“Congratulations.” Headmaster Smith warmly met Wolf’s gaze, wearing an honest smile and clasping his hand.

You could’ve waited half a century, you damn horn-dog! The Headmaster silently cursed. Despite putting on a warm mask and offering his best wishes, Headmaster Smith inwardly gritted his teeth. Great! I have to wait two extra years. Maybe more…

“Splendid job, Marquess Hillman! I knew you had it in you,” Richard exclaimed, shaking Wolf’s hand. His reaction as false as his boss’s. Richard was indifferent about Wolf’s upcoming parenthood, but this was a golden opportunity to curry favor with the soon-to-be father.

Such blatant overtness mortified Richard, but he had little choice, considering what he suspected of Wolf’s social intelligence.

“Thanks!” Wolf didn’t catch anything amiss. Even Richard’s excessive attempt at flattery failed to draw his attention. Despite his obliviousness, Wolf came with good news for the secretary.

“Richard, I spoke with Frida. She’s her own person, and she can make her own decisions. What happens between you two is your own matter.” Wolf checked the first item off his list before proceeding with the second.

“Ahem. Lord Headmaster,” he started formally. “Do you have an index of True-Namers in the empire, along with their Order, gender and age?”

Lord of Steel gave Wolf a sharp look.

The oppressive silence lasted several moments, while that gaze drilled a hole through Wolf’s skull, but the old man finally snapped a nod. “I do.”

“Would you mind doing me a favor…” Wolf bit his lip, then explained he wanted the Headmaster of Silver City’s Mage Academy to send notes of introduction, as well as sealed envelopes to all True-Namers Wolf selected from the list.

***

Wolf’s letters were polite proposals of anonymous business transactions. In them, he offered the potential partner an opportunity to become a Fourth Order Sword-Sage at the cost of forever giving up on advancing their Mage Order. Wolf had trouble finding adequate words, but eventually made his proposal sound legitimate.

To show good faith, Wolf stipulated that while the process caused no lasting harm, other than the already mentioned termination of Mage path advancements, it was potentially painful and disagreeable. Another stipulation he added was a mandatory contract of absolute confidentiality.

After finishing with Headmaster Smith, and initiating contact with thirteen True-Namers, Wolf had a bunch of other matters to attend. The most important item on his agenda was visiting the Church of Fairness.

I have to handle things properly with Anna. Wolf mussed while riding a carriage towards the House of Fairness. She was happy to see me this morning and even pretended she was unaware that I visited Mandy before breakfast. But I don’t know how she will swallow this news. She shouldn’t care? Right?

What if she wants a child too? What if she assassinates Mandy? No, that can’t happen. I already asked the old loon to watch over Mandy. He promised the campus security’s finest would guard her around the clock. Still, I should’ve discussed things with Anna.

If she wasn’t in class, I would’ve gone to see her first. After a moment, another thought struck Wolf. The gang fell apart. Barbara has two children and doesn’t leave her home; Wayde is managing my domain; Anna is attending Fifth Order regular lectures; while Matilda is the Sixth Order elite class’s only student. When did we drift apart?

Ironically, the person who spent four years exploring Demon Forest alone contemplated estrangement, believing the world should’ve stayed the same until he returned. Meanwhile, his second Mental Aspect examined the Mind Palace.

He confirmed that a spiderweb of cracks covered everything. Walls, floors, ceiling, the stairs and the dais; all of it suffered damage. Only the throne and the seat which replaced it in Wolf’s first Mind Hall remained in pristine condition.

“Somehow the throne moved, and this chair appeared here.” Wolf’s Mental Aspect carefully examined what appeared to be an imposing guest seat. “It’s different from before. This chair’s aura is identical to the rest of the Mind Hall, like it originally belonged here. Does this mean my understanding of death has increased?”

“Sorry, Dad.” Wolf’s Mental Aspect patted Archibald’s damaged column and left the room.

