After Victor perused the bill with a calm demeanor, he gently placed it on the table. His expression remained inscrutable, giving no hint of what was going on in his mind.
"Lia, what are the income sources of our territory?" he inquired, his voice even and composed.
At the sound of Victor's question, Lia tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing into slits as she stared at him. A faint chuckle escaped her lips, laced with a palpable sense of mockery. "As a lord, you're actually clueless about the revenue streams of your own domain?" she scoffed.
Despite his genuine lack of knowledge, Lia's ridicule stung a bit. Victor maintained his poise, though, waiting for her to continue.
"Listen closely," she began, her tone condescending. "Our Clevanna Territory primarily derives its income from the trade of grain and ores. The land here is incredibly fertile, surrounded by lush, verdant forests that seem to stretch on indefinitely. The territory lies approximately a hundred kilometers from the royal capital, and a day's carriage ride is all it takes to reach there. Thanks to this strategic location, the second - most prosperous town in the empire has been established right here."
Lia's eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and authority as she elaborated. "The Clevanna Territory boasts a remarkably rich ore vein. Even with current mining rates, it's estimated to last for over fifty more years. With fertile soil ensuring bountiful grain harvests, a prime location near the capital, and our own mineral wealth, one would think it impossible for our family to face financial hardships."
"But recently, the ore production has seen a significant decline," she continued, her voice turning more somber. "And we're not in the grain - harvesting season yet. The grain we've been selling was stockpiled in the granaries last year. We still need to meet the consumption needs of our own territory, so we can't sell everything. Right now, our income is meager, and yet, you have the audacity to squander money like this!" Her voice had risen to a near - shout, her anger boiling over.
Victor nodded slowly, absorbing her words. His face remained an impassive mask, betraying no emotion.
"Don't you even have a shred of remorse?" Lia demanded, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had always known her brother to be somewhat irresponsible, but this level of financial obliviousness was beyond her comprehension.
Victor pondered for a moment, his fingers absently stroking his chin. "Hire some mages," he finally said, his voice calm and measured. "Then, acquire a storefront in the most bustling area of the royal capital and open a mage - item store."
At these words, Lia's temper flared. "Victor! Did you not listen to a single word of my warning?" she shrieked. "Do you think such stores are scarce in the royal capital? Even if you manage to open one, what good will it do? Do you fancy yourself more influential than all the other established merchants? Victor, do you have the slightest idea how to conduct business?" Her words tumbled out in a furious torrent, her face flushed with indignation.
As she ranted, Lia's eyes welled up with a mix of frustration and hurt. She thought back to the years since their parents' passing, when she had single - handedly taken on the responsibility of managing the territory. For over a decade, she had worked tirelessly to keep things afloat, and despite Victor's occasional extravagances, she had never complained. But now, his sudden foray into business matters, with what seemed like a completely hare - brained idea, was the last straw.
Sensing that words were failing to calm her, Victor decided on a different approach. With a simple wave of his hand, a display of his arcane power, dozens of bottles of deep - blue magic potions materialized on the table between them. The rich, sapphire - like color of the potions immediately caught Lia's attention, and her tirade came to an abrupt halt.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Her eyes widened as she stared at the unfamiliar vials.
In the world they lived in, items that could restore magic power were few and far between. Those that did exist were exorbitantly expensive and highly sought - after. The market had only ever seen potions for treating physical injuries, and their effects paled in comparison to the [Health Potions] used by players in the game - like world Victor was familiar with. One was a slow - acting remedy, while the other provided an instant boost to vitality. The difference was stark, and the idea of bringing game - like items into the real world was almost like introducing a glitch into the natural order.
Victor, knowing that an explanation would likely be met with disbelief, opted for a more hands - on approach. "Find a few mages," he instructed. "Have them cast spells until they're completely drained of magic. Then, give them one of these potions to drink. You'll see what I mean."
Lia was skeptical, but her curiosity got the better of her. She collected all the potion bottles, her eyes still fixed on the mysterious liquid within.
"By the way," Victor added, his tone shifting to a more practical note. "Do you have any reliable helpers? Bodyguards for your caravan, perhaps?"
Lia let out a derisive snort. "Oh, so our esteemed lord has finally decided to show some concern for the business?" she sneered. "No, I don't trust others. I've been handling everything on my own."
Victor ignored her sarcasm, undeterred. "Won't you encounter danger on the road? The territory may not be far from the royal capital, but it's still a full - day's journey. What if you run into bandits?"
Lia was taken aback by his unexpected concern. It was a side of her brother she rarely saw. Leaning against the table, she twirled a strand of hair around her finger, a nervous habit, and turned her face away slightly. "Well... not really," she mumbled. "We have our own established trade routes. Whenever we encounter troublemakers, a simple display of the Clevanna family crest usually sends them scurrying away. We've been lucky so far; no major incidents to speak of." As she spoke, she picked up one of the potion bottles again, examining it with renewed interest.
Victor nodded, satisfied with her answer. Then, he removed the Mage Hand from his right hand, a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Lia.
"Lia, listen carefully," he said, his voice serious. "Opening this store in the royal capital is a high - stakes endeavor. These potions are incredibly valuable, and they're bound to attract unwanted attention. Take this glove. It can protect you in case of any unforeseen circumstances."
