Chapter 31
Upon hearing Clayton's question, the shopkeeper immediately began to explain.
"Well, here's the thing, sir. There is a spell that fits your request, but... it's considered forbidden."
"Forbidden? What kind of spell are we talking about?"
"It's extremely powerful and has a wide area of effect. But that's precisely the problem—it's incredibly hard to control. If you make a mistake while casting it, it could drain all the mana from your body and leave you in a coma. Repeated use could even be life-threatening."
Clayton nodded slowly, a chill running down his spine at the thought. But instead of being deterred, his curiosity only grew stronger.
The shopkeeper let out a long sigh. She could see the eager glint in his eyes. Clayton had been a regular customer lately, and the last thing she wanted was to lose him to some foolish accident. Still, despite her hesitation, she continued.
"This spell has near-unlimited destructive potential. The damage depends on how much energy is poured into it. But here's the strange part—it's actually most effective when used by apprentice-level mages. "
The more Clayton heard, the more fascinated he became.
"In that case... I'll take it," he said firmly.
"Are you sure? Don't you want to think it over? There are plenty of other powerful spells that are much safer," she reasoned.
"It's fine. I'm sure this is the one I need," Clayton replied confidently.