Enigma Bazaar

This place is considered an important trading hub in the magical world. Enigma Bazaar frequently hosts magic performances and competitions for sorcerers, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talents and connect with one another. Additionally, various magic courses and workshops are also held here.

"And while you're here, feel free to explore," she continued. "You don't have to do much at the shop, so take your time to familiarize yourself with this place."

As they strolled through the bustling marketplace, they passed a variety of shops—some small and shadowy, selling mysterious magical ingredients, while others were grand bookstores filled with ancient tomes, heavy with the scent of aged parchment. The air was alive with the sounds of trading, laughter, and the hushed murmurs of magical negotiations.

Walking along the winding paths, Spio could feel the richness of the magical world with every shop they passed. Floating lanterns cast a warm glow on every hidden corner, illuminating the strange and wondrous magical items on display. The vibrancy of the market gradually eased the loneliness in Spio's heart, replacing it with an unquenchable excitement and curiosity.

After wandering through a variety of stalls, they stopped in front of a large shop with intricate architecture. The storefront was adorned with radiant magical sigils, and every detail—from the carved stone pillars to the arched windows—exuded craftsmanship and careful attention. The shop shimmered with light, standing like a beacon in the night of Enigma Bazaar.

Professor Windstrider smiled at Spio, her eyes gleaming with pride. "This is my family's shop," she said with a proud tone. "One of the largest and most reputable establishments in Enigma Bazaar. Here, sorcerers can find everything they need, from equipment to rare magical ingredients."

She gently took Spio's hand and led him inside. His eyes widened with amazement as he observed the countless magical artifacts—ornately carved broomsticks, ancient leather-bound books inscribed with cryptic runes. Beneath each item was a price tag, but upon reading them, Spio felt a bit confused.

Turning to Professor Windstrider, who stood beside him, he asked, "Professor, what are 'galleons' and 'sickles'? I see them listed on the price tags."

The professor smiled warmly and explained, "Galleons are the primary currency in this mystic world, Spio. We use galleons, along with sickles, for daily transactions in our community. One hundred sickles equal one galleon, and with about forty galleons, you could buy a flying broomstick or the latest Aero boots."

"Aero boots?" Spio asked, intrigued.

"You still have much to learn, Spio. Aero boots are a common magical item that allows sorcerers to move through the air when needed. But don't worry, you'll learn all about them in school."

With that, Professor Windstrider led Spio to the third floor of the shop. The hallway stretched long, lined with eight small rooms on either side.

She opened the door to a room that appeared long unused. Inside, there was only a small bed and an old wooden wardrobe, both covered in dust, as if no one had stepped foot inside for quite some time.

Standing at the doorway, she waved her hand. A soft glow emanated from her palm, sweeping through the room and carrying away the layers of dust. In an instant, the space was spotless and gleamed as if freshly cleaned.

"Alright, you can stay here," she said with satisfaction. "Once you've settled in, we'll go find you a suitable wand. I'll provide the necessary school supplies, but under one condition—you must work hard and assist the staff here with sales and storekeeping."

Spio nodded, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling inside him. With Professor Windstrider, he prepared for their visit to the wand shop.

The wand shop she brought him to was owned by the Ophidian family. It stood out in Enigma Bazaar with its mysterious and striking design—the storefront decorated with coiled snake motifs in cool, eerie colors. The dark blue-green tiled roof and the deep mahogany door, with a serpent-shaped handle, bore the unmistakable emblem of the Ophidian lineage.

As Spio and Professor Windstrider stepped inside, they were immediately enveloped in a dim and quiet atmosphere. Towering wooden shelves lined the walls, stacked with wand boxes, each labeled with ancient symbols, identifying the type of wood and magical core inside. A faint blue glow emanated from enchanted lamps, casting an otherworldly ambiance over the shop.

From a shadowed room, a middle-aged man with a handsome yet stern face emerged, balancing a stack of wooden boxes in his arms. As he carefully placed them on a shelf, he caught sight of them and froze in shock.

"Lyra, you've come to visit me?" he asked, his voice filled with surprise as he stepped closer to Professor Windstrider. "Have you finally accepted me?"

Professor Windstrider was visibly taken aback and irritated by his words, but she maintained her composure and chose not to respond. Clenching her fists, her expression tightened with anger, but she spoke calmly, "Magnus, we're here for a purpose. I brought Spio to select a wand, not to discuss personal matters between us."

She turned to Spio with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Spio. We'll find the perfect wand for you. Magnus Ophidian here is renowned for his expertise in reading magical energy—he will ensure you get the best match."

Magnus, after a brief moment of surprise, regained his composure and greeted them properly. "Apologies for the awkward introduction. You must be Spio? Please, follow me."

