Liz and I spent a better portion of that night huddled together on that crouch crying. Liz was a wreck as she messily sobbed into my chest. I tried my best not to get any tears or snot in her hair.

It wasn’t until almost morning that the both of us were coherent enough to talk about it. Liz was the first one of us to break the silence after we finally fought back the rest of our sobs.

“How much was it?” she asked, sniffling.

“What?” I responded, confused.

“The healer,” she said. Her voice was dead, it lacked any emotion besides the occasional sniffle that I could hear her doing her damndest to smother.

“Liz don’t worry about it, I already told you I’d handle it,” I responded my voice gentle. I didn’t want to upset her with talk of my current arrangement with Martha again.

“Trey, I need to have an idea of how much it’s going to cost to make sure my father wakes up,” Liz said, desperation in her voice. It was subtle, a vague waver as she said it. I felt something in my chest almost break.

“Liz, It’s fine, I can figure it out.”

“Trey, can you please, just once, stop with the bullshit? I know you care about him. But he’s my father, Trey. I can’t just sit here and watch you try to figure out if or how you plan on saving my father’s life. I’m not going to close my eyes and leave him hanging if I can do anything about this.”

“Listen Liz-” I started but then there was a knock at the door. We both turned and looked at it. I groaned and went to open it.

On the other side of the door was Martha. She looked like she was going to say something but then she glanced at me and her brow furrowed. She glanced past me towards Liz. I saw her eyes squint as if she was trying to solve some type of problem.

“I gather my news was taken very… poorly. I am truly sorry for the state of your father. I wish my healer was able to do more.”

“How much was it?” Liz asked.

“Hmm, I was originally planning on charging 200 thousand yul but considering how little it seems was done I was going to tell you I’m knocking the price down to 150 thousand. I would cut it more but I’m barely breaking even with this discount.”

I saw Liz blanc at that for a moment, before she regained focus.

“How much for a healer that can fix him?” she asked.

“Liz-” I tried to say but Martha cut me off.

“Sorry, but the amount of damage is too much to fix for any healers that I have on retainer. You’ll have to have someone else look at him if you want something better.”

“Bullshit,” Liz said, her voice shaking. “That’s bullshit and I know it. If anyone can do something about it you can, I know you have the resources for it.”

“Cute accusation child, but I really can’t. Despite popular belief, my resources are, in fact, finite.”

Liz’s fist balled up as her jaw clenched. Her eyes went glossy before her head dropped down and she started shaking.

“Where,” she said, voice barely audible, “Can I find a healer that can fix him?

Martha shrugged, “I don’t know. You could try the church I assume. Hope one of their better healers are free and pity your situation. Otherwise, I don’t know. Kidnap some poor healer and force them to work for you? That’s what I would do, at least.”

Liz looked up and glared at Martha. Martha just put her hands up in defeat. I noticed again, as Martha stared at Liz, she had a searching expression on her face, as if there was a puzzle, a mystery that she just couldn’t quite work out. What was that about?

Liz let out a deep sigh, her entire body shuttering. “Fine. You can’t help. How much does Trey owe you now?”

“I still haven’t decided,” she said, voice bland.

“What? The fuck you mean you haven’t decided yet?” Liz asked, anger rising in her voice.

“Trey hasn’t given me all the details about what he needs from me. He and I need to discuss that information and then I can decide on a final bill.”

Liz just glared at me silently. I raised my hands in defeat, mimicking Martha’s earlier gesture. Liz’s scowl deepened. Not the best move in hindsight.

“That is actually why I dropped by, today my schedule was finally free and I thought it prudent to get such variables decided and out the way, so we can discuss repayment. May I sit?” Martha asked, gesturing to the couch. I looked at Liz, who just rolled her eyes. I nodded and Martha straightened out her skirt then sat down.

“So, first of all, let us figure out a rental agreement. How long do you want your lease to be?”

I was caught slightly aback, “Uh, lease?”

Martha cocked her head to the side, “Yes, the lease. Since you plan on renting this space from me.”

“Ah, sorry. It’s just, I wasn’t expecting a formal lease.”

