Back at our home-smithy in Windemere, I spent another night making enchantments to grind the final points of proficiency. Repeating the same thing over and over stopped giving proficiency gains after a while even during the fast-growth phase. But as gaining N levels added N points to the base proficiency and N points to the fast-growth band, my tentacular adventure placed me right on the cusp of a new Ability.
> Enchanter[ 465 / 494 ]. Select Two Abilities
>
> * Conditional Activation: Restrict the usefulness of the enchantment to reduce the cost by (Proficiency/10)%
> * Limited Perk Effects: Restrict the effect of the Perk enchantments to one aspect to reduce the cost by (Proficiency/10)%
With these two new Abilities reducing costs by 71% when used in tandem, I created a couple of items for me.
> Bracelet of Ruby Kitten Transformation
>
> Value: ~156 gold coins.
>
> Restriction: Works only on non-activated children.
>
> Materials: Gold, Cat's Eye Ruby, Chipped Red Dragon Scale
>
> This item has a difficulty of 273 to properly Appraise. Failed tests that beat 227 will show the item as a minor cursed one.
>
> When worn, this bracelet grants the ability to transform into an adult common house cat with ruby-red eyes. Item transforms with the wearer.
Despite the name, the cat form was one of an adult. Unless one wore this and sat on the lap of the Dragon King plotting vengeance [1], everything would be fine. The ruby-red eyes were the effect of my {Wild Enchantment} Ability rearing its ugly head.
> Needletail Swift Brooch
>
> Value: ~247 gold coins.
>
> Restriction: Works only on non-activated children.
>
> Materials: Gold, Wind Sapphire, Chipped Black Dragon Scale, Pegasus down.
>
> This item has a difficulty of 273 to properly Appraise. Failed tests that beat 227 will show the item as a minor cursed one.
>
> When worn, this brooch grants the ability to transform into an adult needletail swift and reduce flying exhaustion by a factor of 5. Item transforms with the wearer.
Everyone's favorite long-distance flyer. For overland travel.
> Fairy Invisibility Ring
>
> Value: ~177 gold coins.
>
> Restriction: Works only on non-activated children.
>
> Materials: Cloudy Quartz, Unicorn Horn shed enamel.
>
> This item has a difficulty of 273 to properly Appraise. Failed tests that beat 227 will show the item as a minor cursed one.
>
> When worn, the wearer becomes invisible until they attack. Fairies can see the wearer normally and know they're invisible to mortals. Item transforms with the wearer.
These three and others I would certainly think of in the future were for my own use. With Nenandil awake from the moment I was born, she could give me these items from the item box and I could wear them. They would've helped a lot with the crevasse I was tossed in, for example.
Doing new and unique stuff helped a lot. I converted seven points of fast-growth into actual proficiency.
> Enchanter[ 472 / 494 ]
I couldn't grind more Enchantments. It was time to return to school.
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I went earlier than normal to talk to Marlowe. Just a heads up and to confirm his perceived intentions regarding the dwarven treaty. Then I went to the classroom before he could berate me for not donning the Tabard and putting an end to this charade. The dread that my stubbornness could ruin Windemere remained at the back of my head, nagging more than a hundred grumpy [Archmages]. The half-dwarf me could endure a grumpy golem.
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The first ones to arrive in Class were Phyllis and Camilla. The cat-kin dashed across the room and literally pounced me, her tail flicking behind her with excitement.
"Haru! We heard the dwarves were back, but we didn't see Brewster yet!" She rubbed her cheeks against mine. "So good to have you back! You missed seeing Marisol almost get suspended."
"What happened?" I asked.
The exchange gave Phyllis time to reach us. "She was caught with two third-years in one of the alchemy labs. They weren't wearing their protective aprons," she smirked.
"Or anything else," Camilla chuckled. "She was converting them into Zacheia's faith."
"At the same time," the lamia blushed.
"What did they do to her?"
"She got reprimanded for using a laboratory as a place of worship," Camilla rolled her eyes. "Then the three had to take a mandatory week-long course on laboratory safety. The Headmaster promised he'll set a space in the cathedral so each allied God in the pantheon has a place for their worship."
"Why 'Allied Gods', though?" Phyllis wondered.
Probably because someone caused a schism in the pantheon. But I held my silence.
Steven and Remus entered and we waved at each other. Then Melania and Jocelin. The two girls quickly joined our group.
