"Yes, I need your help to find a book," the old man began, his voice steady with purpose. "You've likely never heard the name 'Kaimirti,' but in the magical world, he is legendary. Kaimirti was one of the greatest alchemists during the reign of Francois III. He lived for two hundred years, serving as the tutor to both Francois IV and Francois V. Despite being offered high-ranking positions, Kaimirti, like many dedicated to the study of magic, renounced fame and political power to focus solely on his craft. His achievements were extraordinary—he invented gas-based life forms, airships, and the colossal stone golems. Sadly, all of his work has been lost to time."
The alchemist paused, as if recalling the glory of Kaimirti's creations. Rebo, captivated, listened with wide eyes.
"Kaimirti never took on an apprentice," the old man continued. "In his final years, he traveled the world, vanishing without a trace. No one knows where he was finally laid to rest, or if he truly died at all. Some claim he disappeared, and over the centuries, finding his magical notes has become one of the greatest obsessions of sorcerers and alchemists alike."
The old man's face hardened, his voice tinged with regret. "When I was a young apprentice myself, I dreamed of finding Kaimirti's notes. I spent decades searching across kingdoms, but found nothing. Years later, when I worked at the Magic Council in the capital, my dream faded. That was when I first met Hyde and Dolphin. But five years ago, Dolphin mentioned strange phenomena in this very forest. He didn't think much of it at the time, but it piqued my interest."
"At first, I didn't expect this strange natural occurrence to be related to Kaimirti," the old man said, his eyes gleaming with newfound energy. "But when I came here and saw the concentrated lightning and the erratic behavior of the elemental sprites, I knew it was something more. My suspicion is that a powerful magical array has been activated—an array capable of maintaining itself by drawing energy from the surrounding elements. This type of magic is ancient, complex, and precise. It's likely the work of Kaimirti himself."
Rebo's heart raced with excitement. "So you believe Kaimirti's treasure is hidden in this forest?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, and I believe the central point of this anomaly is near the estate of a local baron," the alchemist replied. "This baron unknowingly built his estate right at the heart of the disturbance. My guess is that he accidentally triggered Kaimirti's hidden vault, but he has no idea of its significance. However, for me and other sorcerers, that area is off-limits—it's a magical dead zone. Anyone with strong magical abilities is immediately repelled."
Rebo's excitement turned to determination. "You want me to go into this zone and find Kaimirti's treasure for you?" he asked. The task seemed perfectly suited to him, especially since the baron's estate was where he was already headed.
"Exactly," the old man nodded. "But be warned, this task is dangerous. When Kaimirti's first vault was discovered, all five sorcerers and hundreds of workers who attempted to unearth it were killed by a curse he had placed on his magical journal. It released a powerful 'mental wave' that could kill anyone—sorcerer or not. But don't worry. The magical community has learned how to handle such dangers over the years."
The alchemist continued, "After the first incident, it took the Magic Council twenty years to develop a countermeasure. We created a special gem capable of absorbing mental magic. I've spent the last three years crafting one specifically for this mission. Take a look!"
With a wave of his hand, a metallic butterfly floated up from the lower floor, carrying a ring with a large blue gemstone.
The old man took the ring from the butterfly and handed it to Rebo. The ring was forged from a light, silvery metal, and inscribed with symbols Rebo didn't recognize. Set in the center was the largest blue gemstone Rebo had ever seen, cut into a unique five-sided shape. Beneath its crystalline surface, intricate runes seemed to twist and weave, etched deep into the stone.
"This is a sapphire," the old man explained. "Sapphires are commonly used to enhance water and wind magic. They're a key material for crafting wands, but they also possess another ability—they can absorb mental magic, which makes them perfect for storing magical energy. If you ever see someone wearing sapphires, even if they aren't dressed like a sorcerer, be cautious. There's a good chance they're a magic user."
Rebo studied the ring, feeling its light weight in his hand. "Will this ring protect me from harm? How do I use it? I don't know any magic," he asked.
The alchemist smiled. "You don't need to know magic to use it. Simply form a bond with the ring, let it recognize you as its owner. After that, it will protect you from mental magic. When you find Kaimirti's vault, you'll need to press the sapphire directly against the object triggering the magic. Then, use your other hand to rotate the gem three times clockwise. The ring will absorb any harmful energy."
The old man raised a finger, "But remember this: the ring only works against mental, wind, and water magic. If Kaimirti used other types of magic to guard his treasure, don't even try to use the ring. It could backfire, exposing you to more danger. Earth magic could turn you into stone in seconds, and fire magic… well, you can imagine."
Rebo nodded, taking the warning seriously. "How will I know which magic is which?"
"For sorcerers, it's easy—we can see the magic elements at work. But you, as a non-magic user, will have to rely on the ring's glow. When you get close to magical objects, the gem will emit light: red for fire, yellow for earth, green for wind, blue for water, black for dark magic, and purple for mental magic. If you see any color other than green, blue, or purple, stay away."
"I understand. Green, blue, and purple are safe, the others… not so much," Rebo confirmed.
The old man nodded solemnly, "That's right. Kaimirti was a dangerous man, even in his own time. His traps are no joke."
"And lightning magic—what color will that be?" Rebo asked.
"Lightning is a form of wind magic," the alchemist explained. "This ring will absorb it without issue."
"So I'll never have to worry about lightning again?" Rebo asked, grinning.
The old man chuckled. "If you're fast enough to turn the ring in the instant before the lightning strikes, then yes, you'll have nothing to fear."
Rebo laughed, shaking his head. He knew that was far from likely.
"Master," Rebo began, "how long will this storm last?"
"It should clear up in half an hour. But if you plan on heading out, I'd wait until evening. By then, the rainwater on the tree canopies will have evaporated," the old man advised. "In the meantime, if you're interested, you're welcome to explore my laboratory."