Restwind Harbor, Mr. Damien

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

Ronan, shirtless with his robes pulled down to his waist, sat cross-legged under the Saint Blood Tree and spoke calmly.

"That's fine."

Bennigo nodded without saying anything, picked up a half-foot-long bone needle from the mobile workbench beside him, dipped it in a ceramic dish filled with a dark red unidentified solution, and then began to carve it little by little on Ronan's body.

The process was somewhat like a tattoo, with the tip of the bone needle slightly piercing Ronan's skin before a special medicinal liquid was gently injected into the syringe.

When the entire "tattooing" process was over, Ronan had a large upside-down tree pattern on his chest and abdomen.

Bennigo was also covered in sweat; the seemingly simple steps were actually not easy for him.

Without even wiping away his sweat, Bennigo quickly handed Ronan something that looked like a beetle. "Don't swallow it, hold it under your tongue."

Following his instructions, Ronan put the brownish-yellow beetle into his mouth, gently pressing it down with his tongue, and could feel the insect struggling under his tongue.

At this moment, the Bennigo were already standing under the Saint Blood Tree, holding the same bone needles, busy working on the trunk of the Saint Blood Tree.

Following similar steps, once the same pattern was completed, Bennigo took out a dagger and forcefully stabbed it into the trunk of the Saint Blood Tree. The tree seemed to be in pain, and its branches and leaves trembled violently.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bennigo crushed a bright green beetle and smeared the remains and juices onto the trunk of the Saint Blood Tree.

"Right now."

He gave a low shout, and Ronan pressed his tongue down, causing the beetle's body to explode instantly, filling his mouth with a sweet and slightly bitter taste.

The bursting beetle's body seemed to melt, turning into a stream of heat that flowed down Ronan's throat.

At the same time, Ronan felt as if countless ants were wriggling on the surface of his body. He immediately released control of his muscles, and in an instant, the countless "ants" crawled into his muscles.

From an observer's perspective, one would see that the pattern of the upside-down tree on Ronan's body was fading rapidly, as was the Saint Blood Tree. The wound that Bennigo had inflicted on him was also healing quickly.

Ronan felt an unbearable itch all over his body, as if countless ants were marching deeper into his flesh and bones.

Suddenly, it felt like something had grabbed my heart and gripped it tightly!

Ronan's eyelids twitched slightly before slowly drooping.

It was as if a scorching spark had landed on the petals of his heart, then a second, then a third. Ronan saw his skin turn red at a visible speed, like a branding iron gradually heating up under a flame. The stinging heat gathered on the surface of his heart, branding it in little by little.

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

He could hear the sound of blood flowing through his veins, all the blood in his body rushing towards his heart, and the Vitality Orb within his body releasing a large amount of life force, constantly and rapidly producing blood.

A beam of red light shot out from the heart, striking the Holy Saint Blood Tree in front of him, perfectly aligning with the pattern on the tree trunk.

A mysterious passage has been established.

"Buzz—"

A strange energy, crimson with wisps of gold, flowed continuously into Ronan's body through the void passage.

This energy was like a refreshing stream, quickly cooling down a heart that was about to burst into flames. The burning pain subsided, and it felt as if something was rapidly taking shape with the coolness. "Whoosh—"

When it was all over, Ronan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

Looking down at himself, he saw that the tattoo of the upside-down tree on his skin had completely disappeared, restoring his original fair and smooth appearance.

However, the heart inside the chest cavity had an additional layer of pale golden light membrane on its exterior. On the surface of the heart, there was a pattern of the Saint Blood Tree that seemed to be shrunk countless times. Some blood flowed rapidly along this pattern, forming a complex yet harmonious cycle.

"Saint Tree Magic Array"

Ronan touched the spot on his heart, lost in thought.

Looking up, the Saint Blood Tree before them was several times weaker than before. The ground beneath it was covered with withered and fallen Saint Blood Tree, as if it had just undergone a "Bloodline Purification" ritual beyond its capabilities, resulting in severe damage to its vital energy.

Ronan stood up, reached out and gently stroked the trunk of the Saint Blood Tree, a sense of guilt rising in his heart.

