《Match: the powerless》 Match My hands are shaking, and my body sweats from overexertion. I can barely concentrate while being pierced by the judgmental stares of my classmates. It''s been five minutes since I started focusing. It''s smoldering, slightly at least. I can''t... I can''t fail. If I can''t do at least this much, then this whole year means nothing. I breathe in deeply, one last time, I feel like the veins in my head are going to pop, but finally the matchstick lights, it''s light only a small balm to the migraine I induced on myself. You''d think I would be more relieved. But in truth, this was a small trick, barely a spell, and yet it was my end-year presentation. The school has at the end of the year a "final trial" of sorts, all the students must prepare a demonstration, that shows their progress and the most impressive magical feat they can muster, just before me a girl turned water vapor into a small thrall for a short period, as you might imagine, lighting a match(and almost passing out in the process) is very far from impressive, matter of factually, such a trick is one of the first "magical potential" tests they have you go through when you enroll, one I took a year ago, and failed... That''s where my name came from, "Match". A cruel nickname baptized upon me by my classmates, i ended up adopting it though since before I came here I had no name of my own. That''s why I thought of doing this as my presentation, lighting the thing, would show that I have at least made progress since the beginning of the year, that my magical power had grown if only enough to perform the simplest of spells. Finally, I realized I had been standing for far too long in front of the class, the teacher''s death stare a good indicator that I should sit down or I would be removed from the classroom. I move, my body weak and wobbling in a pathetic manner, as I walk slowly to my desk, collapsing onto it, head down, but looking forwards still, afraid the teacher would reprimand me if I didn''t pay attention to my fellow students as they succeed in what I can only dream, I was used to being humiliated at this point, the look, the stares, they started to mean less and less... yet, today, it''s worse then usual, it''s the end of the year, my last chance, and the only thing I could do is light an object, which is peer design easily lit... I wish I could sleep, as exhausted as I am I could probably do it with my eyes open, maybe even fool the teacher, but this room is bewitched with a charm, that makes it so you aren''t able to go unconscious, quite clever, quite the clever trick from the staff. So, since I can''t bail out I look around trying to get my mind off things, I meet eyes with Sabrina. Ah yes, she truly is something, sadistic, sharp-tongued, and full of wit, you can imagine how good she did as a bully this year, she was smiling currently, but there was no warmth behind it, only the joy of watching me prove her accusations of weakness and incompetence correct once again... After what feels like an eternity, finally, the school day ends, I drag myself through the halls to the dormitory, I had a room to myself, normally there are two students per room but this year there''s an odd number of learners, and since nobody wanted to be in the same room as the school''s sad and sick joke, I got to be alone, I don''t mind it, even like it, but I do wonder if I would have made at least one friends if that hadn''t been the case. Either way, there''s no point dwelling on it now, so I just let my face hit the pillow and soon I am washed into a dreamless sleep. I wake up. My body still hurts so does my head, but I didn''t let that stop me before, i get ready for whatever might come today... As if on cue I hear a knock at my door as soon as I finish dressing up, I open to see a familiar face, with an unsettling smile that always puts me on edge, Sabrina... -Can I... help you Sabrina?-I say, nervous at the rare situation -Greetings match~ - Mockery taints her tone as she speaks- The school''s committee has just been informed, all the Students passed without further process- She smiles- Except you~ you are to report to the masters, for further details -...I see, I will go then... thank you- it''s hard to be polite to her, however, I don''t want to sink to her level, and even if I was willing to do so, she likely would make sure I regretted it As I exit my room, she remains smiling at me, her eyes boring into my school with sadistic pleasure, I am sure she eagerly volunteered herself to be the one delivering the news to me, probably eager to shake me, I won''t let her get to me though, both because I don''t want to give her the pleasure of doing so, and because I need to be as right-minded as possible now, I knew that I probably wouldn''t easily be approved, but I think I might have a chance, of talking my way into one more year of school, convince them that, even though I wasn''t able to be on par with my colleagues, I did show significant improvement over the beginning of the year, maybe if I am convincing enough they will let me stay, and try again next year. As I reach the door to the masters'' room, I gulp, knowing that one wrong world could cost me dearly, before I come in I steady myself as much as I can, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes before opening the door adorned in runes and symbols, I step forward, looking up at the tree figures, standing on ground elevated far beyond my own, both physically, socially, and in matters of sheer power. They look down upon me. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. -Match...is what they call you... correct?- Merum speaks, the leader of the trio, even though they theoretically share equal authority, he is clearly the dominant force among them- Answer me boy- he says in a higher volume as I take a little too long to answer his call. -Y-yes, I don''t officially have a name... I was never baptized and I am parentless, but ever since I enrolled they call me Match... A nameless peasant, no wonder he lacks potential- Guilda comments, she is perhaps the most ruthless, her stern nature is behind the equally strict school environment, and to some extent I admire her... -Perhaps...we should take measures in the future to ensure that more like him can''t waste our educator''s time, there''s no point in trying to teach fish to walk- Pr¨®spero spoke in turn, he was the one that handled most of the school''s finances, I heard he was a very rich mage, and this school was his most exuberant endeavor. -That is handled by the entry fee already- Merum replies , the other two mages settling back more quietly- tell me boy, how did someone of your standing came to possess that much gold? -I-i worked sir, from age 8 to 15...