Memories from over a month ago resurfaced in Cyril's mind. The girl he now faced was the same girl who had given him a warning the last time Cyril had mistakenly ventured into the slums.
"Thank you for what happened last time," Cyril approached the girl and expressed his gratitude. He felt that if he were to encounter a similar situation now, he wouldn't be helpless.
"Hey, it's you!" Jenny also recognized the boy in front of her, showing some surprise. She had just talked about him.
Moreover, the boy's appearance had clearly improved significantly since their last encounter in the slums, indicating that he was doing well.
Jenny smiled back at him. Paris Grail, on the other hand, had a strange expression on his face. It seemed that Lawrence was not a wizard's apprentice with a prominent background; otherwise, he wouldn't have known these obviously impoverished guys. Paris's expression grew more disdainful.
Brian, on the other hand, watched the scene in front of him with interest. He casually assessed the girl standing opposite Cyril. She seemed to possess some innate talent for prophecy. Brian's gaze inadvertently landed on Paris Grail beside him, and he suddenly let out a low chuckle. He hadn't forgotten how annoying this boy had been on the carriage, constantly giving him a hard time. He was always one to settle scores.
"Perhaps you would like to undergo the test of a wizard's apprentice to see if you have the potential to become a wizard," Brian said lazily, raising an eyebrow. He looked pleased to see the discomfort on Paris Grail's face.
Jenny and Loz exchanged glances, shocked, and turned their gaze to the charismatic and handsome man. This distinguished gentleman was undoubtedly the center of attention in the crowd, and they hadn't noticed him until now. Jenny quickly thought to herself, it must be that he intentionally concealed himself among the crowd, and combined with what he just said...
"Sir! Are you a wizard, sir?" Jenny asked in disbelief.
"I apologize; I got a little too excited. Please forgive my rudeness!" She bowed quickly and added, "I mean, we would be honored! We are very willing! Praise your generosity!"
"I am Jenny Weber, and this is my brother, Loz Weber," she introduced, her voice still trembling despite her efforts to remain calm.
Brian nodded slightly and then summoned a parchment and feather pen that he had used earlier in Count Abraham's meeting room. Cyril keenly observed a slight tremor in the surrounding space for a moment.
The parchment and feather pen floated casually in the air, while the people passing by didn't seem to notice this strange sight.
Cyril, with his beautiful almond-shaped eyes, turned his gaze thoughtfully. "This is spatial magic, and what others in the square see is you enjoying the scenery," the system explained. "It's a profound and ingenious form of spatial magic."
Cyril tried to remember the magical fluctuations he had vaguely sensed earlier, attempting to discern the boundaries of this spatial magic. However, he failed; the two spaces were seamlessly fused and integrated.
Cyril discreetly glanced at Paris Grail, noticing his vigilant expression, and knew that he was completely unaffected by the spatial magic moments ago.
He shifted his gaze to Jenny and Loz, who were being tested. The siblings were nervous, their faces filled with anticipation.
The results came quickly: Jenny had a spiritual power level of 14, and Loz had a level of 13. Both of them successfully became reserve apprentice wizards.
As they boarded the carriage, Cyril saw Paris Grail's expression turn even more sour. Cyril couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Cyril glanced discreetly at Mr. Scott, sitting across from them, and noticed that he seemed to be in a good mood.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Cyril's mind. Could it be that Mr. Scott was getting back at Paris Grail for annoying him with his incessant chatter on the carriage earlier?
Cyril blinked. No, Mr. Scott must have also recognized Jenny's special qualities. Cyril recalled the achievement that the system had just detected in Jenny – the "Gift of Prophecy" – and dismissed his previous unfounded speculation.
Count Abraham observed with envy as the wizard brought back two destitute individuals with suitable levels of spiritual power. He wished they were his own descendants.
His contemplation was interrupted when the butler arrived, handing him a first-class train ticket for the following morning.
