The Runic Artist

Nate watched as Kiri strode out from the back of the shop. This was the fourth outfit she’d tried on and by his estimate the best of the bunch, though admittedly, he was growing a little bored. Still, he kept up a smile of encouragement for his friend, even if clothing shopping wasn’t his idea of a good time. For all he knew it wasn’t Kiri’s either, and she was just nervous about her date with Coralie.

“So, what about this one?” asked Kiri, doing a little twirl.

This time she’d gone with well fitted blue pants with scrollwork down the seams on the outside of each leg. It was contrasted with a loose white blouse and a black scarf that matched her impeccably polished black knee-high boots.

“It’s the best so far, but it’s really going to stand out. Everyone wears such vibrant colours that your much more sedate choices make you look… I don’t want to say refined… maybe reserved? So if that’s what you’re going for, then definitely this. Else you need to pick some brighter colours,” he answered honestly. There was no point just telling her yes when she wanted actual feedback.

Kiri pursed her lips in response, looking thoughtful.

“Look, it’s a first date. I think the conversation and who you are is probably going to be more important than what you wear. Unless you were looking for a fling?” he added with a raised eyebrow.

“Nah,” Kiri responded quickly. “I was thinking of trying for something a bit longer this time. See how I like it, you know? We’re going to be at the University for a few years. Now’s the right time to see if something a bit more serious is what I want.”

He nodded that he understood, noting how the tailor had perked up at the mention of the ‘University’.

“So?” he asked his best friend.

“Yeah, this outfit then,” she said, finishing by turning to the Tailor. “How much?”

The Tailor, a small but friendly and efficient woman tapped her lips in thought, “Fourteen for the pants. Fifteen for the blouse and scarf together. And twenty for the boots. So forty-nine common for the lot.”

It took Nate a moment to realise the price was based on mana gems. Forty-nine common mana gems was pretty cheap for the outfit though he supposed. It made sense since the materials appeared to be of the common tier. They were pretty but unlikely to last. He could also see why mana gems would be used as a form of currency. It made him wonder if the rich would wear higher tier clothes just to show off their wealth and not for any real purpose like improved durability.

Nate watched as Kiri went to the counter with the Tailor who extracted five empty mana-gems from below the counter. It only took him a moment to assess them as Uncommon tier and watched as Kiri filled all five over the course of a minute. Twelve seconds per mana gem wasn’t that quick and he would’ve guessed that her Channelling Speed was probably half of his own. Which wasn’t much of an achievement when his own was only sixty-seven and was a third of his other Magic Stats. Just one more thing he had to work on, he thought with a smile.

With the purchase handled, Kiri went to get changed in the back room back into her usual clothes. While she was gone the Tailor approached him, an obsequious look on her face.

“Can I get anything for the Young Master? Perhaps you’d like to see a selection of silk shirts that would set off the Young Master’s stunning green eyes? I am afraid my humble selection has nothing to rival the Young Master’s incredible robe. It is a work of art!” gushed the Tailor, wringing her hands unconsciously.

Nate had an awkward smile glued to his face throughout the Tailor’s words. He could see the thought process that had taken place. His robe made him look like a Mage, a not inaccurate conclusion to jump to even if the truth was slightly more complicated. Add to that the mention of the University and this Tailor likely thought that he was either the son of a wealthy merchant, or a member of the nobility. He could of course explain it to the Tailor, but what was the point at the end of the day? He was wealthy after all, if not in the conventional way. His Guild Dungeon Access tokens were likely worth a considerable amount. So why not just put the lady’s worries to rest?

“No, that won’t be necessary. You have a lovely shop here, by the way. However, perhaps you could help me with something else?” he asked, trying to keep his tone normal.

He sensed the Tailor’s muscles tense as she tried to keep her thoughts from being expressed on her face, and he sighed internally realising he was scaring the poor woman. He didn’t blame himself though. He didn’t warrant fear like that. Well, unless you were a demon, he supposed. No, her reaction, as far as he was concerned, was an indictment of the nobility and upper class.

