Rober left "The Quill & Inkwell" feeling a blend of satisfaction and exhilaration. The exchange with Jacob Yasei had gone even better than expected. Not only had he gathered valuable information about the Royal Academy, but he had also gained a reliable source of information, someone who could help him access details that he couldn't directly ask the Sage System about.

He stepped out of the cozy space of "The Quill & Inkwell" taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air of Edoras. The slight chill of autumn seeped into his waistcoat, making him shiver slightly. The meeting with Jacob Yasei, the astute journalist from The Edoras Chronicle, unfolded according to plan, exceeding even his initial expectations. He obtained crucial intel on his main goal, The Royal Academy. Rober had also acquired a "partner" to access information out of reach of the Sage System. He stood on the stone-paved sidewalk, watching the busy flow of people passing by. Elegant gentlemen in three-piece suits, wearing bowler hats, carrying umbrellas or walking sticks; refined ladies in elaborate dresses, with wide-brimmed hats decorated with feathers and flowers; street vendors shouting their wares in loud voices; children playing and running in the streets... All of this created a vibrant, colorful picture of everyday life in the capital.

Rober decided not to return to the Moon Inn immediately. He wanted to take advantage of this time to begin researching the teaching staff of the Royal Academy, the people who would play a crucial role in his journey to conquer knowledge. He needed to know about them, their expertise, their personalities, and even their "hidden corners" if any, in order to best prepare for the upcoming entrance exam, and for his studies thereafter.

He raised his hand, hailing a Hansom Cab, a two-wheeled, open-top carriage, pulled by a single horse, a common form of public transport in Edoras, similar to taxis in his previous world. The shiny black cab, with its polished brass trim, pulled by a strong, dark brown horse, quickly stopped in front of Rober.

"Take me to Victoria Park" Rober said to the cabman, a middle-aged man with a gaunt, angular face and a thick mustache, carefully trimmed in the "Handlebar" style (curved upwards like bicycle handlebars). "Please go along Maple Street, then turn left at Elm Street, the park will be right on your right."

The cabman, or "cabby" as they were commonly called by the people of Edoras, nodded without a word. He gestured for Rober to get in with a jerk of his head, then snapped the reins. The dark brown horse whinnied, stamped its hooves on the cobblestone street, and began to pull the cab, merging into the busy traffic.

Rober sat in the cab, leaning back, enjoying the relaxing feeling of being transported without having to exert any effort. The steady rhythm of the horse's hooves, clop-clop, clop-clop, on the cobblestones; the creaking of the iron-rimmed wooden wheels; the sounds of people talking and laughing; the chirping of birds in the trees; the shrill whistles of vehicles; the cries of street vendors... all blended together, creating a noisy, bustling, but also vibrant street symphony, characteristic of Edoras.

He gazed at the scenery on both sides of the road. Tall buildings, built in the classic Gothic architectural style, with pointed arches, stained-glass windows, and intricate stone statues, were interspersed with structures bearing the hallmarks of the steam-powered industrial age: red copper smokestacks spewing white smoke, giant gears, pistons, and crankshafts installed on the outside of buildings, as if part of the architecture.

Shops and stalls displayed all kinds of goods, from exquisite handcrafted art, meticulously tailored fashionable clothes, carefully bound antique books, to the latest mechanical inventions, steam-powered machines and devices, advertised as being able to change people's lives.

Although he had lived in this world for nearly twenty years ever since he was a newborn baby reborn into an ordinary farming family in Windmere village, Rober still felt amazed, overwhelmed by the strangeness, uniqueness, and somewhat "chaotic" nature of this world. A world where magic existed alongside science and technology, where legendary creatures from myths could appear in broad daylight, where giant steam-powered machines could move on the streets, fly in the sky, or even dive into the deep sea.