He then went to inspect his other self. Wolf’s original Mental Aspect stood frozen in the same pose as when Wolf shifted his focus and woke up from meditation.

“Can I consider this the first step towards having Mental Aspects multitask? Probably not.” The idle Mental Aspect rubbed his chin. “I can prepare spells without meditating now. What will happen if I meditate?”

Wolf tested it and watched the first Mental Aspect walk over to the throne, sit and open his eyes.

“Interesting,” Mental Aspects said in unison. “It seems my physical body has to enter a trance before this Mental Aspect opens his eyes.”

Wolf’s Mental Aspects frowned. Wolf wanted to think solely with his original Mental Aspect, but failed.

“It looks like I’m a long way off.” The Mental Aspects sighed. They shook their heads a moment later once they realized they’d done the sync thing again.

Wolf continued his futile experiments until the carriage drew to a halt. As he walked out of the cab, Wolf asked the driver to wait, then entered the gaudy building.

As soon as he stepped into the public store, an Initiate approached Wolf. The Initiate wore the characteristic uniform of Spirit of Fairness’s shop hands, modest but tasteful.

“Good day, Valued Customer. How may I be of service? The woman smiled politely, appearing neither haughty nor subservient.

Wolf saw her glance at his True-Namer insignia, yet her tone, bearing and words were identical to when he visited last time, wearing Mage Academy’s student uniform.

“Good day.” Wolf grinned, enjoying the feeling of clerks looking up to his gaze. “I would like to purchase knowledge for a fair price, but I’m afraid only your abbot is qualified to discuss this matter.”

The woman nodded. “Please, follow me, Valued Customer.”

The Initiate led Wolf into the same salon; with a polite gesture, she offered him the same chair and served him the same tea as last time. However, Wolf now had a different perspective. The huge, cozy armchair from which his feet dangled during his previous visit squeezed his muscular butt. He enjoyed the feeling. Being too big for the world felt great, soothing Wolf’s wounds.

The young man sat, sipping the aromatic tea and considering his next steps.

My second Mind Hall houses the True Name of Life, meaning I should be able to learn healing spells. Wolf rushed to the House of Fairness to buy instruction manuals on healing magic. That way, if anything happened to Mandy or his child, he could act immediately.

Wolf rushed to fix his Mind Palace primarily for this reason. He had to do everything in his power to ensure the safety and happiness of his child.

I wonder if I’m able to have more children? Even if it comes with the clause of using the True Name of Life and some extra Soul Force, it will be worth it. Wolf frowned.

Will Anna want to have children? He wondered for the seventh time.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Valued Customer.” The abbot greeted. “I hope you have been doing well.”

She recognized Wolf at a glance. However, she commented on neither the drastic change in his appearance, nor the worried frown. Instead, she acted professionally.

“Viola told me you wish to transact with knowledge.” The abbot cut to the point. “What would you like to purchase?”

“I would like to buy books with mantras and mudras for healing spells.” Wolf smiled and stated his request. These two encounters with the abbot cemented Wolf’s desire to trade exclusively with the Church of Fairness.

He expected the woman to inquire about why he needed the spells, and he had already prepared a set of adequate half-truths. However, there was no need. Real merchants never asked about such things.

“That is certainly possible.” The abbot nodded. “Which Order miracles are you looking for? Are you looking for anything specific? I apologize for asking. We don’t transmit knowledge in written form. The Good Spirit grants our powers and gives us knowledge. We would have to record whatever you need. You could pay a Priest to perform miracles for you. Even though buying instruction manuals would cost less, by awakening your senses and memorizing the scene, you will reap greater benefits.”

If I could use Soul Force, I wouldn’t have taken a cab to get here.

Wolf smiled awkwardly, wearing his heart on his sleeve. “I would like every healing spell you have, and if you don’t mind, I would prefer them in writing.”

“Very well.” The abbot nodded. “In that case you can either pay for a book written solely for you, which you will destroy once you finish using it, or you can pay for a version you can freely distribute, if you’re using this information to write a book…”