PART 1.

„How refreshing, “ I say to myself after a refreshing nap. Now that my breakthrough high has subsidized, I go back into making more scrolls. Preparations are important.

“Ah yes, there is that” Before I begin to inscribe any of the scroll, I discover that I forgot the inspection of the loot. Not having to think twice, I dumb all of the things I received into my desk.

The majority of the stuff were scrolls, some unidentifiable artefacts and some artefacts I know what they do.

First the scrolls. I received 79 scrolls in total, I sizeable haul. The best thing about them is that violet scroll, which prevented my grenades from exploding from before. The scroll itself is of a higher quality than normal goatscroll. If my memory serves me correct, they are called blackmountain sheep scrolls, sheepscrolls for short. They cost a silver apiece and are much more suited for making magic scrolls. I have never used them before because they weren’t necessary before. The magic spells I had never needed this scroll. And I forgot about using them. The power of the scrolls would go up by 10 to 20 per cent, but were much harder zo inscribe and require more mana. Maybe later, I use it for defence scrolls and arcane spells, of which, I still have very few.

Lying that besides, I continue to look through my spoils. There were two expensive-looking artefacts of unknown use and some cheap-looking stuff. For most, I had not even a remote idea what their uses were.

Next to them were half a dozen of easily recognizable artefacts. Two very weak defence trinkets and some simple spell artefacts, all of them very weak. Those spell artefact function like scrolls, just reusable. The kind I have in front of me are rather useless, so I decide to sell them all. They have to be recharged and it would clash with my ‘poor-weak-untalented’ appearance. Having my body full of artefact looking stuff would make anyone a lot more apprehensive. I go for quality than quantity. I still have my old defence artefact and my scrolls. They might cost more money in the long run, but I have now some money to spare. And hopefully, my enemies will help to replenish my scroll warehouse.

The raw materials, I just leave them in my storage artefact. I don’t see anything valuable. The clerk can help me appraise their values later. Some of the more useful ones like golden apples, potions and ointments are put into a corner for later use.

*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*

I stand up slightly annoyed from my work for forgetting to turn back the do-not-disturb mode. Opening the door, a guy I haven’t seen before appears.

“Good morning, I am going from door to door to trade, would you like to see my wares?” the guy said. I am not exactly sure something like this is normal, or even allowed, who knows?

“So what exactly are you selling, and is it normal to go disturbed other people?” I asked putting on an annoyed face, which might have come over differently because of my low age. Luckily, I grew pretty fast since starting my venture into magic. As a 14-year-old, I am already 1.71 meters. Very high for my age, but nothing astonishing in comparison to my other peers. Btw the only guy I saw after the months in the tower was the guy who wanted to be friends with me, the others were slightly extinct after the time. The turnover rates of newbies sure is high.

“I sell everyday useful potions like health potions, mana potions and stuff like that. I also have some artefacts and a wide variety of scrolls, would you like to have a look at them?” he asks.

“Why not?” I say. Buying some stuff and selling other things wouldn’t be that bad, would it? Letting him in, I give him 5 minutes to lay out his wares on my desk, after I cleaned it off my stuff of course. Making some necessary preparations, like preparing a grenade or two, because you never know.

Without making anything too suspicious, he lays out his wares on my desk.

“Anything witch catches your fancy?” he asks me. Taking a look over the stuff, I impatiently ignore the scrolls. I don’t need new ones, the ones I can make were fairly balanced and too many types of scrolls will confuse me.

“Nothing yet, but I would like to sell those,” I say. I then show him the 6 weak artefacts and the surplus scrolls I don’t need.

He first frowns, but when he sees the artefacts he began to look more serious. He took 10 minutes to inspect everything I laid in front of him. Most of the is used for the artefacts.

“So if I understand correctly, you have two defence artefacts here and four magica artefacts” he sais. Ah, so that’s the name of those. “I can give you 70 gold for everything” that sure is a lot, the scrolls shouldn’t be worth more than 5 gold. I still have the feeling that he is trying to rip me off.

“150 gold,” I say a random number, not having any idea about their worth.

He face of the merchant immediately changes. “But mister, that’s ripping me of, how could I make money like that?” he sais. After staring at each other for 2 minutes he said. “85 gold”

I don’t respond, and just continue to stare at him. He slowly is becoming anxious, I can feel it. After 3 more minutes of looking hesitant, he cautiously shows me a crystal radiating mana.

“This good sir is a mana crystal, very useful for your path of mage, this is the same thing the richest use to boost their accumulation speed. Normal it costs 100 gold coins, but none wants to sell it. I am making you an absolutely fair deal here good mister.” He said looking pained. Yeah good façade you have here.

