I woke up. I got out of my soft bed and proceeded to do my mourning ritual. Ignoring my old black outfit I put on a pair of clean brown pants and a soft white shirt. This is my usual outfit nowadays. As I descend down the stairs of the Grey Boar Inn, Lola greets me. The proprietress has a thick build, over forty by my guess. Though with how pretty people here look I can’t tell. I really should ask her age one of those days.

“Good mourning Lola. Could I get the usual today as well?”

“The usual?”

I do keep forgetting the time difference. This is technically only the third day I am staying here.

“Just some of the porridge and sausage breakfast.”

“Oh why didn’t you say so? It’ll be right out dearie.”

“Ill take it out on the porch please.”

“Sure thing.”

As I leave the Inn the fresh mourning air hits me. The birds are chirping exactly the same as always. I take a seat at one of the tables provided for the guests. This Inn costs me eighty copper a night but I consider it a good price for a years worth of rent.

I feel a lot better now that I have set times for everything I do. The first day almost drove me mad because things kept repeating in a disorganized manner. It has been a year since I came to this town. But only a week has passed. I speak fluently now, no more of those quizzical looks.

I hear the door open.

“Here is your breakfast.”

Lola is as prompt as ever. The smell of fried sausage is quite enticing. As I eat my breakfast I think of today’s cycle. I already learned to read proficiently. I guess I could go to the Mage School and listen to the some classes. I haven’t heard all of today’s lectures yet so that’s not a bad idea. I try to remember the categorization of magic in this world.

Mentalists

Manipulators, Mutilators, Dominators, Processors, Transmitters, Hivers.

Materializers

Elementals, Naturals, Augmenters, Forcers, Enhancers, Spiritualists.

I haven’t actually seen any magic being done since it does not work in a Provided City. Apparently the walls are a natural occurrence that provides a magic negation area around them. The Magician Society builds their town headquarters in the middle of town since the area negation does not reach there. The few times I went there it was quite empty. I guess this town is not considered a hub of activity.

*burp*

Breakfast was great as usual. I guess I’ll head to the Mage School. The school is welcoming, or does not care, if people listen in to their classes. They teach the basics such as math, reading, writing, and sciences. The sciences are quite lacking, basic things such that wood burns when lit on fire, or that water freezes when it’s cold. I am more interested in listening to the magic related courses anyway.

I take the same route I always take when heading to the school. I pass by the Mage College on the way. The guards watch me as I pass by. I did shoot my way in once but the instructors were not very co-operative in passing on their knowledge.

I rub my left arm at the memory. Getting stabbed by a spear was quite a different feeling compared to being chewed on. The metal was cold, but the skin burned like I touched a stovetop.

I arrive just in time for the start of classes. There are a few adults in the classes, but I think I might be near the top of the age range. The children range from ten to eighteen depending on the class. From what I understood you aren’t limited by age but only by your understanding for each class. So the smarter you are, the higher the class. You still have to pass tests and such to graduate but on the whole the students seem strangely motivated.

Lets see I haven’t been here before. Lets go in. Since I’m just sitting in I’m not required to take tests or anything. I take a seat at the back of the room on a bench.

“Hello class today we will be discussing the relationship of fairies to magic casting.”

Hmm well I knew the basics, but I haven’t heard anything about fairies yet. Interesting.

“Teacher aren’t fairies just a myth?”

“No Kyle, just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it does not exist. The misconception comes from the Mentalist side of magic. You see even though everyone treats magic as just magic there are two distinct forms of it in our world.”

Yeah yeah, I already know this from the beginner classes. The rest of the class seems to be bored out of their mind too.

“Ahem, since you all should already know this I’ll skip the nitty gritty details and come back on topic. Only the Materializer sides of magic users interact with fairies. In actuality all of their magic is done by asking the fairies for help.”

----

After an hour or so of lecturing I didn’t get any more useful information out of the class. Most of it was speculation about where the fairies come from, or how to stay on their good side. None of it was substantial.

I left the school when the class was over. I guess its time to get to work.

I walked towards the main plaza. Earlier in the week I overheard some mercenaries talking about how a merchant caravan was planning to leave for a Free City. I think It was called Keenahil or something. Apparently Free Cities are not magic free zones. Honestly I have been starting to get bored after spending a year here. Nothing ever happens, its like the whole purpose of this place is to educate.

For the purpose of leaving I decided that I needed more capital. I haven’t managed to find a bank or anything like that here. I have a suspicion that the Magic Society has control of the money but I haven’t seen anyone go from there to the shops or back, just a constant stream of students and guards going in and out.

Well I guess I’ll just have to hit the next best place. The stores. I have been planning this for the better part of two months. The caravan leaves tomorrow and I’ll hitch a ride.

With all the gold I can carry.