- I reply sheepish, normally I wouldn''t shy from taking pride in doing so, but with these powerful figures in front of me, any sense of accomplishment I could feel is thoroughly dwarfed into nothingness. - I see...- Merum displays a thoughtful expression for a second - if that is true, it''s an admirable feat, yet, you must see now this is a fruit-less endeavor for you, your biggest feat was to light a single toothpick-covered in sulfur... -... I understand master, but you must see, I haven''t stagnated throughout the year, I studied! Learned! I tried with all that I had within me when I first got here... there wasn''t a sliver of mana within me, but now, I-i can do magic! i-its small, and... it isn''t impressive... B-but I improved... -and yet it is far from enough- he speaks somber-, not everyone has what it takes to be a wizard, Match, understand that you are simply too weak in this regard, you are a hard-working peasant, you should concern yourself in matters that fit your capability, you could be a blacksmith, a librarian perhaps, since you have spent a good part of the last year reading, or some other profession that surely would bring you more fulfillment than simply hitting your head against the wall to force yourself to be something you are not. His words hit me like a sledge hammer, it isn''t the first time I heard this line of thought, yet hearing it from him, the master of the school, the one who decides my fate, the one who is supposed to be the wisest and most right-minded, is a new kind of sting, one that even Sabrina couldn''t achieve, my eyes lock onto the floor as I am left speechless. -I believe you understand, you will not be getting a wizard''s badge- he spoke, leaning back onto his chair, more resembling a throne with its intricate design that only served to elevate his authority further. -I don''t need one- I say, my voice trembling - but please... I want to remain... study magic...it''s the only thing I ever wanted -No- He speaks sure and precise- you may not, you are not a wizard Match, and I cannot have you in this school, you are to leave as soon as you can, however, I will allow you to keep your robes and your general studies book, you might do as you wish with them, the school has no use for used articles, but... We can''t have a powerless mage carrying our insignia The three masters stand, their presence alone makes me stumble back they point their staffs at me. My blood feels cold in my veins, it would be no less threatening to have three cannons pointing at me. Their spell hits me with perfect synchrony my robe and my book are stripped of their insignias, and even though they seemed embedded thoroughly into them, their spell leaves no sign the symbol was ever there. As my hand moves to my chest where once there was an insignia, my eyes prickle with tears. -please don''t- I beg once last time before they levitate me out of the room as a simple annoyance. The door slams shut its magical lock making sure I can''t disturb them anymore. In the corridor, my knees feel weak and soon they crumble under the mess of emotions going through my head, I fall, back against the wall, for the first time since I got here. Tears and snot were freely running down from my expression. After a few minutes, I realize my exposed estate, not being able to bear the idea of being ridiculed again by my tormentors I run through the halls, my expression covered as I make my way out of the huge school, where I spend most of my time studying so with little exercise I shouldn''t be able to run this much, but if my legs were hurting or my heart was about to give, I didn''t feel it. Soon I stood at the bridge that connects the school with the forest, I looked back to see its majesty again, but it wasn''t the same vision I saw when I first walked on this traverse, a whole year ago, now it was tainted with the experiences I had within the confines of the institution. As if to complement my misery, it''s raining, so much so that halfway through running across the bridge I slip, hurt physically, mentally, perhaps even spiritually, and now soaked in dirty water, I wep on the floor, thankful there''s no one to witness this humiliating sight. My head rises I see the bridge''s stone guardrail, it adds to its robust look, with a meter in width... My mind is blank, with pain, with sorrow... My body seems to move on its own as I climb onto it, slowly standing up, feeling the rain against my skin seeing and hearing the lightning strikes, some closer, others further away, the wind itself could knock me down if I am not careful, but I don''t seem to care anymore. "If I just jump here... Is it better?" I question, the thought of giving up so tantalizing, all the things the others said to me run through my head, yet I can''t find within my mind a single time when I was praised, when I was encouraged, when a single soul believed in me... I look down, it''s a deadly fall, there''s no doubt about it... my foot raises from the ground as if readying itself to step off... I pull it back, "coward" my mind belittles me, but I push the thought away as I slowly back from the edge and get down from the guard rail... -Not today, not like this, it might be a futile effort, but I won''t give up, if I am to die, I''d rather die trying... I say to myself, out loud, needing to hear in my ears the affirmation of my decision, I walk in the direction of the forest, without having a destination in mind, "I still have my robe and book... I will make the best of them" my first hopeful thought since the morning sparks, as I promise myself to keep on walking, even if I have nowhere to go. The Wanderer The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The alchemist. "You are a wizard, aren''t