Cyril, who had a good night's sleep the second day, headed to the restaurant for brunch. The luxurious restaurant had changed its cheerful music, this time with the accompaniment of violins.
As he enjoyed his delicious egg tart, the Weber siblings approached him.
"Hey, Cyril! Good morning! Do you mind if we join you for a meal?" Jenny had a smile on her face, and although she looked a bit tired, her eyes were exceptionally bright.
"Good morning, both of you! Of course, please do!" Cyril replied politely, his eyes curved with a smile.
He noticed the dark circles under their eyes and knew they must have also explored the Rose Manor last night.
"We stayed up until sunrise! But there's still a large area we haven't visited! The Rose Manor is so vast!" Jenny remarked, noticing Cyril's scrutiny, and shrugged helplessly.
"Look, we found this last night!" She glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, then lowered her voice and showed Cyril what they had found - a delicate brass compass.
"Perhaps you know how to use it?" Jenny looked at Cyril with enthusiasm. She had a hunch that this handsome boy might be more skilled than most of the people present.
Cyril took the brass compass and read the information displayed by the system:
[Name: Danger Compass
Usage: This compass contains an exquisite witchcraft formation and helps with decision-making at crossroads.
How to use: The direction indicated by the pointer is the dangerous direction, and the speed at which the pointer rotates reflects the level of danger.
Note: There is a chance of error! Avoiding danger also means avoiding high rewards!]
"Perhaps you can judge which direction is dangerous based on the pointer's direction. Be cautious if the pointer spins rapidly. Of course, it's not foolproof, but you can experiment with it tonight," Cyril said thoughtfully.
Jenny and Loz exchanged glances, both very pleased. In return, they shared the information they had gathered.
"In four days, all the Rose Manor's wizards and newcomers will board a cruise ship to Whalefall Island. It's said to be a mysterious island used as a transit point between the wizard continent and other continents. Without special guidance, this island is impossible to find on the open sea," Jenny whispered.
Cyril nodded, recalling that Johnson had mentioned this before when he picked them up at the Royal City train station.
"Afterward, all newcomers will have to participate in a ranking trial that will determine their status as wizard apprentices. This involves their treatment at the Wizard Academy. The various magical items hidden in the Rose Manor will help newcomers achieve better results in the trial," Jenny explained hurriedly.
Now it made sense why Alectis and his group were so intent on robbing what other newcomers had found. Moreover, the invitation letter delivered by the snowy owl when they first arrived had hinted at competition among the newcomers.
Cyril pondered silently, realizing that this ranking trial would have a significant impact on their future as wizards.
"Do you know what other newcomers have found?" Cyril asked.
According to the Weber siblings, most people who found magical items kept them hidden and did not publicize their discoveries. They only knew of someone finding a wand, another discovering an unknown magical potion, and a girl finding an ill-fitting wizard robe.
Loz, who had been silent all this time, spoke up calmly, "On our way back, we also encountered that blond boy we saw at the staircase last night. According to him, based on previous experiences, most people and teams can find at most one magical item per night."
Cyril's face twitched briefly upon hearing this, but Jenny and Loz didn't notice.
He thought about how he had found three magical items in one night, thanks to the system. He had been so exhausted that he had returned to his room early, feeling somewhat guilty.
The Weber siblings then warmly invited Cyril to explore with them again that night, but Cyril shook his head and declined. He couldn't easily explain his abilities to others.
Jenny and Loz nodded in understanding. Everyone had their own secrets.
"By the way, did you encounter a group of people blocking the staircase on your way back?" Cyril remembered Alectis's incident from last night and asked them.
Jenny nodded, her expression somewhat odd. "That guy Alectis was dealt with last night by someone. Then, he coincidentally ran into another group planning to rob him, and they had a fight. Both sides ended up injured. When we returned in the morning, we saw them lying injured on the ground."
Cyril pretended to be unaware and commented, "Praise Merlin! That couldn't have gone better!"
