Adam opened his eyes and found that the scene around him had completely changed. He was disoriented at first, having arranged the memories of the two hundred-plus years that he lived in the previous illusion.
He stumbled on his feet, almost falling to the ground. He massaged his forehead and grimaced. "Ugh, what... what the hell was that?"
The illusion had greatly altered the flow of time-no, to be more precise, it had altered his perception of the flow of time. It was countless times stronger than what he felt in the Trial of Endurance.
"To be able to create such a potent illusion... just how deep was Saratoga Castle's founder's knowledge in the School of Illusion?" He muttered incredulously.
The youth couldn't help but be filled with admiration. The illusion of having lived a life of more than two hundred years was no joke!
As Adam was gradually coming to his senses, he couldn't help but mock, "Over two hundred years passed in the illusion, I wonder how much time has passed in the real world."
After witnessing such a vivid and elaborate illusion and passing it with flying colors, he thought that he had completed the trial. However, the voice that usually notified him of the trial completion was nowhere to be heard.
Adam's vision slowly focused and he was slightly taken aback. He thought he'd be back inside the chamber, but instead, he found himself standing amidst a wheat field.
The sun cast a radiant glow on the land, bathing the field of crops in a brilliant glow. Adam looked around, finding this scene all too familiar. His gaze landed on an oak tree in the distance, and beside the tree lay a thatched hut.
The moment he saw the tree and the hut, memories that had been buried deep inside his heart slowly began to resurface. His lips quivered, his eyes moistened, and he whispered, "No... it can't be!"
His feet started moving on its own and before he knew it, he had broken into a sprint. The hems of his black cape fluttered behind him as the wind brushed against his face. His black, pointy hat swayed gently as he took one step after another.
A fine young man with a healthy and rosy skin tone ran through the wheat fields. He wore elaborate clothing and naturally radiated an aura of strength and nobility.
A powerful and renowned Magus ran through the wheat fields, yet when he arrived before the oak tree he had transformed into someone else entirely.
A child of tender age, no older than five years old, wore tattered clothing. There were bruises on his knees and elbows, his figure was emaciated, and he looked very weak.
Raven hair that had lost its luster and a pair of black eyes that contained boundless curiosity and wonder.
With a toothy grin on his face, the young Adam dashed toward the thatched hut. "Mama! Papa! I'm home!"
The door to the hut opened and a middle-aged lady stepped out. She wore a long, loose- fitting gown that reached to her knees. It was made of wool but was mended and frayed in several places.
Her black eyes matched Adam's, except they were weathered by the harshness of life. She placed her hands on her hips and made an angry face, "How many times have I told you not to run off to town without letting me know? Do you know how worried we were?"
Adam flinched at suddenly being reprimanded. His eyes involuntarily reddened and tears threatened to fall down his face. He lowered his head and began fidgeting with his fingernails. "But I... just wanted to make friends," he meekly said.
The woman's face softened and she couldn't help but heave a helpless sigh. She walked toward Adam and knelt down before him.
She gazed at the bruises on his knees and elbows, and the scratches on his face. She couldn't help but ask softly, "Did they beat you again?"
"Mm!" Adam nodded, wiping his tears. He looked into his mother's eyes and said, "They said that a farmer's boy like me has no right to talk to them. One of them said that you and Papa are peasants, so I beat him up! But there were too many of them and... and..."
"Hush, my child." The woman enveloped him in a warm embrace.
"Mama," Adam called out softly.
"Is being a farmer a bad thing?" He asked innocently.
"Of course, not!" The woman exclaimed. "If farmers like your father and I don't do our work, then others won't have food on their plates. So how can being a farmer be a bad thing?" Adam tilted his head in an adorable manner and began stroking his chin, deep in thought. He then asked with bright eyes, "So then is it okay if I too become a farmer like you and Papa?"
The woman's lips twitched. But before she could reply, a middle-aged man approached them, walking through the wheat field. He had a head full of raven hair and greatly resembled Adam. "My boy, you should aim higher!" Said the man loudly.
Adam excitedly looked in the direction of the voice. There, he saw his father walking toward him with a grin on his face.
"Papa!" Adam ran toward the man and jumped into his embrace.
"Hahaha!" The man gently picked up Adam and spun him around. His face gradually turned stern and he said, "Don't run off into town without informing us again, okay? Your mother gets very scared."
But Adam completely ignored his words and instead asked, "How high should I aim, papa? What is higher than a farmer? A mason? A carpenter? No! Is it a trader?"
Seeing the look of innocence and fascination in his dear son's eyes, the man couldn't bring himself to speak something realistic. Instead, he chose to entertain his son a little and instill a childish dream.
The man's expression turned mysterious as he began, "Adam, do you know that there exists a very special group of people in these lands?"
"Special people?" Adam tilted his head.
"Yes." The man nodded. "They are so special that they outshine the likes of farmers, merchants, and even kings and queens."
"Waahhh!" Adam's eyes shone like the brightest of stars. "Even outshine the king?! How can
"Hmm." The man nodded seriously. "They are so special that they can even control the winds and the rains."
"Woahhh!" Adam's eyes widened the more he heard his father speak. He balled his palms into fists and enthusiastically asked, "Tell me! Tell me! Who are these people?"
The man's lips curled up into a playful smirk.
"They are known as... Magi!"