There wasn’t anything Tobias could do to help gather information from the Thieves’ Guild, but he could try to find out more about the magical items they’d collected after battling the goblins, red dragon, and Black Robes. The best place to do that was at Everyday Magic.

It had been over a week since the last time Tobias had visited the magic shop on the morning they had left Silverdale to investigate the goblin reports. He loaded up all the magical items into Stanwick’s cart and headed into the inner city. It wasn’t the first time he’d made the journey with a full cart, but it was the first time the cart wasn’t full of monster carcasses.

Grendall was sitting outside the magic shop in a long black wizard’s robe, his gray beard hanging halfway down his chest. He sat in a rocking chair smoking a long-necked pipe. Tobias shook his head and smiled. He couldn’t imagine a more stereotypical Wizard.

The Wizard stood up and looked quizzically at the cart that was most certainly not filled with dead animals.

“What did you bring me today?”

Tobias looked around somewhat nervously, then said, “Let’s discuss that inside.”

Grendall stepped toward the cart. “Hmmm,” he murmured, looking at the contents. “Bring the cart around back, and we can unload it in privacy.”

Tobias nodded his agreement and pulled the cart back down the road and around the corner to the alley that ran behind the magic shop. The Wizard met him there and helped carry the contents of the cart into the shop. Once inside, the wizard pulled the curtain in the front window shut, then closed and latched the front door.

“The shop is permanently warded to prevent eavesdropping, magical or otherwise,” Grendall said. “No one will hear what we discuss.”

“Good,” Tobias said. “I don’t know exactly what we’ve gotten ourselves into, but our journey turned into much more than just a goblin hunt.”

“I can see that,” the Wizard said absently as he picked up one of the staffs that had been in the cart. It was topped with a large green crystal.

Tobias was silent until Grendall looked up. He wanted to make sure he had the Wizard’s full attention.

“The goblins were here for a purpose, and they had very powerful magic at their disposal.”

Grendall held the staff he was examining upright and tapped the end on the floor. It only came to his chest, but the crystal at the top began to glow a bright green. “Very powerful indeed.”

Tobias stepped back apprehensively. The last time he had seen that glow, a huge red dragon had appeared and nearly killed him and his friends.

“Don’t worry. Nothing is going to happen,” the Wizard assured him.

“Do you know what it does?” Tobias asked.

“Many things, I presume,” Grendall said. “It’s a summoning staff, but it’s unlike anything I have ever seen before.”

The Wizard lifted the staff off the floor, and the green glow dissipated. “The magic in this staff is beyond anything goblins could have created.”

“That’s what we thought too,” Tobias said.

Grendall nodded and leaned the staff against the wall. “I will need to study it before I can tell you more.”

The Wizard turned to inspect the rest of the items Tobias had brought. There was a wide assortment including wands, medallions on gold chains, rings, and other ordinary-looking items that had been identified as magical. Neither Tobias’s nor Elithia’s Analyze skill was high enough to identify the magical properties beyond telling them they were enchanted in some way.

Grendall gave him a look that made Tobias feel like he was in church getting lectured on every type of sin imaginable. “Now that you have officially joined the ranks of Wizardry, you really need to improve your skills so you can Analyze things like this yourself.”

Tobias’s mouth dropped open, sputtering for a moment. “How did you know that?”

“In addition to the wards that prevent eavesdropping and theft, there are other enchantments,” the Wizard replied, “including one that tells me everything about anyone who enters the shop.”

Tobias wanted to be offended, but he had used his Analyze skill on more than one person—Grendall included—without their knowledge too.

“I am close to leveling up to Novice,” Tobias said.

Analyze:

Learn characteristics of objects, monsters, and sentient beings. Advancing levels in this skill will provide more information. Advance one level when both Intelligence and Wisdom are 15 or higher.

* Basic Level—Learn Basic Stats including Name (if applicable), Race / Type, Size, Health, Vitality, and Basic Attributes.

* 96% to Novice Level.

Grendall rubbed his hands together. “If you’re close, let’s get you leveled up,” he said, reaching for a sword that was hanging on the wall. “Analyze this.”

Name: Longsword

Condition: Excellent

Damage:

* 15–20 Health points base damage.

* +5 Health points damage versus Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, and Giants.

Requirements:

* Strength 10 or higher

* Agility 10 or higher

Attack Cost: 4 Vitality points

“Okay, got it,” Tobias said.

The Wizard put the sword down and grabbed another that looked nearly identical. “Now, Analyze this.”