you?" The sudden sound scared me to full consciousness, in my alarm I turned to face the voice as fast as I could, nearly tripping over my robe, not accustomed to moving so quickly in such heavy clothing. I stare at my uninvited visitor with the fiercest expression I could muster... For only a few seconds, before I realized that it was no sneaky robber, nor a dangerous bandit, much less a magical creature that had come unannounced to my camp. Rather who stood before me was just an unusually well-dressed woman. She had short hair, that was of a beautiful coppery orange tone, it was clear she wasn''t noble, she had no Jews and her clothes were devoid of any clear crests that could identify a possible family, and her skin was sun-kissed, seemingly once pale but tanned by the bright daylight. Even so, I''d never seen a commoner in such elegant clothing. The girl carried herself with confidence, seemingly standing unaffected by my previous glare, or my defensive stance. "So are you?" - The girl asked, a tinge of impatience in her voice. The girl''s dry tone ridicules the fast rhythm of my heart. I have met plenty of bold, blunt people, but to sneak up upon a stranger in the middle of the night and act so nonchalant is nothing short of intimidating. My mind reels, and in my confusion, I struggle to find meaning behind her words and try to reorient myself. "Y-yes, I am..." - I speak, my want to give a more detailed, and nuanced answer is absolutely crushed by the awkwardness of the situation. It seems the time I spend without using my voice has made it harder to find the correct words. "Great!" - The girl said relieved -"You wouldn''t believe how hard it is to find Mages around these parts. I have a proposition for you, but first, the introductions" She approaches me fearlessly - "The name is Claire, pleased to meet you" She puts her hand out for me to shake. Even as I question the woman''s sanity, I can''t help but do as she says and greet her. Looking down at our conjoined hands, I notice something strange, her forearm bears a symbol carved of ink. It resembles a bubbling flask. Markings like those are incredibly rare, I only ever saw such designs in books. Their description is of permanent marks, that solidify a will and a purpose. Like a promise to oneself forever etched into their skin. "I am... Match" - I say under her intense inquiring gaze. "Match?" - She says with a smirk"Quite an unusual name isn''t it? But I suppose being a bit strange comes with being an arcane enthusiast" - she shrugs - "Anyway, I have a business deal for you. You see, the one who stands before you is a great alchemist. Remedies for every ailment, versatile Tonics for every task, or simply a good explosive or corrosive mix isn''t a problem for me..." - After the proud declaration she pauses before continuing in a more humble tone - "...However, even if I can''t make miracles, the ingredients I can get my hands on are only so powerful by themselves. But! with proper mana infusion I would be able to do much more! And that''s where you come in, if you lend me a little bit of your magic, I promise to pay you handsomely! And if you can frequently come around to keep me in stock, then this can be very lucrative for the both of us, what do you say?"- Her excitement is palpable, to my dismay. How can I tell this girl that she was unfortunate enough to have run into perhaps the only wizard who couldn''t help her? "I am... Sorry... I can''t" - it''s all I can muster. She looks at me skeptically, but she doesn''t seem fazed. "Liar. I''ve seen you use infusion magic, the things in your pocket. Runes right?"- Her tone is defiant, leaving it clear she won''t be convinced with a simple no. "S-Sigils actually...." - I correct - "Look... they are infusion magic, but... I just don''t have the mana to help you" She arches a brow before speaking-"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, you are a wizard, yet you say you possess little of the energy required to perform spells? Do you think I am stupid?" "I know it sounds silly... but it''s the truth, even if I were to infuse your potions, I don''t think it would improve them in any significant way..."-I say with sorrow. The girl, however, didn''t seem any closer to standing down-"Very well then! Let''s put it to the test, come with me"- She turns and starts walking, after a few steps she turns to look at me, noticing I am not following her, she calls "If you don''t come, I will tell the town''s fold that some shady hobo is in their woods, and they don''t take kindly to creeps sneaking around"- I swallow in fear. Having no choice I simply follow her steps with a defeated posture. We enter the village and approach the building, which I can only assume is her house. The place is definitely more impressive than the other simpler residences around it, but it still has a rustic feel to it, it''s made mostly out of wood and thatch, with clear mark burners around what I assume is the section dedicated to alchemy. The alchemist seemed to notice me staring at her abode, however, she remained wordless as she guided me inside, and into her lab. A few alchemical contraptions can be seen on the balcony, some seem pretty fancy, which makes me wonder again how a girl who seems of plebian origin got her hands on such expensive material. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.She sits me down, on the stone floor, and puts a flask half filled with water in front of me. "Now imbue the water with your power, then I will be able to test how much it improves the outcome of the elixir in comparison to the common liquid, and you better try, I will know if you don''t."- she warns looking straight onto my soul. This moment... It''s like reliving that stupid test again, and I do not enjoy it in the slightest. I swallow, putting my hands out, I can only try my best, I focus on the water, trying to imagine my mana binding to it, flowing out of my body, and into the flask, I stay like that for the next several minutes, the time appeared stretching out indefinitely, sweat started dripping, my hands were cold, I felt like I was about to pass out, but I kept pushing and pushing, I don''t know why... Surely being soaked in my own exertion would be enough to convince the young alchemist to let me go without further inquiry, but I decided to push myself further still. Perhaps I was curious. If I was able to actually do something like what she wanted me to. Something useful for someone else. But my weakness is eager to remind me of my place, as I collapse to the floor. Surprisingly the girl rushes over to check on me, kneeling beside my barely conscious self. "Are you okay?! What happened?"