The enchanting class had passed with nothing but practice, and Leo was now in his usual coffee shop. After sipping his coffee in silence for a few minutes, Leo noticed Ryan approaching. As always, he wore that same infuriatingly confident smile.
"You did a great job on that mission," Ryan said, sliding into the seat across from him. "Honestly, I didn't think you could pull it off."
Leo narrowed his eyes but said nothing, merely taking another slow sip of his coffee.
"So, are we done?" he asked after a moment.
Ryan shrugged. "I'll still teach you—if you want, of course."
Never one to waste an opportunity, Leo leaned forward slightly. "Then I have a few questions."
Ryan smirked. "Sure, go ahead."
"What was that spell you used on that warrior? The one that trapped him in a tree?"
Ryan's smirk grew into a knowing grin. "That? I can't tell you. It's a high-rank spell."
"As I expected," Leo muttered, unfazed. "Then let me ask something else—how many spells exist that enhance eyesight?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Enhance eyesight? Why do you ask?"
"Call it a thirst for knowledge."
Ryan considered for a moment, resting his chin on his hand. "Not many. There's the one you used when I put an illusion on you—" his tone took on a teasing edge at the mention of Leo falling for his illusion. "Then there's one from the Light path that reveals the truth, its opposite versions in Void and Shadow, one in Necromancy that allows you to see creatures of the underworld, and another in Divination."
He paused to take a sip of the coffee a waiter had just placed in front of him.
"The Divination spell is the most powerful," he continued. "To my knowledge, it can see the future, the past, and the truth itself."
Leo's interest piqued. "The future, past, and truth?"
Ryan gave a casual shrug. "I don't know much more than that. And even if I did, I couldn't tell you."
Leo wasn't interested in high-level spells—he just wanted to know if heat vision existed. From Ryan's explanation, it seemed it didn't. That meant his next step was to deepen his understanding of magic circles. He took out the items Ryan had given him.
"Here," He said, extending them back.
Ryan waved a hand dismissively. "Keep them. Consider it a reward for completing your mission. Besides, they're not that expensive."
Not wanting to refuse the offer, Leo nodded and slipped the items back into his bag.
"By the way, how was I able to contact you with Telepathy when you were at that noble's house? My Telepathy ring only has a range of a hundred meters."
Ryan smirked. "You're thinking about it the wrong way. I don't need to be within your range—my range just needs to overlap with yours. If your ring covers a hundred-meter radius and mine extends a thousand meters, as long as our circles intersect, we can communicate."
Seeing Leo's uncertain expression, he added, "Don't worry, that's a mistake most low-rankers make. Let me guess—someone below C rank explained Telepathy to you?"
Leo nodded slowly.
Ryan chuckled. "Thought so."
Satisfied for now, Leo stood up. "Then can I contact you when I need to?"
"Sure."
Leo turned to leave but stopped after a few steps.
"Oh, before I forget," he said over his shoulder, "Mr. Edgarth told me to warn you—no more trouble. If you cause another mess, he'll step in himself. And no, I didn't tell him anything."
Ryan's smirk faltered, his lips pressing into a thin line.
Leo took another two steps before pausing again.
"One more thing," he said.
Ryan glanced up. "Yes?"
"Thanks for saving Eliza's mom."
For once, Ryan's grin was genuine. "You're welcome."
This time, Leo didn't stop again—he just kept walking.
Ryan remained seated, lost in thought over Leo's last words.
"So, he knows?" A grin slowly spread across his lips.
…
Leo skimmed through Advanced Enchantments, searching for a protective spell he could use. He ignored most of the text, focusing only on what he needed at the moment.
After flipping through half the book, he found one. The spell was complex, requiring an intricate magic circle and three crystals to maintain its activation. Once set up, it could shield everything within its boundaries from external threats.
Intrigued, Leo studied its structure carefully, analyzing how the spell functioned. At the same time, he ensured his existing protection methods remained active—he wasn't about to take any risks, especially with the unknown creatures lurking in the dark.
Leo's eyes lingered on the page as he read about Shimmering Dome, a powerful defensive enchantment designed to block any attack from the outside. Its strength depended entirely on the mana crystals connected to it, but there was a clear limitation—the spell's core structure was built around a single magic circle. If too much mana was injected beyond its threshold, the spell would destabilize and burn out.
He tapped his fingers against the desk, deep in thought. To truly maximize Shimmering Dome's potential, he needed to deepen his understanding of magic circles. The second spell—required to reinforce and expand spell structures—was classified as C rank knowledge, just beyond his current grasp. While he had two defensive spells now, he knew they were only temporary solutions. Strengthening his foundation in magic circles would be crucial, but it wasn't something he could rush.
For now, he decided to move on, skimming through the rest of the book. He didn't have the luxury of memorizing every spell in detail, so instead, he focused on their names and brief descriptions, searching for something immediately useful.
As the night deepened and he reached the final pages, a particular spell caught his attention—Watcher's Bane. Unlike Shimmering Dome, which provided defense, Watcher's Bane specialized in magical concealment. It prevented divination spells, scrying attempts, and any form of magical surveillance, making it impossible for outsiders to spy on an area. Additionally, it had a secondary effect—it completely silenced the space to the outside it was cast upon, ensuring that no sound could escape.
Leo read through the spell's requirements carefully. It demanded precise inscription and a stable energy source, meaning he would need a specialized mana crystal to keep it active. Without one, the spell would fade within seconds.
Satisfied with his findings, he closed the book and leaned back, exhaling slowly. His next steps were clear. First, he needed to locate a more advanced book on magic circles to strengthen his knowledge carefully. Second, he had to gather the necessary materials to activate Watcher's Bane on the house he had recently acquired.