Name: Longsword

Condition: Excellent

Damage:

* 15–20 Health points base damage.

Enchantments:

* Unknown

Requirements:

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

* Strength 10 or higher

* Agility 10 or higher

Attack Cost: 4 Vitality points

“See the difference?” Grendall asked.

Tobias nodded. “I can’t see what the enchantments are on the second one.”

The Wizard smiled. “These swords actually have the same damage modifier.”

The newly professed Battle Mage looked at the experienced Wizard questioningly. “Then why can’t I sense it on the second one?”

“The damage bonus was added to this sword when it was created,” Grendall said, placing his hand on the first sword. “That required a Wizard with the Enchantment skill to be present when it was forged. It’s part of the sword itself.”

Tobias nodded his understanding.

The Wizard placed his hand on the second sword. “This sword was enchanted after it was forged, and a skilled Enchanter can actually remove this bonus or replace it with another,” he said. “You won’t be able to detect the enchantment until you reach the Advanced level of Analyze.”

“So, the first sword is better?” Tobias asked.

“Not necessarily,” Grendall said. “It is less common because the Enchanter has to be present when it is forged.”

“So, it is better,” the Battle Mage stated.

The Wizard shrugged. “The enhancement is more permanent, but it cannot be changed,” he said. “I guess it depends on what you value more, permanence or flexibility.”

“Which one costs more?” Tobias asked.

Grendall laughed. “The first one.”

The young man smirked but didn’t say anything.

“Enough debate,” the Wizard said good-naturedly. “Let’s get your skill advanced.”

It only took another ten minutes for Tobias to Analyze enough items to level up.

Analyze:

Learn characteristics of objects, monsters, and sentient beings. Advancing levels in this skill provides more information. Advance one level when both Intelligence and Wisdom are 15 or higher.

* Basic Level—Learn basic stats including Name (if applicable), Race / Type, Size, Health, Vitality, and Basic Attributes.

* Novice Level—Identify armor and weapons currently in use.

* 0% to Advanced Level.

“Novice level doesn’t give you much,” Grendall told him. “Advanced level is where you really need to be so you can identify magically enchanted items.”

Tobias nodded his agreement as he took a moment to review his skills list.

* Skill: Analyze, Level: Novice.

* Skill: Bartering, Level: Basic.

* Skill: Levitation, Level: Novice.

* Skill: Magical Instruments, Level: Advanced.

* Skill: Map Making, Level: Novice.

* Skill: Spellcasting, Level: Novice.

* Skill: Stealth, Level: Basic.

* Skill: Swordsmanship, Level: Advanced.

“I would recommend you increase your Analyze skill again at your next level increase,” the Wizard said.

“That sounds like good advice,” Tobias agreed.

“After that, work on increasing your Spellcasting skill,” Grendall said. “And speaking of Spellcasting, you need to work on acquiring more spells whenever you have the means to acquire them.”

The new Battle Mage smiled. “Funny you should say that,” he said. “I’ve got some loot to spend.”

Tobias reached into his Bag of Holding and started withdrawing the gemstones he’d received as his share of the loot after defeating the red dragon and goblins. He placed them on the counter, then he added the objects he had looted in the sewers, dividing everything up by type, creating several piles of gems and jewelry.

The Wizard’s eyes widened at the multiple piles of gemstones, but it was the jewelry that drew his immediate attention.

“Where did you find that?” Grendall asked, touching a diamond pendant with his index finger, moving it away from the pile slightly.

Tobias shrugged. “From a Giant Sewer Rat, I think.”

The Wizard picked the pendant up and examined it. “I think this is something important,” he said then placed it back on the counter. “I need to look into it more to be sure, though.”

“Do you want to hold on to it?” Tobias offered.

“No, you keep it,” Grendall said. “I will let you know if I find out anything significant.”

Tobias shrugged and put the pendant back into his Bag of Holding. “What about the rest?”

“It’s all valuable but nothing out of the ordinary,” the Wizard said. “It’s more than enough to start building your spell repertoire.”

“What would you recommend?” the young Battle Mage asked.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Grendall said then went behind the counter and started pulling out scrolls, creating several different piles.

The Wizard looked through the scrolls, nodding and mumbling to himself, occasionally putting a scroll back or taking another one from under the counter. When he was done, there were three distinct groups, each with six to eight scrolls.

Grendall placed his hand gently on the first stack of scrolls, which looked like a pyramid. It was the largest of the three groups. “This pile is what I would consider a good set of Basic level spells.”

