Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

From MC's Perspective:

Kira's eyes flickered with a brief, calculating gleam as she silently weighed the worth of the five Grade-6 Artifacts laid out before her.

Even one of these artifacts could fetch a fortune, enough to guarantee the young wizard's safe passage and more. Yet, this young man, with a quiet confidence, had offered five. The temptation was undeniable.

"Young man, I agree to your request," Kira finally spoke, her tone decisive, cutting through the tension like a blade.

She had already made up her mind. Accepting all five Grade-6 Artifacts would ensure her success, and as a representative of the Auction House, a neutral entity in these turbulent times, she had little to fear from outside scrutiny.

The Auction House had its own rules, and as long as the trade was fair, she could weather any backlash. Yes, Kira thought to herself, this was a deal she wouldn't regret.

Meanwhile, a heavy weight lifted off my shoulders. Though I couldn't ignore the sting of parting with such valuable artifacts, I knew this sacrifice would be worth it in the long run. As long as I could get out of this small alliance nation and into the Ancient Redwood Country the loss would be manageable.

Gloria's face lit up with barely contained joy. She had been bracing herself for a drawn-out negotiation or potential conflict, but Kira's quick acceptance had caught her by surprise. She knew better than anyone that the manager had just walked away with a significant profit.

"When can we leave?" I asked, unable to hide my urgency.

Both Kira and Gloria turned their gazes toward me. There was a brief moment of silence as Kira considered my words.

"Do you want to leave right away?" Kira asked, her brow arching slightly in curiosity.

"Yes," I replied firmly, "I have no reason to stay here any longer. The sooner I reach the main destination, the better."

Gloria blinked at me, momentarily taken aback. But then her thoughts drifted to Don Blaire, the looming threat in the shadows. It made sense for her that Vincent would leave as soon as possible, and she knew it.

"Yes, Manager Kira," Gloria chimed in, her voice smooth and persuasive, "It would be best if you could accommodate his request."

Kira let out a resigned sigh, her earlier decisiveness now replaced by the weight of what came next.

"Alright," she said, her voice calm but laced with the faintest hint of reluctance. "Give me fifteen minutes to charge the magic formation."

With that, she gathered up the five artifacts with deft hands, each piece vanishing into the folds of her robes. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered toward the exit as she turned to leave the room, clearly satisfied with the deal.

As soon as Kira disappeared through the door, leaving Gloria and me alone, Gloria leaned back slightly, her posture relaxing as a playful smile danced on her lips.

"I've helped you out this time. Hope you won't forget my favor," she said teasingly, her tone light but laced with a hint of expectation. Experience new stories on empire

I met her gaze, my expression serious. "I owe you this time," I replied, my voice firm, leaving no room for misunderstanding. The truth was, if it hadn't been for her timely intervention, I might have had to rely on more aggressive means to get what I needed. That outcome would have been far messier.

A thought struck me, and I quickly added, "Here's my contact link. Save it. If you ever need help in the future, you can reach out to me."

Gloria's smile widened, a hint of amusement in her eyes as she took the offer. She didn't seem overly concerned with my background, perhaps seeing me as just another traveler passing through her orbit.

But on a whim, she decided to save the contact link anyway, as if indulging in a fleeting curiosity. Little did she know, the gesture might hold more weight than she anticipated.

Meanwhile, in the dim corridors of the Auction Building, Manager Kira made her way to a hidden chamber, her steps swift and purposeful.

The door slid shut behind her with a soft hiss, plunging the room into a cool darkness. She wasted no time, reaching for the switch on the wall, and in the next instant, the faint hum of magic filled the air as the room was bathed in a dull glow from the inscribed runes on the floor.

The chamber was vast and spacious, its walls lined with artifacts and relics secrets long kept by the Auction House. But Kira's focus was solely on the intricate magic formation etched in the center of the floor, pulsating faintly in the semi-darkness. She knew what needed to be done.

At each of the formation's four corners were marked slots, ready to receive the mana stones necessary to activate the teleportation spell. Kira's eyes narrowed slightly.

