Starlight's Faint Glow and the Ripples of Fate

Leon's heart hammered against his ribs like a drum, blood seeming to rush to the top of his head. He forced himself to remain calm, slowed his pace, and casually strolled towards the shabby stall. The vendor was an old man curled up in the shade of the eaves, wearing a patched grey robe. His hair was grey and messy, his face deeply lined. He was dozing with his eyes closed, oblivious to the passersby, seemingly unconcerned whether his business would even open.

Leon's gaze fell again on the dusty, silvery-white bracelet. Up close, it was even more unremarkable, its surface bearing faint scratches, its color dull and lusterless. You could probably throw it by the roadside and no one would pick it up. But the strange surge of Magic Power within him grew clearer, like a gently plucked harp string, emitting a faint, continuous resonance. This feeling was entirely different from the fleeting pulse he'd felt when sensing the black book before; it was more stable, more... familiar?

He crouched down, not touching the bracelet immediately. Instead, he picked up a rough wooden amulet from beside it, pretending to examine it while discreetly observing the bracelet out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't tell what the bracelet was made of; it was neither gold nor iron. The feel... He cautiously extended a fingertip, touching it very lightly. It was cool, with a peculiar, gentle warmth, not cold and hard like metal. Its design was minimalist to the extreme, just a smooth ring, without any clasp or joint visible, as if it were naturally formed as a complete circle.

"Boss, how much for this amulet?" Leon jiggled the wooden charm in his hand, deliberately asking in a casual tone, trying to wake the vendor.

The vendor didn't even lift his eyelids, muttering vaguely, "Two Silver Crowns."

Leon put down the wooden charm and picked up a dull piece of raw crystal to look at before seemingly casually reaching for the silvery-white bracelet. The moment his fingers were about to touch it, the resonance suddenly intensified! As if a sleeping beast had been startled, the Magic Power within him surged spontaneously, albeit very weakly, wanting to actively connect with the bracelet! Leon's heart shook violently, and he quickly suppressed the strange surge of Magic Power, his fingers steadily picking up the bracelet.

The bracelet was lighter than he expected, almost weightless. But the instant he grasped it, an indescribable sensation traveled up his fingertips—not a cold touch, but a feeling... as if he were holding a piece of the silent starry sky, deep, ancient, with a hint of faint warmth. At the same time, he "saw"! Not with his eyes, but with his nascent, weak Spiritual Sense! Beneath the bracelet's dull surface, countless tiny silver specks, smaller than dust motes and shimmering faintly, seemed to flow and rotate slowly, like a miniature galaxy! These specks were extremely faint; if his spirit hadn't been highly concentrated and in peculiar resonance with the bracelet, he wouldn't have noticed them at all!

This is it! It's definitely it! Leon almost blurted out. This bracelet was no ordinary item! The power contained within it seemed to have some unknown connection to the Star Element he sensed, and even to the strange, dark network deep within his soul! It perfectly met the criteria of being "quiet" (reserved, not flashy) and "useful" (reacting to Magic Power). Although its color was silvery-white instead of purple, its inherent "star" imagery was closely related to the moon and night, making it a perfect gift for Elisa, who was obsessed with magic! More importantly, it was unique; at least, Leon had never seen or even heard of anything similar!

Suppressing his elation, Leon tried to keep his expression neutral, even a little disdainful. He dangled the bracelet and said to the vendor, "Boss, how much for this iron ring? It looks old, what's it for?"

The vendor finally lazily lifted his eyelids, his cloudy eyes glancing at Leon, then at the bracelet in his hand, and said listlessly, "That one... I picked it up. Don't know what it's for. Ten Silver Crowns and it's yours."

Ten Silver Crowns? So cheap? Leon could hardly believe his ears! This price was practically giving it away compared to the bracelet's potential value! But he immediately became alert. Either this vendor truly didn't know its worth, or he was testing him. He couldn't show too much eagerness.

"Ten Silver Crowns?" Leon frowned, weighing the bracelet in his hand, deliberately showing a dismissive expression. "This piece of junk? It doesn't even have any Magic Power fluctuations, and the craftsmanship is crude. Five Silver Crowns, at most." He began to haggle habitually; it was basic market practice.

The vendor yawned and waved his hand. "Take it or leave it. It's ten, no negotiation." His attitude was perfunctory, as if he didn't care about the sale at all.

Leon became even more convinced that the vendor didn't know its value. But he continued to play along. "Eight! Eight Silver Crowns and I'll take it. I happen to need a ring to hang things on." He tried to find a plausible reason to buy it.

