Upon entering, Durin continuously surveyed the room's furnishings and decor. It was roughly seventy square meters. However, being located on the lower level of Zaun, the wooden walls on all sides looked very dilapidated, with the dusty, grayish frames showing traces of erosion by insects and ants.
The interior was also chaotic, with many sundries and trash casually piled in corners, and dozens of unbound book pages scattered on the floor, leaving only a narrow path for passage.
What surprised Durin the most was that he even saw a small, single-person alchemy station, covered with vessels used for alchemical experiments.
"Please call me Kreslin the Mage."
Snor Kreslin said, looking up. He looked like he hadn't washed in a long time, his hair was messy, loosely covering his forehead and eyes.
Even his mouth was covered in stubble, making him look like he hadn't shaved in a long time. It was impossible to tell his exact age, only that he must not be young.
"Yes, Kreslin the Mage."
Durin called out cautiously, and only after receiving the other party's permission did he sit upright in front of him.
He imagined that this seemingly disheveled uncle was actually a mage, completely different in style from the necromancer he had previously served.
Kreslin glanced at him, and after confirming that the interviewee was a black-haired, black-eyed person, he raised an eyebrow, picked up a water bottle nearby, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and casually asked, "What's your name?"
"Durin."
"Ionian?"
"Yes, I come from a small village in Ionia."
Ionia, located in the east of Runeterra, is formed by multiple islands. It is filled with natural beauty and primal magic. Their most significant characteristic, compared to people from other parts of Runeterra, is that their facial features resemble the East Asian faces Durin was familiar with before his transmigration. They have a rich Eastern culture, with militia groups, martial arts monasteries, and an emphasis on harmony between humans and nature.
And Durin, having transmigrated, would naturally be mistaken for an Ionian by others.
"No wonder your Noxian accent sounds strange… I figured you must be from out of town. I've been to Ionia once, and I really appreciate their philosophy, something about…"
"Harmony between man and nature."
Durin responded respectfully.
"Ah, yes, yes, yes! In short, it's a wonderful place. If I ever have free time, I would indeed consider traveling there, enjoying nature, and relaxing. It's just that the facilities there aren't great."
Durin could tell that Snor Kreslin, like other Zaunites, inherently held a condescending attitude towards Ionia, as if in their eyes, Ionia was just a backward Eastern land.
"So, have you studied? Was it at the College of Techmaturgy in Zaun, or Piltover University in Upper City, or Ravenbloom Academy in Noxus?"
"I… *cough*." Durin cleared his throat, saying somewhat awkwardly, "I haven't been to any of those you mentioned."
Nonsense, he was a transmigrator. He had, however, attended a vocational college before transmigrating.
The names he spoke, Durin himself hadn't even heard of at first.
"Hmm?"
Kreslin's brows immediately furrowed, almost squeezing together. The steel pen he had picked up was instantly put back down, and he looked at Durin with a questioning gaze.
Durin was already familiar with this attitude, because on Earth, when he went for job interviews at companies, he had seen too many HR managers lose interest in talking after asking a few key questions and confirming that he couldn't answer them.
Hmm… it seems this interview is in doubt.
"So why are you applying for this Wizard's Hand position?"
"I need this job to make a living," Durin answered honestly.
"That makes sense, conditions in Zaun are getting tougher…" Kreslin picked up his water cup again, took a sip, "Mr. Durin."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but the assistant I need is someone who has received a formal education, so communication won't feel like I'm talking to a brick wall. Alchemy is a very profound, complex, and dangerous field of knowledge… Of course, I'm not discriminating against you; this is Zaun, and I understand the level of education here."
"Kreslin the Mage," Durin took a deep breath and said sincerely, "Actually, I think I can serve as a Wizard's Hand. Because I have experience working as an assistant for other mages, in the Mid-level Plaza."
"Oh?"
Hearing that he had worked as an assistant for other mages, and in the Mid-level Plaza no less, Kreslin showed a hint of surprise on his face, glanced at the bookshelf in the corner, and then said, "Then let's talk about your understanding of magic. What are the manifestations of elemental magic?"
"There are many forms of manifestation. What specifically are you referring to?"
"Resonance."
After speaking, Snor Kreslin picked up the water bottle on the table and took a leisurely sip, as if certain Durin wouldn't be able to answer.
"I understand." Durin nodded, and said gently, "The seven common resonance forms of elemental magic are Interwoven Protection, Ardent Fire, Healing Water, Swift Wind, Potent Lightning, Shattering Ice, and Steadfast Rock."
Kreslin snapped his fingers, as if a semi-ethereal arm appeared out of thin air from the bookshelf and pulled out a very thick book.
Then, the book miraculously floated in front of Durin. Kreslin calmly asked, "Have you read this book?"
Wizard's Hand?
Durin had seen the previous mage use this trick when he was his assistant.
After first confirming it was written in the Noxian script, he replied, "*The Origins of Arcane Magic*, I've read some of it."
His tone was very firm, as if he had truly read the book.
"What about these?"
Then, Kreslin used Wizard's Hand to pull out several more books from the bookshelf, all suspended in mid-air.
However, Durin did not recognize the script on them, so he couldn't name them.
