"Apprentice level? Not even 1st rank. 'Introduction to Fire Magic,' are you planning to specialize in fire magic?" Ye Chen looked at the book cover the other person was holding and continued to ask.
"Yes! Yes! We plan to specialize in fire magic!" The girl nodded in response. Both of them had a high affinity for fire magic and were currently studying in the fire magic class as freshmen this year.
"Alleria, bring me down the black wooden box on the second shelf of the third row!" Ye Chen called out into the shop. Two moon elves were cleaning inside. Hearing the call, Alleria came out with the wooden box from the shelf.
The two girls' eyes widened when they saw Aurelia emerge from the shop.
Silver Moon Elves belong to the absolute upper class in Aini City. Every Silver Moon Elf has the right to freely enter and leave the city lord's mansion. Even King Cecilia of Aini must treat them with respect. She is the king of the entire Xiniuhe Continent and the savior of all alien races.
But what did they see now? Two noble Silvermoon Elves were working odd jobs in a human-run general store? This was simply unbelievable. Weren't humans a race even inferior to the Aeneas? What right did they have to deign to be so subservient to the Silvermoon Elves?
The two women were immediately filled with curiosity about Ye Chen, their boss. His unassuming human figure seemed shrouded in mystery in their eyes.
"Whether you can use fire magic depends on your own mental strength and elemental affinity. As for the power of the magic you can use, that depends on your own magic reserves and amplification methods!"
"This is iron dust powder, used to enhance fire magic. It can greatly amplify the temperature and destructive power of fire magic. It's a special price of one hundred gold coins!"
Ye Chen took the wooden box and handed it to the two women, introducing it to them.
Currently, they rarely use auxiliary methods when using magic, relying mostly on their own mental strength and magical power. The rapid growth of their recruited followers means they don't need these fancy methods at all.
However, the alien races are different, and even their regular magic and martial arts are not used in this way. A series of auxiliary means such as mediums, magic runes, and magic circles can greatly enhance the combat power of mages and also make these spells produce a variety of unexpected effects.
"Iron dust powder? One hundred gold coins?" The two women were immediately pulled back to reality by Ye Chen's exorbitant price, and they couldn't help but gasp, beginning to wonder if this was a shady business.
Although magicians spend a lot of money, one hundred gold coins is by no means a small amount.
With the widespread use of iron and silver coins, two low-denomination currencies, and Xia Qingyi's control over gold coins, the value of gold coins has been rising continuously. One gold coin is enough to cover the expenses of a family of three for at least a month.
A box of iron dust powder costs one hundred gold coins, which is at least seven or eight years' worth of expenses for an average family. Naturally, the two girls, who are still just magic apprentices, cannot afford it.
"There's a lot inside, and the refining method is a bit complicated. It's not just simple iron powder. If you use this box sparingly, it can last you more than a year."
"I wouldn't dare say much, but at least for the lowest level of fireball spell, the power will be amplified two or three times!"
Ye Chen didn't see the other person's surprise and continued speaking to himself.
This thing was a defective product that Bella made when she was researching magic. She discovered that it had an amplifying effect on fire magic, so she collected some, but not many.
Back then, everyone was together, and all sorts of random experiments they came up with ended up in Ye Chen's warehouse. They probably forgot about these insignificant little things themselves, but now Ye Chen has put them all in the general store.
"An increase of two to three times?" The two women's eyes widened again. Such an increase was simply too exaggerated; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it could allow them to transcend their level.
Unlike Bella and others who grew up in a wild and untamed way, the mages on this side of the alien race have a complete system for learning and growing. From the construction to the adjustment of magic, the magic cast by each mage will be more or less different.
It might be faster to cast, more powerful, or have some special effects...
There are countless methods that require auxiliary magical materials, but to have an amplification of two or three times like iron dust powder is something that has never been heard of before. Even their dean, the current sixth-order holy mage, Lord Lynn, cannot do such a thing.
"Yes, but only fire magic, and if it's not used properly, there's a possibility of accidentally injuring yourself!" Ye Chen explained. Although he hadn't deliberately practiced magic, he still understood the amplification ratio, and such a huge amplification couldn't be without side effects.
"Accidentally hurting themselves?" The two women were stunned for a moment, but quickly nodded in understanding. Since it was dust, it was naturally meant to be scattered or buried in advance. When the wind blew, it would easily disperse the dust, or even blow it back onto them.
"It's not a big problem, but a hundred gold coins is a bit too expensive. Of course, it is worth the price, but unfortunately we can't afford it!" the round-faced girl said regretfully. Iron dust powder, a magical item, was indeed very attractive to her, but the price was definitely beyond her current means.
"Too expensive?" Ye Chen was taken aback. He looked at the wooden box in his hand. He had considered the prices here! Logically, the mages here should be able to afford one hundred gold coins, right?
Little did they know that the two magic apprentices who came today were just newly enrolled. Ye Chen's so-called ability to afford them meant that they had to be at least mentor-level magicians, and to become a teacher in Hope Academy, one needed to be at least at the third rank.
"Mmm!" The girl hugged her books, her face slightly shy.
"How much money do you have?" Ye Chen asked the two women curiously. Perhaps his previous pricing was indeed a bit problematic, as he hadn't taken these low-level apprentices into account. In fact, the effect of iron dust powder was no longer very useful for high-level mages, and its amplification of flames was limited.
"At most! At most ten gold coins! That's for both of us combined!" the round-faced girl replied, blushing. The other girl on either side of her was too embarrassed to speak and held onto her tightly.
"This..." Ye Chen pouted. It seemed to be different from what he had expected. Two magic apprentices together only had ten gold coins? And judging from the looks of it, it would take quite a while.
"Fine, you're the first customers to come to my shop. Here's what I'll do: take fifty gold coins!" Ye Chen said through gritted teeth, raising his hand to stop the two women who wanted to refuse. "I know you can't afford fifty gold coins, but I'll allow you to pay in installments. Give me five to ten gold coins every month until you pay it off. Is that alright?"
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