Chapter 132: The Acolyte (Part 1)
"Master Rio!"
Merlin called out loudly as he stood outside the door.
"Come in."
The voice of Mage Rio sounded from within, and Merlin pushed the door open.
"Master Rio, what did you want to see me about?" Merlin asked, bowing slightly as he stepped inside, a curious expression on his face.
Mage Rio's hollow, dead-gray eyes were as unsettling as ever, though Merlin, having met him several times, could now manage to look directly at him without recoiling.
With a slight hum, Mage Rio made no immediate reply. Instead, he waved his hand, and the wall behind him lit up with densely packed runes. Merlin was startled to see that the runes contained an image—himself in the cave, battling the silver-haired elder.
"This…"
Merlin tensed, his gaze fixed on Mage Rio's grim visage.
"Heh, Merlin, there's no need to be so nervous. This was given to me by the gray-robed mages in the task hall. Since a six-element spellcaster has emerged among my students, they thought I should be informed."
Seeing Merlin's unease, Mage Rio smiled—a strained expression that, if anything, looked more like a grimace than an attempt to be friendly. The sight sent a chill down Merlin's spine.
"Purely by chance, Master…" Merlin muttered, lowering his head.
"This is no mere 'chance,'" Rio replied. "Those gray-robes believe you're throwing away any hope of reaching the first level, having recklessly constructed six zero-level spells. But I see it differently. You're not giving up; on the contrary, you'll work harder than ever to construct a first-level spell and become the first six-element spellcaster the Dark Spirit Realm has seen in centuries. Isn't that right?"
Rio's tone was grave, his blood-red third eye faintly gleaming, creating an intense pressure that seemed to fill the room.
Merlin looked deeply into his master's eyes and responded firmly, "Yes, Master Rio, I have never given up on becoming a first-level spellcaster."
"Good, very good! When I first entered the Dark Spirit Realm, I too had ambitions of constructing spells for five or six elements, but I didn't have the resolve you possess and settled at four." Rio sighed, but Merlin knew his master wouldn't summon him just to reminisce.
Indeed, Rio's tone grew more serious and tinged with excitement. "A six-element spellcaster needs a vast amount of contribution points just to obtain the right first-level spells. Time is limited, and you only have a little over two years left in the Dark Spirit Realm."
He paused, watching Merlin's unflinching expression, then continued, "First-level spells are costly, ranging from several dozen to hundreds of points. However, in a month, the Dark Spirit Realm will hold its triennial competition. I want you to represent our tower's temporary members. Given your strength, you should avoid finishing last. Do that, give me some glory before those old fools, and I'll provide you with any first-level spell you need without using any contribution points!"
"No contribution points?"
Merlin's eyes lit up. Just as Mage Rio said, obtaining even one first-level spell would require a tremendous amount of contribution points, and his time was indeed limited. Gaining spells for free would be invaluable.
Without hesitation, Merlin accepted and replied, "Thank you for this opportunity, Master."
"Ha, I know that those who end up assigned to my tower are typically the least promising talents. The others have mocked me for years because of it. This time, as long as you get a decent ranking, it'll reflect well on both of us. Moreover, this competition is a unique opportunity; the strongest mages will be watching. If you impress them, you might gain an influential mentor."
Merlin hadn't expected the competition to offer such opportunities. It appeared to be an avenue for talented spellcasters, who might have been unfairly assigned, to find suitable mentors.
"Go and prepare, then."
Clearly lacking patience, Rio waved him off, signaling that their meeting was over.
After bowing slightly and taking his leave, Merlin returned to his room. Knowing he had a month to prepare, he planned to take the competition seriously; after all, the temporary members of the Dark Spirit Realm were no pushovers. Many were close to becoming first-level mages.
Contemplating the competition, Merlin set aside his study of *Fury Flame*, as he currently lacked the mental energy required to construct a first-level spell.
"If I can successfully brew the Phantom Elixir, increasing my mental energy, then perhaps I can try constructing *Fury Flame*."
Merlin recalled the Phantom Elixir formula he'd found in the silver-haired elder's possessions. If successful, the elixir could provide a significant mental boost, enabling him to attempt constructing the first-level spell.
However, potion-making was no easy feat. Merlin hadn't attended the potion-making classes at the Dark Spirit Realm, so starting now would take time he didn't have.
"Looks like I'll need to consult Mage Hall."
Hall, a full-fledged member of Rio's tower, was known for his dedication to potion-making. With this thought, Merlin made his way down to the ground floor, where Mage Hall resided.
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"Master Hall!"
On the tower's first floor, Merlin soon located the mage, who was engrossed in his work, his head bent over a dark green, foul-smelling potion.
Without looking up, Hall muttered, "Make it quick; what do you want?"
Merlin shook his head at the unkempt, almost manic mage but remained polite as he explained, "Master Hall, I've come seeking your guidance on potion-making and certain ingredients."
Uninterested, Hall coldly replied, "If you want to study potion-making, sign up for the classes. There's no need to bother me."
But Merlin had anticipated his reaction. Turning his hand, he retrieved from his ring a blue flower with a single leaf.
"Hmm? Blue Charmer Flower? That's the main ingredient for Blue Heart Potion. Where did you get it?"
Hall's demeanor changed instantly, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he stared at the flower in Merlin's hand.
With a faint smile, Merlin replied, "I happened upon it during a recent task. Since I don't have any potion-making skills, I'd like to gift it to you, Master Hall."
Merlin knew that this rare Blue Charmer Flower would please the mage, especially given the variety of materials stored in his ring.
Sure enough, Hall, satisfied, quickly accepted the gift. His tone softened as he said, "Merlin, if you're interested in potion-making, come by for an hour each day. I'll teach you the basics."
Pleased, Merlin immediately began asking questions. Over the next few days, Mage Hall answered his inquiries with diligence. Merlin swiftly learned the fundamental steps of potion-making; though he didn't aim to master the art, he wanted to understand the process enough to create the Phantom Elixir using the precision of his Matrix.
---
Ten days later, Merlin was in a spacious room lined with long wooden tables, covered in various glass instruments, all essential for potion-making.
Gathering these basic items had cost Merlin nearly twenty contribution points at the All-Knowing Tower. A fully equipped potion laboratory would have required hundreds.
Merlin retrieved ingredients from his ring, though instead of attempting the Phantom Elixir, he prepared to make a simple "Coagulant" potion, which could stop bleeding rapidly—a recipe Mage Hall had recommended for beginners.
With the Matrix providing precise control over ingredient proportions, Merlin's potion-making would far surpass ordinary spellcasters, even those with years of training in the craft.
"Matrix, load the Coagulant Potion recipe. Follow the ingredient proportions and steps exactly."
He had preloaded the recipe into the Matrix, ensuring each step and measurement would be meticulously followed.
Just as he prepared to start, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a familiar voice: "Mage Merlin, it's Lorinka!"
"Lorinka?" Merlin furrowed his brow. She should have been busy constructing the first-level spell *Fury Flame*.
Setting his work aside, Merlin rose to answer, wondering what could have brought her here at this moment.