“Can’t say I’ve read that one—two levels from reading a book?! In [Sorcerer]? Every [Reader] on the continent should be up in arms. I’ll be paying the library a visit!”

Like a good storyteller, Ivory spaced out the story and didn’t rush through it—not that he was milking it, but he knew that Mannus would enjoy the performance.

They spoke for a little while on the content of the book in question. Mannus was interested to see that his explanation of [Sorcerers]—while brief—matched up to what Xelphiaus had described. He’d never heard of the Great Company contender, Animalia, and made a mental note to check their history when he visited the library. Most surprising to Ivory, though, was his comments on Drath.

“I know very little about Drath, but what I do know is that their magic is unique. I’ve not heard of that class you mentioned, but it doesn’t surprise me that they’d have specialised classes. Much that I’m loathe to make the comparison—A’ctelios Salash’s [Formshapers] are similar in concept, when talking about nations having specialised classes. Though, you’d be hard pressed to encounter that class outside of the Shield Kingdom.”

Mannus shuddered at the thought. Ivory didn’t know why, but based on his wording of that nation and their unique class, [Formshaper], it sounded like bad business.

Ivory then spoke of yesterday’s ill-fated adventuring expedition.

“Dead gods, and you triggered the trap?!. How could they have let that slide? For so long!”

Mannus shook his head.

“More importantly: Ivory, are you okay?”

Ivory was touched by his compassion.

“Yeah, I think so. Don’t think I’m, like, traumatised or anything, but it was… a lot.”

“Good. That’s what matters. In any other situation, you would be lauded and celebrated for this discovery. It would seem, based on your description, that the lord of the manor had utilised some sort of vocal sensor to have this pocket dimension open or close. Since it gets cut off, that monster may have attacked him during this process, which is reflected in that script you unscrambled. Why that acorn dropped in front of you—presumably where the pocket dimension is—and the monster appearing in the foyer, I couldn’t say.”

That made sense, except for why the [Scholar] didn’t rectify the situation properly. Maybe it was just before his death? Ivory didn’t feel it was worth the theorycrafting, so he dropped it. Ivory resumed the story, now at the climax.

“So, after all that, I levelled again. I think it would be easier if you cast that [Appraisal] spell on me.”

Mannus’ eyes narrowed for a moment, and began casting the spell, almost shivering with anticipation. The kid was a good storyteller.

Ivory’s level, Skills and spells floated outward in neat, block letters. He looked at Mannus expectantly. He returned a surprisingly neutral expression.

“All things considered, I’m not surprised at such a huge jump. A level 30 [Mage] would have jumped a level or two, were they in your shoes. Now. Your Skills.”

Ivory leaned forward.

“I have seldom encountered these… theoretical Skills. They are Skills that eccentric [Mages] may receive; they may very well be standard [Sorcerer] Skills. The [Mage] I know who received [Magical Inspiration] got it as his level 30 capstone Skill. Seeing as the two classes take differing approaches to their magic, I couldn’t tell you of the Skill’s capabilities. [Detect Magic], on the other hand, is a Tier 3 spell. That you received it is incredible, but appropriate given your feat. That blood Skill and spell, likewise, due to the aid you gave the young woman. Blood magic is… a contentious branch of magic, shall we say. I have no reason to believe that you will succumb to its inherently malicious allure, so I needn’t worry.”

Ivory wasn’t concerned. He knew, however, that blood magic was considered ‘evil’ in fantasy, so he indulged.

“Why is it inherently malicious?”

“Blood magic, by definition, demands sacrifice, and blood.”

It clicked for Ivory. At first, when he was in hospital—err, at the [Healer]’s—he was concerned about it, but then remembered blood banks back on Earth, and all the crazy medicine and science around it. Plus, [Purify Blood] certainly wasn’t an evil spell. Now, he realised, it would involve killing.

“Just a thought, but what if you were to get people’s permission to take some of their blood?”

“I am sure it has been done in the past. But, answer me this. What’s more efficient: obtaining slivers of blood from willing participants, or draining someone of their blood entirely?”

Ivory darkened.

“I see your point.”

“Indeed. I was hoping to end on that, but there’s two other things of note. [Pact: The Charm of Zont] and [Zont’s Beginner’s Wand].”

Now it looked like Mannus was staring right into Ivory’s soul.

“Who is Zont, and what is the pact you made with him?”

“I have no idea actually. But—”

“Ivory. You made a pact with someone you don’t know?!”

“Wait, wait, wait! You’ve got it all wrong! It’s the acorn! I cast [Detect Magic] and I got the feeling I needed to pour magic into it. When I did, it became a wand! Then I put some more magic into it, and I got those skills. I didn’t speak to anyone, it just happened.”

Mannus sat there, head resting on his hands. He stayed like that for almost a minute.

“Let me have a look at that wand.”

Ivory gave the wand to Mannus. He watched Mannus’ eyes and fingertips glow differing neon shades.

After a short while, Mannus spoke.

“I can’t discern anything about the wand. It’s magical, obviously, but other than that: nothing. I can only assume that’s due to your pact.”

“It can track the spells I cast, as well as collecting mana from my surroundings. That’s all I can tell.”

“Fascinating. You said the Skill called it a ‘beginner’s wand’, correct? Perhaps this Zont created multiple of these charms for his students? I’ve certainly never heard of him. Or her.”

Mannus reclined.

“Hmmmm. Mmmmmmm. I’d recommend taking it to an [Enchanter] and have them appraise it.”

