Upon acquiring the snargrass, the healers, for a rather large fee, synthesized the potion to strengthen Lydia’s essence channels. After a series of tests to confirm that it was working, the doctors discharged Lydia, telling her to come back the next week to get reexamined. .

As for my unfortunate purpleness, I declined letting the doctor examine me. I couldn’t allow anyone to take a look under the hood, especially not over something this superficial. For now, I would hope that that Idiot Magum was correct, and it would wear off soon.

A painful bill later, Lydia and I were out the door. She had regained her smile, and we resumed shit-talking each other on the way home. After arriving at the suite, and forcing Lydia to go rest, I sat down to do what I had long put off, both in this life and the last—plan my future.

‘Okay Noah, if you don’t do this, you will fall into old patterns.”

I took a pen and paper out of my inventory and began to write, listing every fantasy occupation that I had ever deemed exciting. Then, I sketched out notes with corresponding pros and cons.

*******************************

Blacksmith:

Pros: Creative. Lucrative. Not too attention grabbing.

Cons: I can already break most things with my hands, so why would I need better equipment? Large space required to operate. High start up and materials cost.

Mage:

Pros: Powerful. Gives insight into how the world works and likely many other things on this list.

Cons: Hard to find spells. Would need to acquire materials illegally.

Doctor:

Pros: Can help people. Make combat easier on others. Generate goodwill with many people. Probably can be learned from non restricted books. I can’t allow doctors to check me out, so I should probably look for a way to make sure I don’t kill myself. Tentacles are bad.

Cons: I would likely need to already know Alchemy or Magic to be effective at it.

Alchemist:

Pros: Can generate a wide range of effects. Can help people I am not near. Can solve Lydia's skill up problems. Can likely help treat my own problems. Probably can do in the hotel suite.

Cons: Will it be as tedious as cooking? How much would equipment cost? Where do I get recipes?

Adventurer:

Pros: Travel the world. Meet interesting people. Exciting. Would help level Lydia. Zero Start up costs.

Cons: Is this even a job or am I just killing things?

Enchanter:

Pros: Make cool and useful stuff. Gain abilities that I can’t from skills.

Cons: Probably need to know magic before starting. High startup costs. Do I really need more abilities?

Treasure Hunter:

Pros: See interesting places. Learn about the world. Keep me hidden by being hard to find. Epic loot.

Cons: Can’t set down roots. Do I actually need treasure?

Archeologist:

Pros: See interesting places. Learn about the world. Keep me hidden by being hard to find.

Cons: Can’t set down roots.

Business Man:

Pros: Lucrative. A step on the way to empire building.

Cons: I could have done this on earth, and I will never lack for money with my power level. Also, since when did I want an empire?

**********************

The list helped organize my thoughts, but there was also an important question about each path that could not be qualified: would I enjoy it and/or find it fulfilling?

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‘There is no way of knowing that without trying them, so I’ll attempt them all. It’s just a matter of order. My highest priority should be making sure that I don’t kill myself... so healing, magic, and alchemy. Hmm… that could work. Excelling in any field will draw attention, but in healing it would be positive, and, more importantly for my cover, non threatening. There would be no threat to the status quo, so I wouldn’t end up with a target on my back… I hope. So help me… if I have to go Jason Asano on a church of the healer… Whatever, decision made.’

I exhaled deeply. Taking a step even as simple as that one set my mind at ease. I had weighed my options and made a choice… This shouldn't have been a big deal, yet it was something that I had never even taken 10 minutes to do in my first life.

Now, time for a plan.

I took out a new piece of paper, and began to detail how I was going to become a healer. I quickly ran into a wall. Step one was to acquire knowledge. At my current level of understanding I didn’t know enough to see how it could be applied. Undeterred, I wrote out my thoughts.

***********************

Step 1: Acquire information. Figure out where I can get books on those topics. Start with store bookstores. Is there a healer’s guild? Can I learn directly from a doctor? Is there a library?

