Robb carefully placed the pocket watch by his bedside—within easy reach.
Lying down, he replayed the day's events in his mind. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
His instincts told him that this Timewarden's Pocket Watch was far more than it appeared.
"Timewarden…" he whispered to himself as he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the mist of the Black Mist Forest, slanting across the wooden signboard of the herb shop.
Robb was up early, carefully packing the rare and valuable ingredients he had managed to obtain into specially designed containers.
Even after the intense training the night before, his body felt as light and fresh as ever, thanks to the peculiar sensation brought on by the pocket watch.
He took a little-used path on his way to the herb shop, keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings and staying alert for any signs of danger.
After the confrontation with the orc mercenaries in Lizard Alley, Robb had become even more cautious.
As he pushed open the shop door, a wind chime let out a crisp ding.
The lighting inside was as dim as ever, and the air carried the strange aroma of countless blended herbs.
To his surprise, Madam Elena was already working behind the counter, bent over a wooden cabinet organizing something. Her long, pale hair swayed slightly with her movements.
"Come in. I've been waiting for you," she said hoarsely, without looking up.
"Sorry, Madam. I didn't mean to be late," Robb instinctively apologized, even though he was sure he had arrived earlier than scheduled.
"Late?" Madam Elena finally lifted her head. A flicker of surprise passed through her ghostly green eyes before they regained their usual sharpness.
"You're earlier than usual. I just came even earlier. Isn't it normal for old folks to wake early? You little brat, don't be so quick to apologize—it makes you look like an easy target."
She straightened up, her back creaking faintly, and leaned on her cane as she approached the counter, scrutinizing Robb with keen interest.
"So? Let's see what you've brought back."
Robb took out the carefully packaged containers from his coat and placed them on the counter one by one.
Each container had been specially treated to protect its contents from damage or contamination.
"Moonshadow Bat Heart Ash, Crystallized Moss, and Wither Tongue—I managed to acquire all of them," he reported plainly and confidently, without a hint of boasting.
Madam Elena raised her brows, a rare trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Her claw-like fingers reached out and picked up the crystal vial containing the Moonshadow Bat heart ash. Holding it up to the light, she inspected it like a seasoned gem appraiser eyeing a suspicious diamond.
"Excellent quality—actually, better than I expected."
The old witch gave it a sniff and nodded approvingly—praise that was shockingly rare for someone usually so stingy with compliments.
"Where did you get these? And how much did you pay?"
Robb briefly described his trip to Sunset Tavern and Lizard Alley—carefully omitting the part involving the orc mercenaries.
"Five shards for heart ash of that quality?"
Madam Elena's voice carried real disbelief. Her wrinkled fingers tapped the counter in agitation.
"That gray dwarf Otto gave it to you at that price? He's infamous for his stinginess—rumor has it he'd haggle over his dead mother's funeral."
"I identified some herbs for him. That was our trade."
Robb answered humbly, trying to downplay the feat, though the pride in his eyes was hard to miss.
"Oh?" Madam Elena's eyes sharpened, piercing straight through him like a scalpel slicing open a fruit.
"Your herb identification skills have reached a level Otto respects? That old fox doesn't just respect anyone."
Her ghostly green eyes locked onto Robb like an alchemist watching a specimen react in unexpected ways.
"In just a few months, you've gone from a candidate apprentice to someone with that level of botanical skill? Robb… your progress is remarkable—even, I'd say, unnatural."
She inspected the three ingredients again with expert care. Once satisfied, she carefully stored them in a drawer.
"To be honest, I didn't think you'd gather these so quickly."
Her voice turned serious and uncharacteristically sincere as she stared directly into Robb's eyes.
"When I gave you that list, I expected you'd need at least three months—maybe more—to find just one of the items. My original plan was to have you collect them in stages. I'd teach you a meditation method strong enough to reach the advanced apprentice level, and only then continue."
She paused. Her green eyes deepened, as if she were peering through the fog of time itself.
"But since you've already done this much, I won't hold back. I'll teach you the first two stages of Whispers of the Star-Eater—from beginner to advanced apprentice, and even how to break through to a full-fledged mage."
Robb's heart nearly skipped a beat. He felt the blood rush through his body like a torrent.
This was far more generous than he had anticipated. He had assumed she'd keep something in reserve, as was common. But she was offering knowledge that included the path beyond the apprentice stage.
This level of extraordinary knowledge was heavily restricted within the school. Usually, you had to sign a long-term—if not lifetime—contract to be granted access.
"Thank you, Madam. I truly appreciate your generosity."
Robb said sincerely. He could feel that what Madam Elena was giving him far exceeded the bounds of normal mentorship—and he understood exactly what it meant.
In the Black Mist Forest, no one gave anything for free.
Madam Elena was investing in him—just like Holt had done. Both were betting on his future.
The more they gave now, the more they stood to gain from him later.
But this kind of relationship, built on mutual benefit, actually made Robb feel more secure.
It was cleaner, more dependable than false warmth or hollow affection. Both sides understood each other's bottom lines and expectations.
"Don't thank me just yet," Madam Elena's voice cut into his thoughts. Her expression turned more serious than he'd ever seen.
"Whispers of the Star-Eater is not your typical meditation technique. I told you before—it was born from the maddened inspiration of a traveling mage. There are truths in it that were never meant to be known. Truths that could drive a person mad."
Her eyes darkened, clouded with a worry Robb had never seen before.
"This meditation has three stages. The first can bring you to the advanced apprentice level. The second can help you break through the bottleneck to become a full mage. As for the third stage…"