A dense fog surrounded the vicinity of the tower. A very unusual phenomenon. It is the first time I see it. Or maybe it is frequent, and I just missed it while I coop myself up in my house, who knows?

What made me marvel was the fast transition between the fog and the sunshine just 5 minutes ago. It is marvellous, maybe it is of magical origin? I walk through the fog; it smells a lot different than normal fog. Not that I know how they taste. Back then, natural phenomena were as good as extinct. Happening only for the amusement of the rich folks. Not something people like me could have enjoyed back then.

I sigh remembering memories from earth. In comparison, the society here is more forgiving. Being productive to society was very important back on earth, this also meant that not a lot of time was left for social interaction. Even for parents. Sometimes I barely saw my parents for a couple of hours a week. They worked a lot. Like everyone else. For students and kids like me, our daily lives were also full. The amount of stuff to learn and study is mind bogging. If you want to specialize in any kind of thing than you have to learn for two decades straight. Mathematics got more and more abstract after Einstein’s theories. When quantum physique matured in the 23rd century, it made a sharp rise in difficulty for young ones to catch up. I was one of those. Studying engineering, I was close to being finished, then the accident occurred.

I stopped lamenting about my past and went back to walking. I still need to reach my room today. Barely being able to see, it took me some time to find the right dormitory building. In the week I had been gone, they build additional dormitory buildings. The amounts of space nearly triplet. Are the moving even more resources and humans into this war? What’s the point? It is not like they can break through and occupy anything on the other side of the mountain. The Towers made sure of that. It felt more like a bet between two powers. Like golfing. Throwing apprentice into a meat grinder like environment and hope for the best. I can’t say that I have any misgivings about it. Earth was not that much different.

Back in my room, I went to take a nap. Somewhat recovered from my hour-long jog, I still feel very tired. Too tired to bother about anything else.

+++++++++++++++++

The next morning.

Sun is shining outside. Birds chirping. Of course, I didn’t notice any of that, nor did I care. Back up again. I first ordered something to eat. Then I made my way to the desk and take out the barrier from that squire from before.

Turing and twisting this generator in my hand, I notice some differences. This one is slightly golden, with silver lines covering it. It looks very different from mine, which looks more like hastily made job. This one could be said as elegant. Elegance didn’t safe his user. The reason that it was used by a squire was also a reason. They aren't adept at magical artefacts and are unable to properly use the shield. He should have activated it shortly after he saw me, else the wind resistance would have been too big to bear. Running against the wind at the speed necessary to catch me would have tired him.

Whatever the case, it is his now. Some tasting later, I was positively surprised that this barrier is of a much higher quality than mine. This kind of barrier is expensive, very expensive. I can afford it, but I never found it necessary. It is too unhandy, needing time to set up and to care about it. I rarely fight, so in my priority list, acquiring a new one was not very high up.

After playing with it for some time, I put it into the closet. Not wanting to bother with it. Now that I have a lot of points, I plan to learn new spells. Fighting right now Is still a bit dangerous alone. Finally, I am also able to afford the mould metal spell. A spell I wished for a long time. Then I can make more effort to expand my armoury. Some people would call external help useless, not your own strength. Bullshit. If I have a nuke, then I don’t need anything else. A lot of countries from earth showed this principle. Like North Korea, until they went too far and got wiped out by the new global government. External items are important. I also have plenty of money to continue my experiments. For this reason, I am also going to transform my dorms room into a small laboratory. I don’t plan dangerous experiments, at least not a lot, so a general place to work should be enough. The bed can get out, I can sleep on a bedroll. I also need a bigger desk.

After thinking it through for a bit, I called the leader of the workers to come to my room.

By the time he arrived, I already finished my breakfast. Some meat with eggs.

“Good day, sir apprentice. What can I help you with?” The women ask submissively.

“I wish to remove my bed, put a bigger work desk and some more shelves. Transform this room into a workplace” I commanded.

The woman felt a bit unwell. My assumption that she is in the process of seducing me. She is clothed in very little, just a cheap blouse with a bigger than necessary cleavage, very short skirts and meticulously groomed body. She gives out more for make up than for clothes. Maybe later, my hormones are still not too overpowering.

“Where do you stay? How do I call for you?” I ask. Prepared for the future. Hormones are nothing that I can block or disable. Trying to do so might result in more harm than good.

