Sliding the key into the lock, I twist the doorknob and let myself into Mother’s shop. The curtains have yet to be raised, and there’s a tranquil stillness hanging in the atmosphere. Mother must be in the lab preparing today’s potions. I head through the door at the back and that’s exactly where I find her.

“Oh, you’re back already?” she asks as she sets a pair of flasks on the alchemy table at the center of the room.

“Yeah,” I reply, trying to keep the disappointed from showing in my voice.

“How did it go with Erlin? Are you officially his pupil?”

“No, it didn’t work out. He said he’s not into the theory side of magic that I’d need to learn in order to craft my own spells.”

She looks at me for the first time in the conversation, in a way that only a mother can. “Aw, I’m sorry to hear that, dear, but it’s probably for the best. It’s just like your father said, Erlin’s always going off on dangerous jobs. And besides, he may be a mage, but he’s a brute at heart. He lives for casting spells up close in combat. That kind of person isn’t be a good fit for you, anyway. Did you try the others?”

I appreciate the attempt to comfort me, but words aren’t gonna be enough to keep my spirits up. I answer her question by shaking my head. “I thought I’d come here and help with today’s potions first.”

“Kip…” her face quickly grows stern. “I told you to take as much of the day off as you needed. I can handle the potions on my own.”

“Yeah, but it’ll take much longer if you do it by yourself. Besides, Marlie’s clinic doesn’t open for a couple hours, and I’m definitely gonna try with her before I try with Hinrig.”

The look in her eyes says she wants to be mad, but she now knows that this alchemy session isn’t getting in the way of me finding a master, so she lets up. “Fine, let’s get this over with quickly. Bring all the containers in that cabinet over.”

Among the 16 containers that she’s asking for are the Kenjin root and the crushed Yanrik leaves from yesterday. I bring them all to the preparation area beside the alchemy table.

“We’ll start with the new vitality potions first,” Mother says. “Do you remember the recipe?”

I comb back through my foggy memory. With the excitement from this morning largely gone, I have no fuel to jump start my sleep deprived brain, but I try my best. “It was 4 cups of water, 2 cups of rosepepper, 1 cup of Yandrik leaves, and a sprinkle of xelon skin. I think that was it.”

“Almost. Don’t forget the sprinkle of crushed Amra bone. That’s what holds everything together. Do you remember the process?”

I shake my head. “Can you walk me through it again? I don’t think I got more than one hour of sleep last night.”

“Of course, dear. I’ll explain as we go along.”

The alchemy table looks a lot like those maze puzzles I used to love doing as a kid back on Earth, where I’d enter through one end of the maze with my pencil and wouldn’t lift it until I got out the other end. There are lines and angular arcs running all along its surface in a symmetrical pattern, all flowing into a circle at the very center.

Mother places a large flask at this center point. “First, the water.” She takes a bowl from the preparation area and pours all of its contents into the flask. Then she places her palms at two specific points on the table where the maze is particularly messy. After a few seconds, the water within the flask begins to tremble, as if the entire building was shaking. This is the kind of awesome thing someone who’s Awakened can do.

“The rosepeppers come next, followed quickly by the Yandrik leaves,” she says, a look of stone cold concentration etched into her face as she keeps her palms in place.

I nod and place the 2 cups of rosepepper into the flask, the pink vegetables dissipating on contact with the water. I immediately follow up with the single cup of Yandrik leaves. As soon as they touch the water, they start to glow with a brilliant shine, and a blue fire forms within the flask.

“Good,” Mother says, finally lifting her palms from the table.

The fire quickly grows until it reaches outside the flask, as if trying to escape. Mother responds by placing her hand directly into the flame, yet she remains unharmed.

“This is all done through mana, huh?” I ask, still amazed at how cool this all is.

Mother only nods as her concentration returns, her face looking like she’s trying to tame an invisible force. “As a Naturalist, I can access and manipulate the mana of living things. My Alchemist class grants me specialized skills for making potions, mostly by altering and combining my mana with that of the ingredients. This allows me to enhance the potency of my potions as well as add additional benefits to them in a way that a non-Alchemist can’t.”

I look on admiration, and if I’m being honest, a little jealousy too. I just wanna start doing this kind of stuff with my own mana.

“If you’re going to become a spell crafter,” Mother says, ”your master will teach you how to access and use your mana in a way that only mages can. Each path has their own rules and systems, and it’s the master’s responsibility to teach their pupil how their path develops skills and uses mana.”

