The number of readable books in the library had increased by a fair amount. Looking at the way the shelves and sections were structured, the books were based on level. Based on the books that were still blank, one could assume that more of them would appear at every level increase. The apprentice section, on the other hand, seemed a lot more uniform in nature, if considerably larger. According to Nil, it was a safe bet to assume that once Dallion reached level twenty, he’d be able to read almost everything at the Academy. Beyond that point, it wasn’t a matter of finding information, but having the skill to use it in a new and more efficient fashion. Mages—at least the high-ranking ones—tended to focus exclusively on item creation than actual spells. The few that did were quietly mocked as useless academics.

Grabbing as many books as he could carry, Dallion made his way to a small table in a quiet section of the library and started reading. He clearly wasn’t the only one interested in increasing his magic trait—a number of books on the topic were also taken, including one titled A Historic Overview of Magic Duels. No doubt someone was already thinking of using that method to score a few points.

Nil, what happens if I pass a threshold value with my magic trait, then level up?

You’re asking me something magic related while in a library? The echo scoffed.

Someone’s taken the leveling books.

Oh. Nil cleared his throat. Well, in addition to gate benefits typical of other traits, magic also allows you to interact with more powerful sources. You’ll learn more on that later, Moons willing, but the basic principle is that you can always interact with magic that is weaker than yours, but never with magic that is stronger.

Dallion rolled his eyes. This had nothing to do with the question he had asked. Complaining, however, was only guaranteed to get more useless explanations. This was one aspect the echo hadn’t changed since Dallion had received him all those years ago back in Hannah’s inn.

Losing a level, though whatever means, will instantly render you unable to interact with magic you’ve been able to.

Fascinating, Dallion groaned.

The term you are searching for is dangerous. Let us assume that you’re already reacting with magic at your level. What do you think would happen if you lose a level then?

I won’t be able to—

You won’t be able to feel your hands and legs for years, if at all! The old echo finished the sentence for him. With magic, interaction isn’t a one-way street. Even now, you’re only able to pull magic out of small items because the items acknowledge your strength and allow themselves to gravitate towards you. Imagine holding a boiling kettle with a thick glove. What would happen if the glove suddenly vanishes?

This time, Dallion was a lot more attentive. The image of pain flashed through his mind.

It’s similar with magic. Sometimes it’s better, sometimes it’s worse, but there always is a penalty depending on the nature of the magic you’re interacting with. And I’m not talking about poking around with threads as you are now. Anyone with a magic value of one could do that. It’s… other things I have in mind. A good rule of thumb is to be at least five levels higher than the thing you wish to interact with, just in case.

And the trait bonuses?

That’s not so clear cut. On the one hand, you should lose them similar to blocked skills. However, with enough strength and effort, it’s possible to still be able to make use of them. That’s a matter more for the Order than anyone else. I’d tell you one thing, though. I wouldn’t attempt to level up before becoming an apprentice. Think of that what you will.

Seven more magic improvements before going for a level up. It wasn’t that much. Dallion could wait. By then, he’d have a far better understanding of spells and magic, using them to his advantage.

A smile on face, he focused back on his books. Other than a new set of strength and speed values linked to pulling magic from different materials, he’d also learned of natural magic deposits scattered all over the world. Referred to as “teardrops,” they were foci of magic energy that appeared for a short period of time, slowly evaporating into the surrounding environment. At present, leading scholars believed them to emerge as the rays of the Purple Moon interacting with elements in the world. While not overly common, they weren’t an unusual occurrence and a means for mages to quickly boost their initial magic traits. The issue, rather, was that since they also were a source of free magic, more powerful mages tended to extract them and place the magic in magic cubes for later use.

“Thinking of leveling up?” someone whispered from the other side of the novice section. Looking up, Dallion instantly saw the black-haired noble.

The boy was sitting on his own, holding a single large tome. To Dallion’s surprise, the cover was completely blank.

“There’s no point,” the boy whispered on. His lips were barely moving, but he was confident that Dallion was able to hear him, even from that distance.

Must be nice having an army of echoes always guiding you, Dallion thought, then stood up, took his books, and went all the way to the other’s table.

“Can I join you?” he asked in exceedingly polite fashion.

A simple nod suggested that the offer had been accepted.

“What are you reading?” Dallion asked, glancing at the book.

“Poetry,” the other replied. The bouquet of emotions made it impossible to tell whether he was joking or telling the truth.

“Why is there no point in leveling up?”

“Experience and expectations.” The boy closed the book. “Being a novice is the only time when all mess-ups are forgiven. That means while we’re still here, we can experiment with anything and get away with it. Just like you did.”

The whole thing didn’t feel like getting away, but Dallion could appreciate the point. It wasn’t a perspective he had considered. Now that he did, things were starting to look somewhat different. It was quite possible that he wasn’t the most proficient in class, not by a long shot. The black-haired’s mafic was at least level four, and there was no telling how many more of the class were pretending to be less talented than they actually were.

“What was it like?” the noble asked, curiosity emanating from him like a fountain.

“Fainting?”

“Leveling up a magic item. I know you did.”

