Several gray robes carried the cold wind blowing through the winding and empty streets.
Different from the gray and black robes of the school janitors, these gray robes on the street are lighter in color, showing a gray-white color under the moonlight, and they look like wisps of smoke that have just come out of the chimney.
A figure quickened his pace slightly, came to the team leader, and reported in a low voice:
"Avery, the bookstore at No. 99 Pedestrian Street still has the lights on so late. Is there something going on in the store? Should we check it out?"
The leader named Avery has silver-white hair - because of Colma's influence, most wizards in the North District will have such a head of silver hair, and even if it's not good enough, they will dye it to show respect - after hearing the words of the team members
After the report, the team leader stopped for a moment and glanced at the location of the bookstore.
The window of the bookstore on the corner did reveal orange light, and there was a fat yellow tabby reflected on the glass window, looking at them curiously.
"No need," he rejected his subordinate's suggestion, paused, and then simply explained: "Since the cat is still staying peacefully on the window sill, it proves that no serious accident happened in the store, maybe it's just a diligent worker.
The store is sorting out inventory...and we have no more time to waste. The Great Sage issued an emergency order to call all patrols to return. This is our highest priority task."
There were murmurs of approval from everyone in the team.
No one questions the correctness of this sentence, just like no one can question Colma's lofty prestige among the wizards in the North District. This prestige even surpasses the shrewd cunning and profit supremacy that have been immersed in the bones of the North District people for a long time, allowing them to
Become a devout believer in witches.
When Avery returned to the Sakura Tavern with his patrol.
The yard in front of the tavern was already filled with wizards from the North District wearing gray and white robes. Avery saw some familiar figures at the front of the team - Catherine, Enoch, Kathy, Colin, etc., they
They are all the original members of the Gini Cabin. After the birth of the North District Wizard, these members naturally became the closest subordinates of the Great Sage.
"What happened?" Avery walked into the small circle and asked in a low voice.
Everyone is shaking their heads.
Even Katherine Stewart, the most trusted person of the Great Sage of Colma and the first North District wizard born in Keeney's Cottage, was confused by the sudden order of the Great Sage.
"We just received a summons," Colin glanced at Catherine before replying: "The Great Sage did not tell us the specific reason. But according to everyone's private communication, it should be the patrol that entered the Silent Forest and discovered something.
…”
Silent Forest?
Avery nodded thoughtfully and began to think about what the patrol found that would alert a great wizard. It might be a group of wild dragons approaching the school, or it might be a magic circle that summoned demons deep in the forest.
It's also possible that the black tide broke out early, which wouldn't be a good thing anyway.
At this moment, the voice of the Great Sage Kolma suddenly came to his ears:
"Come in, captains."
He raised his head, looked around, and found that other people in the small circle had surprised expressions on their faces. It seemed that all the captains of the patrol had heard the Great Sage's voice.
Soon, everyone, led by Catherine, lined up neatly and entered the second floor of the Sakura Tavern.
Downstairs, other wizards in the North District breathed a sigh of relief - as long as the Great Sage still has arrangements, everything is not so bad - some active young people are even in the mood to take out their own frogs from their pockets and compare who is who.
The sacrifices are fatter.
…
Unlike the crowded and lively courtyard.
The lobby on the second floor of Sakura Tavern seemed empty and quiet.
The wine cabinet, bar counter, curtains, and those old round tables have long since become the dust of history with the birth of the North District Wizard. The only thing that has not changed is the owner of this hall.
Kolma was sitting on a black high-backed chair at the end of the hall. The stone platform under her feet was nearly half a meter higher than all the seats in the hall. On both sides of the hall, there were two rows of long tables. The tables were covered with red velvet tablecloths.
There are empty chairs in the back.
After the captains of the patrol team entered, they sat silently and quickly on their chairs, lowered their heads, and waited for the great sage to speak.
Although he didn't look carefully, but whether it was an illusion or not, Avery felt that the Great Sage seemed further away from them today than yesterday, and her figure was also larger.
Before he could fully understand this change, on the high platform, the great sage of the North District wizards spoke: "I have always felt that participating in the silent forest patrol is a blessing for you and me... You understand me
Do you mean it?"
There was silence in the hall, everyone was thinking about the deep meaning behind this sentence.
Especially the word 'lucky'.
But no one suddenly responded, because everyone knew that the great sage didn't like people who flattered her. Until her eyes swept across the audience, and finally fell on Catherine, who was sitting in the first place.
A witch from the Northern District Wizards stood up and answered cautiously:
"Do you mean to say that participating in patrols in the Silent Forest can help us become familiar with spellcasting as soon as possible?"
"No, it's recognition." Kolma raised his hand, motioning for the witch to sit down, and said softly: "If we want the wizards of the North District to be truly accepted by Beta Town, First University, and the entire Wizards Alliance... then we must learn
Bear enough responsibility and gain enough recognition... just like the sacrifices the ancestors of the magicians made in the Lich War a long time ago in order to obtain the identity of wizards."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became much more solemn.
"The wizards of the North District have had enough of looking down and being looked down upon. To be able to stand up at such a critical moment to protect this forest, this town, and this school... is a huge blessing to each of us."
"We have gained new power and the ability to retaliate, but we cannot vent the grievances we have suffered on other wizards, otherwise we will be ostracized by the entire alliance... At this time, the Silent Forest has set off a new black tide, and it is against me
, this is a great blessing for you and the entire North District."
"But any luck comes at a price."
Before he finished speaking, Kolma threw a recording stone from the high platform and threw it in the center of the hall. The blue-gray stone rolled and made a buzzing sound, and a dynamic picture was projected in an instant.
The patrol leaders sitting on both sides can see that it is from the perspective of a patrolman. Each patrol team has such a patrolman, who is responsible for recording the patrol routes and encounters for post-operation assessment and evidence.