In fact, just as the Northern Witch had divined, Rhine had indeed fallen into the Emerald City, located in the heart of Oz Country.
When Rhine fell there, he didn't immediately realize he had arrived in the Emerald City.
—This city was not, as rumored, built from emeralds of a brilliant green.
In fact, it was no different from any other city.
After landing, Rhine first took out his crystal ball and divined the circumstances of Aurora, Pinocchio, Maleficent, and the Eastern Witch.
As always, the divination concerning Maleficent yielded no results, but the divinations for the others all worked normally.
After confirming that the Eastern Witch was dead and that Pinocchio and Aurora were safe, Rhine temporarily relaxed.
He saw the Munchkins hailing Aurora as a hero, and he saw Aurora and Dorothy, two girls, approaching the Emerald City together.
"It's a pity I've never personally been to Oz Country before and am unfamiliar with it, so I can't directly teleport to Aurora's side."
Rhine sighed.
He decided to simply stay in the Emerald City for a few days and wait for Aurora and Dorothy to arrive.
Only then did Rhine have time to observe his surroundings.
He noticed many people wearing green glasses walking past him.
"Everyone is wearing green glasses!"
"As expected of the Emerald City."
Rhine knew that, according to the original story, this city ruled by Oz had nothing special about it. But Oz required everyone in the city to wear green glasses.
Thus, in everyone's eyes, it appeared to be a beautiful, emerald-green city, built of emeralds.
This made everyone believe that Oz was a powerful Grand Sorcerer.
Only a magical sorcerer could build such a dreamy Emerald City!
"Speaking of which, it's been 11 years since Oz the Magician left the Rose Kingdom and came to this land, being mistaken for a Grand Sorcerer."
"So many years have passed in a blink of an eye. The circus performer of yesteryear has, by a strange twist of fate, become a king."
"Since I've come to Oz Country, why not go to the palace and find Oz himself?"
Rhine believed that Oz would surely remember him, the Sage of Rose Kingdom.
Although Oz couldn't use magic, he was still the King of this land.
If he could get his help and support, finding Maleficent, who had also fallen into Oz Country, would surely be much easier.
Thinking this, Rhine walked in the direction of the palace.
"I don't know where Maleficent is currently hiding in Oz Country. It would be best to find her and kill her before this Black Witch recovers her full power!"
"Otherwise, dealing with her on land would definitely be difficult."
As Rhine walked, he attracted too much attention because he wasn't wearing glasses and was discovered by a group of Soldiers.
"How can you not wear glasses? That's so undisciplined!" A Soldier stopped Rhine.
"Do you know? You'll go blind like this!" another Soldier reprimanded, "The Emerald City is too bright and dazzling."
"Didn't the Soldiers guarding the gate ask you to wear glasses when you entered?" the third Soldier said, "I know, you must be a disobedient fellow who snuck in!"
Rhine was quite helpless and explained:
"I fell from the sky. A magical spell sent me to this city."
The Soldiers looked at each other, all showing expressions that said, "Who are you trying to fool?"
"Oh, and I'm a sorcerer," Rhine added.
The Soldiers scrutinized him and found that the boy in front of them was indeed wearing a green (it was actually white, but they were all wearing green glasses) sorcerer's robe, only it had been stained with dust upon landing.
"Then your crime is even worse!" the Soldiers said.
"Don't you know? Great Oz has ordered that no sorcerer is allowed into the Emerald City unless they have his special permission!"
"I never knew such a thing," Rhine shrugged.
Apparently, the original story didn't have this rule.
"Why would Oz not allow sorcerers into his city?" Rhine wondered, suspecting a deep reason behind it.
"This rule is posted at the city gate! Any sorcerer, or anyone claiming to be a sorcerer, who wishes to enter the city must first report to Great Oz and receive his special permission to enter. Can't you open your eyes and look?" The Soldiers were quite annoyed.
Rhine spread his hands:
"As I said, I fell from the sky. How could I have seen the notice at the city gate?"
Facing this outsider who had violated two major rules simultaneously, the Soldiers sighed, feeling quite helpless.
They acted impartially and arrested Rhine, taking him to a small room.
It was dark and cold, with nothing inside.
Rhine offered no resistance throughout, as he had a better way to escape.
A Soldier instructed Rhine:
"Lawbreaker, you stay here for now. My comrade and I will go to the city gate and get a spare pair of glasses. Only with glasses on will you be allowed to walk around the streets."
Another Soldier said:
"Of course, if you truly are a sorcerer, even with glasses, you cannot just wander around the Emerald City. We will consult Oz to see if he allows you, a sorcerer, to stay in the Emerald City. If Great Oz does not agree, we will have no choice but to expel you."
Rhine nodded, indicating his willingness to abide by the rules of the Emerald City.
Before leaving, the Soldier officer picked up a form and finally asked:
"By the way, what's your name? We need to record your name and origin."
"My name is Rhine, a sorcerer from the Rose Kingdom, outside of Oz Country, in the West," Rhine answered truthfully.
"Alright." The Soldier officer had just picked up his pen, intending to record the lawbreaker's name, when his gaze suddenly froze, and his pupils dilated.
"Wait, what did you say your name was? And what kingdom are you from? And you're a sorcerer?" The Soldier officer anxiously wanted to confirm.
"My name is Rhine, a sorcerer from the Rose Kingdom," Rhine repeated.
Upon hearing this, the Soldiers burst into laughter.
One of the fattest Soldiers clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he couldn't close his mouth.
"That's truly a funny joke. Alright, alright, let's not waste any more time. Tell us your real name and origin." The Soldier officer completely dismissed Rhine's words as a joke, picked up his pen, and asked again.
Rhine's mouth twitched twice, vaguely guessing a certain possibility.
"I'm telling the truth. Why do you think I'm joking?" he asked.
"Alright, stop this boring joke," the officer became serious.
Everyone said in unison:
"In the Emerald City, everyone knows that Rhine of the Rose Kingdom is Great Oz's teacher. He taught Great Oz magic!
"Eleven years ago, the Great Sorcerer Oz bid farewell to this teacher and came to this land."