The Saint Blood Tree was so well-behaved and sensible that it was heartbreaking, and in turn, it comforted him with its withered branches and leaves.

"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

Bennigo approached Ronan and asked him a question, holding a notebook ready to be taken down at any moment.

Ronan tried to utilize the power of his physical body and bloodline, shook his head, and replied, "Aside from a slight feeling of 'weakness,' everything else is fine."

"That's good"

Bennigo's expression relaxed slightly as he scribbled in his notebook, instructing him, "The magic circle itself is relatively fragile. When fighting, try to avoid being directly attacked in the heart. Once the magic circle is damaged, I don't know what the consequences will be. The energy of the Saint Blood Tree stored within the magic circle can theoretically sustain its operation for about five years. After five years, regardless of whether the calculation is successful or not, you'd better come back."

Bennigo spoke, he turned to look at the "spiritless" Saint Blood Tree, frowning as he said, "I deliberately let it draw most of its energy to you, in order to curb its rapid growth for a period of time."

But once these long-lived species take root, their growth rate only accelerates like a snowball rolling downhill... I don't know if this place can even sustain itself for five years."

Bennigo shook his head and said, "Anyway, just remember to keep an eye out for suitable transplant sites. Once it grows, it will benefit both you and me."

"I see."

Ronan slowly put his robe back on, and a black metal, writhing like a living thing, flew out from his sleeve and hovered in front of Bennigo.

Its name is Itai.

Ronan looked at Bennigo and calmly said, "He can continuously evolve his rank by absorbing other metals."

Bennigo looked slightly taken aback, a fleeting look of disbelief crossing his eyes.

At this moment, he seemed to recall the scene when he handed the "Nightmare Tungsten Steel" to Ronan was only First Level Wizard at the time.

Bennigo neither refused nor thanked him, but simply nodded and accepted the Itai Ronan had given him.

With the symptoms of soul decay alleviated, Bennigo's strength can continue to grow, giving him another chance to climb higher. He does indeed need a suitable Metal Element magic medium.

"They're gone."

"Um."

Bennigo calmly watched Ronan leave until his figure completely disappeared at the entrance, then walked alone to the lab bench and busied himself as usual.

After leaving the Secret Realm Space, Ronan took one last look around the valley before flying towards the sky in one direction.

Bennigo is the person in the world who knows the most of his secrets.

Over the years, the two have become an inseparable whole.

Bennigo knew he would come back, just as he knew Bennigo would be waiting for him in the same place.

Therefore, there is no need for the two of them to say a very formal goodbye.

Two weeks later, on a sunny afternoon.

On the street paved with seashells and pebbles, beside two swaying horse-drawn carriages, a young man strolled along, the crisp, melodious sound of sea chimes ringing in his ears.

The young man had a tall and straight posture and short, dark chestnut hair that was smooth with a slight natural wave.

His hair color complemented his skin tone, taking on a warm hue in the sunlight.

As he walked, his eyes were lowered, as if he were thinking about something. His movements exuded a sense of peace, tranquility, and a strong scholarly atmosphere.

Even if he were wearing the simplest gray linen robe, he would still be an exceptionally handsome man. Even in the most prosperous capital city, let alone in this remote port town, everyone who had the chance to see him, regardless of gender, would stop what they were doing and take a second look at him with curiosity.

"Buzz—"

As Ronan reached a three-way intersection on a downward slope, he suddenly stopped. In his unseen lake-blue eyes, a deep purple light flashed and disappeared in an instant, its profundity and brilliance like the starry sky, but it quickly dimmed in the next second.

"Soon."

Ronan took a deep breath and silently recited the mantra.

Just now, he was only a hair's breadth away from completing the most basic Star Chart Deduction described in the "Primordial Star Book".

The weakness still lies in his mental strength, but compared to before, he has improved a lot. Ronan estimates that with a few more practice sessions, he will be able to achieve a breakthrough naturally.

He casually brought up his Character Panel— [Basic Meditation Technique - [Clarity Realm] (Master 1499/1600)]. There was only one point of proficiency left before the third purification of his mental power. Although the Strength Progress shown on the panel had not changed, only Ronan himself knew that he had become much stronger than before in some details of his use of mental power.

