Bab 35: Whisper of the Flame
Although Neonidas had no beard, he stroked his chin as he walked between the stalls, trying to find what he was looking for. For a while, they wandered aimlessly through the fair, but eventually, Neonidas seemed to have found what he wanted. This time, they entered a much more upscale shop. The shop was filled with many customers, all of whom appeared determined to buy something. Soren and Solara, following their master's direction, looked around at the strange items inside the shop.
Neonidas approached a young man at the back of the shop. "What can I do for you, sir?"
Neonidas responded to the young man's question with a calmly expression. Still stroking his chin, he said, "I'm looking for a unique staff that suits mastery of the magical arts. Not a simple ornament, but something truly powerful. I've been told it can be found here."
The young man hesitated for a brief moment, then, noticing Neonidas' determination, he bowed slightly. "Of course, sir. Items of that nature are kept in the back room. Please, follow me."
Neonidas nodded, and Soren and Solara followed. The young man pulled aside a thin curtain, leading them into a darker, quieter room. In this room, the walls were lined with old wooden shelves, filled with glowing stones, oddly shaped bottles, and various antiques. However, something caught Neonidas's attention: a black and silver-embellished staff sitting on the middle shelf. The tip of the staff was crowned with a stone resembling a flame.
"Is that the staff?" Neonidas asked, pointing at it.
The young man nodded. "Yes, sir. This is known as the 'Whisper of the Flame.' It is a very rare artifact that collects and channels magical power. However, this staff chooses its wielder. Not every wizard who touches it can control its power. In fact, some are affected just by getting close to it."
Neonidas furrowed his brow. "Are you trying to scare me?" he snapped. "Tell me how much it costs. I'll pay."
The young man smiled faintly. "Such an item cannot be bought with money, sir. According to regulations, we can only sell dangerous items like this to someone they accept. Otherwise, we'll be in trouble with the capital's guards. If you wish to buy the staff, it must first accept you. You need to exert your own power over it to control it."
Neonidas turned to Soren. "Go try to control that staff… but don't injure yourself," he said suddenly, surprising Soren.
Soren hesitated upon hearing Neonidas's command. His face clearly showed a mix of surprise and unease. "Master, this… is too valuable… there's no need for you to buy something so precious for me," he tried to argue, though secretly, he was excited at the prospect of receiving a gift from his master.
Neonidas raised his hand impatiently as he heard Soren's objections. "Don't give me emotional speeches. I want to test you. If you want to stay by my side, you must not only follow my orders but also show your potential. Now, stop with the nonsense and try the staff."
Soren tried to act as though he had been encouraged by these words, though he was still somewhat worried. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and extended his hands toward the staff. The moment his fingers touched the metallic surface of the staff, the entire room filled with a cold energy. The staff began to emit a dark light, almost as if it were analyzing Soren. As Solara backed up tense, Neonidas continued to stroke his chin and watched the scene. Normally, according to the main storyline, Avelina was supposed to come and take this staff today, and it would be Avelina's first staff in the novel. "Coincidentally" this staff was also quite powerful.
The moment Soren's fingers touched the staff, he felt an intense pain coursing through his body. The staff poured dark energy over him like an ocean, trying to measure the power inside him. The surrounding energy had become so dense that even the other customers and the shop owner flinched. Seeing Soren in pain, Solara wanted to step forward, but Neonidas stopped her with a sharp glance.
"Let him continue," Neonidas said coolly. "If he fails, I'll heal him."
Soren gritted his teeth in pain. His hands were trembling, his legs weakened, and he was slowly bending toward the floor. The staff's energy was tearing at him, trying to break him down. Tears streamed from his eyes as only one thought echoed in his mind: I must succeed. I cannot lose my master's trust.