“All the more reason to have a good master…” I mutter.

It takes about 2 hours to help finish Mother’s alchemy, and my mind is preoccupied with Marlie the entire time. I don’t know what I can say or do to increase my chances of success, but I sure as hell push my tired mind to come up with something.

After opening the shop and working the counter for another 3 hours (I once again have to convince Mother that she isn’t holding me back), I tell her that I’m going to take my lunch break, and head out toward Marlie’s clinic with no ingenious schemes of convincing her. I’m just going to be forthright and see where that gets me. I can only hope that it doesn’t get me groveling at Hinrig’s feet, begging him to take me under his decrepit wing.

Arriving at Marlie’s clinic, I find that she isn’t there. Seated in her chair is Anne, one of the town’s few Beastmasters. She immediately greets me with her raspy voice, “Heya, Kip.”

“Hi, Anne. Is Marlie around?”

“Yep. She’s in the treatment room with Rex. You know how she is - won’t let anyone else in the room when she’s working. Not even the beast’s own master.”

I just now notice that there’s a tiny raptor at Anne’s feet, picking at a small bowl with its beak.

“Did Rex get hurt?”

She gives a somber nod. “I let the bugger out of my sight for a second in Illune Forest and he wandered off. Before I know it, I hear his cries of help and rush toward the source of the noise, only to find a goblin trying to tear the poor thing apart. Let me tell ya, woodbear cubs like Rex are terrified of goblins. So naturally I clobbered the damned monster and rushed Rex here. Didn’t think he’d make it through all this alive, but Marlie assured me that she could save him. Thank heavens for the Healers of this world.”

“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that,” I say, genuinely meaning it. But I have to get down to business, and Anne has a habit of talking people’s ears off, so I better change the subject quick. “I’m in a bit of a hurry. Do you know if she’ll be long?”

“Doubt it. She said it’ll take about an hour, and it’s been about that. Should be done any minute now.” The small raptor pokes its head out of the bowl and starts gently pecking at her feet. He must still be hungry, so Anne stuff the bowl into her pack and bends down to feed pebbles to the small beast directly from her palm. “Ya know, Kip. I’ve been saying for a while now that Erlin really should be finishing the job with those damned goblins. Scour every inch of the forest and exterminate them properly.”

I give her a polite nod in agreement, though that’s a lot easier said than done. Illune Forest is utterly massive, and the overgrowth shifts and morphs all the time, changing the landscape. Erlin and his crew did well to defeat the goblin chieftain, but hunting the remaining stragglers would be almost impossible.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Thankfully, Marlie soon emerges into the waiting room, saving me before Anne can really get going on one of her famous rambles. The Healer’s orange hair is done up in the usual bun she’s always had, and she rubs her palms together as if they’re aching. “All done, Anne. Rex should be back to full health in a day or two. I’m letting him rest off the aftereffects of my spells, so come back in 3 hours to pick him up.”

Anne rises to her feet and bows deeply. “Thanks again, Marls. I really owe ya for this one.” She scoops the raptor up in her arms and gives me a goodbye nod before exiting the clinic.

“I guess you’re up next, Kip,” Marlie says, still massaging one palm inside the other. “Did you get yourself hurt?”

“Uh, no, that’s not why I’m here.”

“That’s good to hear. And how’s Veena?”

“Mother’s doing well,” I reply, taking a deep breath. I almost don’t want to ask out of fear of getting turned down.

“That’s also good to hear. So, what can I help you with?”

Nice and earnest, I say to myself.

“Well, I Awakened yesterday, and I wanted to ask if you’d grant me the honor of taking me under your wing as a pupil. As Riledon’s only Healer, I would love to learn the basics of magic from you while also providing help in your clinic.” I emotionally brace myself for impact.

“Oh, Kip,” she says, her voice filled with sympathy. “I hate to say it, but you’re just a few days too late.”

I blink, unsure that I’d heard that right. “Too late? What do you mean?”

“I would love to bring you under my tutelage, but Quinn Awakened 3 days ago, and I’ve already accepted her as a pupil. I’m afraid I can only serve as a proper master to one student at a time.”

Just my luck… Of course her very own daughter had to Awaken mere days before me. Well, I can’t blame her for that, but damn does it feel like a punch to the gut. I was so close to making it.

