Arad picked one of the desks and sat. Taking a book that Merlin provided, he started reading. “All the time, Mother earth applies a constant force on everything. Gravity magic is the control over that power.” He looked toward Merlin, “Who is Mother earth?”

“The land itself. Most mages believe the ground we walk on has a spirit. That concept matter to druids, but you only need to focus on the force applied.” Merlin replied with a smile, “Try affecting the book you’re reading,”

Arad closed his eyes and focused on the book.

“Don’t concentrate on the book. Try focusing on the force applied by Mother earth.” Merlin said in the back.

“You know?” Arad looked at her.

“Of course.” Merlin smiled, “There is a trail of mana sitting where you focus. It’s what allows the casting of magic. Thanks to it, I know you’re looking at the book and my chest when talking.”

Arad looked back at the book, “That’s your fault. How about you wear something normal?”

“It’s functional,” Merlin replied, “Now focus on the magic.”

Arad kept trying for the rest of the day. But he failed to move the book. “Are you sure this magic work?” He asked, looking at Merlin.

“Of course. But you can’t burn things without fire. You need to activate the magic first.” Merlin said as Arad and Aella left the room.

The two walked back to the guild, exhausted. Arad spent the whole day screaming at a stupid book while Aella took her time reading books.

“Ah, you have returned.” Nina looked at them with a smile.

“Please tell me it’s signed.” Arad sighed.

Nina nodded, “The guildmaster signed it, and he even offered this,” She put the signed paper on the table with a small stone beside it.

“What is this?” Arad looked at the stone, confused.

“A pre-calibrated teleport stone. Set at your home, and you can teleport back to the guild once.” Nina lifted the stone, “It only works once, but it’s to be used in emergency only.”

“Can I use it to return to the guild from anywhere?” Arad asked.

Nina shook her head, “The stone needs to set with a starting and an end destination, also with the appropriate amount of mana.”

Arad sighed, “So I can’t,”

Your void walk in an innate spell. It won’t help to modify the stone.

Arad took the paper and the stone. Heading back to the wooden roof.

***

“Welcome back,” The receptionist smiled, bowing down. “We received the first payment. You can consider the house your own now,” She said immediately.

“That was quick,” Arad smiled.

“We can start working on the house, right?” Aella looked at her.

“Of course. Did you have anything in mind?” The receptionist replied.

“I did want to fix the garden and plant some medicinal herbs.” Aella said with a smile, “Do you have any tools?”

The receptionist shook her head, “Sadly not, but I can direct you toward someone who can help.” She drew them a map on a small piece of paper, “Say that Sina sent you, and you will get a discount.”

“Your name? Not the wooden roofs?” Arad looked at her.

“It’s my father’s shop,” Sina replied.

After thanking her, Arad and Aella walked out toward the place she mentioned. When they reached it, it was a flower shop.

“Excuse me, is someone here?” Arad pushed the door open and looked inside.

An old man with a long grey beard glared at them, “Hoho, look at what we have here.” He stood, smiling, leaning on a steel cane with two glowing blue eyes.

It was only momentarily, but Arad felt his scales tingling, sweat dripping on his back.

“Ah! Here we go,” The old man slowly walked to his desk dragging his legs as he leaned on the cane. “What do you, young one?”

Aella approached, “Medical herbs seeds, also some gardening tools. Sina sent us.”

“Sina did? Shen must have taken a liking to you. She barely recommends anyone.” The old man smiled and nodded, “What herbs and tools?”

Aella started explaining the items she needed. Arad took his time looking around. This place is giving me a strange feeling,

^I know, it the old man glares.^ Arad replied, “He’s keeping an eye on us. He looks old, but he’s strange.^

After a while, Arad asked, “Old man, how long have you worked here?”

The old man giggled, “Longer than I care to explain. You could call it my retirement.”

“Retirement? What did you work on before?” Arad looked at him with a smile.

“I was an adventurer, a wizard. But I once used too much magic I crippled myself. Now I can barely walk,” The old man tried to stand, his knees shaking. “An advice, don’t overdo it with spells. Those directly impact your brain, and you can fry it.”

“I see, I’m a sorcerer and was trying to learn some spells, but I spent the whole day without progress.” Arad sighed, scratching his head.

“Hmm, look.” The old man pointed with his staff at an empty pot. “What do you see, young one?”

“A pot full of dirt,” Arad replied.

“It has a seed inside. You might not see the progress now, but soon it will emerge. Magic is the same. It will take some time for it to start sprouting.” The old man smiled, “What spell were you trying to learn?”

“Nothing special, Just something recommended by the archmage,” Arad replied. ^I probably shouldn’t tell him about Gravity magic.^

“I guess it’s not your element? Try feeling it. That always helps.” The old man stood, dragging his legs toward the candles.

“If it’s flames, try putting your hand on a candle. If it’s water, try swimming. And if it’s earth, bury yourself. Feeling the element you’re trying to use will give you a deeper understanding.” The old man ran his hand over the candle. His palm ignited and quickly faded.

“You know a lot,” Arad said with a smile.

“It’s the way I learned magic. I hope it helps you,” The old man replied.

“Arad, I got everything we need.” Aella approached Arad smiling with a large bag in her hands and a spade on her back.

“All of those?” Arad looked at her, “How much did you pay?”

Aella looked confused and stared at the old man. She forgets to ask about the price. The items she bought were easily over two cold coins because of the medical seeds.

“Everything is three gold coins. But you can have it for one, medical herbs would go a long way to keep you kids alive, and I prefer a live customer than a dead one.” He smiled.

“You only serve live people,” Arad sighed.

The old man shook his head, “I serve the dead ones as well. Hanata herb is used to preserve dead bodies before burial, and I am the only one who sells it. If you died, I would be the one selling it for your burial.” 𝒷𝒹ℴ𝓿𝓁.𝓬𝓸𝓂

Arad and Aella were leaving, but they stopped at the door, “I forget to ask, what’s your name?” He looked at the old man.

“Cain, you can call me old man Cain.” Cain smiled.

“See you later, we might come back later.” Arad and Aella left.