Tony smirked. “You just use your new skill.”

Orrin waited. “What else?”

Tony shook his head. “Nothing else. Try it on this.” He pushed the half-empty cup of tea sitting on the table towards Orrin.

Orrin used [Analyze].

Black Tea

“You just had me spend five ability points on this?” Orrin nearly yelled. “What good is this?”

Tony laughed with his haltering choking sound. “Boy, did you really think it would be so easy? Do it again.”

Orrin used the skill.

Black Tea from Veskar

“It says from Veskar now,” Orrin muttered. “Why did it give more information?”

“The more you monitor something, the more you learn. You could keep using that on this swill and eventually, it would tell you what region it was grown in and how long it’s been since the tea leaves were harvested. But that’s not the point. Do it again.”

Orrin complied but nothing new appeared in the box. He tried again and again and again.

“I did it five times,” Orrin complained. “Nothing new is happening.”

Tony pointed to the counter behind them. “Can you grab those two canisters of tea there?”

Orrin stood. “Why?”

Tony waited for Orrin to grab the canisters and sit back down. He turned one container around so Orrin could read the handwriting on the dark glass jar. Veskarian Black Tea.

“I don’t get it.”

“A lesson within a lesson. Use your eyes before you use your skill. You might pick up something.” Tony turned the second canister around. Veskarian Green Tea.

Tony smiled and rolled his hand. “Again.”

Orrin used [Analyze] on the green tea.

Green Tea from Veskar, Spalril Territory

“I still don’t get it.”

Tony sighed in Orrin’s mind. “If you know something about the item you’re analyzing, you don’t have to waste time learning the basics. Keep going.”

Orrin used [Analyze] another twenty times or so before it happened. The skill stopped working. “It didn’t activate. Why did the skill stop working?”

“You’ve used up your ability for the day,” Tony responded.

“How?”

Tony shrugged. “Same way you use up your mana. I told you already, skills have to recharge just like spells. I’m actually surprised you were able to activate it so many times. You definitely have something affecting your Constitution.”

“What was the point of doing that?”

Tony reached across the table and patted Orrin’s hand. “Kid. You are an impatient ass. You need to slow down. You are still recovering from your last attempt to off yourself. There’s no rush and I’m trying to teach you the best I can. I’ve never had a student before, so be patient.”

Orrin swallowed the words in his mouth and tried a different route. “Can you at least tell me what I should be doing with [Analyze]?”

Tony nodded and put the two canisters of tea back on the shelf. “Every day, preferably before you go to sleep, use the skill on yourself. Try to do it while using spells and while using [Mind Bastion]. Try it with [Blood Mana], but no more than one cycle a day. It might take a few weeks or months, but you-“

“Months? Tony, I don’t want to be here another few months. I have to-“

Tony slammed his hand on the counter. “Listen!” His voice echoed in Orrin’s head. “You need to get a handle on yourself. Do you realize how advanced your spells are? You’ve broken into higher magics already. A normal mage gets a hundred mana a day if they’re lucky to practice and you’ve used that much in five minutes, only to do it again and again. You need to understand what you are doing to yourself or you could die. You have to put in the work and be careful or you’ll kill yourself, Reed!”

Orrin waited and watched Tony breathing hard. When the man seemed to catch his breath after his tirade, Orrin asked, “Who’s Reed?”

Tony’s eyes flickered. “Who?”

“You called me Reed.”

Tony waved his hand. “No, I didn’t. Wait half an hour and try to use [Analyze] again. Use it on yourself this time. I’m going out to get some more food, you’ve cleaned me out.” His voice continued as he walked down the hall to the front door. “Don’t let anyone inside.”

The door slammed closed.

Orrin was left alone.

He waited about half an hour and started using [Analyze] on himself. Instead of the status that [Identify] gave, he received a weird amalgamation of information.

Orrin. Age 17. Heart rate 68 bpm. Weight 130 pounds. Height 5 foot, 10 inches.

After half an hour of nothing, Orrin got bored and started looking through his other spells. He noticed a blinking cursor on his status. I must have leveled [Teleport] when I was coming back from the Dragoon party.

