Marketplace

The Arcane Faction.

The oldest, wealthiest and more influential major faction in the Magical Court possessed something that all acolytes wanted: resources.

Although raw materials were usually found in the Silver Union Black Market, resources such as potions, elixirs, weapons or even enchanted artefacts could be found in the Arcane Faction's marketplace.

As if Jack Blast wanted to get closer to the party, he followed Lewis to the marketplace, willing to learn from the man who defeated him three months ago. As an imperial knight with little background, walking on the path of body refinement and becoming an acolyte through and through could not be achieved with just resources and luck. You needed to have a growth mindset, and Jack possessed it.

'No grudge, no malice despite the fact that I was heavy on him...', Lewis analysed his new companion who would join his party for his next mission. 

It was not an easy mission either, as it was ranked 2-stars, something usually reserved for the elite beginner rank acolytes. However, as incredible as it seemed, his party earned the qualifications to take upon such mission the moment it defeated an intermediate-rank creature. Granted, it was an intermediate-rank druid, and it was much weaker than a magical beast or acolyte of that rank, but it was still possessed higher spirit reserves and raw strength, as unrefined as it was.

Most parties would have abandonned the mission and reported back to the magical court upon seeing the misinformation provided, and no one would have bat an eye if they did. After all, it was common sense not to risk your life. It was a quality. 

But Lewis did not even ask himself if he could win the Northern battle with the Fire Dagger Tribe. He just knew himself, his strengths and weaknesses, and used this mission as a fuel to grow stronger. Far from the Island of Bones, he did not risk being seen using an enhanced forbidden blood rituals that was reserved that even bloodline acolytes from extraordinary backgrounds could only wish for.

This new party of theirs was pretty strong. They possessed Jorg as the vanguard, Orianna as the backline and with his vast arsenal of close and ranged spells, he could easily fill in the gap and support his party. Jack Blast was a nice addition to their skills, allowing the pressure on Jorg to be alleviated slightly. 

In the coming mission, it would allow Lewis to have full attention on protecting the acolyte from the Arcane Faction Raon. He had never heard about the man before, meaning that he was either insignificant, or died before he had a chance to earn reputation in the magical court. Either way, he possessed a golem, so his arcane control must be high. 

Though golems were not usually used in combat, they could still obliterate most footsoldiers in war due to their durability. Most of them were slow, and terrifyingly strong, making them extraordinary tools to build large structures. Hiring five golem owners, however, was an unprecedented feat that could only be achieved when cooperating with the arcane faction. 

"Jorg, you should try and purchase a couple of Green Vine Sap. As a lizardman, you will be able to digest it fully, unlike regular body refinement acolytes. They use it to get poison resistance, but the true value of green vine sap reveals itself when drinking it profusely from times to times, as it can raise your stamina and strength significantly, provided that you can survive the immediate aftermath", Lewis spoke

Orianna and Jorg were used to Lewis' antics. After living three months under the boy's shade, they had grown an understanding of his greatest strength: his knowledge. Lewis knew a lot of things, be it herbs, magical theories or even strange, obscure pieces of information such as this use of green vine sap, that was quite unique to lizardmen, something that even Jorg, as a lizardman chieftain, knew nothing about.

Actually, this information could easily be found in the Magical Court Library, but the cost of spending one day inside was one magic crystals. Besides wealthy scions and merchants, few people could afford to get a glimpse of the knowledge stove inside the heart of the Magical Court. Lewis, however, had decades to explore it, bit by bit, book by book.

Jack, however, was flabbergasted upon hearing about this. Without hesitation, he quickly asked: "I still have a couple of magic crystals remaining...Should I spend it on dragon beer still?"

Lewis pondered for a while, before nodding in acknowledgement.

'No wonder Janna has high expectations for the man...He has potential, and possesses the right state of mind to become stronger. Give him ten years, and he might become an intermediate rank acolyte...'

Lewis quickly answered: "Spend half of what you possess into dragon beer. This might be easy to purchase as a crimson clan member, but make no mistake, it is a priceless ressource that made a well-established faction like the Blue Wolf Mercenary Group eager to engage in war with us. Since it works and is proven to work on body refinement acolytes like us, you should take advantage of this. However, you also happened to be the weakest member of this expedition, if you exclude Raon, who we have to protect. Buy a couple of common antidotes. They might come in handy for you. Jorg is strong enough to endure them, Orianna possesses one of the most fearsome poison in her blood and I just happen to be able to control my very own blood good enough to prevent anything from spreading into my body. You, on the other hand, might die on a mortal's poison if not prepared"

Jack pondered for a while, before nodding. Lewis was wise indeed. Survival mattered more than mere strength, and he had almost overlooked that.

Orianna sighed, putting her pride aside, and asked: "What do you think I should buy?"

Lewis looked at the green-haired girl, who possessed eyes of a reptile. In a way, she was similar to Jorg since they both possessed oval eyes that seemed to pierce through your soul. However, she lacked spirit, bloodline purity and viciousness to make Lewis acknowledge her. She might be stronger than Jack right now. She might have received the education of a Longlost heiress, even if she came from a secondary branch. She might be related to a real, fearsome magus.

However, she lacked potential, and the mindset to compensate this lack of talent.

In his previous life, she survived for quite some time, but never showed any sign of becoming an intermediate rank acolyte. She was strong enough to complete one-star missions, and eventually two-star missions after joining some random party. However, she never went above that. Her limits, if she continued, were set at elite beginner rank acolyte. And to be part of Lewis' party, it was not enough.

The Northern Barbarian battles had created a spark to change her character, and the battle with the druid that Lewis orchestrated had woken her instincts...to some extinct. Slowly, she was changing, and alongside it, her potential increased. But it was not enough. She needed much more to become an intermediate rank acolyte. 

"You must have some funds left as a Longlost heir, right?"

Jack Blast took a step back, looking at Orianna with some fear: "The Longlost Household? Apologies, I failed to recognize your grace, my lady"

Lewis shrugged, never used to these antics: "Just buy blood essence and drink it. At the end of the day, you need to mature, and relying on aging is not a sustainable way to grow. There are more efficient way to make you grow, but if you just wait to get stronger, you will not be able to follow our pace"

Orianna nodded. It looks like she had made a decision. She was originally saving up magic crystals to buy an enchanted weapon...but Lewis made her realize that she possessed a fundamental problem. She needed to grow stronger, herself. On the long run, it was more rewarding in the end.

'As for me...Well, I guess I could make a blood ritual'