Today was the day Sage Rhine departed.
The herald blew the horn, the sound of flutes drifted down from the high tower, the honor guard sang a farewell song, and the sergeant-major waved a colorful banner.
Rhine and Aurora rode on steeds, escorted by a large contingent of Soldiers, heading towards the eastern border of the kingdom.
Bright, brilliant sunlight spilled onto the streets. On both sides of the streets, there were people everywhere bidding farewell. Children threw crimson flowers at them, women wiped tears with handkerchiefs, and birds sang beautiful melodies.
"Is that Lord Sage Rhine? He looks so young."
"A magician's age has nothing to do with his appearance!"
"Thank you, Sage of the Kingdom!"
"Lord Rhine, we await your return."
...
People watched as Rhine and Aurora, riding on steeds, were escorted by Soldiers, leaving the Royal City, entering the forest path, and finally disappearing into the emerald green woods.
Old Carpenter Geppetto and Hunter Angus were also among the farewell crowd.
However, their voices were drowned out by the singing, flutes, crying, and cheering.
"It's truly thanks to the Sage's arrival in White Kingdom..." Old Carpenter Geppetto recalled the events of less than three months ago, feeling as if it were a dream.
He felt like a witness to history. History books and bards' legends would record:
How a wandering magician came to White Kingdom, enlightened the foolish Queen, and rewrote history!
"Oh, by the way, that murderous Witch from a while ago, hasn't she been caught yet?"
Old Carpenter Geppetto suddenly remembered the murder case from a while ago, recalling those neighbors who had suffocated to death on land.
"It seems so. I guess that Witch must be hiding!" Hunter Angus said, scratching his head.
"What a pity." Old Carpenter Geppetto sighed, "I thought I'd get to see that Witch apprehended by the Sage and receive her deserved punishment!"
Even a Witch who wielded powerful magic could not escape the law's retribution—if such a scene were to happen, how exhilarating and inspiring it would be for the newborn White Kingdom, for the new order of the kingdom!
"Oh, by the way, Old Man." The Hunter suddenly remembered Pinocchio running around at home, "Where's Pinocchio? Where did he go?"
"He was placed on the 'talent list' by Her Majesty the Queen's magic mirror and summoned to the palace."
"That puppet is considered talent? What kind of ability could it have?" Hunter Angus asked with a look of surprise.
For the past two months or so, ever since Pinocchio could move, he had been nothing but a mischievous child who couldn't sit still and constantly caused trouble!
"The herald said that a moving, talking puppet is very rare. Coincidentally, Her Majesty the Queen is going to visit the Sea Kingdom by ship, and he can perform a puppet show there."
"Huh?" Angus was stunned.
Let a puppet perform a puppet show?
A puppet show where the puppet moves by itself, right?!
What kind of brilliant idea is this?!
...
On the path through the woods.
Rhine, riding on his steed, lowered his head and played with the three Scarecrows in his hand.
They were magical items formed by gathering the wish power of the entire White Kingdom.
Each Scarecrow could only be used once, making them consumables, yet they were incredibly powerful. They combined both curse and life-saving functions, making them a hybrid of a "Voodoo Doll" and a "Substitute Doll."
As long as Rhine obtained someone else's hair, blood, or other bodily tissues, he could create a "Voodoo Substitute" Scarecrow corresponding to the target.
At any time, if the owner of the Scarecrow encountered danger, they could consume the corresponding substitute Scarecrow and exchange fates with the person corresponding to the substitute.
Their circumstances, injuries, curses suffered, and locations would all be exchanged!
For example, if Rhine obtained a strand of Black Witch Maleficent's hair, he could create a Voodoo Substitute corresponding to Maleficent.
Then, if Rhine was stabbed through the heart with a knife, he could actively activate the Scarecrow.
In this way, Rhine and Maleficent would swap places. And the person whose heart was pierced would become Black Witch Maleficent.
[Substitute of Fate]!
This was the name Rhine gave to the three Scarecrows.
It was like the materialization of the two bizarre fates: "Aurora replacing the role of the original Snow White" and "Aurora impersonating the Queen."
