Chapter 195: Mage Golan

This was Merlin's first time seeing a spellcaster family estate. The Delman family's sprawling complex was entirely different from the tower-filled scenery of the Dark Spirit Domain. Here, low buildings spread across vast grounds, with each area housing several large structures surrounded by planted herbs and potion ingredients.

The estate resembled a spider's web, radiating outward. The area Merlin saw was only the outer section of the Delman family's territory.

"Mage Merlin, let's go."

Alina gestured toward the main gate, and both she and Ximi raised their arms. The golden insignias on their sleeves shimmered, activating a series of runes and creating a strange fluctuation. Merlin noticed that a rune-based ward had been placed at the gate. However, it wasn't particularly powerful; he estimated a single first-level spell could break it. This simple ward was nothing compared to the grand protective array surrounding the Dark Spirit Domain, which was designed by Archmage Fidel himself. The Delman family, after all, did not possess such formidable spellcasters.

Inside the Delman estate, Merlin noticed many spellcasters moving around. They greeted Alina respectfully, but Merlin observed they were relatively weak; some had only managed to construct a couple of spells.

In such a large family, Merlin found it surprising that he hadn't encountered a single first-level spellcaster along the way.

Curious, he asked, "Mage Alina, your family should be one of the more powerful spellcaster families in Floating City. Why haven't I seen any first-level spellcasters here?"

Alina stopped, looking at Merlin with a wry smile. "Mage Merlin, I think you're comparing my family to the Dark Spirit Domain. In the Domain, first-level spellcasters are common, but no spellcaster family can truly compare to a spellcaster organization. In the Delman family, reaching first-level makes one highly regarded. Although I haven't yet reached that level, because I was chosen to train in the Dark Spirit Domain, my family has high hopes for me. So, I enjoy a certain status here, even though my talent is not all that impressive within the Domain."

Merlin nodded thoughtfully. Indeed, Alina's aptitude in the Dark Spirit Domain was considered average, which is why she was assigned to Leo's tower. Still, in the Delman family, her potential to reach the first level gave her significant standing. Most members of the Delman family didn't even have that chance.

Merlin recalled his encounters with wandering mages. Encountering a single first-level mage among a hundred was considered fortunate. His experience in the Dark Spirit Domain and Floating City had left him with the impression that first-level mages were common, especially since he had encountered many, even third-level ones like Samir, Bren, and Raisen. Floating City, however, attracted the more powerful mages among wanderers, which likely distorted Merlin's perspective.

"Mage Merlin, please, come inside."

Before he realized it, Merlin found himself standing in front of a peaceful house.

The interior was immaculate, with a faint fragrance lingering in the air. Alina and Merlin sat facing each other, and the atmosphere grew serious. Even Ximi, who had been chattering nonstop, fell silent.

Merlin smiled, sensing the conversation was about to turn to business. He knew Alina wouldn't have invited him here merely for a casual visit.

"Mage Alina, please, what's on your mind?" he asked.

Alina glanced at Ximi and instructed her, "Ximi, go see if Karen has returned."

Ximi reluctantly obeyed, stepping outside. Merlin couldn't help but wonder what matter was serious enough for Alina to take such precautions.

"Mage Merlin," Alina began, her voice low and serious, "I invited you here because I have something important to discuss, something that could be very beneficial to you."

"Oh? What might that be?" Merlin's expression grew serious.

With a careful tone, Alina said, "Have you heard of ancient ruins?"

"Ancient ruins? You mean sites left behind by powerful spellcasters?"

A peculiar look crossed Merlin's face. Could Alina have found a ruin as well?

Alina nodded. "Exactly. Since you're familiar with the concept, you understand their value. This one, however, dates back 3,600 years to the Morta Empire—a time when spellcasters reached their peak. Ruins from that era often contain incredible spells, enchanted tools, or rare potion ingredients."

"I've received reliable information about one such ruin, including its exact location. I invited you here because I'd like you to join us in exploring it."

She paused, watching Merlin closely as he absorbed the information.

The more Merlin listened, the more suspicious he became.

"An ancient ruin from 3,600 years ago? Could it be that two ruins have coincidentally been discovered at the same time?"

Remembering his prior arrangement with Samir and the others to enter a Morta Empire ruin, he couldn't shake the feeling that the information about this ruin had already spread.

"Alina, where exactly is this ruin you're talking about?"

Alina was about to answer when a voice interrupted from outside. "The exact location will be disclosed if Mage Merlin agrees to join us!"

"Karen?"

The door opened, revealing a mage with chestnut-colored hair.

"Alina, Karen only just returned, so I couldn't notify you," Ximi said softly, glancing at her sister.

Alina frowned but quickly composed herself. Turning to Karen, she began, "Karen, I'd like you to meet—"

Karen waved her off, his gaze fixed on Merlin. "No need to introduce him. I know who he is: Merlin, the six-element spellcaster from the Dark Spirit Domain. Alina, you never stop talking about him."

Then, raising his voice, Karen continued, "Alina, this ancient ruin is no small matter. Why would you carelessly share its location in my absence? A six-element spellcaster from the Dark Spirit Domain may be impressive, but how does he compare to Golan?"

As he finished speaking, a tall figure cloaked in a red robe appeared behind him, exuding a searing aura, like a walking flame.

"Golan, you agreed to join us, which is great news," Alina replied, a complex expression on her face. "But having Mage Merlin with us would make this exploration even more promising."

Seeing the red-robed figure, Merlin's eyes narrowed. The man wore a robe inscribed with runes, which Merlin recognized from the Dark Spirit Domain as the official attire of a Fire City member.

Fire City, like the Dark Spirit Domain, was a small spellcaster organization and had recently allied with other groups to resist Osm. While there was underlying rivalry between the Dark Spirit Domain and Abyss Fortress, Fire City was geographically distant and posed no conflict of interest.

This was Merlin's first encounter with a mage from Fire City.

Alina's face showed some awkwardness, but she quickly regained composure. She introduced the red-robed mage to Merlin, "Mage Merlin, this is Golan, one of the most outstanding talents in the Delman family. Golan is an official member of Fire City and a second-level mage with four elements."

Karen hastily added, "If not for the alliance against Osm, Golan would already be advancing toward constructing his third-level spells."

In contrast to Karen's excitement, Golan remained calm. Nodding politely at Merlin, he said, "I've heard of you. A six-element spellcaster from the Dark Spirit Domain, known for defeating a first-level mage at the Dark Spirit Domain's exchange event."

Golan continued in a measured tone, "I'm not overly familiar with the Dark Spirit Domain, but I once met Kreiss, a five-element mage. Back then, he hadn't become an official member of the Domain, and yet he was already an extraordinary talent. To think he'd later betray the Domain and join Osm… what a waste."

Golan shook his head in apparent regret.

His gaze settled on Merlin before he turned to Alina. "Go ahead, Alina, you may tell Mage Merlin about the ruin. It's common knowledge across Floating City by now; any mage could tell you about it."

"Already known throughout Floating City?"

Merlin's face darkened slightly. If this ruin was the same one Samir and the others intended to explore, then the situation was more complex than he'd anticipated.

With this thought, Merlin looked at Alina, ready to hear her description of the ancient ruin.