Wizard: My magic facility can be upgraded!

Chapter 14 Arrival in Riley City

Celeste did not wait for his wizard retinue, but led a dozen or so youths who had passed the trials ahead of him.

And so the two groups, led by the wizards and their followers, parted ways at the dock.

These young men and women, who had lived together for more than twenty days, embarked on different paths in life.

Celeste led the lucky ones away from the noisy dock area and onto the main street of Riley City.

The street was paved with neatly cut bluish-gray boulders and was wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side. Shops lined both sides of the street, with a wide variety of signs.

Inside the shop with the sign "Giant Claw Restaurant," several blue, shelled creatures, still twitching slightly and with pincers as large as an adult's arm, are skewered and grilled on iron skewers in a huge glass window.

The sizzling sound of oil dripping onto the charcoal fire and the aroma of roasted meat made the group of teenagers, who had been eating black bread for more than twenty days, drool.

At this moment, the door of "Cuiyu Herbs" was half open, and a rich aroma of herbs mixed with spicy and bitter smells wafted out.

Through the crack in the door, you can see various dried plant leaves neatly arranged on the shelves inside the store, plant roots that keep wriggling in crystal bottles, and a few blue mushrooms planted in pots that shimmer with a faint fluorescent light.

A gaunt old man wearing a single crystal spectacle was carefully picking up a shimmering silver leaf with tweezers.

Li Ang silently memorized the shop's location, preparing for the later concoction of a magic potion to treat his lungs.

"Arcane Resonance" is a rather sophisticated-looking wand and witchcraft prop shop. Several wands of various shapes are displayed on velvet cushions in the window.

Some are entirely black with a deep blue crystal inlaid at the top.

Some are entwined with vines, their flower buds at the ends still waiting to bloom.

...

Further down the street, there are signs for things like "Potions and Cauldrons" and "Starcraft," a dazzling array of options.

Pedestrians dressed in various styles moved about the streets, including figures hurrying along wearing different colored wizard robes.

There were wealthy merchants dressed in fine clothes and accompanied by servants.

Occasionally, you'll see oddly shaped vehicles, such as floating magic carpets or wheelless vehicles flying through the air, passing by.

There was even an old woman sitting on the back of a giant beetle.

The reserve apprentices had never seen anything like this before, and they all craned their necks to look around curiously.

Led by Theronster, the teenagers did not linger for a moment in front of these tempting shops.

They traveled through several blocks before finally stopping at a relatively quiet street corner where several oddly shaped carriages were parked.

The carriages were not pulled by ordinary horses, but by robust creatures with six hooves, covered in fine scales, and with dark red eyes. They stood quietly, their nostrils spewing out white mist with a sulfurous smell.

The carriage was made of dark hardwood and inlaid with gold metal strips for reinforcement, making the carriage look both sturdy and luxurious.

Celeste casually nodded to a coachman dressed in standard leather armor with a short stick hanging from his waist. Upon seeing this, the coachman immediately and respectfully opened the door of the largest of the beast-drawn carriages, the one with intricate silver patterns painted on the carriage.

"Go up."

Celeste's voice remained concise and cold. After speaking, he boarded another carriage with his family crest before the prospective apprentices could react.

The three formal apprentices were asked by the administrator to board the carriage first. The interior of the carriage was covered with dark-colored soft cushions, and the space was much more spacious than expected.

Matthew quickly took the window seat, then gave Li Ang a gloomy look. Li Ang and Helena ignored Matthew's presence and sat quietly opposite him.

After the three were seated, it was Ludick and the other prospective apprentices' turn to board the vehicle.

The two slightly slower trainee apprentices seemed unaware of the invisible boundary in the air and subconsciously tried to sit in the empty seat next to Matthew. There was no one next to Matthew; he had taken up the entire bench.

"Get out of here," Matthew's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling coldness. "Who gave you permission to sit here?"

He slightly raised his chin, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt.

"Recognize your place, you worthless trash. You think you're just like me because you passed the easiest trial?"

He paused deliberately, letting his superior statement strike everyone hard.

"I am a formal apprentice with a level five talent, a future wizard personally recruited by Lord Celeste. You? You are just lucky trash who haven't been eliminated yet. Stay away from me and don't pollute my nose with your vile aura."

The two men were stunned by Matthew's barrage of insults.

These minor nobles had already come to terms with reality while at sea, knowing that their former noble status was worthless here. However, being directly humiliated to their faces by Matthew, a commoner, still drained the color from their faces, leaving them frozen in place.

The carriage fell into a deathly silence, with only the occasional heavy, sulfurous breaths of the six-hoofed beast outside.

The reserve apprentices were all silent with fear, their eyes filled with dread as they looked at Matthew, their former leader.

The oppressive atmosphere was broken by a gentle voice.

"There are still seats here, please come and sit down."

Helena squeezed a little closer to Li Ang to make room for him, then waved to the two boys standing dumbfounded in the middle of the carriage.

Then Helena smiled brightly at Li Ang, "What you taught me is that we need to help each other even more in times like these, right?"

Li Ang felt somewhat awkward at this moment. Helena was very close to him, and through the thin fabric, he could feel the girl's body temperature and smell her delicate fragrance.

Although he was somewhat wavering inside, Li Ang calmly replied, "You...you're right."

As he spoke, he squeezed towards another boy next to him, trying to create some distance. Unexpectedly, Helena immediately moved closer, giving the two boys more room.

Helena clearly misunderstood Li Ang's actions, thinking that Li Ang agreed with her and was helping to make room for the other two.

But to be honest, Li Ang didn't care much about those who had once isolated him along with Matthew.

After the two boys sat down, the carriage finally began to move slowly.

"You bunch of trash should stick together for warmth. I've already been recruited as Lord Celeste's apprentice," Matthew said fiercely, emphasizing his difference once again as he stared at the scene before him.

Looking at Matthew, who was barking incoherently, Li Ang almost laughed, thinking he looked like a clown.

The six hooves of the unknown monster pounded on the stone road, making a light and rhythmic "clattering" sound, and its speed far exceeded that of an ordinary carriage.

The scenery of Riley City flashed by through the windows reinforced with iron bars.

The streets outside the window became wider and cleaner, and the buildings on both sides became taller and more magnificent, adorned with exquisite sculptures and flowers.

The air was no longer filled with a mixture of smells; instead, it was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

After traveling for more than half an hour, the six-hoofed beast slowed down significantly.

Everyone in the carriage felt an invisible pressure looming over them.