The Count had initially expected the wizard to use more special methods that matched the people's perception of wizards to reach the capital. However, to his surprise, the wizard simply informed him that they would be taking a steam train to the capital.
The Count mumbled a few words and shook his head. He had forgotten that steam trains were a creation of the Tower of Truth.
The next day, their group arrived at the Philadelphia train station. To Cyril's surprise, the station was still bustling with people. The crowd surged toward the steam train resting quietly on the tracks.
Cyril gazed at the massive brass steam train in front of him, feeling somewhat mesmerized. Besides the giant clock tower he had seen in Philadelphia's main square, this was the first time he had seen such a large piece of machinery up close.
This era's machinery differed drastically from the aesthetic he had come to know in the Space Age, with its pursuit of simplicity, integration, and intricate micro-details.
The machines of this time, in contrast, didn't care to hide their rough, exposed structure. Rivets, pipes, gears, and more formed complex, massive shapes, proudly displayed to onlookers.
The coarse brass metal reflected an otherworldly coldness in the sunlight. It emitted an indescribable romanticism and a visceral sense of violent beauty.
Unique yet enchanting.
Cyril couldn't help but sigh softly.
The system, thinking Cyril might still be struggling with the idea that this wasn't the original agreed-upon wizarding world, nervously said, "It's all steam trains, no difference! As long as we can ride it!"
Jenny and Loz, who were standing beside Cyril, were also seeing a steam train for the first time, showing a hint of fascination in their eyes.
Paris Grail sneered, "Hmph, commoners who haven't seen much of the world."
They entered the first-class carriage, where uniformed guards at the entrance greeted them with friendly smiles. The floor of the first-class carriage was covered in deep red velvet. The leather seats were exceptionally soft, and lace hand-embroidered white tablecloths adorned the long tables in front of the seats.
On the tables, three-tiered silver trays were neatly arranged, each holding a variety of exquisite pastries and desserts. Gilt-edged bowls and plates were placed in their respective positions, and bone china teacups and teapots of the same color scheme stood on the side. There was also a bottle of deep red wine with the words "1663" on it, placed diagonally on the wine rack.
Beside the wine rack, a color-printed menu was placed on a wooden magazine rack next to a vase.
Brian casually took a seat at one of the long tables, lounging comfortably. His body leaned forward slightly, with his elbows resting on the white tablecloth-covered dining table. He interlaced his long fingers, supporting his chin, and smiled at Cyril.
Paris Grail's body froze in mid-air. For a moment, the carriage fell into silence, filled with an awkward tension. Brian, however, remained unfazed, just giving Paris Grail a brief glance. Paris felt that the gaze from the wizard was no different from the one he had when he saw the tableware on the table—completely devoid of warmth.
His heart turned cold, and he wisely gave up his seat.
Cyril was momentarily stunned too. When he realized what had happened, he felt a twitch on his forehead. Scott had stirred up more trouble for him. Cyril thought that Paris Grail's current expression, looking at him with anger and resentment, was like how someone might look at a third party who had used cunning to rise in status. This bizarre thought sent shivers down his spine.
Cyril subconsciously avoided looking at Mr. Scott's expression. His beautiful almond-shaped eyes were fixed on the lace-embroidered tablecloth as if trying to decipher its intricate patterns.
After this small incident, everyone naturally found their seats. The two Abrahams sat at one table, while the Weber siblings sat at another. Paris Grail hesitated over their arrangement but ultimately decided to sit at a separate table.
Brian paid no attention to their seating arrangements. He reached for a newspaper from the rack and started reading it casually. When Cyril saw that the unfolded newspaper was blocking Mr. Scott's face, he quietly looked in that direction.
His gaze was immediately drawn to the black inked headlines on the enlarged and bold fonts. It read, "Explosion in the Suburbs of Harlandon City! 13 Lives Lost! Is it a Moral Decay or a Distortion of Humanity..."
Just as Cyril was about to continue reading, the steam train let out a loud whistle.
"Woo-woo—"
The train began to move.