The ability to perform more complex energy manipulation is reflected in the release of spells as a more delicate, natural, and effortless execution.

This progress cannot be reflected on the data panel, but it is genuinely improving Ronan's actual combat skills.

Composing himself, Ronan looked up and surveyed his surroundings.

Before him lay two narrow cobblestone paths, with low wooden or stone houses scattered along both sides. To the left was a small monastery, and further on, the vast blue sea stretched out before him.

Restwind Harbor.

Located on the west coast of the Southern Continent, it is a wizarding town, similar to Hoddam in its early days, with both wizards and mortals.

The majority of the wizards living here are wandering groups who are still in their apprenticeship stage.

Ronan quietly observed everything before him, took out several letters from his Space Ring, lowered his head to read them carefully, and then continued walking forward in one direction.

As Ronan walked closer to the end of the street, the sea breeze picked up as he passed through the long alley, making the air more humid. He could hear seagulls and ship horns in the distance. Finally, Ronan stopped in front of a shop with a narrow storefront.

Ronan's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at the tightly closed wooden door of the shop.

He walked up and saw the conspicuous brass padlock on the door, which was covered with a thin layer of dust.

Looking up, my gaze swept across the eaves, and a wind chime, full of local characteristics of Restwind Harbor, came into view.

Ronan beckoned, and the wind chime hanging from the eaves gently floated into his hand without making a sound, because the bell wick was gone, leaving only a copper shell and a simple teru teru bozu (a doll made of white cotton ball and blue cloth) tied to the bell.

Ronan unfolded the blue cloth wrapped around the white cotton ball and saw a name written in neat black ink on the back of the cloth— Sheryl.

Ronan pursed his lips slightly, put down the wind chimes and doll in his hands, and a strange emotion slowly rose from the bottom of his heart.

He seemed to have arrived a step too late.

Following the letters from the three Old Wells, he arrived at Restwind Harbor. Guided by the letters, he found the small apothecary shop that the Old Wells had mentioned, only to discover that it was deserted. Judging from the dust on the brass lock on the door, the shop had probably been closed for several months.

Has the location been changed? Or has the person already left Restwind Harbor?

Ronan didn't know.

Just then, a slightly nervous voice came from beside me.

"Would you like a Fire Gull Drink, sir?"

Ronan turned his head and saw a boy carrying a wooden basket on his back, looking rather awkward.

He was about thirteen or fourteen years old, barefoot, with curly hair and the dark skin most common among people living by the sea. Behind him, a large wooden frame was piled high with all kinds of tropical fruits.

The Fire Gull Drink the boy mentioned is a local specialty of Restwind Harbor, made by mixing several fruit juices and alcohol, and adding firegull blood.

One or two magic stone fragments are needed for one cup.

Everywhere in Restwind Harbor, you can see street vendors selling this drink. Ronan kindly shook his head at the boy; he had tried the drink before and, unfortunately, didn't really like the taste.

I thought the boy would give up or continue to persistently try to sell his wares.

Unexpectedly, the boy's next cautious question was, "Sir, are you a friend of Mr. Wells?"

Ronan paused for a moment upon hearing this, and looked at the boy with some surprise.

"You know them?"

"Certainly!"

Upon hearing Ronan's admission, the boy seemed to suddenly become bolder. He took two steps toward Ronan and quickly said, "I spend almost two or three hourglasses in Mr. Wells' shop every day. He likes me very much and has even taught me the methods of wizard meditation. Sir, you are also a distinguished wizard, aren't you?"

The boy looked up at Ronan with an expectant and admiring gaze.

Ronan didn't answer, but instead smiled and asked, "Do you know where they are right now?"

"Have no idea."

The boy shook his head and replied somewhat dejectedly, "Mr. Wells just left suddenly with Miss Vinnie and Sheryl, and nobody knows where they went."

Before they left, they left me a letter, specifically instructing me to give it to someone named...

As the boy spoke, he suddenly realized what he was saying, slapped his forehead hard, and then stared at Ronan with wide eyes. "Sir, may I ask your name?"

Ronan's eyes flickered for a moment, and he slowly said, "My name is Ronan, Ronan Damien."

"So you're the Mr. Damien they were talking about!"

The boy shouted excitedly.