A long, long time ago, there was a Rose Kingdom.
One day, a Little Magician named Rhine came to the kingdom's forest.
It was said that this Magician could make withered flowers bloom again and command harps to play on their own.
He was also skilled at concocting magical potions to cure illnesses and heal wounds.
Many poor people who couldn't afford medical treatment, if they unfortunately broke a leg or fell ill, would come to the Magician for healing.
Rhine's herbal medicines were incredibly miraculous; no matter how difficult the illness or how severe the bone fracture, as long as he treated them, they would quickly recover.
Thus, Rhine's reputation gradually spread, finally reaching the palace.
The King and Queen had been married for many years but had no heirs.
They yearned for a child but were unable to conceive.
At this time, the King heard Rhine's story and summoned the Little Magician.
...
Sitting in the carriage bound for the palace, the boy looked at his reflection in the glass and couldn't help but fall into memories.
Rhine's face was reflected in the glass.
The young man was clad in classical robes, his face exquisite and picturesque, looking only twelve or thirteen years old.
A hood covered his silver hair, and his pale eyes shimmered with a cool light; his skin was so fair it was almost translucent, like a child who had stepped out of a fairy tale book.
"It's been several years since I came to this world, and my appearance hasn't changed at all…"
"Not only have I become a Magician, but have I also become an immortal?"
Rhine sighed softly.
Three years ago, he arrived in this world, similar to the Middle Ages.
A bit of knowledge he brought with him after transmigrating told him that this was a fantasy world, possessing true extraordinary power and almost omnipotent magic.
Legend has it that a powerful Magician could turn all the people in an entire country into animals with just one spell!
It was just like a story from One Thousand and One Nights!
And within the kingdom alone, there were more than a dozen powerful Witches.
They possessed vast supernatural abilities, able to summon wind and rain and call upon nature's spirits to serve them.
Fortunately, perhaps because he had done many good deeds in his previous life, Rhine directly became a Magician after transmigrating.
Transmigrating into a fantasy world and becoming a true Magician.
Such a perfect beginning made Rhine overjoyed!
However, just when Rhine thought he was as powerful as those legendary Magicians, he discovered that it wasn't the case at all!
The newborn Rhine was incredibly weak; he couldn't fly, summon wind and rain, or even foresee the future.
As a Magician, his initial magic was extremely faint, only enough to perform a few minor tricks.
Besides that, his only skill was concocting magical potions with herbs—just like the Wizards and Witches in many fairy tales and myths.
Fortunately, as a perk of his transmigration, Rhine also learned a method for "leveling up":
As long as he found the "Children of Destiny" and helped these main characters of fate fulfill their wishes, he could absorb the power of wishes that carried the world's destiny, thereby increasing his magic and gaining new abilities!
Of course, even if he couldn't find the "Children of Destiny," simply helping ordinary passersby fulfill their wishes could also absorb a tiny bit of wish power.
However, the effect was greatly reduced, perhaps only one-thousandth or one-ten-thousandth of the efficacy, requiring a particularly large base to see a noticeable improvement.
As for what counted as a "main character of destiny," Rhine didn't know.
Because he didn't know where to find the so-called main characters of destiny, Rhine simply helped others casually, trying to find the legendary main characters of destiny among them.
Over these three years, he diligently used his expertise, concocting magical potions to treat the illnesses and injuries of the kingdom's people, fulfilling their wish to "regain health."
A true Magician, willing to live in the countryside, treating commoners every day for symbolic, meager compensation.
For impoverished patients, he even provided treatment completely free of charge, asking for nothing in return!
Such a good deed sounded like a fairy tale, almost unbelievable.
Many people were skeptical when they first heard the rumor.
It wasn't until they personally witnessed their severely ill family members, after taking Rhine's medicine, recover the next day, that they truly believed and were moved to tears.
As one miracle after another of bringing people back to health occurred, Rhine's good name and reputation gradually spread throughout the kingdom.
Many people suffering from severe illnesses, even from thousands of miles away, had their families bring them to Rhine's small wooden house, just to take the medicine from this legendary Little Magician.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Until today, Rhine's reputation reached the palace, and he was personally summoned by the King.
...
In the bumpy carriage heading to the palace.
Rhine turned his palm upward, and a pure white, serene glow slowly emerged, as if it could heal everything.
Healing Arts.
This was a new magic Rhine comprehended after helping thousands of people over three years and absorbing their wish power.
"Because I fulfilled the wish for regaining health, I gained healing magic?"
