I have no brain. I have co to ask you to grant one so that I may be like any other person in your kingdom."
Oz was clearly taken aback by the request.
The short old man pondered for a mont before saying,
"Creating a good brain is not sothing that can be done instantly. I cannot give you a great brain on the spot—it will take so ti. Surely, you would prefer a wise and intelligent brain, rather than one that is dull and useless, or even filled with wicked thoughts?"
"Of course, Great Oz," the Scarecrow agreed.
The idea of having an awful or evil brain was terrifying. He would rather Oz take his ti and create a brain that suited him best.
"In that case, return tomorrow to see . I will need ti to craft a wise brain for you—though I cannot guarantee success."
Hearing Oz’s promise, the Scarecrow joyfully stepped back.
"Thank you, Great Oz!"
Next, the Tin Man approached.
"I was once a woodcutter, but through a cruel twist of fate, I beca a Tin Man. Now, I have no heart and cannot feel love. I ask you to grant a heart so that I may be like a normal person."
Oz asked, "You were once an ordinary human? Flesh and blood, unlike your Scarecrow friend?"
"Absolutely, Great Oz."
"Then how did you end up like this?"
The Tin Man explained,
"I fell in love with a Munchkin girl and worked tirelessly so that we could marry. But her mother was a lazy woman—she did not want her daughter to leave her, because then she would lose the care and support of her child.
"So, she sacrificed livestock to the powerful Wicked Witch of the East and asked her to curse .
"My axe beca cursed, and ti after ti, it cut off my own hands, my legs, my body, and even my head.
"A kind tinsmith saved , forging a new body of tin.
"But I was left without a heart—so now, I can never love that girl again."
Oz let out a sigh.
The wrinkled old man looked at the Tin Man with genuine sympathy.
"That is truly a tragic story."
Seeing the heartfelt sorrow in Oz’s eyes, Dorothy felt an even greater sense of affection for this kind and approachable magician.
"Oz may be nothing like the legends describe, but there’s one thing that wasn’t a lie—he really is a good magician!"
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