Chapter 6, The Mage

This experience is indeed something that is difficult to feel even once in a lifetime

Finally, has someone arrived? As Fran was wondering where the master had gone, a hoarse voice seemed to answer his question, coming from the highest level of the third floor

I ran wildly in the tower, experiencing this world entirely through the perception of a mouse. When I became exhausted and wished to return to my human form, I regretfully realized that I had forgotten to prepare the necessary medium for the restoration spell in advance

The entire tower is approximately three stories high, its exterior red bricks corroded by the unique alkalinity of seawater, creating numerous small holes. Occasionally, a gust of wind sweeps by, causing weathered sand and gravel to trickle swiftly from the crevices of the bricks. Although this is the first time Fulan has encountered a mage tower, he is certain that it is entirely different from the rumored mage residences, which are said to be constructed of mithril and gemstones, guarded by countless magical tombs and otherworldly beings.

The guards swore that they had never slacked off during their patrols

Before coming up, please open the cabinet; there is some food inside. Please bring it to me. Damn it, I can't open it.

The transparent viscous liquid in the crucible has cooled, displaying a greenish glow, and the originally repulsive odor has transformed into a faint fragrance

This must also be the wondrous aspect of magic

"Mr. William, perhaps I could have the honor of inviting you to dinner, or rather, given the current circumstances, it should be a late-night snack." Fran extended a hand to help the mage get up, "Of course, you can go wash up first and put on some clothes; I will wait for you outside the tower."

After careful observation, Fran concluded that the wooden door was not the magical trap that would take a person's life as she had imagined

Called out several times at the door, it was quiet, and in my ears, there was only the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks

Gray fur, wistful whiskers, eyes as sneaky as mung beans, and a bare, light red long tail

If the place below is as neglected as a vagrant's temporary shelter, then the top floor is like another world

Fulan was somewhat perplexed, "Although I have not previously encountered the mysteries of the magical world, isn't transmutation just a spell that can transform one into any animal?" "Transmutation is merely a second-level spell that any mage can dispel with a counterspell, and it can only change one's appearance in a superficial manner," the mage patiently explained, "Have you heard of druids?" "Have you heard of druids?"

Seeing Fulan hesitate, the mouse explained, "Please believe me, I am the William you are looking for, the Honorary Magician of the First Court. Due to some kind of mishap, I have been trapped in this damned form by m.hetushu.com."

The curved glass tubes connect flasks, beakers, test tubes, funnels, and crucibles into a set, with several small sets interconnected to form a larger assembly. It appears that the experiment was abruptly halted, as the residue filtered through the funnel membrane has yet to be cleared away. The device, crafted from metal and inscribed with mysterious symbols on its side, seems to be a heater that has exhausted all its fuel, causing a large mass of jelly-like substance in the crucible to solidify into chunks. It appears that the experiment was abruptly halted, as the residue filtered through the funnel membrane has yet to be cleared away. The device, crafted from metal and inscribed with mysterious symbols on its side, seems to be a heater that has exhausted all its fuel, causing a large mass of jelly-like substance in the crucible to solidify into chunks

I truly do not know how to express my gratitude. Now, please help me open the drawer labeled 'Human Hair' in the third compartment, the one labeled 'Phosphate' in the sixth compartment, and the one labeled 'Bone Meal' in the seventh compartment. Take out some and place them in a one-to-one ratio into the crucible containing 'Jelly'.

Thus, strange tales such as "furniture possessed by ghosts" gradually began to circulate

Now, use a filter to remove the residue, and then wait for half an hour. Once the viscous liquid condenses into a bluish-green oil paste, I will be able to return to my original form

"Damn it, I don't care who you are, as long as you're alive, hurry up to the top floor, oh, I'm about to go crazy." The voice immediately became sharp, filled with excitement in its tone.

"Of course, please trust the words of a prosecutor," said Fran.

Under the sun's rays, the cracked rocks exhibit a pale hue, while the tender yellow moss grows half-heartedly in the shadows of the crevices. In the sheltered corners, there remains a considerable amount of debris that has not been swept away by the sea breeze. The waves and wind have left the island's surface uneven and pockmarked

"To restore it to its original state, it is necessary to refine a type of ointment, but I cannot accomplish this in this form, not even reaching the drawers of the closet," said the mouse who called itself a wizard

The smell was unbearable, reminiscent of fermented fertilizer in the fields. Fulan fought against the urge to vomit and, under the guidance of the wizard, added a piece of stardust into the cauldron.

