A Wizard’s Secret

The Spell Library of the royal family was hidden in the depths of the Palace.

Being at the heart of the Imperial City, it was natural that the Palace would be heavily guarded. The Elemental Swordsmen outside were merely the external security. In reality, the moment Merlin stepped into the Palace, he had a feeling that he was in the midst of intense potential danger.

There were sure to be many powerful Spell Casters within the Palace who monitored the every movement of anyone who entered the Palace. The fact that Merlin could feel the danger meant his Mind Power was considered decent. Particularly its acuity was much better than most Spell Casters of the same level.

The eighth prince wore a calm and unperturbed expression and was clearly very familiar with the Palace. The many guards that they had encountered bowed respectfully toward the eighth prince.

Merlin followed closely behind the eighth prince, passing through floors of corridors, and turned around many hidden places. Even Merlin had somewhat lost his sense of direction.

“Hmm? What powerful Mind Power!”

Merlin suddenly felt a burst of Mind Power which was unparalleled in intensity, enclosing down upon them as it swept across him and the eighth prince. Merlin had practically no secrets left to speak of.

This Mind Power had reached the stage of the Ninth-level, and there was even a certain amount of difference from Wizard Bammou’s Mind Power. It was because Merlin himself had often felt Wizard Bammou’s Mind Power, so he was able to sense the general level of this Mind Power.

The level of Mind Power for most Spell Casters was the same level as the spells that they had constructed. Only a small percentage of them, like Merlin or Wizard Bammou, had incomparably strong Mind Power, for one reason or another. This only applied to a minority of Spell Casters.

Now that this burst of Ninth-level Mind Power had appeared – if it was not Mind Power which was particularly powerful for its level, it indicated that there was a mighty Ninth-level Spell Caster here!

Seeing that Merlin had turned alert, the eighth prince shook his head, then called out hoarsely, “Wizard Fosse, I’m the eighth prince. Please open the Spell Library.”

Merlin frowned. There was only an empty space here, save for pure-black cast bronze statues situated at both ends. The details of the statues were rather exquisite, and the carvings were life-like.

“Rumble.”

Suddenly, a crack materialized between these two wondrous pure-black bronze statues and widened rapidly as if it was parting the space itself.

Furthermore, lines of mysterious runes emerged on the bronze statues. Even Merlin had not noticed that there were mysterious runes engraved on the bronze statues.

The eighth prince took two steps back and turned to Merlin, breaking into a smile. “The royal family has a deep and extensive legacy – everyone knows that. As the most important wealth of the royal family, it’s natural that the Spell Library is well-hidden. There’s a Ninth-level Spell Caster guarding inside throughout the year. Without him to open the Runic Magic Circle as well as numerous other mechanisms, even a Great Wizard can forget about trying to force his way into the Spell Library within a short time.”

Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly. Between the two black bronze statues, there was a long, deep-reaching flight of stone stairs. It turned out that the Spell Library was here. Indeed, it was well hidden. That colossal Mind Power that he had felt earlier must be the Ninth-level Spell Caster who was guarding the Spell Library.

“Let’s go.”

The eighth prince led Merlin straight down the flight of stairs.

In the pitch-dark passage of the stone stairs, the air was filled with a musty odor. People must often pass by here.

“Clap clap clap.”

The eighth prince clapped his hands lightly. Instantly, a flicker of firelight appeared in the darkness. Following that, flames materialized on the two walls flanking the stone stairs, lighting up the pitch-black passage.

Merlin could distinctly feel that this passage was heading downward. The weather outside was rather parched, but deep in the underground was a chill that could cut to the bone.

Finally, they reached the end of the stone stairs. There, they found two large brass doors, on which there was an imprint of a palm.

This palm imprint looked peculiar. Moreover, lines of mysterious runes protected the large brass doors. Breaking down the doors using brute force would be rather unrealistic. No matter whether it was Merlin or the eighth prince, they would not be able to do that now.

Still, the eighth prince appeared to have done this routinely. He stretched out his right hand and gently pressed into the imprint on the large brass doors. Following that, the mysterious runes on the door gradually brightened with white light, and the large brass doors began to slowly open.

“Creak.”

The large brass doors opened, revealing a large, elegant hall which was decorated lavishly.

The four walls of the large hall were inlaid with marble that shone like mirrors, and the floor was made of layers of gilded rock. Above the hall, there were a few enormous, transparent hanging lamps made of veluriyam. In these lamps, there were precious pearls the size of fists.

The pearls glowed with a bright and gentle radiance, lighting up the spotless hall as if it was daylight. There was no need for firelight at all.

Even Merlin himself was speechless upon seeing such a sumptuous large hall. Regardless of whether it was the gilded floor or the marble as sleek as a mirror or the precious pearls in the hanging lamps made of veluriyam, these were all priceless. Any one of the pearls in the lamps used for illumination would be an invaluable treasure outside which would be worth a handsome sum.

