Kind-hearted Grim Reaper

"Ah Dai, why are you dawdling instead of practicing the Flame Spell?"

"Oh. The fire elements that pervade heaven and earth! Please grant me your warm power, gather into a sphere..."

Another three months passed. Although Goris didn't teach him directly, Ah Dai learned a great deal about alchemists from him. Ah Dai was no longer naive as he was when he first arrived. In Goris' eyes, he was a fully qualified apprentice. Thanks to Ah Dai's assistance, all Goris' preparations were extraordinarily smooth, finishing much ahead of his initial projections.

Ah Dai didn't express the extreme pain he bore when he ate the Fruit of Past Life because he was afraid that Goris would be mad for his reckless eating. To Ah Dai, Goris was unquestionably the most important person. It was Goris who led him out of the dark Nino Small Town, ensured his well-being, and taught him so many novelties. Ah Dai saw in Goris a kindly elder and had nothing but deep respect for him. In his heart of hearts, he had long considered Goris as his own father.

As time passed, Goris's internal struggle grew stronger. He was acutely aware that Ah Dai was the key to fulfilling his deep-seated desire. However, if the experiment were successful, Ah Dai would inevitably end up losing his life. Over time, Goris, with his usual ruthless heart, had grown surprisingly fond of the simple-minded child, making him hesitate about his initial intent.

Nevertheless, the allure of the experiment spurred Goris to cast aside all reservations. That longing held an immense significance for him—it was his life's work and possibly the last alchemical synthesis in his lifetime, something that corresponded with a celestial event that only occurred once every thousand years. Most master alchemists would spend a lifetime waiting for this opportunity. With the desire to triumph over his personal feelings, Goris decided to maintain status quo until the appointed day, when he would begin his final synthesis.

One day, Goris called Ah Dai to his side and said, "Ah Dai, you have been here for over eight months, haven't you?"

Ah Dai counted with his fingers and nodded, "Yes, Master, it's been eight months since I arrived."

Goris said, "Tomorrow, I will leave to seek a pivotal ingredient. In the meantime, you'll be in charge."

Surprised, Ah Dai blurted out, "What? Master, you're leaving again?"

Goris seriously said, "I must find this ingredient. It is crucial for an important experiment of mine. You must take good care of the house. I estimate I won't return for another three months."

Ah Dai, full of reluctance, asked, "Master, can you take me with you?"

Goris looked at Ah Dai's hopeful eyes, and sighed inwardly. 'How can I bring you along? The very reason I am leaving is to distance myself from you, so that I can steel myself to use you for the experiment.' Thinking of this, Goris gritted his teeth and said, "Enough, don't be childish. It's not like I'm never coming back."

Ah Dai stumbled over his words, "Master, Master, please come back soon! I'll miss you."

Goris silently nodded, "Before I leave, I will teach you a practical application of Flame Magic. You must practice it well. In the past eight months, your Magic Power has improved considerably, and you are now prepared for this spell."

Normally, Ah Dai would be thrilled to learn a new spell from Goris, but today was different. His reluctance to part with Goris far surpassed his desire to learn magic.

Seeing no excitement in Ah Dai's eyes, Goris puzzled for a moment. In the past, Ah Dai had begged him several times to teach him more spells, but they were always met with rejection. Now that he was volunteering, why did Ah Dai not seem excited? Unable to resist asking, he questioned, "What? Don't you want to learn?"

Ah Dai shook his head, "No, I want to learn. But, I prefer it if you could stay. I want to be with Master."

A flush of warmth surged in Goris's heart, such that he almost agreed to stay. For a long while, the two of them just quietly stared at each other.

"Ah Dai, I promise that once I come back this time, I will not leave anymore, alright?" Goris gently said. He knew that if he didn't force himself to leave now, he might never be able to steel himself to use Ah Dai for the experiment. Hence, he had no choice but to lie.

A light sparked in Ah Dai's eyes, a brightness he didn't have before. "Really? Master. Then...then I'll wait for your return."

Goris nodded, "Alright, now I'll teach you the Magic of Meteor Fire. The foundation of this magic lies in the Fireball Technique and Flame Spell. Listen carefully and ask if you have any questions today, understand?"

Ah Dai nodded, attentively listening to Goris explaining.

The Magic of Meteor Fire is essentially a mass attack on enemies using multiple fireballs, an elementary Fire Magic. Its most significant characteristic is that its power changes according to the strength of the caster's Magic Power. If someone like Goris were to use it, he could launch a Meteor Fire containing black flames, reaching the power level of advanced magic.

"Before using the Magic of Meteor Fire, you must first integrate the Flame Spell and the Fireball Technique. Look, the Flame Spell you're currently using can already blaze up a greenish-blue fire. However, the fireballs you release are still red. This will not do. You have to…" Goris explained in great detail for the whole morning. It was only after strenuous effort that Ah Dai could vaguely grasp the principle and method of using the Magic of Meteor Fire. To ensure Ah Dai didn't forget, Goris also wrote down the method for him to reference during his practices. Ah Dai began practicing in earnest that afternoon. If any doubts arose, he would instantly seek advice from Goris. Goris, surprisingly mild-mannered, patiently explained again and again. Finally, by evening, Ah Dai was able to cast the Magic of Meteor Fire—or more precisely, he could now release a flurry of fire sparks that had the strength to burn through leaves. Goris told him he hoped to see Ah Dai casting a centimeter-wide blue Meteor Fire when he returned.