From the moment I was chosen by the holy relic

In the days leading up to the official start of the Thousand Faces Illusion, Eric kept himself busy. He and Leah inquired around Elgarden, trying to find out exactly what this legendary event was all about.

The capital city remained bustling at night, starlight spilling across the cobblestone streets, and magical lamps hovering in mid-air, radiating a warm glow. Crowds thronged the streets, and many vendors began selling items related to the Thousand Faces Illusion: amulets, exorcism stones, magical tea to enhance perception, and some seemingly unreliable secret manuals for the victors.

"Are these things really useful?" Leah picked up a small amulet with a dull crystal embedded in it.

"If you're willing to believe it, a fishmonger would know how to survive in a fantasy world," Eric said casually, glancing at the sizzling oil pan beside the vendor.

The stall owner clearly heard his sarcasm, rolled his eyes, and said irritably, "Kid, don't be so skeptical. This is a genuine perception amulet. Although it can't protect against illusions, it can alert the wearer whether what they are seeing is an illusion."

"Isn't everything in an illusion fake?" Leah blinked, suddenly intrigued. "Could there be anything real in this illusion?"

The stall owner chuckled and patted his fat belly: "Of course! The Thousand Faces Illusion is not a simple game; it contains all sorts of things. The purpose of this talisman is to help you determine whether what you see is an illusion."

Eric frowned slightly: "Tell me in detail."

The stall owner glanced at them, making sure they really wanted to hear, then put down the fried fish in his hand, cleared his throat, and began to tell the story of the Thousand-Faced Illusion.

The Thousand Faces Illusion was not originally a folk festival, but a military training exercise in the Kingdom of Iser.

Legend has it that centuries ago, Iser faced a great crisis as the forces of darkness relentlessly encroached upon the kingdom's borders. The king at that time, Miramond, was a great illusionist. He knew that illusion was not only for bewildering enemies, but also the best means of training soldiers and tempering their will.

So he created a unique dreamscape, filled with challenges that blurred the lines between reality and illusion, testing both the fantastical and the real. The kingdom's army trained within it to prepare for unforeseen circumstances on the battlefield.

"Initially, only Iser's elite could enter this illusion," the stall owner said, lowering his voice as if recounting an ancient secret. "But as the forces of darkness gradually disappeared and the killing on the battlefield decreased, this illusion was no longer used solely for military training, but gradually opened to the general public."

"So, the current Thousand Faces Illusion is more like an entertainment activity?" Leah asked, tilting her head.

"That's not quite right," the stall owner shook his head. "This illusion has existed for hundreds of years, and countless illusionists and mages have modified it, making it more complex and bizarre than ever before. The challenges inside are not just simple illusions; they include all sorts of tests. Sometimes it's solving puzzles, sometimes it's fighting enemies within the illusions, and sometimes you might even enter a completely unfamiliar world and experience a different life."

Upon hearing this, Eric asked thoughtfully, "So, the illusion is completely random?"

"That's right!" The stall owner held up a finger and wagged it. "The biggest feature of the Thousand Faces Illusion is its 'unpredictability.' No one can know in advance what they will encounter, because everyone will face different challenges after entering the illusion."

"That sounds exciting!" Leah said enthusiastically. "And you said there's a prize? What is it?"

"The prizes are certainly plentiful!" the stall owner said enthusiastically. "The royal family of Iser prepares a batch of extremely valuable rewards, usually including magical equipment, rare potions, and even legacy-level skill scrolls. Some people have even gained great power in the illusion, becoming famous overnight."

"Did anyone die inside?" Eric suddenly asked.

The stall owner's expression stiffened slightly, then he said, "Illusions don't actually take people's lives, but the competitions after the illusion often result in deaths, after all, swords and blades don't discriminate."

"However, there are still a lot of participants!" The stall owner put on a relaxed smile again. "After all, opportunity always comes with risk, and many people are willing to take the gamble!"

Eric was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Is there a limit to the number of participants?"

"No!" The stall owner grinned. "Anyone can participate, regardless of their identity or profession, even people from out of town can participate. But there's one thing: if you're participating as a team, the number of people cannot exceed five."

"The team limit is five people?" Leah stroked her chin.

"That's right," the stall owner shrugged, "If there are too many people, the challenge loses its meaning."

Eric nodded slowly, having already made up his mind.

When can we register?