Spio glanced at Windstrider, and after receiving a nod of approval, he followed Magnus.

Magnus led him to a private room where the wand selection process would take place. The room radiated an air of solemnity, its walls adorned with symbols of ancient magic, softly illuminated by enchanted lanterns. At its center sat a round, gray gemstone, resting on a marble pedestal, shimmering with an ethereal light. Magnus gestured for Spio to step forward, his deep voice calm and steady.

"Spio, we are about to explore the connection between your mind and your magical energy. Relax, don't resist—just let me guide the way," he instructed, his sharp gaze holding a touch of kindness.

Spio nodded, placing his hand on the stone, while Magnus pressed his palm against the underside. A cool sensation spread through Spio's hand, sending a slight shiver through him. Closing his eyes, Magnus focused his mind, and a soft glow began to radiate from the gemstone, pulsating through the room.

Murmuring an incantation, Magnus sought to awaken Spio's latent energy, hoping to understand his magical essence and select the most compatible wand. The stone's light intensified as Spio's dormant magic instinctively responded to the spell, revealing the depths of his power.

As Magnus delved into Spio's mind, a strange vision unfolded before him. Unlike any he had encountered before, Spio's consciousness was divided into two stark realms—a vast, unnaturally still white ground beneath him and an endless, pitch-black sky above, devoid of light or movement.

Within Spio's mind, something was approaching from the dark sky. As it neared, Magnus recognized swirling black clouds, crackling with distant thunder. Before he could fully comprehend the energy before him, it seemed to detect his presence and surged toward him. Attempting to grasp a fragment of the storm's energy for analysis, he was suddenly confronted by blinding flashes of lightning.

A violent electromagnetic storm erupted, sweeping through Spio's mental landscape. Columns of raw electricity crashed down with terrifying force, consuming everything in their path.

Magnus felt an overwhelming sense of fear and awe in the face of this power. Turning to retreat, he tried to decipher the nature of Spio's energy, but its depths remained unfathomable.

"What is happening here?" Magnus wondered, struggling to maintain his composure. "This power... What kind of energy flows within this boy?"

"I need to get out—now!" he thought urgently, sensing the danger of pushing further. With that, he snapped back to reality.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Magnus fought to steady his breath. His hands trembled slightly as he processed the sheer, destructive force he had just encountered…

Magnus struggled to regain control of his emotions after experiencing the astonishing journey through Spio's mind. He wiped the sweat dripping down his face, feeling tense and bewildered by the sheer destructive power the boy possessed. His gaze lingered on Spio, filled with uncertainty about the force that lay within him.

He stepped toward the wand rack, pondering for a moment before carefully searching through it, examining each wand one by one. After some thought, he selected three wands and brought them before Spio.

"These are two wands that I believe might suit you. Their cores can withstand intense and volatile energy. After witnessing your power, I think only such cores could handle it," Magnus said, his tone calm but carrying a weight of seriousness.

He placed the two wands in front of Spio, each differing in material and design, then explained:

"This black wand is made from ebony wood with a Manticore tail venom core. It can endure many forms of energy and is quite common among young sorcerers.

The pale gold wand, on the other hand, is crafted from ancient hickory wood with a dragon scale core, granting it the resilience to handle formidable energies."

Magnus slid the two wands toward Spio. "Now, try them out."

Spio curiously picked up the one with the dragon scale core. He channeled his energy into the wand, and the moment it left his body and flowed into the wood, blue lightning flickered around it, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The wand felt more natural in his grasp than anything he had ever touched, as though it were an extension of himself. It even stabilized the wild energy within him, refining its output as it passed through the wand.

Excitement surged through Spio as he marveled at the power within the wand. However, as he attempted to maintain the connection, the energy became uncontrollable, surging in an unrelenting stream. Suddenly, the wand was forcefully ejected from his hand, shooting up toward the ceiling. Watching this unfold, Spio felt a pang of disappointment, worrying if the wand had been damaged.

He picked up the second wand, only to find the result even worse. As he infused his energy into it, the wand grew increasingly hot until its core began to smolder, emitting wisps of smoke. Startled, Spio quickly dropped it onto the table.

This development left Magnus deeply perplexed. After a brief moment of contemplation, he hurried off and returned with a wooden box. Blowing away a thick layer of dust, he revealed an old, worn black case.

"I don't know why, but considering your power is quite… 'primal,' I believe a wand from the war era might be better suited for you," he mused aloud.

Though Spio didn't fully grasp Magnus's words, he opened the box anyway. Inside lay a wand made of metal, its design simple and unrefined. As he picked it up for closer inspection, he noticed something peculiar—the light from the room's lanterns passed straight through from one end of the wand to the other. The core was empty.

