Chapter 823
Anton, Anders, Anna, and the newly assigned wizard from Ormunda—Cormanur, a Supre Rank mage—returned to Rendindura after a brief respite at the Rose Manor. Following a single day of rest, they resud their journey.
Before their departure, Anders warned Anton and Anna to prepare themselves. There was a strong possibility that many of the kingdoms they would pass through had already fallen into ruin.
Over the following days, Anton found himself deeply appreciative of Cormanur’s presence. The elderly wizard proved to be an exceptionally generous teacher, guiding both Anton and Anna through the finer chanics of wizardry. As they traveled, Anton’s Valkyrie dealt with any hostile creatures, leaving the group largely unoccupied. Cormanur naturally assud the role of instructor, while Anders listened alongside them.
When Anton and Anna expressed their gratitude, Cormanur dismissed it with quiet humility, stating that it was only proper to guide young and promising wizards.
Despite this, Anton felt a asure of embarrassnt. His knowledge of fundantal wizardry was lacking—far behind Anna, who had been formally educated at Ormunda’s magic academy ever since they arrived in Ormunda. Fortunately, Cormanur began with the basics, which proved invaluable to Anton. Even Anna, despite her formal training, found his instruction illuminating. His explanations went beyond theory, offering clarity and depth that formal education had not fully provided.
Cormanur focused on practical knowledge. He taught them the etiquette expected of wizards across different kingdoms—how those of lower rank should conduct themselves before their superiors, how to interact with influential families within magical organizations, and how to properly collaborate on research, including the distribution of credit. These lessons, broadly applicable across regions, were particularly valuable to Anton, who intended to leave the Gale Continent in the future.
Each night, as they made camp, Anton provided entertainnt through light-hearted films. Even Cormanur admitted that traveling with them was unusually comfortable. Like Omatee before him, the old wizard rested within the small wooden house Anton carried for his father.
The Sunder family had refined the art of travel. Since fleeing from the undead at the beginning of their journey, Anton had created nurous magical tools to improve their quality of life. His Frozen Orb Air Conditioner regulated temperature, while his Fire Wall stove provided warmth and served as a reliable ans of cooking—though cooking was rarely necessary, as all of them possessed extensive supplies of prepared food within their spatial storage.
Equally significant was their sense of security. Though each of them was capable of defending themselves, their camp was constantly guarded by Anton’s powerful summons. This allowed them to rest without concern, creating an atmosphere that felt almost like ho.
Anton’s vast collection of films and television shows further alleviated any monotony. At Anna’s insistence, they began exploring a wider range of genres. Eventually, Anton decided to introduce them to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though his own familiarity with it was limited, he resolved to watch the series in its proper narrative order, following a list he had found on the internet.
One evening, before beginning, Anton presented an introductory video explaining the concept of superheroes—their origins on Earth and their cultural significance. To his relief, his audience found the idea intriguing rather than absurd.
Cormanur, in particular, was fascinated by the notion that such concepts had erged from a world devoid of magic. That a civilization without arcane power could imagine wizardry and superhuman abilities struck him as remarkable.
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Anna enthusiastically elaborated, describing the boundless creativity of Earth’s storytellers. She referenced works Anton had previously shown them, including Avatar and Star Trek, emphasizing the sheer scale and ambition of those narratives.
What intrigued them all was the nature of Earth itself. Unlike their own world, it relied entirely on technological advancent rather than magic. This necessity had driven innovation to extraordinary levels, producing tools and systems that seed almost miraculous to them.
On the night Anton began the Marvel films, he carefully prepared by saving a list detailing their narrative order. The first film he chose was Captain Arica: The First Avenger.
Anton enjoyed the film, but it was clear that the others were less impressed. They found Captain Arica’s abilities underwhelming. Anton reminded them that the story took place in a world without magic, where even modest enhancents were considered extraordinary.
After the viewing, their discussion focused less on the protagonist and more on the technological elents depicted in the film. Cormanur, Anna, and Anders expressed disappointnt at the limited scope of the character’s power. In response, Anton explained that the Marvel Universe encompassed a wide range of characters, many of whom possessed abilities far exceeding what they had just witnessed—so rivaling even Divine Rank wizards.
He offered examples, ntioning powerful mutants such as Franklin Richards, who could manipulate reality and create entire pocket universes, as well as cosmic entities like the Living Tribunal and Molecule Man. He refrained from delving into even more abstract beings, whose power bordered on incomprehensible.
In truth, Anton’s knowledge was superficial, largely gathered from brief research. Nevertheless, it was sufficient to shift their perspective. Their skepticism gave way to curiosity, and they beca more willing to continue exploring the Marvel films alongside him.
Over the next several nights, Anton continued watching Marvel films alongside Anders, Anna, and Cormanur. They went through titles such as Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Although Anton had not seen most of them in full, he was not entirely unfamiliar with their content. Fragnts of these films had reached him before—through television programs and short clips on popular dia platforms—so he generally knew what to expect.
Despite their occasional absurdity and, at tis, shallow storytelling, Anton found the films consistently engaging. He enjoyed them without reservation. He was aware, however, that his enthusiasm stemd from sothing more personal. The films appealed directly to his long-standing desire to beco a superhero—to wield power, to stand above others, to shape events. It was, in many ways, a remnant of youthful idealism, the kind often associated with adolescent fantasies of being an otaku who suffered from eighth-grade syndro. He understood that such passions might fade with ti, but that concern belonged to a future version of himself.
In the present, he found only one regret: that he had not begun watching these films earlier. Had he done so upon arriving in this world, the creativity and imagination displayed by these fictional heroes might have influenced his developnt, perhaps even inspiring new approaches to his spellcasting.
As for the others, they, too, were entertained—though not in the sa way. Anton noticed that Anders and Cormanur, likely due to their age and experience, regarded the films as simplistic, almost childlike in nature. They voiced no complaints, however. While the narratives appeared exaggerated from their perspective, the sheer inventiveness of the concepts—particularly those rooted in technology—was enough to hold their interest.
After eight days of travel, they arrived at another kingdom. Like the ones before it, it had been reduced to ruin by the Undead Coalition. They did not linger. None of them wished to dwell on the devastation any longer than necessary.
To Anton, Rendindura had begun to resemble a post-apocalyptic land. Even so, he continued to cast his Blizzard spell, allowing it to dissolve into Mana Rain. Though modest in effect, it aided in restoring plant life, offering the land a small asure of renewal.
Their journey toward ndi continued.
During the day, Cormanur dedicated several hours to instructing Anton and Anna, with Anders quietly observing. These lessons typically lasted around three hours. Afterward, they would share a al and rest. The carriage, enhanced by Anton’s magic, provided a level of comfort that made even midday sleep effortless.
At night, they established camp. Anton summoned nurous guardians to secure their surroundings, ensuring complete safety. Once dinner was finished, they would once again turn to films for entertainnt, watching until fatigue overtook them.
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