As the room fell silent, all eyes turned toward Eldric, who now stood calmly by his table, his expression unreadable. The flickering firelight from the hearth cast long shadows across his face, giving him an air of quiet authority. He met Varric's gaze steadily, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the tension that filled the air.

Varric's sneer faltered for a moment as he sized up Eldric. "And who might you be?" he asked, his tone dripping with condescension. "This is none of your concern."

Eldric ignored the baron's son's words, his focus shifting to the young waitress who had narrowly avoided the unwanted attention. She stood a few paces away, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hope. Eldric gave her a reassuring nod before turning his attention back to Varric.

"I suggest you and your 'brothers' leave," Eldric said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "This is a place of peace, not a playground for bullies."

A murmur rippled through the crowd as the patrons exchanged uncertain glances. It was clear that no one had ever spoken to Varric this way, at least not without suffering consequences.

Varric's eyes narrowed, his pride clearly wounded by Eldric's words. He took a step forward, his hand moving toward the hilt of the sword at his side. "You think you can talk to me like that? Do you even know who I am?"

Eldric remained unperturbed, his gaze steady. "I know exactly who you are," he replied. "And that's why I'm giving you this chance to walk away."

The arrogance in Varric's eyes was quickly replaced with a flash of anger. He wasn't used to being challenged, especially not by someone he perceived as a commoner. He gestured to his followers, who began to spread out, surrounding Eldric and cutting off any potential escape.

The innkeeper's hand tightened around the edge of the bar, her eyes flicking nervously between Eldric and the group of nobles. She knew that if a fight broke out, her inn would suffer the consequences.

Eldric sighed inwardly, realizing that words alone wouldn't be enough to resolve this situation. He reached into the depths of his mind, connecting with the flow of mana that surged through his body. The grimoire, hidden within his soul, responded instantly, offering up countless spell models that he could use. But Eldric didn't need anything complex; he needed only a demonstration of power.

He raised one hand, palm facing upward, and began to chant softly under his breath. The words of the incantation, though spoken quietly, seemed to echo through the room, each syllable resonating with an ancient power.

The air around his hand shimmered, and a small, intricate array of glowing symbols began to form above his palm. The array was delicate and precise, its lines pulsing with an eerie, reddish light. At its center, a flicker of flame appeared, growing steadily until it formed a small but intensely hot fireball.

The room was bathed in the flickering orange light, and the heat from the fireball was palpable, causing those nearby to instinctively step back. Eldric didn't release the spell; he simply held it there, allowing its presence to speak for itself.

Varric and his followers froze, their bravado vanishing as they stared at the fireball with wide eyes. The confidence that had fueled their earlier behavior was quickly replaced with fear. They had heard tales of powerful mages, but it was something else entirely to stand before one.

Eldric locked eyes with Varric, his expression hardening. "I will not ask again," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Leave. Now."

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Varric swallowed hard, the cold sweat on his brow betraying the fear he tried to hide. He glanced around at his companions, who were already taking hesitant steps backward, their courage having abandoned them. Realizing he was outmatched, Varric forced a smile, though it was shaky and unconvincing.

"Very well," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "We were just leaving."

He turned on his heel, his followers quickly falling in line behind him, and without another word, they hurried out of the inn. The heavy wooden door swung shut behind them, the sound echoing through the now-silent room.

As the tension slowly dissipated, the inn's patrons began to murmur amongst themselves, the relief in the air palpable. The innkeeper let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her posture relaxing for the first time since the nobles had arrived.

Eldric calmly closed his hand, and the fireball and its accompanying incantation array disappeared as if they had never existed. He turned back to his table, the calmness he projected never faltering, and resumed his seat by the hearth.

The innkeeper approached him, her rabbit ears twitching slightly in what Eldric recognized as a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. "That was... quite the display," she said, her voice now free of the tension that had marked it earlier. "Are you, by chance, a student from one of the magic academies?"

Eldric shook his head. "No, I'm not. I've learned my magic through other means."

The innkeeper studied him for a moment, clearly intrigued. "Well, I'm grateful for your help. Varric and his lot have been causing trouble in this part of the city for a while now. It's good to see someone put them in their place."

Eldric nodded, accepting her thanks with a polite smile. "It was the right thing to do."

As the innkeeper turned to attend to her other patrons, Eldric felt a tap on his shoulder. It was the beastman waiter who had served him earlier, his eyes filled with admiration. "That was incredible, sir! I've never seen magic like that up close. If you don't mind me asking, where did you learn it?"

Eldric considered his answer carefully. He knew that revealing too much about himself could attract unwanted attention, but he also needed to gather information about the world and its magical practices. "I've traveled far and wide," he said finally. "I've learned from many places, and I'm always eager to learn more. Speaking of which, could you tell me about the magic academies in this region?"

The waiter's eyes lit up at the question. "Oh, absolutely! There are three main academies in this part of the kingdom. The first is the Royal Magic Academy in the capital. It's the most prestigious, where nobles and the most talented mages go to study. Then there's the Starlight Institute here in Ravenwood, which is known for its research in elemental magic. And finally, there's the *Verdant Glade Academy*, which focuses on nature and healing magic."

Eldric listened intently, filing away the information for future use. Each academy seemed to specialize in different areas of magic, and he was curious to learn more about their teachings and practices. "And what about entry requirements? Are they strict?"

The waiter nodded. "They are, especially the Royal Magic Academy. You need either a noble's recommendation or to pass a rigorous entrance exam. The other two academies are a bit more lenient, but they still require a demonstration of magical ability."

Eldric leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. He had no intention of enrolling in an academy, but understanding their structure and the types of magic they taught could be invaluable. It would give him insight into how magic was practiced and perceived in this world, and perhaps even lead to new discoveries.

"Thank you," Eldric said, giving the waiter a grateful nod. "You've been very helpful."

The waiter beamed, clearly pleased to have been of service. "Anytime, sir! If you need anything else, just let me know."

As the waiter returned to his duties, Eldric finished his meal in silence, his mind already turning to the next steps of his journey. He had handled the situation with Varric without drawing too much attention, but he knew that the road ahead would be filled with similar challenges.

For now, he would rest and gather his strength, but soon, he would need to delve deeper into the mysteries of this world, to uncover the knowledge that would allow him to master his new abilities fully. The magic academies, the different branches of magic, and the political landscape—all of these were pieces of a larger puzzle that Eldric was determined to solve.

As he retired to his room later that night, the events of the evening still fresh in his mind, Eldric knew one thing for certain: his journey had only just begun, and the path ahead would be anything but easy. But with his knowledge, his skills, and the strange new powers he had acquired, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.