That would be the sensible thing to do, Ivory knew. But…

“I think I’ll just leave it as is. A bit of excitement, you know? A, um, [Thronebearer] and another guy came and said that it wasn’t malicious, so it probably won’t kill me.”

“Fair enough—enough on that. What now, Ivory?”

An open ended question, which Ivory had no idea how to answer. What was he going to do now?

“I… don’t know. I know I need to actually start practising magic… I don’t want to be an adventurer, I can’t afford Wistram, so what can I really do?”

“This is an all too common question that beginner [Mages] need to come to terms with. Some do end up becoming adventurers to earn the required gold to attend Wistram, but the majority specialise for a career path. [Enchanters], [Weather Mages], [Geomancers] and any other number of specialised [Mage] classes. Or, of course, you gain employment with the Mage’s Guild.” Mannus shrugged.

“I don’t really want to specialise… I kinda just want to do my own thing, if you get what I mean.”

Mannus nodded, knowingly.

“Actually, what I said before is a lie—I do know what I want to do, but I doubt I can afford it. I want to travel Terandria and see the other continents and learn new ways to approach magic. I just need a job first, and I only have the little bit of money I brought with me and the gold you gave me.”

Ivory almost forgot he had to keep up that facade of living in some backwater village.

“You will need to get a job somewhere, then, and save up. I can—and will—pull some strings, but you still need money. Chartering a ship or hiring a carriage is one thing, but what about when you get to, say, Baleros? You will need to be able to afford accommodation, ways of getting around, food… I’m not saying you haven’t thought this through, but you can’t enact this plan right now. In a few years, perhaps. But now?”

Mannus sighed.

“Not feasible.”

Ivory was pissed off. Not at Mannus, but at himself, really. He’d barely been here for any time at all, but had all these grand plans that he wanted to do now? In truth, he’d had his hands held tight since he had come here. Even in disaster, he had come out monumentally ahead. What was it that he heard—most people only reach in the mid-level 20 in their life? He’d barely been here a few sleeps and he was level 11. While Ivory was slowly cottoning on to the levelling ‘system’, this was still extraordinary. Hell, back on Earth, he’d have had to save up for ages to afford an international backpacking trip, let alone a holiday!

Mannus could sense the realisation happening in real time. Mannus’ sigh quota was through the roof today—he had decided he would not provide Ivory with overwhelming amounts of support; that he would not attract the attention of those who would spirit ‘Earthers’ away. It did not help that it was people like him—Wistram and its associates who were ‘in’ on it—who were the main players in this operation. It was not worth his career to outwardly baby and support Ivory. Those now excommunicated Wistram graduates visiting the site of a strange young woman in Izril was the only reasoning he needed. He had no proof she was one, of course, but if you were in on the secret, you could tell.

That being said. He wanted Ivory to succeed—the boy hadn’t been asked to be separated from his loved ones from his home, so why would he need to do things conventionally? If anything, he’s owed this aid.

“How about this. I will contact The Adventurer’s Guild on your behalf to arrange for some compensation for your experience in the dungeon. With any luck, you’ll be given a free use of a Calanfer utility or, with the greatest of luck, gold. Use either to get to Pheislant, a coastal nation, where you can investigate travelling costs to the other continents.”

Ivory blinked. This was almost like insurance fraud. Well, legal insurance fraud. Like if he crashed his car into some monument, which revealed some previous civilisation’s ruins. If he was a Brit—some extravagant Roman villa or something. Except neither he nor his car was damaged. Or something.

“Will they actually reward me for that?”

“Not reward. Most people would have some kind of trauma from experiencing what you went through, though if this were the only event at play, you may have been given an invitation to meet the [King]. It isn’t, of course: you uncovered a grand secret. If that wand of yours is anything to go by, that manor is going to be filled with priceless artefacts. If anything, they’ll be relieved to be able to easily ‘buy you out’, as it were.”

No, this wasn’t insurance fraud, this was the insurance company paying you not to sue them. Comparisons between insurance firms on Earth and fantasy kingdom’s compensation for errant magical events were flimsy at best, Ivory thought.

“Would it be better if I went to them and asked instead of you?” Ivory said. Surely this’d be the better way to milk them.

“No. You’re just some foreign boy; if you went alone you’d receive a fraction of what you would be owed. Plus, you asked too late: I’ve already sent the [Message]. I imagine that we’ll get our response within the hour—this event is far more significant than you realise. The Guildmaster will be relieved, if anything.”

“My hand’s being held again”, Ivory thought. Though, that wasn’t a bad thing, but he knew that when the hand withdrew, leaving him alone… it would be a truly magnificent fall.

“Go back to The Woolen Pillow. I’ll join you there for dinner with the guild’s response in hand.”

“Rex is holding a party for me for reaching level 10, so I’ll see you then I guess.”

“Oho. That’ll be a treat. I’ll see you out.”

Mannus led Ivory to the front door and saw him off. Next moment, Ivory was back in his room. It was probably like three hours until dinner time—he really wanted to check the time on his phone, but Rex would probably get him or tell him when he should come down, so he didn’t.

In that moment, Ivory had a ridiculous idea. He eyed his shopping bag with the unused towel, and his iPhone. He had no idea if it would work, but it was bloody well investing some time into. If it didn’t work, then whatever: he’d get some experience actually casting magic on his own accord. Ivory felt giddy.

Operation: Recharge My iPhone had officially begun.