Chapter 127: Ethereal Boots (Bonus chapter for reaching 7,000 recommendations)

Bellerina welcomed Chu Yun inside without asking about his intentions, instead instructing her sisters to bring out a variety of delicious foods to host him. Though Chu Yun had just eaten and was not particularly hungry, he politely tasted the offerings.

"Bellerina, how is Keli's condition?" Chu Yun asked, looking at the little girl who was playing with a three-tailed cat. From the outside, she appeared to be doing well, but such matters were difficult to gauge.

"She is fine for now. Once my sister returns with the Fountain of Life, she will be completely cured," Bellerina replied with a smile. The sister she referred to was the Lady of the City, who had recently returned to the Elven Forest. It seemed her departure was not solely due to the Starfall incident.

After Bellerina expressed her gratitude once more, she finally asked, "Chu Yun, since you came here specifically to see me, there must be something else, right?"

"I heard you are quite skilled with magical equipment. I would like to ask you to help me customize some magical accessories. As for the price, just charge me the standard rate," Chu Yun stated his purpose. Bellerina was a master of magical jewelry, though she did not delve much into weapons or armor. Aside from his ring of invisibility, Chu Yun’s collection of accessories was pitifully sparse.

"I have quite a few orders lately, but since it is you, I can prioritize your request. What kind of equipment do you need?" Bellerina’s creations were not only powerful but also artistic masterpieces, highly sought after by collectors.

Chu Yun possessed abundant mental energy and was not limited by spell slots. His Blazing Flame Grimoire allowed him to store spells for rapid casting, so he had little need for offensive gear. His main concern was survival. His recent near-death encounter with a Earth-Eater Beast had made him keenly aware of his shortcomings. While his existing defensive spells were sufficient for battles against opponents of similar strength, he now needed a way to escape monsters of the Earth-Eater's caliber. If he could create distance immediately—beyond the detection range of an enemy's mirror image—he could retreat into the Mirror World to evade pursuit.

"I need a piece of equipment that can instantly create distance in a crisis, either through high-speed teleportation or translocation. Are you skilled in crafting such items?" Chu Yun asked.

Bellerina nodded. "High-speed teleportation using the power of wind elements is relatively easy, but essentially it is still movement. If you encounter obstacles or are blocked, it won't be very effective. Spatial spells are much more difficult, and crafting them into jewelry takes a great deal of time; truthfully, it is not my specialty."

Before Chu Yun could speak, she continued, "Actually, I have an item on hand called the Ethereal Boots that can perform short-range teleportation. Since they are men's boots and both the size and style are difficult to alter, I had intended to put them up for auction. The large auction at the end of the month is still some time away, and since your build should be about right, I can sell them to you directly if you are interested."

With that, Bellerina retrieved a pair of black traveling boots from her spatial ring. They looked brand new. "I found these in the bag of a thief from the borders of the Karachia Kingdom. I have already cleared the anti-theft seal," she explained. Anti-theft seals were charms used by magical equipment shops; if not removed, they would continuously emit warning sounds and interfere with spell effects when worn.

Chu Yun put on the boots; the interior had enough adjustment space that they fit perfectly. Hidden within the lining and the soles were magical patterns, inlaid with mana cores for recharging. There was still plenty of energy left inside. Chu Yun attempted to activate the boots' ability. They allowed him to teleport instantly within his range of perception with remarkable precision.

*Whoosh.*

Chu Yun instantly appeared on the other side of the hall, landing only a few centimeters from his intended target.

"This is a fine piece of equipment, I like it very much. What is the price?" Chu Yun asked. This was a Tier 3 perfect-quality item, which would typically sell for 30,000 gold coins on the market. However, considering the rarity and unique nature of the spell effect, the price should at least double.

Bellerina smiled, recalling the money she had advanced for the Glass Lilies. "Fifty thousand gold coins should do, which will just cover what you lent me." Since the item was an unexpected windfall, and considering Chu Yun was Keli's benefactor, she didn't mind charging him a lower price.

Chu Yun did not refuse her kindness, but he responded in kind. He took five hundred platinum coins and a small necklace from his backpack and handed them to Bellerina. "These are spoils of war I seized from the Lalafell tribe. The effects are quite good; consider it a gift in anticipation of Keli's recovery." Although the craftsmanship of the Lalafell was slightly inferior to that of the Elves, they possessed unique advantages in small-scale equipment crafting that other races could not replicate.

"Beautiful, this suits Keli perfectly." Bellerina accepted the necklace with satisfaction after inspecting it, then called Keli over to put it on her.

"Thank you, big brother!" Keli said happily. "Next time, Keli will treat you to some delicious fish!" The Elven race rarely ate meat, but Keli, being a half-elf, had no such taboos. The fish was the favorite food of her three-tailed cat, which she only shared with those she recognized.

"By the way, when I tasted the Starry Night Illusion fruit wine at your shop earlier, I saw some things," Chu Yun continued. "I wonder, was that an illusion or a prophecy?"

Hearing his inquiry, Bellerina, as the shopkeeper, explained: "The recipe for this fruit wine was left behind by the ancient Elves, and what each person sees is different. Whether what you saw was a prophecy or an illusion is hard to determine, but... if you saw a stranger you had never met before, and you truly encounter that person in the future, then it is very likely a prophecy rather than an illusion. Conversely, if you only saw familiar faces—people you long for—then it is likely just an illusion. These are the conclusions I have reached based on feedback from my customers, for your reference." Bellerina did not ask what he had seen; it was, after all, a deeply private matter.

Chu Yun couldn't help but recall the images he had witnessed. Though they were blurry, he was certain that many of the people there were strangers to him.

"So, if I happen to run into one of those strangers in the future, it is likely a prophecy?" Chu Yun asked. "Bellerina, how accurate are these prophecies?" He was not one to believe in such things, especially after just one glass of wine.

"It is hard to say. If you deliberately change your behavior because you saw a prophecy, the final result might change as well. What we call fate and prophecy are merely possibilities of the future. You needn't take it too much to heart," Bellerina said, her tone turning somewhat melancholy.