Falling from the clouds, Sterling awoke on the main road where he'd left last time. Avalon was at midday, with the sun hanging high in the centre of the sky, making the nearby city-state even more dazzlingly brilliant, almost blinding.
Sterling still hadn't figured out Avalon's time mechanics. He always slept at roughly the same time, but after entering Avalon, it could be either day or night.
A horn sounded, followed by the thunderous sound of hoofbeats on the road. Sterling could vaguely see a dark mass emerging from the lowered drawbridge of the city-state, with a large banner in their midst bearing a strange pattern of web-like geometric shapes.
Sterling quickly left the road and hid in a tree. He snapped his fingers, and sparse starlight fell on his pajamas. In just a few seconds, the pajamas transformed into a black cloak.
The "Stargazing Scholar's" combat ability was questionable, but its logistical capabilities were absolutely flawless. By using starlight as a carrier to overlay the knowledge constituting a "cloak" onto the "pajamas," the "pajamas" were fundamentally transformed. Rather than Transfiguration, this was more like the alchemy briefly mentioned in books.
Speaking of which, Sterling felt that all the Thirteen Magics he knew so far were somewhat too idealistic. He initially thought "analysing everything potentially comprehensible" was already cheating but didn't expect "starlight as a carrier of knowledge" could achieve such effects. Perhaps this omnipotent quality was the source of Scholar Magic's arrogance?
If one truly knew everything, the "Stargazing Scholar" could accomplish anything... wasn't this the seed of omniscience and omnipotence?
But this was probably just a theoretical limit. Easier said than done.
After a while, the black formation moved within Sterling's visual range. To his surprise, these heavily armoured beings weren't human. They were constructs like wizard chess pieces. Some magic allowed their disc-shaped bases to ride steadily on horseback. Of course, the horses were also chess pieces, though their bases weren't disc-shaped but normal hooves.
The wizard sitting in a carriage at their centre was real. His eyes were wrapped in white cloth, he wore white robes, and even his hair and complexion were an unhealthily pale colour, completely out of place with this black torrent.
That strange banner floated beside him. When passing the tree where Sterling was hiding, the banner suddenly moved without wind. Sterling immediately cast an Impact Charm on the branch beneath his feet, launching himself high to avoid seven or eight spears that pierced through the next moment.
The spears weren't just physical attacks. They seemed enchanted with unclear magical effects. The moment they touched the branches, they exploded violently, scattering pitch-black flames everywhere, which the white-robed wizard extinguished with a wave.
Though he clearly couldn't see, he seemed to sense Sterling's position. His finger tracked Sterling's direction, and the knights followed by hurling spears. Fortunately, Sterling had completed the Draconic Levitation Charm, barely managing to adjust his position in mid-air and perform simple acceleration and emergency stops like riding what Terry had mentioned as a children's version of a broomstick.
"Wait, wait! I mean no harm!" Sterling quickly called for a halt.
He could actually block these current spears. He hadn't used his thorn magic, life magic flames, or Transfiguration yet.
But looking behind them, this knight formation hadn't even fully emerged from the city-state. If each of them threw just one spear...
Forget Sterling. Even Lady Maleficent would need partial dragon transformation to block them. Of course, rather than blocking, Maleficent would probably prefer to breathe fire and burn them all. There was no mercy for artificial constructs.
The white-robed wizard thought for a moment, stopped, and gestured for Sterling to land beside him.
Sterling could see clearly from above. The spot he indicated was precisely within the attack range of eight knights. If he landed and the white-robed wizard had any ill intentions, he'd be powerless to resist.
"I should remind you. I'm a disciple of the Dragon Witch, the Dragon Witch of the Black Forest! You wouldn't want your country destroyed, would you?"
In the magical world, you could call him a Muggle-born young wizard, and he wouldn't argue, but in Avalon, what should you call him?
"...What evidence do you have that you're truly that great wizard's disciple?"
The white-robed wizard visibly retreated, waving back the knights and clearing a safe area for Sterling to land.
A cluster of life magic flame ignited at Sterling's fingertip, and the white-robed wizard immediately became respectful. This was the Dragon Witch's signature magic, absolutely impossible to steal and learn.
Sterling slowly descended to the clearing, then drew his wand from his sleeve.
He hadn't reached the level of a great wizard yet. His wand's assistance was still enormous for him.
If not for the suddenness of the earlier attack, with his wand he probably could have flown away directly rather than only managing simple operations in the air.
"Disciple of the Dragon Witch, why do you ambush on the march route? The Dragon Witch has already acknowledged our war with the White Kingdom at the Witch Council. Why do you still interfere?"
The white-robed wizard looked at him seriously. Sterling also stared back with suspicious eyes. He couldn't detect any trace of lying?
But how was that possible?
Though Sterling didn't know if Maleficent had experiences like those in his "Dragon Witch" fairy tale, Maleficent's hatred of war definitely exceeded that of the story.
When Sterling was nine, practising reading and writing in Maleficent's tower, a sprite reported to Maleficent about two countries at war. Magic flames immediately erupted from her body.
Then she transformed into a dragon and left for half an hour before returning without a trace on her.
Sterling only learnt what happened from seeing a newspaper in a small city later.
Maleficent hadn't cared who started the war. She first melted all weapons and armour on the battlefield, then flew to both countries' royal cities, destroyed all defences, and burnt the kings to ash.
This was Maleficent's attitude toward war. Absolutely not tolerated. Once discovered, one would face life magic flames.
Those preparing to start large-scale wars would be roasted by dragon-transformed life magic flames for a year.
Such a Maleficent had actually acknowledged two countries' warfare?
"What is your country called?"
Hearing Sterling's question, the white-robed wizard raised his head proudly.
"The world's most powerful empire. The Black Mirror Kingdom! Our king is the famous great wizard 'Queen'!"
How strange. What did it mean for the king to be a "Queen"? Could the Queen actually be a "King"?
No. The great wizard "Queen"?
Wasn't this the temporary controller of the dream world that Maleficent had once mentioned?
Of course, Maleficent definitely knew that the dream world was Avalon, so the Queen was Avalon's temporary ruler?
Sterling was certain he could obtain the knowledge he wanted from her.
"So which country are you attacking?"
From the white-robed wizard's mouth, Sterling heard that all-too-familiar name. The Snow White Kingdom.
That kingdom shrouded in eternal winter, the frozen land that had made Sterling wander lost in the snowfields for months.
"By the Queen's command, bring back the great wizard who doesn't belong to the Thirteen Magics to the Witch Council and seal them permanently!"