章 10: 10. Two choices
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The old shop owner, carrying several high-stacked boxes, walked out from the back storeroom, smiling and greeting the two sisters.
"It's all right. Good things are always worth waiting for."
Dorothy looked at the old man expectantly; her gaze fell on the boxes he was holding. Her strong perception could sense the value of the materials inside, even through the seal boxes designed to prevent the loss of spirituality.
"Hmm, these are my pride and joy."
Hearing Dorothy's words, the old man couldn't help feeling a bit proud, but he quickly straightened his attitude and asked his client in a serious manner.
"As for Miss Dorothy's magic wand materials, I have two proposals for you. Take a look and see which one you find preferable."
"One is based on your spellcasting habits. I have inquired with the spirit of your old wand. You are the type with very high precision in casting spells. Therefore, I personally recommend the Dragon Series Staff, with Dragon Blood Wood as the main material, Sub-Dragon Nerve as the core, and a Sub-Dragon's Dragon Ball as the embedded gem."
"However, Dragon Series Staffs tend to be rather temperamental and hard to control, but their enhancement to magic power quality is undoubtedly significant. I believe with your precision, you can fully harness them."
"The second option is to focus on the spirit of your old wand, which has only awakened not long ago and is still quite weak. If a wand is crafted with materials that are more aligned with it, then after replacing the wand, the spirit will adapt more quickly and also grow faster."
"Here, I recommend using Soul-Nourishing Wood for the wand body, and for the staff core, continue in the same vein as the old wand: previously it was a black cat's whiskers, so we can use whiskers from a Netherworld Tiger for the new wand, as they are also excellent Spirit-Nourishing Material. As for the embedded gem, I think this Soul Crystal is a good choice."
"Such a wand may not provide a high boost initially, but it will offer the wand spirit the perfect environment for growth. The most precious aspect of a psychic magic wand is the growth potential of the wand spirit. A well-cultivated psychic magic wand will eventually self-evolve to produce effects that best suit the master. However, growth always involves some uncertainties, and you must be willing to take certain risks."
The old man finished speaking and just quietly observed Dorothy, waiting for her choice.
By then, Dorothy was convinced that the man before her was indeed a master wand craftsman; both proposals he had presented were indeed the most suitable for her.
The first proposal, the Dragon Series Staff, would greatly compensate for her magic's lack of strength and quality, and coupled with her already strong magical precision Talent, it would assuredly boost her power immediately.
The second proposal, however, was an investment in the future. Sacrificing immediate bonuses for the potential of further growth later on.
Dorothy had heard plenty of legends about psychic magic wands. These wands, full of spirituality, might be weak at first, but as they accompany the owner in their growth, they adjust themselves according to the owner's spellcasting habits to achieve that perfect unity between wand and wielder.
A well-nurtured psychic magic wand can even awaken its own unique wand talents to better assist the owner with their spellcasting, making it akin to a cheat in existence.
It's just that she'd heard such nurturing of a psychic magic wand isn't cheap; it needs to be constantly fed with various precious Spirit-Nourishing Materials to maximize its spirituality.
And as the old man just mentioned, growth always entails risks; cute children can grow up to be less appealing, and the same is true for psychic magic wands. According to rumors, whether a psychic magic wand warps or not depends on its closeness to its owner.
After all, these are wands with their own spirituality—they are living, intelligent staffs with their own thoughts, and should not be treated like inanimate objects. If the closeness isn't sufficient, while the wand won't betray you, it would be difficult to align with the owner's intentions, and who knows what powers it might evolve into. It might not only fail to add bonuses but also directly hinder you.
So, should she choose the first proposal, which has immediate effects and is relatively cheaper, or the second proposal that's like a bottomless pit in terms of expenses with an uncertain future, gambling on a chance?
"I choose the second option."
Without hesitating too long, Dorothy made her decision and said it with conviction.
After all, she considered herself a witch with promising prospects, so pairing herself with an equally prospective magic wand seemed fitting—double the expectations for the future, hopefully yielding double the joy when it arrives.
Moreover, she had no urgent need to increase her power at the moment. She would probably be studying at Witch Academy for at least the next twenty years, and as a student, she wouldn't need to go to battle; studying diligently was enough. She'd be stable, and by the time she graduated, the psychic magic wand would likely be well-nurtured.
"Alright then, we'll go with the second option."
The old man nodded in satisfaction at Dorothy's choice, looking at his client with an even greater sense of admiration.
This truly was a good child who treated her wand kindly. I must bring out all my skill; I absolutely cannot let such a good child be disappointed.
That's what Old Man Odell thought to himself.