Fulan thought, "I have discovered the truth"

"Oh, spare me the cursed Holy See; what else can those bishops do besides spreading rumors?" the sorcerer said indignantly. "To them, anyone is a heretic; even a mage summoning a skeleton or some minor creature would be accused of offering their soul to the devil"

It is so delicious, I never knew that bread could taste this good The mouse swallowed the last crumb, sighed contentedly, and its tiny eyes, as small as mung beans, comfortably squinted into a narrow slit

The wizard comfortably stretched and ran his fingers through his messy hair. Just as he was about to take a few steps, he suddenly bumped into something and fell to the ground with a thud

With each step taken, the body rises and falls with the staircase.

After all the preparations were completed, Fulan ignited the heater, and pure white flames suddenly erupted. Soon, the jelly that had solidified in the crucible began to bubble and gurgle, producing bubbles of various sizes.

Stepping out of the tower, the stars twinkled like scattered jewels in the night sky. Under the moonlight, the endless expanse of dark blue shimmered, while the damp sea breeze gently caressed, bringing a sense of comfort to Fulan

The legendary wizards all wear this type of hat

I also conduct some experiments in herbal medicine as a personal hobby" replied Fulan

"I have never had any guests visit me here; I almost thought I would be trapped in this form for a lifetime," the wizard sighed with relief and said, "Please give me the bread; hunger is truly a painful experience."

The island is not large; strictly speaking, it is merely a slightly larger coral reef. After just a few steps, Fulan arrived in front of the Mage Tower

Many clothes were scattered haphazardly on the ground, especially that pointed hat. Fulan picked it up and examined it carefully. The style was very similar to the comical hats worn by circus clowns, but the color was not colorful; instead, it was a deep, pitch black.

With a heart full of anxiety, Fran followed the instructions to take out the hard rye bread from the cupboard and headed towards the top floor

Although the nature spells of druids are considered insignificant in the eyes of wizards, their shapeshifting abilities are far beyond what wizards can achieve. A druid elder can even transform into a giant dragon, retaining abilities such as breath attacks and dragon fear, which can only be wielded by true dragons. The path of the oak tree indeed possesses its unique qualities

Dear Fulan, you have won the friendship of a wizard, but to maintain this friendship, please do not speak of what you have seen today to others. Only when I can transform into powerful beings such as a Minotaur or a Scorpion-tailed Lion will my research be deemed useful. Otherwise, I will be ridiculed as a peculiar individual who has spent ten years studying how to turn into a mouse

For the past decade, I have been emulating the talents of the Druid, attempting to create truly powerful shapeshifting abilities. My research has finally made a breakthrough earlier. Although I can currently only transform into weak creatures such as mice and toads, even the true eye of a paladin cannot dispel the transformation

As the spiral staircase turned for two revolutions, the appearance of the top floor came into view before Fran.

"Mr. William, what kind of experiment are you conducting? You actually managed to transform yourself into a mouse," Fran asked curiously while filtering, "Is this the legendary shapeshifting technique? It truly is remarkable"

Mr. William, the First Court requires your assistance, and we earnestly hope for your presence. Perhaps the trivial matters of the world pale in comparison to exploring the vast magical realm, yet every employee of the First Court and the citizens of Feidu will be profoundly grateful to you

The entire first-floor hall was empty, with only a narrow staircase spiraling upward standing in the center. Fran attempted to ascend it, but the wooden steps immediately groaned under the weight, making Fran doubt whether it could bear her own weight

"Your movements are quite skilled, not at all like a novice?" the wizard asked, tilting his head in curiosity

Although he only stayed in the first court for two months, Fran still heard many interesting tales, one of which was about "furniture that disappears without reason." Handcrafted tables and chairs ordered from high-end stores, along with bookshelves made from fine wood, often vanished without a trace on certain deep nights, as if they were ice blocks under the blazing sun

However, this almost caused harm to myself. More than half a month ago, when I discovered that I could use magic to mimic some basic druidic shapeshifting techniques, I eagerly cast the spell. As expected, I transformed into a mouse, a genuine mouse, with agile movements, superior hearing compared to humans, and the ability to see in dim light.

I am unable to meditate in a non-human form, and unfortunately, the magical energy has been nearly depleted from previous experiments, leaving me barely able to cast the restoration spell once. The magician said this while jumping into the cauldron, rolling around inside, and then bouncing back onto the ground, moving with remarkable agility

"My lord, you have finally come out," the voice carried a hint of tears as the fisherman dutifully docked the boat at the shore, unaware of how long he had been waiting

A mouse displayed such a personified expression and was able to speak human language. Fulan felt that the entire world began to feel unreal.

