“For communication between mages, I personally believe that the principle of equivalent exchange is the best approach,” Sebastian said calmly. “As long as that principle is honored, I have no issue with sharing knowledge. I’m even open to teaching a line of magic I’ve inherited.”

Gu Yi raised her teacup and nodded in approval. “A fair philosophy. Then tell me, Master Sebastian, what would you need in return to begin sharing your magic with me?”

“Every magical exchange should start with something simple,” Sebastian replied. “I’m looking for a specific kind of item—something like a feather, a hair, or neural tissue from a magical creature.”

Of course, that “simple start” was just a pretext. Sebastian had no intention of laying bare his entire magical knowledge during this first meeting—it would be reckless. Even if Gu Yi herself bore no ill will, some of her disciples were less predictable. Kaecilius and Mordo, in particular, were names that came with heavy implications. Better to stay cautious and grounded.

By making this small request, Sebastian aimed to gather the core component necessary to craft his own wand. Even if it wasn’t a perfect match, it would grant him the foundational tool he needed for focused spellcasting—his first real line of defense.

Only then would it make sense to consider a deeper magical exchange.

In truth, he was extremely curious about the magic of this world. From what little he had seen so far, it was in many ways more profound—and more raw—than the structured magic he’d learned in his past life.

Gu Yi sipped her tea, then responded, “We do possess such materials at Kamar-Taj, but unfortunately, they don’t preserve well. Most of them have already been repurposed into battle implements, especially neural tissues—they tend to deteriorate quickly.”

She paused thoughtfully. “At the moment, I have three viable options: a strand of Nightmare Mane, a Valkyrie Pegasus feather, and a Hellhound fang. I don’t know which one you’d prefer. But more importantly—what will you offer in exchange?”

Sebastian dismissed the Hellhound fang mentally—it was too unstable, unsuitable for wandcraft. But the other two… now those were interesting.

The mane of the Nightmare Beast and the feathers of the Pegasus are both suitable, but the Nightmare Beast is a hellish creature and tends to be chaotic and evil. If its mane were used to craft the heart of the staff, it would inevitably lead to some uncontrollable situations, which is undesirable for the current purpose. It is not suitable for Sebastian, who is developing steadily.

Perhaps, once he becomes stronger, he will use the mane of the Nightmare Beast to create a wand and see what power it holds. But for now, it is not suitable. After some thought, Sebastian decided to seek the feathers of the Valkyrie’s Pegasus, which had disappeared from Asgard.

“Master Gu Yi, I wish to acquire the feather of the Valkyrie’s Pegasus.”

“In exchange, I would like to request an introduction to the magic system you have mastered. Would that be possible?”

The system?

This was truly beyond Sebastian’s expectations.

Initially, Sebastian had assumed that Gu Yi would request a specific spell, such as Levitation Charm or Petrificus Totalus, which he had used in the past. However, what Gu Yi sought was merely the magic system Sebastian had learned. Clearly, Gu Yi did not intend to use it immediately but simply wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Sebastian’s magic system. This would lay a foundation for future transactions or exchanges, ensuring there were no misjudgments due to a lack of understanding of Sebastian’s magical abilities.

Wanting to understand this, Sebastian nodded slightly. The principle of equivalent exchange was not something he had invented. In fact, he adhered to it as well. Magic isn’t something that can be mastered in isolation. It requires a great deal of communication and collaboration. Magic, like storms, demands various resources—it doesn’t fall from the sky while you sit idly at home. The principle of equivalent exchange was developed to ensure smooth communication and fair transactions.

“Mage Gu Yi, I am willing to share the magic system I have learned, but it will take some time.”

“Of course, even the magic you have mastered will take a lot of time to organize into a coherent system. You can take your time and sort it out. Once you’re finished, send the materials here and hand them over to Daniel.”

“As for the Pegasus Feather you seek, I can give it to you now. Perhaps this will allow you to complete the arrangement of your magic system sooner, following the principle of equivalent exchange.”

Gu Yi raised his hand, and a soft light quickly gathered from the surroundings, converging in Gu Yi’s palm. It transformed into a slender wooden box, which was placed on the table in front of Sebastian.

“This is the feather of the Pegasus. I hope it will serve you well.”

Sebastian did not hesitate. He placed the box in his backpack, nodded, and said to Gu Yi, “I will organize the introduction to the magic system as quickly as possible and deliver the materials after school on Wednesday afternoon.”

“Very well, then the business is settled. Now, we can enjoy tea properly.”

Hearing Gu Yi’s words, Sebastian smiled as well. He picked up the teacup and took a sip, savoring the tea.

——————————

Under the escort of Daniel Drum, the guardian of the Sanctuary of New York, Sebastian nodded slightly to bid him farewell. He walked out of the Sanctuary and made his way to Blecker Street in New York, where the Sanctuary was located. After orienting himself, Sebastian walked to the nearest subway, schoolbag on his back, and took the subway home.

Standing before the gate of the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York, Daniel watched as Sebastian left. He then turned to Gu Yi, who was still sitting in a chair, sipping tea, and said, “Master Gu Yi, he’s gone.”

“Yes, Daniel,” Gu Yi replied. “I will rely on you to keep in touch with him in the future and attempt to cooperate with him. If you’re ever uncertain or unable to make a decision, you can always contact me directly.”

“Master Gu Yi, why do you treat him so favorably?”

“I have seen some things through the Eye of Agamotto. Some individuals must be brought into our Kama Taj, while others need us to take the initiative to befriend them. One day, in the future, you will understand the reasoning behind my actions now.”

Daniel, not one to pry too deeply, chose not to press further. After hearing Gu Yi’s explanation, he no longer hesitated and saluted, indicating his understanding.

Seeing this, Gu Yi nodded to Daniel, then turned and returned to Kama Taj through the portal in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The reason she encouraged more contact between Daniel and Sebastian was to serve as a bridge between herself and Sebastian. It was also a strategic move to form an alliance with him and to allow Daniel, who faced a dangerous future, to seek Sebastian’s help when the time came.

The Eye of Agamotto, or rather, the Time Gem within it, allowed Gu Yi to see further ahead. She used it to plan carefully and protect her disciples as much as possible. Although there may be many challenges ahead, it was prudent to prepare in advance. As long as her actions didn’t interfere with the natural course of the future, everything would unfold as it should.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep