Just after entering the royal city, Sterling's foot slipped and he nearly fell flat to the ground.
Looking carefully at the floor, it was actually cast from blackened glass. No wonder it was slippery the moment he stepped on it.
He looked around. The residents of the royal city seemed no different from those outside. Their houses all looked exquisite and beautiful but very hollow.
The people walking on the streets had extremely hollow eyes.
They seemed to wander around aimlessly without purpose, and quite a few were sleeping directly on the ground. Not because of poverty or homelessness. On the contrary, they were dressed luxuriously like nobles.
Everyone's expression revealed a strange "satisfaction". They seemed to have no worries, nothing they needed to care about...
Sterling stopped a random person.
"Excuse me, do you know which way to the National Library or the Queen's Palace?"
Strangely, the Queen's palace couldn't be seen within the royal city. Combined with what the wizard had said, Sterling thought she might be on another prism.
But the palace and royal city must be connected somehow.
"Library?" The man struggled to utter this word, his voice very obscure, as if he hadn't spoken for a long time.
"No library... do you need some knowledge?"
He showed a very innocent smile, then pulled out a mirror from his chest. This mirror didn't match his luxurious attire, being just a simple mirror no bigger than a palm.
Sterling felt his hair standing on end. He remembered the first white-robed wizard telling him not to look in mirrors after entering the city.
So he quickly lowered his head. Seeing Sterling refuse to look in the mirror, the man made a puzzled sound, then looked at Sterling's appearance and made an understanding "hmm."
"Foreigner... mirror... omnipotent, fulfils everything."
After speaking, as if to demonstrate, the man gazed at the mirror for a while, then pulled out a book from it and handed it to Sterling.
"Black Mirror Kingdom Magic Catalogue?"
Sterling flipped through it. It was just a compilation of all magic possessed within the Black Mirror Kingdom, but only names. Forget cultivation methods, it didn't even say what specific effects they had.
"Look in the mirror, get... everything, all you want."
The man pulled out an identical mirror from the mirror. He tried to hand it to Sterling, but Sterling immediately ran away.
He understood what was wrong with the royal city's residents. They could easily satisfy all their desires and achieve all their goals, which was why they were so hollow now.
That mirror undoubtedly represented a creation Sterling couldn't understand, definitely from that Queen's hand.
Realise everything, grant everything... what a wonderful promise.
No, promises were empty talk. The magic mirror could truly deliver. It was essentially an omnipotent wish-granting machine that could even replicate itself.
Undoubtedly, none of the royal city's residents could refuse such temptation, becoming their current state through daily indulgence.
But could you say this was bad? They couldn't possibly have troubles; they were eternally happy. Though their thinking was hollow and dull, their affluent lifestyle was undeniable.
Yes, just looking at the current situation, even Sterling would find it hard to resist such temptation. This mirror could obviously directly transmit knowledge into others' brains.
Just accepting it would be equivalent to accepting a great wizard's complete knowledge...
What a beautiful future. If Sterling didn't know about "Stargazing Scholar" magic, he might really think so.
Think about it. Objects covered by starlight would have their essence changed by the knowledge contained within. So-called omniscience meant omnipotence.
How similar this magic mirror was! Under the light's illumination, the mirror light reflected. Who could guarantee it wasn't another form of starlight?
And starlight could be easily stripped away by the caster.
Objects after stripping would revert to their original form.
Sterling looked at the pedestrians filling the street and swallowed hard. His mouth really felt dry.
Their thinking had almost all been replaced by the convenient magic mirror... such thinking ability, if the knowledge given by the magic mirror were withdrawn...
Even more terrifying, if the food and drink they consumed were all provided by magic mirrors... it would violate Transfiguration's first law. Professor McGonagall had already mentioned the consequences.
This entire royal city was like a gossamer thread floating on the Queen's palm.
Wait, were the Great Wizards outside this terrifying?
For Sterling, who since coming to Avalon had only met the two "benevolent" great wizards Vivian and Maleficent, this discovery was truly too shocking.
He really needed to properly thank that white-robed wizard. If not for his warning that made Sterling immediately wary of mirrors...
When that man first tried to show him the mirror, it probably would have immediately transmitted knowledge into his brain. Tasting sweetness was very different from refusing from the start.
All mirror surfaces here probably had the same ability.
Except for the blackened floor. Sterling didn't know why the Queen would design such a self-restraining design. If the ground were mirror surfaces, people would have their wishes granted immediately upon entering. Even if they vaguely realised problems later, they'd find ways to turn a blind eye.
This place was too dangerous.
Sterling didn't dare stay long. Rashly entering a great wizard's long-occupied territory without intelligence was unwise.
Wait, why did he feel reckless again?
Sterling quickly self-examined. Mourning the Demon Dragon was fine, with no trace of Hero's Heart visible... it seemed just momentary excitement, so no problem.
Now that he'd come to his senses, he should...
Strategic retreat!
Entry points to Avalon could be chosen from "last departure point", "previous projection points", and "random projection".
Carrying something connected to previous projection points would project along that connection, like Sterling using the painting to directly reach Maleficent's Black Forest.
Last departure and random meant sleeping without carrying anything, then adjusting according to the falling sensation.
Since this place was a dragon's pool and tiger's den, he should avoid the sharp edge for now. Maleficent had also said he could only meet the Queen after defeating her one-on-one.
Now Sterling remembered to listen to Maleficent's words.
In any case, he decided to next use something connected to Gerda to project directly to the ice fields and attempt cooperation with her.
There were two main approaches to prevent Queen Kai from being captured: one was working from the Black Mirror Kingdom's side... after witnessing the Queen's terrifying magical mastery, Sterling consciously deleted this option.
The other was directly dealing with Kai.
If they knocked out Kai first and hid her, wouldn't the knight army be unable to find Kai or seal her?
After deciding on his next course of action, Sterling closed his eyes.
His consciousness departed from Avalon, returning to his body in Ravenclaw Tower just at dawn.
Sterling looked at the slowly rising sun and sipped his strong tea.
For him, a segment of his Avalon experience could be immediately useful.
Those few moves he'd made in the air when initially confronting the white-robed wizard.
Flying class? Hmph, should he avoid the challenge?
The genius reputation lost in Potions class, Sterling would honourably reclaim in Flying class!
Having already crowned himself "Star of Ravenclaw" in his heart, Sterling snapped back to reality and looked pitifully at the teacup in his hands.
The scene just now was so perfect for elegant tea drinking that he'd completely failed to realise he could actually sleep a bit more before class.
Now then, time to review the Potions textbook.
Sterling opened his Potion Brewing Regulations with a bitter expression.