Warlock Apprentice

Crown Star Church.

With a cane, Maya led Dororo through a corridor of starlight. When they entered the Stargazing Hall, the vast palace, comparable in size to a square, was already filled with people sitting.

No one made a sound; they all sat cross-legged on the floor, forming circle after circle, ceremoniously surrounding the central Starlight Induction Platform.

The seating arrangement in the Stargazing Hall followed a pattern. The more powerful you were, the closer you sat to the center. For example, nearly all the Observers sat directly beneath the Starlight Induction Platform.

Of course, it was only ”nearly,” as there were always some who didn’t follow the script. For instance, a man with shackles on his feet, horns atop his head, handsome as a demon, exuding an air of desire, was lazily hanging upside down from the hall’s main gate. He was also one of the Crown Star Church’s Observers, the ”Inverted Disqualified One,” Skör.

Everyone entering the Stargazing Hall would pass beneath this ”Inverted Man.”

Maya was no exception. However, upon seeing Skör, a trace of disgust involuntarily flashed in his eyes. Skör represented ”Desire” among the Observers, perhaps due to his demons’ bloodline, his desires were intense, and his private conduct was extremely improper, earning him a poor reputation among the witches.

Perhaps it was Maya’s look of disgust that caught Skör’s attention. He shifted his gaze, and with an indecipherable glint of mischief in his eye, said, ”So it’s Witch Maya.”

Maya replied coldly, ”Mr. Skör,” and then, without turning back, walked into the hall with Dororo.

Skör didn’t mind Maya’s attitude; he was already used to it. However, as he watched the departing figure of Dororo beside Maya, Skör seemed to think of something, curling his lips into an inscrutable wicked smile.

The minor incident at the door did not affect Maya’s mood, and he walked quickly toward the center of the palace.

Although Maya had not reached the level of an Observer, his prophetic abilities and personal prestige made him one of the top-tier Prophet Wizards, those near the pyramid’s apex. According to protocol, he naturally sat closer to the center. Each Prophet Wizard was allowed to bring an Apprentice assistant. Sitting nearer the center, Dororo also shared this benefit.

After Maya settled near the center, several Observers on the Starlight Induction Platform gave him friendly smiles.

Then, these Observers uniformly glanced at Dororo beside him.

To other Prophecy Apprentices, they were indifferent. But Dororo was different... On the previous Stargazing Day, he inexplicably coughed up blood. Based on Lapuye’s speculations and subsequent signs, it was certain he had seen something within the Mystery of the Stars.

To gain insights from the Mystery of the Stars is a remarkable achievement. Many Official Wizards can’t glimpse anything during Stargazing Day; only Observers can reliably obtain information. This is why, although the Mystery of the Stars is a strategic-level Mysterious Object, no Witcher Organization dares covet it... even if acquired, it is incomprehensible.

However, the reason Observers gave Dororo special attention was mainly because they couldn’t see through his mysterious past.

Even Lapuye, the current Controller of the Crown Star Church, admitted he couldn’t discern Dororo’s past.

This naturally piqued the curiosity of Wizards who researched ”Future,” ”Time,” and ”Fate.”

As before, this time they still could not see Dororo’s past.

Yet, what surprised the Observers was Dororo’s calm demeanor under their scrutiny. His indifference was almost that of an emotionless machine.

”Lacking basic humanity... such a person cannot be favored by fate.” The speaker was a stern middle-aged man among the Observers, named Shura, nicknamed ”The Reader of No Delusion.” Among all the Observers, he held the most disdainful attitude towards Dororo, largely because, during the previous Stargazing Day, due to Dororo, he had been humiliated by his rival, Evan.

”As if having humanity means being favored by fate?” A mocking voice emanated from another Observer; it was, needless to say, ”Balancer Traveler” Evan. ”Fate is fair to everyone because it disregards anyone, let alone showers favor.”

Shura sneered and did not continue the argument, not because of concern for Evan, but because Lapuye spoke up.

Lapuye did not converse with Evan and Shura but instead looked smilingly at Dororo: ”When last we met, you had just become an Apprentice. Unexpectedly, in just a few short years, you are already a Third-Level Apprentice. Such speed is rare in this world. Not bad, not bad.”

Facing Observers, Dororo naturally couldn’t remain mute; he lowered his head and said, ”My cultivation speed is not the fastest.”

Lapuye was taken aback, not expecting such a peculiar response from Dororo: ”... You mean the Transcendental Wizard? Actually, there’s no need to compare.”

”There is a need.” Dororo replied without hesitation, with a determination incomprehensible to outsiders in his eyes.

”Such a strong competitive spirit?” ”It’s good to have competitiveness; otherwise, with a lack of vision, one could only remain among the common stream.” ”Though true, comparing oneself to a Transcendental Wizard... I think that’s not competitiveness but aiming too high.” ”Indeed, after all, that’s a true talent!” The nearby Prophet Wizards, having heard Dororo’s conversation with Lapuye, couldn’t help but start whispering to each other.

Their dialogue reflected the views of others. Even the Observers believed Dororo’s ambition was driven by competitiveness, with Dororo and Angel both belonging to the Barbarian Cave, overshadowed by such a colossal presence. In such a predicament, they too might feel unsettled.

Only a handful in the room could discern that Dororo was not driven by competitiveness.

Maya understood Dororo’s thoughts; he simply wanted to catch up with Angel, hoping to be of some use to him.

Though Lapuye didn’t know the connection between Dororo and Angel, he could sense some of it.

Lapuye chuckled and changed the subject with Dororo: ”Last time on Stargazing Day, you foresaw the future. This time, I hope you can do the same.”

”Of course, should you see anything, I hope you won’t keep it to yourself as before. It would be best to share it with everyone.”

During the previous encounter, Dororo saw certain images but refused to share them, even when Lapuye asked. This offended many Prophet Wizards, so Lapuye deliberately reminded him this time.

Dororo merely nodded politely, without further response. Lapuye didn’t mind but instead looked toward the hall’s gate...

After a while, six distinctively dressed individuals entered through the door.

”Are all six Observers?!” The Hall, which had been silent, suddenly became lively with the arrival of the six Observers.

The newly arrived Observers ignored the sudden buzzing of the crowd, nodded towards Lapuye, and flew directly to the Starlight Induction Platform.

Once they were seated, Lapuye said slowly: ”I don’t think anyone else will come.”

When Lapuye said this, everyone in the hall understood that Stargazing Day was about to commence.

”I originally thought there would only be five Observers this Stargazing Day, but now six more have arrived!”

”This time is unprecedented, with eleven Observers, the highest number in nearly thirty years, right?”

”Could there be a very significant prophecy emerging this time?”

”Instead of a significant prophecy, I have a bad feeling. Could a disaster be approaching? But wasn’t the shadow of the Demon God already past?”

Rustling voices emanated from the mouths of the surrounding Prophet Wizards.

Lapuye, standing on the Induction Platform, did not respond to the crowd’s doubts but gestured to Skör to close the Stargazing Hall’s gate. He then moved to the top of the Induction Platform, activating the Mystery of the Stars, hidden in the Other-dimensional Space.

As the candles in the palace gradually extinguished, enveloped by brilliant starlight... the most anticipated event in the current Wizards’ Realm—Stargazing Day, had officially begun!