Chapter 4
last update2024-04-28 17:39:25

What a mistake! If he had thought about it earlier, he wouldn’t have used Frost. 

After all, Frost is just a control spell with not much power. It would have been better to use a spell like Flame Burst! Even if that guy had a magic tool that could resist magic, it wouldn’t have been easy for him to stop Flame Burst. 

Just the blast from Flame Burst would have knocked him down. The stress had made Raymond forget why he used Frost in the first place.

"Okay, this was unexpected, but Flame Burst will fix it!" Raymond told himself before casting Flame Burst. He seemed very calm this time. 

He didn't shorten the chant or gestures and just chanted his spell confidently. 

Even the way he arranged the elements spinning in his mana whirlpool was textbook. If a strict teacher saw his spell, they wouldn't find any mistakes.

"There won't be any surprises this time," Raymond thought confidently.

But the result was...

Before Raymond finished casting, he heard a sharp whistle pass by his ear. It felt like something was slicing through the air. Then Raymond felt a tingling in his shoulder before he was sent flying like a cannonball. He landed on the ground a few meters away.

At that moment, Raymond felt a hot pain on his shoulder and realized it was from the 2nd Rank spell, Tornado Whip!

But recognizing it didn’t mean he understood. After realizing it was Tornado Whip, Raymond was even more confused. 'What... What happened? How did Tornado Whip appear here?' For a moment, Raymond even thought he had chanted the wrong spell, causing a misfire.

But the situation changed quickly...

Raymond didn’t have time to get up before he heard another sharp whistle. This time, his other shoulder went numb before he was sent flying through the air again.

'What's going on?' Raymond lay on the ground, completely bewildered. He didn’t cast anything this time, so how did another Tornado Whip appear?

'No way is it...' As he gathered his thoughts, Raymond raised his face and paled. Even a bad mage couldn’t cast two wrong spells in a row like that. The only explanation was that those spells came from Caster.

No, not a 9th Rank Magic Apprentice...

The two spells Caster used were silent and quickened. 'That guy is an actual mage, and he knows at least two types of metamagic!'

At this moment, Raymond wished he could hide. 'Why didn't you just say you were a mage? And why did you have to use Tornado Whip on me twice? Are you crazy?'

Raymond couldn’t understand... When did Caster become a mage? He was just a 9th Rank Magic Apprentice a month ago, so how did he become a mage so quickly? And a mage who could easily use two types of meta magic? How incredible was that?

"How did you become a mage?" Raymond asked.

"Why not?" Caster looked at Raymond strangely, not explaining anything. He only said, "Oh right, don't forget to thank your father when we get back."

"What do you mean?" Raymond froze.

But Caster didn’t plan to answer.

If Caster hadn't thought of the old man, Raymond would have been dead the moment he cast Frost. With Caster's vigilance from surviving twenty years in the magic era, he wouldn't let Raymond cast his spell so easily.

When Caster sensed the mana fluctuation, he prepared an Icicle spell. But he hesitated. This wasn't the ruthless era he was used to. The attack wasn't meant to kill him, and Raymond's father was respected.

"Come help me," Caster commanded again, and this time, Raymond obeyed. He couldn't afford to fight a mage who could easily cast two Tornado Whips.

Raymond asked, "What do I need to do?"

"Enchant those," Caster pointed at some glass bottles.

Enchanting was easy for a mage like Raymond. Every mage had some knowledge of alchemy. It was essential for a mage's progress. Without alchemy, a mage's potential was limited.

Raymond began enchanting the bottles, skillfully. But he wondered how Caster became a mage.

As Raymond pondered, a strong smell filled the air. He realized someone had put a flame rock into a test tube.

"Oh no," Raymond realized. A flame rock in a red coral solution was dangerous. The mixture began bubbling and emitting a red light, filling the lab with chaos.

Raymond closed his eyes, knowing they were in trouble. "We're screwed," he muttered.

The lab was quiet, just the bubbles making noise. Raymond waited for something bad to happen. Then, he heard a voice.

"What are you doing?"

Raymond thought he was imagining it at first, but then realized it was real. He opened his eyes and saw Caster, safe and holding the test tube. Raymond couldn't understand why there wasn't an explosion. He felt like he didn't understand alchemy anymore.

Confused, Raymond watched Caster come closer, still holding the test tube. Raymond backed away, scared, but then reluctantly offered to help with the bottles. He regretted it right away, feeling embarrassed.

Quietly, Raymond finished the bottles and gave them to Caster. Caster poured the red stuff into the bottles carefully, then worked on other things.

Raymond watched as Caster made a Colorful potion with ease.

"How,?" He muttered. "Are you some sort of monster?"

"Let's go." Caster grabbed the three potions and left the lab.

Raymond snapped out of his thoughts about his pride. He mumbled, "Uh... Okay." But before leaving, he remembered something. When Young Master Spellbound cleaned the table, he threw the test tube with the red coral solution into the incinerator...

Worried, Raymond asked, "What about the red coral solution?"

"Don't worry, it's fine," Caster replied before Raymond could finish. Caster knew Raymond's concern, but he knew the solution wouldn't cause any trouble in the incinerator.

It wouldn't be long before alchemists figured out that the red coral solution's problem could be fixed easily. This discovery would change alchemy teaching and lead to new techniques and achievements.

Among these achievements were the three Therion Potions in Caster's pocket. They weren't exactly like Colorful Potions, but they were similar. However, Therion Potions had an added effect, making them more valuable.

Raymond was still a bit confused but quickly agreed to help Caster. He didn't want to offend him.

Caster didn't notice Raymond's politeness and focused on the three potions he took out. 

"Help me deliver these potions. This one goes to the Limelight Main Street's auction house. Tell them it needs to be sold within three days, and let them set the price. The second one is for the Sorcery Guild. I need a library pass with the highest privileges. As for the last one... do as you like."

"Okay, auction house, Sorcery Guild, and me... Do as I like?" Raymond repeated, a bit puzzled.

"Yes, you decide. Drink it, give it away, it's up to you," Caster clarified.

Raymond's hand shook slightly as he held the Therion Potions. "Isn't this too precious?"

Caster explained that Therion Potions were valuable for their ability to purify and strengthen the mana whirlpool. He thought Raymond, being a 5th Rank Mage, could benefit from it.

Raymond was surprised that he was given the last potion. Caster didn't think much of it, considering Therion Potions were common in his time. He just gave one to Raymond as a reward for helping him.

Raymond efficiently completed his tasks. On the third day, he returned to Caster with the proceeds from the auction house. Caster was satisfied with the amount, as it covered their immediate needs.

As for the Sorcery Guild, they asked Caster to visit them sometime. He accepted the request but didn't express a clear commitment.

Raymond also brought news from the Sorcery Guild, where they received the potion well. Caster accepted this information and didn't refuse their invitation.

Caster then asked for Raymond's help once more... 

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