The number of mana stones required was astronomical millions of them, each glowing with concentrated magical energy. The cost was exorbitant, the kind of loss no one would willingly bear for personal use.

But for this trip, Kira had deemed it necessary. This was why she had insisted on taking all five Grade-6 Artifacts from Vincent. Their value would more than make up for what she was about to expend.

With practiced efficiency, Kira began placing the mana stones in the designated slots, her hands moving swiftly yet precisely. The stones fit perfectly into the grooves, and within minutes, the entire formation was filled, humming with latent power.

A faint light began to flicker along the lines of the runes, growing stronger as the stones were placed, signaling that the magic was nearly ready. Kira allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction. Everything was going according to plan.

Swoosh!

In an instant, the four corners of the room flared to life as beams of radiant light shot up from the mana stones, bathing the chamber in an ethereal glow.

The runes etched into the floor pulsed with energy, their intricate patterns slowly coming alive as the magic formation was activated.

Manager Kira paused, watching the formation hum with power. The platform was ready, but there was one last step: the incantation to fully trigger the teleportation spell.

Before that, though, she needed to bring Vincent Carey and Gloria here.

Meanwhile, Gloria and I waited in the dimly lit room where we'd been left. The air was heavy with anticipation. My mind was already racing, imagining what lay ahead in the Ancient Redwood Country.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

"You two, come with me."

Manager Kira's commanding voice echoed from behind us. Gloria and I exchanged glances, a mix of curiosity and tension hanging between us. Without hesitation, we followed her, stepping out of the room and down the corridor, the soft sound of our footsteps the only noise.

We soon arrived at a large, reinforced door at the far end of the hallway.

Creak!

The door opened slowly, revealing the hidden teleportation chamber. As we stepped inside, my eyes widened in astonishment. The magic formation on the floor was far more complex and grand than I had expected.

The glowing runes and the swirling patterns of light made it clear that this was no ordinary spellwork. I'd seen teleportation platforms before, but never one of this scale. My heart raced with excitement.

Kira noticed my reaction and nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, it's a teleportation platform," she confirmed, her voice calm but urgent.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Step inside. The mana stones won't hold their charge for long. This will transport you directly to our Auction Building in the nearest city of the Ancient Redwood Country."

I took a deep breath and stepped forward, moving to the center of the formation. The air around me crackled with energy, the faint hum of magic growing louder as I approached the glowing runes.

Gloria stood at the edge, watching me with a relieved smile. She was clearly glad things were going smoothly, her worry about Don Blaire temporarily set aside.

As I stood at the center of the formation, Manager Kira began chanting the activation spell. Her voice was low and rhythmic, and the magic in the air seemed to respond, swirling and pulsing with greater intensity.

The runes on the floor shone even brighter, their light intertwining and building into a crescendo of power.

I looked at both of them, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. To be honest, I hadn't expected things to go so smoothly in this small, out-of-the-way nation.

But even as I stood there, feeling the faint hum of the teleportation platform beneath my feet, my mind wandered back to my homeland. I had no idea what was unfolding there in my absence.

The situation could have escalated or perhaps settled, though I doubted the latter. I thought about the crippled old man, the one who held significant influence behind the scenes.

He was a dangerous Magic Lord. The current unrest in the nation was like a brewing storm, one that could either escalate into chaos or be swiftly quelled depending on which forces finally decided to show their hands.

My thoughts were interrupted by the soft, rhythmic voice of Manager Kira as she completed the final incantation of her spell.

Buzz!

The entire room resonated with a sharp buzz as the magic formations beneath me activated, their power reaching a peak.

Swoosh!

The lights swirling around the platform intensified, and before I could even process it fully, the sensation of being torn from one place to another gripped me. The world around me dissolved into blinding light, and in an instant, I vanished from the spot.

Manager Kira watched the fading light with a keen eye. "Successful transfer," she muttered, satisfied that the teleportation had gone as planned.

Gloria, standing nearby, turned toward Kira, her expression softening with gratitude. "Thank you for your help, Manager Kira," she said warmly.