The Dark Mage Of The Magus World-Chapter 106 - 107 – Ravenfall

"A second-tier sorcerer apprentice... Judging by his direction, he’s likely heading to Ravenfall as well."

Hutson studied the information provided by AI chip, his personal magical system. The numbers confirmed his suspicions.

It was easy for sorcerers to recognize one another. Unless someone had mastered advanced concealment techniques, the fluctuations of mana in their bodies were difficult to suppress entirely. There was a certain scent of the arcane, an invisible pulse of energy that marked them as kindred. Even from a distance, Hutson could tell.

The robed rider ahead must have sensed Hutson’s presence. Without a word, he subtly adjusted his course, increasing his speed while maintaining a safe distance, his posture tense and wary.

Hutson made no move to close the gap, letting his presence speak for itself—I mean no harm, but I will not be easy prey.

As his journey continued, he encountered more sorcerer apprentices, all drawn toward the hidden market at Ravenfall. Most were first-tier apprentices, the lowest rank. Second-tier apprentices like himself were rarer, and those who had ascended to third-tier were almost nonexistent.

For independent apprentices—those who had failed to enter the great sorcerer organizations due to lack of talent or connections—advancing was an uphill battle. Without proper resources, breaking into the third tier was nearly impossible.

As for becoming a fully-fledged sorcerer? A fantasy.

Without a stroke of pure luck, these wanderers would never cross that threshold.

After a long day’s ride, Hutson arrived at Ravenfall, alongside a small group of travelers.

The town lay nestled deep within a valley, hidden from the untrained eye. At its entrance stood a massive moss-covered boulder, unmarked and unassuming.

To a commoner, Ravenfall would appear nonexistent. Beyond the rock lay sheer cliffs—impassable, an unbroken wall of stone and wilderness. Even if one scaled them, they would find nothing but endless forest.

But for a sorcerer, the way forward was clear.

With a simple infusion of mana into the boulder, the traveler would be transported into Ravenfall, past its concealed barrier.

Inside, the town stretched out in a series of winding streets and bustling market stalls. Some shops were already stocked, merchants calling out their wares, while others remained empty, awaiting the peak of trade.

Despite the early activity, most sorcerers lingered within the town’s boundaries.

At the heart of Ravenfall stood another massive stone monolith, the key to the market’s grand opening. When the time came, the stone would be activated, triggering a randomized teleportation spell, scattering all participants into the surrounding lands.

This was a safety measure, preventing ambushes and bloodshed from more ruthless sorcerers who sought to murder and plunder.

Of course, no measure was foolproof.

Sorcerers had many tricks—curse marks, tracking runes, enchanted sigils—subtle ways to follow a target. Though teleportation made immediate ambush difficult, those with the right knowledge could still hunt their prey.

Thus, the air in Ravenfall was thick with caution. Apprentices moved carefully, maintaining measured distances, their eyes always watching. No one touched another without reason.

Hutson’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"You must be new here. Haven’t seen you before."

A plump, round-faced sorcerer apprentice waddled toward him, stopping a few meters away, maintaining the customary distance of strangers in a dangerous place.

Hutson studied him.

"AI chip, analyze his stats."

[Strength: 3.2 | Agility: 3.5 | Constitution: 4.1 | Spirit: 9.5]

"A second-tier apprentice..." Hutson noted mentally.

The sorcerer chuckled, flashing a friendly grin. "Name’s Kallis. I’ve been coming to this market every year. You new guys stand out immediately."

He rubbed his hands together. "Tell you what, for just five gold coins, I’ll explain how things work here. This place has a lot of hidden rules, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get swindled in no time."

Hutson smirked. "Five gold? You must be quite the businessman."

Kallis sighed dramatically. "A man’s gotta make a living, right? But trust me, my information is worth every coin."

Hutson considered the offer. Five gold was nothing, and knowledge was a valuable commodity. He reached into his pocket, ready to pay—

"WARNING: Detected abnormal mana fluctuations."

Hutson’s fingers froze over the coins.

AI chip had triggered an alert.

