The next day we were all set to go to the demonstration. Zevrack and I met Millicent and Patience in the bar for a breakfast of stew. Patience enjoyed a mug of Ale for breakfast instead. After that we made our way across a few of the city's islands until we made it to the administrative center, the island that was always at the center of the city, no matter where any of the other islands were. Millicent led the way as we walked past a few columned embassy buildings that were being utilized by Tib’s people, the Heraclens, and into a small square. It was well populated with a mixture of peoples from all over, though primarily younger men and women that I assumed had a touch of magical talent. In the center of the square stood three women and two men. They were wearing the traditional togas of their people, but they were dyed a rich blue.

One of the women stepped forward to speak. “Welcome all to the demonstration. We’re going to show you what the Heraclen conclave is capable of. We are going to show you the heights of power that are achievable through proper disciplined instruction in the magical arts, and a strict study of what your class is capable of.”

I smiled, they can talk about improving with hard work and discipline all they wanted, I’ll just sit here, watch, and get whatever spells I can receive for free with no effort. Sure I had only a low chance of learning a spell each time, but if these demos were daily, then I think I’d just found a welcome new part of my morning routine.

I found a place toward the back from which to observe. I was about a head taller than most residents of Itlan, so I never needed to struggle much to get a good view. Zevrack, after realizing he couldn’t see, scrambled up my back without asking permission and settled himself lightly on my shoulders. I was about to protest, but it was at that moment that the demonstration began.

The woman who had spoken before the demonstration began chanting and moving her hands around in what seemed an overly dramatic fashion, and I felt the humming of magic begin to fill the air. She raised her hands up, and a rainbow of flashing lights and colors shot into the sky. Those colors slowly took shapes into animals and plants, and then they all danced around one another.

The other two women stepped forward. One began to make similar dramatic motions, and the other waited a moment, before she took a step into the air. She then took another, and another, as if she was walking on an invisible staircase.

I strained my eyes at that one, hoping to somehow jostle my ability into activating. I’d already been adding a lot of verticality into my fighting style, and a spell like that would help immensely. Unfortunately I had no luck, and the two men stepped forward as the women cleared the square.

They faced one another and bowed. One of them began chanting, and suddenly small bolts of lightning began to fly from his fingertips toward the other one.

The other man threw his hand up, and the bolts of lightning shattered as if hitting an invisible wall. He then followed up, by creating a fist made of light that he then threw at the other man.

The first man smirked, and made a chopping motion that cut the fist of light in half with a burst of sharp air. He then began to chant more loudly, and heat started to emanate off him.

The women who’d been performing feats of magic on the stage were now in the audience. I felt more power from them and noticed a slight change in the color of the air around the square, as if I was looking at it through a telescope. The man who’d been exuding heat let out a roar, and a massive ball of fire manifested in front of him. The other man drew his hand close to his chest before slowly pushing them outward in his opponent’s direction.

The fireball was thrown, and just before it hit the other man, it exploded into a mass of heat and flame. All of that slammed against an invisible wall that surrounded the square and I could see the women who held it, straining to keep it at bay. After a second that felt like a minute the shield dropped and small amounts of smoke drifted out.

The two men were both unharmed and standing next to one another, facing the crowd. They held hands and bowed. Then the women returned to the stage and bowed as well. The crowd applauded, and let out small whoops, having greatly enjoyed the show.

I found myself joining them. I hadn’t seen a lot of magic in the caverns, and being able to see a display like that was just plain fun. As I clapped I watched Patience, slip through the crowd like a shadow, picking purses, but also taking the time to look like just another person impressed by the show. She looked up at me and winked, then she made her way out of the square, I assumed to count what she’d collected. It had almost certainly been worth the trip for her.

I saw that I had a notification and grinned ear to ear as I pulled it up. Fireball, I’d gotten fireball! I had to stop myself from clicking my heels together like a lunatic. I was just hoping to get the invisible stair spell, but fireball? That was a classic. I imagined it was also something that took the average person quite a lot of study.

I returned my attention to the rest of the party and saw that several lines had formed to speak to each of the people who had performed in the demonstration. The lines were long and, I saw that both Zevrack, who had climbed down from me while I was so focused on the notification I’d received, and Millicent were bogarting the woman who had lead the demonstration's attention, much to the annoyance of those lined up to see her.

Rather than wait in line myself, I simply walked over to them, nodded at each of them, and acted like I didn’t see the line of pissed off faces I’d passed by on the way there. When I arrived, they were all in the midst of a discussion on enchantment, combustion, and whether or not a spell like a limited fireball could be generated constantly rather than in a single burst. It was all a bit over my head, but I did find it interesting in spite of that.

“Well, in theory that could work,” said the main presenter, stroking her slightly pointed chin in thought. “But it would take more advanced runecraft than most people are capable of.”

Zevrack was nodding and looking down dejected.

The woman’s eyes softened a bit. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll put out a few inquiries. It’s certainly an interesting concept, and while I fail to see any immediate uses for it, I’m certain that there are numerous practical applications for such a thing.”

Zevrack’s expression immediately changed to a toothy smile as he looked back up at the woman. “Thank you ma’am.”

She nodded, and started meeting with the people behind us in line, most of whom seemed to be prospective students.

I smiled as we got out of the way. Zevrack had a way with women, he was like a puppy, with sharper teeth, and scales.

Millicent turned to me. “So, thinking of trying to join their school?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Not really, though I do think I’ll stop by a few more demonstrations. This one was quite informative.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Where you picking pockets along with Patience? I didn’t notice that you moved at all.”

I smiled. “No, my theft was a different sort. I have an ability that lets me learn spells by observing them. It’s a low chance, but it payed off this time.”

“Is that why you always go bug-eyed whenever I’m casting something?”

I nodded, but felt a little embarrassed that I’d been that obvious.

“I thought you’d been checking me out. I’d been gossiping with Patience about it since you joined us.”

I laughed. “No, I’m afraid I was after your spells.”

She had a small smile. “So, what did you learn from the demonstration?”

I grinned ear to ear. “Fireball.”

She grinned back. “A classic! Oh, I remember casting that for the first time. Lost my eyebrows, but it was absolutely wonderful.”

I nodded. “So, you’ll understand if I leave you and Zevrack to make for the edge of the city?”

She nodded. “I’m sure Zev will be more than enough of an escort. See you later.”

With that I broke off from her and Zevrack, who immediately started talking shop again, and headed out of the city. I had to wait for an island shift, though I was tempted to swim for it in my excitement, only my desire not to ruin my new clothes holding me back.

When I’d made my way to the edge of the city and was certain no one was nearby, I held a hand out in front of myself, aimed for a cluster of stone, and attempted to let loose a fireball.

Nothing happened. I looked at my left hand again, and re-raised it, willing the spell to cast, but once again, nothing. I pulled up its entry in my character sheet.

Fireball- summon a massive ball of flame and launch it as a projectile (cost: vial of bat guano)

I checked my pouch and found, as I had when I’d first learned my other spells, that I already had several vials of bat guano that had appeared on my person. I zoomed out on the sheet and looked at how it appeared.

Fireball 0x per day

Well… that was disappointing.