I thank her for her and time and wish her and Quinn the best before leaving the clinic. That’s two down and, unfortunately, one more to go. For a moment I consider dropping the whole spell crafting thing and following in Mother and Father’s footsteps as a Naturalist. That’s how badly I don’t want to study under Hinrig. But I stiffen my lip and start marching straight to his house before I change my mind. Let’s just get this over with while I’m on break. And regardless of what he says, I’m pretty sure Mother keeps a bottle of strong alcohol in one of the cabinets in the lab, so I can drink away my sorrows whether I have a master or not.

Hinrig is probably the strangest inhabitant Riledon has ever had. He’s a hermit who rarely comes out, yet there’s never any sign of life inside his home. Once or twice a year he’ll leave town for a week, but that’s about it. We know he’s a mage, yet no one knows exactly what it is that he does.

Of course, because he’s so enigmatic, people are prone to making things up to fill in the blank spaces of information. Growing up, I was subject to tons of rumors about him ranging from genuinely interesting to so ridiculous I couldn’t believe a human mind could come up with such things. Maybe I’ll be the first person to crack this living, breathing puzzle.

Hinrig’s home is encircled by a large wooden fence that barely manages to hold back a wild lawn. Seeing it up close again brings back a memory of the one time I stepped on to the other side. Let’s just say it isn’t one of my fondest memories.

Reaching the wooden gate, I stare at it momentarily, unsure how to approach. I don’t think a living soul has ever willfully visited him, and I’m not sure what the protocol is. Step inside, or knock first?

I decide to play it safe and knock loudly on the gate. After getting no response, I knock again… Still no response. One last try, this time I hit the gate hard enough to turn my hand red.

Still nothing…

Cursing under my breath, I reached over the gate and unlock it myself. The creaking sound it makes as it swings open sounds like it’s in pain, kind of like me in this moment. I walk forward through the main path that weeds and overzealous grass have largely overrun, and give a firm knock on the front door, stinging my red hand in the process. Should’ve used the other hand, Kip.

Yet again, there’s no response. Is he even home? Just my luck for the hermit to be gone when the one day I need to talk to him. “Today just isn’t my day,” I mumble out loud.

As I turn to leave, a meow breaks the afternoon silence, and a cat appears from the side of the house. Does Hinrig really keep pets?

The cat leaps around the overgrown grass and walks straight toward me, rubbing its head against my leg and purring. I bend down to pet the cat when I hear a creak similar to the one the gate let out.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” a grating voice calls out.

Instantly, I jump to my feet and turn to face Hinrig. “Oh, sorry. I-”

“What is it you want?” he asks, almost through gritted teeth. He kind of looks like a living corpse, his frail and worn body barely being held together by his intense gaze. If he breathes in too hard, his sunken face might cave in on itself.

After what feels like a long day of disappointment, I don’t have much enthusiasm left, and I can’t be bothered for any formalities.

“I’ve recently Awakened and I’m looking for a mage to be my mater. Would you be interested in accepting me as a student?” That’s the best I can muster at this point.

His glaring gaze pierces straight through me. “Why in the world would you ask something so foolish? Tell me, did you bother to think for a second before deciding to trespass on my property unannounced so that you could ask me if I can spend my precious time teaching someone else’s spawn all the things I’ve spent decades of my life learning and mastering? Well, did you? And did you think I’d forget that you trespassed on my yard 10 years and 3 months ago? If you were a runt then, you’re likely still a runt now. And now you have the nerve to-”

Wow… he’s gotten even more unhinged with age. “I-I’m sorry I bothered you,” I say, bowing before him, partly out of courtesy, and partly because I don’t want him to fling a spell and kill me on the spot. “I’ll be going now.”

I scurry out of there, feeling relief more than anything else. Why in the world did I ever think that anything could possibly come from that? I guess it was hopeful desperation more than anything. Still, even becoming a spell crafter isn’t worth dealing with someone like that. And for the record, all I did 10 years and 3 months ago was hop over the gate to retrieve a ball that had been accidentally kicked onto his lawn. I’m pretty sure I didn’t damage anything, but Hinrig is just… well… Hinrig.

I’m now officially out of options. 3 shots fired, 3 shots missed. What the hell do I do now? If I leave town to find a master, I’ll be letting Mother and Father down, no matter how much they protest that they don’t really need my help. I can’t live with that kind of guilt.

