Chapter 88: The Mystic Cauldron
"Where are we going next?" Selene asked as they stepped out of the Wizards' Guild. The soft afternoon light spilled over the cobblestone street, catching the faint sheen of her silver hair.
"Guide me to the best potion shop," Raven said, his tone thoughtful. "I need materials and equipment."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "Will the potion shop buy magical beast corpses?"
"Most shops buy and sell beast materials, My Lord," Selene replied, puzzled. "Do you plan to sell one?"
"I got a precious magical beast corpse from Bloodstone City's auction house," Raven said, his gaze shifting toward the carriage waiting by the curb. Jacob and Toby stood beside it, talking. "Might as well make some profit."
Jacob spotted them first. "Did you finish your business, My Lord?" he asked, stepping forward to open the door.
"Sort of," Raven replied, stepping inside.
Selene followed after a moment's thought. "The best potion shop nearby should be The Mystic Cauldron, My Lord. But… it's quite expensive compared to the others."
Jacob blinked. "Potion shop? We're buying potions now?"
"Yes," Raven said, sliding into his seat. "Is that another one of those shops only accessible with a black ring?"
Selene shook her head. "Even nobles and wealthy merchants visit there. But with this ring, we can buy rare items at a discount." She turned to the coachman. "To Baker Street."
The horses neighed as the young driver cracked the reins. The carriage rolled forward, rattling through the busy arteries of the West Borough. Outside, the air was thick with the mingled scents of oil, smoke, and roasted nuts. Vendors called out prices, a street band played a lively tune, and the far-off clang of machinery hummed like a metallic heartbeat through the district.
Raven leaned back, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest.
'I have around sixty-five hundred gold coins left. But to buy potion materials for every elemental affinity, I'll need far more than that.'
His brow furrowed. To craft a single low-rank Life Affinity potion, he'd spent nearly seven hundred gold coins—and that had taken nine attempts before success.
'Even if my spirit power's improved, I'll still need ten batches of ingredients just to maintain a stable success rate.'
Across from him, Selene sat with perfect posture, her gloved hands folded on her lap. "The Mystic Cauldron isn't just a potion shop, My Lord," she began, her tone reverent. "It's said to be the premier supplier of rare materials and rune artifacts in the entire Royal City. Even advanced potion masters and Rune Scholars shop there."
The carriage slowed as they turned onto Baker Street. The noise of the city softened, replaced by the clatter of carriage wheels against smooth stone. A three-storied building came into view—a modest structure of gray brick and polished oak, with a wooden sign above the entrance showing a cauldron surrounded by glowing runes.
"This is it, My Lord," Selene said, stepping down and gesturing toward the shop.
Raven took Jacob's rifle before the man could rise. "I'll hold onto this."
"Let Selene handle it, My Lord. I've trained her to use it," Jacob said from the seat.
"Fine." Raven nodded and turned to Selene. "Once we're inside, stay alert. If something happens, I'll count on you."
"I won't disappoint you, My Lord," Selene said, her voice low but firm.
The two approached the door. A small bell chimed as they entered, and the scent of lavender and herbs washed over them. The air was cool and faintly charged with energy, refreshing Raven's mind.
He blinked at the sight before him.
The main hall was bustling—hundreds of customers wandered among glass displays and polished counters. Attendants in crimson uniforms moved gracefully, answering questions and wrapping purchases in shimmering cloth. The faint hum of mana crystals lighting the ceiling added a quiet resonance to the air.
"This place looks more like a jewelry store," Raven murmured.
He noticed something else—most of the customers were women. Nobles, by the look of their dresses and jeweled hairpins.
"This shop also sells the best beauty elixirs, My Lord," Selene explained as she guided him through the crowd. "That's why it attracts so many wealthy ladies. The Ravenshield family owns it—it's known for quality and trust."
At the far end, she stopped before a wooden door. She turned the knob, pushed it open, and stepped through.
The scent changed immediately—less perfume, more raw herbs and minerals. Inside, shelves lined the walls, stacked with jars, vials, and bundles of dried plants. The light here was softer, filtered through tinted glass.
Behind a circular counter stood a young woman with silver hair tied neatly behind her head. Her gown, a deep sapphire blue, shimmered faintly with runic embroidery as she polished a tray of vials.
"Welcome to The Mystic Cauldron," she said, her voice calm and clear. "How may I assist you?"
Raven raised his hand, touching the edge of his monocle.
…
[Name: Anastasia Ravenshield
Age: 143
Nationality: Zenith Empire
Affiliation: Manager of The Mystic Cauldron
Class: Expert Wizard (4th Circle)
Health: Normal
Attributes:
Strength: 454.5
Agility: 433.0
Vitality: 496.5
Luck: ??
