Sign: Snake
Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)
Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (Start the game with no gender, no name, and no other identifying feature)
EXP: 1,169
Alchemy
Coagula (LVL 0, 24 SKP)
Solvé (LVL 0, 19 SKP)
Theoria (LVL 0, 23 SKP)
Botany
Tending (LVL 0, 5 SKP)
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Cooking
Fire (LVL 0, 31 SKP) Ready to level up!
Water (LVL 0, 11 SKP)
?
Homesteading
Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
Tidying (LVL 1, 5 SKP)
Dirt Buster: The magical branch of Purification lends this Sorcerer the ability to ‘Bust Dirt.’ Dust and grime accumulate at a infinitesimally slow rate on objects you have cleaned.
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Speech
Logic (LVL 1, 13 SKP)
Rhetoric: The magical branch of Entreatment lends this Sorcerer the ability to heightened ‘Rhetoric.’ The structure of your arguments is smooth, regular and orthogonal. Spirits and people are more likely to agree with you.
Linguistics (LVL 0, 17 SKP)
Cajoling (LVL 0, 10 SKP)
Total SKP: 181
Inventory:
Auros: 0
Cards of Destiny: 5 of ?? Discovered
Names: 3
Vitas, The Wind Thief (Sparrow)
Gillygad, The Stiched-Up Wonder (Pitchfork)
Zinia, The Serpent’s Caress (Snake)
After the Closing Ceremony, I was intent on getting to bed, but I found my way obstructed. There was a small trunk on top of my bed. It was a deep mahogany color, and instead of a lock, it was closed and cinched with some kind of metal square, about 4 inches across.
I tried prying open the lid, but it wouldn’t give. It must have been locked. I shifted the metal square towards the light, and carefully examined it. There were numbers!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
I ran my fingers over the grooves of the metal, and felt a little give. I poked the number 1 with my finger, hard, and then tried prying it loose. It gave! I now had a small 1 square in my hand!
I saw that there was a piece of paper on the lid of the mahogany trunk. I picked it up, and read:
Magic Squares (Jupiter I)
I wish for all my ribs to be even.
I wish for all my ribs to be equal.
My ribs go left to right.
My ribs go up and down.
My ribs are each the sum of their cells.
I like the number 34.
It was a puzzle! I was tired, but I also wanted to know what was in the trunk, so I started working it out.
The first thing I did was attempt to pop out all the numbers. I found that I could take out only certain numbers. The remaining numbers in the square looked like this:
2 3 5 8 9 12 14 15
The numbers I was able to remove must be the numbers I would have to rearrange to solve the puzzle.
Armed with the puzzle page, and the half empty square, I made my attempt to solve it.
I began to carefully read through each line of the riddle.
I wish for all my ribs to be even.
I wish for all my ribs to be equal.
My ribs go left to right.
My ribs go up and down.
My ribs are each the sum of their cells.
I like the number 34.
I gathered that the ‘ribs’ are the columns and rows of the square. The puzzle was asking to make each ‘rib’ even and equal. I thought that meant that each rib had to equal the same number, if summed up.
I would have to rearrange the cells in such a way that if I added up each row and column, it would come out to the same number.
Oh, and that number was probably 34, judging by the last line of the puzzle.
I had the following numbers to plug in: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16.
I tried plugging in numbers randomly, and seeing if I could figure out the puzzle that way. I probably could, but it would take a long time, so I began to systematically work through each row.
I started at the bottom, since I thought it was easier to find which numbers would have to go there to add up to 34.
14 and 15 were already in that row.
14+15=29
If the row had to add up to 34, that means that the two numbers that fit in the bottom row had to add up to 5 (34-29=5).
I could only put 1 and 4 in the blank cells in the bottom row, but I wasn’t sure which number would go in which cell.
2 3 5 8 9 12 1, 4 14 15 1, 4
I went to the third row down. 9 and 12 were already in that row.
9+12=21
34-21=13
So the two numbers I would put into the third row would have to equal 13.