"Registration opens three days before the event," the stall owner said with a smile. "You can register at the Illusion Tower on Royal Court Avenue, or directly with the administrator of the Illusion Realm."

Leah looked at Eric with great interest: "How about it? Want to give it a try?"

Eric hesitated for a moment, then finally uttered a sentence softly—

"certainly."

In the past few days, Eric and Lia have been walking the streets of Elgarden, constantly hearing discussions about the Thousand-Faced Illusion. People are enthusiastically discussing the rules of the competition in taverns, loudly inviting strangers to team up on street corners, and even ordinary vendors are chatting about which team is most likely to win.

Eric and Leah received many invitations, but unfortunately, they had to decline each time for various reasons.

"Sigh..." Leah finally couldn't help but sigh, she crossed her arms and frowned slightly.

Eric glanced at her, knowing what she was thinking.

Their team was too small, consisting of only two people. If their former comrades were still alive, perhaps they wouldn't have this problem at all. Sadly, their former comrades are gone forever…

Eric paused for a moment, and the image of Eileen appeared in his mind.

He shook his head, suppressing his complex emotions, then suddenly a smile appeared on his lips. He reached out and grabbed Leah's wrist, dragging her to the other side of the street.

"Hey, what?" Leah was startled and almost stumbled as he pulled her.

"Since we can't find a team for the time being, let's go take a look around." Eric said in a light tone, "I heard the magic market is open, so let's go check it out."

Lia raised an eyebrow, seemingly not opposed to the suggestion: "A magic market? Oh, indeed, we should go see what good stuff the mages of Iser have."

"Let's go," Eric said with a smile. "I've heard this is the largest magical exchange event in Iser, even more exciting than Orion's Knights' Tournament."

The Magic Market, located in the central district of Elgarden, looks like a dazzling maze from afar.

In this vast market, all sorts of magical products were on display, and the stalls were filled with mysterious magical energy. Some were selling enchanted weapons, others were displaying rare magical potions, and still others were simply summoning elemental spirits to haggle with passersby.

Colorful magical lanterns floated along both sides of the street, and a faint aroma of spices filled the air. Some of these spices came from the distant Felion, while others were magical fragrances created by the mages of Iser, which could keep people clear-headed.

"Wow..." Leah stared in disbelief, looking around. "This is more interesting than any market I've ever seen before."

Eric couldn't help but sigh. Compared to the warriors of Nosteria who frequented blacksmith shops and training grounds, the mages here preferred to showcase their talents with magic. At every stall, one could see magical performances of varying sizes, with some stall owners even casting spells directly in the air, causing elemental forces to intertwine and create all sorts of fantastical scenes.

Not far ahead, an elven mage in a long robe was demonstrating a special magical cloak. With a gentle wave of his hand, the cloak instantly became transparent, as if it had completely disappeared.

"The Cloak of Shadows." The elven mage's voice was gentle and magnetic. "By wearing it, one can conceal their form in the shadows."

"This is good stuff!" Leah's eyes lit up, and she couldn't resist going closer to take a look.

But before she could take a step, another loud voice came from the side—

"Everyone! Come and see this bottle of 'Eternal Flame'!"

Eric and Leah turned their heads together and saw a dwarf stall owner with a full beard holding up a small amber bottle with a faint but steadily burning flame inside.

"This is the finest magical fire!" the dwarf stall owner thumped his chest and shouted. "No matter the wind or rain, no matter how harsh the environment, it will never go out! Perfect for night walkers, explorers, and brave warriors like you!"

Leah blinked, then turned to Eric and asked, "Want to buy it?"

Eric shrugged: "Buy it if you like."

After considering it for a moment, Leah shook her head: "Forget it, we're not exactly rich right now."

The two continued to walk through the crowd, occasionally stopping to look at the various wondrous magical artifacts.

There is a levitation stone that can make the wearer's steps lighter, as if walking on clouds.

There is a magic book that turns pages automatically, specially designed for scholars who are too lazy to read by hand.

There was a singing crystal bird whose voice was like the heavenly music of an elf bard.

"Eric! Look at this!" Leah suddenly grabbed him excitedly and pointed to a stall.

The stall owner was an elderly mage, and his stall displayed several small amulets, each inlaid with a magic crystal of a different color.

"What are these?" Eric frowned, reached out and picked up one of the crystals, noticing that it had a dull silver-blue color.