- she says in a rushed tone. "I am fine... I am used to it at this point, don''t worry. You need to do the test don''t you?" I say trying to ease her, while simultaneously wanting some space to recover. With some hesitancy, the girl stands and rushes over to test the contents of the flask. Meanwhile, I prop myself against a wall, trying to make my breathing steady once again. Slowly I lift my head, watching her perform the experiment... I can''t really make out the details as she has her back turned to me, but as her posture slumps I immediately understand. I have disappointed someone yet again. I sigh, knowing nothing has changed. The woman turns back and kneels in front of me yet again, getting to my eye level, however, I avoid looking at her, ashamed. "you were being honest... the potion''s power only improved by about 3%..." - she says, seeming regretful over pushing a pitiful fool so far. "I tried to warn you... But... it''s fine, you don''t need to feel bad for me, your logic was sound, a mage really shouldn''t be this weak" For the next moments she stared at me, I could almost feel her mind reeling trying to understand the situation. "Why were you out there, like an animal in the forest? Aren''t Wizards Nobles?" "Most are... but I am a rare case..." - I say sincerely. The girl shifts closer, her body language is inquiring and curious. Then and there I knew nothing less than the whole story would satisfy her. And so I tell her, everything, the story of the boy with a dream too big for his own good, who worked himself to the bone for a chance at learning, and then was shut down over and over again, who was never meant for more, yet kept stubbornly insisting. By the end of it, the girl''s eyes are watery, and so are mine. "Don''t pity me, really, it isn''t as bad as it seems, I never lived for praise, respect, or status. I am... happy, just being able to study magic" - I affirm. The girl wipes her eyes and shakes her head trying to quickly regain her composure as if embarrassed she allowed herself to lose it in the first place. The alchemist stands up and offers me a hand which I take and bring myself to my feet with some difficulty. "I can''t offer you that deal, not when your improvement of my potions would be so negligible" - she says crossing her arms and everting her eyes from mine. I chuckle weakly-" Yes, I imagined so, but still I am glad for your sympathy, it was nice meeting you Miss Claire"- I say honestly, this wasn''t a bad interaction at all, yes she was pushy, but in comparison with what others have done and said to me? she was an angel made flesh. Not wanting to overstay my welcome, I get ready to leave, but she stops me. "Not so fast Mr. Let me finish" she speaks " - Though I am unable to give you THAT deal, I could offer you another agreement..." She gives me enough time to turn and face her before she continues. " I don''t want you to think it''s out of pity... I merely recognize that I won''t find another mage any time soon, so I gotta make do with you" " if you keep on enchanting my potions, it should be enough for a small market increase. That isn''t enough for monetary compensation, but how about I let you live here? I can fix you up a bed in the attic, not much, but there should be enough space for you to sleep and study. You can also eat with me and I won''t charge you, sounds fair?" My eyes widen, i am sure she is aware that is an incredibly generous offer, but I can tell she doesn''t want me to make a big deal about it. I''d be a fool to deny such an opportunity but the best I can do is nod wordlessly. It was enough for her to get the message at least. "Welcome aboard then, mage"- she says with a smile. A good shiver runs down my spine, as my entire being understands the weight of this marvelous new beginning. The Waterfall "...Hey Claire? Where are we going?.." - I ask the woman guiding me through the foliage. "I told you already! It''s a surprise!" - She responds in earnest. We had been walking for almost 10 minutes already, deeper and deeper into the wild. Yet she refuses the tell me what is it she was so eager to show me. It all started when suddenly the alchemist had an idea after I commented she was especially stressed today after dealing with today''s customers. The girl took my hand and whisked me away into the forest. These past few months of living with her left it clear that she was a little "excentric". But this was unusual... Even for her. "Aaannnnd we are here!" - Claire exclaims as she pushes aside a branch to reveal a beautiful waterfall. The sight left me in awe. Its beauty was nothing less than magical. The sun shined beautifully against the water current, as it dropped onto the bed, its droplets created absolutely mesmerizing colors. Never had I ever seen such an incredible natural miracle with my own two eyes. While I stood wide-eyed, Claire snickered at my reaction. "I know, I know... Mind-blowing isn''t it? I used to come here all the time when I first moved to this village, stumbled upon it while collecting some herbs. Sadly I eventually just got too busy with business to visit... But then you showed up" - I Blushed at her words, as I did every time she praised me, i had a feeling she enjoyed watching me squirm, as her compliments were often sudden, though they never seemed ungenuine. "You helping around where you can... Really made a difference, I hope you know that." It really wasn''t that big of a deal, helping her was only warranted after she gave me so much. Yet she wanted me to know she was grateful. There wasn''t a doubt in my mind that she knew what it meant to me. She was clever, perceptive, and kind... She was the greatest ally I could have asked for. Before I could lose myself deeper in thought her voice cuts through the silence in an eager tone. "Now let''s have some fun!" - with surprising grace and agility, the girl removes her dress from her body. I quickly cover my eyes behind my sleeves, my cheeks reddening from shame like a little boy. "C-claire! What are you doing!?" "Relax, take a look! I developed these special garments with a mixture of hydrophobic tonic and a weighted fabric, they are perfect for swimming!"