Within his enhanced vision, he saw it—a faint blue ripple emanating from Kallis, subtle yet undeniable.

"AI chip, what is that?" Hutson asked.

"Analyzing..."

A moment later, the system responded.

"87.3% probability: A ritual spell. If you hand him the gold, the spell will complete."

Hutson narrowed his eyes, tilting the coins in his palm thoughtfully.

A tracking ritual? A curse?

Kallis remained smiling, his expression unchanged, waiting for the payment.

Hutson let out a quiet chuckle. "Interesting."

A clever trick. If he had paid without thinking, Kallis would have gained some form of influence over him—perhaps a way to trace his movements, or worse, manipulate his actions.

Hutson met Kallis’s gaze, his smile unreadable.

What kind of game was this merchant playing?

The ritual itself posed little direct danger—at least, not in its current form.

The magic at play was too faint, the power behind it too weak. Kallis, for all his scheming, lacked the raw strength to make it truly lethal. Had this been a spell capable of slaying or maiming, it would have required a far greater price to be paid.

Even so, Hutson took a slow breath, his sharp instincts whispering a truth—the waters here ran deep.

He had barely stepped foot into Ravenfall, and already he had nearly fallen into a trap.

It was no wonder the sorcerer apprentices here spoke so little to one another. A moment’s carelessness, and one could end up branded, tracked, or worse.

Had it been someone else—someone without AI chip’s guidance or the wisdom of experience—they would have already been marked by Kallis’s ritual.

Hutson wasn’t afraid. Not of Kallis.

But Kallis was unlikely to be working alone.

The plump sorcerer’s voice broke through his thoughts, laced with false sincerity.

"What’s so interesting?" Kallis prodded, forcing a friendly chuckle. "Come now, hand over the gold. I’ll start your lesson right away. You truly must be careful in a place like this."

Hutson nodded in agreement, his expression calm.

"You’re absolutely right," he said lightly. "One must be very careful in this place. Which is exactly why, to be extra cautious, I won’t be giving you these five gold coins. No need for your guidance—I’ll find my own way."

Kallis’s smile froze.

For a brief moment, his beady eyes flickered with surprise before his features twisted into cold indifference.

"Well played... newcomer."

Hutson met his gaze, unfazed, then turned and strode toward the bustling market, intent on exploring the shops.

Behind him, Kallis lingered for only a moment before resuming his hunt, his plump figure weaving through the street—already searching for his next unsuspecting mark

The ritual itself posed little direct danger—at least, not in its current form.

The magic at play was too faint, the power behind it too weak. Kallis, for all his scheming, lacked the raw strength to make it truly lethal. Had this been a spell capable of slaying or maiming, it would have required a far greater price to be paid.

Even so, Hutson took a slow breath, his sharp instincts whispering a truth—the waters here ran deep.

He had barely stepped foot into Ravenfall, and already he had nearly fallen into a trap.

It was no wonder the sorcerer apprentices here spoke so little to one another. A moment’s carelessness, and one could end up branded, tracked, or worse.

Had it been someone else—someone without AI chip’s guidance or the wisdom of experience—they would have already been marked by Kallis’s ritual.

Hutson wasn’t afraid. Not of Kallis.

But Kallis was unlikely to be working alone.

The plump sorcerer’s voice broke through his thoughts, laced with false sincerity.

"What’s so interesting?" Kallis prodded, forcing a friendly chuckle. "Come now, hand over the gold. I’ll start your lesson right away. You truly must be careful in a place like this."

Hutson nodded in agreement, his expression calm.

"You’re absolutely right," he said lightly. "One must be very careful in this place. Which is exactly why, to be extra cautious, I won’t be giving you these five gold coins. No need for your guidance—I’ll find my own way."

Kallis’s smile froze.

For a brief moment, his beady eyes flickered with surprise before his features twisted into cold indifference.

"Well played... newcomer."

Hutson met his gaze, unfazed, then turned and strode toward the bustling market, intent on exploring the shops.

Behind him, Kallis lingered for only a moment before resuming his hunt, his plump figure weaving through the street—already searching for his next unsuspecting mark.