The scenery was the same.
Passing through a desolate meadow, the path underfoot gradually became soft and vibrant—in contrast to the clouds and gloom on Teacher Morgan's side, as Ian crossed the boundary, a fresh breeze rushed in, softly echoing among the fallen leaves and twigs. It was as if the horror story had transitioned into a fairy tale.
"This kind of environment cultivates the mood."
Ian heard the sound of water flowing in the forest.
He saw the giant trees standing tall and dense, their branches and leaves intertwining into a canopy of green, blocking most of the sunlight and allowing only dappled spots of light to pierce through, laying a shimmering golden carpet on the ground. Various wildflowers—red, yellow, blue—bloomed in a contest, like a fine painting unfolding before his eyes.
"There are no wild fruits to eat over at Teacher Morgan's!" Ever since Ian had eaten a Golden Apple brought back by Pandro not long ago, he had been hoping to encounter other magical fruits in the Misty Illusion Realm. Upon seeing a very tall green fruit tree, Ian climbed up without a second thought.
"This fruit color is definitely for increasing Avada skill level, Avada fruit."
Ian, who for the time being couldn't cast spells without a magic wand, clung onto the high tree, and with great effort, managed to pluck a fruit from above,
However.
After taking a bite, he spat it out repeatedly, immediately throwing away the fruit in disgust.
"This should probably be called the Bitter Bitter Fruit!" Just as he was about to climb down, Ian was surprised to find that the fruit he tossed had hit a stranger on the head.
"Huh?"
It was a young man.
As the half-eaten fruit hit his head, he was squatting down to pick up something shiny, which was a gown fragment that had fallen out from Ian's robe.
"This is something you dropped, right?"
The young man saw Ian slide down from the fruit tree and, instead of blaming him, he handed back the gown fragment he had picked up with a smile.
"Sorry, I didn't know you were down there."
Ian quickly put away the "text" given by Teacher Mara, placing it directly inside the inner pocket of his robe and hurriedly apologized to the Wanderer soul he had hit.
This was a young man much taller than Ian, with striking features and healthy tanned skin, a straight nose, and a face that seemed somewhat familiar to Ian.
Though he was certain he had never seen this soul before.
"Do you live nearby?"
While wary that the other might be a bad soul pretending to be good, Ian was also curious.
"You look very different from us, truly a unique and frightening talent."
The young man didn't immediately answer Ian's question but instead watched the little wizard in front of him with amazement. Just as Ian was pondering how to bluff or explain that he was a living person,
"I don't live here, in fact, I'm just about to set off on the next part of my journey." The young man replied to Ian's inquiry, not paying much attention to Ian's oddness. To a soul who had let go of their attachment, a living person appearing in the Misty Illusion Realm clearly wasn't much of a concern.
"I just wanted to see my mysterious aunt before leaving here." The young man's gaze fell on Ian's hand, but soon he turned to look into the distance.
"She was much more unfortunate than me once, but clearly, she has a fortunate future ahead." Another cryptic soul, with an unknown profession when alive.
"Does your aunt live nearby?"
Ian figured he might have run into a relative of Teacher Morgan.
After all, he was looking for his aunt.
"I've already seen her, so it's time to muster the courage to move forward." The young man responded with just a smile and, while turning to leave, suddenly looked back.
"By the way, little one, are you still in school?"
Despite being a soul who had resolved his attachment, stronger than Teacher Morgan, the young man still seemed curious about Ian's age.
"First year, Hogwarts."
Ian was unsure if the other was an old soul who knew about his school. Hogwarts' thousand-year history wasn't considered long on this land.
"You're indeed quite young."
The young man nodded, a slight smile on his lips.
"I can understand the budding emotions within your heart. However, if you fancy a girl very much, Amortentia is certainly not a wise choice."
"That's a crime. Azkaban will beckon to you immediately... If I were you, I would have more confidence in my exceptional appearance."
Having said that.
The young man turned around and continued walking forward without looking back.
He raised his hand in a wave.
As if bidding farewell to Ian.
In the curtain of the sky, the space warped momentarily, and a fiery bird appeared from nowhere, as if intending to accompany this man on his journey forward.
Under the green fruit tree.
Ian, utterly bewildered, didn't have time to marvel at the Phoenix that appeared in the Misty Illusion Realm.
He was stunned for a few seconds.
"Damn!"
The little wizard, with a horrified expression, pulled out Teacher Morgan's gown fragment.
"Joy Potion!?"
...
〔ps: Big debt, tomorrow, double payback〕