Chapter 15. Purchasing a Spell Model

The next morning, Arthur woke up with a heavy head. He had barely slept all night, tossing and turning, thinking about the day ahead. Today was an important moment—he was going to buy his first spell model. This step felt like the threshold between his current life as a student and the future, where he could truly call himself a magician, even if just an apprentice.

The school day passed in a blur, though Arthur spent most of it lost in thought. During lectures, he only caught fragments of what the professors were saying, and his hand mechanically wrote down notes as dictated. His mind, however, was entirely focused on how he would choose, study, and create his first spell.

After class, he was slowly gathering his things when Anya approached him.

"Hey, Arthur," she said softly, though her voice carried a hint of concern. "You seem a bit distracted today. Everything okay?"

Arthur looked up and, for the first time in a while, realized how much less he and Anya had been talking lately. Before, she would often ask about his progress or chat about small things. But the past few weeks, taken up by his work in the ecological park and his thoughts about spells, had pushed their conversations to the background.

"Hey, Anya. Yeah, I'm fine, just…" He hesitated for a moment, unsure how to explain his nerves. "Today is a big day. I'm going to buy my first spell model."

Anya's eyes lit up with excitement.

"That's great! What spell did you choose?"

"I thought about it for a long time and decided to start with 'Cortexium.' It's a protective magic spell connected to trees. It creates something like armor made of bark. Learning it won't be easy, of course, but it's an important step toward officially becoming a first-level apprentice magician."

Anya nodded, her face breaking into a smile.

"That's amazing! You've been preparing for this moment for so long."

"Yeah," Arthur admitted, feeling his anxiety ease just a bit. "Once I create this spell, I'll have both a spiritual rune and a magical structure. That unofficially means I'm a first-level apprentice."

"Well, you definitely deserve it," Anya said confidently. "Just don't stress too much. You'll do great."

Her words, filled with sincerity, brought Arthur a sense of relief. He could tell she genuinely believed in him.

"Thanks, Anya," he said with a smile. "That means more to me than you think."

She blushed slightly but quickly added, "If you need any help or company, let me know."

"I will," Arthur promised.

As they were about to part ways, he hesitated.

"Wait," he said, feeling a bit awkward. "Would you like to come with me? We could go to the market together—I'm going to buy my first spell model."

She looked surprised for a moment, then her face lit up.

"Of course! Why not? This is a big event," she said enthusiastically.

Together, they headed toward the academy market, a bustling place where students, professors, and merchants discussed the latest magical developments, sold books, magical artifacts, and spell models. The walk to the market took some time, and along the way, Arthur and Anya fell into an easy conversation.

"By the way," Arthur started, deciding to change the topic, "have you chosen your first spiritual rune yet?"

Anya smiled as if she had been expecting the question.

"Not yet, but I have a good idea of what I want. You see, my spiritual world is quite unusual."

Arthur looked at her with curiosity.

"Tell me about it."

"Well, my spiritual world looks like a giant city made of toys. There are buildings, trees, bridges—it all looks like something made of soft fabric, wood, or plastic. Everything is bright and colorful, like something out of a child's imagination."

"That sounds… unusual," Arthur admitted, surprised by the description.

Anya's smile widened.

"That's not all. The city is inhabited by creatures that look like living toys. Some of them resemble dolls, others look like plush animals. They move, play with each other, but it feels like they don't have their own personalities."

"That's amazing," Arthur said sincerely.

"I think it's connected to my childhood," Anya continued. "I always loved toys—they were my friends. And now they've become part of my spiritual world."

"And what kind of spiritual rune do you plan to choose?"

"I want to pick a rune from the Soul system," she said with excitement. "This rune could give my spiritual world awareness, even self-consciousness. If I carve it correctly, my toy-like creatures could gain more than just movement—they could become something like intelligent spirits."

Arthur imagined her world. It sounded like something extraordinary but also incredibly complex.

"That's really ambitious," he noted. "Aren't you afraid it might be difficult to carve such a complex rune?"

Anya shrugged, but there was a determined gleam in her eyes.

"Maybe, but I feel like it's the right path for me. If I succeed, it will give me incredible advantages. And honestly, I love the idea of making my spiritual world even more alive."

Arthur couldn't help but admire her determination. He knew that creating a first rune was a challenging process, but her approach wasn't just original—it was deeply personal.

"You know, Anya," he said with a small smile, "I'm sure you'll succeed."

"Thanks, Arthur," she replied, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

As they arrived at the market, they were surrounded by the noise of many voices, the sounds of magic being tested, and the scent of magical ingredients. But Arthur no longer felt as nervous as he had that morning. Anya was beside him, and that gave him a sense of calm and support.

At the market, Arthur quickly found a stall selling spell models. The merchant, an elderly man with a long gray beard, watched the customers attentively from beneath thick brows.

"What are you looking for, young man?" he asked as Arthur stopped at the counter.

"I need the spell model for 'Cortexium,'" Arthur said, feeling a small rush of nerves.

The merchant nodded and pulled a scroll from the shelf, wrapped in a silver ribbon.

"A good choice, especially for beginners," he said, handing the scroll to Arthur. "This spell will strengthen your defense and help keep you alive."

Arthur took out his academy card for payment and handed it to the merchant. The man ran it through a small magical device, which blinked green, confirming the transaction.

"All set. Good luck to you, young magician," the merchant said with a smile.

Arthur held the scroll in his hands, feeling a sense of pride and relief wash over him. This was his first step toward becoming a real magician.

As he and Anya walked away from the stall, she looked at him approvingly.

"So, how does it feel?" she asked.

"It's hard to put into words," Arthur admitted. "It's just a scroll, but to me, it means so much."

"This is only the beginning," Anya said. "I'm sure you'll do great."

They continued walking toward Anya's dormitory, talking about the spells she wanted to study. She shared her thoughts on potential spells she might choose.

When they reached the dormitory doors, Anya stopped and turned to Arthur.

"Thanks for inviting me today," she said. "It was fun, and more importantly—you have your spell model now."

"And thanks for coming with me," Arthur replied. "Without you, I probably would have been too nervous."

They exchanged short goodbyes, and Anya disappeared inside.

Arthur headed to his own dorm, still holding the scroll. His room greeted him with familiar comfort. He placed the spell model on his desk and sat on his bed, allowing himself a moment to relax.

His mind was full of plans.

Tonight, he would begin creating his first spell.