Dralik POV:

Mana residue, not much, barely a blip. Dralik squinted at the detection apparatus, making sure it wasn't just a smudge of dirt or something. No, it was there: a tiny blip out in the outskirts of Lucridge.

Dralik wasn't a [wizard] yet, maybe someday if his internship was successful. Dralik, more than hoped, possibly dreamed of the day when Archmagus Fiori would pair him with a demon. Power was everything in the world and was something Dralik sorely lacked. At least when compared to his upbringing. Half of the peasants in the entire kingdom would sell their mother for the type of power Dralik was born into; some peasants would even call Dralik spoiled and out of touch. They would be right on both counts.

Every possible explanation for the blip was accounted for. Dralik had the government's roster for all known mage entities in Calfor and all neighboring kingdoms. Even Sarrin's [wizards] were accounted for. All high-level mages, adventurers, enchantments, goblin shamans, everything that could be known, Dralik knew. None of which could be found in such a backwater, run-down dump that is Lucridge. Yet the blip remained.

It remained, and that bugged Dralik, but it excited him more. Yes, it was more work. Yes, he'd have to travel to a run-down dump of a city. But opportunity awaited Dralik, possibly something noteworthy enough to earn the title of [wizard].

Dralik looked around the room, making sure not to let his excitement show. All the other interns would love to steal Dralik's opportunity, so Dralik waited. Very soon, though, Dralik would seek his prize.

Vesper POV:

Vesper woke from his slumber, out of sorts. He felt downright terrible and couldn't shake the feeling something terrible had happened the following day. He groggily stood up and wobbled towards the bucket of clean water to wash his face.

Grunkor peaked through the door.

"Come in, Grunkor. I just had the most awful nightmare, where this tiny angel creature was summoned and wrecked your inn. I feel strange, Grunkor. Everything I touch feels strange." Vesper trembled, scared this would become his new normal.

"You owe me, Vesper. That wasn't a dream. You obliterated Grunkor's inn. You are a bad customer, Vesper. Four copper a night from now on, so Grunkor can replace his tables." Grunkor admonished. He sighed a little goblin sigh and rubbed his slightly itchy nose.

"Really? Everything that happened yesterday just seemed so crazy, so distant. If yesterday happened, where is that creature?" asked Vesper.

The Fae giggled and zipped from underneath the covers. Grunkor cowered away from the tiny evil creature. Vesper fell backward, knocking over his bucket of water.

Vesper cursed at the Fae internally.

I can read your thoughts. That wasn't a terribly nice thing to think, mortal, spoke Alry telepathically.

"Get out of my head, you demon! What did you do to me!" Vesper yelled. He flung the bucket at Alry, who easily dodged the bucket.

"I didn't do anything to you, mortal. All deals with the Fae come with a hefty price, a portion of your very being. You'll always be less than your former self, always lose something with every deal. That's just the fun of the deal!" said Alry.

She zipped around and landed on Grunkor's head. The poor goblin swung his tiny hands at the Fae, but the Fae danced around Grunkor's clumsy hands effortlessly.

Vesper paused as he processed this information. He checked his status, and sure enough, two new pieces of information showed. His soul strain was the cost: the portion of himself that was lost. Maybe the Strength of the Fae would be beneficial, but Vesper knew it wasn't worth how he felt. Vesper vowed never to make a deal with Alry again.

"Why are you here? I already made a deal with you. You should leave. I don't want you here." Vesper mumbled.

"You formed a pact with me. Whether or not you want me here doesn't matter, mortal. We're partners until you die, and I am released back into my realm. I have integrated part of your soul into me and am a little more like you. You should love yourself" The Fae giggled as if she made a funny joke. Vesper found none of this conversation funny.

"Grunkor does not want evil creatures in Slum Pickens Inn."

"Don't be like that, Grunkor. Look, I want her gone just as much as you do. But you wouldn't throw me out. I have nowhere else to go," Vesper reasoned.

"Grunkor cares not. Too much trouble for Grunkor. If the tribe were here, they'd already have deserted you or fed you to a Borib. Either get rid of it or get out."

"I'll try, but I can't make any promises. I don't think I have much control over it."

"I'm right here, you know! If I want to stay, I'm to stay. I can't leave my mortal anchor, anyway. Vesper is what anchors me to the mortal plane!" huffed Alry.

Vesper was worried when he witnessed the murderous intent in the back of Grunkor's eyes. Vesper would have to watch his back, but he knew he could convince Grunkor to let him stay. It was simple.

"Look, Grunkor, last night was something else. I'll help you piece the place back together, and I'll pay you four copper a night. Look, if Alry causes you any trouble, I'll leave and continue to pay off my damages. Alry was cast out of her tribe just like you."

Grunkor narrowed his eyes at Vesper, his bullshit radar pinging. Grunkor was a softy for exiles since he'd been an exile. He'd made that much clear to Vesper. Grunkor wasn't so sure that Alry qualified as an outcast, though, but he figured it couldn't hurt to let Vesper stay at his inn. He needed the extra money anyway if he was going to make much-needed repairs.

"Fine. But tell her to get off my head!" yelled the frustrated goblin.

"Alry, leave Grunkor alone."

"Very well. I'll leave the ugly green thing alone for now."

Grunkor scowled and stomped out of the room. He wanted nothing to do with either of them.