That meant a trip to a magic shop was unavoidable. He would need to purchase mana crystals and any other components that could enhance the spell's longevity.
With that plan settled in his mind, Leo stood up, stretched his tired limbs, and finally allowed himself to rest. Tomorrow, his work would continue, but for now, he needed sleep.
…
In an small city north of the kingdom of light, in an small bar. The tavern hummed with the low murmur of voices, the clink of tankards, and the occasional burst of laughter. Moving between the tables with effortless grace was an elf woman, her presence a rare sight in such a place. She wove through the crowd with the ease of someone who had long mastered the art of avoiding stumbling drunks and outstretched hands.
Her silver-blond hair was pulled into a loose braid that cascaded over one shoulder, a few wayward strands framing high cheekbones and piercing blue eyes that gleamed like polished Azure under the lanternlight. The pointed tips of her ears was visible, betraying her heritage, though she carried herself with confidence of someone who had long since learned to ignore the curious stares of men who weren't accustomed to seeing her kind.
Dressed in a simple, fitted bodice and a skirt slit at the sides for ease of movement, she balanced a tray of drinks with practiced ease, setting them down with a soft but firm touch. Her voice, when she spoke, was low and smooth, like the whisper of wind through ancient trees.
Once, she had lived in Niver, the second-largest city in the kingdom. But there, the treatment of elves had been harsh—cold stares, whispered insults, and the ever-present sense of not belonging. When she moved here, however, she was surprised to find the people far kinder. No one seemed to care that she was an elf and for the first time in a long while, she felt at ease.
As she moved from one table to another, balancing a tray of drinks, a figure in the corner caught her attention. Something about him made her pause. His posture was relaxed, yet his gaze carried a calm sharpness, as if he observed far more than he let on. He was dressed in a black suit—unusual attire for a place like this. He had a tall frame, blond hair, and striking features that seemed almost elven, though there was no mistaking him for one of her kind.
Curiosity tugged at her. She approached his table and set a glass of beer down before him. As was her habit, she struck up a conversation with the customer.
"Sir, are you from the Kingdom of Magic?"
The man glanced up at her, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Yes, I am. Do you get many visitors from there?"
"Yes, this is the first city past the border," she replied, then added with a polite nod, "I'm Athel."
"Valion," the man said, his smile unwavering.
Before Athel could ask more, a voice rang out from across the room.
"Athel!"
She hesitated, wanting to stay and chat with the stranger, but duty called. With a quick, apologetic smile, she stepped back.
"Excuse me, I need to get back to work," she said before turning away. "Coming!"
As she hurried off, Valion Vulpeia watched her go, his smile shifting into something darker, more calculating.
"No problem… no problem at all," he murmured, his fingers lightly tapping against the glass.
…
Leo walked toward the magic shop, the book Power Words in hand as he read. Today was Friday—his chosen rest day for the week—but even on his day off, he kept himself busy. As he walked, he discreetly cast Blur on the book, making it unreadable to those around him. It was a simple precaution, one that could save a curious onlooker from making a very unfortunate mistake.
By the time he reached the shop, he had already prepared a list in his head. He needed four mana crystals—one for Watcher's Bane and three for Shimmering Dome. He also had to pick up four crystal stands, a sturdy table for his work, a stack of papers, and a magic box to store his materials.
Inside, he headed straight for the mana crystals section. The display held a wide variety of crystals at different price points. He selected three standard ones, each costing 30 silver, and a higher-quality crystal for 50 silver. Moving on, he grabbed four crystal stands, each priced at five silver. Then he browsed the magic boxes and found one that looked ordinary but had a mana lock—perfect for securing his research materials. It cost him another 60 silvers.
To his surprise, the shop also sold tables. Curious, he walked over to inspect them.
When the shopkeeper saw the number of items Leo had already gathered, he sent an assistant over to help. A man approached and gave a polite nod. "Sir, do you need help choosing a table?"
Leo glanced at him. "Why do you even sell tables here?"
"These aren't just ordinary tables," the assistant explained, leading him to one with a golden finish, decorated with bronze gears. "Each table comes with enchantments. This one, for example, has two—Light for visibility in the dark and Hide, which conceals both the table and anything placed on it. It's only eight gold coins."
Leo frowned. "Eight gold for such simple enchantments?"
"These aren't basic enchantments, sir," the assistant said with a knowing smile. He placed his hand on the table, and in an instant, it vanished.
Leo's mana flared, breaking the effect and making the table visible again. The assistant's eyes widened in surprise.
"I need a table that folds," Leo said, smiling slightly as he crumpled the piece of paper in his pocket—the one containing the False Power spell.
The assistant quickly regained his composure and nodded. "We have two folding tables." He led Leo to a smaller, black table with an intricate system of iron gears beneath it. "This one is completely mechanical. It folds manually, no magic required. Forty silver."
Then he walked over to another table, this one bronze-colored with fewer gears. "This one has a single enchantment. You can fold it by hand or by channeling mana into it. Just lift it and inject your mana."
To demonstrate, he gripped the table's handles and lifted it. As soon as he did, the table began folding on its own. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and by the time he set it down, he was panting. "The only downside is that it's quite heavy. It's 70 silver."
Leo stepped forward, grabbed the table, and lifted it with ease. He injected his mana into it, and once again, it unfolded on its own.
"I'll take this one."
The assistant stared at him in disbelief. It was clear he hadn't expected someone so young to be this strong. But after a moment, he simply nodded and guided Leo toward the counter.