Bab 31: Speech Part 1

Michael heard a faint knock at the door and, from the shadow cast beneath it, knew George was on the other side. He walked over, casually opening it, only to see George standing still. Suddenly, the illusion created by the persona ring flickered and deactivated, and George collapsed into the room, clutching his ribs tightly.

"Oh my gosh, what happened to you?" Michael exclaimed, rushing to help George stand, though his small frame was barely enough to support him.

George grimaced as he straightened up. He could feel his ribs shifting painfully, like they were out of place.

Michael darted toward his bag, frantically rummaging through it until he pulled out a familiar health potion—the same kind he'd given George a few days ago.

Before he could even hand it over, George snatched the bottle and tore the lid off, chugging it down like water. Michael grabbed it back before he could finish.

"What's wrong with you?" Michael scolded. "You're only supposed to drink half!"

George wiped his mouth and raised an eyebrow, "Oh..." He remembered downing an entire bottle after the test. 'Guess I messed up.'

"Anyway, what happened to you?" Michael asked, still concerned.

"There's this barbarian kid in my class... He targeted me. A purist, I think."

Michael shook his head with a sigh, "Ah, purists... I knew letting people find out you have ties to the Emerald City Castle would be trouble. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. Now you might have a target on your back."

George sighed, shaking his head, "Well, it's not the end of the world. I just need a convincing reason for my connection to the castle—something that makes sense. If we can come up with a good cover, I might be able to shift the attention off me."

Michael's eyes lit up as an idea sparked, "What if you disguise yourself as Oz and pretend you don't even know who George Sterlinguard is?"

George gave him a flat look. "That's the fastest way to make people even more suspicious. Plus, it'll ruin the whole 'Oz knows everything' narrative. I'll think of something."

Michael shrugged, "Fair enough. Are you sure the barbarian won't come after you again?"

George rubbed his chin, thinking about how quickly Akshar could heal. "He might be an issue. But just in case..." George pulled a wrench from his pocket, "I'll keep this on me."

Michael blinked, surprised, before handing him the remainder of the potion. "And here, take another one. But seriously, use it sparingly. These aren't cheap."

George smirked, "How expensive are we talking?"

"A gold coin, last I checked," Michael said, scratching his head. "Don't worry, I'll send you a few more."

"Thought they were expensive?"

Michael sighed, "I own a castle, George."

"Right…"

A knock sounded at the door. "Sir, everything is prepared."

Michael nodded, "Alright, time for the show. How do you plan to make your entrance?"

George tore a page from his notebook, handing it to Michael. "Here's how. Just make sure it's... uh..."

"Grandiose?" Michael suggested.

"Yeah, grandiose."

The next day...

Nearly a thousand students gathered in the academy stadium, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Great Wizard. Both headmasters, Seraphina and Gideon, sat at the front. Michael sat beside them, with an empty chair reserved for Oz on his left.

"Where is Oz?" Seraphina whispered to Michael, scanning the area.

"He's here," Michael lied, patting the paper in his pocket.

Reassured, the headmasters nodded and continued to wait.

For over an hour, the stadium buzzed with excitement as performers displayed their extraordinary magic and combat skills. Though the audience was primarily there for Oz's appearance, the high-class entertainment kept their attention, as intricate acrobatics, complex spells, and masterful fighting blended seamlessly with music to enhance the spectacle.

As the final performance ended, Seraphina approached the podium, her presence commanding the room. The jade tablet glistened as she began her speech.

"The academy's rich history is full of students who graduated from this very building, becoming leaders, professionals, and conquerors. None of this would be possible without the foundation of Emerald City, laid by none other than the Great Wizard himself."

She stepped down, signaling the moment everyone had been waiting for. But instead of Oz, Michael ascended the stage.

"I don't remember Oz being a monkey," a student whispered from the crowd.

"Shoosh! That's Sir Michael!" another scolded.

Even the headmasters exchanged puzzled glances but remained silent, unsure of what was happening.

Michael reached into his pocket, pulling out the page George had given him. His eyebrows shot up as he read the words, but there was no time to question it.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" he began, his voice booming across the stadium. "I present to you the Greatest Wizard the world has ever known—the Greatest Wizard this universe has ever had! The ONE and ONLY Great Wizard of Oz!"

At that moment, as planned, the stadium was plunged into darkness. A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes focused on Michael, the single spotlight illuminating him.

For a brief second, the light flickered out, leaving the entire arena in pitch black. When it flicked back on, the audience gasped.

There, standing on the stage, seemingly having appeared out of thin air, was the Great Wizard Oz himself.

No one had sensed a single flicker of mana. No spell had been cast. Yet, he stood before them, larger than life.

The students, staff, and even the headmasters rose from their seats, mouths agape in astonishment.