Chapter 10. The Market and Spell Patterns

After Arthur carved his first rune into his spiritual world, his daily life gradually began to stabilize. The academy became his home, and its strict schedule and majestic architecture turned into something familiar. The mornings started early: the bell would wake the students, and they would head off to their mandatory lectures. Arthur enjoyed this routine.

After classes, students had free time to use as they wished. Some chose to train, others meditated or socialized with classmates. Arthur preferred to alternate between these activities to maintain balance. He spent hours in the library studying books on magic and then retreated into solitude to train and improve his control over his spiritual world.

With each passing day, he felt his connection to his spiritual world growing stronger. His meditations became deeper, and the rune he had carved began to slowly reveal its effects. His spiritual world grew more stable, now hosting a forest that remained after merging with another's dream. The forest seemed alive: the trees whispered in the wind, and shadows hinted at wolves roaming calmly, now guardians of the territory.

Arthur was still learning to manage his spiritual world, but he felt he had taken an important first step on his path. However, another task awaited him, one he had long postponed: a visit to the academy market.

The academy market was one of the liveliest places. Here, students could buy everything they might need for their studies: books, potions, materials, magical tools, and even rare items unavailable in the library. Arthur had heard that one could find anything at the market if they knew where to look.

But there was one problem: Arthur didn't have the local currency. At the academy, everything revolved around special points students earned for completing tasks, excelling in studies, or participating in competitions. Newcomers typically had few points, and Arthur was no exception. There was an alternative, though: magic stones, which could also be exchanged for goods or services. But Arthur had none of those either.

Still, he decided to visit the market, if only to see how things worked there.

Arthur went to the market in the middle of the day, after classes had ended. The market was located in the western part of the academy. As he approached, the bustling noise of the market enveloped him like a wave.

It was a lively scene: vendors shouting about their wares and students discussing the latest finds. The air was filled with the scent of herbs and spices, mingling with the aroma of old books and metal.

"Hey, kid, take a look at this!" called a vendor standing behind a stall filled with potions. "Just five points for a bottle of strength potion!"

Arthur stepped closer, eyeing the brightly colored vials, but when he saw the price, he sighed. He didn't have any points and couldn't afford even the cheapest potion.

He continued wandering, browsing various stalls. At one booth, he saw an old book on blood runes. Its cover was worn, but the magical energy emanating from it was palpable even from a distance.

"This is a rare book," the vendor said, noticing Arthur's interest. "It contains unique runes you won't find in textbooks."

"How much does it cost?" Arthur asked cautiously.

"500 points," the vendor replied with a slight smile.

Arthur nodded and walked away, realizing such amounts were far beyond his reach.

Despite his financial limitations, he wasn't discouraged. At the market, he noticed students bartering goods and services. Some offered help with assignments in exchange for points, while others sold their skills, from basic tutoring to assistance in training.

"So, points can be earned not just through academy tasks," Arthur thought.

He decided to return later, once he had points or magic stones. For now, he wanted to explore what else the market had to offer.

While wandering through the market, Arthur came across a group of students gathered around one of the stalls. Among them was a girl with long red hair and bright green eyes. She seemed confident and calm, but her voice stood out among the others.

"Hi! Are you new here?" she asked, noticing Arthur's curious gaze.

"Yes, it's my first time here," he replied, slightly embarrassed.

"I'm Alice. If you need help, I can show you around," she offered.

Arthur thanked her, and they continued exploring the market together. Alice was from a family of ancient wizards and knew a lot about the academy.

"Don't worry about not having points," she said. "All newcomers from ordinary families face the same issue. The key is to complete tasks, and over time, you'll be able to afford everything you need."

They talked for a long time, and Arthur realized he had found a new friend. Alice even shared tips on where to complete tasks to quickly earn points.

Returning from the market, Arthur felt inspired. Although he hadn't bought anything, the trip helped him better understand how the academy functioned.