I couldn’t use 1 and 4 since they would go on the bottom row. The numbers I had left were: 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 16.
It had to be two numbers, so I couldn’t use 13. But, 6 and 7 would add up to 13!
Again, I didn’t know which number would go in which cell in the third row, so I penciled in both, for now.
2 3 5 8 9 6, 7 6, 7 12 1, 4 14 15 1, 4
I started noticing a pattern.
I went to the second row. 5 and 8 were already in that row.
5+8=13
34-13=21
I still had the following numbers to plug in: 10, 11, 13, 16.
10 and 11 equaled 21. I penciled both into the empty cells.
2 3 5 10, 11 10, 11 8 9 6, 7 6, 7 12 1, 4 14 15 1, 4
The last row of course could only have 13 and 16, as these were the last numbers I had available. 13, 16, 2, and 3, summed up, did equal 34. I penciled them in.
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13, 16 2 3 13, 16 5 10, 11 10, 11 8 9 6, 7 6, 7 12 1, 4 14 15 1, 4
I went back to make sure that every row equaled 34, and they did, so I went on to the columns.
The first column from the left already had 5 and 9.
5+9=14
34-14=20
The two numbers in the free squares had to be 16 and 4 to add up to 34.
That also meant the fourth column from the left had to have 13 and 1.
16 2 3 13 5 10, 11 10, 11 8 9 6, 7 6, 7 12 4 14 15 1
The second column from the left already had 2 and 14.
2+14=16
34-16=18
The two numbers in the free squares had to be 11 and 7 to add up to 34.
So the third column had to have 10 and 6.
16 2 3 13 5 11 10 8 9 7 6 12 4 14 15 1
Every cell was filled! I went back to check my work, and then inserted the numbered cells into the metal square.
As I put the numbered cells into the correct spot, I noticed a faint glow. Once I put the last number in place, the metal square clicked, and the lid popped ajar. Before I threw open the lid, I examined the metal square. The glowing had confined itself into a linear pattern that looked like this:
[https://i.imgur.com/KP5cVWN.jpg]
I didn’t need Aleister to tell me that there was something special about this pattern, so I made an attempt to memorize it.
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Inside the trunk were books. I wasn’t very disappointed, but I was hoping for something cooler. Maybe a magic wand, or a cloak of invisibility? Instead, it looked like I would be doing more reading.
There was a note on top of the books.
It’s customary for an Apprentice to receive a gift from their Master after a successful initiation. I decided now was as good a time as any.
-M.
It must have been from Mistress Addlebern.
I took a look at the stack of books. They were of varying sizes and bindings. I browsed some of the titles. There was a heavy, black book with golden lettering called The Fisherman’s Ossuary. There was a slim, pink volume called Ma Chère, which had a picture of a broken heart on the cover. I flipped through some of the pages. It seemed to be a novel. I wasn’t sure why I was given this book, but I didn’t mind reading something light and entertaining. I put Ma Chère aside, on my bedside table, and decided I would give it a read when I wasn’t so tired.
There were other titles. A green book called Jejeune Verte, which was not in a language I could read, a white manual-like book called Elder Vulgate, two simple looking books which had similar bindings titled Bane and Benison, and Chirograph of the Blessed, a historical tome called Tales of the Twilight King, a handsomely bound book called Contemplations on the GREEN and the RED, and finally, a slim volume called The Perpendicular Sojourn of the Three Shepard which Observed the Clockwise Oscillation of the Sun.
After reading the last title, I was overwhelmed with exhaustion. The letters swam in front of me. I put all the books back in the trunk, and stuffed them under my bed. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
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Tess cooked breakfast! I could smell it as soon as I came down the stairs. There were fried eggs, bacon, and fresh bread.
Her long sleeves, which normally covered her arms to the wrist, were rolled up, and I saw that Tess had long dark lines running from her elbow to her hand.
“Wow, can I have some?” I asked, as I came up to the hearth, where the eggs were merrily crackling in a cast iron.
