Edward's eyes widened at the question, disbelief washing over his face.
"My lord, you're saying I can become a wizard, using magic like you?"
As the castle's steward, Edward had witnessed countless magical wonders. Moving portraits, shifting staircases, fire salamanders dancing in fireplace flames, patrolling armor suits. The list was endless.
Being the lord's steward filled Edward with honor, but after witnessing so many magical sights, desire inevitably took root in his heart.
He was like an ordinary person who had accidentally entered a fairyland. After seeing such wonders, how could he be content remaining mortal?
But he also knew magical talent was possessed by only a few, determined by innate conditions, not achievable through effort alone. He himself was just an ordinary mortal without magical talent, so he had always buried his desire deep in his heart, conscientiously managing the castle for his lord.
And now the lord suddenly asked if he wanted to become a wizard.
Edward felt like he was dreaming. Wild excitement surged through him.
Seeing Edward trembling with excitement, Kael smiled and nodded.
"I have a magic that can let you fuse with magical creature bloodlines, thus gaining the ability to cast magic. However, the process carries risk. Are you willing to try?"
"Yes! I'm willing!" Edward said without hesitation.
As long as he could become a wizard and cast those magical spells like his lord, even with just a thread of hope, he was willing to try!
"Alright then, prepare yourself. In a few days, I'll perform the blood fusion magic on you." Seeing Edward's firm expression, Kael said.
A week later, after Kael collected the materials, he began preparing for the blood fusion magic.
Blood fusion was dangerous magic. Even blood brothers could have different blood types, causing incompatibility, let alone fusing human and magical creature bloodlines from two different species. This could cause blood conflict and genetic collapse with devastating consequences.
"Edward, think carefully. Once blood fusion begins, it cannot be stopped. The process will be extremely painful. Every drop of your blood will be replaced. Are you certain you can endure this?"
Before the ritual began, Kael fixed Edward with a serious look.
Edward didn't hesitate. He nodded firmly, resolve in his eyes. "My lord, I'm ready. To become a wizard, I'm willing to stake my life on this!"
Kael's eyes gleamed with approval at his unwavering determination. His stern expression softened as he patted Edward's shoulder. "Since you've made up your mind, I won't say more. When you succeed, I'll personally craft a wand for you."
"Thank you, my lord! I will succeed!" Edward could barely contain his excitement, already imagining himself as a wizard wielding a wand.
Kael brought Edward to the potions room.
In the spacious room's center stood a huge cauldron, large enough to fit a grown man inside.
Flames burned fiercely beneath the cauldron.
Having Edward wait aside, Kael looked at the liquid in the cauldron. The liquid had become chaotic, appearing gray and murky.
This cauldron's potion had been brewing for three days. Various ingredients had been added sequentially. Mandrake juice, dried nettles, moonstone, scurvy grass, Ashwinder eggs. The potion had reached its final stage.
Seeing the potion's color, Kael took out a silver White Tree fruit and dropped it into the cauldron.
Then he used a large wooden stick to stir clockwise thirteen times, then counterclockwise seven times.
The White Tree fruit melted like silver, completely dissolving into the liquid and reacting with it.
The liquid gradually became transparent like clear water.
Upon seeing this, Kael extinguished the fire beneath the cauldron, letting the liquid cool.
Once it had completely cooled, Kael retrieved a large barrel of dragon blood from the adjacent cold storage room.
He poured it all into the cauldron, filling it two-thirds full.
The clear potion turned red as the dragon blood mixed in and began boiling.
Kael used a stirring stick to continue mixing. The potion boiled more vigorously, radiating heat like scalding red lava.
The bizarre magical scene left Edward dumbstruck.
Then Kael turned to Edward. "Alright, Edward, now remove your clothes and enter the cauldron."
Enter the cauldron? Edward looked at the scalding lava-like potion and swallowed hard. Jumping in like this, won't I be cooked alive?
But seeing Kael's serious expression, he mustered his courage. Setting aside his embarrassment, he quickly removed his clothing, then climbed into the cauldron.
Splash. Edward's upper body submerged in the potion, only his head exposed.
The next second, Edward's face contorted in agony. He couldn't suppress his screams.
Edward felt like he had entered molten lava. His body endured severe agony in the scalding potion, feeling like his entire body was melting.
Moreover, the lava-hot bloody potion was like millions of tiny worms burrowing through his pores into his body, entering his blood vessels.
It seemed scalding lava flowed through his body's blood vessels, cooking him from the inside out. Simultaneously, as the potion entered his body, countless streams of black blood seeped from his pores, turning Edward into a blood-covered figure.
Watching Edward's agonized screaming, Kael remained completely calm, seemingly unaffected.
Even when Edward struggled instinctively to escape, Kael waved his hand pressing him back into the cauldron, not letting him out. The blood fusion had reached a critical moment. If interrupted, the only result was failure.
And failure meant death.
Edward had served the castle well. Kael didn't want to lose his steward.
So he could only make Edward continue enduring. Once successful, the benefits would be immense.
As time passed, Edward grew weakly exhausted, unable to speak. The cauldron's scalding potion slowly cooled, its color gradually fading.
Edward was covered in black blood expelled from his body. It grew thicker until forming a cocoon.
Finally, when the entire potions room quieted, movement suddenly came from the cauldron.
Two hands tore open the blood cocoon, extending from inside. Then naked Edward emerged like a newly hatched dragon, tilting his head back, gasping for fresh air.
He seemed reborn, having undergone a profound transformation.
His body became more robust, his eyes turned golden, sharp like dragon eyes.
"My lord, did I succeed?" Edward asked with expectant yet anxious hope.