Chapter 95: Favor

A smile appeared on Raven's face.

"I can travel into another person's dream and learn their darkest or most precious secrets. For example, this dream of yours also comes under this category." As soon as Raven spoke, the young girl's face twisted.

At that moment, she felt some powerful force blocking her from thinking, and she looked confused.

"Don't be confused, kid. When you wake up from this dream, you'll understand my words clearly."

"Dream?" Judith tilted her head.

"I'm Charles Nightwind, a Wizard and a teacher. I came to meet you in your dream to ask a favor."

"Favor?" Judith blinked her eyes.

"Please save my disciple's aunt from getting imprisoned for life or executed. In return, I'll give you an affinity potion recipe."

"W-What? Execution? Imprisonment?" The small girl gawked at him in shock and shook her head.

"Can I recommend you to Village Chief, mister? Only he knows the Lord Falconcrest."

"No. You have to wait for a few centuries. When this memory gets unlocked, a boy named Raven Silallus Jorvot will come and seek your help. Help him save his aunt; you will benefit a lot."

"Benefit? I get gifts? How can I even trust you?" Judith felt scared to talk to him continuously.

"Then, I'll give you an answer. What I'm about to tell you is a secret potion method."

"Potion? The one that saved Tailor's sister from a curse?"

"More than curing a curse, it can change one's life. Here are the potion ingredients of the Fire Affinity potion. 3ml Blood of Magma Serpent, 5gm of powdered ignis crystal, 10 ml of golden ember oil, Crimson flame flower- 1 petal, 10 to 20 grams of Flame Mushroom, and 100 ml of Ember Water."

"W-What are these?" Judith looked at Raven like he was a madman and even took a step back.

"Next, I'll tell you how to make the potion," Raven explained the procedure of making the affinity potion and even mentioned the timings.

Although the current Judith couldn't even understand what he was saying, the real Judith would be shocked when waking up.

"As long as you cooperate, my disciple will help you with more affinity potion recipes in the future. Good Luck!" Raven suddenly turned blurry as he spoke and soon disappeared, leaving sparks behind.

"Did that guy go crazy? What are those strange plant names he said earlier? And how did he disappear?" Judith muttered in confusion.

"I should go tell Aunt Amy! She always warns me not to talk to any strangers!" Saying so, she ran towards the neighborhood house.

…

Meanwhile, Raven returned to the area where Selene was staying and soon changed into the appearance of Thomas.

"You are back so quickly, My Lord?" Selene asked in surprise.

"We should leave before she wakes up in the real world," Raven said as he arrived beside her and sat down on the ground. Then, both held their hands together and closed their eyes.

…

A few minutes later.

Judith's mansion.

Judith suddenly woke up from sleep and suddenly froze. She vividly recalled what had happened in the dream and felt absurd.

'Who was that person in my dream? Flame Wizard? Also, what was his name again? Charles Wind? No, Nightwind… Charles Nightwind! Does that mean I met him long ago and only unlocked the memories?' It was absurd even to think.

'Does that mean he can even look into a faraway future?' She knew tampering with a Legendary Wizard's memory needed lots of risk and was sure that no one entered her Sea of Consciousness thanks to her second consciousness hidden in her soul.

But what confused her was the information he revealed in the dream.

‘Raven Silallus Jorvot… Wait… Isn't that the child born dead? The royal family only revealed the name of that dead child and didn't even give it a proper funeral. Save his aunt, huh?' She closed her and checked the information.

'It must be related to Sword Princess's Kidnapping incident. But the incident surrounding that sword princess is indeed strange.' In truth, she never wanted to involve herself in matters involving the royal family or even mortals.

'Still, a recipe for Fire Affinity Potion, huh? Did I go crazy because of the loss of my precious people?' However, a mere dream could not show the accurate recipe ingredients and even the concoction method.

'The Affinity Potion recipes are strictly hidden even from the high-ranking members of the nobles of Arcane Mist Empire. I once heard from Prime Minister Garen that only Major Empires and Organizations possess these affinity potion recipes. And that man in my dream gave me a precious treasure to save someone.' In truth, Judith and many alchemists from Wizard Union had been researching the affinity potions for centuries!

'After the death of Aunt Amy and my childhood friends, I always dreamed of creating a potion that could even raise one's affinity. However, our research came to a halt due to no progression. But I never expect a Wizard from the mainland would be willing to share his secret.' Although Judith didn't understand his true motive, she decided to take a gamble.

"Philip!" She spoke while infusing her voice with her spirit power.

A 60-year-old man in a butler suit ran from the kitchen a moment later and soon appeared before her.

"What can I do for you, Your Grace?"