Orrin

Utility Warder

Level 12(1990/3,000)

HP: 90

MP: 380

Strength: 9

Constitution: 9

Dexterity: 9

Will: 28

Intelligence: 11

Abilities:

[Mind Bastion]

[Dimension Hole]

[Identify]

[Blood Mana]

[Map]-

[Party View]; [Monster View]; [Trap View]; [Zoom]

[Side Steps] Level Three (9/300)

[Mana Pool]

[Through the Ages]

[Analyze]

Spells:

Calm Mind- 5 MP

[Heal Small Wounds]- Level One 5 MP; Level Two 10 MP; Level Three 20 MP. (740/10,000)

[Camouflage]- Level One 10 MP; Level Two 10 MP. (210/10,000)

[Lightstrike]- 10 MP

[Ward]- 20 MP

[Inverse]- 5 MP.

[Utility Ward] Level 1 100 MP; Level 2 200 MP.

Ice sword- 1 MP per sword.

Teleport- 50 MP per person (5,000/5,000)!

[Ice Ward]- 20 MP.

Increase Strength- Level One 5 MP; Level Two 10 MP; Level Three 15 MP. (1,530/10,000)

Increase Dexterity- Level One 5 MP; Level Two 10 MP; Level Three 15 MP. (1,620/10,000)

Increase Will- Level One 5 MP; Level Two 10 MP; Level Three 15 MP. (735/10,000)

Increase Intelligence- Level One 5 MP; Level Two 10 MP; Level Three 15 MP. (1,155/10,000)

Would you like to upgrade [Teleport] for 10 AP?

Yes or No

“Fuck,” Orrin whispered. He only had eight points left after buying [Analyze]. Every few minutes, he used the skill again but nothing had changed.

I could buy a few low level spells and create more wards but I’m not sure what would be best.With Tony storming out, Orrin felt more alone. He’d been sick for a week and hadn’t seen anybody but the crazed old man. Why didn’t Daniel visit?

Orrin spent an hour going through different interesting sounding spells and skills in the Store and even considered buying the [Alchemy] skill again. In the end, he saved his ability points for now. I might need to create a new ward on whatever mission we do next or maybe I can save a lot of time if I just level [Teleport]...I’ll ask Daniel.

Orrin used a few buffs to decrease his mana and then started using [Analyze] again.

On the third try, something new came up.

Mana Regeneration: 1 MP/min

Well, that’s promising, he thought. Only another million hours of doing this and I’ll be able to rebuild my [Identify] ability.

He blood cycled a little health and tried again. Nothing.

Orrin sighed.

Three hours later, Tony returned. It was dark outside and he brought back no groceries, but Orrin was smart enough to not say anything. Tony made some cold-cut sandwiches and told Orrin he could leave after dinner.

“Why? I’m just now learning and-“

Tony waved a hand to silence him. “This isn’t a punishment. You can keep practicing [Analyze] on your own. In a few weeks, come back. If you have questions, come back. But you should go tell your friends that you’re alive. They were worried, so you should probably-“

“What do you mean they were worried? Did Daniel come?”

Tony stared at Orrin until he hung his head. “Sorry.”

Tony harrumphed and ran his hand through his hair. “The boy came with the young Catanzano girl. She stayed well back, but seemed inclined to attack me if I did anything spooky.” He smiled at the nice memory. “I resisted the urge to yell boo in her mind...it was close.”

Orrin chuckled and Tony seemed to lighten a bit. “Your friend Daniel...he’s hurting.” Tony pushed a few crumbs around the table. “I don’t get involved and I rarely speak on what I hear to others...you know this.” He looked up at Orrin. “He’s lost and I don’t just mean in this world. He truly was worried for you. Not that he fully knows what you went through, but the worry was there. He loves you like a brother.” Tony turned his head quickly.

Orrin put his sandwich down. “He’s got a funny way of showing it. We keep getting into fights and he doesn’t care about the backlash from my skills.”

Surprising Orrin, Tony smiled. “Yeah. Brothers are like that. Nobody fights with you like a brother.” He looked up with shining eyes. “Daniel might be an asshole sometimes, but he’s your friend. Don’t let him forget it. He’s feeling the pressure of being the [Hero] and I think something happened while you were out. He showed up here two days after you started your recovery and again two days before you were up. I wouldn’t let him in and sent him on his way...Don’t give me that face, I told him you were doing fine without him. I don’t need the whole town in my house. But the second time, he looked haggard. I’m not sure what happened, but he seemed desperate for you to wake up.”