- The bold woman approaches me, unphased by my flustered reaction. Her hands reach for my arms and pull them apart, easily destroying the only barrier shielding my eyes from her tanned self. I think of shutting my eyelids and turning away. But experience taught me that resisting this woman''s assertions is a very futile endeavor. And so I look back at her eyes, then allow my gaze to scan below. She indeed had some sort of underclothing on, though nothing like I had ever seen. They were dark and seemingly tougher than the usual cloth used for the fabrication of such pieces. "Fantastic aren''t they? I thought of selling them but the supply isn''t consistent enough, and the people of the village would likely not have the coin for acquiring them anyway..."- The alchemist spoke, her gaze laced with thought and a handful of pride at her brilliant invention. "T-they are... But you could have given me a warning you know?" - Color still tints my cheeks as my eyes meet hers once again- "You scared me" Claire shook her head dismissively, letting out a sigh of disappointment. "Jeez Match, you are a man, aren''t you? Don''t be so flustered at a woman''s body! Seriously, it''s just skin, you don''t need to go into shock" - She scolds. "W-well it was just very sudden!" - I try to justify. "That''s no excuse though! You have to be able to handle things like these if you want to call yourself an adult! If the mere chance of catching a glimpse of bare skin makes you blush then how would you even hold a maiden if you come to fall in love?" - her arms cross before she continues - "mm... I know!" - she runs to the edge of the foss beneath the waterfall. Resting her feet in - "The best way to overcome your fears is to face them head-on right? Give me a massage!" A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. More heat rises to my expression as I fluster completely. " I AM NOT AFRAID OF WOMEN CLAIRE! FOR GOODNESS SAKE!" - I insist, her words affecting me more and more. - "Y-you just surprised me okay?" "Then you will have no problem with helping a poor alchemist with her aching back right~? Come on~" - she beckoned me. Defeated, I walked closer to the teasing lady before me, kneeling behind her sat body. "W-what do I do exactly?"- I ask, extracting a laugh out of her pale lips. "Rub my shoulders, then the center of my back, around the spine, if you know what that is, and... Be gentle." - she speaks, turning away. Swallowing, I move to lay my hands on the girl''s soft flesh, massaging her with trembling hands. The redhead turns to me as if noticing I am on the verge of a breakdown at the mere thought of doing something wrong. " Take a deep breath Match, you are not defusing a bomb, you are just helping me relax... Put a bit more pressure now" - her words once again put me at ease. Doing as she tells me I compose myself, to gently knead her sore muscles to the best of my ability. I was still somewhat embarrassed to do this, it wasn''t something I was used to, I never had much time to spend on courting. For years I was fully dedicated to working. Then to studying, so this is the first time I lay my hands so intimately upon a woman, as embarrassing as that may be. "You are doing well... a little more pressure and make sure to rub in circular motions..." - Claire speaks, her praise a valued ally in my quest to remain somewhat calm and nonchalant. I listen intently to her every comment, making sure to apply her every advice to my handling. As the minutes fly by, I feel myself mastering the skill, Every small gasp and gentle hum feels like a victory she produces feels like a victory. But all good things must come to an end, even this sweet moment of affection. "Thank you Match... You can stop now" - she stretches and yawns, as she leans forward, away from me - "I appreciate the gesture. You have no idea how hard it can be on the muscles to stir caldrons and wrangle elixirs all day while dealing with the pressure of the shop" - She turns back to look into my eyes, hers soft and reminiscent. - " Now... Come join me, won''t you? It feels like I haven''t swum in this place since I was a little girl..." - She spoke somberly "Feeling nostalgic old lady?" - I say in an attempt to dispel the melancholy in the air. She laughs. A beautiful, melodic sound. One I came to appreciate deeply. "...'' old lady'' huh? You better be careful, ''cause this old lady can still pull you into the water!" - She grabs my arm suddenly, pulling hard to get me to fall into the pond with her. The woman giggled joyfully at the precept of retribution for my playful remark. I try to fight her pull but the wet soil around the edge of the water doesn''t help and I slip, falling with her onto the old water. "C-claire! What the hell! You know these robes are very hard to dry!" - I call out as we emerge together but she only chuckles. "That''s what you get~" - she sticks her tongue out at me before swimming away. I try to put on an annoyed expression but I can''t manage to. I don''t think I could ever muster negative feelings towards the playful redheaded spirit who finds such joy in teasing me. And after coming out of the water to dispose of my wet robes. Remaining only in my braies, I jump back to chase after the girl with playful splashes and banter. The rest of the afternoon is filled with bliss. I never imagined how it would be to have siblings. But as we played on the water like two carefree children, I think I found out. The Artificer Today''s morning starts off quite eventful. With Claire bursting into my room with an excitement that would be infectious if I hadn''t been 3 quarters asleep. Even so, with enough effort, she drags me out of bed and into my usual clothing, for she has something amazing to tell me. The reason why she can''t shine this incredible revelation upon me in the comfort of my cozy sleeping spot eludes me. We stumble downstairs and into