The most powerful wizard in the magic world

His heart was full of anticipation, but the chilly atmosphere around him made him feel a little uneasy. In this mysterious and slightly gloomy land, no one could predict what would happen next.

Suddenly, he was stunned by the scene in front of him. Three wizard apprentices were sitting around an ancient stone tablet, concentrating on studying the runes on it. Gerlin quietly approached and hid behind a nearby tree. Although his instinct urged him to leave, out of curiosity, he decided to observe quietly.

"Have you heard of that legend?" A tall apprentice suddenly spoke up, his voice clear and charming. "It is said that if we can decipher the secret of this stone tablet, we can find the legendary forbidden magic."

"Don't be silly, Milo." Another apprentice, who was shorter and fatter, retorted with a frown, "Forbidden magic is so dangerous, how dare we try it? Last time we were almost caught by that black civet cat, it's really not worth the risk."

Milo curled his lips, as if he thought his companion was being too cautious. "But, think about it, if we can master that kind of magic, there will be endless possibilities in the future! We can even... surpass our mentor!"

"You're dreaming!" the third apprentice interrupted eagerly, with worry in his eyes. "We shouldn't put ourselves in danger. Even if forbidden magic really exists, it is definitely not an area we can get involved in."

Milo disagreed, with a mocking smile on his face: "Are you satisfied with being a mediocre wizard apprentice? We are here to gain power, not to avoid danger!"

The atmosphere between the three people gradually became tense, and Gerling quietly moved his position to better hear their argument. He could feel that this conflict was like a flame that was about to explode, which could cause unpredictable consequences at any time.

"If you really want to try, I don't mind going with you," the short and fat apprentice finally said, with a hint of hesitation and uneasiness in his tone. "But I will oppose all this with all my strength."

"I'd better not get involved in this." The third apprentice said bitterly, "I don't want to bear this crime. If something really goes wrong, who can be held responsible?"

Milo's expression gradually changed, anger burning in his eyes. "What are you afraid of? Are you going to give up the opportunity to pursue power just because of your mentor's warning?"

Gerling's heartbeat gradually accelerated as he witnessed all this. He knew that if these apprentices really decided to take the risk, the consequences would be very bad. The purpose of his trip was to find the lost ancient books, but now he felt a special sense of responsibility.

"Sorry to bother you." He deliberately let his voice reveal a hint of nervousness, and suddenly walked towards the three apprentices, causing them to turn around in surprise.

Milo stumbled a step, then quickly regained his composure and looked at Gerlin. "Who are you?"

"My name is Gerlin, an apprentice, and I'm currently exploring this secret realm." He tried to keep his voice calm, despite feeling a little nervous. "I heard you mention forbidden magic, and you seemed very interested."

"Do you have any objection, Gerling?" The tall Milo narrowed his eyes, just letting go of his hostility. Obviously, he was curious about the apprentice who suddenly appeared.

"I think forbidden magic involves things that are beyond our control." Gelling decided to speak frankly, and he didn't want to hide his views. "There's nothing wrong with pursuing power, but if we don't know what we're doing, the consequences can be terrible."

"But how can we understand unless we try it ourselves?" Milo's eyes were sharp and provocative.

"There are many things that can be learned and studied without having to practice them," Gerling said, trying to ease the tension. "I don't want you to get hurt, especially in a place like this."

The short and fat apprentice raised his head and looked at Gerlin, seeming to consider his words for a moment. "Are you saying that we should give up all this? Isn't this too simple?"

"It's not about giving up, but choosing a wiser path." Gerling said firmly, trying to transform himself from a quiet observer to a more active role. "We can decipher this stone tablet together and see if we can find other secrets, instead of pursuing forbidden methods."

"You have a point." The third apprentice spoke slowly, with a thoughtful look. "We can interpret this stone tablet first, and then decide on the next course of action."

Although Milo was still unconvinced, he did not refuse immediately. "So, are you really interested in this, Gerling?"

"Of course." His expression was serious and somewhat expectant. "This stone tablet must contain ancient knowledge. If we can unlock its secrets, we may be able to find a safer source of power."

The three apprentices looked at each other, as if evaluating this unexpected companion. Milo finally nodded and motioned for everyone to continue. They sat back around the stone tablet and carefully observed the runes on it.

"These runes are a bit obscure and difficult to understand." The short and fat apprentice grasped the edge of the stone tablet and tried to check it. However, his expression could not hide the sense of loss on his face.

"Let me see!" Gerlin took a step forward, his eyes sparkling, trying to find clues from the runes. He slowly ran his fingers across the surface of the stone tablet, revealing deep lines that seemed to be telling him a distant story.

"I think some runes represent basic elements." Gerlin began to analyze, "Fire, water, wind, earth... There is a certain balance between them."

Milo tilted his head slightly, surprised at Gerlin's observation. "And then? How are these elements related to forbidden magic?"

"Perhaps there is a deeper connection between these elements." Gerlin's thoughts raced, and the ancient legends he had learned kept flashing in his mind. "Forbidden magic often goes against the laws of nature. We must first clarify the nature of these elements and find their true application."