Judith quietly took a paper and a pen from her spatial ring and wrote down the recipe ingredients.

"Go to the Queen's Nectar and buy ten batches of these materials. I'll be waiting in the Alchemy lab." Saying so, she stood up from the sofa and started walking upstairs through the split staircase.

All of a sudden, she thought of something and soon asked.

"Also, who are the best advocates in the Empire?"

"Advocates?" Philip was stunned by her words and soon answered.

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"There are five well-renowned lawyers in the Empire, Your Grace. Otis, Amos, Wayne, Lauren, and Cedric. They all come from major noble families and have high reputations."

"Oh, I never knew our Little Lauren became a famous advocate! So, who took the Sword Princess's kidnapping case?"

"It's Cedric from the Thornevale Family, Your Grace. Concubine Jeanne tried to hire a trusted advocate with her savings to save her sister, but the Royal Family forced him to withdraw from the case day two days ago. Umm, why are you asking about this case, Your Grace?" The butler asked with a confused look.

"I wonder why," Judith replied with a smile and soon added.

"Make an appointment with Lauren tomorrow. Also, I won't return to the academy for two days. Put all the schedules on hold for now."

"Pardon?! Your Grace, you also have an important meeting with Wizard Alliance's Elder! If the meeting fails, we might not even get the necessary research ingredients." Philip said in a shocked tone.

"Tell him that I'm sick or something." Judith waved her hand and continued walking.

"I never heard of a Wizard getting sick…" Philp muttered slowly and quietly, leaving the main hall.

Two hours later, Philip returned to the mansion and went upstairs. After walking for a while, he arrived in front of the alchemy lab and knocked on the door twice.

"I've brought the ingredients, Your Grace."

"Come in," Judith ordered from inside.

Philip opened the alchemy lab door and entered, carrying several neatly packed boxes containing the requested ingredients. The alchemy lab was a massive room with shelves filled with vials, jars of powders, and rows of rare herbs preserved in glass containers. A large alchemical table stood at the center, its surface cluttered with instruments, cauldrons, and various tools.

Judith was already at work, focusing on a complicated magical circle etched into the table. Runes glowed as she was preparing the equipment.

"Place them here," she gestured toward an empty table section without looking up. Philip nodded, arranging the materials as neatly as possible before stepping back.

"Your Grace," he asked hesitantly, "may I ask why you're so intent on this particular recipe? You've never shown such urgency in your research before."

Judith paused momentarily, her hands stilling over a small brazier she was lighting. Without turning around, she replied, "Let's just say an unusual opportunity presented itself. If this works, it could change the future of many."

Philip nodded. "Shall I prepare anything else?"

"No, leave," Judith said firmly. "I need to focus right now."

Once Philip exited the lab, Judith exhaled deeply. She unsealed the box containing the powdered ignis crystal and inspected its shimmering, ruby-like particles under a magnifying lens.

'Perfect quality.' She moved on to the other ingredients, verifying their authenticity individually. Satisfied, she took out a test tube and started concocting the affinity potion.

Unlike Raven, her experience concocting potion was more than 1000 times better.

She skillfully handled the equipment and continued to concoct the potion with the help of the concoction method Raven told her.

A few minutes later, she finally stopped the concoction process and looked at the crimson liquid-filled vial in her hand.

"I need to check if it's authenticated." She closed her eyes, enveloped the whole mansion with her spirit power, and sent out an order to Philip.

"Come to the lab right away."

Two minutes later, Philip entered the alchemy lab and bowed his head.

"Go and borrow the highest rank fire affinity orb from the Wizards Guild using my name. Quick."

"Fire affinity orb?" Philip looked sharply at the vial in her right hand and hurriedly nodded.

"I'll be right back, Your Grace." He hurriedly left the lab, leaving Judith alone.

…

Thirty minutes later.

Philip returned, panting slightly from the urgency of his errand. He carried a small, crystalline orb with countless rune letters inscribed.

"I've brought the Fire Affinity orb, Your Grace."

He handed it to Judith, who took it with a steady hand.

"Excellent work, Philip." She nodded with a smile and soon asked.

"Can you place your hand on it?"

Although puzzled, Philip asked no more questions and quietly touched it.

A second later, a dim reddish glow appeared from the white crystal and started to glow fiercely.

"You have a good affinity with Fire? I thought you only have darkness and sword affinities, though. Haa, go and gather all the servants in the main hall. I want to check something personally." She ordered.

"Yes, Your Grace." Philip nodded and hurriedly left the alchemy lab.

A few moments later, hurried footsteps echoed through the mansion. Philip returned to the main hall, leading a group of five servants wearing expressions of confusion and unease. They lined up neatly in the center of the main hall, their eyes darting nervously between Judith and the orb in her hand.

