2nd Light beneath the eleventh Moon

3761 Cycles beyond the Dark

722 Years after the Repentance

Entry: 1/019

Dear self,

The dreamcatcher I made in the Nightgloom ritual has been successful. At least I think it might be. I woke up this morning resting calmly in bed instead of sprawled over the floor somewhere. I could feel what might have been the urges that I am being compelled towards but they vanished as I woke up properly so I might have been imagining them. I feel uncertain if my mind has truly been made more sensitive and attentive to details as any influences that it might have over me are not easily discernible and my behavioural tendencies remain drastically unchanged.

Since Mother has instructed me to prepare a bell from our supply of Aarthrium I have set up an infusion circle and let it set while I worked outside in the garden. An Oxalis involved in shielding the garden from colder weather needed minor reinforcement and I managed it with a few incantations. Altering an existing perpetual enchantment didn’t require me to burn material components as creating one would have, at least when I don’t need to significantly change anything about it. The protection charms are anchored to the ankle high garden wall which circumvallates the entire property. There are a dozen matrices evenly spaced across its length which act as the basis for most of the outer wards and charms surrounding the house. These need regular inspection monthly to address any flaws which might develop in them over time. The north-westerly one might need maintenance soon and you should work on it a week from now or so.

The Flatterlight kids showed up back in the shop today spilling snow across the floor. Little Mim is still following her brother Lalen around with an interest in his charmed necklace. Lalen wanted advise on how to use the radiant cantrip I wove into the thing and I offered him a lesson for the price of a Glit Shard, which is generous enough since full tutoring on magecraft can easily go to as high as a Crown or more, not even mentioning that most magicians only accept payment in Augur and will refuse mundane coin. We don’t do that though, which is helpful when dealing with all the people who come in with items but have no other use or experience for magic.

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I showed Lalen how to evoke Radiant energy through his necklace properly and then how to focus it into a beam. He did it a little sloppily but I have a feeling that he’ll shine that little light into enough eyes to perfect the technique. He might even use it for something practical like signaling at some point.

I knew what he really came here for, but those big horse eyes of his just made me want to laugh at him as his sister pestered him. His older sister was likely making fun that he took a necklace of all things for an item. Rings are more popular among the men usually despite necklaces and bracelets being easier and cheaper to do.

Since he was my first paying customer in a little too many days I eventually relented after I got over my amusement. It was as simple as slipping the chain from his neck while he was distracted and letting Mim try it out. He had a dumbfounded panic frozen on his face while I demonstrated to Mim exactly how useless the charm was for anyone who wasn’t Lalen. I jokingly offered to attune it to her but when she actually considered it I told her what the service would cost and she realised I was outside her little price range. I did the entire sales routine with wondrous items and everything to distract her while Lalen was composing himself. They certainly both left the shop wiser than they entered. A magician never helps in the way you want them to; it’s part of the etiquette taught at the Mysterium and everything.

The Aarthrium only required an infusion of vis to become active. Other than a few precautions to avoid spoilage it is a simplistic process. Aarthrium is never stored in a condition it can be used in, as it degrades quickly after preparation. Any of this batch Mum doesn’t end up using will have to be thrown away as somewhat expensive waste. While that is the biggest issue you should be concerned with when using Aarthrium, the part everyone remember is that the preparation takes two days of infusion with occasional observation as it can easily spoil from impurities in the awakening process, which is why I was asked to prepare it even days before it becomes relevant. It also produces a smoke that stinks like rotting vegetables, so most magicians pay other to prepare it, or make their apprentices do it.

Hope we fare well.

Regards,

Me.

~*M*~