Whatever this did interest me somewhat, so I buy it.

“Alright, you have a deal. I don’t need any of your wares.” I say and after the transaction, I help him get out of my room.

“Oh and don’t forget that tomorrow morning is the date of our arrival.” He said while leaving.

END OF VOLUME 1

PART 2

BEGINING OF VOLUME 2

The next day, I make sure to clean my room. Using two of my wind type scrolls to make sure that anything about me is either gone or an absolute mess. Having still some time, I visit the deck.

In the distance, dragonback mountain is already visible. It is majestic. Going on both sides longer than my eyes can discern. I am still unsure whether it is some unknown limitation or the curving of the planet. I am still not sure how strong this curving exactly is. I just know that the planet itself is a lot bigger than earth. I can’t wait to have a look on it from space. Unfortunately, that has to wait for a long time. I don’t believe that I have the necessary resources for that even after becoming an official mage.

The ship is flying 40 meters above the uneven forest-mountain like terrain. Some monsters can be seen in the distance. To the backside of the ship, I can see some giant eagle-like monster flock following us. Some of the crew is already ready to use the cannonlike weaponry to deal or scare them away.

Talking a bit with some of the crew and other people, I got to know that the ship had been attacked by ariel monsters dozens of times. They were easily defended, but rarely slain. One of the senior engineer I talked a bit about the ship boasted about the capability of this ship. He was on the other hand extremely scare with real, usable details about it. What I now know is that this ship is not exactly a property of my order. More exactly it has been ‘lend’ to the order from the elements. A name some people use for the Order for the Elements. As long as you don’t get chatted by someone, who would get offended by it, all is good.

Not having any more time to talk I go back into my room and stash away the last remaining of my stuff, then leave it.

2 hours later.

We arrived at our destination. While the crew is docking at the landing-place, I overview the compound.

It has five main areas. First the landing place for the airships. Some smaller ones were used to bring in the out of way people. Not lower in quality than our batch, but from resource zones which are farther and would make too big of a detour for the big ship.

Second and third were used for accommodation and a cafeteria with some restaurants.

Forth was the main administrative building for the missions, rewards, bounty and resources. The resource warehouse is very close to it.

The last main area is the entrance to the ruins. Without taking a better look, it is easy to ignore. The only thing which makes it more memorable is the big camp around it. Not surprisingly, it is supposedly a secret stronghold.

“Landing completed, listen here you little buggers, get off my ship and put the badges into the box while leaving. The consequences are nothing you want to experience were you to steal one.” He said.

Some of the people were surprised at the rude voice. What I later got to know, that he is the captain of the ship and also an official mage with a nasty temper. Not getting noticed by him is a good thing.

While leaving, I throw my badge into the box and heading towards the accommodations. They were organized like huge dorms, there were also some bigger villas, but they were a privilege of the mages.

“Badge,” Said the receptionist at the main are. He sounded very bored. Can’t fault him for that. I gave him my badge.

“Alright, go to building number #3, your room is one the 4th-floor number 53. Your ID badge functions as the key.” He said, returning my badge and hushing me to make place for the next person.

There were still dozens waiting after me. Not very surprisingly, most of them were weak. The apprentice leaders and strong, or uniquely talented people already god something better. A privilege I guess? Not that I care.

Some people might get offended, but I think that that is foolish. Luxury is not a neccecety and also not an investment. If you can afford it, it will come naturally. Seeking it as a sign of status is foolish. That is one of the similarities this world has with earth. Some people use luxury without really deserving or being able to pay for the lifestyle. I saw some of the apprentices getting killed because of their nice and expensive-looking artefacts. Some weren’t even useful, just looked fancy. You can’t cure dumb can you?

So back to the dorms- The room was slightly bigger than in the Osmor Tower. The room had 14-15 m^2. A big enough room for a lot of things. There was a big desk, a bed, some chairs and a closet. Enough for me, I suppose. We are going to stay here for a couple of months anyway.

Maybe years. The Size of the ruin should be massive and the time has different definitions for folks who can live for 2 – 3 centuries. I am not complaining. Conflict is very useful for me. As long as I don’t get killed of course.

This time, another booklet was on the desk. This world sure loves informative booklets, don’t they? At least I don’t get into action without any information. Binge reading the book, I only spot a couple of difference to the info I got from Nelton. First is the amount of time this expedition would consist. It is said that it would go on for a whole 4 years. Another addition is a clear reward chart, where most of the different contributions are listed and how to get them.

Bureaucracy is strong in this world. I like that, less confusion and less useless conflict.