her lab, at which point she pulls out a small paper, with a light green hue tinting it. "Do you know what this means!?" - She asks with an excited smile. "...No?" - I answer, rubbing my eyes. The girl rolls her eyes, yet without missing a beat she starts rummaging through drawers. Most likely searching for something else that will tell me nothing about what the current situation is. "Here!" - The alchemist Exclaims - "This is the mana concentration test from when you first infused mana into a flask" - She shows another piece of sheet, similar to the original, however, this one''s hue was visibly even dimmer - "What I showed you before was the one from mana you infused yesterday! This improvement means my potions'' effects are increased 12% instead of the old 3%!" My eyes widen at her revelation. It had been three months since I started living here and infusing her brews. To think that I improved this much in such a period... It was incredible! I wish only that I could have experienced such happening with the extent of a fully aware brain. "That''s...Amazing" - Bewilderment fills my eyes as I speak, being colored with a sliver of pride as well. "Isn''t it? Means I finally get to charge extra for the extra kick" - She says dreamily, no doubt already having calculated her profit. I look at the girl, with the same defiant glint I learned from her - "Really?" The girl is quick to rebut "Hey! Don''t look at me like I am some greedy merchant! More money for me means better ingredients and better Elixirs for everyone!" She proclaims proudly sticking out her chest "Plus, I might even get you a gift for your contribution to the business~" "...Better be a good gift then..." - I jest playfully back at her. "Haha, I will try, no promises, 12% is a nice starting increase, but it won''t make us rich just yet~" Claire''s smile was always a welcome sight, and this spaired together with finding out I had undergone a significant improvement in my time here, was nothing short of heartwarming. And just about enough to make me feel ready to spring up and help Claire open the shop. But before I can reach for the small wooden box containing the keys to the apothecary. Claire stops me. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Actually I have a special ask for you today match" - she saunters closer to give me puppy dog eyes - " Could you deliver a few tonics to north across the forest? Please?" "There are... People there?" - The forest beside the village was quite extensive and as far as I knew there were no nearby villages to the north. " Yes... A singular person, an eccentric man who practices his craft in solitude. He pays very well..." - She speaks - "I delivered to him only once sadly, the journey took two whole days. I had severely underestimated the time it would take to make the delivery and come back. When I finally reached my home again, not only was I completely exhausted, but several of my fermenting or resting potions had gone bad, take that together with all the business and brewing time I missed out on, and..." - she sighs - "It was just not worth it to try again... But if you went, then I could stay here and make sure everything doesn''t go to hell, while not losing any business... so... Could you? Please Match... " - The Alchemist begs sincerely. I exhaled, and with a smile, I answered her - "Of course Claire, it''s not like I haven''t gone through a few kilometers of wilderness before" - I smirked and continued confidently - "I will be back before you know it" "Thank you so much!" - She hugs me tenderly. - "I will prepare some supplies for you!" And with that, the easily excitable girl scampers off to rummage through drawers and pantry. Before long I am outside, almost ready for departure, a bag in over my shoulders filled with just enough supplies for the trip. And beside me two crates, each filled with neatly packed elixirs. I wave goodbye to my dear friend and pick them off the floor, calmly walking into the foliage. Even though it wasn''t that long since I wandered the wilds, I felt a pleasant feeling of nostalgia, the sensations and sounds of nature calming my spirit. Step after step I go, and soon I can no longer see the village behind me. The silence and solitude were a nice break from the much more stimulating life I became accustomed to with Claire, she is a joy to be around, but her inexhaustible energy often took a toll on my own. I wonder if that''s what is like to actually be skilled in your passion. Perhaps one day I too will be able to tap into such endless motivation. After all, I am improving at an encouraging pace, that''s not guaranteed to last, however, the extra mana boost might be enough to start learning other spells. But I don''t know if it''s the right thing to do, considering that every bit of magical power I spend on practicing, is one that could instead, be infused into tonics... My development might slow down, but making better potions benefits both of us instead of just me. I sigh - "Seems I will get a good bit of practice on infusion at least..." - I say to myself, as I pause in my step. Momentarily I decide to put the crates down and stretch. Looking around I still see no sign of the mysterious man''s home, it feels like I have been walking for a few hours already. The trees around me don''t look too hard to climb, so I scamper up one of them for a better view. In my scouting, I can just barely make up a large building in the distance, with a blue-tiled top, almost akin to a wizard''s tower, but the design differs in other ways, being more horizontal and square. With measured excitement I jump down from the crown to the grass, hitting the ground in a soft landing, evoking a fleeting sense of pride from within me ¡ª until something much more interesting catches my attention, a slithering critter, with an unnatural, beautiful color. I never saw this type of snake. However, I am aware that the bright colors it carries don''t exactly signify friendliness. The long creature turns its vertical pupils to me, seemingly feeling threatened by my acrobatics performance. While I''d love to leave the well-decorated little beast alone, it stands in my way to the crates, so, I reach into my bag for some of my old firestarters and throw