"So, if I may be so bold, what are Miss Dorothy's future career plans? Will you choose a combat or research orientation?"
He asked again, cautiously.
"Isn't it obvious? Sister is definitely going to fight with me..."
Before Dorothy could speak, Alice could hardly wait to chime in.
However, before she could finish, Dorothy covered her mouth without hesitation and then firmly said to the elder.
"Research. I'm following the Path of Omniscience; research suits me better."
When it comes to the career division of witches, one must mention the structure of the Witch World.
This has never been a peace-loving race; on the contrary, witches are a bona fide warring race. The entire society highly values martial prowess. It's not just a matter of all citizens being soldiers; it's a nation of war fanatics.
I see, I conquer.
This is the life motto of the witches. Once a new world is discovered by the witches, an interdimensional war of conquest becomes inevitable.
There's no helping it since mages are notoriously expensive to grow, not to mention when the entire population consists of mages of the Witch Clan. With so many witches needing to grow and strengthen, the demand for resources is self-evident.
Relying solely on the indigenous resources of the Witch World, it's only a matter of time before they're exhausted by the ever-increasing number of witches, which could lead to civil wars over limited resources. Hence, to alleviate the pressure on resources, expansion is inevitable.
Fortunately, in the Multiverse, with its infinite worlds and endless starry skies, there's plenty for witches to explore, discover, and conquer. Over time, this has shaped them into a warlike race.
To this day, witches have earned their spot in the Multiverse alongside Angels, Demons, and Great Dragons as one of the four major Calamity Races.
However, unlike the Demons and Great Dragons that engage in chaotic plundering and destruction, and different from the Angels who colonize a world and treat it as merely a resource hub, worlds conquered by witches are directly incorporated into the Witch World. The conquerors are responsible for guiding and building these new territories, emphasizing sustainable development.
Well, this isn't to say that witches are particularly kindhearted; far from it. They do this merely to make the "cake" bigger for their own greater benefit.
But, to give credit where it's due, the otherworldly races conquered by the Witch World at least get to lap up the leftovers, and with a bit of luck, might even snag some scraps, which is far better than what they'd face with the other three Calamity Races.
After all, if one encounters Demons or Great Dragons, whether they live or die is purely up to fate.
Encountering Angels, on the other hand, would spiral the entire world into a slow death of despair. Until the very last trace of Supernatural Power is drained by the Angels, the world becomes a dead, magicless world. And even then, the ordeal isn't over. The Church established by the Angels will continue to "educate" the populace, harvesting the Power of Faith derived from their dissipating soul energy, leaving no stone unturned for profit.
Therefore, as per the fervent testimonies of those otherworldly species now zealously serving beneath the Witch Territory rulers, becoming a dog for the witches is considered a privilege.
This characteristic of the Calamity Race has resulted in a bifurcated professional categorization within Witch Society: one that heads to the front lines to specialize in combat and conquest—Armed Witches; and another that shoulders the responsibility for new territory construction and technological innovation—Research Witches.
In terms of social status, Armed Witches undoubtedly rank higher. After all, the conquest rule in the Witch World is 'whoever conquers, rules.' Typically, only Armed Witches become Witch Lords, while Research Witches are generally employed under these Witch Lords as workers.
Take, for instance, the present abode of the sisters on Sea Moon Island and the vast territories beneath their Sky Island; this is the domain of the Armed Great Witch who bears the title of Sea Moon Witch, and Dorothy's stepmother happens to be a Research Witch, now working under the Sea Moon Witch, responsible for territory construction.
Such a structure is the norm in the Witch World, which itself is composed of countless Witch Territories, large and small, governed by the Council of Sages—a coalition of the thirteen most powerful Witch Lords.
Even though previously at the gates of Sea Moon Island Dorothy jokingly said something about 'a Great Witch should be like this, and I can replace her,' that was just a spur-of-the-moment, adolescent outburst.
It would be impossible for her to truly go to battle; not in this lifetime. With magic power Talent that's not up to par and no fighting skills, she could only rely on her studies and delve into research to eke out a living.
As someone from a peaceful world, Dorothy asserts that she's a peace advocate. She has hardly ever fought in her life. Anyone else can take up the mantle of Armed Witch—she certainly won't.
And really, how dangerous is war? While witches are strong, they are not invincible. What if they meet other Calamity Races on the battlefield? One might accidentally get killed. She's only sixteen, with nearly a thousand years of wonderful life ahead; there's absolutely no need to risk it all on the battlefield.
In summary, becoming an Armed Witch is simply out of the question. Even if it means being poor, starving, or jumping off this Sky Island, Dorothy will never take on the role of an Armed Witch.
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