Wallace reacted with...well, not excitement, but he certainly had a bounce in his step as we returned to the inn for our savings. I found myself already second-guessing my decision the entire way back, unsure if this would prove a worthwhile investment or a waste of gold.

The warehouse was alarmingly cheap and relatively isolated, both of which were advantages as far as I was concerned. It was also about to fall apart, which meant repairs would eat into my savings further. Dueling and monster hunting had paid well, but not that well. I could make it back, but not quickly or easily.

Besides that, it would take time. I had no way of estimating, but I doubted it would be any quicker than a month. While I did not plan to leave Aranth before then, I would rather have something I could use now. Purchasing a 'home' such as it was might gain us more privacy and save some gold on lodgings, but were those benefits worth it?

I went back and forth on that question the entire way back, finally settling on purchasing the warehouse despite my misgivings. Even if it did not prove profitable, having a place to stay within southern Ferris would not hurt.

We decided Wallace was better suited to the fussing and sparring inherent to haggling. Girem had never taught me the skill, and it was not one I had ever bothered developing on my own, but Wallace seemed a little too eager at the prospect. I saw it as a valuable chance to test the man one more time as well.

Buying the warehouse meant Wallace would hold onto most of my gold. It was a show of trust and goodwill, one that I had to give him if I planned on making the man a long-term ally. It might backfire on me, of course, but I would rather gamble with money than my life.

I had expected a joke or a snarky comment, but Wallace accepted the gold pouch with an uncharacteristically serious look, likely understanding the gesture. He gave me a nod, promised to let me know how it went when he returned and departed with a straight back and focused expression.

A part of me almost laughed at his demeanor, wondering if a small show of trust was all it took. The rest of me wanted to focus on a more critical task.

I spent five minutes digging through my old notebooks, eventually finding one dating back about a year. It was filled from the first page to the last with notes from classes, reading, personal testing, and musings on magic. I flipped to a section near the back, pulling out a few pages written not in my handwriting but in Simon's.

When I first brought him the Aether-infused water, he had made a handful of immediate observations and conclusions. The finer details of how it was created and worked escaped his understanding, but what he had learned was fascinating all by itself.

First, Simon deduced the elixir came about through long, gradual exposure of water to a ley line, which over time stabilized into a natural elixir. He suspected it took years, maybe even decades, and likely only worked because both the physical material and energy had near-infinite reserves.

Second, Simon theorized that replicating the process in a controlled setting should be possible. Long, difficult, expensive, and inefficient, but possible nonetheless.

I had briefly considered pursuing such a project and even wrote out a few basic designs but set it aside. I was a poor alchemist, and the natural thing was not that difficult to find. And in the last month or two, it became even less of a priority for one simple, frustrating reality.

The Aether water was losing effectiveness.

I knew it would happen eventually, but I had hoped for a little more time. Unfortunately, each imbibement earned me less progress, as the mana volume within the water was fixed. I estimated the benefits would plummet at Fog and become negligible by Drop.

Expected or not, it was a problem that needed solving. I wanted to improve faster, not stagnate, and my altered mana-gathering technique could not make up the difference. I would need to cheat, and I had an idea for one possibility. It would take hard work, preparation, and jury-rigging at least two other magical tricks, but if it worked...

Well, it seemed best to figure it out first and then start back-patting.

Rumors often claimed that noble families had special, hidden meditative chambers. These used rare materials and secret magic to gather and concentrate mana, allowing these mages to earn several times as much progress for their efforts. I had no idea if these were true or not, but replicating them might just be possible.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

First, I needed a location with above-average mana density. As luck would have it, the warehouse fit that requirement, though not quite perfectly. It was built near a strong ley line, but I suspected the actual epicenter was further to the south.

Then, I would take my basic schematics for creating the Aether water and refine them. I had known even a year ago that the process would require gathering and concentrating mana artificially, which meant the concept should be transferable in theory.

It would take weeks to months to create anything workable, but I had plenty of time. I also saw it as a learning experience, as even a failure might lend me insight into improving other parts of my magic. Still, the whole thing led me to a somewhat uncomfortable question.

My eyes drifted up from my notes and landed on the nearby windowsill, where Cat was perched. Past him, I saw the midday sun reflecting off the roofs of Aranth. Most used red and orange tiling, resulting in a brilliant and somewhat blinding sight.

There was a reason Aranth was better known amongst the nobility as the Citrine Jewel.

After a second, refocused on the feline. Had Cat really led Wallace to the warehouse by accident? Was it just a coincidence? I knew the beast was more intelligent than his mundane cousins and suspected he had found the location on purpose. Most magical creatures did tend to gravitate towards mana-rich areas, after all.