"In this world, the foundation of a powerful magician comes not only from the magic they master but also from many powerful, extraordinary items!"
"An ordinary magician might have to work hard, endure hardships, and risk their life to collect two or three practical magical items. But I just need to keep fulfilling others' wishes!"
Rhine thought.
Besides the new items, Rhine could feel that after absorbing the wish power of numerous ordinary people and Children of Fate from the Sea Kingdom, the Sea Kingdom, and White Kingdom, the magic in his soul was now far more surging than when he left Rose Kingdom.
Vast power gathered deep within his soul, reaching a certain bottleneck, bringing him closer to a brand new, completely different stage.
"As long as I obtain another level of wish power equivalent to White Kingdom's, my magic will undergo a qualitative change, reaching a whole new realm!"
"What kind of level will it be?"
However, there was no strict hierarchy in this fantasy world, only vague titles such as Archmage and Legendary Magician.
—For example, many people called Rhine an Archmage, while Black Witch Maleficent and the Middle Eastern Witch of the Witch Society were recognized as Legendary Magicians within their organization.
Therefore, Rhine also didn't know what the new realm he was about to reach would be like.
...
"The two main targets have left the Royal City and are traveling on the eastern path! Escorted by approximately one hundred Soldiers."
In the woods, on a hillside, a lean man in a black cloak hid among the trees, watching the procession of Rhine and Aurora from afar.
A gust of wind blew, lifting the man's cloak, revealing the armor beneath and the insignia of the En De Kingdom army.
"Report the situation to Lord Maglido!"
The man turned and sharply ordered the seemingly empty forest behind him.
Behind him, in the forest that appeared to have no one, the leaves suddenly trembled, making a rustling sound.
...
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
The emerald green branches swayed, and a rustling sound came from the forest.
Maglido walked out of the bushes and approached the Eastern Witch who stood in the clearing with her back to him.
"Everything is going smoothly. I received a report from the scout: the magician Rhine and that highly skilled girl have approached the eastern border of White Kingdom and are about to leave the kingdom's territory."
"It's truly incredible. They just walked away so brazenly, and now no one can protect the Queen."
The Eastern Witch shrugged:
"Indeed, it's too smooth. It's almost like a trap. Luring us to attack the Queen."
Maglido smiled:
"At this point, whether it's a trap or not is meaningless. We've made the most thorough preparations; there's no possibility of failure."
"Yes." The Eastern Witch also revealed a hideous, terrifying smile. Her wrinkles squeezed together, making the Witch appear even more frightening.
They had made the most thorough preparations; there was absolutely no possibility of failure.
After today, both the magician Rhine and the Queen of White Kingdom would be dead!
"By the way," Maglido asked to confirm, "Have you convinced her to act?"
"I suppose I have. She herself is quite interested in the Sage of Rose Kingdom." The Eastern Witch said, "She said she would watch my actions, and if we truly couldn't handle it, she would step in to help."
Maglido smiled:
"Then I'm relieved."
The Eastern Witch snorted coldly:
"She always likes to put on airs like that. In reality, we alone are more than enough to eliminate the target; we don't need her help at all!"
After speaking, the Eastern Witch pulled out a beautifully carved gourd from her pocket and threw it to Maglido:
"Don't forget your mission."
As she threw the gourd to Maglido, the Eastern Witch showed a clear expression of heartache.
"This treasure can only be used once. I traded it from the founder of the Witch Society back then, and I've treasured it for many years, never daring to use it—it's my most prized possession!"
Maglido took the gourd and, amidst the birds' songs, smiled and departed.
His targets were the magician Rhine and Aurora!
The Eastern Witch also leaped up, flew into the air, and headed towards the sea.
Her target was the ship carrying the Queen of White Kingdom.
In this forest clearing, only the birds chirped incessantly, tirelessly singing cheerful songs.
Neither the Eastern Witch nor the magician Maglido realized that:
The scene of their meeting, conversation, exchange of items, and wild laughter was all reflected in the beautiful eyes of the singing birds.