Step 2: Assimilate information. Raise my text memorization skill and commit the books to memory. Also, evaluate and level any relevant skills that are developed along the way.

Sub step 2: Start with books related to the soul, essence energy, and the interaction of the system and the body. Let’s figure out how much I can level my skills without killing myself or blowing up my essense channels.

Step 3: Seek out uses for the skills acquired, starting with Lydia and myself, then expanding outward.

***********************

‘Boom! Another step!’

While the whole process had only taken a few hours of thought (and a few minutes of writing), I counted it as a win. Then, I went to sleep in a previously unknown fashion, excited to wake up the next day.

*************************

Lydia staggered into the living room. Her color was worlds better than it had been the day before. She smiled at me and the breakfast I had waiting for her. Lydia came over and began to shovel the food into her mouth.

“You’re so elegant. I must paint you.”

She smirked with puffed out cheeks. “Screw you, I’m sick.”

“Just be careful, the plate isn’t edible.”

Lydia swallowed and mimed horror. “You couldn’t buy me an edible plate? It's like you don’t even care.”

We both chuckled, and she started to eat at a more leisurely pace.

“So, what's the plan for today?”

“My plan is to go find some books on medicine, the system, and alchemy. Are those as regulated as magic?”

“Ehh… not exactly. Those texts aren’t illegal because you can’t accidentally cause widespread destruction. However, they can be a bit tricky to find. Alchemy texts and supplies can be found at specialty stores, but all the really powerful recipes are national, company, or individual secrets. Medicine should be easier. No one is trying to hide it, but there just wouldn’t be high demand for the texts, so they wouldn’t be frequently printed… or…”

Lydia’s gaze drifted up, and she lost herself in thought. Her brow strained, and she mouthed something.

“Um… are you okay?” I asked.

“What? Oh. Yes. Yes. Just thinking… Listen, write down a list of everything you want, even the things you think will be illegal. I’ll get it for you.”

“You will acquire a library full of forbidden books?”

“Yes.”

“And how wi-”

“Every girl needs a few secrets. Keeps us intriguing.” She smirked, then grew serious. “Can you please trust me? I’m trying to pay you back.”

“... is it going to bite me in the ass?”

“There is a non zero chance this could cause some issues for me, but it's far less risky than any other way that you could acquire what you're looking for.”

“I’ve told you huge secrets, and you can’t trust me?”

“It's not that I don’t trust you. I just…” Lydia’s face grew dim. “We both know that priestess wasn’t exactly a career choice that made sense for me… I got into some trouble when I was younger, and one of the sisters took me in. My history isn’t something I like talking about. Your secrets are things that were done to you, not things you’ve done. Can that be enough for now?”

I rubbed my temples. “Okay.”

“Okay.” She smiled. “Now get me a list of what you need, and I’ll make you an even bigger cheater.”

*****************************

Lydia walked into a bank located near the city center. At first glance, there was nothing special about it: similar architecture, similar naming conventions, similar clientele as any other bank in the area. The only oddity was a single black raven perched on the edge of its roof, unmoving.

She had noticed it before, but said nothing. This was a life that she had left behind, and for good reason. Swallowing hard, Lydia strode in and to a counter as though she owned the place. The teller greeted her and asked for her account number.

It had been a long time, but Lydia still knew it by heart. “Marcos 443-5674-343”

The teller straightened when she heard the name. “Um… I’m sorry, but Mr. Marcos is no longer in client relations.”

“... is he still with the bank?”

“Yes. But he was transferred.”

‘Huh, he’s moving up in the world.’

“Give him the account number. He’ll take the call.”

“Very well ma’am. Please take a seat on the couches while you wait.”

The clerk disappeared. Time passed. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes. Eventually a very flustered looking clerk returned. “If you’ll follow me, Mr. Marcos is on the line for you.”

“Excellent.”