The Blackmoon royal family had always claimed that their heritage dated back to three thousand six hundred years ago, and they descended from the Molta Empire royal family. For now, one could put aside the question of whether the Blackmoon royal family was just making themselves look good. Just the amount of resources they had was enough to prove that the royal family should not be underestimated for they would be a match for any large-sized spell casters’ organization.

The eighth prince stared at the lavish hall, and a zealous light flashed across his eyes. As a member of the royal family, he had come to the Spell Library countless times, but each time he would still be stunned.

However, not even a prince could enter the Spell Library at will and would need the permission of Bhutto XVI. Only the king of the Kingdom of Blackmoon could visit the Spell Library as he pleased.

In the Kingdom of Blackmoon, there were many places that were as important as the Spell Library which only the king could visit. The eighth prince’s thirst for power mostly arose from his visits to luxurious spaces like the Spell Library, which evoked the desire and ambition deep in his heart.

“One day, I shall possess everything of the royal family!”

The eighth prince mumbled softly. Following that, he raised his head suddenly and drew in a deep breath. Then, he yelled, “Wizard Fosse, show yourself.”

“Whoosh.”

As soon as the eighth prince spoke, a gust of black wind appeared in the air. Merlin could not even sense when the black wind had appeared.

Thereafter, the black wind dissipated, revealing a purple-haired old man who stood tall and straight in healthy spirits.

The purple-haired old man swept his gaze casually across Merlin and the eighth prince, then began to say slowly, “Your Royal Highness the eighth prince, it doesn’t matter if you come to the Spell Library, but this Spell Caster behind you – he has no royal blood and isn’t a member of the royal family. Has my lord forgotten the rules?”

Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly and sized up the purple-haired old man who had just appeared. So, he was the Guardian Wizard of the Spell Library, the powerful Ninth-level Spell Caster Wizard Fosse!

The Spell Library was an important place for the royal family and was guarded by a powerful Ninth-level Spell Caster of the royal family, who would not let any outsider enter. Although Merlin had not entered the actual Spell Library, the eighth prince had already breached the rules by bringing Merlin to where the Spell Library was.

Nevertheless, the eighth prince seemed unconcerned and gazed steadily at the purple-haired old man. Suddenly, he said, “Wizard Fosse, do you still remember you owe my mother a promise?”

At the mention of the eighth prince’s mother, Wizard Fosse’s face shifted slightly, following which he seemed extremely uncomfortable. He could only nod powerlessly. “Of course, I remember the kindness of the queen consort! That promise I made her is still as valid now. However, eighth prince, you must remember that this promise only works once!”

A smile tugged at the corner of the eighth prince’s mouth. “Once is enough. You wouldn’t be willing to kill the fourth prince for me, so I’ll use this promise for Wizard Merlin. I’d like to let Wizard Merlin enter the Spell Library. He’ll get one day and can look through any spell he likes, just like us members of the royal family. Wizard Fosse, what do you say?”

Only then did the situation dawn upon Merlin. It was not surprising that the eighth prince had made the vow so solemnly. In fact, non-members of the royal family were not allowed to enter the Spell Library, but the Spell Caster guarding the Spell Library owed the eighth prince’s mother a promise.

This was the reason the eighth prince was so confident.

Wizard Fosse hesitated for a moment, following which he glanced at Merlin before saying slowly, “My lord, a day’s time is far too long. I can grant you eight hours at most, and upon seeing the spells inside, he mustn’t pass it on to anyone else. A contract must be signed!”

The eighth prince frowned – what could one do in eight hours? Selecting the spells alone would take a few hours, to say nothing of having to memorize those complicated spells as he was not able to bring them out. However, just as he was about to further negotiate with Wizard Fosse, Merlin stepped forward beside him. “My utmost gratitude to Wizard Fosse. Eight hours will be enough!”

Seeing that Merlin had agreed, the eighth prince nodded. “Very well, eight hours it is. Wizard Merlin, go ahead and sign the contract. I’ll wait here outside for those eight hours, and you won’t have to worry about anything during this period.”

Now that the eighth prince had just defeated the fourth prince, he had great influence among the many members of the royal family in the Imperial City. Anyone would know that the eighth prince was the one who was most likely to ascend the throne.

With the eighth prince outside the Spell Library, even if some other member of the royal family came, the eighth prince could stop them. No one would dare to cross him. Moreover, they had the support of Wizard Fosse who was the Guardian Wizard. Merlin’s safety was absolutely secured.

“My gratitude to Your Royal Highness the eighth prince for his trouble!”

Merlin bowed slightly toward the eighth prince, following which he took a deep breath and followed behind Wizard Fosse, entering the Spell Library before them.

“Bam!”

The large doors of the Spell Library shut tight. There was no one who could spy on what was happening inside.