Chapter Five: The Swindler

His hands moved swiftly, deftly performing each task. Potion-making, after all, was one of the branches of magical studies, and everything before him was as familiar to Vir as breathing. After grinding the selected magical plants, he added various reagents, then carefully measured and distributed the mixtures into different test tubes for heating.

Vir knew he was in a place of unknown danger. He was absolutely confident that his profound understanding of magic would be enough to attract Wei Ling’s attention and dispel her wariness—at least where she was concerned. But what about the others? What about that swordsman from before—Ister?

Whenever Vir recalled Ister, a chill crept down his spine. On the surface, the swordsman seemed wooden and old-fashioned, yet Vir sensed an aura from him that made his hair stand on end, a terrifying presence that could not be ignored.

It was obvious—Ister was a formidable adversary, one who could dispatch him without the slightest effort.

With this thought, Vir’s hands moved even faster, and he began to incorporate plants with extremely potent magical elements into his selection.

Watching Vir’s dazzling display, Wei Ling’s initial surprise gradually settled into calm. Her eyes followed every movement, committing each action to memory while her mind worked tirelessly to analyze the reactions produced as Vir fused various magical reagents in the test tubes.

“Comeran Silver Essence, Feathergrass, wind-aspect magic core powder…” Wei Ling recited the ingredients Vir was using, even listing their effects. “Comeran Silver Essence is extracted from the central stamen of the Comeran Royal Flower, possessing levitation properties. When combined with a wind-type magic core, it can be used to brew potions that lighten weight. Feathergrass itself also has levitation qualities, as does the wind-aspect magic core…”

“Kaya Leaf has a cooling effect… and you just used more wind-aspect magic core powder—this will drop the solvent’s temperature below freezing.”

Wei Ling frowned. If Vir’s earlier additions of wind and levitation agents to lighten the mixture made sense, his next series of actions left her utterly perplexed. “Those are dangerous Oily Leaves… and Firevine seeds… Wait! What is that in your hand?!”

Seeing the fire-aspect magic core powder in Vir’s grasp, Wei Ling’s face changed.

“Just as you see—some fire-aspect magic core powder,” Vir replied, shaking the powder gently at her and making as if to add it to the reagent.

“Stop! You madman! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!” Wei Ling shouted at him in alarm.

“Of course I do,” Vir replied calmly. “Kaya Leaf and wind-aspect magic core make the most effective freezing agent. I then added enough Firevine. Now, if I introduce this fire-aspect magic core powder, it will react intensely with the Firevine, producing tremendous heat. Below, you have a freezing reagent colder than ice itself. When the two meet, the result is inevitable—an explosion.”

He paused, watching Wei Ling’s expression, then continued, “Naturally, to enhance the explosion, I started by adding plenty of levitating agents, and the Oily Leaves—you know, Oily Leaf extract is highly flammable and nearly impossible to extinguish once ignited. The instant the reagent explodes, the levitating properties will scatter the mixture to every corner of the room. With the Oily Leaf effect, not only will everything nearby be blasted and burned, but the whole room will be instantly consumed by fire—including all these tools and rare ingredients. I imagine you wouldn’t want to see all your hard-earned materials go up in flames, would you?”

At Vir’s words, Wei Ling’s expression became even uglier. She had spent no small effort gathering these materials. The threat of their destruction made her hands glow with a vivid jade light, and a powerful wind pressure filled the room.

“If you plan to attack me, you should realize: the moment you strike, the magic core powder in my hand will fall into the reagent all the same.”

Vir let his fingers hover over the mixture, a motion that made Wei Ling freeze in alarm.

“You liar!” she shouted, glaring at him, though the green light in her hands faded and the fierce wind pressure quickly dissipated.

“What do you want?” she demanded.

Wei Ling’s fear was plain, her voice low and uncertain. She was, after all, only fourteen. After Vir’s threat, her eyes reddened slightly.

“I have no intention of hurting you. My request is simple: let me stay here, undisturbed, for just a few days. Once that time is up, I promise I’ll leave.”

Vir couldn’t help but smile bitterly at himself—a former magical prodigy reduced to threatening and cajoling a young girl. Shaking off the thought, he focused once more on Wei Ling.

“That doesn’t sound difficult,” she replied, thinking it over carefully. Suddenly, she frowned and asked, “You’re not some spy sent by another family to steal secrets from House Chers, are you? If that’s your aim, you’d better give up now. I won’t reveal anything about my family—not for anything!”

Her face was resolute; it was clear that, in her mind, her family’s interests outweighed her own life. Though her eyes were still red, her chin lifted defiantly and her lips pursed in a show of determination—an expression both fierce and endearing.

“Rest assured, I’m not here on behalf of any rival family. If you don’t believe me, I’ll stay right here in this room and won’t set foot outside,” Vir promised.

“Really?” Wei Ling was skeptical, but by then Vir had already begun preparing another potion. He moved to a corner of the room, sat down on the floor, and busied himself with his work.