It was the kind of reaction that told me these spells weren’t just rare—they carried something more.
"Did I make a mistake?" The thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t let it linger. Mistakes were only mistakes if you didn’t calculate the risk. Instead, I tilted my head slightly and met her gaze.
"You hesitated," I said plainly. "Why?"
The woman sighed softly, tapping her fingers against the wooden counter. "I didn’t think anyone would actually pick these spells."
"Why is that?" I pressed, my curiosity growing. If these spells were that powerful, why had no one taken them before me?
"They’re old," she said. "Ancient, in fact. The kind of spells that don’t follow the usual principles of magic."
I raised an eyebrow at that. "And that means?"
She exhaled, as if trying to decide whether I was worth explaining this to. Then, after a brief pause, she gestured toward Eye-Blood Aura.
"Spells today are refined," she said. "Mages have spent centuries improving the way we cast magic, making it more efficient, more controlled.
But ancient spells? They follow different rules—rules that most modern mages don’t understand. Eye-Blood Aura isn’t just a counter-tracking spell. It’s tied to your own life force. The stronger your magic, the more vitality it drains to mask you. That’s why mages don’t use it. The cost outweighs the benefit for most."
I nodded slowly, processing the information. A spell that could make me disappear from magical detection at the cost of my own life force. A dangerous trade, but one I was willing to make if it meant keeping my enemies off my trail.
Then, the woman tapped Cursed Crimson Globe, her fingers lingering on the cover as if weighing whether she should speak.
"This one is different," she said, her voice quieter. "Most summoning spells bring forth something tangible—a creature, an element, a force.
But this… this is a curse in physical form. It doesn’t just mark your enemy—it marks you, too. If your opponent is weak, they won’t notice. But if they’re strong, they’ll sense the link and trace it right back to you. That’s why no one uses it. It’s not a spell for someone who wants to stay hidden."
I considered her words carefully. She wasn’t wrong—both spells had severe drawbacks.
But at the same time, they were exactly what I needed. A spell to vanish when needed, and a spell to mark my enemies while forcing them to react to me.
I smirked slightly. "And yet, they’re still here. Which means someone believed they were worth keeping."
The woman studied me for a moment before giving a small nod. "Some knowledge is too dangerous to be lost."
I reached into my pouch and retrieved the necessary magic stones. "Then I’ll take them."
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking the payment. "Just be careful," she said. "These spells don’t forgive mistakes."
I let out a small chuckle, turning to leave. "Neither do I."
With that, I stepped out of the shop, my new books in hand, ready to begin unraveling their secrets.
-
I stood outside the Resting Nest, scanning the building with a discerning eye. The inn was located within the Redglass Magic Society District, surrounded by other establishments tailored to mages—alchemy shops, scroll merchants, and artifact appraisers. It had an air of quiet sophistication, a stark contrast to the noisy and crowded inns in the ordinary districts of the city.
I had considered staying elsewhere—perhaps a place where fewer magic users resided, somewhere cheap and unassuming. But after weighing my options, I decided that the security and peace of mind offered in a mage-exclusive district outweighed the extra cost. If nothing else, it was far less likely that I’d be poisoned here.
Steeling myself, I stepped inside.
The interior was warm, illuminated by floating lanterns imbued with soft magical light. The faint scent of old books and enchanted herbs lingered in the air, mixing with the aroma of freshly cooked food from a kitchen tucked somewhere out of sight. A few mages were scattered around the common area, sipping tea or engaged in quiet discussions about magical theory.
Behind the wooden counter stood a man who immediately caught my attention. He wasn’t particularly tall or intimidating, but there was something about him that made me pause. He had a neatly trimmed beard, and a deep blue mark stretched across his left eye like ink permanently stained into his skin. He observed me with a neutral expression before giving a slight nod, acknowledging my presence.
I approached the counter. "I’d like a room," I said simply.
The innkeeper studied me for a moment before responding. "For how long?" His voice was calm, measured.
"What’s the rate?"
"One gram of magic stone per three days," he answered. "Includes three meals per day. If you plan to stay for a full week, it’s two grams."
I considered the offer. The price wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t outrageous either. The meals included were an added bonus—something I wouldn’t have to worry about while focusing on my studies.
"Fine," I said, reaching into my pouch. I pulled out two grams of magic stone and placed them on the counter. The innkeeper didn’t react, merely collecting the payment before reaching under the desk and retrieving a key.
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"Room is on the second floor, third door to the left," he said, sliding the key toward me.
I took it without another word, but before I could turn away, the innkeeper added, "No disturbances are tolerated here. Keep your magic use inside your room to a minimum, and if you need a practice space, the guild rents out rooms for spell testing."
I nodded, appreciating the warning. "Understood."
With that, I left the counter and made my way up the wooden staircase, Sacril following closely behind. The steps creaked slightly under our weight, but the place felt sturdy—well-maintained.
When I reached my room, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. It was simple, but clean. A wooden bed with soft linens, a small writing desk, and a bookshelf lined with a few basic tomes on magical etiquette and city regulations. A window overlooked the quiet streets of the Magic Society District, and I could see faint traces of magical energy lingering in the air outside, a sign of spells being cast in nearby buildings.
