Chapter 96 - 95: Buying a Magic Wand, Starting as a Goblin

Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Buying a Magic Wand, Starting as a Goblin

"But the goddess never said I couldn’t use physical force to shut it up!"

Before she’d even finished speaking, she whipped around and snatched the thickest piece of Black Ebony Staff Material from a nearby pile. Taking a two-step running start, her petite frame leaped into the air. She poured all her strength into the swing, bringing the staff down hard on the head of the still-cackling goblin!

"THWACK—GURK!"

A dull thud was followed by a short, miserable cry.

The goblin’s head slumped to one side, its tongue lolling out and its eyes rolling back into its head. It was hard to tell if it was unconscious or dead.

Having done this, the Female Half-Elf turned, slinging the massive piece of Black Ebony Staff Material over her shoulder. Her eyes, brimming with irritation, locked onto Hesia, who stood in the doorway.

"You’d better have a damn good reason for interrupting me. Otherwise, you’ll end up just like that goblin!"

Hesia had witnessed the Female Half-Elf’s entire attempt at a "cordial discussion" with the goblin and had nearly burst out laughing.

But he wasn’t laughing now. The sight of her—standing less than a meter tall yet shouldering a thick Black Ebony club nearly twice her height—was a stark contrast that put a good deal of pressure on him.

He composed himself and spoke politely.

"Good day, esteemed lady. My name is Galen. I’m a Mage Apprentice, and I’ve come to purchase a Magic Wand. I only realized the door was unlocked when I knocked. I’m terribly sorry to have disturbed your... uh... experiment?"

Hearing his reasonably polite response, Fevik’s gaze fell upon his face.

His eyes were gentle and clear, and they seemed to possess a strange, calming power that checked the rage burning in her chest. The murderous glint in her own eyes softened without her realizing it.

This sudden sense of peace was so unfamiliar it made her uncomfortable.

She irritably tapped the butt of her staff on the ground, making a dull THUMP, as if venting her frustration at having her nameless rage suppressed.

’Damn it! I got so mad I subconsciously used Magic to burn that stupid book... That’s the second time today I’ve gone against the goddess’s teachings...’

’Whatever... It’s my own fault for being cheap and buying a pirated copy. I can’t blame anyone else for the experiment failing. Besides, this guy is... infuriatingly handsome.’

With that thought, she found the perfect excuse for her newfound "composure." She slammed the butt of the Black Ebony Staff Material on the floor and waved her hand impatiently.

"Fine! Enough with the pointless chatter. Out of every ten people who walk through that door, eleven of them want a Magic Wand!"

"You’re lucky I’m not in the mood for another fight today. Now get out, and close the door on your way!"

Hesia clearly wasn’t going to give up that easily.

After all, he’d come all this way. He had to at least try.

"Actually, Hain was the one who recommended I come here. He said you’re the last person in Rose Town who still sells Magic Wands."

"Hain?" The Female Half-Elf wrinkled her tiny nose, a look of inexplicable disgust on her face. "Who’s Hain? I don’t know anyone with such a stupid-sounding name."

Seeing her reaction, Hesia’s heart sank.

He hesitated for a moment before deciding to take a gamble.

"Perhaps... you know him by another title."

"What title?"

"The Imperial Tutor."

"The Imperial Tutor?" the Female Half-Elf repeated, tilting her head as if genuinely deep in thought.

Seeing her brow furrowed in concentration, Hesia couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

’Could it be that Hain, that seemingly unreliable guy, wasn’t bluffing? Does his name actually carry some weight?’

A moment later, realization dawned on the Female Half-Elf’s face.

"Oh! You mean that guy with the beady eyes, bushy eyebrows, and the unsteady gait, right?"

Hesia thought for a moment. The description was a bit odd, but... it seemed to match every detail.

"Yes, that’s him."

"He said you were both influential Mages in Rose Town and the best of friends. He told me to be sure to mention his name, saying you would definitely help me out as a favor to him."

Hearing this, the Female Half-Elf let out a PFFT of laughter. It grew louder and louder until she finally dropped her club, clutching her stomach and bending over, laughing so hard that tears started to well up in her eyes.

"BWAHAHAHA... As a favor to him? Haha... Best of friends? That poor sod is hilarious."

Hesia stood there, completely baffled, but the answer was already forming in his mind. Nine times out of ten, that guy Hain had been full of it.

The Female Half-Elf laughed for a good while before she finally stopped. She wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve and let out a long sigh, seeming to be in a much better mood.

"Alright, alright," she said, waving her hand, her tone much softer. "Seeing as you’ve given me a good laugh... My name is Fevik QuickThought. You can just call me Fevik. Now, what kind of Magic Wand are you looking to buy? And what’s your budget?"

Hesia knew a Magic Wand wouldn’t be cheap. Figuring he had no other expenses for the time being, he answered honestly, "I brought a total of eight Golden Shields. I’m not sure what kind of Magic Wand that can get me."

The moment the words left his mouth, the smile on Fevik’s face vanished.

"Eight Golden Shields? Kid, did you just crawl out from some backwater village? You think you can buy a Magic Wand here with eight Golden Shields?"

"Looks like you and that so-called Imperial Tutor are cut from the same cloth! Always looking for a free lunch!"

"He knelt at my shop’s entrance for three days and three nights. He got lucky—I was in a good mood that week, so I let him stay and do a few weeks of chores for me. Afterward, I gave him a simple Birch Wand. Well, it wasn’t a real Magic Wand, just the staff material."

"’Staff material?’ Hesia asked, confused."

"Ugh, another kid who knows nothing but still wants to buy a Magic Wand," Fevik sighed. But she explained anyway. "Fine. Since you’re not hard on the eyes, I’ll give you the rundown."

"A Magic Wand is made of two parts: the staff material and the Wand Tip."

"The staff material determines the efficiency of Magic Power conduction and its affinity Attribute. The user has to slowly break it in by nurturing it with their own Magic Power."

"The Wand Tip, on the other hand, is what gives the Magic Wand its special effects and amplifies the power of your Magic. It’s usually made from a Magic Gemstone, a crystal, or the core of certain special Magic Creatures."

"That’s why a good Wand Tip is usually much, much more expensive than the staff material!"

Hesia understood. "In that case, can I just buy the staff material? To get used to the basics first?"

"Of course! That’s a smart choice." Fevik nodded. "A suitable piece of staff material can provide a decent boost and stabilization to your Magic Power on its own. Plus, the staff material needs a long time to bond with its user, so it’s never too late to add a fitting Wand Tip later on."

...

"But I’ll have you know, eight Golden Shields won’t even get you my cheapest piece of staff material."

Hearing this, Hesia finally understood just how expensive Magic Wands truly were.

It looked like he’d made this trip for nothing.

Just as he was about to leave...

"But... seeing as your talent for Magic Power isn’t half bad, I can give you a chance. Do a job for me, and if you can pull it off, I’ll give you a decent piece of staff material for free. How about it?"