one of the enchanted pieces of wood near the hissing reptile, it''s mindless fierceness visible in the way that it immediately bites the inanimate shiny object. I focus my influence onto the sigil causing a small, sparkly combustion to take place. Thankfully enough to spook the colorful foe away, without harming it. Free from the terrors of creepy crawlers, I pick up the crates and start the last stretch of my walk. That is, until I have to come back, but then I won''t be hindered by the items I am carrying, I should be back home before sundown, hopefully at least. In these few last steps towards my destination, I wonder what kind of hermit I will find in this strange place, who would have use for so many different tonics? Who would have NEED for them? And just what kind of craft would one practice in such a secluded location? I reach the door, it''s well adorned; in fact, the entirety of the structure is well-made to an uncanny degree. Something I had only ever seen at the school... Something like this in the middle of nowhere... Was awfully strange. But there''s no use in standing here, questioning unimportant things, when there are deliveries to be made, so I make use of the expensive-looking door knocker and wait. From the other side, slow, heavy footsteps came nearer and nearer to the barrier between us, the distinct sound of locks being unmade could be heard permeating through the air as the seconds stretched with anxiety. Finally, with a creak, the door opened, to reveal a large dark-skinned man, in very fancy clothing, looking down at me with a smile, his eyes unseen, shielded behind thick opaque glasses with golden frames. "My delivery!" The Artificer(part 2) Soon the man had ushered me inside his not-so-humble abode. To bring the tonics inside and to wait while he gathered the payment. The place gave off a sense of orderly chaos. The walls and overall architecture were well-adorned and clearly made with care and high-quality materials. However, the place was filled to the brim with strange apparatuses. I guessed they were advanced machinery. The likes of which I had only ever read about. I take a comfortable seat on the couch amidst the mechanical mess. And within a few minutes. Soon the well-dressed noble is back and once again I am confronted with his strange appearance, not only did he dress himself strangely. His skin was like a dark oak tree. It reminds me vaguely of a people I read about once, but I can''t put my finger on it. "Would it be rude to ask?", I ask myself, not only is he a valuable client of Claire''s, but also a mysterious, possibly dangerous man, one I don''t want to offend. However, before I could ponder it further, I yet again heard their heavy steps. "Found your pay little lad!" - The man walks into the room pompous, His adorned vestments restraining his movements to some extent. But he seems accustomed to the factor, in his nature - "Here you go kid!" - The smiling man places the somewhat heavy pouch in my outstretched hand. After getting rid of the lump in my throat I speak. "Sir... If I may ask, where are you from? I never met anyone with skin as dark as yours" The man''s eyes crinkle further. - "The northern lands! A great state!" - He hesitates, his expression distant for a moment, before continuing, with a less cheerful tone - " For... most anyway..." My mind races to connect the dots, producing a sound more excited than I myself was prepared for "YES!" - I fluster clearing my throat - "A-apologies, I just remembered it now, I read about the people in the north... N-not very much. I didn''t have the time sadly, but in the texts I studied, it said they were quite important in their arcane discoveries and contraptions! Magic tempered especially by the sun and heat!" The man laughs, the sound gruff and joyful "Right you are lad! There the burns twice and in some places even Thrice as bright as here!" His voice soars proudly "That''s why we are colored the way we are! Our skins are extra strong, resistant to the heat that for others would be unbearable!" - He grabs my shoulder like I was a long-time friend - " You wouldn''t last ten minutes! Haha! Not without some proper protection at least!" I can''t help but smile, the middle-aged man''s strong charisma-filled demeanor was moving. He carried with himself a careless wisdom, no doubt obtained from a well-lived life. Something to envy. Many may grow arrogant with intelligence, and gain a sense of superiority over others, much like many nobles and studious folk I met. But it seems he was able to avoid this more inimical consequence, with humility and grace. Encouraged by the positive response I decided to alleviate the other bit of curiosity burning in my mind. "That''s incredible! And if I may ask sir, what are those machines all around us? What is their purpose?" - I ask curiously. "Ah, those are mostly scrap, some of them have niche uses but they are all failed projects and experiments" "Your projects sir?" - My interest peaked. "That''s right! Ever heard of an artificer lad?" My eyes widen. The hints were there to suggest it, but why would an artificer be here in a faraway forest? They usually can only be found in capitals, and accompanied by those of high status, as their unique skills are heavily sought after. And exceptionally well compensated for their services. "Sir... Are you aware of how comfortable of a life you could live with your unique set of skills? Why be here In the middle of nowhere? When you have such luxurious accommodations..." The man sighs, leaning back on his armchair " I know my friend, but... comforts aren''t everything, and to be honest I never much cared for the overbearing life of royalty, constantly being paraded around, having to endure fa?ades, liars, and pretenders... And the constant noise and spectacle, ugh" -He shakes his head with a displeased expression- "That isn''t life lad, not for me anyway..." "This..." - He gestures to the machines scattered around the room " This is what makes me happy, being mostly left alone, to practice my craft... Not that I mind good company once in a while" - The man shrugs " Might not look like much, but... It''s peace." I am left in awe, as I silently contemplate the wise artificer''s words, before speaking