Chapter 164: The Purple Stone Powder Potion

"Alright then, with Mage Hegal on our side, Merlin's return to Selin is no real threat! All mages, prepare yourselves; we move on Pugasi City at dawn!"

With this command, Count Lungadi had made up his mind to proceed against Pugasi City. The mages left excitedly, eager to prove themselves. Lungadi had recruited six mages in total, with Hegal as the only Grade One mage; the other five were entry-level wandering mages.

Hegal's earlier comments on the Dark Arcane Ring sparked ambition among the lesser mages. Despite Hegal's clear superiority, they all longed for the ring Merlin possessed, which granted access to the Dark Arcane Order. The thought of claiming it for themselves gave their faces a new brightness.

"Mage Hegal, I'm off as well," Lungadi said, watching as the older mage turned and walked away. As he left, Hegal eyed the backs of the other mages, chuckling softly to himself. "Fools. They think they can seize a treasure from a mage trained in a spellcaster order? Even an entry-level spellcaster from such an order is stronger than most wandering Grade One mages. Without my secret advantage, I wouldn't even consider facing one head-on!"

A smirk played on Hegal's lips. "Still, they'll drain Merlin's power a bit first. When the time is right, I'll step in and secure the Dark Arcane Ring for myself…"

With a quiet laugh, Hegal departed from Lungadi's residence.

---

In the carriage, Merlin looked thoughtfully at the black ring in his hand. "So, this is the ring that drives wandering mages to madness…" he murmured. This Dark Arcane Ring, taken from Mage Neil, was the very symbol of entry into the Dark Arcane Order. During his year with the Order, Merlin had learned its rules well: without attaining Grade One status, members were considered temporary, unprotected by the Order and open to being hunted by other mages.

"Perhaps I've become a target myself. But we'll see who the real prey is."

A glint flashed in Merlin's eyes as he stowed the ring away. While it held little practical use for him at present, it remained a token with potential future value.

"Here we are, my lord," the driver announced as the carriage halted. Merlin stepped down, surveying the unchanged, somber surroundings of the black-robed elder's dwelling, which seemed more desolate than before.

He knocked gently on the door.

The elder's maid appeared and greeted him warmly. "Baron Merlin, please come in!"

Merlin entered, noting the residence's familiar, simple layout. Though mostly unchanged, there was no sign of the elder.

"Where is Mage Hil?" Merlin inquired. The maid hesitated briefly, a look of sadness crossing her face. "Upstairs. Please, follow me, Baron."

An uneasy feeling crept over Merlin. He followed the maid to a dimly lit room on the upper floor.

"Mage Hil, Baron Merlin is here to see you," she announced softly, pushing open the door.

"Merlin? He's really here? Let him in, quickly!"

The elder's voice was feeble, yet it held a note of excitement. Inside the room, Merlin found him curled in a corner, frail and ghostly pale, radiating the quiet aura of someone near death.

"Mage Hil… what happened?" Merlin asked, surprised to see the elder so withered.

Hil managed a faint smile, saying, "Bellis is to blame…"

He explained how forcing Bellis away had worsened his condition, destabilizing his spell model. Merlin felt a pang of guilt, knowing he'd once asked Hil to look after the Wilson family.

"Merlin," Hil said, gazing at him with desperate hope. "In the Dark Arcane Order, did you find any potions or recipes that can stabilize spell models?"

Merlin smiled, reaching into his pocket to produce a small vial of powder. The contents shimmered in purple hues, capturing Hil's attention immediately.

"This is Purple Stone Powder, a potion I acquired in the Dark Arcane Order. It's particularly effective for stabilizing entry-level spell models. Here, try it."

Hil's hands trembled as he took the potion, swallowing it eagerly. Merlin watched closely as the elder sat quietly, concentrating on the effects of the potion.

For two hours, Merlin waited patiently. Finally, he sensed a faint wave of mental energy from Hil. The elder's eyes shot open, filled with joy. "This Purple Stone Powder—it works! My model is still fragile, but with more doses, I might stabilize it completely!"

Hil was ecstatic, clearly feeling the immediate benefits of the potion. Though only temporary, the stability allowed him greater control over his magic, a welcome relief from his constant struggle to suppress the model's instability.

Seeing his joy, Merlin added, "This is the only vial I have with me, but I also obtained the formula for Purple Stone Powder, and I have all the ingredients necessary to make more."

He handed Hil a scroll containing the formula. Hil scanned the list of ingredients eagerly, his eyes brimming with newfound hope.

The potion recipe, unlike other rare substances in the Order, was unrestricted, so Merlin didn't need special permissions to share it. Seeing Hil's relief and excitement, Merlin was glad to have acquired it.