A Wizard’s Secret

The black-robed old man’s expression gradually softened and he replied in a cold tone, “Burton, we’re here to buy some potion materials this time.”

“Potion materials?”

Wizard Burton showed a smile, then said, “Hill, what potion materials do you need? I’ll check if I have the things you need since I’ve collected quite a lot of potion materials during these few years.”

The black-robed old man gave it some thoughts and replied, “I need Purple Stone Powder.”

Merlin also said to Wizard Burton, “The potion materials I need are quite complicated. Blueberry, Floral Silver Grass…”

Wizard Burton glanced at Merlin, bewildered. Then, his expressions turned grim and looked at the black-robed old man. “Hill, who is this wizard?”

“Burton, Wizard Merlin is trustworthy. You don’t have to worry about him.”

The black-robed old man naturally understood what Wizard Burton meant, so he answered coldly.

“So, it’s Wizard Merlin. I have some Purple Stone Powder that Hill needs, but the potion materials like Blueberry that Wizard Merlin needs are too precious. I don’t have any of that, so I can only bring you to shop somewhere else. However, the price for those materials is high. Wizard Merlin should be ready for that.”

Merlin nodded. Before coming to Floating City, the black-robed old man had briefly explained the norms in Floating City. Elemental crystal stones were usually used to trade for items in Floating City. However, some precious things were traded via the barter system.

Merlin had a lot of elemental crystal stones, but he was more inclined toward the barter system. He planned to look for the potion materials first before buying them.

After seeing the nod, Wizard Burton stood up and said to the black-robed old man and Merlin, “Let’s go. Follow me!”

Wizard Burton left the yard and his Alchemy Creature followed suit. The Alchemy Creature stuck close to Wizard Burton so that she could block attacks for him if any situation presented itself.

After walking past many alleys, the crowd lessened significantly. Although the surroundings became rather quiet, Merlin did not let down his guard. Instead, he approached the black-robed old man and asked in a low voice, “Wizard Hill, can we trust this Wizard Burton?”

It was Merlin’s first time in Floating City, so he was unfamiliar with everything here. He did not trust Wizard Burton much.

The black-robed old man gave a thoughtful glance at Wizard Burton’s back, then replied in a heavy tone, “Burton and I only have some differences in ideology. But our friendship has lasted for decades. I saved his life before, and he has resolved many pinches for me. So, Burton is trustworthy.”

Merlin nodded. He could see that although the black-robed old man was unhappy with Wizard Burton on some aspects and even had serious arguments before, these matters did not affect their friendship.

Soon, Wizard Burton led Merlin and the old man into a quiet yard.

The door was shut tight, so Wizard Burton shouted, “Wizard Vladi.”

After a long while, a hoarse and old voice came from within the house. “Wizard Burton, I’m preparing a potion now. Feel free to come in.”

Wizard Burton revealed a helpless expression before saying to the old man and Merlin, “Let’s enter first. Wizard Vladi is just this way. He spends his whole day studying special potions. Although he’s only a First-level Spell Caster, he has exceptional talent in potions. He’s an apothecary and can prepare any potion. He should have many precious potion materials here. If Wizard Merlin wants it, you can discuss it with Wizard Vladi.”

Wizard Burton explained to Merlin as they walked into the house. He quickly pushed the door open and the group immediately entered a dark room.

As soon as they entered the room, a pungent smell hit Merlin’s nostrils. A faint light from the fire was flashing and letting out a hissing sound.

At the moment, Merlin only noticed a bearded Spell Caster with messy hair at a corner of the room. The Spell Caster was messing with many glassware on the floor.

Merlin was familiar with the glassware as they were essentials for making potions. However, on closer inspection, Merlin found that the glassware were inadequate. They seemed rather unpolished as compared with the glassware he exchanged from the Dark Magic Region’s Resource Tower.

The one preparing the potion now was Wizard Vladi whom Wizard Burton had called out earlier.

Wizard Vladi was truly passionate about potions. Even after Merlin and the others were right behind him, he did not mind them at all. Instead, he set his gaze intensely at a green mucus in the glassware.

Hot air was still spewing from this green mucus potion as if it was just being heated up.

Merlin saw a piece of white paper on the table which contained some messy notes and records. After taking a closer look, he found that this was a series of detailed steps of making a potion. This should be the potion that Wizard Vladi was making now.