calmly. "That... is a very enlightened perspective, sir. You have my respect, not that it counts for much coming from someone as young as me." - I explain humbly. With a smirk, he rebutted - " Non-sense boy, you are wiser than many noble man and women I met in my day" "heh... I am flattered. It means much coming from you sir..." - I allow myself to accept the praise, before infringing yet another question upon his wealth of knowledge - "Perhaps my appearance alone isn''t very telling... But I have some bare wisdom over magic... I am a wizard sir. And I''d like to ask you if you have any advice for me, e-even if the ways we control magic are quite different..." The man''s brows lift in surprise "A wizard? Mmm, I have to say friend, apart from the robes, you really don''t look the part" He gets up from his armchair, which creaks upon being freed from his heavyweight "They usually are a lot more... Unpleasent... I guess it''s hard to keep yourself humble when you can bend reality to your will so simply..." The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Met my fair share that would fit that description sir... Yes" He laughed - " I see things haven''t changed that much... since I came to this place" - He paces himself to that door he produced Claire''s due from. - " Luckily I find you much better company, so I am gonna show you something amazing Lad, come with me" Reluctantly, I follow after the man through halls and chambers, until we reach the door characterized by an ominous glow bleeding through the frames, he unlocks the strange passage. Inside a dazzling sight. Beautiful light that sparked, ran, flowed. Trapped inside a structure, akin to something between a cylinder and a dome, of thick glass. "What... in the world is that..." - I step closer to the hypnotizing wonder. Touching my hand to the glass, it seems to act as a catalyzer, and the otherwordly effects start to swarm closer orbiting my hand, just on the other side of the transparent barrier. "A plasmatic unstable mana construction. In this special container, it can''t escape, nor take form by itself. A handy way of storing magical power without it draining away, or interfering with my machines" - The man speaks eloquently, with a proud smile stamped in his complexion. "Absolutely... incredible..." I say, pure wonder and shock in my eyes as the colors swirled before me" You said... it was unstable. Is it dangerous?" He shakes his head " Oh no, I don''t mean ''unstable'' in that manner... While this much stored energy can''t exactly be described as ''safe''. It won''t detonate on us any time soon. When I refer to instability, I mean it constantly collapses onto itself, remaining pure, instead of taking form... See it for yourself, cast a spell onto the recipient" I snapped my eyes at him in shock, but his expression was confident, sure that nothing could go wrong. The assurance of the wise Artificer paired with my wonder and curiosity drove me to do as I am told and so I let my mind be filled with thoughts of heat and fire, as I canalize my being into the recipient. And it reacts, the turbulence inside aggravates my concentration. The solution turns to a mix of tones red and orange. But instead of remaining or continuing to transform. The changes reverse, as the beautiful sight trembles and collapses back into its natural state. "Without this... my craft would be impossible to practice... It was quite expensive to get my hands on a good quantity, but I won''t need to replenish it for another 5 years or so..." "... Sir... I am glad that I got to see such a phenomenon... But if I may be so rude... What does this have to do with advice?" He laughs" Oh my friend, I apologize for the confusion... Let me explain... As you must know, a magic user''s understanding of the forces he intends to control is crucial to the growth of their power, and the wise use of it... While I may not be able to provide much direct advice in your craft, as it differs substantially from my own. I can show you this, and help you understand that magic is... Chaos...order...nature...Man... Divine and mortal... it''s incomprehensible to many, and even those who seek to understand it are constantly dumbfounded by its elusive nature... But the beauty and power it possesses is beyond this world, and it rewards those who don''t give up on it... Be patient, be inquisitive, and your power will grow in time" I smile, though the man lacks a full understanding of my situation, I decide to take his advice to heart - " Thank you, sir... I am grateful that you would share your wisdom with me" He smiles wide and shuffles my hair"It''s no problem little lad, though you should be on your way back to the brunette. If you delay much the sun will go down and the forest will be much harder to navigate" "Brunnete...?" - I ask clueless. "yes? You were sent by the town''s alchemist, were you not?" - he says with an equal amount of confusion. "That''s correct, but... Miss Claire has orange hair" The man laughs - "Orange you say? Last time I met her that wasn''t the case. But it makes sense for a young alchemist, likely an accident with some prosperity herbs" - He nudges me " Don''t ask her about it though friend, Women can be sensitive over their hair, and she seems like a dangerous lady to offend" "Is that right?" I chuckle, trying and failing to accompany the man''s easy enthusiasm " Well then... I won''t, and you are right, I should get going, thank you for the hospitality, Sir..." He nods and guides me silently to the front door "Come visit soon mage, I enjoyed our talk... Oh! And my name is Caldolor, but you may call me Cal" I smile as I finally wave goodbye to the eccentric hermit "I will try to find the time Sir, and... the only name I ever had is Match" And just like that I pace away from the artificer''s lair. My steps quickly become longer as the dark hues begining to populate the skies reminding me of the man''s cautious warning. The path back went mostly smoothly, tripping on some exposed roots aside. And a starry eyed Claire eagerly received her payment and congratulated me for a successfull mission. Before promptly sending me off to bed, so she can have some peace to count her coin, an order I happily took after the eventfull day.