Spirit: ????
Spells: ?????, ?????, ??????, ???????
Additional Skills: ??????, ???????.]
…
'Question marks? What happened?'
[Your spirit power is too weak to read further. If you push, she'll sense your probe.]
'I see.' Raven's expression didn't flicker. 'A Rank-3 Expert, huh…'
He stepped closer. "I'm looking for potion materials, equipment, and perhaps a buyer for a few magical beast corpses."
Anastasia finally looked up. Her eyes were a piercing violet, sharp but not unkind. "We carry all common and uncommon materials. May I have your list?"
"Ten petals of Temporal Lotus, fifty milliliters of Crystallinewine resin, Bluefire Ash, powdered bone of Stardew Lizard, five hundred milliliters of ethereal water, and twenty milliliters of Darkroot oil."
She nodded thoughtfully. "The Temporal Lotus is rare, but we've a few batches left. The resin, water, and oil are easy enough. The Bluefire Ash and Stardew Lizard bone, however…" She frowned slightly. "Wait here."
She disappeared into a backroom, skirts whispering softly. Raven watched her go, mind half-occupied with calculations.
A few minutes later, Anastasia returned carrying two glass cases—one with fine gray ash, the other with chalk-white powder. She placed them gently on the counter and began assembling the remaining ingredients beside them.
"All the items you requested are here," she said, jotting notes into a ledger. "But the Stardew Lizard bone is exceptionally rare. The full price is one thousand two hundred and eighty gold coins."
Raven slipped the Guild badge from his coat and placed it on the counter. "Does this earn me a discount?"
"Ah," she smiled faintly, "Wizards' Guild members get ten percent off in all affiliated shops. That brings it to eleven hundred and fifty-two."
He nodded. "Good. I'll also need materials for poison affinity, blood affinity, and—"
He began listing more items. The words flowed smoothly, precise and measured, revealing a mind that clearly knew the craft. Anastasia's expression shifted from polite detachment to quiet intrigue as he spoke.
By the time he finished, the counter was crowded with vials, scales, burners, and sealed containers.
The final tally left him with barely eighteen hundred gold coins.
'There goes most of my savings,' he thought grimly.
He tapped his ring and looked back at her. "Do you also buy beast corpses? I have two."
"Oh?" Her brows arched. "We do, provided they're intact. Please follow me."
She led them through a long corridor that smelled faintly of iron and herbs. At the end stood a tall wooden door flanked by two guards in blue uniforms, rifles gleaming under the lantern light.
'Radiant Rank Walkers,' Raven noted silently.
"This is our storehouse for magical beasts and materials," Anastasia said. "Normally, outsiders aren't allowed, but…" She opened the door and stepped through. "You don't seem like someone with ill intentions. And—" her lips quirked slightly, "—you handle potion materials like an alchemist. A seasoned one."
'So she noticed,' Raven mused as he followed her inside.
The storehouse stretched far beyond what he expected. Rows upon rows of shelves held jars of organs, claws, scales, and preserved bones. Crystal lamps glowed softly, casting long shadows across the metal floor.
"We have everything from mutant beasts to Rank-2 specimens," she said, pointing toward a row of massive glass containers. Inside floated creatures that looked frozen mid-snarl—Moon Jackals, Lavahorn Stags, Skyshadow Rocs… and then, at the far end, a hulking figure with three closed eyes.
"A Three-Eyed Cyclops?" Raven's eyes narrowed. "Descendant of the Three-Eyed Titan?"
"Yes." Anastasia followed his gaze. "It came from a mercenary squad that joined the Meadows Family's subjugation mission. The beast's third eye alone killed dozens before they managed to bring it down. They say mutant cyclopses and giants are reappearing near the Southern Wild Fortress. Some fear another invasion like the one eighty years ago."
Her tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of unease. Then she smiled lightly. "The cyclops's liver and heart are prized for life potions. Even its meat is sought after by nobles."
'She's trying to raise the price,' Raven thought, amused.
He folded his arms. "How much?"
"Even as a mutant, it's worth at least two thousand gold coins," Anastasia said smoothly.
[She's exaggerating.]
"I agree." Raven's lips twitched. "Cyclops meat is nearly tasteless, low in energy, and its side effects make you reek for weeks. Not to mention, the magic crystal's already removed. I'll offer twelve hundred."
Anastasia blinked. "That's far too low, sir. Its heart and liver alone—"
"Thirteen hundred," Raven said evenly. "Take it or leave it."
She studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "Fifteen hundred. Final offer."
"Deal." He nodded without hesitation.
She wrote it down, expression unreadable, then looked back up. "Anything else?"
"The Twin Shadow Viper corpse," Raven said after a pause. "But I'll need to return for it. Funds are… limited."