"Welcome back, Haru! How was your vacation with those turncoats?" The wolf-kin girl snarled at the end.
"I don't know, I spent time with my father and uncle. I only saw the turncoats at the coronation. I mined a lot, smelted a lot, forged a lot."
"Weapons and armor, I'm sure," She pressed on, a bit overbearing. I imagined Melania as a thermometer of the people's mood in general.
"A few hoes and shovels too," I sighed. "There will be no war among the people of Windemere. The dwarves will snap out of their drunken stupor soon enough."
"It doesn't look like that," Jocelin remarked. "The price of weapons almost doubled. People are afraid to go outside at night. The adventurers are more aggressive than usual. It was as if..."
"As if they were looking forward to stirring trouble," I completed.
The sound of armored people approaching cut our talk short. The princelings entered, first Mirina, then Euric, and finally Isengar. My eyes met the restive prince's and he flinched away.
Finally, Brewster, Darriston, and Marisol came inside moments before Marlowe. It seems our class still didn't have a teacher, or the cantankerous busybody decided to accumulate the two jobs. I guess he was perfectly able to do Headmaster duties while everyone else slept.
"Everyone seated!" He ordered. "Our dwarven students came back as you can see. Despite the political scenario outside, in this Academy, there are no regards as to the rank, origins, or affiliation of students. Anyone that disregards this will be punished. So leave the dwarven secession gossip and hazing outside these august walls.
"On that same line of thought, the princes and princess' escort are dismissed. For the moment I'll allow you to stay inside the campus, but you are restrained to your masters' quarters and the common areas. This does not include the classroom, training fields, or laboratories. Therefore, you are dismissed."
My jaw dropped. Damn, Marlowe was rocking. The knights, however, were less enthused. Isengar was about to punch the [Archmage] but both Mirina and Euric stood up. The former even stole a glance my way and smirked.
"I agree wholeheartedly with the Headmaster's decision," Euric said, winning the initiative over his female counterpart. "Leave us," he coldly ordered his knights.
The four stood up and walked away. Mirina just exchanged a nod with hers and they filed away as well. Then both princelings stared at Isengar. Mirina's eyes darted inside their orbits to focus on me.
She looked away but nodded slightly. One-way communication sucked. I could see her left hand.
We didn't have more time to continue our little game of 20 questions because Isengar slammed his desk and glowered at the whole class. "Fine. You are dismissed as well. Stay in your quarters."
The knights seemed relieved. Especially the mage who avoided adamantly looking my way.
"Good!" Marlowe gushed crookedly. "Now, a recap of the last three weeks our fellow dwarven students missed. I expect you both to review the subject on your own time. First, we talked about the unified eight-element theory and the blanks that surely represent other elemental forces that compose the universe…
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Without the twelve knights, the classroom felt empty. There was a void between the commoners at the back and the three scions in the front row, alone in their desks. The ominous presence of Royalty still cowed the commoners but now it was a matter of fear and respect, not physical oppression. Class ended and Mirina went around her row of desks and called me.
"Haru, It's time. Come with me." Her imperious tone left me no choice.
Of course, it was all an act. But I guess we had a lot to talk about. The girls, however, were dismayed. During the interval, they talked about going out shopping before the prices on luxury goods rose too much. Maybe I should open a shop and sell my own, to compete with the greedy merchants. There was a non-zero chance it was Torgo trying to squeeze some of the coins he spread around back.
Maybe I should stop being paranoid.
"Yes, Your Highness," I had to keep the act.
"You seem conflicted, Haru. What's the matter?" Mirina asked.
"If I may speak freely, Your Highness?"
Isengar was watching me. He of all people should be wary that I was not what I displayed. But if what Mirina told me was true, the prince was on his own. Not even his debt to the other two he'd be able to repay, much less the exorbitant sum he owed me.
"You may, Haru. What's troubling you?"
"The girls and I wanted to go out shopping," I motioned to show the five eager and frightened ladies.
Mirina pretended to think, "I see. With the rumors of a war breaking out, you want to stock up on supplies before the market becomes too chaotic. Very well. I shall go with you… unless my presence would be a bother."
"Never!" I hurriedly denied with frantic hands and a large head shake. "It would be an honor to have you with us, Your Highness."
She grinned. "Very well. Let's go shopping, the seven of us. I'm putting everything we buy on Isengar's tab since he still owes us money."
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[1]: It's a Japanese isekai novel.