I can tell that you're worried about how this Quill person will react, as well as that Olbin fellow. I don't care that you care. I want to go outside and see the sun, so no more procrastinating.

"Ugh. Stop talking in my head; it's weird. I'll go talk to them if you'll just shut up for once. If you hadn't noticed, I don't feel too well today." Vesper responded.

Not my fault you wear your thoughts like an open book. I think I will continue to speak telepathically because it is fun watching you be angry. It's like you think your little mortal problems matter.

"They matter to me," Vesper replied. As much as he wanted to lay down and die, he got up and carried himself out of the inn. He didn't bother cleaning himself up. Vesper figured that a bit of disheveledness may get him some pity points from Quill.

The journey to Quill's library was shorter than Vesper wished it was. Vesper stood outside of the looming library, hesitating to enter. In his hand, Vesper held the old grimoire that was technically Quill's since he was the library head.

There is no way you're going to give back that grimoire to this Quill guy. You'll need it if you're going to make any more deals with me.

"That suits me. I don't want to make any more deals with you. The book isn't mine," said Vesper.

Alry sat on Vesper's shoulder. Vesper nearly had a heartache until he realized that no one noticed the Fae. Alry said that only those with high willpower or strong mana sense would see her unless she wanted to be seen.

Vesper braced himself as he creaked the door open. Quill looked up; his eyes were bloodshot as if he hadn't gotten any sleep.

"Ah, there you are, Vesper. I was worried someone kidnapped you. What happened? Where did you go? Do you have the book?" Quill asked frantically.

"Everything's fine, Quill. I have the book. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left the library. It was a terrible, terrible mistake. I'm sorry."

"No worries, Vesper. It's my fault putting that much responsibility on a [bookworm], anyway. It doesn't matter now. This whole library is going to collapse by the end of the month. I had the carpenter come in and do a routine check, and something changed, and the building is deteriorating significantly faster than what was previously estimated."

"How about funding from the council, or a Lord, or anyone? Are you saying that no one was interested in keeping this library afloat?"

"I tried, Vesper. I really did, but I guess it isn't meant to be. Unless that book you found is worth something, I'm screwed. Gods, I'm not excited to go back and work for those uptight [scholars] in the capital. Please tell me it's worth something."

"Well, about that… I'm guessing it's a priceless book."

Quill perked up. "That's wonderful news, Vesper! Did you figure out what the book was about?"

"It's a grimoire. I didn't know what that was before I, uh, accidentally performed a ritual."

"You performed a what?" Quill was astonished; he rubbed his head as he tried to make sense of the situation.

Alry, can you show yourself.

"Finally! I get to be the center of attention!" The Fae flew towards Quill, stopping right in front of him.

Quill stumbled backward, away from the Fae, as anyone who knows anything about the Fae should. Most people go their lives without even learning what a Fae was, but Quill read enough to have a vague idea of what they were. Legends told of the vicious tricksters and a time when wizards made deals with these creatures. The claim was that wizards stopped making deals with Fae because Demons proved to be far more reasonable and compassionate in handling their deals.

Sure, Ulgathar the Devourer devoured souls if the contract stipulated he'd get to eat a soul, but fair was fair. It was only once in a while where a wizard messed up to the point where Ulgathar would devour them instead of reentering negotiation.

"This isn't good, Vesper. There's no way we can sell a grimoire, especially a Fae grimoire. Not that there aren't people who would want it, but entering contracts with the Fae has been illegal for thousands of years. There'd be too many questions. Frankly, I assumed the knowledge was lost to time."

"That seems to be the case. No human has summoned a Fae in around three thousand years. I got to say, I was hoping for an Elf or Dryad, personally. This will do, though. I'll have bragging rights for the next century at least!" shouted Alry, happily.

"Well, I can't get rid of Alry."

"It might be for the best if you did," Quill responded.

"No, I mean, it's apparently impossible for me to get rid of Alry. That was part of the pact or something. This is all new to me as well. Trust me, I would get rid of her if I could." Vesper responded.

"Hey! That's mean." Alry protested.

"You were going to dice me into meat cubes."

"Only if you didn't enter a pact!" The angry Fae yanked on Vesper's hair. Vesper yelped as tiny strands of hair were ripped from his scalp. For such a small creature, Alry was quite strong. Vesper messaged the sore spot, where his hair was yanked out from his scalp.

"Well, make sure your Fae stays hidden. I can't afford to be caught with the [bookworm] who's formed a pact with a Fae. Honestly, I didn't know that was possible. All the [wizards] in the capital have mage classes or highly advanced [warrior] classes."

"I thought wizards performed magic?" Vesper asked.

"Not necessarily. There is a stark distinction between [wizards] and [mages]. [Mages] are a subset of classes that focus on expanding and manipulating mana to alter the world in various ways. [Wizards] aren't a class, but rather title to those who form pacts with ethereal creatures to harness their vast reserves of energy for power. It is a costly practice, but the rewards can be just as rewarding. I'm afraid I don't know much more than that. Keep the Grimoire, Vesper. I have no use for it; it'll only bring me trouble."

"Am I banned from the library?" Vesper asked.

"Goodness, no. Just leave me out of your Fae business. The last thing I want is my reputation ruined and a two-year prison sentence for associating with a rogue [wizard]."

"This was surprisingly pleasant. I figured you were going to punish me for messing up so horribly."

"That Fae is a worse punishment than anything I could ever do to you. Keep well, Vesper."

"You too, Quill."