“Sir, if you need me then I come immediately. The changes to your room will be finished as fast as possible” She said. Immediately brightened up at the prospects may be coming into my pants. This is the most lucrative job for any female servant. She looked kinda good, so using her is okay in my book. When I was a kid, I learned a bit of German. One phrase stuck to me in particular “Eine Hand wäscht die Andere” It means that one hand washes the other. A simple quid pro quo.

PART 2

The room had been changed relatively fast. The desk is bigger now, also a lot more robust. There are no enchantments or formations of any kind on this furniture, but their material, a dark oak-like wood, made them more resilient than my earlier desk, made for writing on it. The closet had been changed out for bigger ones with more store place. All in all, it is better than before, but not by much. I still am going to have to change some things. My first idea in that regard was to coat the working table with a thin layer of metal. From my understanding of mould metal, it should be possible. This would make the desk more resilient than it would be with any other kind of formations and enchantment. So, it made more sense. Now I have two things to do. Buy a big amount of iron, some other materials and speak with Nelton about that small incident from before.

Having decided everything, first I went to meet Nelton, he was standing as always in one of the corners of the arcane hall. Walking toward him, he was visibly helpless.

“What can I do for you Osric? Another bounty?” Nelton said. He tried to change the subject, or not even begin with said subject. That is not how things are done with me Nelton.

After my cold gaze, he spoke again “Fine, we fucked up. We are sorry, the spy is already killed.”

“So, the compensation?” I asked, not in the mood for blushing with him more. I am too excited to get mould metal ability. So, this conversation better be over fast.

“We do have some stuff, but whether you really want it is another question entirely. Now I have three things. First is a very old book about formations. Written in Molden. In addition, we can offer you copied books from the library. Don’t decline, it is safe. The tower doesn’t bother about those. Spell booklets are entirely different, however. Last you can pick whatever you want from that chest from before.” He offered. Very generous. At least in my opinion.

I contemplated for a while. The books from the library do interest me quite a lot. Nelton has a good amount of men and he is working with Allister, they surely copied down a lot of books. The books about formations sounded interesting. Why would they give away something like that? Either they found out anything there is, or they think that that is the case and something is still concealed. My abilities from the soul would be a tremendous help in searching for hidden and concealed stuff, so it was worth taking a look. The chest did have an abundance of stuff. Nothing I need to much, but I did see a formless herb inside. This I can use and exchange with that guy from the ship. Hopefully he is still alive.

“Alright I accept, with an additional condition,” I said.

Having already expected it, he only nods for me to continue.

“I need some common supplies and some laboratory supplies, here is the list” I give him the list.

This is the same list I prepared for the clerk in the tower. The stuff isn’t very expensive, costing 50 or so points. The amount makes it expensive. Now this is a trick question. I didn’t specify some of the apparatuses. They can buy the cheap ones or the better ones. I don’t expect the best ones. Neither will they provide me with them, they cost a fortune. A definition which keeps changing thanks to my rise in power.

Looking over the list, Nelton frowns. After contemplating a while, he said. “Alright, where do you build this laboratory if I might ask?” He was a bit confused. There isn’t a lot of places to rent or buy outside of the dorms. Most houses are mainly inns and not to sell. And a stall place would be too expensive and small for the long term.

“In my room, I changed it a lot. Later I will permit you to enter it. It is empty either way. You have till sundown to finish it” Then I left. Not bothering whether he accepts or not. I do hope that the does. Sneakily looking back, I see Nelton still frowning over the list. After a short while, his eyes filled with determination and he puts away the list into his pocket and leaves the hall. This is my first time seeing him leave his spot. The outlook is positive.

After giving a short notice to one of the clerks about the permission, I continue my way to the library. Not needing normal books for a short time, I make my way to the spell section. This is a lot more abundant than in the Osmor tower. First is check the section for arcane spells and surprisingly find 3. One is the already learn arcane missile, while the other two were foreign to me. One costing 13 and the other 20. Not even looking at their description, I mark them for myself. Then I continue my shopping inside the Library.

My next step is the mould metal spell. Buying it instantly too. With those three purchases, the amount of wisdom points I have left is only enough for one more spell. My choice is a spell from the wind affinity. Used for scouting.

Satisfied, I pay the points at a library clerk and move to the other side of the compound to eat something nice. It has been a while after all.