The steward's body began to sway, weakened from his injuries.
He spat a mouthful of black blood, realizing that if he didn't retreat soon, the combined toll of his wounds and the poison would claim his life—even as a half-step tier-gold mage.
Without a second thought for Alan, Isabella, or even the black canvas bag, he turned and fled, terrified Alan might pursue him.
After the steward's panicked retreat, Alan didn't give chase.
He was nearly exhausted himself, both his mind power and mana close to depletion.
Carrying his unconscious sister, Alan climbed back onto the carriage, tossed the black bag inside, and drove toward the nearby town.
With the early hour, there weren't many people on the road, allowing Alan to enter the town with Isabella quickly.
Once inside, Alan let out a sigh of relief.
He immediately found the most luxurious hotel and booked a room, not out of luxury but for security.
The higher-quality hotels had stronger guards, which was essential given the new enmity with House Blackwood.
Having killed their second wife and gravely injured their steward, he needed to be cautious.
In the room, Alan laid Isabella on the silk sheets, cleaning the bruises on her neck with antiseptic before bandaging her wounds.
After locking the door, he allowed himself a brief rest.
With no restorative potions, sleep was his best option for recovery.
Two hours later, Alan woke, feeling much less drained.
He looked over at Isabella, noticing her expression had softened, and the bruising on her neck had faded.
Recalling the exhausting night, Alan didn't wake her but instead entered his inner mind realm.
He needed to advance!
While he might hold his own among peers, he was still underpowered against older mages.
Without the explosive potential of the Light Sword Spell, he couldn't have breached the steward's defenses and would have become his captive.
With House Blackwood's ruthlessness, he and his sister would have faced fates worse than death.
His strength was still lacking! If he were stronger, Isabella wouldn't have been hurt.
Fueled by determination, Alan returned to the Soul Grindstone, honing his soul while analyzing the fight.
His soul soon reconsolidated within his body, this time more solid, nearly tangible.
"Elder, have I broken through to the grand magus tier?" Alan asked excitedly, sensing the newfound density of his soul—signifying he was nearing the level of a grand magus.
"Your soul strength has indeed reached the grand magus level after the life-or-death battle," the black-robed woman replied. "But your elemental mastery remains that of a magus. So, you're not yet a true grand magus."
Alan, undeterred, pressed on. "Elder, the methods I used against the steward—do they count as multi-element manipulation?"
"They do, but it's rudimentary," the woman replied, shaking her head.
Frustrated, Alan looked at her pleadingly. "Could you demonstrate?"
For a moment, she was silent before saying, "Your path is yours to forge. My guidance will mean nothing if you can't comprehend it."
"One hint: start with the single element of water."
With that, the woman's image faded.
"Water?" Alan murmured, summoning a droplet into his palm, deep in thought.
…
By afternoon, Isabella had woken, stretching lazily.
Alan handed her the lunch the hotel had delivered, smiling. "Eat up, and I'll show you around. White Steed City may be small, but it's quite lively."
Isabella nodded, glancing up at him. "Brother, you should eat too."
"I already did." Alan ruffled her hair. "Anything you'd like? The next town is a transfer station for the Plantagenet Kingdom. From there, we'll take a magic train to the capital, and there may not be many chances to shop."
Isabella initially shook her head—she led a simple life with few hobbies.
But then, as if recalling something, she said, "Could you buy me some herbs, Brother? I want to prepare potions on the train."
"No way!" Alan shook his head firmly. "Your spirit is unstable now. Wait until we reach Lioncrest Academy."
"Brother, you're tier-iron level 10, right? I don't know exactly what that means, but it shouldn't be hard for you to reach tier-bronze with a potion to boost your foundation," Isabella argued, her serious gaze fixed on him. "If you break through, you'll be better protected—and you'll be able to protect me better too. Plus, tier-bronze makes admission to Lioncrest Academy nearly certain!"
Alan wanted to argue but realized she had a point.
The battle with the steward had shaken her too, and her determination to help him with a potion reflected her anxiety.
"You make sense. If I reach tier-bronze, I'd be much stronger, but that's my worry. You focus on regaining your strength," he replied, still resolute.
"Brother, you're as stubborn as an ox!" Isabella huffed, glaring at him. "We have that Snow Lotus now. It's perfect for potions…"
But Alan remained firm. "I'll listen to you on other things, but not this."
Seeing she couldn't sway him, Isabella dropped the subject and followed Alan around the town.
Soon, the bustling shops and treats brightened her mood, and she set aside thoughts of potions for a while.
As they strolled, Alan unknowingly led them to a magic artifacts shop.
Suddenly, the black-robed woman's voice sounded in his mind.
"Buy the gemstone in that display case."
Startled, Alan realized this was the first time he'd heard her voice outside his inner realm. His gaze shifted to a nearby shop.
Through the glass-fronted display, Alan saw rows of magical items—staffs, swords, gauntlets, and accessories of all kinds.
Among them, he noticed the stone she mentioned—a colorful gem with a mesmerizing rainbow shimmer.
It contained no magical elements and was typically bought as an ornament by female mages.
Although he couldn't see any special qualities, he trusted the woman's judgment and entered the shop with Isabella.
"What would you like, young master?" A young, attractive attendant approached, smiling politely as she subtly assessed them.
"How much for that rainbow stone? My sister seems to like it," Alan said casually to avoid drawing attention.
Seeing Alan inquire about such a large rainbow stone, the attendant's eyes gleamed, her enthusiasm increasing.
"Rainbow stones are fairly common, but a piece this large and with such quality is rare. Our shop went through great effort to acquire it," she explained, praising the stone before adding, "It's only one hundred gold coins."