"Illusion Markers," the old mage smiled. "After entering the Thousand-Faced Illusion, these crystals will glow faintly when danger approaches, alerting the wearer."

"That's great!" Leah asked enthusiastically. "Do you have any other styles here?"

The old monk nodded and slowly opened his palm.

"And this one," he said, picking up a crimson crystal amulet. "It grants the wearer fire resistance for a short period, preventing them from being harmed by fire illusions."

"This one," he pointed to a dark green amulet, "can enhance your intuition, making it easier for you to distinguish between reality and illusion in a dream world."

Leah looked thoughtful. "Eric, which one do you think is more suitable?"

Eric thought about it carefully, and finally his gaze fell on the silver-blue illusion mark.

"This one," he said. "The early warning system is more useful than the other features."

Leah nodded, took out a gold coin to pay, and the two of them each took one and wore it.

"It seems we really have to attend this grand event," Eric said in a low voice, his gaze calm and resolute.

But he soon realized that he might be facing a challenge that was even more difficult than the battle itself.

As a knight, he had trained with his sword late into the night in the bitter cold of Nostria, fought for days on muddy battlefields, and even endured days without a proper rest during long journeys. But now, he faced the endless stalls of the Iser Magic Market and Lia's almost frightening enthusiasm for shopping.

They had been strolling through the market for three days straight.

Three days.

Eric's feet were no longer just numb; they had completely lost all feeling. He vaguely felt that perhaps he had grasped some kind of extraordinary perseverance, a kind of training more brutal than charging into battle.

What he couldn't understand the most was how Leah did it.

Her limbs were slender and her figure petite; she didn't look like someone who could run around the market for days on end without showing any signs of fatigue. Yet, she was not only energetic but also enthusiastically stopped at each stall, carefully examining, selecting, and trying on products, even engaging in lively bargaining with the stall owners.

Eric truly didn't understand.

"Leah," Eric finally couldn't hold back any longer and said in a low voice, "Aren't you tired?"

Lia, who was intently examining a silver-white wand, replied without turning her head, "Tired? Why would I be tired?"

Eric paused for a moment, thinking, "Does this question even need an explanation?"

He raised his hand, rubbing his aching shoulders, his eye twitching involuntarily. "We've been shopping for three whole days. Three days! Don't you really feel even a little bit tired in your legs? Or at least, even just a tiny bit weary?"

Leah finally turned her head, staring at him with an expression as if he were an alien, then blinked innocently: "But I find it very interesting."

"..." Eric opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to refute it.

Her tone was as matter-of-fact as if she were saying "breathe air".

Looking at his exhausted expression, Leah finally smiled slightly: "Eric, you're a warrior, a knight who's seen countless battles. You can't possibly give up on something this simple, can you?"

Eric took a deep breath, feeling his knightly dignity being challenged like never before.

But the problem is, this is no small matter at all!

"Lia." He rubbed his temples, trying to keep his voice calm. "I am a warrior, that's true, but a warrior's physical strength isn't for strolling through markets. My training is for fighting, not for spending dozens of hours wandering between stalls just to pick out a tiny magical trinket."

"So?" Leah tilted her head and said with a grin, "Don't warriors need to take this opportunity to buy themselves some new equipment?"

"But I'm a knight!" Eric said helplessly. "I use a sword, I use a shield. I don't need magic scrolls, nor do I need any enchanted amulets! And I certainly don't need those magic books that automatically turn pages!"

"You're too rigid," Lia snorted softly. "Who says knights can't use magical equipment? You should know that a truly intelligent warrior won't refuse any item that can enhance their strength."

Eric was speechless after hearing her words. He certainly wouldn't deny the effectiveness of magical items, but the question was, were the things Leah bought really useful?

For example, the crystal bird that can sing by itself.

For example, that bottle of eternal flame.

For example, she found it too troublesome to even carry around that magic book with her.

And then there's that bottle of magic glow powder that she hesitated for ages to buy yesterday.

What exactly does she intend to do with these things?!

"Lia." He finally couldn't hold back any longer, rubbing his temples and sighing, "What exactly are you looking for? Aren't you a healing mage? Why does it seem like the things you're buying have absolutely nothing to do with your profession?"

Leah blinked, giving Lia a look that said, "Finally, someone asked."

"Eric, you don't understand, do you?" She smiled mysteriously, then pointed to a few trinkets on the stall. "My healing magic has no offensive power, so I need something to make up for that deficiency."

