Unlike the others, Aurora went to Emerald City to find Rhine.
As for whether Oz was truly the Great Magician…
What did that have to do with her?
Rather, if Oz truly had no real talent, that would be even better! This meant that the bet she had made in a fit of pique with the Northern Witch had been won.
"Now that you've finished your nonsense, prepare to die!"
Aurora raised her sword and charged directly at the magician!
Her speed was incredibly fast, almost leaving a long trail of afterimages in the air.
"Aurora is amazing!" Dorothy exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise at her companion's performance.
This was the first time she had seen Aurora fight with full power.
This girl looked to be about her age, but her abilities were far greater!
Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Woodman also marveled at the girl's prowess in their hearts.
Lion remembered: before he joined the group, he had roared, intending to scare the two girls, but unexpectedly, Aurora picked him up as if he were a kitten, making him yelp in fright. That was when everyone realized that this Lion was actually a coward.
"Hey, hey, hey, little girl, why are you so rough?"
Maglido saw Aurora rushing towards him like lightning, and he stumbled backward, falling to the ground in fright.
He wasn't a very powerful magician; he only knew a hodgepodge of abilities.
In that flash of lightning, Maglido quickly rubbed the ring on his hand and muttered a spell:
"Quick, get me out of here!"
This ring was Maglido's most powerful treasure; it housed a spirit that would obey his commands.
With a bang, Maglido's figure vanished in a cloud of mist.
"He just ran away. I thought he'd fight me. What a coward!"
Aurora looked at the empty ground in front of her, muttering a few words, feeling quite helpless.
After her previous big battle with Maleficent, she felt that her strength and combat skills had improved by another level.
Even if she were to encounter Maleficent at her peak again, while it would still be difficult to win, she definitely wouldn't be as passive as before!
She had even hoped that this magician would also transform into a giant dragon or beast and have a grand battle with her, just to test the improvement in her strength.
Unexpectedly, this guy just ran away!
Just as Aurora felt a slight disappointment, she noticed that the expressions of Dorothy and the others beside her had also darkened considerably.
"It seems he really is a magician—though an evil one, at least he's a real magician. Unlike me, who is just an ordinary little girl." Dorothy said, recalling the scene just now, "Then could what he said be true?"
In Dorothy's opinion, people who could use magic must be more knowledgeable, almost knowing a bit of everything, though she wasn't sure if this perception was correct.
Scarecrow became sad: "If Oz is just an ordinary person, then he won't be able to grant me a brain full of wisdom, will he?"
"And my heart," Tin Woodman said dejectedly.
"And my courage," Lion also said dejectedly.
"And my… uh, and I want to become a real boy!" Pinocchio also added, not caring that his speaking style didn't match his companions.
Everyone hung their heads, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely somber.
"Everyone, cheer up, you have no reason to be disappointed!"
Aurora encouraged everyone, saying seriously:
"Don't forget, my teacher—Great Magician Rhine is also in Emerald City now. If Oz is truly just a trickster, an ordinary person without magic, I will ask my teacher to fulfill your wishes!"
Upon hearing Aurora's words, everyone's spirits lifted, and they became re-energized.
"That's right, I almost forgot Aurora's teacher is also a magician."
"We don't need to place all our hope on Oz alone."
Seeing everyone perk up again, Aurora's mood also improved considerably.
To be honest, she wasn't entirely sure if Rhine could truly give Scarecrow a brain and Tin Woodman a heart.
—She hadn't felt at all that Scarecrow lacked a brain or that Tin Woodman lacked a heart throughout their journey; she didn't understand why her two companions firmly believed they didn't have these things.
With different wishes in their hearts, the group once again set off on their journey to Emerald City.
However, as they walked, they couldn't help but wonder:
"Is Oz really an ordinary person who can't use magic?"
On a distant hillside.
Maglido watched Aurora, Dorothy, and their group disappear into the horizon.
A sinister smile curved his lips.
"Hahahaha, Oz, you little old man from the circus, just wait to be exposed!"
"I want to see how the people of Emerald City will vent their anger when they realize they've been deceived by you for so long!"
As Maglido thought, he pulled out a mirror, caressed its surface, and chanted a spell.
On the dark mirror surface, ripples spread out in circles.
The majestic face of the German Emperor appeared on the mirror.
"Respected Majesty, I am truly sorry.
"The Eastern Witch, who was supposed to cooperate with me, was killed. This caused a slight delay in our plan.
"However, this does not affect the overall situation.
"Before long, I will expose Oz's identity and tell everyone that he is a charlatan who has deceived the world!
"And I, who have revealed the truth—a true magician—am more qualified to become the king of this land!
"At that time, as king, I will pledge allegiance to Your Majesty's empire, and Oz Country will fall into the empire's hands.
"This unknown Green Field in the desert will become part of the empire's territory, a strategic bridge connecting the east and west of the continent!"
In the mirror, the German Emperor nodded, his voice unruffled:
"Then make it quick."
His gaze suddenly sharpened, containing a faint hint of anger:
"Quite a few brave Soldiers of the empire have already died due to your misjudgment. If you fail again this time…"
The Emperor did not continue.
But Maglido, outside the mirror, was already sweating profusely and could only nod stiffly:
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I guarantee to complete the mission this time! I will absolutely not fail again!"
The heroic and majestic Emperor's expression softened, and he then asked:
"Have you found the location of that Godly Lamp of wishes?
"You said that Godly Lamp possesses immense magic, far exceeding your ring.
"Ancient texts record that the Godly Lamp is buried deep within a treasure vault, and according to the map, it's near Oz Country."
Maglido wiped the sweat from his forehead:
"I am diligently searching, comparing the nearby scenery with the descriptions in the ancient texts. I will definitely find the precise location of that treasure vault as soon as possible!
"After all, I haven't become the King of Oz Country yet, so I can't send out a large group of Soldiers to search ostentatiously. Otherwise, it would attract too much attention!
"Once I replace Oz and become king, everything will be much easier."
The German Emperor nodded slightly, and the image in the mirror returned to darkness.
"Maglido, I give you one month. Remember, no failure…"