The exquisite goblets were filled with fragrant wine.
On the dining table, just in front of Elias, there were seventy to eighty kinds of condiments similar to foie gras sauce and Ye Li juice, not to mention various exquisitely crafted roasted meats that Elias had never even seen before.
It was incredible that Elias had the honor of dining with the City Lord on his first visit to the City Lord's Mansion.
Although, this was all because of the Great Master Zorak beside him.
"Elias."
Master Zorak suddenly called out.
Putting down his knife and fork, Elias quickly bowed: "Sir."
"Hmm. What I want to say is, children whose Mental Energy can naturally grow to 10 will generally sense their talent during the Crystal Ball test. This is very important for your future development after becoming a Wizard. Do not forget everything that happened during the test. If you can advance to a Wizard in the future, you must use your talent for development."
Master Zorak's voice was somewhat neutral and hoarse, as if his throat had some problem, or as if a talking parrot was speaking on behalf of the Wizard from inside his robe.
"Yes, Sir."
Elias responded respectfully.
My talent?
Those chaotic, strange, and bizarre phenomena?
Elias did not think those strange things would be his helpers or enforcers; judging by their bizarre nature, it was even more likely they were enemies.
Subsequently, Master Zorak turned his head to Lady Serina, the City Lord's daughter, and Alden, the son of the owner of the Moon Bay Tavern.
"You two, your Mental Energy has not reached 10, so you originally do not have the right to become Wizard Apprentices. However, for a Wizard, external conditions are secondary aids; wisdom is the true source of a Wizard's power. For a Wizard, the most important thing is knowledge, not so-called talent."
"Yes, Sir."
The two answered in unison.
"Haha, Great Master, you have worked hard on your long journey. Today, allow me to entertain you properly. Come, come, Great Master, try these rare delicacies found in the Southern Endless Sea."
The City Lord changed into a solemn noble gown, smiled broadly, and with a wave of his hand, eight beautiful maids from a distance brought eight plates, placing them in front of the City Lord, the mysterious Wizard, and the six Wizard Apprentices.
Elias looked at the plate in front of him, which contained a seemingly very ordinary shell, and frowned.
Is this a rare delicacy?
How do you eat it?
"Mermaid Shells? Since I accidentally tasted this kind of mollusk, which specifically evolved to elicit human sympathy to avoid being hunted, one hundred and twenty years ago while performing a mission in the Southern Endless Sea, I have never seen it again. I did not expect to taste it again in the Eastern Coral Archipelago this time. City Lord, you have gone to great lengths."
Master Zorak seemed to have a special fondness for this strange food called Mermaid Shells; his words indicated he was very pleased.
"Haha, please."
Apart from the City Lord, Lady Serina, and Master Zorak, the remaining five Wizard Apprentices stared wide-eyed, completely unsure how to taste this so-called Mermaid Shells.
Elias carefully watched every movement of the City Lord. He saw that his plump hands wore seven dazzling rings. He gently lifted the Mermaid Shells from the plate with both hands, and with a casual snap, the shell opened.
The subsequent scene made Elias widen his eyes in horror.
Inside the shell, there was actually a vivid, miniature beauty, except this beauty wore no clothes, and her entire body seemed to have no bones, like a soft-bodied creature, curled up and sleeping inside the shell.
However, since the shell had been opened, the sleeping "beauty"-like soft-bodied creature inside the shell naturally began to slowly awaken, looking around in confusion.
"Hehe."
The City Lord smiled on his plump face, raised the shell to his mouth, and at the same time, puckered his thick lips, as if he was about to suck the still-groggy "beauty" from inside the shell into his mouth.
However, at this moment, the "beauty" in the shell seemed to realize her predicament. Her soft body desperately crawled away, letting out a startled scream, just like a newborn mouse.
As the City Lord took a hard suck, the screaming immediately entered the City Lord's mouth, then faintly emanated from his stomach.
"Ah… how wonderful."
The City Lord casually tossed the shell in his hand, closing his eyes and enjoying himself comfortably.
Master Zorak and Lady Serina also consumed the Mermaid Shells, both appearing unfazed.
Master Zorak looked at the five hesitant Wizard Apprentices and shook his head, saying, "For a Wizard, taste is secondary; the most important thing is that Mermaid Shells have the function of purifying fire elements. In the future, if any of you are interested in studying knowledge of fire elements, these Mermaid Shells can help you a lot. Wizard, you must see the essence and not be deceived by the superficial appearance of things. They are merely soft-bodied creatures that evolved into this form to escape humans."
Mid-sentence, Master Zorak paused and continued, "Of course, this will also incur the curse of the sea. It is said that after consuming Mermaid Shells, your flesh will emit a certain scent that is particularly attractive to sea monsters."
The first to act was surprisingly Elias!
To show off in front of Master Zorak, Elias closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and after making a great decision, the beauty in the shell slid into Elias's mouth, then down his throat and into his stomach.
Elias could even hear the desperate screams from inside his stomach.