“Who do you think I’m cooking this for? Don’t get too used to it. You did well during the Closing Ceremony. This is another present, of sorts.” Tess said, as she gracefully slid the eggs onto a plate, and handed it to me. I could see now that the two lines down her forearms were actually arrows. Or rather, black tattoos of arrows, similar to the Snake which adorned my back. I hadn’t thought about it, but I supposed everyone else with a Sign must have these distinctive marks.
I sat down with my eggs, and looked around the kitchen.
“Where are Aleister and Cheerful?” I asked, a small lump forming in my throat. Aleister had still not talked to me, after I came back from my attempted run-away adventure. I still wasn’t quite sure what I had done to make the cat so angry with me.
“I sent Cheerful out. He’ll be back soon. Aleister is around, somewhere, I’m sure.” Tess said, and sat across from me.
I nodded and dug into my food. It was simply amazing. The eggs were perfect, the bacon juicy and delicious, and even the bread was to die for. I was sure that I could never make such a simple breakfast meal taste so good.
As I ate, I asked the Sorceress about her arrow tattoos.
“They’re not tattoos.” She corrected me haughtily. “They are marks which form the basis of your relationship with the Name attached to your Sign.”
“What do they do?” I asked.
“They don’t do anything. It’s simply a reminder to you and the Name that you share a bond, for better or worse.” Tess answered. I wasn’t satisfied with her explanation. Why have these marks if they’re useless?
As we finished our food, I got a message.
Fantastic Breakfast (1 day)
All prices are 20% better.
Earn double EXP.
The usual message for eating a meal was ‘Filling Lunch,’ or ‘Filling Dinner.’
I wondered if it was because the Sorceress was a more skilled cook? Either way, I was happy for the buff. I wasn’t exactly sure how I would spend my EXP, now that all the doors were unlocked. But I would find out eventually! And then, I would have over one thousand EXP to spend!
Tess instructed me on how I should spend my time. At some point, we would have to travel to Celine City, and I would be examined by a Board of Guild Members, who would judge if I was worthy to be a Guild approved Sorcerer. I would need to do a lot to get ready!
“I recommend splitting your days into tasks. In the morning, I suggest you work on your basic skills, your cleaning, cooking, botany and the like. Send out parcels in the afternoon. And, in the evening, you should start reading. In fact, I will be assigning you topics to research, and then you will present your findings to me. I think that a structured approach will work best for the trials ahead of us.” Tess lectured.
I still had to send out parcels? I had thought that was only part of my initiation, like unlocking the doors. I didn’t know what the Sorceress’s bank account looked like, but surely she didn’t need the paltry money I would make sending out headache cures. Did she?
“So, what do you do? I mean like, for a job? To make money?” I asked her, trying to gauge exactly what our financial situation was.
“I used to run a shop here, but I’ve long since shuttered it. The Guild often sends me on long trips, and I don’t have the time to run it. Before the shop, I worked in the Guild writing manuscripts and memorandums.” She answered. I could very clearly see Tess pouring over a typewriter, making sure that the language in those manuals is as black and white, and precise as possible. It seemed such a fitting task for the Sorceress, I wondered why she ever stopped.
“The parcel service,” Tess spoke up again, her eyes scanning me, “will help you more than me.”
“But how will I get the right plants? There’s barely any here, and each potion needs different ones!” I said.
“You’re not bound by the house anymore. You can certainly go out and look for them.” Tess began, “Alternatively, you could send out Cheerful to simply buy them. When you have enough money that is.”
When would I have enough money? It could take ages.
The Sorceress wasn’t too concerned with my plight. As I washed up and put away dishes (earning another 6 EXP for cleaning) she assigned a topic to read up on.
“The Signs, as you’re no doubt growing aware, form the backbone of Sorcery. The Names are just as important, if not more so. You will pick three Names, and provide me a detailed historical analysis of their life and their influence on Sorcery. Which Names do you already know?” She asked.
