The autumn wind was cold, and early winter was in sight.
Just as the eastern sky began to show a hint of dawn, Puss habitually opened his eyes.
His gaze was blank for a second, then he sprang up with a carp jump.
He opened the dilapidated door and found steamed sweet potatoes already laid out on the dining table.
His mother was sitting by the table, mending old clothes.
"You're awake? Hurry up and wash your hair. Look at it, it's a mess like a chicken's nest. If the Master Mage sees it, he'll definitely be unhappy."
"Ah? It's messy again? I clearly washed it last night."
Puss complained, but his feet didn't stop as he rushed into the courtyard to draw water and wash.
The autumn water was cold, hitting his face and head, making him shiver, but Puss's heart was burning.
Because today was the day of his interview for the [Magic Forest]. If he could get in, as his mother put it, he would be set for life.
From then on, he would be a "Master."
Puss couldn't help but take this seriously!
After eating the steamed sweet potatoes, Puss put on the new clothes his mother had bought by selling her silver bracelet, so excited he didn't know where to put his hands.
To be honest, he hadn't originally agreed to his mother selling the silver bracelet.
He clearly remembered when he was little, his father wanted to sell this silver bracelet to buy alcohol, and to protect it, his mother bit his father's hand, losing a molar in the process.
From that moment on, he knew this silver bracelet was his mother's lifeline.
But this time, his mother stubbornly sold the silver bracelet, just to get him a nice outfit.
In his mother's words: "Puss, you must remember, a person doesn't get many chances to change their fate in this life. A woman can rely on getting married once, but you are a man, you have no other chances. If you don't seize this opportunity, you might be stuck here for the rest of your life."
It was these words that made Puss stop objecting.
"Don't put pressure on yourself. Just tell the noble master whatever he asks, honestly. If the master throws you a sword and tells you to stab your heart, remember, don't hesitate, stab the middle of your chest. Remember, the middle, don't miss."
Before he left, his mother whispered her most valuable life experience.
"I know."
"Go!"
Puss nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the house with his head held high and chest puffed out.
His new clothes made him seem so out of place in this slum, and along the way, there were only surprised looks from the neighbors.
Puss somewhat enjoyed these looks, but also felt immense pressure.
As he was about to walk out of the alley, he subconsciously looked back and was startled to see his mother still standing at the door, watching him directly.
Seeing him look back, she even waved her hand outwards, signaling him to "Hurry up and go!"
Puss gritted his back teeth and resolutely left the slum.
Willis in the early morning was as lively as ever.
Young apprentices chased and played, running through the streets, occasionally drawing scolding.
Various breakfast stalls lined both sides of the long street, emitting tempting aromas that made people's mouths water.
Mercenaries with tasks, clad in armor and carrying weapons, occasionally escorted carriages covered with thick tarps, heading out of the city.
Of course, there were also many outsiders with unfamiliar accents flooding the streets, looking for work.
Puss had never observed the long street so carefully before.
He used to be very busy, rushing around, afraid that the employer would use being late as an excuse to deduct his wages.
Only today did he suddenly realize that Willis City had changed.
It seemed to have become more lively.
That's right, the forum said that many people from the countryside now dare to call themselves mages after learning a single spell like Fire Hand, and come to the city to try their luck.
Little do they know, the recruitment standards for mercenary groups have already been raised by several levels.
"Envoy passing, pedestrians make way!"
At the end of the long street,
A noble-style long shout suddenly came.
Upon hearing the sound, Puss quickly moved to the roadside to make way.
Not just him, everyone on the long street was making way.
Even the mercenaries, who had difficulty moving, restrained their carriages and moved to the side of the road, clearing the way.
Soon after, a troop of unicorn cavalry, clad in silver armor, marched in formation, the clip-clop of their hooves like drumbeats on the long street.
In the middle of the cavalry, protecting several sealed carriages, were clearly the vehicles of important figures.
"Who are these people?"
Outsiders on the street watched the slowly passing cavalry with envy and awe.
"You wouldn't know, would you? See the harp symbol on that carriage? That's the Vies delegation!"
The citizens of Willis answered the outsiders' surprise with arrogance, displaying their extraordinary knowledge as residents of the imperial capital.
"Vies? Where is that?"
"You don't even know that? It's the earthly divine kingdom of Afra, the Goddess of Music! I heard they're all crazy people who would rather not eat than not sing."
"Ah, there really is a divine kingdom in this world?"
"Envious? Want to go? I'm telling you, they only accept outsiders with exceptionally beautiful singing voices. Everyone else will be turned away."
"Ah?"
"Look at you, don't daydream. What divine kingdom, it's just a city-state, it's not even as big as our Willis!"
Puss watched the slowly passing convoy while listening to the discussions nearby, thinking that the Empire was really becoming more and more lively lately.
Not long ago, the Empire had just announced the successful cultivation of cold-resistant high-yield black grain, which could be fully implemented this winter, causing an uproar throughout the Empire.
Before everyone could digest this astonishing news, Willis City saw mages leading groups of a thousand people one after another, saying they were going to build cities and magic towers.
Now, foreign delegations were also arriving. The Empire had truly changed, becoming more and more lively.
Thinking about it carefully, all of this seemed to have started after the internet appeared.
Or was it because of the internet that he knew so many things?
Puss didn't dwell on it, because the delay caused by making way gave him the illusion of being late.
He quickly rushed towards his destination—Felix Academy of Magic.
When he arrived, some magic apprentices had already condensed a landmark stone pillar and were sitting on it, waiting.
A large group of people had gathered at the scene, and upon closer inspection, they were all young boys and girls.
Among them were many noble children in bright clothes and on fine horses, looking at their exquisite silk garments and the magic items covering their necks, wrists, and knuckles.
Puss, who had gained a little confidence from his new clothes, suddenly felt inferior and anxious again, even having the urge to run away.
But when he looked down at his new linen clothes, still creased, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay.
For his mother, he couldn't leave!
It turned out that a few days ago, the [Magic Forest] in Felix suddenly announced that they were recruiting research assistants.
The recruitment conditions were very simple: literacy and under 16 years old.
This news, announced through Felix and the Empire's official website, caused a sensation in Willis City almost overnight.
Countless people were so excited that they rushed about all night.
You know, this was the [Magic Forest] presided over by Master Ajev, who was known as the "God of Agriculture"!
Who wouldn't want to go in and behold his glory?
The cold-resistant high-yield black grain he researched had already caused a sensation in the Empire and was famous throughout the world!
His assistant, Eileen, had become the dream lover of countless young men across the country because she researched non-toxic winter mallow, although he heard she was a bit dark-skinned.
Puss followed the magic forum and learned from it that besides crops, Master Ajev had also historically researched a method to convert lightning magic into light magic.
Recently, the magic forum had been discussing this matter almost constantly, and various statements promoting lightning magic were emerging one after another.
It got Puss, who was still nowhere near becoming a mage, wondering if he should specialize in lightning magic in the future.
In short, Master Ajev had already become an existence comparable to the Empire's God of Magic.
To be able to study under him was naturally a great honor.
Puss had just coincidentally tried to sign up and take the exam, and who would have thought that he would pass the written test.
Thus, this scene today came about.
"May the God of the Internet bless me, I hope I succeed in my interview today!"
Puss secretly prayed to the God of the Internet, his palms sweating profusely from nervousness.