When Fulan nervously placed the food beside the mouse, it immediately began to devour it ravenously, as if what it was gorging on was not stale bread but rather a rich intestine filled with meat.

A genuine product is a gray-furred rat

"Damn it, I have completely forgotten how to walk on two legs," the wizard complained in exasperation

This has resulted in a significant increase in expenditures for the first court regarding the funding for updating equipment

The sound came from beneath the floor. When Fulan inquired and looked over, there lay a feeble mouse among the large stack of books on the floor.

Staying in such a high-risk building indeed requires a bit of courage

The indoor lighting is dim, and the small window on the wall is covered with thick curtains. A few rays of sunlight struggle to seep through the gaps between the curtains and the window frame, suggesting that it has not been cleaned for a long time. The old floor is accumulated with years of grime.

The corner of the wizard's mouth was adorned with a faint smile, but to Fran, a mouse that smiled like a human was somewhat unsettling

The second floor remains unoccupied, with a small bed in the corner, a greasy oak table, and a stack of dishes on the table still bearing remnants of food, indicating that this is the owner's bedroom and dining area

As the stardust was added, the murky liquid in the crucible gradually formed two distinctly different layers. At the bottom was a dark-colored residue, while floating on top was a layer of transparent slime

"Do you need my help? Before that, who will help me?" The wizard complained a few times, then suddenly realized and shouted, "Please do not be afraid. Although the rumors say that wizards are a bunch of perverts who enjoy using the lives of others to test the effects of spells, I assure you that the human body is the most inferior experimental subject. I would rather summon a little demon to achieve my goals"

"Oh, herbalism." A look of disdain appeared on the wizard's mouse-like face, "But it's no surprise; in the eyes of ordinary people, that is already considered a profound knowledge."

He was a middle-aged man around forty, with a small mustache, completely naked, his complexion pale, and his lips devoid of color. This was not the "noble white" of aristocrats who have long enjoyed a life of luxury, with fair skin that reveals blue veins; it was clearly a result of long-term neglect of nutrition.

My experiment has encountered a minor issue, and I require assistance from another person. Please rest assured that this will not cause you any harm; on the contrary, it will be a rare experience for an ordinary person

May I ask if Mr. William is at home

Please accept my gratitude once again; if it were not for your timely arrival, I would likely have had to survive by gnawing on wood

"Heavens, you truly do not recognize wwwhetushucom.com goods. How could you possibly say that this great achievement is mere transformation? After all, you are an ordinary person. If it were another magician, they would have been so astonished that their eyes would have popped out. " The magician's tone was filled with pride

The people living here are truly lazy individuals. It is likely that first-time visitors will have such thoughts.

It is evident that this is the result of the master abusing his power for personal gain. However, how did the large cabinet manage to evade the watchful eyes of the guards and get transported to the small island in the sea

After placing the materials into the crucible, take the bottle filled with black liquid that is next to the table and pour the liquid into the heater beneath the crucible. Upon seeing Fran act as instructed, the magician pointed out, "Do not ignite the kerosene directly, as it will explode. You can find saltpeter on another table; it can suppress the potency of the kerosene without lowering the temperature of the flame."

He cautiously pushed the door, and to his surprise, it was not locked. As he applied more force with his wrist, the decayed and warped door creaked loudly, scraping against the floor with a piercing sound.

On a row of more than ten wide tables, countless glass instruments are piled together, some filled with red and green liquids, some containing copper-colored powders, and in some bottles, there are even tails of lizard-like creatures or feathers of certain birds

The syllables were peculiar, and sentences that were completely indecipherable flowed slowly and gracefully from the wizard's lips. Even to the naked eye, it seemed as if the air had transformed into a visible and tangible membrane, twisting and swirling around the wizard's mouse-like body. Fran was astonished to see a mouse gradually transforming into a human.

Once, in the propaganda of the Holy See, I heard about a group of heretics who referred to themselves as beasts. It is said that their aesthetic sensibilities are akin to those of beasts, and they even engage in copulation with beasts to propagate their kind

A mysterious atmosphere filled the room, but there was one element that somewhat disrupted it: Fran caught sight of the emblem of the First Court in prominent places, both on the table and by the wall cabinet.

"Is this Mr. William? I am Fran Flare, the Assistant Prosecutor of the First Court"

Fulan remained standing in place, unmoving. He had made up his mind to relay the message and leave immediately. Words like "living person" and "going crazy" filled him with deep concern. Could it be that the master intended to use living subjects for experiments in pursuit of breakthroughs in the field of magic?

What kind of expression would he have if he knew that a true magician would be aboard the fishing boat?" Fran looked at the fisherman, filled with regret as he pondered.