CH113 - CH114

CH113

After advancing to a third-level wizard apprentice, the side effects of the Starry Sky Potion affected Helag much less.

The previous restlessness was now almost negligible.

"Dark Energy Shield!" Helag cast the spell, noticing a significant increase in the shield's strength.

He felt an increase in the surrounding energy particles, though the particles had always been there. His advancement allowed him to sense more of them.

Half a month after his advancement, Helag continued his routine.

The newly advanced Helag needed time to familiarize himself with his new strength and stabilize his mental power through meditation.

Deep Blue also improved, extending its detection range to 500 meters, making it feel vastly different from before.

"Elisa?" He sensed Elisa's carriage approaching.

Helag realized he hadn't visited the Lord's castle in a while, prompting Elisa's visit.

He tidied up and went to the door.

As he reached the door, Elisa's carriage arrived, driven by the great knight Levant.

Elisa wore a long dress, traditional noble attire, covering most of her body. She dressed formally when outside.

"Why are you here?" Helag asked, helping her down from the carriage.

Elisa pouted, "You still remember me? I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"I told you, I needed to focus on my training," Helag said, smoothly wrapping his arm around her waist.

"You succeeded?" Elisa sensed the unusual aura around Helag.

"Yes," Helag nodded.

"Sixteen-year-old third-level wizard apprentice…" Elisa knew from Dino that advancing to a third-level apprentice at sixteen indicated immense potential, possibly becoming a formal wizard.

Not all apprentices became formal wizards; many remained apprentices for life.

"What are your plans now?" Elisa asked.

Helag pondered, "I'll stay here for now. I don't know when things will settle in Moonlight Forest. If I meet the requirements to become a formal wizard and still can't return, I'll need to find the resources for advancement."

"So, you'll leave here eventually?" Elisa asked.

Helag nodded, "Yes, I won't stay here long."

Elisa sighed, expecting this.

She touched her belly, "Can you give me a child before you leave?"

"I'm a third-level apprentice now; it's hard to have children with you," Helag shook his head.

"How do you know if you don't try?" Elisa persisted, holding Helag's hand.

Feeling a stir within, Helag picked Elisa up and carried her inside.

After a long time apart, they indulged in each other once more.

***

Two months later.

[Helag Merlin:

Strength 8.0,

Agility 7.1,

Constitution 8.8,

Spirit 18.6,

Magic 100%.]

Helag completed the eleventh star meditation, taking nearly three months, with the Starry Sky Potion's effect significantly reduced.

The second dot matrix lit its first point, with fourteen remaining.

Advancing to a formal wizard required twenty points of mental strength. The Starry Sky Meditation allowed five stars at the third-level apprentice stage, so Helag could meditate on four more stars.

"It's time to prepare for advancing to a formal wizard."

Helag considered the difficulty of obtaining the necessary resources if he couldn't return to Moonlight Forest soon.

The ancient potion required for advancement had many high-level ingredients, hard to find.

In Moonlight Forest, Helag could buy them from Larry.

His spatial ring held many valuable items, enough to buy the ancient potion.

While he could make it himself, the cost was high.

Ancient potion-making was far more complex than the Dawn or Dawn Dusk Potions. Even with Deep Blue's help, success was unlikely.

Helag believed ancient potions were critical resources controlled by wizard organizations, almost impossible for lone apprentices to make.

This was why potion masters like Larry held such high status; they could easily make ancient potions, crucial for wizard organizations.

Rogue apprentices rarely advanced to formal wizards, lacking access to ancient potions.

Wizard organizations controlled these resources, essentially controlling the path to becoming a formal wizard.

Besides the ancient potion, advancing required a potion called Amanda.

Amanda could stimulate potential, aiding the breakthrough to a formal wizard, and could be used multiple times.

This was why advancing before eighteen was crucial; older bodies had less potential.

Older apprentices often failed to advance, even with multiple Amanda potions, burning out their lifespan.

Many older third-level apprentices, unwilling to stop, overdosed on Amanda's potions, burning out their life force.

While pondering these issues, Helag noticed his rune stone flashing.

[News from Moonlight Forest!]

Helag quickly activated the rune stone to check the message.

[Moonlight Forest and Green Hut's war is nearing its end. A ceasefire and negotiations are underway. You can return. I'll notify you of any changes.]

The message from Larry was sent two days ago.

Being far from Moonlight Forest, Helag received messages late.

Also, being outside, he couldn't reply, only receive messages.

Seeing the message, Helag looked around, feeling nostalgic. "It's time to leave."

He didn't rush to depart, needing to carefully plan his route back.

He ruled out the Kingdom of Violet, avoiding the eerie Creek Valley Town.