After finishing their meal, Cyril returned to his room to rest. When the sky darkened again, it began to drizzle outside. Cyril found a black umbrella in his closet and ventured out into the damp evening.
The raindrops, thin and delicate, wove through the air diagonally. The mist that pervaded the surroundings resembled an unreal, surreal dream.
The cold night breeze, coupled with the wet sensation, hit Cyril's face as he advanced under the umbrella. The chilly wind cunningly avoided the shelter of the umbrella and slipped into his sleeves, making him shiver.
Cyril, holding the black umbrella in one hand and a kerosene lamp in the other, walked through the dark rainy night. It felt like the beginning of a spooky fairy tale, given the pitch-black night, the howling wind, and the rain.
He silently complained in his heart, realizing that his luck seemed to be less than favorable. After a long walk, the system guided him to the bank of a small stream.
Cyril looked at the pitch-black water and fell into silence. Life was tough, he sighed.
He probably understood by now that the owner of the Rose Manor enjoyed testing people.
"Don't worry! The water isn't deep enough to drown you!" the system said nonchalantly.
Cyril propped the black umbrella on the ground, placed the kerosene lamp under it, and then removed his shoes and socks. He took a deep breath and stepped into the ice-cold stream.
The frigid water reached Cyril's thighs as he bent down to search underwater. He felt some soft, slender strands that were slippery to the touch – water plants on the streambed. There were also rounded stones smoothed by the flowing water.
Finally, Cyril found something unusual, with intricate patterns as if it had been carved.
He lifted it with both hands, and it was heavy.
When he returned to the shore and illuminated it with the kerosene lamp, he realized it was a large seashell, about the size of a wooden barrel.
Its shell was covered in wave-like patterns, giving it the appearance of a giant eye, which was eerie and mysterious. The system also provided timely information:
[Name: Storm's Eye Clam (Extremely Rare)
Usage: Increases survival chances in the Dead Sea; Other unknown effects
Usage method: There are three steps to eating the Storm's Eye Clam: Open the clam, consume its contents, and then digest it! Key point: Only those with strong magical power can open it!
Note: Its appearance reveals its age! Clams that thrive in the Dead Sea possess mysterious powers, and by consuming the clam's core, you may receive some kind of gift. For example, if you and your opponent fall into the sea one day, your opponent will die while you survive. Of course, first, you need to find a way to open this invincible clam!]
"Only those with strong magical power can open it..." Cyril blinked.
Low in damage, but high in insult.
He attempted to use the magic he had already mastered to attack the clam. However, it remained sturdy and unyielding, as if the magical attack was nothing more than an itch to it.
Cyril had no choice but to temporarily take this heavy clam with him and figure out how to open it later. Rainy weather wasn't suitable for traveling, and carrying a massive clam made his movements even more cumbersome.
Struggling to hold an umbrella and a kerosene lamp, Cyril's lamp flickered as he moved.
As he hesitated whether to hide the clam somewhere and return for it the next day, he suddenly heard the sound of a fierce fight ahead.
Cyril hadn't even had time to change direction when two groups of people engaged in armed combat appeared before him.
"Sorry, I'm just passing through. Please continue..." He put on a bewildered and innocent expression, with his large almond-shaped eyes drooping slightly, exuding an aura of innocence.
At the same time, he discreetly took a step back.
The combatants paused, shifting their gaze from Cyril's fair face to the gigantic clam that was conspicuously present in his arms. Their eyes gleamed with desire.
Cyril swiftly abandoned his umbrella and kerosene lamp and made a run for it, clutching the clam. However, he accidentally tripped over something on the ground, losing his balance and tumbling forward.
Oh no, this is bad!
In an instant, Cyril unleashed two Fireball spells at lightning speed, aiming them at his pursuers behind him.
At that moment, the small silver snake in his pocket, named Grelin, began to emit a faint moonlight glow along its silver patterns.
Its blood-drop-like eyes suddenly shone brightly, and Cyril, along with the massive clam he was carrying, disappeared from the spot.