“Whatever the Young Master needs,” the Tailor replied hesitantly.

“If I wanted to buy an incredibly comfy mattress and bed, who would you advise I go see and can you give me directions to their store?” he asked, staring at her wide-eyed in what he hoped came across as a friendly manner.

He instantly felt the woman relax in his senses and mentally clapped himself on the back.

“Oh, you should go see Michel. He’s let me try one of his mattresses before. It was like sleeping on a cloud,” she replied, her eyes far off as she was clearly reliving the experience. “I don’t think I could ever afford one for myself, but as far as I know, he does the best work in the District. If it isn’t too much trouble, perhaps you could let him know Theodora sent you?”

“I can do that,” he replied with a smile, sinking back into the plush chair he was sitting on. It was decently comfy but he didn’t think it was properly shaped for sitting. Maybe for lounging? Hopefully Michel’s work was better.

The moment Kiri exited the back room, Theodora quickly went into the changing room, returning shortly with the outfit neatly folded.

“Will the Young Mistress require a bag or delivery of the outfit?”

“Oh, no that’s fine,” replied Kiri, approaching the folded clothes and boots and making them vanish into her Soul Space.

Theodora didn’t seem surprised and after encouraging them to come back if they required any clothes in the future, they took their leave of her store.

“Where to next?” asked Kiri as they stood together outside the shop watching the colourful traffic pass them by. It was only a little past breakfast, the sun nowhere near its zenith yet.

“Enchanter’s shop, then the carpenter's shop? I got directions for a good bed,” he suggested.

Kiri gave a nod and they set off, stopping for a second to ask for directions to the nearest Enchanter’s store. It turned out to be on the way to the bed maker’s and they quickly found themselves within a far more cluttered store, the tinkling of a bell marking their entry.

“Alright Frick, I am here. Come on over,” he mentally sent to his Familiar.

He felt the tug on his mana reserve as Frick used his True Teleportation skill twice in quick succession. Within a moment the little goblin spirit was floating beneath the stone floor as Nate let his Awareness of the Runic Artist roam over the room. Runic Knowledge - Concepts was going wild and he could feel a constant drain as it assessed all the Concepts in the items within the room. There were many, though he noted they were quite weak. Where the pocket-watch in the demonic realm had veritably screamed the Concept of Time at him, these felt like whispers. If anything, it made it easier for his skills to assess the Concepts they were giving off. Warding was a common one, which sounded like a lesser cousin of Barrier. Light, Flame, Fire, Water, Durability, Restoring…the list went on. Even if most of the materials felt like they were only Common or Uncommon, it was still an impressive array and he wondered just how many Sigils the proprietor knew.

He felt the door behind the counter open and close. For a second, while the door was open he was able to get a sense of the room behind it, cluttered with materials and tomes along with some other completed items that he suspected were meant to be viewed only on request. The moment the door closed however he felt the wood form an uninterrupted veiling enchantment that seemed to be carved into the walls. He spent a second wondering how that might work. If the door's latch bolt somehow joined the door to the rest of the array. If so, it was a clever design.

The veil wasn’t anything impressive. He would’ve estimated it to be of the Rare tier, which didn’t fill him with a lot of confidence. It also made him concerned that what he was going to ask next would come across as rude. But what could you do? He needed a better quality sigil.

The enchanter, a tall gangly man with a dark beard and wearing glasses took the two of them in at a glance. Looking at Kiri the man seemed dismissive but when he saw Nate’s robe his eyes widened and he glanced back at Kiri in what Nate thought might be fear. It made him sigh inside but he was pretty sure the Enchanter had just jumped to a similar conclusion to the Tailor, with the difference being the man likely suspected Kiri was his bodyguard.

“How can I be of service, Young Master?” asked the Enchanter, bobbing his head as he said so.

“If I wanted an Epic tier Veiling enchantment, would you be able to complete such work?” asked Nate, playing into the man's assumptions even as he hated himself a little for it. It made him regret pretending to be a noble back in Helmfirth. If everyone's reaction to young nobility was fear, that didn’t speak well of the aristocrats of Etrua.

