Chapter 15: Enchanted Items, the Power of Wizards

After returning to the cave, Ge'an set up a campfire, placing his weapons and belongings on the ground. He then pulled out a dagger along with some medical supplies—bandages and alcohol—that he'd previously asked Nair to prepare. Today, they were finally put to use.

He placed the dagger over the fire, waiting for it to heat up to a glowing red. Once it was ready, he carefully pressed the heated blade against the wound on his arm, gritting his teeth as the intense pain surged. He slowly scraped away the necrotic tissue, knowing that if it wasn't removed, the wound could easily become infected, or worse, lead to death. In this era, medical knowledge was rudimentary, and many knights perished from untreated wounds during war.

The searing heat of the blade caused excruciating pain, and sweat beaded on his forehead as he worked. The wound, over two inches long, oozed blood, pus, and other unpleasant materials. His right hand trembled slightly, but he pressed on, steadily cleaning out the rotten tissue.

Finally, after exhausting much of his energy, he managed to clean the wound. He poured alcohol and medicated powder over it, the sting of the alcohol making him wince. After cleaning, he wrapped the wound tightly in bandages. Fortunately, as a high-level knight, his body was resilient, and he knew he would recover quickly.

His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of his hunger. With a sigh, he stepped outside the cave and retrieved the carcasses of the giant wolves he'd prepared earlier. Using his knight's sword, he skillfully cut off the best parts, the tendon meat, and began roasting it over the fire.

The unique aroma of the cooking meat soon filled the cave, and Ge'an couldn't help but smile, even as he continued rotating the meat on the spit. He sprinkled his homemade seasoning blend of thirteen spices on the meat, adding more flavor. Since the giant wolves had little fat, there was no greasy oil dripping from the meat, only lean, tender flesh.

Just as the smell intensified, Ge'an heard light footsteps approaching. Thanks to his "Keen Touch" ability, he could hear it clearly within a twenty-meter range—and the footsteps were fast. Without hesitation, he grabbed his longbow, nocking an arrow, and aimed toward the entrance. Whoever it was, he was ready to strike.

The footsteps grew louder, and before long, a voice called out from outside the cave:

"Ge'an, you're so inconsiderate, sneaking around roasting meat without inviting me!"

It was Dreiven, the food lover. Ge'an lowered his bow, his face betraying no surprise, and resumed tending to the meat.

Dreiven, clad in full armor, walked into the cave, his eyes gleaming with desire as he fixed his gaze on the roasting meat.

"What kind of meat is this? It smells so unique," Dreiven said eagerly, his nose twitching as he took a deep sniff. "You've put thirteen spices on it, haven't you?"

Ever since Dreiven had tasted Ge'an's secret spice blend during their last encounter, he'd been hooked, as if addicted to the flavor, much like an addict to "Zanghai flowers"—a rare, highly addictive substance from the land of Kaladia.

"It's from an 'Shadow Great Wolf'," Ge'an replied, not looking up from his work.

As the meat slowly began to turn golden and crispy, a few drops of oil pooled on the surface, making it even more enticing. Dreiven, unable to resist, gulped and urged, "Is it ready yet? I think it's done. We can eat now, right?"

"Not yet, be patient, Great Knight," Ge'an said with a smirk.

Five minutes later, after spinning the meat around a few more times, Ge'an smiled and said, "It's done."

He then cut the large piece of meat into smaller chunks and placed them on a stone slab, offering them to Dreiven. Both of them ate heartily, with Ge'an finding the taste similar to dog meat, though firmer and more flavorful. Dreiven, on the other hand, devoured the meat with abandon, almost biting his tongue in the process.

Soon, they finished the first batch, but they were still hungry. Ge'an went back to roast another large piece. After finishing the second batch, both of them were finally satisfied.

Leaning against the stone, they began chatting.

"Great Knight, it seems you haven't kept your promise," Ge'an said with a sly smile. "Did you know that I almost got killed by a masked man just now?"

Dreiven waved it off, clearly unconcerned. "A mid-tier assassin from the 'Faceless Ones'? Not your match."

"You, little brat, you're full of tricks—cold-blooded and ruthless. Those 'Faceless Ones' didn't stand a chance against you. You didn't need me to step in."

Ge'an's face darkened. "You were just watching from the sidelines?"

"Didn't you know how dangerous it was?" Ge'an added, irritated. "If I'd actually been killed by that assassin, your name as a Skywing Knight would have become a laughingstock across the entire continent of Kaladia. A shame that would last five hundred years!"

The two of them bantered for a while, and then Dreiven, picking at his teeth with a dagger, spoke up casually, "That ring you got—be careful with it. Keep it hidden. It's a magical item."

"Magical item? Is it that powerful?" Ge'an asked, now curious. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the ring.

It was a golden ring that could easily fit on his thumb, engraved with strange letters and symbols. A faint, odd energy emanated from it, and as Ge'an touched it, he felt a sudden resonance, as if the ring shared a connection with the energy inside him.

Dreiven glanced at the ring and explained, "Magical items are objects that wizards imbue with magic. They use runes to store spells and magic within these durable objects, like rings, necklaces, wands, and robes. They're meant for aspiring wizards—apprentices who need help to cast spells for self-defense or attack."

Ge'an nodded, understanding now. It was like the talismans used by ancient Taoists back in his old world—used for things like summoning lightning or conjuring fireballs.

He glanced at Dreiven, a bit puzzled. "But you're a knight. How do you know so much about this?"

Dreiven suddenly turned red and cleared his throat, turning his face away, stammering, "I... I used to be... an assistant to a wizard... well, he begged me to help him. It wasn't like I volunteered or anything. Don't get me wrong."

Ge'an raised an eyebrow. "Really? A knight as an assistant to a wizard?"

Dreiven flushed and quickly tried to cover it up. "That wizard was a great white-robed wizard named Gandalf. If you ever enter the wizard world, you might meet him."

Ge'an smiled knowingly. "Alright, I get it. He begged you, the great knight, to help him."

Dreiven scowled at him. "I'm telling you, Gandalf is a legendary wizard! If you ever meet him, you'll know."

There was a wistful look in Dreiven's eyes, a mix of nostalgia and remembrance. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts for a moment before shaking it off.

Ge'an, his expression suddenly serious, turned to Dreiven. "I'm heading back tomorrow. The day after is the knight's examination and awarding ceremony for the entire province of Ywading. I must attend. Would you join me?"

Dreiven paused for a moment, as if reading something in Ge'an's eyes—a passion, a drive, a thirst for adventure, something he saw in himself when he was younger. After a brief moment of reflection, Dreiven smiled warmly. 

"As you wish," he said.