The Greatest Sinner

After the auction had been over, Marcel and Evan were returning home together. While sitting in the carriage Evan was looking up at the beautiful night sky and the myriad of stars. He was impressed by the auction very much.

He had seen many interesting things, learned more about the world and understood how serious the gap between people in this world was. Someone was capable of spending as much money on one item as another person would not make in 500 years of hard work.

When Bryce's words, and then Cade's words caused Marcel to lose his temper, Evan saw how scary the magician was in his anger. He was able to handle the pressure Marcel was putting on everyone around, but he was well aware of how great it was.

<Those dark hands... what a curious yet frightening spell>.

Evan sensed an aura of death from them and he was sure that if it hadn`t been for Koen, Cade would have soon died.

<Koen... he is not the head of a powerful Family for nothing. What a pressure, equanimity and strength! Huh, he reminds me something of the dark magicians from my past life.>

"Mr. Marcel, my house is nearby, I'd like to come out." Evan suddenly turned to Marcel.

"Okay, then we'll meet in two weeks. I hope you`ll perform even better than last time."

Evan nodded and at the same moment, the carriage stopped.

...

Evan was going to prepare properly for the tournament. Unlike their duel with Fien, there he would have the opportunity to fight different opponents. He would be able to gain valuable combat experience that could only be gained during a battle.

Of course, the experience would be more vivid if they were fighting to the death, but for the ordinary tournament it was too much. Evan was going to train before the tournament began, but before that there was something he needed to do.

He`d got the two things he needed at the auction, so it was time to get back to Sitreg.

<I hope the old man doesn't let me down. If I'm going to take part in the tournament, I'll have to do my best.>

Evan smiled and walked into Sitreg's forge.

Click.

The door creaked open and Evan saw an old man sitting at the table reading the paper.

"Oh, boy, you're back. I need to talk to you about something."

Sitreg didn't think Evan had been able to get the "Cave Troll Crystal" and the "Sacred Deer`s Horn". Getting something like that was akin to a fairy tale, yet as they said: "Hope always dies last".

"Old man, it can wait. You'd better see what I`ve brought."

With a satisfied smile, Evan pulled a blue crystal and a snow-white horn from his bag.

"What...boy, how did you do that?" Sitreg couldn't believe his eyes. Two of the rarest and most precious materials were right in front of him.

"Does it matter? The important thing is that now you have something to work with. It's time to create a masterpiece, isn't it, old man?"

"AHAHAHAHAH, all right, all right. You're right, kid. I'll finally be able to give it my all, it's been a long time since I've felt such excitement of work."

Sitreg picked up the materials and set them on the table.

"Evan, come here in five days. Everything will be ready by then. I'll try to execute your idea as accurately as possible."

He nodded and was about to leave, when Sitreg called out to him.

"Wait a minute, boy, I've completely forgotten. I need your help with something. It`s necessary to consult about that item you gave me last time."

Evan wasn't quite sure what Sitreg was speaking about.

"Well, show me. I`ll try to help you."

Sitreg nodded and led Evan into another room.

"This is what I`ve wanted to show you."

"And what's that?" Evan asked puzzled, as Sitreg pointed to a simple flower pot with soil.

"Let me explain." With those words, Sitreg pulled out the wooden case that Evan had given him. Evan had received it from Marcel, after defeating Fien.

Click.

Sitreg opened the case and pulled out a small purple seed in the shape of a drop.

"When you showed me this seed last time, I thought it was "Bloody Fern", a common herb in medicine. Of course, it's not my field of activity at all, but I've used it myself when I needed to stop bleeding."

"А? But you said you could use it to forge weapons." Evan didn't understand how a medical plant could help with blacksmithing.

Sitreg quickly answered, "The leaves themselves are of course, useless, but their sap can be very useful. If the sap from the leaves of the "Bloody Fern" is heated to high temperatures, then it can be used to temper various metals. Although I said that this plant is common, yet only wealthy people can afford it. As it turned out, I was wrong, it is not the "Bloody Fern".

Evan looked questioningly at Sitreg, he was curious to know what it was.

"The first time I looked at the seed, I didn't notice the three little dots right there. They are not typical for the "Bloody Fern". After rummaging through the encyclopedia, I found what kind of plant it is - it's a "Bloody Perversity". It's in the same family as the "Bloody Fern", frankly, I hadn't heard of this plant until recently."

Sitreg sighed and continued.

"Oddly enough, this plant is very useful to magicians. Here you can read it for yourself, I've written out the main points." The old man took out a small piece of paper and handed it to Evan.

The young man began to read at once.

<"Bloody Perversity" is a very rare plant, and it`s a great fortune to find a seed of it. Yet apart from its rarity, it has nothing to brag about. Its lifespan is very short, and it increases the mana concentration around it by only a small amount...>

Evan was frustrated and puzzled at the same time.

<Of course, the increase in mana concentration is very good, but this flower is really more rare than useful.> Evan thought to himself.

"Old man, what are you going to do with it?"

Evan realized that it's likely that the "Bloody Perversity" is completely useless at blacksmithing, and he was right.

"Like I said before, this plant will be useful to you. Even though I am not a magician, I know very well that you get your mana from your environment. There is no use for "Bloody Perversity" in forging weapons." Sitreg said clearly.

<Sadly, but there's nothing to be done. "Creation", on the other hand, will happen somewhat faster>. Evan was frustrated, but he realized that his expectations were a little high.

"Evan, what I`ve just said is absolutely true, but..." Sitreg suddenly said.

"But...?"

"But that's so if we're talking about the conventional weapons. Your order, on the other hand, is strikingly different from standard weapons. I have an idea of how the "Bloody Perversity" can be used. However, you will have to give up all the other qualities of this plant."