Chapter 178: Changes in the Bell Pendant

Merlin and Hill returned to Brunton's residence. Eager to start brewing the Purple Stone Potion to stabilize his spell model, Hill quickly excused himself, retreating to his quarters. Merlin, too, had acquired materials for the Blueberry Potion and saw no reason to delay. He returned to his room to begin.

Brewing the Blueberry Potion had become second nature to him. He'd even refined his control over the heating stages, increasing his success rate significantly.

***

Three days later, Merlin completed the last batch. His success rate had noticeably improved; out of nine portions of Blueberry Potion materials, he'd successfully brewed four vials—far better than his first attempt.

After consuming these four doses, Merlin felt a substantial increase in his mental power. He sensed he might soon be ready to attempt constructing a third level-one spell. However, knowing how complex spells like "Ice Solidification" and "Dark Light Domain" were, he decided to hold off for now. His mental energy needed a little more fortification to handle such intricate models. Since he already possessed a defense and an offensive spell, there was no rush to construct another right away.

Merlin left his room, stepping outside to enjoy the day. The sky was clear, and the sunlight was warm and gentle, casting a cozy glow over the courtyard.

"Ah, Mage Merlin!" Brunton, lounging comfortably in the yard, greeted him with a smile.

"Is Mage Hill still busy inside?" Merlin asked, glancing toward Hill's quarters, noting the closed door.

Brunton gave a knowing sigh, glancing at Hill's room. "Hill has struggled with instability in his spell model for years. Now that he has a potion to stabilize it, he's fully committed to brewing enough doses. With the amount of Purple Stone I provided him, it'll likely take him at least half a month before he's finished."

Merlin nodded thoughtfully. "I'd like to explore Floating City a bit, to see what it has to offer."

Brunton chuckled. "Floating City is quite the place—I'd be happy to accompany you and give you a proper tour."

"Thank you, Mage Brunton." Merlin accepted the offer, knowing that having Brunton's guidance would save him time and offer valuable insight into the city.

The two then left the courtyard and made their way out into the city.

***

Dressed in his black robe, Merlin strolled down Floating City's streets alongside Brunton. The city lay shrouded in mist each morning, but as the sun rose, it gradually burned away the fog. Now, with the sunlight peeking through, many mages had set up stalls displaying an assortment of unusual items—alchemical materials, casting tools, and even some basic spells up for trade.

Merlin scanned the offerings but found them rather ordinary—low-quality alchemical ingredients, simple casting tools, and a few basic spells. Even the level-one spells were quite common. Seeing this, Merlin couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

Brunton noticed and chuckled. "Mage Merlin, these stalls mostly belong to novice mages or level-one mages, the wanderers. They're simply looking to trade for elemental stones. Occasionally, you might stumble upon a hidden gem here, but that's rare. If you're looking for quality, I can take you to see the real treasures."

Intrigued, Merlin nodded, following Brunton through the city until they arrived at a three-story building resembling a small castle.

"This is the Silver Tower," Brunton said. "Inside, you'll find quality alchemical ingredients, casting tools, and advanced spells. I think you'll be pleased."

As they entered, Merlin noticed that most of the patrons were level-one mages, many of whom wore robes inscribed with protective runes. Although these robes weren't as formidable as the ones given to Dark Spirit Domain members, they were certainly on par for most wandering mages—after all, owning even a single enchanted item was a luxury.

A woman with long, brown hair approached them. She wore a low-cut, open-collar dress that revealed a generous expanse of fair skin. "How may I assist the two esteemed mages today?" she asked in a soft, pleasant voice.

Brunton, unfazed, responded evenly, "Show us around."

The woman smiled, unbothered by Brunton's coolness. "Very well, I'll begin with our selection of casting tools."

She led them through the hall, and Merlin quietly asked Brunton, "She's a mage too?"

Brunton nodded. "Indeed. Only mages are permitted in here. Surprised? While it may seem unusual, many wanderers dream of joining the Silver Tower. Once a member, they receive an endless stream of resources—spells, enchanted items, potions—comparable to what formal mages receive in established mage guilds."

Merlin was genuinely astonished. It was rare for non-affiliated mages to receive benefits rivaling those of formal guild members. Even he, a temporary member of the Dark Spirit Domain, would have to reach level-one mage status within three years to be officially accepted.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, they reached the second floor, where casting tools of all kinds filled the hall. Only a few mages were present, each accompanied by an assistant like the woman, who explained the various tools available.

"Perhaps this wand would interest you?" the assistant suggested. "It allows for a wider casting range, turning even single-target spells into multi-target attacks within a small area."

Merlin, unimpressed, continued browsing, prompting the assistant to showcase the next item, "And how about this robe? It features three rune arrays capable of withstanding level-two spell attacks. It was designed to mimic the robes of formal members of a secretive organization known as the Dark Spirit Domain. Wearing it would grant you protection akin to their official members."

This caught Merlin's interest. The robe, though similar in appearance to those worn by Dark Spirit Domain members, likely differed in its rune arrays. Still, it seemed robust enough to withstand most level-two spells.

"How much for this robe?" he asked.

The assistant's smile brightened. "Only one thousand elemental stones."

Hearing this, Merlin shook his head, chuckling bitterly. He had accumulated stones from the Silver-Haired Mage, the cloaked mage Viksa, and Mage Neil—yet even with everything combined, he barely had seven to eight hundred stones, still short of a thousand.

"No, thank you. I'll continue browsing," he said quietly, shaking his head.

The assistant noted his reaction and, realizing he might be seeking more affordable options, led them to an area filled with lesser casting tools.

As they reached this section, Merlin's gaze was drawn to the shelves full of strange devices. Just then, the bell pendant hanging at his chest began emitting a slight heat, instantly putting him on alert.

This bell pendant had been almost useless since Merlin had depleted its stored fireball spell. It had become an ordinary trinket, devoid of power.

Yet now, for the first time in a long while, it reacted, giving off a faint warmth. Merlin's curiosity piqued as he scanned the array of casting tools displayed before him.