With the eastern route dismissed, he had to choose between heading north or taking a ship along the west coast to the east.

CH114 

Traveling by sea was too roundabout and filled with uncertainties.

Helag decided to head north through the Kingdom of Doris. Once he crossed the border, he would head east to reach Moonlight Forest.

Consulting the map, he noted that thanks to Doris's excellent road network, it would take about half a month to reach the northern border.

After crossing the border, it would take around four to five months to reach Moonlight Forest.

With his route planned, Helag prepared to settle matters here. 

He called out, "Ed!"

Ed quickly came running, holding pruning shears, as he had been tending the garden. 

"Ed, I'm leaving soon. You and Judy can stay in this house. I probably won't return," Helag said.

Ed was shocked and a bit panicked. "Master, where are you going? I can follow you."

Helag shook his head. "You're an ordinary person. Where I'm going isn't suitable for you. Stay here, and live well with Judy. I'll ask Elisa to arrange some work for you so you can learn a trade and support your family."

"Master…" Ed knelt, expressing his gratitude.

Ed was no longer a slave; Elisa had given him the status of a Ryan City resident.

To Helag, this was a small matter, but to Ed, it was like a new life.

Judy could move out of the slums and no longer live in a place filled with filth and corpses.

Ed and Judy couldn't afford such an expensive house on their own, and they felt unworthy.

Now, Helag's offer made Ed determined to maintain the house well, as it belonged to his master.

"Ed, to the Lord's castle," Helag said, boarding the carriage.

Ed, initially sad, perked up immediately. He eagerly took the reins, feeling purposeful every time he drove Helag.

The carriage moved through the bustling city, stopping at the Lord's castle.

The castle's guards were familiar with Helag's carriage and led it to the backyard, where the horses were fed and watered.

Ed could rest in the backyard, waiting for Helag.

If Helag stayed overnight, Ed would rest in a small room in the backyard, with food provided by the castle.

Helag no longer needed an announcement to enter the castle; he walked in directly.

He made his way to Elisa's chamber and gently knocked.

"Come in," Elisa's lazy voice responded.

She knew it was Helag, as Levant would announce specific matters.

Elisa lay on a chair by a large window, basking in the sunlight streaming through.

The scene struck Helag as a beautiful painting.

"I'm leaving," Helag said softly.

Elisa remained silent, her eyes closed, and the room filled with a heavy silence.

After a while, tears rolled down Elisa's cheeks despite her closed eyes.

She opened her eyes, wiped her tears, and tried to sound calm, though her voice trembled. "Will you come back?"

"Probably not. Don't wait for me. I'm a wizard…" Helag felt a rare sense of helplessness.

His meaning was clear: a wizard's life was long. He might not return to Ryan City for a long time, and by then, Elisa might be old.

For Helag, it was a farewell, but for Elisa, it could be a final goodbye.

"Then go. Don't come back. If you do, wait until I'm dead so you can remember me as young and beautiful," Elisa said softly.

Helag walked over, knelt by her chair, and buried his head in her lap, closing his eyes.

Elisa held his head, gently stroking his cheek, savoring the moment of peace.

***

Three days later, Helag and Elisa stood at the castle gate.

Ed stood behind them, having waited in the backyard for three days.

Helag removed the Fireball Ring from his finger.

The ring, enchanted with a small fireball spell, was now of little use to him.

Helag could easily conjure a fireball with fire energy particles, and the small fireball spell was simple to learn.

He placed the ring on Elisa's finger. "This is an enchanted item with a small fireball spell. If you're in danger, channel magic into it to activate."

Elisa admired the ring on her pale finger, delighted. "I'll always wear it."

Though weak, she had enough magic to use the enchanted item.

After a brief farewell, Helag set off.

Like before, he joined a caravan heading north.

The caravan would cross the border, travel east to the Kingdom of Relna, and then west through the Kingdom of Violet back to Doris.

Helag would part ways with the caravan near Moonlight Forest.

The carriage he had used earlier was left behind, bought by Elisa, and kept at the castle.

Elisa had prepared a new carriage for Helag, pulled by two fine horses, with a spacious, luxurious interior.

She wasn't worried about the carriage attracting trouble. Those who would rob Helag for money couldn't beat him, and those who could wouldn't be interested in the carriage.

Ed had insisted on driving Helag, but Helag had kicked him off.

With Judy pregnant, Helag didn't want Ed risking his life, making his previous efforts pointless.

Many in the caravan were willing to drive for Helag, knowing his esteemed status, as Elisa had personally seen him off.

The caravan leader's youngest son drove Helag, likely hoping to build a connection with him.