As Martin sighed, reflecting on the Mage Guild's surprising generosity, he couldn't shake the unease that came with the disappearance of a magical crystal worth at least a hundred gold coins. The Guild was in a state of turmoil, searching for answers.

  The trap laid by the senior mages was complex and not easily bypassed, yet somehow, the crystal had vanished without a trace. A mystery had unfolded—a mystery that left everyone baffled. How could it simply be gone?

  "It has to be someone involved in the Guild's affairs this morning..." A murmur swept through the mages as they began to narrow down the list of suspects.

  Basgen, who had been present in the hall that very day, pondered aloud, "The last time I saw the crystal was in the morning when the newcomer, Martin, arrived at the Guild."

  "Who’s this Martin?" Obert, the son of the Guild leader, immediately perked up. His demeanor darkened, suspicion creeping into his voice.

  "Martin? You mean the one from Anthony's magic store?" Basgen confirmed, his brow furrowing.

  "Yes, that’s him," Basgen nodded.

  "What’s his magical prowess like?" Obert pressed, urgency in his tone.

  "Martin is just a second-order mage. He was kidnapped for three months and was only rescued by the city lord's daughter, Miss Effia, yesterday. I heard the lord even told us to give him a free wand," Basgen explained. "They say his magical talent is lackluster at best, more suited for running a shop than anything else."

  "Then it can't be him!" Obert scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. "A third-order mage like myself would easily detect any attempt to manipulate the space matrix. How could a nameless boy be more capable than me?" His arrogance was palpable.

  "Shouldn't we at least ask him?" Basgen suggested, pondering the situation.

  "The gentleman is already aware of the theft. My father is furious, and we don't have time to waste on this nonsense!" Obert snapped, irritation evident in his voice. "Mr. Basgen, focus on finding out who else visited the Guild today!"

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  "Fine," Basgen relented, though he remained skeptical of Obert's assumptions regarding the theft. He understood that anyone could attempt to take the crystal; it didn’t necessarily indicate foul play. He simply chose to remain silent, unwilling to face Obert's wrath.

  While the Guild was embroiled in suspicion, three days passed swiftly.

  In the backyard of Anthony's magic shop, the crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed as Debbie's giant sword lay on the ground. Martin was nervously tapping away with the silver cone and hammer, intent on completing the enchantment.

  "Martin, are you sure about this? What if the enchantment fails?" Debbie asked, her voice laced with apprehension.

  "Relax! Miss Effia has already set the enchantment on the sword. I can help you with this," Martin reassured her. "Even if I mess up, your sword will still be fine. It’ll just have a few extra silver patterns on it."

  Enchanting, while it sounded complex, was akin to writing a magic scroll, a task Martin had mastered, having created over thirty scrolls with ease. He knew he could feel the magic flowing through him, and now he was ready to take on the next challenge.

  On Effia's sword, he was working on the enchantment matrix for the spell [Wind Blade]. This basic attack spell was not too difficult for Martin, especially after he diligently studied the magic book containing its formula.

  He had mastered the spell quickly, creating a mental model in no time, which made applying the enchantment straightforward.

  For the sword, he decided to use the spell matrix [Boost], an auxiliary enchantment that increased the speed of weapons and their wielders. It was a favorite among swordsmen, and Martin was eager to see how it would enhance Debbie's skills.

  To activate the spell matrix, Martin explained, "When you hold the sword in your left hand, it will activate the matrix on that side, allowing for acceleration. If you switch to your right hand, the matrix on the opposite side will act as a brake."

  "Let’s give it a try!" Martin said, excitement bubbling in his chest.

  Debbie raised the sword, now adorned with intricate patterns that shimmered like leaves in the sunlight. Following Martin's instructions, she gripped the hilt and activated the enchantment. The moment she did, a powerful burst of energy surged through the sword, causing it to spin rapidly.

  The force propelled her into a dizzying whirl, and she couldn't contain her exhilaration, letting out a joyful scream as the sword twirled around her like a tornado.

  "Martin! What do I do?" she shouted over the roaring wind.

  "Activate the other two matrices!" he yelled, but his words were lost in the chaos.

  In a moment of panic, Martin realized the enchantment had gone haywire. The sword spun faster and faster, sending debris flying and causing the ground to shake.

  Suddenly, the sword broke free from Debbie's grasp, crashing into a nearby wall with a thunderous impact. Dust and stones erupted everywhere, and the wall crumbled under the force, leaving a gaping hole.

  In a desperate attempt to stop her from spiraling out of control, Martin lunged forward and caught her before she fell, but they both tumbled to the ground.

  Debbie landed atop him, dazed but grinning widely. "Martin, that was amazing!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she surveyed the wreckage.

  Martin couldn't help but chuckle despite the chaos. "Yeah, but we need to be careful next time."

  As they lay there, he pondered the implications of his enchantment. If he could enhance the sword's capabilities so dramatically, what if he could apply the same principle to armor? The idea of flying with the right enchantment was tantalizing, and he couldn't wait to explore the possibilities.