Have you ever felt this way? After being wrapped in sweat and dust for days, not only does the body feel sluggish and heavy, but even the mind is easily overcome by fatigue, making it hard to stay alert.
Carefully washing every corner of his body, Tris stepped into the bath and let out a long, relieved sigh.
Now, having "renewed" himself once more, he began to think more clearly about the plans ahead.
'First, I should look for a shop that sells magical items.'
Back in Dorn, he had visited shops that claimed to sell magical items, but aside from raw materials, nothing had caught his eye.
Here in Aldor, magical items were far more widespread.
He hoped he might find something truly useful—ideally, an item as practical as the 'Magic Hand' Erik had once gifted him.
Of course, Tris knew such treasures were rare and not easily found.
"Perhaps they're only sold at auctions," he murmured.
Rin: "Master, do you want to buy something?"
Sitting nearby, Rin perked up at his sudden whisper.
Tris: "I plan to look around and see if this city has any good magical items."
Rin: "Can Rin come too?"
She was curious about magical items herself. After all, she wore one on her finger even now.
She still remembered the thrill of conjuring a massive stone to block a thug's strike—it had made her feel like a real Mage.
But Tris shook his head firmly:
"No. I'll disguise myself and go alone. Imagine two children walking in and spending a fortune on expensive magical items—what would that look like?"
Rin: "Ah… Rin understands."
She nodded reluctantly.
Even now, whenever she went outside, Rin worried someone might notice the ring she wore, despite hiding it beneath a glove.
She certainly didn't want anyone to see her buying another magical item in broad daylight.
Tris: "Speaking of magical items, here—take this. Consider it another means of self-defense."
He handed her a bracelet inlaid with three fiery red gems.
Rin: "Master, what is this?"
Tris: "A magical item that lets even non-Mages cast 'Fire Ball' three times a day—or so I was told."
Rin: "Even non-Mages can use it?"
Her eyes lit up instantly.
With the ability to summon a stone for defense and now fireballs for attack, Rin felt more and more like a true Mage.
Rin: "Is this very expensive, Master?"
She worried about the growing fortune hanging from her wrist.
Tris: "Compared to the ring, it's cheap. Don't worry. It won't attract attention like a spatial ring. Besides, your glove can cover it."
Relieved, Rin slipped the bracelet onto the same hand as her ring.
Tris: "Try it out."
Rin: "Here, inside this cramped room? Isn't that dangerous?"
Tris: "Wait—I'll shield the room with protective magic."
He carefully layered wards to ensure the 'fireball' would cause no harm.
Tris: "Alright, aim at that empty wall."
Rin: "How do I activate it? Like the ring?"
Tris: "Yes, probably the same. Try it."
She raised her hand, focused, and suddenly a fireball the size of a human head shot forth.
It slammed into the wall and exploded, filling the room with a blast.
For a moment, Rin thought she would be burned to ashes.
But Tris's wards held perfectly—neither they nor the furniture suffered any damage, not even a scorch mark on the wall.
Tris: "Its power is only that of a basic Fire Ball, nothing particularly special. However, the fact that it can be cast three times without consuming any spiritual energy still provides a considerable advantage. Most importantly, it compensates for your current weakness of lacking any means of long‑range attack."
He observed and gave his analysis.
Tris: 'Rin, let me see your hand.'
Tris examined the bracelet on her wrist. One of the gems had lost its former red glow and turned a dull gray.
Carefully sensing it, Tris realized the gray gem was slowly recharging itself bit by bit from the surrounding environment. At this pace, it would take an entire day for it to be fully restored.
Tris: "Try another shot."
Rin obeyed, launching a second fireball.
Everything happened much the same as before. The only difference was that this time Rin already knew what to expect, so she was no longer startled as she had been earlier.
Checking the bracelet once more, Tris sensed that the second gem had also begun to recharge its energy.
Tris: 'It seems each gem functions as a separate reservoir. Whether one or two are recharging at the same time, the speed of recovery doesn't change. Each time a gem is used, it requires a full day before it can be used again. Moreover, the user cannot accelerate the process by supplying their own spiritual energy.'
As for that last point, though slightly disappointing, Tris had already anticipated it.
If it could be recharged quickly by the user, then almost anyone could instantly become a Mage capable of casting unlimited 'Fire Balls', as long as they had enough spiritual energy. In that case, this magical item would carry an entirely different price.
Satisfied, Rin admired the bracelet, fiddling with it like a child with a beloved toy—though this was far more than a toy; it was a weapon.
Tris: "Play with it if you like, but don't accidentally burn yourself alive."
Though he trusted her awareness, he couldn't help but warn her.
If not for the fact that children in this world learn deadly magics at such an early age, Tris might have hesitated to let a child wield something so dangerous.
In other places, only adults are allowed to take exams for a license to own guns. In many regions, ordinary people cannot even approach or possess such weapons at all.
Rin: "Rin will be careful."
She knew his warning was not unnecessary.
Just a short while ago, she had twice faced the flames of the explosion head‑on with her own body, so she could fully grasp its danger.
Rin suddenly realized that this was likely one of the reasons Master had her test the bracelet inside the cramped bathroom.
Though he was easygoing and unconcerned about many things, when it came to matters of safety and life itself, Master was always exceedingly thorough and careful.
Finally, Tris gave his instructions:
"Later, while I'm out, review all the techniques you've learned so far. Then we'll move on to the next lesson."
Rin: "Yes, Master."