The vendor closed his eyes, seemingly about to fall asleep again, and mumbled, "I said ten, so it's ten. Not a single coin less."

Leon inwardly rejoiced but put on a hesitant and displeased expression. After a few seconds of stalling, he "reluctantly" counted out ten gleaming Silver Crowns from his coin purse and tossed them onto the vendor's rough cloth. "Fine, fine. Ten it is. My bad luck."

Without opening his eyes, the vendor reached out, fumbled for the money, and swept it into his robe. Then he waved his hand, signaling Leon to take the bracelet.

Leon fought to suppress his excitement, gripping the bracelet tightly in his palm. The strange resonance and warmth became even clearer. He stood up, acting as if he had just completed a trivial transaction, and quickly left the secluded corner. Only after turning the street corner and confirming he was out of the vendor's sight did he lean against a wall and let out a long sigh, feeling his back already soaked with sweat.

Success! For only ten Silver Crowns, he had acquired this mysterious artifact that might be related to Star magic! It was like a pie falling from the sky!

However, after the initial euphoria, his reason quickly returned. Although the bracelet was mysterious, it looked too ordinary, dusty and unremarkable. Giving it directly as a Coming-of-Age Ceremony gift to Elisa? She might think he was insulting her. He needed to "package" and "activate" it, making it look worthy of its value, at the very least, enough to pique Elisa's interest.

He needed to find a trustworthy, highly skilled craftsman, preferably a master proficient in the maintenance and Enchantment of magic items, to clean and polish the bracelet. Perhaps... he could even try to awaken the power hidden within it? At the very least, he needed to make it look like a genuine magic artifact.

But who could he find? The craftsmen in the Imperial Capital were of varying quality, and dealing with something of unknown origin that might contain secrets with someone unfamiliar was too risky. If its value were discovered, or if it were tampered with, it would be a loss.

Leon's first thought was the Gilbert Family. As the industrial heart of the Empire, the Gilberts surely had top-tier forging and Enchantment masters. And given their families' long-standing relationship, perhaps they could be trusted. But the problem was, how to explain the bracelet's origin? Would he say he found it by chance at a roadside stall? Who would believe that? The useless second young master of the Hohenzollern family finding a treasure? It would immediately arouse suspicion, and if the news spread, it would cause more trouble.

His second option was to seek help from Aunt Margaret. She was a top Grand Archmage herself, with extensive knowledge, and might recognize the bracelet's origin, or even be able to handle it safely. But again, how to explain it to her? Say he impulsively bought a piece of junk from a street vendor and thought it might be a treasure? Given Aunt Margaret's shrewdness, she would definitely investigate further, and if it revealed the abnormality of the Magic Power within him... the consequences would be unimaginable.

After much thought, Leon realized he couldn't find a completely safe and reliable person to ask for help. For the first time, he clearly understood his isolation in this world. He had no allies he could fully trust, no power to rely on. Everything had to be undertaken by himself, taking risks and exploring.

"It seems I have to rely on myself..." Leon tightened his grip on the bracelet, feeling its faint resonance, and made up his mind. He couldn't easily expose this potential treasure and his own secret to anyone.

He decided to return to the Count's Mansion first. At least there, he would have a relatively safe environment to study it slowly. As for cleaning and initial treatment... perhaps he could try using the gentlest Magic Power to touch it, to nurture it? Or maybe find some basic purification potions used for maintaining magic items and do it himself? Although risky, it was better than handing it over to outsiders.

Having made up his mind, Leon carefully placed the bracelet into his inner pocket, keeping it close to his body. The strange resonance seemed to weaken slightly but did not disappear, like a sleeping seed waiting for his awakening.

He looked up at the sky. The sun had already set, and night was beginning to fall. More magic lights had been lit in Starlight Plaza, but the crowds had gradually thinned. His goal for the day was half achieved—he had found a potential gift that far exceeded expectations. But the greater challenge lay ahead: how to bring this unpolished gem back to light and make it a bridge connecting him and Elisa.

This was not just a gift, but a gamble. A gamble on his judgment, on the bracelet's value, and on his own ability to seize this opportunity.

He took a deep breath, pulled his coat tighter, and merged into the flow of people heading home, walking towards Count Strauss's Mansion. The bracelet in his pocket rested against his skin, emitting a faint, imperceptible warmth, as if silently recounting a forgotten story. And Leon's heart, filled with both the anxiety from this unexpected gain and the immense challenges that followed, also brimmed with unprecedented anticipation.