Chapter 27. Debts

Arthur decided to return to the ecological park, hoping to improve his financial situation and start paying off his debts.

As soon as he approached the park gates again, he felt a slight wave of excitement. His last time working here had brought him not only Academy points but also valuable experience. Now, he was returning with a new status—an Apprentice Mage of the First Level.

He entered the park's main building and headed to the office where the park manager, a strict and rather eccentric wizard, usually worked. Arthur knocked on the door, and a familiar deep voice responded:

"Come in."

Arthur pushed the door open and saw the wizard sitting behind a desk piled with papers. The man raised his eyes and lifted an eyebrow in surprise when he recognized him.

"Arthur? I didn't expect to see you back so soon. Is something wrong?"

"No, everything's fine," Arthur replied, stepping closer. "I just decided to work here again. I have a new status now—I've become a First-Level Apprentice Mage—and I need Academy points."

The wizard smirked and leaned forward, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

"First-level apprentices don't usually hurry back here. Many think they're above this kind of work now."

"But I can take on more difficult tasks now, can't I?" Arthur met his gaze directly.

The wizard chuckled.

"So, you're only here for the pay?"

"Well… I'm having some financial troubles," Arthur admitted with a sheepish smile. "But I'm not here just for Academy points! I genuinely enjoy working with animals."

"A good attitude," the wizard nodded approvingly. "Alright, since you're willing, I'll give you something more challenging. You used to care for peaceful creatures, but now…"

He flipped through several pages in a thick record book, scanning the entries before continuing:

"We have an opening for a predator caretaker. Think you can handle it?"

"Predators?" Arthur tensed slightly.

"Yes. We have enclosures with Lunar Wolves, Armored Tortoises, and Thunder Foxes. These aren't the gentle creatures you looked after before. They can be dangerous if you don't know how to handle them."

"How much does the job pay?" Arthur asked cautiously.

The wizard grinned.

"Twenty points per week."

That sum suited him. He would have agreed to fifteen, but it was nice to know his labor was now valued higher.

"I'm in," Arthur said firmly.

The wizard closed the book and stood up.

"Then let's go. I'll introduce you to your new charges."

***

They walked through the park, heading to a sector Arthur had never entered before. Visitors were not allowed here, and only experienced caretakers tended to the park's most dangerous inhabitants.

Their first stop was a massive enclosure surrounded by a tall magical barrier. Inside, among dark trees and thick undergrowth, silver forms prowled—the Lunar Wolves.

"They look… majestic," Arthur murmured, watching one of the wolves glide through the shadows, its fur shimmering faintly in the dim light.

"Yes, but don't be fooled—they're more than just animals. Lunar Wolves have magical sight—they can see through illusions. And they're far from tame. When they're in a foul mood, it's best not to enter—just leave their food by the gate."

"How do I know if they're in a bad mood?" Arthur asked.

The wizard smirked.

"If they're staring at you and licking their lips—leave."

Arthur nodded, committing the advice to memory.

***

Next, they visited the Armored Tortoise pen. Unlike the wolves, these creatures appeared slow and cumbersome, their shells glowing faintly with magical energy.

"The tortoises feed on magical energy," the wizard explained. "They release pulses of magic at specific frequencies every few hours. If you stay too close for too long, it'll drain your spiritual energy."

Arthur's brows furrowed.

"And if there's too much energy in the enclosure?"

"Then they'll start distorting the space around them," the wizard said grimly. "We had an incident once—a careless caretaker ignored the readings, and one tortoise fell into a spatial rift. It took us days to get it back."

Arthur swallowed hard.

***

Finally, they reached a small but heavily reinforced enclosure. Inside, sleek creatures with shimmering silver tails darted and played—Thunder Foxes.

"These little tricksters love mischief," the wizard warned. "They can generate small electric shocks, so keep your hands to yourself."

"Got it," Arthur said, his gaze fascinated by their graceful movements.

The wizard watched him closely and, seeing no trace of fear, nodded in approval.

"Well then, you can start tomorrow. You'll work five days a week, and your points will be credited without delay."

"Thank you," Arthur said sincerely.

He felt certain that this job was exactly what he needed right now.

***

The work turned out to be even more difficult than Arthur had expected, but he adapted quickly. During his first days, he shadowed experienced caretakers, observing their techniques and learning their methods. The wizard kept an eye on his progress, occasionally offering advice but mostly letting Arthur handle things on his own.