Given that it had only been a day, Archdukes had considerable means and connections to find that out. Considering they had mages on their employ, it wasn’t all that surprising. It also raised a scary point—Archduke Lanitol also had similar means and influence. Even with his conflict against Countess Priscord, it would be easy for him to make a few requests to the appropriate mages and find out what Dallion was up to. While the Academy took care of their own, information remained easy to get.

“I didn’t,” Dallion replied. “The guardian got me. Using only non-magic skills isn’t enough. Even with weapons.”

“Really? I thought you’d managed.”

“Nope. Maybe after a while. Are you thinking of trying?”

“No, not for now. I must become an apprentice first. I can hire you when the time comes,” the boy added.

Wonderful… “Maybe. There’s lots of time till then. Is there anything you want me to help you with now?” Dallion asked out of politeness. There was nothing he could offer right now, either as a mage or as a hunter.

“I want us to enter an alliance while we’re novices,” the boy said.

Dallion didn’t budge an inch, but inside he was surprised, even alarmed. He’d heard more than his share of rumors and stories regarding politics in the Academy. Considering that the boy was also related to an Archduke, such a deal made it the worst in both worlds.

“Only until you remove your seal.”

“I know I promised that I would—”

“This has nothing to do with you being a hunter.” The noble took a pencil from the table and offered it to Dallion with his left hand. The offer was clear.

I really must stop getting involved with everything, Dallion said to himself and grabbed hold of the other end of the pencil.

ITEM AWAKENING

The library disappeared. Instead, Dallion found himself standing in an elegant wooden room with hand carved furniture. The noble was there, as were two echoes. One of them was a high-high level awakened glad in full armor—a bodyguard, no doubt. The other was a woman in her late thirties, in an attire made of ruby and onyx threads. One look was enough for Dallion to guess that she was a mage.

“We’re grateful that you accepted the young master’s request, Mister Darude,” the woman said.

“I haven’t accepted anything yet,” Dallion replied, surprised for a moment by the deepness of his voice. “I just said that I’d hear him out. Or you, it seems.”

“In that case, I’ll get straight to the point. The alliance that the young master is offering isn’t a job, or an offer of fealty, it is a request made among fellow mages. To be specific, between fellow novices.”

So that’s what it is? Dallion looked around, then made his way to the nearest chair and sat down. He doubted the conversation would be long, but he had every intention of showing that in this instance, he held all the cards.

“Traditionally, you will go through a series of lessons, assignments, and practical tests outside the Halls of Learning, until you learn what is required to remove your seal. Knowing you, you’ll probably attempt to do that as quickly as possible. As things stand, the only thing that separates you from rank two is two magic levels.”

“I thought that mages weren’t allowed to share any knowledge.”

“I’m not. These are Academy standards. There are apprentices who’ve depleted their magic back to one due to reckless duels. For example, in order to remove your seal, your magic trait has to be at least twenty.”

Dallion nodded.

“Our request is that you delay climbing up the ranks for a while. You see, there are certain things that not all novices are told upon entering the Academy.”

“This alliance, for example?”

The bodyguard’s hand moved closer to the hilt of his weapon. The action was subtle, but clearly visible. The man wanted Dallion to know just how skilled he was and that disrespect towards the “young master” wouldn’t be tolerated in the future.

“After reaching rank three, novices are allowed to request a trial of skill. The practice has been abandoned for over three centuries, but it’s still valid. As you’ve no doubt surmised, if the request comes from certain people, it will be granted.”

Of course, it would, Dallion thought.

“However, that isn’t enough to guarantee success.”

“As I’ve already told the young master,” Dallion glanced at the boy, “my skills are lacking when it comes to magic.” It was slightly embarrassing to think that he had managed to defeat the Purple Moon’s familiar, but failed upon facing the first magic trinket within the Academy.

“For now, they are, but you have the potential to develop them to the needed level by the appropriate time. Naturally, you won’t be alone. Three other novices have already joined the alliance. It’s possible that other alliances might form as well.”

“So, it’ll be a friendly competition?”

“No, Mister Darude, it’s not a competition. It’s actually the complete opposite. Each group has the chance to earn its own prize, just as everyone within the young master’s alliance will obtain the same reward.”

Something didn’t feel right. Secrecy aside, it all seemed too simple and cooperative. From the memory fragments Dallion had seen, mages tended to betray each other with incredible ease, even within the same faction. Put in a few drops of nobility in the mix, and one had a catastrophe waiting to happen.

“I take it the reward is more than prestige?” Dallion looked the mage in the eyes.

“Quite a bit more. Tell me, Mister Darude, are you familiar with the term Moonstones?”

“I’ve heard it mentioned.”

Technically, it wasn’t a lie. While being a hunter, he’d come across the term, though knew no details whatsoever. The presence of the word “Moon” as part of the name suggested that the items were extremely rare and expensive. Unfortunately, that exhausted knowledge on the topic.

“They’re gems made of the essence of the Moons. Just like the seven special metals, they can allow items from the real world be used within the realms, but also so much more. Does that make the request worthy of you, Mister Darude?”

Even if the objects were half as impressive as advertised, there was no way anyone would refuse such an offer. The necessity for a group to complete the challenge rather than a single individual suggested that the difficulty would be relatable to the prize.

“Just to be clear, provided we succeed in this, all four novices will get some Moonstones?”

“One Moonstone each, just one. However, we’re not talking about any Moonstone. The prize is Galatea’s amethyst.”