I set my bag down, stretching slightly as I exhaled. This place would serve well as a temporary base. Somewhere I could plan my next steps without having to constantly watch my back.
I turned to Sacril, who had already made himself comfortable on the floor, his large form taking up a considerable portion of the room. He yawned, curling his tail around himself.
"Looks like we’ll be staying here for a while," I muttered, more to myself than to him.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, allowing myself a brief moment to relax before turning my thoughts to what needed to be done next. My first priority was studying the books I had just purchased. If I could master Eye-Blood Aura, it would give me the means to slip away from potential pursuers. And Cursed Crimson Globe... well, that spell would take time, but if I could understand its workings, it might give me an edge in battle.
Beyond that, I needed more spells—offensive, defensive, and especially mobility-enhancing magic. Staying in one place too long was dangerous. The more I could do to ensure I had ways to escape, the better.
For now, though, I would settle in. Rest, eat, and prepare. Because once I started delving into these spells, there would be no turning back.
As I stepped into the room assigned to me, I took a moment to survey my surroundings.
The size was more generous than I had anticipated—at least forty square meters.
It wasn’t extravagant, but it was well-furnished and suited my needs perfectly.
A wooden table sat near the window, its surface smooth and polished, while a large bookshelf covered nearly an entire wall, filled with books I had yet to examine.
The bed, a two-person-sized king bed, was set against the far end of the room, its sheets crisp and clean.
The presence of a private bathroom was an unexpected luxury. It was rare to find such accommodations in ordinary inns, but considering this was part of the Redglass Magic Society, it made sense that the standards would be higher.
I glanced at Sacril, who had already made himself comfortable on the floor near the bed, stretching out his large form. He let out a soft, satisfied growl, his tail flicking lazily.
"Better than expected," I commented aloud, walking further inside and setting down my belongings.
"At least I won’t have to worry about waking up in a rat-infested hole."
The furnishing was sturdy, well-made, and not overly extravagant, which I appreciated.
What caught my attention more than anything, however, was the subtle presence of magical energy lingering in the air.
This place was protected.
A faint, almost imperceptible aura of security magic covered the walls, likely a barrier spell designed to prevent unauthorized entry.
That alone made me feel at ease—not that I feared anyone sneaking up on me, but knowing that breaking in here would require actual effort meant I could afford to lower my guard a little.
Still, it wasn’t perfect. Nothing ever was.
I ran my fingers across the bookshelf, feeling the wood beneath my fingertips.
Sighing, I removed my cloak and tossed it onto the bed before unfastening my leather tunic.
My body ached slightly from the constant traveling, and I could still feel the dull remnants of pain from my shoulder wound, though it was healing well enough.
I needed a proper wash.
Without another thought, I stepped into the bathroom, turned the brass knob, and let the warm water flow.
The sensation of clean water cascading over my body was refreshing,
For a brief moment, I allowed myself to simply exist.
No battles. No conspiracies. No worrying about being hunted or manipulated.
Just warm water, clean air, and silence.
Once I was finished, I stepped out, dried myself, and changed into a fresh set of clothes. I felt lighter, more awake, and most importantly, ready to get to work.
I sat down at the desk, pulled out the first book I had purchased, and placed it in front of me.
Elemental Change and Quality of Magic Theories.
I had chosen this book specifically because I needed to refine my control over elemental integration. The battle with the Deadtree Walker had proven that simply conjuring raw magic wasn’t always enough—I needed versatility. I had already experimented with integrating fire particles into my energy bolts, but that was a crude, inefficient method. If I wanted to refine my technique, I needed proper knowledge.
I scanned the introduction quickly, picking out key terms:
-
Elemental Infusion: The process of blending raw magic energy with elemental properties.
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Quality Transformation: The refinement of infused elements to increase efficiency.
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Energy Stabilization: The key factor in preventing magical backlash when mixing different elements.
I took a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be easy, but that was expected. I didn’t come here looking for simple tricks—I came to Redglass Mountain City to learn, to grow.
The night stretched on as I immersed myself in the study of elemental refinement.
Every now and then, I paused, digesting the information, visualizing how I could apply it to my own spellcasting. This book alone wouldn’t be enough—I would need to experiment, test these theories in practical applications.
At some point, I reached for my second book, Unorganic and Golem Creation and Theories.
This was another field I had taken interest in, albeit for different reasons. Summoning magic, or at least the creation of autonomous constructs, had intrigued me since my battle with the Tentacle Mage. Having something that could fight for me, even temporarily, could be the difference between life and death.
Compared to the first book, this one was slightly more straightforward.
The core concept revolved around using magical energy to give temporary ‘life’ to inanimate materials, turning them into servants that followed basic commands.
However, the complexity came from the materials used, the power source, and the limitations of control.
I flipped through a few chapters, noting the sections on different types of golems—clay, stone, metal, and even theoretical crystal constructs.
With the right materials and enough magical energy, I could, in theory, create a temporary guardian or an extra set of hands in battle.
I couldn’t help but smirk. Now this... this is something worth learning.
A yawn escaped me before I realized how much time had passed.
I closed the books, stacking them neatly on the table before leaning back in my chair.
Tonight had been productive.
Tomorrow, I would start applying what I had learned.