"My magic is much stronger than three years ago. Unfortunately, besides healing magic, I only know a few minor tricks, and I'm far from the Witches in the kingdom's legends, by who knows how many levels…"
Feeling the power flowing within him, Rhine sighed silently.
"Alas, I still haven't found the so-called main character of destiny. I wonder what kind of person counts as a main character of destiny?"
For these three years, Rhine had secretly been anticipating that one day, the person who came to him for treatment would be the so-called "main character of destiny," and after completing the treatment, he would suddenly find himself flooded with wish power.
Regrettably, until today, Rhine had not encountered a "main character of destiny" who met the criteria.
Thinking of this, the young man glanced at the fully armed Soldier guard outside the carriage and found it somewhat amusing:
Although he was a true Magician, he only knew a few minor tricks and healing magic, and his physical body was still at a child's level.
Any one of the Soldiers in this squad could suddenly attack and cut him down with a sword.
"My Magician is really a bit weak; in a fight, I'm not even as good as an average adult. I don't even have a combat power of 5."
"If I could find the so-called main character of destiny, how could I have fallen to this state!"
The young man spread his hands, looking utterly helpless and resigned.
...
The carriage stopped in front of the palace.
Rhine collected his scattered thoughts, walked into the magnificent palace, and bowed to the King and Queen on the throne.
The King spoke:
"Sage of the Forest, your good name spreads between bonfires and wells.
"I hear that your medical skills are comparable to the most skilled doctors, and you have cured thousands of patients."
Before Rhine could inquire about the reason for his summons, a shadow crossed the King's face, revealing weariness and helplessness:
"The Queen and I have been married for many years and have always wished for a child, but it has not been granted.
"I am growing older, and the vast kingdom needs an heir.
"Sage of the Forest, do you have a way to fulfill our wish?"
The Little Magician immediately understood the King's purpose in summoning him.
He was here to treat infertility!
Just as Rhine was about to ponder, he suddenly trembled, as if feeling an incredibly vast power.
That surging power came from above the throne.
It was the power of wishes.
A power of wishes more immense than anything Rhine had seen in the past three years from any patient!
"Such immense wish power…"
Rhine understood the answer in an instant.
"Children of Destiny!"
"Are the King and Queen the main characters of destiny?"
He had no doubt that if he could perfectly fulfill the King and Queen's wish, the wish power he could absorb would surely far exceed the slow accumulation of the past three years!
Rhine was utterly shocked.
He never expected that the main characters of destiny he had been so eagerly awaiting would appear today.
The King and Queen's wish to "bear a child," no matter how difficult, must be fulfilled by any means necessary!
The Little Magician lowered his head, deep in thought:
He couldn't do other magic, but concocting potions and healing magic were his strengths.
Normally, he could cure the King and Queen's ailments with just a wave of his hand.
However, Rhine's concern was this:
In a magical world with extraordinary powers, was the birth of a new life purely a medical issue?
Seeing the profound expression on the handsome young man below the steps, the King comforted him:
"Sage of the Forest, even if you cannot do it, there is no need to be afraid or blame yourself.
"There are 13 Witches of great power in my kingdom. I have summoned 12 of them to the palace in turn and presented them with the same problem.
"But all 12 of them were helpless.
"Even if you are unable to help, I will not blame you."
At this point, the King's face darkened a bit more.
Indeed, even the 12 all-powerful Witches couldn't do it.
How likely was it that a new Magician, so young in appearance and only recently gaining fame among commoners, could create a miracle?
It was nothing more than a desperate attempt, just trying their luck.
13 Witches?
Only 12 were summoned?
The King's words at that moment made Rhine tremble.
He had heard before that there were several powerful Witches in the kingdom, but he didn't know the exact number.
Suddenly, Rhine remembered something.
A startling conjecture emerged in his mind.
His back tingled slightly.
This was a fantasy magic world…
Was it possible…
He quickly pressed on:
"Your Majesty, since there are 13 Witches in the kingdom, why were only 12 summoned?"
The King, unaware of Rhine's thoughts, answered naturally:
"Among the 13 Witches, the most powerful Maleficent is a Black Witch.
"She is most skilled in terrifying curses and black magic; the nobles and commoners alike fear her."
Rhine's eyes narrowed.
Just as he thought!
A kingdom with 12 good Witches and 1 Black Witch.
A King and Queen who yearn for a child.
He hadn't transmigrated to an ordinary fantasy world.
This was the kingdom of Sleeping Beauty!