Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Moreover, the extent of the boost to his talent from this gift was unknown, but no matter, Durin soon greeted his third client.


Ms. Alice made a dazzling appearance, requesting a Sage's Blade from Durin, her junior.


This alchemical weapon, designed for those on the path of a Sage, was usually a combination of a rapier and a spellcasting medium. Durin had seen such an item before—since magicians and spellcasters sometimes wielded such weapons, the combinations varied widely. Durin had even seen a mithril revolver paired with a battle-axe.


It all depended on the individual and the specific path of specialization they followed as a Sage.


The path of a Sage was indeed wild, with five major specializations: Future, Ancient Days, Nature, Wasteland, and Death, with their spellcasting mediums being magic-conducting metal, Relics of the Ancient Days, magic-conducting wood, hybrid embryos, and terror-inducing bones, respectively.


Chapter 22: Savoy Fashion