"So you bought a singing crystal bird?" Eric raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Don't you think that singing during battle will distract the enemy?" Leah said matter-of-factly. "Don't underestimate these things; they can be very useful in certain situations."

Eric paused for a moment, realizing that what she said didn't seem entirely unreasonable.

"What about that magic book that turns pages automatically?" he continued to ask.

Leah coughed and looked away a little guiltily: "Uh, well, sometimes flipping through books is too troublesome, so I wanted to try out if there was a more convenient way to read."

"..." Eric sighed, finally understanding. She simply enjoyed browsing markets, and whether the things she bought were practical or not seemed to be completely irrelevant to her.

Seeing his helpless expression, Lia finally couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. I'll really take the time to choose the right equipment for myself."

Eric gave her a somewhat suspicious look.

"real?"

"Of course." Leah raised her hand and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't look like you're about to die. I swear, tomorrow is the last day!"

Eric breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But then he suddenly realized a problem.

"Wait, you mean tomorrow?"

Leah nodded matter-of-factly: "Yes, it's almost over for today, so of course we have to come again tomorrow."

Eric's expression froze instantly.

He felt like he wasn't just about to die, but about to ascend to heaven. Looking at his empty purse, he sighed deeply. He couldn't understand how, in just three days, he had gone from a well-fed adventurer to a penniless man who had to carefully budget even for a decent dinner.

The culprit, Leah, was holding a translucent emerald stone in her hands, her face beaming with victory: "Finally found it! An emerald spirit core, capable of repairing damaged magical artifacts, simply perfect!"

"You said it would be perfect, but our wallets are empty." Eric's tone was full of helplessness. He looked down at his depleted purse and couldn't help but miss Eileen. If she were here, they wouldn't need to buy these potions at all; she could brew them herself, and she could even help Leah repair her staff...

He sighed, suppressing that familiar melancholy, and turned to look at the stone in Leah's hand: "Are you sure this thing really works? We don't have the money to buy a second one."

"Of course! You underestimate me." Leah snorted triumphantly, then attached the Emerald Core to her staff.

The staff's old cracks were still a stark reminder of the battle against the skeletons in the Cursed Tomb. Since then, the staff had remained dull and lifeless, making even spellcasting difficult. But now, as the power of the Emerald Core slowly seeped in, the entire staff began to tremble slightly, as if responding to long-lost magic.

In an instant, the emerald green light flickered again, and the gentle glow flowed along the surface of the staff, as if the tender leaves of spring had been reborn.

Leah stared intently at the staff, her eyes filled with joy: "Great, it's really fixed!" She excitedly raised the staff and waved it gently, feeling the magic return, as if she had returned from the dead of winter to the warmth of spring.

"Hmm..." Eric glanced at it, confirming that the staff had indeed regained its luster, before nodding. "You're lucky, this thing really works."

However, before he could even feel relieved, Leah pulled out several bottles of potions of different colors from her bag and placed them in front of him: "And this! I also bought some spare potions."

Eric's eyelids twitched.

Some spare potions?

Those bottles and jars are enough to open a small pharmacy!

He was silent for a few seconds, then finally lowered his voice and asked, "Lia, we're going to participate in the Thousand Faces Illusion, not to launch an expedition to the Demon Abyss. Why did you buy so much?"

Leah blinked innocently: "Buying the raw materials and mixing them myself would indeed save half the money, but I don't know how!"

Eric was speechless for a moment.

If Eileen were here, this money wouldn't have needed to be spent at all.

"Hey, Eric?" Leah's voice pulled him back to reality.

He looked up and saw Leah standing in front of him, her face beaming with smugness: "Although we spent a lot of money, you have to admit, we got quite a good deal this time, didn't we?"

"There were gains, but the cost was quite heavy," Eric said, rubbing his temples. "Especially the loss of gold coins."

Leah waved her hand dismissively: "Money can be earned back, but repairing the staff and potions is the most important thing! Besides, we're going to participate in the Thousand Faces Illusion soon, we can't go in empty-handed, can we?"

Eric sighed softly, and finally chose to compromise: "Hopefully this investment will be worthwhile."

Lia confidently patted her staff and laughed, "Don't worry, once we reach the Thousand Faces Illusion, you'll be glad you have a powerful healing mage like me by your side."

Eric shook his head, a helpless smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.

All the trouble these past few days has at least not been in vain.