“And why not? It would be more trouble than it’s worth not to. Besides, if you’re planning on applying to the academy, you’ll need an official address for their background check.”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You weren’t aware? They conduct an extensive background check for anyone that is applying. Family history, known associates, and other things. I cleaned most of that up for you when I first heard of your goal. The magical aspects of the search are a bit harder and I’m less clear on those details but I believe you should be relatively okay due to the proximity to my presence. It would at least make scrying attempts into your past of various efforts inconclusive.”

I looked at her, obscuring my obvious confusion. Was Martha inscribed? I had never considered the idea before. There were some ways to obscure scribing, but not many people knew any of the rumored rituals that could accomplish the effect. I wasn’t going to ask her, I think that was something that crossed the bounds of our relationship as, frankly, it wasn’t really my business. I decided to go with a less invasive question, “Why did you do so much research into Northridge’s acceptance?”

She just looked at me, confusion mounting on her face, “You didn’t know? Leo is planning on attending Northridge’s administrative track.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I almost choked on my spit. Liz did choke on her spit.

“That asshole?” she sputtered, and Martha shot her a nonplussed looked.

“Do remember, that asshole is still my son and I am generously helping you out. I understand you have a rough history with him, but as a matter of principle, that was a stupid comment.”

Liz held her tongue deciding to not purposefully provoke Martha.

“Anywho,” I said, “Let's get down to business.”

_________________________________________________________________________

Martha and I discussed terms over the better part of two hours with the occasional chipping in from Liz. She still wasn’t happy with my decision to get help here.

“In total, you’re looking at 10 thousand for the 2-inch diameter mana gem, 2 thousand for the alaster you’ve requested, alongside another 1.2 thousand for tools you asked for. Finally, our rental agreement will be at 1.5 thousand per month, with a year lease. Is that everything?”

Tap tap tap. Liz’s finger clacked loudly on the table making her irritation obvious. Martha completely ignored her presence for a bit, besides from that occasional questioning glance that she kept sending her way, still searching for something. I shot Liz a nonverbal apology. She rolled her eyes.

I did the math in my head. First, the ceremony. Then our healing, as well as Mr. Carter, Liz’s father. Then the mana gem, the alaster, and the tools. Then there was the first month's rent.

I felt my head swim at the amount—614,700 yul. I saw Liz’s face as she finished the mental math: she paled.

“Everything currently totals to 614,700 yul, before we account for the accrued cost from rent,” Martha said. She looked almost bored talking about an amount of yul most people would never own in their lives.

For a moment, I felt like I was drowning on air. I had dived in the deep end and the water decided to swallow me whole. I felt cold. Numb. But only for a moment.

This was my decision, I weighed my future against this price and evaluated that I was worth more. Or at least that I would be soon enough.

“How ‘bout interest? What’s that?” Liz asked, “These sorta things usually have that, don’t they? What’s the rate? How often does it compound? Daily? Monthly?”

Martha waved a hand, “None of that, frankly, Trey is basically family at this point, so I just gave him a flat upcharge for the inconvenience and called it a day.”

Liz just looked more suspicious at that, “You’d lose a fuckton of money in opportunity cost. Funds you could use for investments like real estate, businesses, or assets that would appreciate in value are being funneled into Trey. You’d lose money in the long run. A lot of it, too.”

Martha looked amused at this point, “All excellent points, but you’re missing a key detail. I expect about half of that to be paid off in about a month.”

“The fuck you mean, a month?” I blurted out without thinking, “That’s fucking insanity.”

“I did tell you you wouldn’t be able to pay this off within the next decade if you didn’t take a big job or two. I just so happened to have something lined up next month where I could use your particular touch. It’s an important job, too.”

Liz spoke up, “What’s the job?”

“Remember the robbing of Central Bank?” Martha started, I felt my heart begin to pound in my chest.

“That was you?” Liz asked astonished.

Martha scoffed, “Gods no. That job was horribly executed, but there is opportunity there. Do you know what was stolen?”

I wanted to say money, but if it was that simple she wouldn’t be that simple. It couldn’t have been money then.

