Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam

Ethan did not immediately respond but instead looked around.

This wasn't the Old Sen Elemental Magic Academy; he was still in the Starwatch Room, the scholar's research room, with the results of his recent studies and meditations spread out on the desk.

But...

The image of the Wind Elemental Elf was a product of his meditation process. It should only exist in his subconscious, yet now it appeared vividly before his eyes.

Ethan couldn't help but ask, "How did you get out?"

"Because your mental state is unstable."

The green-haired girl pointed at Ethan's head, her voice becoming intermittent, her figure flickering and semi-transparent, like an image ready to fade away at any moment.

"Is it the influence of those strings?"

Ethan understood.

Elemental Elves were everywhere, but their anthropomorphization might indeed indicate a mental issue. He immediately recalled the strings suspended over the Silver Fox and the Vice President's heads, making many of their actions seem like puppets.

"You, magic potion, drink it."

The green-haired girl's voice grew weaker until it completely vanished.

The Starwatch Room once again descended into silence.

This had something to do with the Focus Magic Potion. After arriving at the Sorcerer's Tower, he had witnessed the Silver Fox drinking a bottle of ink-like magic potion, after which the faint strings appeared above his head. In hindsight, it was probably something merely resembling the Focus Magic Potion.

The Focus Magic Potion wouldn't cause mental instability or hallucinations.

However...

Hallucinations were not a bad thing. The green-haired girl's actions before disappearing caught Ethan's attention.

She raised her small hand, pointing behind Ethan, where there was a wall-mounted cabinet filled with books and spellcasting materials. After the Silver Fox's Knockback Spell earlier, most items on the cabinet had fallen to the ground. With the Wind Elemental's reminder, Ethan noticed something odd.

Something was still standing upright on the wall-mounted bookshelf: a lamp-like device, precisely struck by the Knockback Spell, surrounded by scattered objects, yet the lamp alone remained steadfast.

Ethan got up and fiddled with the lamp a few times, discovering it was fixed to the cabinet. Compared to the strange spellcasting materials, the lamp was the least noticeable. Normally, no one would have paid attention to its existence.

"...Light it up."

A breeze swept through, carrying the faint voice of the Wind Elemental Elf.

Ethan couldn't find a button to turn on the lamp, but there was a wick inside. After fruitlessly researching for a while, he finally had to resort to the ancient method of lighting it.

A golden flame ignited in his palm, lowering the fire element's temperature as much as possible, channeling the fire element to the wick using infusions of magic power—an intricate fire, yet the ascended fire element was always reliable.

Following a series of "crackle" sounds, the ground beneath vibrated, with a deeper rumble from the back hall. When Ethan followed the sound, he found a dark door on the wall of engravings filled with gray-white energy. The door was ajar, emitting a strong herbal scent.

It was the smell of magic potions, likely stored here not long ago.

In the past, every time Miss Keroy performed alchemy in her apartment in Ximu Town, a similar scent would linger in the kitchen. Some herbs essential for brewing magic potions had a pungent odor. Lindong claimed it was proof of fresh magic potions and suggested Ethan get accustomed to it.

Over time, the pungent smell would fade, and the efficacy of most magic potions would diminish.

Magic potions didn't last long, typically staying "fresh" for 3-5 days. Considering the scholar's death time, Ethan deduced these stored magic potions were left here during her last meditation session.

Although he was mentally prepared, Ethan was still shocked by the scene behind the dark door—old shelves filled with identical bottles, all containing a liquid that the Silver Fox had consumed, resembling the Focus Magic Potion in appearance.

The Wind Elemental suggested he drink a bottle.

Though these were the scholar's treasures, the scholar could no longer use them. She wouldn't object, Ethan reasoned.

Moreover, based on the 3-5 days keeping period principle, the potions might soon lose freshness.

Ethan picked up a bottle of magic potion, unscrewed the cap, and the strong herbal scent multiplied in intensity.

This stuff certainly wasn't pleasant to drink.

He remembered the Silver Fox's furrowed brow when drinking these magic potions.

Ethan had to hold his breath, reassuring himself—he had encountered many other potions much harder to stomach, like the Tranquil Mind Disruption Agent 2.0. When he tricked Mr. Marshall into drinking it, the latter collapsed onto the bed, as if a Dementor had sucked away all his life's joy.

Embracing the 'short-term pain over long-term pain' philosophy, he steeled himself and downed the entire bottle.

In honor of Mr. Marshall.

Ethan silently chanted in his heart.

Almost simultaneously, he felt an odd sensation in his body, a warm touch in one hand accompanied by a soft texture.

The green-haired girl looked down, holding his hand firmly, and silently pulled him toward the front hall.

As long as she wasn't riding a motorcycle, the Wind Elemental was an introverted, shy, literary girl. Now, this literary girl had unexpectedly given him a boost.

She could even understand a manuscript encrypted by a magician, and it belonged to the contemporary scholar herself!