Chương 104: Nightfall Rest

The two of them stepped into the deeper section of the wand shop. Just as expected, the wands here were far superior to those displayed outside. Every single one could be considered a work of art. There weren't even price tags placed beneath these wands. Clearly, these were luxury items meant for those who already understood their value. Zelier felt a little uneasy. What if I accidentally pick a wand worth several hundred gold coins, and even Bev can't afford it? The situation would be unbearably awkward.

"Go ahead, try them." Bev urged him. Zelier browsed for a while before picking up a wand with a completely crimson body. Complex rune circuits covered the surface of the wand. The moment he grasped it, a powerful wave of scorching heat surged into his palm. It felt like holding a piece of volcanic rock that had only just cooled.

"This wand is called Flameheart." The elderly shopkeeper introduced it in her gentle voice.

"Its base material is Moltenwood harvested from deep within a volcano. The wand core is a crystal fused from three Salamander monster cores."

"Flameheart provides a significant enhancement to fire-element spells."

"Additionally, when casting fire magic, it has a chance to trigger the special effect [Flame Splash], making it exceptionally effective against groups of enemies."

"A pure elemental wand..." Zelier nodded thoughtfully. With Flame Splash, his Flame Breath would probably become even more spectacular in combat. However, he didn't immediately make a decision. Instead, he continued browsing and picked up another wand with even more intricate rune circuits.

"This wand was specifically crafted for Arcane mages."

"The wand itself has undergone multiple mana tempering processes, giving it extremely smooth mana circulation."

"The core is a single piece of refined crystal." The old woman continued explaining.

"It greatly improves the stability and destructive power of Arcane spells. It is very suitable for combat-oriented mages." An Arcane wand... That meant it could enhance Arcane Missile. Zelier continued testing several more wands. Each one was powerful. Each one had its own unique advantages. But somehow... He always felt that something was missing. Then suddenly, one particular wand caught his attention. It was completely black. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road.

If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The surface looked as if it had been carved from some kind of crystal glass, clear yet incredibly solid. Unlike ordinary cylindrical wands, its body retained the natural angular facets of a crystal formation. It looked sharp, sturdy, and extremely durable. Aside from that, the entire wand had no unnecessary decorations. No gemstones. No elaborate carvings.

Only several extremely thin silver lines spread across the surface like lightning, eventually converging at the tip. There was no wand core embedded at the end. Instead, the tip itself had formed into a sharp, dangerous point.

"Grandma, could you tell me about this wand?" Zelier asked, his interest piqued.

"Oh... this wand is called Nightfall Rest." The old woman looked at Zelier's choice, and a trace of surprise flashed across her eyes.

"Its base material is the rare Starfall Wood, which possesses exceptional mana conductivity."

"This type of wood is as hard as glass."

"Even its leaves are like stone fragments. When the wind blows, they collide with one another and create a crisp ringing sound."

"The special trait of Nightfall Rest is that it cannot accept a specific elemental wand core."

"Therefore, only a universal resonance circuit can be engraved onto its surface."

"Because of that, Nightfall Rest can enhance magic from every school."

"However, its enhancement will never surpass a specialized wand designed for a single school."

"Its strength lies in versatility." The old woman paused before continuing.

"But normally, very few mages need this kind of wand."

"Most mages spend their entire lives specializing in a single school of magic."

"Even those talented enough to master two schools will usually choose one as their main path."

"When selecting a wand, they prioritize one that strengthens their primary magic." The more Zelier held Nightfall Rest, the more he liked it. After hearing the explanation, his interest only grew stronger. Others might not need a wand capable of enhancing every school of magic. But he did. Talent: Spell Genesis gave him the opportunity to master spells from every school. He had to make full use of that advantage. And besides... This wand looked incredible. Nightfall Rest perfectly matched Zelier's taste.

It was slightly over half a meter long, with a clean and restrained design. No unnecessary decorations. No flashy appearance. Just pure efficiency. Zelier swung it a few times. The wand cut through the air with a sharp whistle. The balance was excellent. The grip felt natural.

"Ah, another characteristic of Nightfall Rest is its durability." The old woman added.

"It is extremely difficult to damage."

"Even sword strikes or axe blows won't easily destroy it."

"In emergencies, it could even be used as a melee weapon."

"That could be considered a small advantage."

"Although most mages would never need to use it that way." Zelier liked it even more. Bev watched his expression and immediately understood. He had clearly fallen in love with this wand.

"Try it, Zelier."

"See how compatible it is with your mana."

"Alright." Zelier began channeling his mana into Nightfall Rest. First, he tested elemental magic. Just like Flameheart, Nightfall Rest enhanced his perception of elemental energy. However, just as the old woman had said, the effect was noticeably weaker compared to a specialized elemental wand. Next was Arcane magic. Again, the effect was obvious. Nightfall Rest improved mana circulation and increased spell power. But it still couldn't compare to the dedicated Arcane wand. Then came mental magic.

Zelier had only learned one mental spell so far: Vicious Mockery. When he attempted to construct the spell matrix through Nightfall Rest, he immediately noticed his control over mental energy becoming smoother. The effect was real. Finally, Empowerment magic. Unlike the other schools, Nightfall Rest's enhancement focused on changing the nature of mana itself. It made the mana gentler and easier to control. As a result, Empowerment spells would become more effective after release.

"How does it feel?" Bev watched the undisguised excitement on Zelier's face and asked expectantly.

"Very good." Zelier answered honestly.

"This is exactly the kind of wand I need."

"A wand that can enhance every school of magic."

"Then it's decided." Bev clapped her hands happily.

"I knew this one suited you best." She turned toward the shopkeeper.

"Grandma, how much is this Nightfall Rest wand?" Zelier's heart immediately tightened. Even though Bev said they were friends... He still couldn't casually accept such an expensive gift. This wasn't just a few gold coins. This was a proper mage's equipment. Zelier silently made a decision. I'll treat this as a loan. Once I earn enough money from commissions in the future, I'll pay Bev back.

"One hundred gold coins." The old woman smiled kindly.

"W-what?" Bev froze.

"One hundred gold coins?"

"Grandma... are you sure you didn't give the wrong price?" Zelier was equally stunned. The wands displayed near the entrance, even those priced around one hundred gold coins, couldn't compare to Nightfall Rest. He had expected this wand to cost at least two hundred gold coins. Maybe even more. This price was completely beyond his expectations.

"No mistake."

"It is one hundred gold coins." The old woman explained.

"As you know, very few people need a wand that enhances multiple schools."

"It has been sitting here for several years because no one wanted it."

"To meet someone who truly suits it is a kind of fate."

"So I'm willing to sell it at this price." A lucky find? Zelier's eyes brightened. This was practically a bargain.