The next day, Arthur resumed his usual routine. Classes were held in various academy buildings. Today was the day for studying the basics of magical theory, one of Arthur's favorite lessons—not because of the theory itself, but because the professor always connected the material to real stories from the past.

"…As we discussed in the last lesson, spatial runes are among the most challenging to inscribe," the professor said, pointing to a magical circle floating in the air. "But they allow you to influence the very structure of the spiritual world. Moreover, they are extremely compatible with other runes."

Arthur listened intently, trying to absorb every word. He was already dreaming of mastering complex runes one day.

After class, Arthur headed to the dining hall, a massive room with a high ceiling and long rows of tables. Students could choose their meals using points or magic stones. Arthur didn't have points, but the dining hall offered free dishes available to all students.

Sitting at one of the tables, he looked around. At nearby tables, students discussed lessons, assignments, and future plans. After finishing his meal, Arthur decided to take a walk around the academy grounds.

By the time he returned to his room, Arthur was immersed in his studies again, diving into a book on fire runes. Though he wasn't planning to carve them into his spiritual world yet, he was curious to understand their mechanics.

Time flew by unnoticed. Arthur became so engrossed that he forgot the hour, closing the book only as the last rays of sunlight faded. Before bed, he meditated again, strengthening his spiritual perception.

His daily life was busy, and although the routine sometimes felt monotonous, he felt that each day brought something new.

Several months passed since Arthur had carved his first rune into his spiritual world. Life was stable. But within him, a sense of dissatisfaction was growing. Despite his success in creating his first rune, he knew it wasn't enough. The magic he saw during lessons and among senior students seemed almost unattainable. Spells that conjured fireballs, created walls, or enhanced a wizard's body, transforming them into beasts, seemed like the ultimate embodiment of power. Arthur decided it was time to move forward.

"If I want to become a true wizard, I need to learn a spell," he thought as he strolled around the academy grounds.

On lectures, Arthur learned that for combat magic or practical use, wizards created magical structures. These structures, built within the spiritual world, were intricate rune networks that accumulated spiritual energy and activated almost instantly at the owner's will.

Creating such structures was a complex process. It required not only crafting spell runes but also understanding how they worked to activate them correctly. Additionally, the runes had to align closely with the spiritual world's terrain. For example, fire spells worked best on scorched ground or volcanic terrain, water spells on lake surfaces, and tree spells on forests.

Arthur headed to the academy market, where students could purchase everything they needed. Magical spell templates occupied an entire section of the market. These were plaques, scrolls, and crystals made from various materials, all engraved with rune patterns.

He carefully studied them, trying to determine which spell would suit him. Some were too complex, while others required too much spiritual energy. Finally, two templates caught his attention.

"Rocky Skin" – an earth magic spell that created a protective layer of hard stone on the wizard's body.

"Cortexium" – a tree magic spell that covered the wizard's skin with durable bark capable of withstanding blows that could pierce iron armor.

Both spells were defensive and suitable for beginners. However, "Rocky Skin" required a rocky landscape in the spiritual world, which Arthur lacked. His island consisted of grass, trees, and soft soil.

"Cortexium," on the other hand, was a perfect choice. The spell could be carved onto tree trunks, fully aligning with the terrain of his spiritual world.

After examining both templates, Arthur realized that "Cortexium" was his only viable option. However, the price of 50 points became an unexpected obstacle. Arthur felt a slight pang of disappointment.

Though he didn't yet have the template, Arthur began preparing to create a magical structure. He spent more time in his spiritual world, exploring the forest. He needed to choose a suitable spot to carve the runes, where the energy of his spiritual world was most stable.

Each evening, he studied books on magical structures borrowed from the academy library. Most were too advanced for a beginner, but some explained the basics of rune creation and energy manipulation. Arthur memorized every detail to be ready when he finally acquired a template.

Watching other students who had already mastered their first spells, Arthur felt a twinge of envy. But that envy only motivated him to act. He knew that, despite the obstacles, he could take his first step toward magic.

"It's only a matter of time," he told himself, returning to his room after another visit to the market.