The Old Wizard

The elderly man in the Wizard's robe drifted over the railing, landing a few steps in front of Freyr. He still wore a smile on his face... It had to be said, despite his advanced age, his skin was surprisingly smooth, and his eyes sparkled with an unusual brightness! Freyr had never seen anyone with such bright eyes!

"You've surprised me... Before, I thought you were just a young noble who enjoyed playing petty tricks to deceive people," the old Wizard said with a smile, looking at Freyr. "But now, it seems you possess impressive mental strength... Oh, you can use magic too? You don't need to keep holding that fire spell hand sign... There's no need to be on guard against me. Because... it's useless."

Freyr watched the man more warily. "Who exactly are you?"

"Me?" The old Wizard casually walked over to Freyr, bent down, picked up the bottle of wine on the table, took a small sip, and sighed, "Excellent wine. The Russell family's collection never disappoints... You should feel honored, my boy, because you're the first Russell in the last hundred years to offer me a drink."

"Were you spying on me just now?!" Freyr's face darkened. Natalie's existence was a significant secret, and Freyr didn't want anyone knowing he had an invisible magical creature by his side.

"No, I wouldn't do something so boring," the old Wizard smiled. "I just arrived... It's been so many years since I last visited the Russell Plains that I almost got lost. By the way... It's so late, and you're not in your room but drinking in a place like this... Has the Russell family's discipline really become so lax?"

Freyr grew more vigilant. "You seem to know a lot about the Russell family?"

"No, no..." The old Wizard smiled serenely. "I just knew a few people from the Russell family when I was younger. Oh... that was a long, long time ago."

"Alright then..." Freyr spoke cautiously, sitting up straight and slipping his hand into his sleeve to grasp a magic scroll. "Your Excellency Wizard, visiting so late at night, you can't just be passing through, can you?"

"Me? I came to see you," the old Wizard thought for a moment, as if just recalling his purpose. "I originally wanted to retrieve a few items."

"What items?"

"A few things," the old Wizard sighed. "You extorted quite a lot from my silly apprentice... Although that child is simple-minded, as his teacher, I can't just watch my student being played."

Freyr finally understood. "You... you're Lilith's teacher?!"

"Indeed, I am." As he spoke, the old Wizard seemed to casually lift his finger, and with a slight flick, Freyr suddenly felt his hand empty! The magic scroll he had been holding in his sleeve mysteriously appeared in the old Wizard's hand!

"See, this scroll was made by me." The old Wizard glanced at it and then tucked it back into his robe. "Returning it to its owner."

"So, you're here to reclaim Lilith's things," Freyr said with a wry smile.

"That was my initial purpose... but after meeting you, I've changed my mind," the old Wizard smiled...

Freyr suddenly felt a premonition of danger. Unfortunately, just as he leaped up from his chair, he felt his body lighten...

Without chanting any spells, the old Wizard merely flicked his finger at Freyr, and Freyr's body stiffened, suspended in mid-air!

Except for his eyeballs, Freyr felt like a piece of cured meat hanging in the air!

"Listen, young man," the old Wizard said, reaching out to touch Freyr's head. "Oh, it seems I wasn't wrong... There's something interesting in your head... Is this how you use magic?"

Freyr couldn't even move his eyes now!

How does he know?!

"My adorable apprentice went out and got swindled out of everything... almost died on a deserted island, and lost her dragon pet..." the old Wizard's tone was mocking. "When she returned, I found, to my surprise, that someone had erased a bit of her memory with magic! As a responsible teacher, I must do something, right?"

The old Wizard waved his hand, allowing Freyr to speak again. "You... you don't think I did all that, do you?"

"It's hard to say. Initially, I didn't think so," the old Wizard's eyes flashed with a subtle glint. "But you, a Russell with no magical talent, suddenly able to use magic? I believe that island holds the key."

Freyr scrutinized the old Wizard... trying to discern something, but the old Wizard's next words silenced him completely.

"By the way... how is Samael?"

Freyr's expression changed drastically this time!

Samael! He knew about the demon servant, Samael!!!

...

The next morning, the castle staff were in a state of panic... Their young master was missing!

On the terrace where Master Freyr had been resting, they found a handwritten note from Freyr.

"I have been taken by the Wizard."

This line was in Freyr's handwriting. He didn't write "kidnapped," but ambiguously used "taken."

Moreover, it was evident that the Wizard who took Freyr had permitted him to write the note.

For not only did it bear Freyr's signature... it also had a symbol.

None of the staff could understand the symbol until the castle's sole Wizard, Ryan, recognized it.