Please note that while common people lack the strength and intellect to challenge us awakened, they are cunning in their stupidity. Over the centuries the most vile among their ilk had developed dangerous tool and mechanisms banned by imperial edicts. Their foolish inventions could even harm weaker awakened, and should you notice any such tools, please report them promptly to the heresy hunters.
— Excerpt from Observations on Commoners
Day 212, 4:25 PM
Seven loops had passed in discovery, learning, and quiet pondering on my next move. It was stupid, but I still did it.
“Good day, Sir,” Dawn, Jade’s youngest daughter and desk clerk, greeted me for the eighth time. “What can I do for you?”
“I would like to schedule a meeting with the owner. I will pay as much as she asks for fifteen minutes of her time.” Sacrificing one hundred second realm crystals for fifteen minutes of Jade’s attention was well worth it.
“Certainly, Sir, a short examination is one hundred second realm crystals paid upfront.”
I paid for the services, and right on time, Jade Tenson appeared to take me to her office. The woman was a kind soul, willing to give everyone a chance. She was also ruthless, as in, you only got one chance; if you wasted her time or messed around, she’d kick you out no matter how much money you had. She was intelligent, a great conversation partner, and while her sense of humor wasn’t the best, she was a medical professional, after all, she had her moments. In short, she was possibly someone who could anchor me to this city for a while, fulfilling the same role as Ruby in Hailstown.
“Close the door.” Jade took her seat again while I did as she asked even before she asked. “How may I help you?”
“I would like us to discuss the healing arts and see if we can learn from each other.”
She frowned, ready to throw me out, but that was fine; I knew she would. She did it the last time too, when I had strictly professional intentions with her.
“I am aware my realm is lower, but take a good look at me and my mana body.”
Her frown turned into a look of confusion.
“I should report you to the heresy hunters.” Again, the same old story. The people of this world were indoctrinated that anything weird had to go through the heresy hunters first.
“Feel free, but I am already known to them and the citylord.” She didn’t believe me, and she would naturally send someone to report me soon, but for the moment she had a reasonable excuse and would continue our conversation. “What I offer is the opportunity for you to examine my body and for us to exchange ideas, some of which I guarantee will interest you. All I ask is that we work together for a while. After two weeks, you’re free to kick me out if you want, and you won’t owe me anything.”
It was a much more generous offer than anything I had given to the vast majority of my teachers. Jade seemed conflicted. On one hand, I was a potential cultist. On the other, I was a whole realm beneath her, and she was certain she could handle me. Foolish really, I haven’t tested it, but I was fairly certain nobody in the fourth realm could fight me equally.
In fact, I’ve been considering just dumping forty-two spare points into mental stats, which would add a boost to my mental faculties equivalent to everything available to a fourth realm mageknight. Coupled with what I already have, I should be able to physically and mentally match those in the early layers of the fifth realm.
The only thing I would lack would be the reach of my mana, but if I could just defend myself while crushing the enemy physically, it should be more than good enough.
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“What exactly do you propose?” She assumed her business pose after deciding that fighting me in her office was ill-advised.
“I propose I leave you alone now to think, since rushing you may later seem unfair. It will also give you time to send messengers to the heresy hunters and the rumor-house and check exactly who you are dealing with. Would you be willing to meet tomorrow for breakfast at the Noble Dragon? Since I paid for this meeting, you can pay for the next one.” I said with a smile, but she frowned at the joke.
“I will give you your money back, naturally. And if everything is as you say, I will gladly pay for the breakfast as a token of my sincerity.” She was much more serious than I would have liked, but Jade was a serious person, and given my record, only such women attracted me.
“Do you really have six elemental affinities?” She couldn’t help herself as I stood.
“No. I have eight, but two are very similar to some of the others and are difficult to notice. Good day, Healer Tenson, I will wait for you at the Noble Dragon.”
With that, I left, a total mystery to the woman, all of her attention on me. Whether what I did counted as manipulation, I couldn’t say. I certainly didn’t think so, since I wasn’t interested in pursuing fake relationships. Transient certainly, but never fake. Because I could never know and would forever wonder whether each of the women I dated was my goddess. Better to avoid women completely than soil that memory.
The night swiftly passed in reading certain alchemical tomes, which made less sense before I could manipulate my mana freely, and morning came. I headed for the Noble Dragon as soon as it opened, taking a seat at a table for two, which I had reserved the previous day.
I was enjoying tea when Jade entered ten minutes later, wearing elegant and tasteful clothes. I already knew her clothing sense, since we had shared informal meals before, but never with anything other than business connotations.
“Good morning, Healer Tenson.”
“Good morning, former convict Blackfist.” She tried to act like she wasn’t impressed, but I had gotten to know her through the few loops we shared, and I knew she was most definitely impressed. She told me more than once.
“I would like to point out I have no memory of that life, and that I had started out from scratch, but I guess talking with a criminal is a torment for you.” With that, I rose from my seat and left a first realm manarium piece on the table.
“Stop being so dramatic and get back to your seat,” she said impatiently. “I also know that you have done good, and have been trying your best to live an honest and decent life. The change in your personality is so drastic, nobody doubts your amnesia story, and even the heresy hunters vouch you aren’t possessed.”
“I’m not sure what you want then, Lady Tenson.” I gave her a coy smile. “Should I stay or should I go?”
“Take a seat. I wish to discuss your proposal.” I sat, and she dropped a sack of manarium in front of me.
The waiter approached. “Good morning, Lord, Lady, what would you like? Breakfast? Something to drink?”
“I’ll have sourberry crepes with whipped cream and a cup of savage tea.” Jade ordered her favorite sweets and the spicy tea, similar to ginger, to wash it down afterwards.
“I’ll have the Cocoa Delight and mango juice please.”
The waiter nodded and left.
“Now, Dandelion, what is it that you want from me? Why did you approach me? Your medical knowledge is excellent, from what the rumor-house has gathered.”
“I want someone experienced to check whether there’s any room for improvement with my techniques. As for you, a healer of your renown has no lack of manarium, and I’m certain wealth isn’t what’s stopping you from advancing to the fifth realm. So, I think that the knowledge and insights you can glean from me are more valuable than simple mana crystals. Besides, paying you just so we could talk feels distasteful.”
“And yet, you have already done that.”
“True, but that was to get your attention. Now that I have it, offering crystals would be offensive. Don’t you agree?”
She crossed her arms. “Naturally, but how would you know I agree?”
“You are an intelligent, proud, and driven woman. Had you wanted more crystals, you would have charged more. From what I know about your skills, the sack of manarium,” I pointed at the literal sack of manarium she brought, “is just an entrance bar. Whoever can’t afford it should see a lower realm healer.”
She leaned closer. “And what gave you that idea?”
“You’re not the only one asking around for information, and while I didn’t ask the rumor-house, I still have my sources. And those sources have a very high opinion of you, your expertise, and character.”
She didn’t blush. She was an experienced woman, a widow with four grown children, and flattery wouldn’t get me far. Not that I flattered her; I was only stating facts.
“You’re not being honest with me. What is it you want?”
“I want to pick your brain on certain subjects, to see if we can learn from each other. I already told you that.”
“And?” she didn’t raise her voice, but her impatience seeped into the single word she uttered.
“And I want to get to know you, and you to get to know me. As for everything else, what happens - happens.”