Controlling his strange sensation and the waves of nausea, Elias nonchalantly began to eat fresh beef dipped in foie gras sauce, but his eye twitched uncontrollably, and his expression was extremely unnatural.
The other three boys, Jasper Thorne, Alden, and Kellen, had grim faces, but they also tilted their heads back and swallowed the Mermaid Shells. For a moment, faint screams could be heard echoing from the stomachs of several people in the hall.
Only Jasper Thorne's sister, Jessa Thorne, hesitated, but ultimately did not taste the Mermaid Shells, shaking her head and pushing it aside.
This was truly a kind young lady!
Overall, the dinner went smoothly, and Elias also got a glimpse of the true luxury of the nobility.
According to Elias's estimate, the main course ingredients alone for this dinner would not be less than two hundred gold coins. As for the Mermaid Shells, such a "rare delicacy" was definitely priceless.
The next day, Elias quickly ran to the Viscount's Mansion to find his old carriage. From a distance, Lady Serina and Alden, who were behind Master Zorak, rolled their eyes. This guy actually wasted their time for such a broken carriage?
How many gold coins could this broken carriage be worth?
"Bastard, didn't you hear yesterday? If you come again, I'll break your legs!"
Elder Varus happened to see Elias rushing over, and roared.
However, deep down, Elder Varus still hoped that Elias would give in today and offer some benefits, because after a day of busy work yesterday, Elder Varus actually found that he had forgotten to find suitable subcontractors.
If the Viscount's Mansion's banquet was not ready tonight, it would not be a small matter.
"Uh…"
Elias glanced at the Viscount's Mansion courtyard and saw his carriage. Yesterday, the carriage was clearly parked outside, so he figured someone from the Viscount's Mansion must have pulled it in.
"Elder Varus, I'll take the carriage and leave immediately."
Becoming a Wizard Apprentice was a huge opportunity; Elias would even give up the remaining gold coin at home, but he was somewhat reluctant to part with this old horse.
After all, it was left by Master Hemlock, and Elias had some affection for it; he did not want to leave it helpless.
"Uh…"
Elder Varus was also stunned, seemingly not expecting Elias to say that, and then came his fury.
"Bastard! Peasant! You country bumpkin! If you want to roll, then roll! There's no carriage here! Sgad, throw him out for me!"
Elder Varus genuinely wanted to confiscate the carriage.
Watching the burly man, as strong as an ox, walk towards him, Elias swallowed. Just then, a cold snort came from afar: "A Wizard's dignity is not to be violated!"
A black light shot towards the burly man walking towards Elias.
The burly man, being a Knight, reacted quickly and narrowly dodged the black light. The black light hit the door frame of the Viscount's Mansion and turned into a large swarm of terrifying, pitch-black insects.
Each insect was only fingernail-sized, with a pair of transparent wings and fierce, powerful jaws, numbering about seven or eight thousand.
Seeing such a scene, the Knight immediately realized something and shouted with a drastic change in his expression: "Great Master, spare me!"
"Hmph!"
Master Zorak completely ignored him. For a Wizard, a Knight was just a slightly larger bug that could escape.
After chanting a spell, Master Zorak pointed with one hand, and the body of the panicking Knight begging for mercy slowly began to transform, turning into a small pig!
Beside him, Elias was so surprised his jaw almost dropped to the ground. It really turned into a pig?
Seven or eight thousand black insects swarmed forward, and amidst the howling, the Knight who had turned into a pig was completely devoured.
On the other side, how had Elder Varus ever seen such a sight?
Normally, he only bullied the hired workers, farmers, and servants under him. At this moment, he was already terrified and stared blankly at the howling pig.
Just then, a long tongue shot out with incredible speed towards Elder Varus. With a fierce pull of the tongue, Elder Varus instantly disappeared from sight, at extreme speed.
"Gurgle gurgle…"
A large green frog with blood-red eyes gradually shrank from seven or eight meters tall to palm-sized, and jumped into Master Zorak's hand.
People who witnessed these incredible powers from a distance were already stunned, staring at Master Zorak with fear. Elias was also too shocked to speak for a long time.
This was the first time Elias had witnessed a killing, and such a bizarre one at that!
The surroundings were eerily quiet, as if even a dropped needle could be clearly heard.
Is this a Wizard?
A Wizard's dignity is not to be violated!?
Indeed, for ordinary people, Wizards who wield magic and sorcery were truly terrifying.
Elias clenched his fists tightly. One day, he too would become a Wizard. By then, if anyone dared to offend him again, he would directly erase all traces of their existence!
Elias's heart was filled with intense longing.
Coming back to his senses, he swallowed, Elias tried to calm himself down, and quickly led his old carriage to the blacksmith's shop to bid his dumbfounded Brother Silas a final farewell.
"Hey, hey, Eighth Brother, it's not true, is it? Are you really going to become a Wizard?"
Brother Silas asked for the seventh time, still disbelieving.
Elias smiled wryly: "Just a Wizard Apprentice…"
"Alright, alright, a Wizard Apprentice… Are you really, really going to become a Wizard?"
Brother Silas asked for the eighth time, and Elias could only smile bitterly.