Orrin listened and smushed some of his bread with his finger. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.

Tony reached over the table and ruffled his hair. “I know. I’m the best and you’ll miss all our talks. You can come back tomorrow if you want. We still have lots to talk about. I still have questions too. I’m not sure I believe in your flying buildings.”

“Airplanes.” Orrin laughed.

“Mmm-hmm, sure.”

“Thanks, Tony.”

The man grunted and stood, turning his back to the table. He busied himself at the counter. “Get on out now. Don’t forget to keep practicing [Analyze].”

Orrin used [Camouflage] through the streets. He could have used [Teleport] but after being cooped up in Tony’s house for so long, the night breeze felt great.

He passed by the square in front of the Hospital, taking care to not bump into anyone. Somebody had already scrubbed the cobblestones of blood and the few areas of grass that seemed darker were difficult to make out in the half-moon light.

Orrin almost made it out of the square, when he noticed the sounds of a fight. It’s not your problem, Orrin. You don’t have to play hero tonight. Just go home and chat with Daniel.

Orrin kept walking for a dozen steps when he heard a wheeze of pain. He stopped and balled his fists, trembling.

That wasn’t the sound of a fight. Somebody was being beaten.

Orrin wasn’t a stranger to being bullied. Even with Daniel as his friend, the occasional mouth-breather thought Orrin would make a great punching bag. Daniel wasn’t able to be around all the time and Orrin had taken his fair share of beatdowns.

A wicked smile lit up his face. Mugger or bully, I can do magic now.

Orrin turned back and swiftly made his way to the alley one street over. He was surprised to find two men and a girl, all his age, standing over another form. All four were in the white garb of the Hospital.

Orrin almost left then, but one of the standing boys lifted a foot and kicked the still form on the ground. Orrin recognized Amir, the Acolyte he’d healed.

“You think you’re better than us, Fallah?” The girl hissed and used a walking stick to jab at his ribs. “You think you can question Teacher Dou and get away with it?”

The second boy stepped on Amir’s hand and twisted his foot. Amir let out a stifled yell and Orrin realized they’d stuffed a rag in his mouth. This was more than simple bullying.

“First you tried to heal those peasants without permission and then you have the audacity to ask questions about the Elder’s choices?” The girl was talking again, egging on the two males to continue. “You know, I’m not sure anybody would miss you if you just went home. What do you think, Jed?”

The boy with his hand on Amir’s hand spat. “The little peasant prodigy running off sounds like a good idea.”

Orrin had seen enough. He couldn’t risk scanning all three with [Identify], remembering Daniel’s earlier warning that healers could sense that. Instead, he pulled the strongest inversed [Increase Dexterity] he could and cast it on all three.

Jed lifted his foot to stomp and fell over in an uncoordinated mess of limbs. The girl turned and laughed at her friend. She took a step toward him and fell flat on her face. Orrin heard bone hit stone and a wail filled the air.

“Mha teef,” she cried. Orrin could see her hands on her mouth. “What happeneth?”

The third boy must have had a higher Constitution. He stumbled but caught himself. Orrin watched as Amir, forgotten by the trio, started to crawl to the side of the alley. The one standing conspirator was able to get his friends up. They drunkenly tottered back toward the Hospital.

Orrin listened to them throw curses back at Amir. Once they were out of sight, he crept closer. “Do you need a heal?”

Amir looked at the empty alley. “Who’s there?”

Orrin dropped his [Camouflage] spell. “Hi again.”

Amir paled. “It’s you! You were real.”

“If you don’t need a heal, I’ll be going.” Orrin scanned Amir and noticed his health, while halved, wasn’t critical.

“Wait. Please. Tell me how you did it?” Amir scrambled to his feet, holding his left hand to his side and trying to not grimace.

Orrin stopped. “Do what? That? I just made them stumble a bit.”

Amir shook his head. “Not that. You healed half the city. You helped more people in an hour than the Elders do in a year. Please, take me as your student. I’ll do anything.”