"Your Grace," Philip began, "the servants are gathered as requested. Shall I—"

"Step aside," Judith interrupted. She descended the staircase gracefully, her long gown trailing behind her. As she reached the main hall, the servants instinctively bowed their heads in respect.

Judith placed the white orb on the coffee table and spoke.

"Listen carefully. Come forward one by one and touch the crystal."

The servants exchanged uncertain glances, but none dared to voice objections.

Judith turned her attention to the first servant in line, a timid young maid with trembling hands.

"Touch the orb," Judith commanded.

"Yes, Your Grace." She walked ahead with light footsteps, extended her hand, and placed her palm on it.

But even after five seconds, no response came from the orb.

"Good. Next." Judith checked the rest of the servants and found that only three people had no affinity for Fire.

"Hmm," She pondered for a moment and soon turned her gaze towards the timid maid.

"You stay here. Rest of you can return to your work." She ordered.

"Philip, if a person named Raven or 'Charles' comes to see me tomorrow, inform me immediately. That person is an important guest." She paused momentarily and turned her gaze towards the timid blonde-haired maid.

"Follow me." Saying so, she started walking on the split staircase.

Both soon went to the second floor and moved to the alchemy lab.

"Drink this," Judith picked up the red vial and gave it to the maid.

Nodding stiffly, the maid opened the cap and gulped it without refuting it.

A second later, a burning sensation appeared all over her body and caused her throat to go dry. Her eyes swelled up, and even her breath grew harder.

She panicked and knelt on the floor, looking at Judith with pleading eyes.

A chuckle escaped out of Judith's mouth as she saw her reaction.

"Calm down, kid. I'm not doing any dangerous experiment." She said with a smile and waited for more than an hour.

Meanwhile, the maid returned to her usual self and felt nothing changed inside her body.

"Now, touch the orb again," Judith said while placing the orb in front of her.

Nodding stiffly, the maid extended her hand and touched it.

A second later, the orb started to give a dim reddish light and remained like that for a while before disappearing.

"Amazing!" Judith couldn't believe her eyes at all.

"Even though it's a low-rank potion, it's still a feat we dreamed of achieving for centuries!" She soon composed herself and sent the maid away.

"If anyone asks what happened here, tell them the crystal didn't shine even after trying multiple times."

The maid instantly understood what she was implying and nodded.

"I-I won't tell a soul, Your Grace!" Saying so, she bowed her head and left the lab.

Meanwhile, Judith focused on concocting more affinity potions using the rest of the ingredients.

…

September 22nd Morning.

Raven woke up early and left the mansion alone through the tavern's carriage.

After arriving at the market street, he shifted to another carriage and changed himself into his original look.

'Although it's dangerous to meet her alone, I don't have any choice.' Although nervous inside, Raven decided to move on with his plan.

Then, he took another luxurious carriage and returned to the Garden Street. Although a few security check-ups were there, Raven returned to the mansion area quickly.

But instead of going towards his own, he quietly arrived before the neighboring mansion house.

He then quietly took the monocle from his pocket and put it on his left eye. After that, he stepped forward and walked closer to the compound gate.

"Stop!" Two muscular men in blue uniforms stood outside the compound gate and blocked his path using their long rifles.

"Identify yourself." One of the guards inquired.

"I'm here to meet Madam Judith. I'm Raven; my teacher told me to come here."

The guards retracted their weapons and bowed heads when he said his name.

"Please come in, Sir. Raven."

Raven adjusted his coat and stepped through the open gate, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Judith's mansion was imposing, with its towering spires and intricate carvings of runes etched into the walls. The old butler named Philip was already waiting for him at the entrance, dressed in immaculate attire.

But as soon as Raven saw him, his eyes squinted.

He instantly adjusted his monocle and looked at his status.

…

[Name: Philip (Edward Raynor)

Age: 255

Nationality: Zenith Empire

Title: Eye of the Watcher

Class: Expert Walker (Rank-3), Seventh Circle.

Health: Normal

Traits: Calm Headed, Classical Knowledge, Social Etiquette, Political Knowledge and Governance, Horsemanship.

Current Status: Wariness

Attributes:

Strength: ???

Agility: ???

Vitality: ???

Luck: ???

Spirit: ????

Class Skills:

?????, ???????, ???????, ???????, ???????, ???????.

Additional Skills:

Advanced Swordsmanship

Affinities:

Shadow: Extraordinary

Fire- Intermediate

Sword- High.]

…

'Eye of the Watcher? Also, why does he have two names?' Raven felt something was amiss.