Tobias eyed the pile of scrolls hungrily. He hadn’t realized until that moment just how badly he wanted to become a powerful spell caster.

The Wizard smiled at him knowingly. “These scrolls will teach you Basic Fireball, Basic Lightning, Basic Ice Storm, Health Boost, Magic Dart, Illumination, Cloud of Darkness, and Magic Shield,” he said. “Each one gets more powerful as you increase your Spellcasting skill, and some of them have completely new spells at the Advanced and Master levels.”

“I already have wands for some of these spells,” Tobias pointed out.

“You do,” Grendall agreed, “and in some situations, the wand is a better choice. Unfortunately, wands are limited both in the number of uses and by the fact that you have to physically be holding it to use it.”

The Battle Mage nodded. “I understand,” he said then turned his attention to the other two piles of scrolls. “What else do you have?”

“This pile contains Advanced level spells,” Grendall said, touching the second stack lightly. “There are Advanced level versions of the Fireball, Lightning, and Ice Storm spells plus scrolls for Invisibility, Sphere of Invincibility, Mirror Image, and Transposition spells.”

“Did you say Invisibility?” Tobias asked, his eyes wide.

“I did, but it has its limitations,” the Wizard told him. “You can’t attack or cast spells while invisible. As soon as you do either, the spell is broken.”

“It still sounds like it could be very useful.”

“Oh, it is,” Grendall agreed. “You just need to understand the limitations.”

The Wizard placed his hand on the third stack of scrolls. “These are what you should ultimately strive to learn,” he said. “Master level spells. I have scrolls for Portal, Time Freeze, and Mind Control, plus the Master level Fireball, Lightning, and Ice Storm spells.”

Tobias’s mind was racing. There were so many ways to use these spells in battle, but he needed to level up his Spellcasting skill before he could use most of them. That was going to take more Intelligence points than he would have for a while, though.

He looked at the Wizard, putting on his best puppy dog face. “I need to increase my Intelligence attribute quite a bit before I can advance my Spellcasting skill,” Tobias said innocently. “Is there any way you could part with one of your rings?”

Grendall held out his hands and looked down at the rings on each finger then up at Tobias. “I’m sorry,” he said with a shake of his head, “I cannot part with any of these.”

The new Battle Mage looked down dejectedly. “I understand.” He looked up and forced a grin. “You can’t blame a guy for asking, though.”

The old Wizard put a smile on his face. “Ask and it shall be given to you,” he said then reached into the display case and pulled out a simple silver ring. “This ring will boost your Intelligence attribute by two points, which I believe is enough for you to progress to Advanced Spellcasting.”

Tobias looked at the Wizard in astonishment. “Seriously?!” he exclaimed. “And I can have it?”

“Let me rephrase my previous statement,” Grendall said. “Ask and ye shall be allowed to buy.”

“I will pay whatever you ask!”

That turned out to be a lot. The Wizard took half of his gemstones just for the ring. Tobias also purchased the eight Basic level scrolls, the seven Advanced level scrolls, and the first sword he had Analyzed. By the time he paid for it all, his stash of loot was almost gone. He didn’t care, though. Not one bit.

“Thank you so much,” he said as he shoved all the scrolls and his few remaining gemstones into his Bag of Holding. “I won’t be able to learn the Advanced spells until I level up again, but thanks to the Intelligence-boosting ring, I will be ready when that happens.”

Tobias slipped the ring onto his right ring finger and felt an intellectual boost, his mind feeling immediately sharper. It really made his personal stats look better too.

Name: Tobias Martin, Human

Profession: Wizard, Battle Mage Specialization

Level: 8

Size: Medium

Health: 160 / 160

Vitality: 104 / 104

Agility: 12

Charisma: 9

Intelligence: 14 (+2)

Stamina: 13

Strength: 12

Wisdom: 9

He had never understood how jewelry made some people giddy. He did now.

“I’m glad I could help,” Grendall said as he put the last stack of scrolls—the ones with Master level spells—on a shelf behind the counter. “I will save these for whenever you are ready.”

“I will be back for them,” Tobias promised.

“In the meantime, I will let you know if I learn more about that pendant,” the Wizard said, then added, “and the staff, but that will likely be a while.”

“I look forward to hearing from you on both accounts,” Tobias said. He strode from the shop with a smile on his face. He had spent a fortune on the ring, scrolls, and longsword, but he had no doubt it was money well spent.