If true, Cat had become more dangerous. His physical growth had mostly stopped, and he was now a massive black feline with a mana signature hovering in the mid-Haze range, yet that did not ease my nerves. I had never forgotten when he pulled on his energy for some still-unknown magical ability. Thankfully, he seemed content to eat, sleep, and wander most days, but what housecat did otherwise?

I dismissed my concerns after a few minutes. The cat was smart, but he could not predict the future. He had no way of knowing that Wallace would follow him, see the warehouse, like it, and try to purchase it, nor could he have guessed how I would react. It was a series of coincidences that my paranoia was mistaking for manipulation.

Still...

"Can you communicate?" I asked after a long pause.

Cat opened his green eyes and yawned, standing with a stretch before meeting my gaze. There was something there, a kind of recognition, and I wondered if he was about to say something. Legends said a few species of beasts could, but I had doubted he was one of them.

Then, he jumped onto the floor and began padding around in a now-familiar way. I sighed and opened the door, and Cat vanished into the hallway for parts unknown. He would return sooner or later, as he always did.

I stared at the closed door for a few minutes and seriously considered sitting back down and getting a head start on my next project. Then I realized my eyes had drifted shut, and I was half-leaning against the wood.

Maybe Lysandra had a point about getting enough sleep.

I stole a few hours of sleep just in time to meet Wallace as he returned from buying us the warehouse.

"How did it go?" I asked, and Wallace grinned before holding out a now far-emptier coin pouch.

"Talked him down. I pointed out the damage to the windows and door. Oh, and the rear wall was cracked open."

"Was it?"

"No," Wallace shook his head, "But from what I heard, that place has been abandoned for a long time, and I'm the first person to ask about it in months. He'd rather take my word for it and get it off his hands."

Something occurred to me, "Did he explain why it was abandoned?"

"Yeah, I guess it's one of the older buildings in the area. Other warehouses and shops built up around it, and it was basically blocked off. You can't get much through the alleys, so most traders can't use it. The current owners had it for years but had to abandon it for the same reason."

"Am I right in assuming you brought all of this up?" I asked, "These shortcomings, I mean. I imagine they might help you talk him down to a lower price as well."

Wallace's grin took on an almost predatory look, "More than you'd think. We'll need the extra gold, though. I was exaggerating about the damage, but not by much, and repairs will cost a pretty piece."

"Right, repairs," I nodded, "Can you handle those as well?"

"Is this what you wanted me to come with you for? Menial tasks you're too good to handle?" Wallace asked, and I caught the tiniest flicker of genuine annoyance.

"No, of course not," I replied, "But I trust your judgment. You were a noble, yes? Likely trained to coordinate groups and dispense orders? Those were never things I planned to do. I am asking you because you would do a better job, as you did haggling for this warehouse."

Wallace stared at me for a few seconds, and I could tell he was unhappy. I did not blame him, either. Half the reason I struck out on my own was because other things stood in the way of my personal growth as a mage.

I had given him a show of trust, but the fact remained that our relationship was one of convenience and mutual benefit, not friendship. If I wanted to keep our alliance cordial, I would need to prove why he should work with me.

Finally, Wallace grunted, "Alright, fine. I'll start setting things up tomorrow."

"Excellent," I nodded, "Thank you."

Wallace nodded, then stood. Before he could leave, I held up one hand and continued, "A moment, please."

I returned to my bag and pulled out a small packet of notes I had written on our trip to Aranth. My original plan had been to hold on to them longer, but I had realized there was a way to keep Wallace happy with his progress and give myself a more valuable ally.

"Notes," I explained as I held the packet out, "On enchanting. Read them, and let me know if you have any questions."

Wallace took the notes and glanced over the first page, then chuckled, "You expecting me to complain?"

"No," I lied, "But I wanted to be ready once you were comfortable with your existing skills. If you want to learn more, that is your choice. We made a deal, and I will honor it."

If I had my way, I would have waited until I improved my strengthening spell more and got a handle on healing. Wallace had proven he would not run off with my gold, but that did not make him trustworthy enough that I wanted him as a threat.

Wallace smiled, and we said our goodbyes. By now, it was a short while past sunset, and I debated getting more sleep. But I also knew I had another book to read, a basic design to sketch out, and studying to finish.

Lysandra's words echoed in my mind, and I tried not to sigh as I sat down and pulled out the second book she had lent me. It would not kill me to steal a few hours more productivity before laying down for the night, but it might kill me to slow down.

Besides, as long as I got some rest, would Lysandra really notice the difference?