Raphaello gently pulled out the parchment of De-rustare, revealing the spell's description to Draxer, who was curious to find out what Raphaello was planning. Upon reading the description, Draxer seemed confused by the simplicity of the magic, finding it to be of little use beyond earning a few bucks in the village.
- Why do you want to waste time with such simple magic? It doesn't seem to be of much use. It's a waste to learn something like this.
Draxer inquired with a questioning expression on his face.
Raphaello watched Draxer closely, thinking of a convincing answer to explain his reasoning. With a serious and concentrated look, he began to explain the importance of gaining people's trust through voluntary actions.
- To gain people's trust, we need to show that we are willing to help without expecting anything in return. Trust is the foundation of any lasting relationship.
Draxer seemed to reflect on Raphaello's words, trying to better understand what he was planning. Raphaello went on to explain that he intended to voluntarily help derust villagers' tools before winter, especially the merchants and shopkeepers who depended on coal. He planned to use this as a way to gain people's trust before he started selling the coal.
Impressed by Raphaello's wit, Draxer nodded in agreement, recognizing the logic behind the proposed approach. He was impressed by Raphaello's cunning in securing people's trust before beginning his illicit coal sales.
Raphaello, with a focused gaze, lifted the two rusty knives from the floor and carefully unfolded the yellowed parchment. Before his eyes, the ancient words danced in intricate patterns, describing the magical ritual he was about to perform. He concentrated, feeling the energy flow through his trembling hands, and with a deep breath, he began to chant the arcane words "Exsolvo Ferrum".
At first, nothing seemed to happen, but then, as if he were awakening from a long sleep, the rusty metal began to give way, revealing a soft, glowing shine. With a smile of triumph, Raphaello continued the ritual with devotion, watching every trace of rust disappear under the force of his magic, until, finally, the knives resurfaced in their former glory, gleaming as if they were newly forged.
Draxer, surprised by Raphaello's magical ability, stepped back, wearing an expression of disbelief with a hint of awe in his voice.
- What are you?
Raphaello, confused by Draxer's frightened reaction, looked at him, trying to understand what was happening. Draxer repeated his question, this time with frightening suspicion as his eyes widened at the terrifying possibility he had considered.
- Are you from the demon clan that performs human sacrifice rituals in exchange for power?
The mention of demons intrigued Raphaello, leading him to question whether magical creatures actually inhabited the world. He pondered the possibility of dark entities that could be hidden beyond human understanding.
Raphaello quickly noticed Draxer's nervousness and tried to calm him down.
- Stay calm my friend, I don't know which clan you're talking about. With the help of Bugree, I recently discovered that I have a talent for magic.
Raphaello shared that his training since childhood helped him develop an unusual facility for learning basic spells relatively quickly.
Despite being scared, Draxer recognized that Raphaello's words did not seem to have any signs of lying or manipulation. He spent the rest of the moment composing himself, still disturbed by the surprising display he had witnessed. Never before had he heard of a wizard being able to cast a spell for the first time without proper training. The idea was practically inconceivable to him.
- Well, it's getting late. I think I better go home now. Starting tomorrow, I would like to count on you every day. I want to meet the important merchants and shopkeepers in the village. Could you introduce me to them?
Draxer nodded showing that he was willing to help.
As they walked back to the village, night began to slowly fall, enveloping the forest and Coal Valley in growing shadows. The sound of the nearby stream echoed softly through the forest as the two friends walked back home, lost in thought about the events to come.
The twilight light bathed the scene in golden and bluish tones, creating a serene and mysterious aura around the two. Trees cast long shadows on the ground, and the air was filled with a gentle coolness, bringing a welcome relief after a day of hard work.
...
Upon returning to the village, Raphaello and Draxer looked towards the forest to see if the smoke from charcoal production was visible outside. Luckily, it wasn't. After confirming this, Raphaello said goodbye to his friend and headed to the shipyard where he slept with Lancer.
Upon arriving at the dormitory, Raphaello found Lancer focused on his Qi cultivation training. Even though his mana was depleted due to the day's work, Raphaello decided to spend the rest of his time cultivating his own Qi.
After several hours of training, Raphaello and Lancer ended their cultivation sessions. Lancer prepared to question him.
- Rapha, how is the work with Blacksmith Roger and the preparations for the plan to produce charcoal?
- Everything is ready, Lancer. In the next three days, we will have our first shipment of coal.
Lancer frowned, expressing his concerns.
- Three days is a long time for charcoal production, Rapha. Will we be able to sell all this coal in the village? Furthermore, the river that flows towards our region could be a problem. It freezes in several places, preventing ships from arriving due to high repair costs.
Raphaello tried to reassure Lancer.
- Don't worry so much, Lancer. I know three days may seem like a long time, but charcoal production naturally takes that long. However, I can speed up the process to half a day using Ignis Frigoris.
He paused and continued.
- The point is that this acceleration will demand a lot from me. I probably won't be able to continue working for the blacksmith, as my energy will be focused on driving the temperature of the coal."
Lancer frowned slightly, expressing concern as he processed the situation. The possibility of abandoning their sources of income to accelerate coal production raised the question of financial resources. What he earned from his apprenticeship work would not be enough to support them adequately.
- Lancer, don't worry so much about the funds now. I have a plan for that. Acquiring new spells is crucial to our progress, but for now I can postpone that quest. The spells I want are not yet available in the Bugree store.
Lancer nodded, but still seemed worried about the possibility of resource shortages.
- Well, the moment these spells are not in my hands, I need to ensure that my physical ability is enough to protect us.
Raphaello admitted that he himself did not know exactly what spells would be available, but revealed that he was focusing on strengthening his internal Qi cultivation to improve his hand-to-hand combat skills. He was also considering training in swordsmanship to deal with possible threats.
- That's a wise choice. Right now, we can't afford to get into trouble. Let's focus on our immediate goals.
Raphaello confirmed the plan to abandon the blacksmith Roger in the next 10 days to fully concentrate on coal production. He also instructed Lancer to focus on his experience with the boat builder, recognizing its importance to Lancer's progress.
With the exchange of words concluded, both retired to rest, preparing themselves for the challenges that awaited them the following day.
Magic: De-rustare
Creator: Lucius Aethelmar
Note: Lucius Aethelmar, a visionary scholar, developed the magic De-rustare, which restored corroded metals, gaining recognition in academies and guilds. However, in an era of war, his practical everyday magic was frowned upon.
De-rustare is a level three spell, classified as basic. It grants the user the ability to derust objects