The sky was azure, with clouds floating like cotton. Ian hovered in the clear sky, below him the clouds roiled like waves, and in the distance stretched endless mountains and forests.
He gently moved his arms, adjusting his posture, feeling the flow of magic power in the air. The fierce wind tore at his cloak, and in the distance, the floating Steel City lay like a slumbering giant beast,
Ian gazed at the city before him, his heart full of awe. He had heard many legends about lost civilizations, but never thought he would witness such a miraculous floating city in reality — its jet-black metal surface glowed with a cold light, countless gears and pipes exposed, steam and electric arcs dancing in the gaps.
It quietly floated in mid-air, not emitting a roar nor showing a supporting structure, akin to a dormant cyber city, countless gears meshing and turning on the building's surface.
Accompanied by the discovery of him by one of the black-robed wizards within.
Between the prism-shaped towers, ethereal blue runes glowed, and the whole city was enveloped in a semi-transparent amber-colored protective shield, its surface rippling with delicate electrical waves. Yes, Ian had just approached, and the entire city seemed on high alert, the protective shield unfolding in ripples with countless runes flickering on the transparent barrier.
It was like a giant net, shrouding the entire city within.
"This protective magic's fluctuation... Not even a legend possesses such magic power." Ian squinted, mentally marveling, his magic wand gently caressing in his palm.
However.
Before he was ready to get closer.
The piercing sound of an alarm suddenly blared, and chaotic shouts came from within the Steel City, where those wizards in black robes stood atop the tower, angrily and fearfully pointing in Ian's direction.
"A raven from the underworld!"
Someone screamed, the voice distorted and warped as it passed through the protective shield.
"It's that guy again!"
"Expel it! Don't let it get close! It will take all of our lives!",
From inside the city came cries of fear: "Gibberish! Gibberish!" Ian couldn't understand a word of it, but he could feel their intense unease from the tone.
Of course, although their language was ancient and obscure, Ian couldn't understand a single word, but he could sense the emotions conveyed from the faces and tones of these black-robed wizards.
This aspect of the communication was very clear—fear, disgust, and even... hatred?
No way.
It was just a language barrier.
In Ian's eyes. All he saw was a group of people standing on a high platform, with various colored eyes flashing under their hoods, holding peculiar-shaped metal scepters, pointing at him, their faces full of vigilance and hostility, as if they were seeing a nemesis they couldn't coexist with.
"These people must be crazy."
Ian was stunned, he looked down at himself—a teenager in his teens, wearing an ordinary wizard robe, carrying nothing but a magic wand in his hand and alchemy props hanging at his waist.
He didn't resemble anything terrifying like a flood or beast.
With his distinctly jointed hands, long legs, and an ordinary teenage appearance. Except for his wizard robe's style differing from theirs, he couldn't figure out what made him worth such wariness.
To be honest.
The reaction of these people made Ian start to feel somewhat insecure.
"I have arms and legs, and I don't look frightening, right? Did I grow horns? Or do I have scales on my face?" He touched his face, confirming he still looked like a normal human teenager.
He finally took out a small mirror he had taken from Aurora to check.
This was a circular silver mirror with a diameter of about 20 cm, its frame made of dark ebony wood carved with twisted vine patterns, as if countless shadows were writhing within.
The mirror's surface was smooth and icy, slightly convex outward, and when observed closely, the world it reflected seemed more condensed and profound than reality. The back of the frame was inlaid with a dark blue gemstone that flickered with faint light according to the holder's emotions, appearing ordinary yet exuding a mysterious aura.
As a mirror in the Magic World.
This uniquely shaped small mirror could clearly reflect the user's appearance, whether in a bright room or a dark corner, the mirror would accurately cast a clear image, with even more realistic details than a regular mirror. It could also project the scenery within a certain range behind the user.
Providing the user with an all-around view, convenient for grooming or observing the situation behind—one had to say, it was really not like those pretty mirrors most girls had.
Aurora's aesthetic was indeed special in this way. And Ian felt Aurora's aesthetic was quite nice, certainly Cthulhu enthusiasts like him.
Moreover.
The kind of paranoia that keeps one always alert also made Ian feel quite admirable. Of course, one of the mirror's most magical abilities was to reflect the user's inner emotions.
When the user stood in front of the mirror, aside from their normal appearance, there would be a subtle emotional tint enveloping their reflection. For instance, when the user felt joy, the mirror would glow with a soft golden halo, like sunlight on a tranquil lake. When sad, the reflection would be surrounded by a faint blue mist, imparting a cool, solitary feeling.
While angry, red thread-like patterns would wrap around the reflection, as if being scorched by flames, and when frightened, the mirror would become blurred, distorted shadows appearing, as if some unknown thing was watching. And right now, a series of question marks representing confusion hovered above Ian's head in the mirror.