5. Heroes of the Future
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The twelve-year-old boy’s eyes widened as he saw the floating city, once nothing more than a shadow lingering on the clouds, now growing many times larger. The intricate details of its towering spires and enclosing walls became clearly visible. The floating city was slowly descending, growing larger and larger—big as a hill. It was about to land on the ground, right next to the village.
What had once been a terrifying legend was now reality.
“Little Gret, what are you standing there for? Hurry and hide!” His father grabbed the dazed Gret and hurriedly led him into a secret cellar they had prepared in advance.
Huddled in the damp, musty darkness, Gret finally came to his senses.
“Mom, Dad, if we hide here, will those wizard lords really not find us?” Gret clung to his older sister, trembling, tears still glistening in his eyes.
“They won’t find us,” his father said, trying to mask his own fear.
The strong farmer trembled uncontrollably, gripped by terror.
“If we stay hidden here for three days, then come out, we might just be lucky enough to survive till the end.”
“Just like the survivors from the other villages!” Gret’s father knew he was lying.
Those wizards wielded dreadful magic. If they truly intended to kill everyone, no one could escape. Fortunately, they never aimed to exterminate all; they only enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, always sparing a few survivors.
All the man could do was pray—they would be lucky enough to be among those spared in this massacre.
The ground rumbled ominously.
Even in the damp darkness of the cellar, Gret felt the earth tremble beneath him.
He knew—the city in the sky was descending.
The dreadful wizards were coming!
Though it was too dark to see his parents’ faces clearly, Gret felt their expressions tighten, beads of sweat trickling down their cheeks.
“Please don’t kill us, please don’t kill us!” Gret clasped his hands tightly, praying silently.
At that moment, he longed to possess the powerful spells from his dreams, so he wouldn’t fear anyone.
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But instead, he was like this—too weak to even lift an axe, unable to fight off even the smallest goblin invading their village.
Outside, a cacophony of voices rose.
People were speaking, accompanied by the chaotic sound of footsteps. Gret knew those were the wizard lords.
“Where are the people here?” came a commanding male voice.
“They’ve all hidden, Your Majesty,” another voice replied, respectful and flattering.
“Some villages prepare for the hunt in advance. When they see the floating city descend, they hide or escape through tunnels.”
“Though it’s useless in reality, whether we find them depends entirely on our will.”
“Shall I drive the villagers out, Your Majesty?”
At those words, Gret’s heart leapt to his throat. He dared not breathe.
He could feel the trembling of his mother, father, and sister.
...
Erian looked on. Though it was broad daylight, the village lay silent, as if deserted, and his expression darkened.
“No need,” Erian said. “Let’s proceed with what we must.”
“As you command, Pale Lord of the Undead, Arcane Emperor of Eldoren, Supreme Majesty Erian!” the attendant said respectfully, then directed the wizards nearby.
“Hurry, begin the work.”
“Today, we shall visit ten villages and build five schools.”
The wizards moved to the designated open ground and began their work according to the prearranged plan.
One wizard raised his hand gently, and in an instant, a massive stone wall appeared.
Other wizards chanted spells as the stone wall twisted and reshaped itself rapidly.
A fifth-tier “Stone Wall” spell.
A fourth-tier “Stone Shaping” spell.
Within less than half a minute, a sturdy stone schoolhouse stood firm upon the clearing. Erian smiled.
Indeed, magic was the greatest productive force!
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Many spells—such as the fourth-tier “Stone Shaping” and “Masterful Craftsmanship”—required no precious casting materials, yet the objects they created could endure for a long time.
This was the foundation of Erian’s confidence in promoting magical education.
Magic was not just for battle!
With a proper production process, newly trained wizards could immediately become productive assets.
In this fantastical world, education transformed into productivity much faster.
...
In the cellar.
Gret’s family waited quietly for the wizard lords’ actions.
Yet strangely, no major commotion arose above ground.
Only faint, heavy sounds of stone clashing could be heard, followed by complete silence.
“Strange, why haven’t the wizard lords begun their killing game?” Gret’s mind replayed the terrifying rumors.
“Shouldn’t the wizards start searching for those hiding in the village, driving them out into the open?”
“Then kill the villagers with lightning and fire, or transform them into animals?”
Half a day passed this way.
Still, no movement came from the surface.
“Maybe the wizard lords have already left?” Gret whispered to his parents.
“Mom, Dad, I’m so thirsty. Can I go upstairs to get some water? I’ll come right back.”
He hadn’t drunk a drop since last night. His mouth was parched, his throat felt as if it were burning!