Lia eyed the proffered glove warily. "But...," she began, her hesitation evident.
"Don't worry," Victor reassured her. "It's a mage - crafted item. It will automatically adjust to fit your hand perfectly."
Lia reached out and took the glove, feeling the residual warmth from Victor's hand. As a shrewd merchant, she immediately recognized the value of the gems embedded in it. "These are magic - conducting stones!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Each one is worth a fortune! You've put six of them on this glove?"
Despite her initial shock and a twinge of annoyance at the extravagance, Lia found herself strangely touched by his gesture. She put on the glove, and sure enough, it molded itself to her hand as if it had been custom - made.
"Open your palm and point it at me," Victor instructed. "Focus your mind on one of the gems. Any one will do."
Lia followed his directions, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation. She fixed her gaze on a particularly vivid green gem in the center of the glove. 'Is this really going to work?' she wondered.
Suddenly, the gem emitted a soft, pulsating glow. And then, with a resounding whoosh! a powerful magic array materialized in the palm of her hand. A fierce gale erupted from the array, filling the study with a deafening roar. Papers and scrolls were sent flying in every direction, rustling wildly in the wind.
The hurricane - like force grew in intensity, swirling above the magic array. Victor, with a practiced ease, tapped his finger on the desk, and a teleportation magic array materialized in the air. Just as the gale reached its peak, it was sucked into the teleportation array, and the room was plunged back into a sudden, eerie calm.
A few seconds later, a distant, startled cry and the sound of something shattering echoed through the air. Lia stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.
"Wh - what was that?" she stammered.
"A second - order magic: [Violent Gale]," Victor explained calmly. "Its power is sufficient to level an entire mountainside."
Lia was speechless. She had witnessed magic being cast before, but never had she been the one to wield such power. "So... this is what it feels like to cast magic," she murmured, still in a daze.
Victor refilled the magic in the glove, his movements precise. "Be careful," he warned. "This wasn't just about showing you how to use it. It's crucial that you don't accidentally unleash its full power without proper control. You've seen what it can do. And remember, each gem can only be used once. When they're all depleted, come back to me, and I'll recharge them."
Lia nodded, fully aware of the glove's immense value. For a brief moment, she considered the staggering sum it could fetch if sold, but a glance at Victor's serious expression reminded her of its true purpose. This was a life - saving artifact, not a commodity to be bartered.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. It was a simple word, but it carried a weight of gratitude and new - found respect. With that, she gathered the magic potions and left the room, her steps a bit lighter than before.
After the door closed behind Lia, the crow on Victor's shoulder, Vega, finally spoke up. "Aren't you the least bit sad to part with such a valuable item?" he croaked.
Victor shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just a tool. I can create another one whenever I need to. Besides, I don't have much use for it at the moment."
The Mage Hand was indeed a powerful item, especially in player - versus - player (PVP) situations. It allowed for the rapid casting of multiple spells in quick succession, giving the user a significant advantage in combat. But for now, Victor had other priorities.
Vega listened intently, his beady eyes glinting with a mischievous light. 'I'll have to find a way to convince him to make one for me,' he thought to himself.
...
Early the next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the windows, Victor finished his breakfast and prepared to head to the academy. He was just adjusting his robes when a servant entered the room.
"Lord, there's a young lady outside. She says she's your teaching assistant and has come to deliver your notes and lecture script."
Victor paused mid - motion. 'Hennie?' he thought. He didn't recall asking her to bring the materials to his home. Nevertheless, he instructed the servant to show her in.
When Hennie entered the room, Victor was taken aback by her appearance. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and she looked exhausted. "What on earth happened to you? Didn't you get any sleep?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Hennie jolted awake, as if she had been in a daze. "Oh, Professor! I... I got so caught up in writing the manuscript last night that I completely lost track of time. I didn't mean to look like this," she stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Victor couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "After Erica sends her notes, I told you to bring them to me. But there was no need to rush over here so early and in such a state. You could have waited until later."
Hennie yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "I know, but I didn't want to keep you waiting. And since I had the lecture script ready, I thought I'd bring it along too."
Victor looked at her, a mix of exasperation and pity in his eyes. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?" he asked.
Hennie shook her head, her shoulders slumping. "No, sir. I was in such a hurry to get here that I skipped it."
Victor immediately took charge. He waved to the servant and said, "Take Miss Hennie to the dining hall and make sure she has a proper breakfast. Then, prepare a room for her to rest. She looks like she could use a good sleep."
Hennie opened her mouth to protest, but the firmness in Victor's voice silenced her. "Yes, Professor," she mumbled, her head bowed. With a final, sheepish look at Victor, she followed the servant out of the room.r
Victor watched her go, his mind already turning to his plans for the day. The class was scheduled for the afternoon, so he decided to spend the morning in the study, going over Erica's homework and his lecture script.
As he sat at his desk, poring over Erica's notes, Victor turned to Vega. "What do you think of that girl?" he asked, his voice casual.
Vega, who had been dozing on his perch, roused himself. "Which girl?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"You know who I'm talking about," Victor replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Hennie. You've been pestering me to recruit believers, right? She seems like the perfect candidate. Naive, innocent... easy to influence." His eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as he spoke, already formulating a plan in his mind.