“Mana gems, it’s our defining resource and we actually have a reserve of it. The Central Bank handles a large portion of it and even occasionally uses it as a specie. Artisans and massive companies commonly exchange their money to use it for infrastructure. If it wasn’t money, it was mana gems.”

Martha smiled at that, “Precisely. Now, they’ve been cagey about what’s been stolen. Hells, the authority has even mobilized. Why do you think that is?”

“There is going to be a sudden large influx of mana gems on the black market. With mana gems, not only does creation of mana-based weaponry become easier, but even basic mana artists become more dangerous as it greatly increases mana reserves, let alone scribed people.

Martha shook her head, “Close, but it is deeper than that. Do you know what binding gems are made of?”

“Of course not,” I answered, “That’s something the authority and the church put a lot of effort in keeping secret…” Then it hit me.

“Mana gems are a component in creating binding stones.”

“Correct. Well done,” Martha said.

“Wasn’t that obvious?” Liz asked voice laced with confusion. I looked over and stared at her.

“A stone that can strengthen the connection with other realms has to use mana as an energy source for one. We have to use them as a focal point in a ritual that siphons a massive amount of mana and focuses it on a single individual. If binding gems weren’t mana gems, they were either something adjacent or the inscription process would probably do really bad things to your soul,” she summarized.

“Ah, because of mana overfill,” I said, “Wait, how come this isn’t common knowledge, then?”

“I’ll give this one to you. It’s an open secret. Most relevant people already know this and the mental distinction our government has worked on instilling in the populace is doing its job. Have you ever questioned where they come from before?”

“Yes,”

“No,” Liz and I answered at the same time. Liz looked at me, her eyes saying ‘Really?’ I shrugged.

“Trey’s probably put more thought towards being inscribed than most people and still didn’t think of it. It simply isn’t something most people have to think of; most professions don’t require it. When you’re figuring out what you’ll eat in a few weeks, or for the more destitute, this week, It doesn’t matter. Wanting to be inscribed is a dream to many but how the process works doesn’t matter. Where the gems come from matter even less.” Martha stopped for a moment, “Sorry I seem to have gotten distracted, Leo lost interest in these discussions a few years back so it was refreshing to have one again.”

At that moment, Martha’s phone buzzed several times in rapid succession. She pulled it out of her pocket, face scrunched up in annoyance.

“It seems something has come up, and I will have to be leaving shortly. I believe we’ll have to table the rest of this discussion for some other time. Any last-minute thoughts or questions?”

“I want in,” Liz said.

Martha and I both stared at her.

“I don’t just mean on the job. I want half of Trey’s debt too,” she continued.

“Liz-”

“No, A decent portion of it was healing for me and my father, I think its only fair.”

“However you two wish to divvy up the debt is between you two. Regarding the job I doubt you have the skill set required.”

Liz smiled, “I’m a quick study,” she said. Martha looked unimpressed. Liz wasn’t lying, she probably could be extremely helpful in whatever assignments Martha gave me, but I didn’t want the two women to interact more than necessary.

“Not happening Liz,” I said.

She glared at me, “Trey you don’t get to decide that,” she pointed over at Martha, “she does.”

She dragged a chair over and sat backward in it directly in front of Martha, “I’m trained in mana-combat with experience combatting scribeds—”

When the hells has Liz fought a scribed?

She continued, “I know I have at the very least a kinetic realm alignment leading to my mana to having heavier impacts from a slight natural manifestation. I’m also trained in other mundane martial arts, and have some training with knives and batons.”

Martha’s eyes lit up, “I knew I recognized you from somewhere! Fine, I find your employment acceptable You wish to split Trey’s current debt in half and assist with his job? I will agree to both,”

“I sure as hells won’t!” I cut in, “What the fuck Martha, that isn’t what was agreed to!”

“No,” she said, “This is better than what was agreed to for every party involved. Liz will be able to perform a range of jobs that I know you cannot and having you two as a pod gives me more opportunities for you to pay the debt off. I believe our conversation has made it abundantly clear that my extraordinarily generous terms will come back to bite me if your debt takes anywhere near the amount of time that it typically takes I’ll start losing large amounts of potential money as mentioned by your friend.”

I was pissed.