The Lunar Wolves were the most challenging. They sensed fear and weakness instantly, forcing Arthur to master his composure around them. Their meals were delivered in special containers enchanted to mask the scent of fresh meat—without it, they could turn aggressive.

One day, Arthur forgot to activate the enchantment. Immediately, one of the wolves pricked up its ears and began a slow, cautious approach. Arthur's pulse quickened, but he remembered Gregor's advice: No sudden moves.

He took a step back, maintaining eye contact. The wolf's eyes glinted, assessing him. Only when the predator turned away did Arthur quietly retreat from the enclosure.

***

The Armored Tortoises brought their own challenges. Their magical pulses were insidious—barely noticeable at first but draining over time. After two hours near them, Arthur would feel weak and light-headed. He learned to work in short shifts, stepping out frequently to recover his strength.

***

The Thunder Foxes, on the other hand, grew fond of him quickly. Playful but mischievous, they would sometimes run up and zap him with a small electric jolt—a cheeky greeting. Arthur discovered that offering them small enchanted stones as toys made them friendlier and far less likely to shock him.

***

Weeks passed swiftly. Arthur performed his duties meticulously, avoided trouble, and earned a steady twenty points a week. He kept a careful record of his earnings, calculating when he could clear his debts.

After three weeks, he had accumulated sixty points—enough to repay his debt to Anna.

"You saved up that fast?" Anna asked in surprise when Arthur transferred thirty points to her.

"Back at the park," he explained briefly. "They pay me more now."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance. "I could've helped!"

"You already did—by lending me those points," he said with a grin. "Without you, it would've been much harder."

Anna smiled, clearly pleased by his gratitude.

***

Two weeks later, having saved another forty points, Arthur sought out Alice. She greeted him with her usual sly smile.

"Well, I expected you to take longer," she remarked, watching the twenty-point transfer appear in her account.

"I make a habit of paying my debts," Arthur said calmly.

Alice smirked, giving him an enigmatic look.

"I hope you'll come to me for help again someday."

"If I need it," he replied.

As he turned to leave, her parting words lingered behind him:

"You know, Arthur… I think debts are the only thing that truly connect you to people."

***

Clearing his debts brought Arthur a profound sense of relief.

But he wasn't one to rest idly. With his obligations settled, it was time to confront the biggest mystery that had haunted him—the Dream Dimension.

Everything that had happened recently told him that this phenomenon was too important to ignore. He had already realized that most people didn't even know such a place existed, which meant finding information would be difficult.

The only logical place to search was the Academy's library.

***

Arthur entered the vast, book-filled hall, the air rich with the scent of parchment and the soft glow of magical crystals embedded in the shelves. The Academy's library housed hundreds of thousands of tomes, but finding what he needed was never easy. He doubted he'd stumble upon a book titled "Secrets of the Dream Dimensions" lying conveniently on a shelf.

He approached the front desk, where the librarian—a thin, elderly wizard with silver hair and sharp eyes—was engrossed in an ancient manuscript.

"How may I assist you?" the librarian asked without lifting his gaze.

"I need information about the Dream Dimension," Arthur said directly.

The librarian's fingers paused mid-tap. He looked up, his gaze lingering on Arthur longer than necessary.

"A curious request," he muttered, drumming his fingers on the desk. "Are you certain this is what you're looking for?"

"I am," Arthur replied firmly.

The librarian sighed and passed his hand over the air. A glowing list of book titles materialized above the desk, scrolling past his keen eyes.

Finally, he shook his head.

"I'm afraid the Academy library has no records dedicated to that subject."

Arthur's brow furrowed. He had expected difficulty, but… nothing at all?

"However," the librarian continued, "you can submit a request to the Wizard Council."

Arthur's eyes narrowed.

"How does that work?"

"You file an official inquiry for access to restricted knowledge," the librarian explained. "The Council will review your request, and if approved, you'll gain access to the necessary materials."

"And the cost?"

"Thirty Academy points."

Arthur clenched his fist. It was steep—but he had fifty points on hand.

"How long for approval?"

"A few days. Perhaps longer, depending on the sensitivity of the information."

Arthur weighed his options. This was his only chance to find any leads, and he couldn't let it slip away.

"I'll do it," he said.

"Very well. Fill out the form."

A glowing panel of magical text appeared before him. Arthur quickly entered his details and the reason for his request, choosing his words with care.

When he confirmed the submission, the librarian snapped his fingers, and the form vanished.

"Now, we wait," the wizard said. "Once the Council decides, I will notify you."

Arthur nodded and turned to leave. Now, all he could do was wait—and be patient.