Sometimes, Rober wondered, why did fate bring him to this world? Why did he still retain the memories of his previous life, a completely different life, in a completely different world? And why, while others seemed unaware of the existence of another world, was he gifted with the Sage System, a source of knowledge far beyond the understanding of anyone in this world?

He had spent a great deal of time and thought pondering these questions. He had devoured hundreds of books, from history, philosophy, and science books to books on religion, mythology, and even forbidden books, secretly circulated among mages. But he still couldn't find a satisfactory answer, couldn't explain his own existence, and the existence of the Sage System.

Even the System, his loyal companion, wise teacher, and endless source of knowledge, did not reveal any information about its origin or purpose. It simply answered any question asked, providing him with the most accurate, detailed, and complete knowledge, mechanically, impassively, as if it were a natural law, an obvious fact.

Gradually, Rober accepted a hypothesis, a belief, an ideal, to guide his life in this world: Perhaps his mission was to become a disseminator of knowledge, a "connector" between the Sage System and the sentient beings of this world. He would use the endless knowledge that the system provided to help people, to solve difficult problems, to explore the mysteries of the world, and to bring the light of knowledge to dark places.

He had begun to fulfill that mission even when he was in Windmere village, where he had taught reading, writing, arithmetic, and basic scientific knowledge to the village children, children who, without him, would probably never have had the opportunity to go to school. He had also helped the villagers improve their farming techniques, repair machines, and resolve disputes and conflicts.

And now, having set foot in Edoras, having the opportunity to access greater sources of knowledge, with more talented people, Rober believed even more strongly in the path he had chosen. He was determined to pass the entrance exam to the Royal Academy, the most prestigious school in the kingdom, which trained scientists, inventors, leaders, and even talented mages. He believed that it would be the ideal place for him to maximize his abilities, and to continue his mission of spreading knowledge.

During his development, in addition to exploring and utilizing the System, Rober also discovered that he possessed another unusual ability: the ability to use magical energy. At first, he could only create small effects, such as making a candle burn brighter, moving a pencil, or creating a light breeze. But thanks to the knowledge provided by the System, and through persistent practice, he gradually controlled and developed his ability.

He had studied ancient knowledge of magic, written in ancient languages, with mysterious characters, that only the System could decipher. He had practiced spells, breathing exercises, and meditation methods, to enhance his power and ability to control magical energy.

Now, Rober could use magic much more proficiently. He could create fireballs, control the wind to create whirlwinds, create illusions to deceive the eye, and even heal wounds or alleviate pain. He knew that his abilities were still very limited compared to high-level mages. But he believed that, with time, with unremitting effort, and with the help of the System, he would be able to reach higher realms of magic.

The Hansom Cab turned into a smaller, quieter street, lined with old maple trees, their lush foliage beginning to turn yellow and red, characteristic of autumn. Rober realized that he was close to Victoria Park. According to the information provided by Jacob Yasei, information he had "exchanged" for the secrets of Peter Horisderm, the area around this park was where many villas and private residences of professors, lecturers, and staff of the Royal Academy were located.

"Stop here, please, thank you" Rober said to the cabman, as the cab reached the entrance to the park.

Rober got out of the cab, taking a deep breath of the fresh, cool air of the park. He looked around, observing the houses, the luxurious villas, hidden behind rows of trees, stone walls, or elaborate wrought iron fences.

"One shilling and sixpence, sir" the cabman said, after calculating the distance and travel time.

Rober frowned slightly. One shilling and sixpence, not a small amount, equivalent to the price of a simple meal at a modest restaurant, or enough to buy a few newspapers or a couple of used books. He realized that life in the capital city of Edoras was indeed much more expensive than in Windmere village, where everything was cheap, and people could get by on just a few pennies.

He took a shilling and a sixpence from his pocket, handed them to the cabman, not forgetting to add a thank you. In his mind, a thought suddenly flashed: "Perhaps I need to find a way to earn money, to support myself here while waiting for the entrance exam to the Academy. I can't keep spending the meager savings that I brought from Windmere."