Ignoring this oddity, Spio channeled his energy into the metal wand.

To his astonishment, the wand radiated a brilliant blue glow, reacting seamlessly to his power. Tiny sparks of lightning flickered along its length, and the rust encrusting its surface crumbled away. Spio could feel an undeniable bond forming between him and the wand—it was as if the wand was an extension of his body, effortlessly channeling his energy. With a gentle push, he sent a small surge of power through the wand, and a precise bolt of lightning shot forth like a streak of blue light.

Magnus smiled in satisfaction at the perfect synergy between Spio and the metal wand. "It seems this wand truly belongs to you, Spio," he said.

He studied the wand again and added, "This is strange. I've never seen a wand without a core function properly. I don't understand why someone would craft such a wand—without a core, it's practically the same as using bare hands."

Hearing this, Spio curiously asked, "I thought sorcerers always used wands?"

"No, no," Magnus chuckled. "Wands are only tools for apprentice sorcerers. True sorcerers don't need them. Most modern wands merely help refine and direct magical energy more efficiently." He then pointed toward a staff standing in the corner of the room. "See that staff? That's what experienced sorcerers typically use."

After addressing Spio's questions, Magnus fell into silent contemplation as he examined the coreless metal wand. Throughout his years working in the wand shop, he had never seen anyone successfully channel energy into such a wand. Without a core, it was considered useless among sorcerers, making it impossible to price.

He let out a sigh before turning to Spio with a soft smile. "Spio, this wand is quite unusual, and I can't assign it a price. So, I'll gift it to you."

Hearing this, Spio's face lit up with joy. He nodded eagerly, expressing his gratitude.

With his new wand in hand, Spio stepped out of the room, ignoring the ongoing conversation between Master Ophidian and Professor Windstrider. His mind buzzed with excitement and curiosity about the mysterious wand he had just received.

"Do you like it, Spio?" Professor Windstrider suddenly patted his shoulder. "Now that you have your wand, it's time to visit the tailor."

"The Brownies should be awake by now, so let's hurry back and have them take your measurements for your robes," the professor said.

As they returned to the shop, night had fully settled over the streets. The soft glow of enchanted lanterns illuminated small, swift-moving figures in the shadows—Brownies, the mystical beings of folklore. Known for working in silence, they emerged only at night to ensure everything remained tidy and orderly.

The moment Spio and the professor entered, the Brownies swiftly emerged from their hiding places. With nimble movements, they approached Spio, carrying tiny measuring tapes and rolls of parchment.

Standing still, Spio watched in awe as the Brownies meticulously measured every aspect of his body—from the length of his arms and legs to his chest and waist. Their large, round eyes examined him with focused precision, and their small hands rapidly jotted down notes.

After completing their task, the Brownies paused, scrutinized Spio one last time, and, after nodding in satisfaction, swiftly disappeared into the darkness as if they had never been there.

Spio couldn't hide his amazement. His eyes sparkled as he turned to the professor. "They're incredible," he said, a broad smile forming on his lips. "Like something straight out of a fairy tale."

Professor Windstrider chuckled at Spio's fascination. "Indeed, they are highly skilled artisans, not just caretakers of the shop's order. They've been an immense help to me."

Placing a firm yet gentle hand on Spio's shoulder, he spoke in a warm but firm tone. "But for now, you should get some rest. It's late, and young sorcerers shouldn't stay up too long."

Spio nodded, though his mind was still brimming with the wonders he had just witnessed. The world of sorcerers was far more astonishing than he had ever imagined.

In the days that followed, Spio began working at the shop, assisting with various tasks. Though the work wasn't too demanding, it provided him with an opportunity to learn. His natural curiosity and eagerness to understand everything around him made him a quick learner. Additionally, the shop's employees, sympathetic to his situation, refrained from assigning him overly difficult duties.

Each passing day, Enigma Bazaar unfolded before him like a captivating book. He explored the bustling streets, where the glow of magical lanterns illuminated every corner. The aroma of exotic, steaming dishes from street vendors filled the air, piquing his curiosity. Though his earnings were modest, he used them to indulge in small delights, relishing the newfound sense of independence.

His wanderings led him to the hidden alleys of the bazaar, where few dared to tread. There, he discovered secrets concealed in the shadows—obscured stalls, peculiar artifacts, and, at times, mystical creatures that left him wide-eyed with wonder.

Gradually, the sorcerers of Enigma Bazaar grew familiar with Spio's presence. Where once they regarded him with cautious glances, they now welcomed him with warm smiles. Some even offered him guidance, sharing small tricks of the trade or recounting fascinating tales of their world.

Spio, once an outsider, was slowly finding his place in this strange and magical new home