“...that would be beyond my skill to provide, Young Master. Might I suggest Caroline Lambert? She is known to provide such and is considered one of the best Enchanter’s in the City. Do you require directions?” stammered out the Enchanter.

After taking the directions, Nate and Kiri headed for Michel’s to handle any bed needs he might have. The Enchanter Caroline Lambert was honestly higher on his list of priorities, but he’d quickly discovered that he would need to make an appointment, as the woman’s store was in the Nobles District rather than the Merchants. The Enchanter they’d spoken to had sounded fearful as he conveyed that information to them, perhaps concerned he would offend them in some way. Frick had asked if Nate still wanted him to scope out the man's wards and enchantments but he didn’t see the point in stealing information on low tier Sigils. He’d likely get access to that at the Royal University.

The bed store was thankfully quick and easy. Michel had greeted them quickly and had shown them both a number of beds. Kiri had decided she wouldn’t mind something more comfortable for the University as well. The cost had been higher, but Nate still had plenty of the mana-infused gold he’d gotten from Arikanvil, plus a few of his own mana-gems on him. He ended up buying a bed he thought would be queen sized and an amazingly comfortable mattress that he thought must rely on Skills to make. It had even gotten a rise out of his Runic Knowledge skill and he’d realised the stuffing gave off what he suspected was an Uncommon affinity for Cloud. The Tailor had been more right than she knew. With that handled, the pair returned to the Guild for lunch and to meet up with Aisling and Deverell.

They took lunch in the private room in the inn Aisling was staying at, and after Deverell used an enchanted item to erect a ward against eavesdropping, they tucked into their food before launching into their discussion.

“Alright,” agreed Deverell. “I will handle organising an appointment for you at this Enchanter’s store. Caroline Lambert. I have heard of her. Now, I have managed to get a hold of the curriculum on offer currently at the Royal University. It hasn’t changed much in the last decade.”

When Kiri and Nate didn’t comment he continued. “So, remember, the University doesn’t care how many subjects you take. For any subject you complete they will reward you with a token to show your competency in the subject and they break each subject into four tiers. Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert. When you do your induction you will be asked to specify the subjects you wish to participate in. You will then be assessed for that subject to determine your starting competency,” Deverell continued, shooting a glance at Nate.

“Enchanting is one of the subjects, Nate,” Aisling added, the amazonian woman leaning forward to pin him with her stare. “We suggest you limit how competent you make yourself appear. I am concerned you could achieve an Expert grading in your assessment and that would raise questions. I won’t tell you what to do, but my advice is to go no higher than Advanced if you can manage that.”

Nate nodded his agreement. As much fun as it would be to absolutely trounce their grading and show off his talent, it wasn’t worth ending up locked in a box or chained to a desk as a runecrafting slave.

Kiri added, “What about me? Do I need to tank the combat assessment?”

Deverell nodded his head in response, “For the combat assessment, yes. Or at least, don’t use all your skills. Both yourself and Null could likely get an Advanced result and it would be better if you started in Intermediate.”

“Only Advanced?” Kiri asked, crossing her arms.

“It’s not just a matter of skill, or Skills. It’s a matter of Stats. Some of those who’ve been at the University for a couple of years will be close to level sixty. For those who have been there for three or four years, it’s not unreasonable to expect some will be in the mid sixties. A few might even be beyond that. Most will have been Rare Classes prior to the second Class Evolution. Most, but not all. The Ducal houses and Royals as well as some of the very wealthy merchants' children will have started at Rare. If they managed to achieve their evolutions, they could be Legendary. Along with being fully enhanced with Orbs, which neither of you are yet. Intermediate is the best place to start. You will graduate as a combat Expert, however. Am I clear?” said Deverell sternly.

Kiri’s eyes shone and she nodded, muttering her agreement to ‘take it easy’ in the combat test.

“Which brings us to you,” said Deverell, turning to face him.

A grin crept onto Nate's face at what was coming next.