Black Mist and Wizard Runes

"I told you, there's no way I'm pulling strings for you! You damned bastard, get out!"

Taylor had just submitted the quest to collect Fire Lizard scales when he arrived at the Apprentice Library and heard Oak's furious voice. A whirlwind then rose from the ground and hurled an unlucky fellow straight out.

Watching the unfortunate man turn and leave in a miserable state, Taylor raised an eyebrow, pushed open the doors to the Apprentice Library, and saw Oak, whose face still bore traces of anger.

"What was that about?"

Seeing Taylor, Oak waved dismissively. He took two cups from beneath the counter, poured them both full of water, handed one to Taylor, and set the other before himself.

"Just a second-level Wizard apprentice with almost no hope left. He's nearly thirty, yet he's still stuck at this stage and hasn't been able to construct his fourth Wizard model. His life is basically over."

Oak shook his head. He had failed after becoming a third-level Wizard apprentice. When he attempted to advance to a first-level Wizard, he suffered irreversible mental damage, which was why he had become the librarian of the Apprentice Library.

"He kept begging me to let him exchange for a book on increasing a Wizard's mental power at a lower point cost. He wanted to make one last push, but he didn't have enough points. Knowledge involving the mind is expensive."

At that, Oak's lips curled crookedly, though it was unclear what he was mocking. Perhaps that overestimating fool from earlier, or perhaps his current failed self.

Seeing the faintly mocking smile on Oak's face, Taylor asked, "Then why did you give me half off that Wizard tool?"

"Because you're worth investing in. You should know that a boy of around nine becoming a first-level Wizard apprentice represents exceptionally high Wizard talent."

Oak lifted the cup before him, took a sip of hot water, and continued.

"Did you really think it was because you were cute? Or that people like us were interested in nurturing juniors? Give me a break. Tutes from the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, Gili from the Miscellaneous Affairs Office—ordinary apprentices wouldn't even get a chance to meet them."

"Like me, they have no chance of advancing further, yet they hold the most lucrative jobs among the apprentices. If we want to protect our positions, we have to invest in powerful Wizard apprentices. Even if they don't become Wizards, having them as friends is still a deterrent. And once they become noble Wizards, even a few things casually bestowed by them would be enough to benefit us for a lifetime."

After hearing Oak's words, Taylor felt no dissatisfaction. One of the fundamental rules of Wizards clearly stated that everything had its own laws, and the most fundamental of those laws was gain and loss. For every benefit one enjoyed, one had to pay a price.

Equivalent exchange was the truth Wizards followed most closely. Any benefit gained would inevitably have to be repaid someday.

"Then when I become a powerful Wizard in the future, I'll definitely repay the help you've given me."

Seeing Taylor's youthful yet extremely serious face, Oak burst into laughter. He took a small pouch of black powder from the inner pocket of his clothes, scooped out a spoonful, placed it into an even smaller cloth pouch, and handed it to Taylor.

"That's exactly what I'm waiting to hear. Keep this safe. Whenever you feel mentally exhausted, or even under mental pressure, take out less than half a fingernail's worth, put it in a cup, and drink it with hot water."

Taylor took the small cloth pouch and looked up at Oak, who immediately explained.

"This stuff is rare even among Wizard apprentices. The Miscellaneous Affairs Office doesn't have it. It relieves mental pressure and fatigue. A Wizard I invested in gave it to me long ago. I don't know where that Wizard has gone now. He hasn't come back in many years."

This really was good stuff.

Taylor's eyes seemed to shine. He quickly tucked the small cloth pouch into the inner pocket at his chest, then asked eagerly, "After I finish it, can I buy more from you?"

"That little pouch costs one hundred points. This time, I'll count it as a gift... You can give me forty points."

"I really thought you were giving it to me. Didn't you say you were investing in me?"

"Giving you a discount already counts as investing in you. You should know that there's no such thing as getting something for nothing in the world of Wizards. Everything is equivalent exchange. Stop talking nonsense and bring me the points already."

Only after reluctantly handing over forty points did Taylor remember why he had come.

"Oh, right, Oak. I nearly forgot what I came here for. I want to exchange for the Wizard model for Black Mist and a copy of Basic Wizard Runes."

The right choice.

Black Mist was often used to block an enemy's vision or to escape, making it extremely practical.

Wizard runes were an extension and further manifestation of a Wizard's power. They could be used to create Wizard formations, Wizard tools, Wizard puppets, and more. It could be said that they were the vessels of a Wizard's power.

Oak nodded, then turned and entered the library, returning with two books.

"The Wizard model for Black Mist is one hundred and twenty-five points. Basic Wizard Runes is one hundred points."

"Why don't these two get a discount?"

"These are clearly priced by the great Wizards. The Flame Medal and the black powder were private assistance from me. How could they be the same?"

"Oh."

"Don't forget to return them in fourteen days."

"Oh."

Watching Taylor leave, Oak opened another cabinet. It was filled with the same cloth pouches as before.

Young people really were easy to fool...

After returning to his small room, Taylor immediately began studying the newly acquired Wizard model.

"There are sixteen mental power nodes and four Wizard runes in total."

Taylor carefully read through the explanation of the Wizard model. Black Mist had one more Wizard rune and five more mental power nodes than his first Wizard model, Lesser Fireball.

This also meant that the model was more complicated, consumed more magic power, and was more likely to cause accidents while connecting it.

According to the book, the four Wizard runes represented sight, smell, hearing, and mist respectively. That meant that once this Wizard spell was cast, it would block the target's sight, smell, and hearing, while also taking a mist-like form.

About three hours later, Taylor felt groggy. He immediately put down the book, used the fingernail of his index finger to scoop out a small piece of black powder from the small cloth pouch in his inner pocket, and brewed it with hot water.

After drinking the pale black liquid, Taylor immediately felt his mind become exceptionally clear, as though the fog that had shrouded his thoughts had vanished in an instant.

"This really is good stuff. Time is precious. I have to make the most of it."