I listed them off. I knew Zinia, obviously, as she was patron to my own Sign Snake. Then there was Gillygad, who I could provide a very thorough ‘historical analysis’ on without much effort. I also was aware of Nestor, the patron of Arrow, although I had never officially met him, so I did not have permission to use his Name quite yet. Last, there was Vitas, the Vagabond Prince, who I had run into during my brief stint on the road.
Tess nodded.
“You will read up on three Names which are not Gillygad, Zinia, Nestor or Vitas. You need to branch out. I expect this to be done by next morning. Now, I have business elsewhere. I will see you bright and early tomorrow.” She said, and made to leave.
“Wait! Those books you left me, is that where I should read up on the Names?” I asked. It was a natural assumption, but it was also wrong.
“Not quite. Those particular books are other Grimoires, and they are very useful, but not for this assignment. Look in the library, instead.” With no more assurances or explanations, Tess left. I heard the beat of hooves on the ground a moment later.
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I made a pact with myself. It was obvious to me that Tess held my fate almost entirely in her hands. And, thinking over everything, I didn’t find her to be a terrible custodian. True, she seemed obsessed with rules, but she was also willing to bend them (slightly) in order to help me out.
I would do what she asked, I promised myself. I would clean in the morning, brew potions in the afternoon, and study in the evenings. Too easy!
I looked around the empty kitchen. It would have been nice to have some company, I thought.
“Aleister?” I tried calling, but got no answer. At least Cheerful should be back soon. I wondered what the bird would bring, this time.
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As I was finishing sweeping the kitchen, Cheerful flew back in with envelopes in his beak. Apparently, the Sorceress had instructed him to fly out and gather more parcel requests. I put the stack next to the old stack of envelopes which I still hadn’t opened. There were about a dozen now, in total.
I had spent the entire morning doing chores. First, I had planted the little Allheal (or Valerian) cutting, which Agatha K. had sent me. It had long sprouted roots in the jar of water, just as Aleister told me it would. When I put it into the dirt, I got a message:
New Entry for Old Toad’s Almanac!
Valeriana officinalis, Allheal
I went to Old Toad’s Almanac, to see the new entry:
[https://i.imgur.com/3jxkyOQ.jpg]
Allheal
Valeriana officinalis
Planet: Mercury
Sign: Sparrow
Known under many names, Allheal or Valerian is a versatile herb. It is flexible, growing as well in cottage gardens as in the wilderness. It possesses strong healing potency, and soothing effects.
I also got EXP for planting the little cutting.
+10 EXP
5 Skill Points to Tending (Botany)
1 Skill Unlocked!
5 Skill Points to Sowing (Botany)
Nice! I was that much closer to being a powerful Sorcerer like Mistress!
After I had planted the cutting, I took to tidying. I dusted, swept and mopped the entire Solarium. I briefly considered taking my broom and mop into the dusty and crowded front room, but decided to save that for another day. There was too much stuff to move in there! I would spend all day just shuffling out the glass containers and heaving shelves out of the way!
Even so, I got a hefty EXP boost from cleaning the Solarium.
+28 EXP
28 Skill Points to Tidying (Homesteading)
I was feeling satisfied with my morning work, so when Cheerful flew in, I decided to switch gears, and start brewing.
If I were to be honest with myself, I was tired enough after cleaning that I wanted to go curl up in my bed, and take a short nap. Maybe, I would read a little bit of Ma Chère, the book which had grabbed my attention last night. It had been on my mind as I cleaned the house. I could do with a little easy reading and relaxation.
But there was work to be done, and requests to be filled.
My supply of herbs was still meager, but it was steadily increasing. I now had a tiny Allheal, a sizable Balm and Belladonna, dried Sage, as well as leftover Dandelions and Fly Agarics. Maybe I would get lucky, and the request I picked would only need the herbs I had on hand.
Either way, the Sorceress instructed me to brew potions, so that’s what I would do!
I picked an envelope at random, and opened it.