In response, Kreslin merely frowned slightly but said nothing. Although the other party only recognized the Noxian script, it was still much better than the previous interviewees.
As for how an Ionian would know the Noxian script, that was none of his business.
"Then tell me, what is the spellcaster's first priority?"
"Hmm… to have strong physical fitness. Because a spellcaster's magic power is almost directly proportional to their physical fitness. Strong physical fitness can increase the magic power limit and also allow spellcasters to practice without restraint, so they don't easily injure themselves."
"Let's discuss our current magic system!"
"Hmm… I think it can be divided into two types. One is the elemental magic we all know, like the True Ice magic of Freljord. The second type is mental magic, determined by mental will, such as the natural magic of Ionia."
"That's good. Well said. To be precise, there's also a third type, which is the Aspect magic of Targon. Of course, it's normal for you not to know about it."
Kreslin interrupted Durin, frowning and pondering something for a moment.
This bumpkin from Ionia indeed seemed to have experience as a mage's assistant. Among the many people he interviewed in Zaun's Lower District, Durin was a relatively outstanding talent.
Kreslin cleared his throat, walked back to his chair, and said casually, "Tell me about something else, uh, Mr. Durin, do you think demons exist in this world? Or are they just ballads circulating in Runeterra? Or rather, do you think there are demons in Zaun?"
"Of course they exist. But I'm not sure about Zaun, because I haven't seen them," Durin said. "However, those sailors who come to Zaun's inner harbor often say that in gambling dens, one needs to know when to stop, as excessive greed will attract Two-Coats."
"Ionia holds a festival called the Spirit Blossom Festival every year, right? I heard that many Azakana demon larvae emerge during each Spirit Blossom Festival. Have you seen them before?" Kreslin continued to press.
The Spirit Blossom Festival is one of Ionia's most important cultural celebrations. On this day, people can communicate with deceased relatives by drinking spirit tea. It is also the origin of the Spirit Blossom skin series in League of Legends, which mentions the concept of Azakana demon larvae.
Durin shook his head and replied, "Sorry, the Spirit Blossom Festival is not held in my small village. The nearest town is dozens of kilometers away, so I've never seen a creature like a demon larva."
"That's true, after all, every demon is evil and insane; they can't be found everywhere," Kreslin nodded. "Mr. Durin, what do you think the birth of demons is related to?"
Before his transmigration, Durin was passionate about playing the game League of Legends, and he even read the official lore when he loved playing a certain champion.
So, he naturally knew what the birth of demons was related to—human emotions.
However, Durin was unsure of Kreslin's intention. Was he truly just interested in demonology, or was he testing Durin's knowledge of demonology with an ulterior motive?
For a moment, Durin was uncertain. This was Zaun, where there were too many abnormal people.
Moreover, Durin looked at Kreslin's expectant face, which made him even more hesitant.
Furthermore, knowledge of demonology should not be something he, in his current apparent identity—a bumpkin from a remote corner of Ionia—could access.
The reason was simple: for many people, the concept of demons was just a scary bedtime story to frighten children.
And if Durin knew, then the question was, how did he know?
Therefore, Durin absolutely could not answer. He could only shake his head, a bewildered expression on his face.
Kreslin was not surprised; he just smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Durin, let's end our conversation here today. If you have no other arrangements, please report here promptly at 2 PM tomorrow. In addition to the basic duties of a mage's assistant, you must also spend at least half an hour every day cleaning my alchemy table, ensuring that every item is put back in its original place."
Durin was stunned. He quickly nodded in agreement.
The work of a mage's assistant primarily involves assisting the mage with daily tasks and academic research, such as: when the mage needs certain books, the assistant must immediately find the relevant books. Or, compiling the academic materials organized by the mage into a single volume, ensuring consistent order and no missing pages, and checking for typos, etc.
At the same time, once the mage has a need in daily life, it must be met as quickly as possible. For example: helping the mage run errands to purchase items, or delivering letters, reserving needed items or travel tickets, etc.
In short, every aspect must be taken care of.
Walking out of the house, Durin, wearing a mask, sat by the roadside, so excited that he couldn't help but want to punch the air in celebration.
He hadn't expected to actually get this job: 20 copper circle coins a day, which amounts to 6 silver ring coin a month. This job was double his previous butcher's salary. However, this job might carry risks; being associated with a mage living in Zaun was akin to living with a tiger.
Therefore, he had to try it for two days before deciding whether to quit his butcher job.
Additionally, the mage's assistant job made it difficult to gain proficiency. Durin planned to at least raise his One-Hand proficiency to 50 points before resigning from his former team leader.
Overall, the 6 silver ring coin a month salary brought Durin a sense of relief. At least… the problem of rising prices and rent was solved, and his mood had improved somewhat.
So, Durin, wearing his mask, wandered aimlessly along Third Avenue, thinking that since he was already out, he might as well find another hourly job to supplement his income before it got dark.
However, most shops, upon hearing that Durin wasn't there to buy something but to look for work, did a 180-degree turn in their attitude, either directly chasing him away with a broom or ignoring him with their heads down.
After several hours, nearing 1 PM, Durin gave up on finding an hourly job and walked towards Sixth Avenue, because he was going to take on the daily paid gig he saw last night, acting as a gang enforcer.