A Step Closer

It had taken them four days to make it to Rakllan, one day ahead of schedule. The air in Viria was crisp and cool as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Beth's Inn, a modest establishment that stood at the edge of the city. Galen ever the experienced traveler was the one to guide them here. Having come to Viria many times, he knew exactly where to go.

A little girl stood outside the inn, her eyes wide with curiosity as the carriage pulled up. She darted over, her braid swaying behind her as she looked up to Galen with a bright smile. "Welcome, mister! How long are you staying with us?"

Galen chuckled softly, the warmth of his usual stoic demeanor flickering through. "Just for the night. We'll need two rooms.

The girl nodded avidly. "Two rooms! Got it!" She vanished inside the inn to get their rooms ready.

"Stick close, young master." Galen said to Melch as they entered in. "Viria is a busy city, but you'd do well to not stray too far." His tone was tinged with a definite edge that wasn't often present, the sort that came from years of experience in unfamiliar cities.

Melch nodded in appreciation to Galen's wisdom. He had much to learn in this world and having a guide like Galen made the journey feel more manageable.

Inside, the inn was small and warm, a few patrons huddled in the corner drinking in silence. Always watchful, Galen gave a swift glance around the room before leaning in to speak in a low tone. "I'll take a moment to gather some information about the entrance exam. It's essential that we know where it will take place."

Melch nodded, knowing full well how important it was to know the details of the exam. The entrance exam to Theoder Academy wasn't something to be trifled with. The location needed to be prepared in advance, considering barriers and other forms of protection would have to be erected. Though he knew it, the mere fact of knowing the location wasn't going to bring success, but it was a first step in formulating a plan.

Galen slipped out of the inn, almost unnoticed by the other patrons. John turned his attention to Leif, who had been unusually quiet since their arrival.

Leif was lounging in a chair by the window and glanced over at Melch. "So, what now? We wait for Galen to gather his precious intel I suppose?" His tone was light, but there was an edge of impatience behind his words.

Melch smirked. "Galen doesn't waste time. We'll have everything we need before the night is over."

Outside, Galen made his way to the local information guild a dimly lit building tucked away in a quiet alley. Inside, he was greeted by a man who had seen his fair share of travelers. Galen didn't waste any time in explaining his purpose after showing a badge.

"I need to know about the entrance exam to Theoder Academy." Galen said, his voice as calm and steady as ever. "I need to know where it is and what precautions are being taken."

The man behind the counter saw the badge, a silver-haired man in his older years gave a nod and flipped through a few records before he looked up again. "The exam shall take place in the Mayram Mountains just outside the capital. But let me warn you, the physical tests require quite a lot of preparation. It's no simple climb upwards. There will be places that will need hand and feet coordination for candidates to ascend and with your young master's current training, he can never achieve it.".

Galen's brow furrowed. "We still have a month. It should be enough time for him to prepare."

The information guild attendant shrugged. "Time will tell. But even if he manages the climb, there are other challenges ahead that we don't know. It won't be an easy task.

Galen considered the news carefully then turned to leave. Before he could reach the door, he stopped and turned to the carriage driver Kaiser, who had been waiting nearby.

"Kaiser" Galen began, his voice low "I need you to pay a visit to the Church. See if Sir Thomas is there. If he is ask for a recommendation for the young master."

Kaiser frowned but nodded. "Understood. But let me tell you now, getting Sir Thomas involved might not be the best move just yet. It could raise some questions."

Galen sighed. "You're right. It seems things haven't changed." With that, Kaiser left to carry out his task.

Back at the inn, Melch found himself alone with Leif. "I'm going to check out the Earth Magic Tower's library." Melch said. "There's a lot I still don't know about magic and I need to see if there's any information on medicine."

Leif groaned. "Magic towers, libraries. This isn't my idea of fun. But I'll tag along, if only to make sure you don't get lost in there."

The Earth Magic Tower was a towering structure, its stone exterior weathered with age and wisdom. The library inside was just as imposing. The first floor was open to the public, but visitors were not allowed to check out books or make copies. You had to memorize everything you read.

Melch approached the receptionist, who gave him directions to the medical and magic sections. "The medical books are in the 8th row, left side from the third shelf. Magic books are on the second right."

Leif wandered off toward the magic section, clearly more interested in the enchanted tomes than the medical ones. John, on the other hand made his way toward the medical section where it was quieter with only a handful of other people browsing.

There, he found a small selection of books about healing and magical remedies. But his real interest lay in finding any references to the Codex of False Healing. No such book appeared on the shelves. Undeterred, John picked up a basic book on magic theory and began to read.

The book explained in simple terms how this world's system of magic worked. Magic was all about the mana within a person, an invisible force that could be shaped into a spell. The ability of a mage was determined by his affinity with an element, and that could be checked by a mage of three circles and above so it could be done either at Theoder Academy or through a device capable of telling the affinity level of all elements for a person.

There were circles of magic, each more powerful than the last. A first-circle mage was a person who had just unlocked his affinity. A fifth-circle mage could live for hundreds of years, while the eighth-circle mage could live for a millennium. The progression was slow but remarkable.

John read on, fascinated by the complexities of this world's magic system-akin to the opening of a whole new world of possibilities. But all was cut short as his eyes alighted upon Leif, sitting in a corner and fast asleep with a book of flowers and beasts opened upon his lap.

"Always the scholar, eh?" Melch muttered to himself, a smile tugging at his lips. He left the library quietly and returned to the inn to report to Galen.

"I didn't find anything on the medicine," Melch told him, "but I did learn a lot about the magic system here."

Galen nodded sharply. "Good. Knowledge is power. For now, we wait. Kaiser should be back soon with news from the Church.

Meanwhile, Kaiser had made his way to a local bar, looking for someone who might be able to help him with the task at hand. It didn't take long for him to spot a thin, short man sitting alone in a private room, far from the rowdy crowd. Kaiser made his way over and took a seat across from the man.

"I was hoping to find someone" Kaiser began, his voice low. "I didn't expect to see you here."

The man laughed, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What do you need? I'm not in the habit of offering favors for free."

Kaiser reached into his pouch and pulled out a bottle of liquid. "Sea Serpent with dragon bloodline. If you help me, it's yours."

The man's eyes widened as he focused on the bottle. "What do you need?"

Kaiser leaned in, speaking in hushed tones as the man's expression shifted to one of shock. The deal was struck and Kaiser left.

Back at the inn, Melch and Galen were preparing for the next step in their journey. The road ahead was uncertain but with each passing day, they were one step closer to their goal.