Lasting Effects

"You have about a year before you'll lose the ability to move. Then another year or two then… All of your life essence should have vanished at that point."

"Life essence? Dying? I have two years left?" Brian still can't comprehend what he heard.

"Consider this a favor for helping my student… It would be bad if Samon lost his future boss so soon."

This conversation was private despite it happening in a closed room. It's only Brian and Steron who's able to hear what they were talking about. Lucy hasn't noticed it but she was the only one outside the space magic that separates the people inside it from the outside world.

"I've never seen a case which you have. Your body is built to be strong yet you don't have control of even a portion of it… It's not an illness, disease, or curse. But something is taking your life essence away- like you're using borrowed time."

"There's nothing wrong with my body." It's common to doubt a statement that says you're about to die because of an unknown cause. Especially when Brian hasn't felt something's amiss in his life.

He connected Steron's observation to his past. There was the incident of drinking the Blood of Death or maybe during when he battled between life and death through Asti's magic.

Either way, none of those things should have resulted in lasting effects- Or that is what he knows of. But it seems he's mistaken.

"You might not see the effects right now because you've got used to your body. Nevertheless, I can help you relieve some burden you have."

"?!"

"This is something I made for reasons not applicable anymore. So I can give it to you, but this is not a cure to whatever is happening in your body- Although at least it can give you few more years to find more time on how to fix it completely." Steron placed a small vial on his palms.

The vial was freezing cold to touch. It contains a purple liquid that produces a bit of glow. Brian doesn't know what it is, but it should do what Steron says it should do because he's the Alchemy Master.

"Thank you very much, Senior! I'm going make sure to find ways to how to repay you in the future!"

"Think of this as this old man's goodwill for taking that idiot of a kid… Our time is up. Looks like I'll be troubling Sir Brian once again."

Their conversation was cut short because of certain activities happening outside. Peeking at the window, dozens of Aviang guards are coming at his blacksmith.

Lucy found something was strange and put down the game cube on the table. Everyone in the room was ready to entertain these people who were coming that weren't planning to be their customers.

Meanwhile, the man the other party is looking for doesn't have any intention of teleporting away. Steron decided to end the chase since he's leaving the city anyways.

"Master Steron! We've finally met!"

Leading the group, a fully plated Avian forcefully burst open the door without caring what happens to it. When it says fully plated, the only parts covered are their chest and thighs. They're less protected compared to your average adventurer because of their characteristics.

"We request Master Steron to come in our kingdom. Your presence and ability are crucial so hopefully, Master Steron could come with us."

"That's not how you ask for a favor, little birdie."

'Will a fight explode inside my shop? These intruders are really one of a kind. Not only did they bang the door, but they dare to hold their weapons after they've been rejected by Steron.'

A couple of these knights were equipped with their weapons. You can tell they weren't part of the patrol team of Soliel so they had little regard for what happens to a small shop in a city they don't live in.

Their patience was running low. They've been chasing for weeks now for this alchemist master. Bringing him back to their kingdom comes first. The means of how to do it comes second.

Brian thought these guys don't know Steron is no pushover. His name must be known for only being a Grandmaster Alchemist because only idiots would dare to pull their weapon in front of him.

"I guess this is farewell for now Sir Brian… I hope the next time we meet, Samon gets his act together."

Without waiting for the other party to begin their turn, Steron raised his hands and cast his spell. The whole blacksmith, including those who were outside, was surrounded by a bubble made of distorted purple and black haze.

Time seems to have stopped, but all the spell did was transfer the chosen people to a place far away from Soliel City. People that weren't included are the like of Brian, Lucy, and innocent passersby who got their curiosity bested them.

Spatial magic is one of the rarest types of magic yet a High-Ranking spell of that type is done inside his blacksmith. Moving from one space to another takes a large toll on a mage's mana- and Steron brought at least twenty of them away.

Brian realized how lucky he was. Any mage with that capability surely is difficult to talk to.

"Boss Bry! Are you alright?!" Lucy felt awful for the incident that just transpired without her able to do anything. She didn't expect the old man is a wanted person, and someone so strong.

So strong in fact the workshop which should be untouchable from Brian's knowledge was also shaken up. How they know it is because Richi went out asking if everything was fine.

It's difficult to explain to him the situation moments ago since the workshop is a totally different world in itself. All Richi got was a warning alarm that an attack was happening outside. However, when he did step out, the ones present is the usual faces.

If System's well-secured room recognized the spell of Steron as an attack, it shows how powerful it is.

"There's no need to panic. We'll resume business as always. There should be no problem now- hopefully."

The two of his employees were still doubtful about what happened so Brian patiently explains it to them from the very beginning. On how Samon, the one-eyed mage they met in the party may be a co-worker of theirs soon.

Brian wanted everything to return to normal, but the grand spectacle of high-ranking spell didn't go unnoticed by the public eye. The transferring spell was quite big for all it matters. Those neighboring districts had their normal morning when suddenly a purple dome was towering in the distance.

Of course, it will gain the attention of many.

It would be an unexpected yet welcoming surprise to have a spectacle that leads many to his shops. However, Brian needs to explain to many official Soliel knights who thought they were being attacked inside their city.

This took all Brian's time- answering questions from wary security personnel to people wanting to inquire wares of his blacksmith. He prefers to just answer the latter, but he wasn't released until those knights got a satisfying answer.

Thankfully, the blacksmith was still able to conduct their operation normally despite their boss being interrogated just across the street.

"You're saying Master Steron didn't entertain Princess Emily's servants?"

"Senior Steron did entertain them although not in a way they wanted." Brian now knew the birdman who invaded his space wasn't just a normal birdman. After describing his features to the knight captain, he was shocked it was a member of the Avian Royal Knights.

"If Master Steron doesn't help their kingdom… I need to report this to the king directly!"

After hours of explaining the same thing over and over again. The captain finally released Brian. That took too much time that he was hungry he could eat a lion whole.

He really wanted to reject the job application of Samon because all of these troubles came to him after he decided to hide in his alchemy shop without permission. But everyone already seems to expect him to be the third member of Nova Initia.

'I guess I should prepare that contract already. It would be funny if he backed out because of the conditions my shop has.'

Making sure Paia and Raine's family was fine after the commotion, he went back to the blacksmith to take advantage of the eye-catching advertisement he had.

'I should be receiving the alchemy shop inventory two days from now if all goes to well in Ogz side... Let's double-check the shop before I open it for business.'

He was formulating a plan how to solve the built-in concealment magic his alchemy shop had. Samon might be jumping for joy if there are no customers, but the same cannot be said to Brian.

There was a huge debt tag in his soul, and the System had enough of him ignoring it so money is more than important now. He's doing research for this sake. Not to mention, the Rebirth Potion in the Item Shop that costs 500,000 Royal coins seems more needed than he expected.

Another way to earn money is what he really needs now.