Well, my shift at the shop still isn’t done, so I may as well head back and sulk while being useful. But first, I should actually pick up some lunch - maybe something that’ll lift my spirits a bit. And nothing makes me feel better like penna bread, so I head over to my favorite food stall and order one with extra sauce. I might regret this choice later, but screw it.

When it’s time to pay, I reach into my pocket, but an arm appears from over my shoulder and drops the exact amount of coins I need to pay on the counter directly in front of me. Confused, I turn around and am greeted by Milo’s beaming smile.

“Kip, Kip, Kip, Kip, Kip. My man. I heard you finally Awakened. A little late, but congratulations nonetheless, buddy.” He gives me a macho hug, about what I expect from my best friend. “As your Awakened senior, this one’s on me.”

Milo and I are the same ago, but he did cross that threshold before me, so I can't dispute that.

“Thanks, Milo,” I say as the worker behind the corner hands me the steaming penna bread. My mouth is almost watering at this point.

We sit at a nearby table, Milo barely able to hold in his excitement for some reason. “Soooo, I gotta ask you the most important question. You know what that question is, right?”

“Nope. No idea.” I tear open the top of the loaf to let some of the heat out.

“That question is, what’s your Strength stat? It’s the only one that matters, after all.”

I don’t really wanna answer, but I take a bite and go ahead with it anyway. No shame in the truth. “Seven.”

“Bwahahahaha!” he almost falls over in laughter. “That’s pathetic! Mine was 20 when I Awakened.”

“Yeah, yeah. You were always much better than me at the physical stuff. If you wanna play that game, what’s your Mind stat?”

He gives an indifferent shrug. “Like I said, the other ones don’t matter. Now answer my next question: What’s got you down, man? Don’t think I didn’t notice the way you were slouched over as you ordered your favorite food. Typically, I see trails of drool running down your mouth.”

I explain the situation to him in between bites of the bread.

“Ah, that’s rough. Just one more reason that Strength is the best stat. Us Warriors don’t have that problem. We’re a dime a dozen.”

“So how long did it take you to find a master?”

“About 15 minutes. I just asked the first big looking dude I saw, and he said sure. Turns out that he used to work under Erlin. But let me tell you, man, it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, when you reach their level, it’s great, but the work leading there is awful. For the longest time they just have you doing meditations and practicing with wooden weapons. It’s been 6 months and they’re just now letting me hold a real sword. Not use it, HOLD it. It’s messed up, man.”

“Sounds messed up.”

“Damn right. But soon I’ll be slashing monsters in half and you’ll be slinging spells, just like we always dreamed. You just gotta keep your eyes to the stars… Actually, I think I just had a brilliant idea.”

I take another big bite of the penna bread. “You? Brilliant idea?”

“The stars… the observatory on the edge of town…”

“What about it?”

He jumps to his feet. “Who’s that chick that works there? She isn’t even from Riledon. She was sent here from the ministry of something-or-other. I think her name’s Kamara, or something like that.”

Oh, that’s right. I know exactly who he’s talking about. “Yeah, that’s her name. She comes to Mother’s shop once every blue moon. Only really buys mana potions. Now that I think about it, I never actually see her around town.”

“That’s probably because she lives and sleeps in that observatory, doing who knows what kind of work. But she’s gotta be a mage! Every time I see her, she’s carrying books and scrolls. And you wanna know something crazy?”

I roll my eyes. “She’s into you?”

Milo’s face drops. “How’d you know?”

“You think every girl’s into you.”

“Yeah, but that’s because most of them are.”

“Then why don’t you have a girlfriend?” I ask, finishing up my lunch.

“Hey, now, that’s completely by choice. There’s too much Milo to go around to be tied to just one girl. But think about it, man, she’s cooped up in that observatory all day and night, no other man in sight. She could teach you a lot more than magic, if you know what I’m saying.” He raises his eyebrows suggestively.

“I’m pretty sure she’s in her mid-20s.”

“Oh, naive Kip. That’s even better. If you can’t handle older ladies, feel free to set me up. Tell her I had a Strength stat of 20 when I Awakened. I’m sure that’ll get her out of that dusty old building.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m sure, too,” I say, getting up and stretching.

I never thought I’d catch myself saying this, but thanks to Milo, I may just have one final shot after all.