It was as though the staff were touching Soren's mind, showing him terrifying memories and a deep sense of emptiness. The darkness inside was testing his will. But Soren realized these images were illusions. He tightly shut his eyes and, pushing against the visions in his mind, gathered his own energy. He remembered the scornful looks of Neonidas and knew he had to give everything to change them. He wanted to be accepted by Neonidas. He wanted to be his unshakable subordinate. He wanted to be the one Neonidas trusted most!
For a moment, the staff glowed even brighter, and Soren collapsed to his knees. Solara, unable to hold back any longer, took a step forward. "Master, this will kill him!" she shouted. But Neonidas, still stroking his chin, calmly continued to watch.
At that moment, Soren's eyes suddenly glowed with a dark purple light. The energy wave instantly calmed, and the staff stopped glowing. Soren took a deep breath, still on his knees, but now feeling a slight warmth emanating from the staff he tightly held. It seemed the staff had finally submitted to him.
The shopkeeper stepped forward in astonishment. "This… Incredible! The staff has accepted you!" he cried. "Very few wizards can withstand such an intense test."
Neonidas approached Soren with a smug smile on his face. "Not bad," he said, his voice somewhat dismissive, though there was a glint of approval in his eyes.
Soren slowly stood up, his knees still shaking. As he gripped the staff tightly, he looked at Neonidas. There was a gleam of pride in his eyes, though the exhaustion and pain on his face were clear. The staff was gently vibrating in his hands, as if greeting its new master.
Solara stepped forward, her face etched with concern. "Soren, are you okay? Do you still feel pain?" she asked.
Soren took a deep breath, turned to Solara, and nodded with a weak, but confident, smile. "I… I'm fine. The staff accepted me."
"Yes, yes, it accepted you… Now tell me the price," Neonidas turned to the shopkeeper.
"This staff is extremely special, and it has been proven to enhance the user's abilities. Considering that this staff was obtained from an auction overseas… it would cost you at least 40 gold coins," the shopkeeper said. He was actually offering it cheaply because no one had wanted to buy the staff, or rather, no one could control it. It had been unsold for about a year and a half. So, when Soren managed to control it, the shopkeeper was ecstatic. He was so overjoyed that he had to recall his entire professional career in order not to shed tears.
"40 gold? Alright, here you go," said Neonidas, handing a pouch to the man.
The seller was happy with the sale of the staff, while Neonidas decided to leave the shop ahead of him. It was almost an hour later, and he knew he needed to go back and pick up those two children, but for now, he decided to spend a little more time and give the ring to Solara. He started walking toward a different spot just outside the shop. It was like a café inside this fair.
Soren and Solara quickly took seats, and after giving their orders, Neonidas joined them. Then, he took the ring he had bought earlier from his pocket.
"Solara, could you stretch out your hand?" he asked.
Though surprised by the question, Solara extended her hand toward Neonidas, who was sitting across from her. Neonidas took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. Since the ring only fit her fourth finger, Neonidas placed it there and leaned back, deciding to wait for their orders. But for a moment, Soren's expression of surprise caught his attention.
Solara, unable to even move her trembling hand away from the table, stared at the ring in disbelief, as though she were dreaming. Moreover, the finger on which her master had placed the ring was the same one where an engagement ring would be worn! Solara's face, and even her ears, turned completely red. She felt as though she were sinking into the ground from embarrassment and, at the same time, soaring above the clouds with joy.
As she felt the ring glowing on her finger, she remained still, unsure of how to react. Her heart was racing, and she was trying to make sense of how quickly everything had unfolded. The ring on her finger was a kind of formal acceptance, signaling that their relationship had reached a more serious level. But amidst these thoughts, both embarrassment and happiness mixed together. She still felt a bit like an outsider, yet at the same time, she felt completely lost in this special moment.
Seeing her reaction, Neonidas cleared his throat a few times. "Ehem! This is a special ring that will increase your power... It serves no other purpose. "
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Since you didn't like the bargaining part of the previous chapter, I removed that part and wrote that part of the chapter and republished it. I hope it satisfied you this time.
Hadiah
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Power 
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