Unexpected Invitation

The next day, in the study.

Matthew used the blue water flowers he had gathered yesterday while practicing his meditation method.

He took several blue water flowers from the basin on the table and tore open their petals. Pale blue juice flowed from the torn edges.

Blue water flowers had a very high water content, and each petal yielded a fair amount of juice. After repeating the process several times, he filled the beaker on the table with blue water flower juice.

Matthew poured the blue water flower juice into his hand and rubbed it onto his forehead.

Then he calmed his mind and began practicing the meditation method.

A few breaths later, the flower juice seeped into his skin. A cooling sensation reached his brain, refreshing his mind.

Matthew felt as though he stood on a beach amid surging waves that battered him again and again. With each wave, his sea of consciousness grew a little more solid.

An hour later, he had used up all the blue water flower juice in the beaker, and his sea of consciousness had grown considerably more solid.

He examined his internal condition and discovered that his magic power had increased as well.

Prolonged use of dark magic placed a tremendous burden on the mind. This was also why some dark wizards who frequently used dark magic became increasingly paranoid and crazed.

Before practicing the meditation method, Matthew would feel mentally exhausted after casting Avada Kedavra twice in succession without a break.

Now that the meditation method had strengthened his mind, casting Avada Kedavra consecutively became easier.

At his current rate of improvement, Matthew estimated that once he advanced to a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice, casting Avada Kedavra three times in succession would have no effect on his mental state.

Next, he drank five vials of Spirit Nourishing Potion and continued constructing "runic models" in his sea of consciousness.

His tests yesterday had revealed that the Spirit Nourishing Potion lasted as long as eight hours.

In other words, maintaining twice the recovery rate for his sea of consciousness would require fifteen vials of Spirit Nourishing Potion a day!

This was an enormous expense. Each vial of Spirit Nourishing Potion cost nearly two Gold Galleons to make, so fifteen meant spending thirty Gold Galleons every day!

Fortunately, he had saved some money over the past two years by frequently selling potions under Gellman's identity. Combined with the inheritance his grandfather had left him, he could sustain these expenses for a while.

Besides, practicing the meditation method did not always require spending mental power to construct "runic models."

After he advanced to a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, further training would focus more on building up his sea of consciousness. At that point, he would no longer need to maintain the Spirit Nourishing Potion's effects.

An hour later, he drank another vial of Mandrake Revitalizing Potion, instantly restoring half the mental power in his depleted sea of consciousness.

Matthew had practiced the meditation method for two days. With the help of the Spirit Nourishing Potion and Mandrake Revitalizing Potion, he had already constructed twenty "runic models" in his sea of consciousness.

He had chosen to prioritize constructing the runes required for "Lightning Bolt."

Casting "Lightning Bolt" required assembling thirty-two runes, but many were duplicates. There were only eighteen distinct types.

He planned to test "Lightning Bolt" again to see whether it could be used in actual combat after practicing the meditation method.

Matthew cast the Illusionary Body Spell and headed to the woods outside Whitestone Town to test his magic.

After a while, he found a suitable target: a tree so thick that it would take three people joining hands to encircle it.

Using the runic models in his sea of consciousness, Matthew instantly "condensed" thirty-two runes in his hand. Then he "guided" them into the spell model structure for "Lightning Bolt."

"Zzt!" Light blazed in Matthew's hand. The runes swiftly transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot toward the enormous tree ahead.

The instant the lightning struck the trunk, intense heat built up at the point of impact, vaporizing the moisture inside.

After the lightning vanished, a round hole pierced straight through the center of the tree.

It was powerful, even stronger than Matthew's Shatter Charm and Cutting Charm.

He discovered that the "Aemon Basic Meditation Method" also enhanced the power of runic magic. After practicing it, his "Lightning Bolt" had become twenty percent more powerful.

"Guiding" the runes into the spell model structure had taken eight seconds. It was now usable in actual combat.

After finishing his test, Matthew returned to Whitestone Town.

As he passed the Whitestone Town Entrance, he noticed that the Night Watchman in the Tower was an unfamiliar face. There were also two additional guards at the gate.

After returning to his lodgings, Matthew was about to head upstairs when Chris called out to him:

"Matthew, Lady Alsha of Whitestone Manor just sent over a Banquet Invitation."

"Lady Alsha?" Matthew asked in confusion.

Chris said:

"Lady Alsha arrived from the Royal Capital six months ago. She's an administrative officer for a Court Wizard.

They say she's stunningly beautiful, and countless men are infatuated with her.

She's the talk of Whitestone Town now. Visit any tavern on East Street at any hour, and you'll hear people discussing Lady Alsha's beauty."

Whitestone Manor had originally belonged to the former Town Mayor. Reportedly, he was deeply enamored with Lady Alsha and had given her the manor shortly after she arrived in Whitestone Town.

Matthew took the invitation. It was exquisitely made, embroidered with a flower that resembled a bird's tail feathers.

Matthew had seen it in a book in the study. It was a red iris.

In this world, red irises symbolized love. They bloomed for only a single night, usually opening at dusk and withering the following morning.

The invitation read:

"Mr. Matthew:

On Friday evening, I will host a banquet at Whitestone Manor, inviting the promising young talents of Whitestone Town.

I hope you will honor this grand banquet with your presence.

I look forward to sharing a wonderful time with you on this enchanting evening.

Alsha"

Matthew's face was filled with bewilderment. He did not know Lady Alsha at all, yet he had received an invitation to her banquet.

A sharp glint flickered deep in Matthew's eyes. He had only been in Whitestone Town for a few days, and he barely knew Link and Anna, whom he had just met. It was unlikely that they had recommended him to Lady Alsha.

Perhaps someone had noticed their battle by the river yesterday.

He decided to accept the invitation.

If she was an enemy, she would not leave him alone simply because he refused to engage.

If she was not, he might be able to enter Whitestone Town's wizard circle through Lady Alsha.

He had come to Whitestone Town precisely to make contact with this world's wizards. He wanted to obtain more runic magic and meditation methods.

At dusk, in Whitestone Manor.

The manor stood on the northwestern outskirts of Whitestone Town, surrounded by a lush garden. The red irises blooming there formed a beautiful tableau, as though painted from the lingering glow of sunset.

The garden bordered a river connected to the one running through Whitestone Town. Unlike that river, however, this stretch was not frozen, and its flowing waters lent the scene an added touch of vitality.

Outside one of the manor's rooms, a neatly dressed butler knocked on the door.

"Come in." The voice from within was soft and melodious, like heavenly music.

Upon entering, the butler saw a woman with long chestnut hair seated upright at a dressing table, her back toward him.

Two maids bustled behind her, helping arrange her hair, apply her makeup, and put on her jewelry.

The butler stood behind her with his head lowered. From the corner of his eye, he could see half her face reflected in the mirror.

In the mirror, her red lips were slightly parted, revealing an alluring charm. The elegant, flowing line of her chin resembled a sculpted work of art.

"Miss, the banquet is ready," the butler said.

"Has anyone failed to come?" she asked softly.

"They've all arrived."

She nodded. In the mirror, the slight curve of her parted lips accentuated her sensuality and liveliness.