The name of this potion was Alkaline Earth Potion. Merlin was not clear about the effect of this potion but he realized that the potion-making steps were clearly written in detail on the piece of paper. If one followed the steps without mistake, one could have a high chance to prepare this potion successfully.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, a light explosion occurred. Smoke came out of the green potion in the glassware. Then, the potion exploded and broke the glassware into smithereens. The green mucus flew all over the place and stained Vladi’s black robe to green. He seemed ridiculous in the outfit.

“Damn it. I failed again. What’s wrong with this? It’s the fifth time. Why did I fail every time?”

Wizard Vladi kept pulling at his hair with both his hands and appeared extremely frustrated. He seemed to have no intention to mind Merlin and the others.

After seeing Wizard Vladi’s actions, Wizard Burton could not help but revealed a bitter smile. “Hill, Wizard Merlin, let’s leave first. If Wizard Vladi can’t make this potion successfully, he won’t talk to anyone at all.”

It seemed that Wizard Burton was very familiar with Wizard Vladi’s odd temperament. He was a madman who wanted to make potions until he went insane. Other than potions, he had no care about anything else at all.

After seeing Wizard Vladi, Merlin thought of Wizard Howl in the Dark Magic Region. It seemed that the Spell Casters who studied potions all acted the same way. If they could not make a potion successfully, they would never give up.

Upon thinking of this, Merlin immediately initiated the Matrix and instructed it to record the steps of preparing Alkaline Earth Potion. Then, it analyzed the steps according to the ratio of potion materials used.

Preparing the potion with the Matrix’s analysis would be much easier. He only needed to take note of the time. Thus, after the Matrix had recorded all the steps and proportion of potion materials used in Alkaline Earth Potion, Merlin proceeded to stand behind Vladi. He did not listen to Wizard Burton’s word to leave. Instead, he focused on watching Wizard Vladi making the potion.

Wizard Vladi was quick at preparing potions. He seemed to remember every material and every step by heart. Thus, when he began, he was familiar with everything and was quick in the process.

“Wait there. Wizard Vladi, if you continue making the potion this way, you’ll be destined to fail!”

Merlin was right behind Wizard Vladi when he suddenly voiced out.

“Hmm? You know about potions?”

Wizard Vladi slowly turned his head around. His expression was dark when he replied coldly.

Wizard Burton was about to say something but he was stopped by the black-robed old man. The old man naturally knew that Merlin had learned about potions after he joined the Dark Magic Region. When he made Purple Stone Powder previously, Merlin had demonstrated the steps to prepare the potion before him. In addition, his success rate at preparing potions was also exceptionally high.

It seemed as if Merlin had noticed some problems when Vladi was making the potions.

Upon seeing Wizard Vladi’s obvious frustrated expression, Merlin smiled. He said in a calm tone, “I know a little in making potions.”

Wizard Vladi smirked. He was agitated when he declared, “Do you know how long I’ve been making this potion? Do you know how much effort I’ve put into this? I’m precise in every step and every material proportion. You just arrived here and looked at the steps I messily jotted down on the paper. You’re saying that you’ve identified the problematic issues just like that?”

Wizard Vladi appeared rather worked up. Although he studied potions to the extent of becoming mad, he was not ignorant of his surroundings. Wizard Vladi was clear of any action that Merlin had made after entering his house.

Faced with Wizard Vladi’s doubts, Merlin did not fight back. With a smile, he replied, “Wizard Vladi’s every step is accurate. Moreover, you have a good grasp of the proportions of potion materials used. However, the reason you can’t make the potion successfully is, in fact, not Wizard Vladi’s fault. It’s the error of the glassware used to make potions. It was because of the tools!”

“Hmm? You mean to say that my babies are not accurate?”

Wizard Vladi pointed to the glassware on the ground and revealed a baffled expression.

Merlin nodded. “That’s right. It’s the glassware – they’re not accurate, thus causing the failure in making the potion. If Wizard Vladi doesn’t believe in my words, feel free to make the potion with my glassware and see if it works.”

Merlin turned his palm over and took an exquisite test tube from his ring. He had exchanged for this at the Resource Tower due to its attractive design and accurate measurement. In addition, it was already inspected and approved by the Matrix. Hence, it was far better than the unpolished glassware Wizard Vladi had obtained from who-knows-where.

Wizard Vladi took the test tube from Merlin doubtfully, then began to make the potion again.