The journey to Rakllan had taken four days and they arrived a day earlier than planned. The air in Viria was crisp and cool as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of Beth's Inn, a modest establishment that stood at the edge of the city. Galen ever the experienced traveler was the one to guide them here. Having visited Viria many times, he knew exactly where to go.

A little girl stood outside the inn, her eyes wide with curiosity as the carriage pulled up. She dashed over, her braid swaying behind her as she looked up at Galen with a bright smile. "Welcome, mister! How long will you be staying with us?" she asked eagerly.

Galen chuckled softly, the warmth of his usual stoic demeanor flickering through. "Just for the night. We'll need two rooms"

The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Two rooms! Got it!" She disappeared inside the inn to prepare their accommodations.

"Stay close, young master." Galen said to Melch as they made their way into the inn. "Viria is bustling, but you should avoid wandering too far." His voice held a certain sharpness that wasn't often present, the sort that came from years of experience in unfamiliar cities.

Melch nodded appreciating Galen's wisdom. He had much to learn in this world and having a guide like Galen made the journey feel more manageable.

Inside, the inn was small but warm with a few patrons gathered in the corner drinking quietly. Galen, ever the observant one gave a quick scan of the room before speaking in a low voice. "I'll take a moment to gather some information about the entrance exam. It's essential that we know where it will take place."

Melch nodded understanding the importance of knowing the exam's details. The entrance exam for Theoder Academy was not to be taken lightly. The location had to be secured in advance, especially since barriers and other protections needed to be set up. Though Melch knew that simply knowing the location wouldn't guarantee success, it was the first step in formulating a plan.

Galen left the inn quietly his presence almost unnoticed by the other patrons. Meanwhile, John turned his attention to Leif who had been unusually quiet since their arrival.

Leif lounging in a chair by the window, glanced over at Melch. "So, what now? We wait for Galen to gather his precious intel I suppose?" His tone was light but there was an edge of impatience behind his words.

Melch smirked. "Galen doesn't waste time. We'll have everything we need before the night is over."

Outside, Galen made his way to the local information guild a dimly lit building tucked away in a quiet alley. Inside, he was greeted by a man who had seen his fair share of travelers. Galen wasted no time in explaining his purpose after showing a badge.

"I need information on the Theoder Academy's entrance exam." Galen said his voice as calm and steady as ever. "I need to know where it's being held and what precautions will be in place."

The man behind the counter saw the badge, an older figure with silver hair gave a nod and flipped through a few records before looking up. "The exam will take place in the Mayram Mountains just outside the capital. But be warned, the physical tests require quite a bit of preparation. It's not a simple climb. There are areas where candidates will need to use their hands to ascend. I doubt your young master would be able to manage that with his current training."

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Galen's brow furrowed. "We still have a month. It should be enough time for him to prepare."

The information guild attendant shrugged. "Time will tell. But even if he manages the climb, there are other challenges ahead which we don't know. It won't be an easy task."

Galen considered the news carefully then turned to leave. Before he could reach the door, he stopped and turned to the carriage driver Kaiser, who had been waiting nearby.

"Kaiser" Galen began, his voice low "I need you to pay a visit to the Church. See if Sir Thomas is there. If he is ask for a recommendation for the young master."

Kaiser frowned but nodded. "Understood. But I'll tell you now getting Sir Thomas involved might not be the best move just yet. It could raise some questions."

Galen sighed. "You're right. It seems things haven't changed." With that, Kaiser left to carry out his task.

Back at the inn, Melch found himself alone with Leif. "I'm going to check out the Earth Magic Tower's library." Melch said. "There's a lot I still don't know about magic and I need to see if there's any information on medicine."

Leif groaned. "Magic towers, libraries… This isn't my idea of fun. But I'll tag along, if only to make sure you don't get lost in there."

The Earth Magic Tower was a towering structure, its stone exterior weathered with age and wisdom. The library inside was just as imposing. The first floor was open to the public, but visitors were not allowed to check out books or make copies. You had to memorize everything you read.

Melch approached the receptionist, who gave him directions to the medical and magic sections. "The medical books are in the 8th row, left side from the third shelf. Magic books are on the second right."

Leif wandered off toward the magic section, clearly more interested in the enchanted tomes than the medical ones. John, on the other hand made his way toward the medical section where it was quieter with only a handful of other people browsing.

There he found a small collection of books on healing and magical remedies. But his real interest lay in finding any references to the Codex of False Healing. Unfortunately, no such book appeared on the shelves. Undeterred, John picked up a basic book on magic theory and began to read.

The book was a beginner's guide explaining the structure of the magic system in this world. Magic was all about the mana within a person, an invisible force that could be shaped into spells. A mage's ability was determined by their affinity with an element, which could be checked by a mage of three circles and above so it can be done at Theoder Academy or by a device that tells the affinity level of all elements for a person.

There were circles of magic each more powerful than the last. A first-circle mage was someone who had just unlocked their affinity. A fifth-circle mage could live for hundreds of years, and the eighth-circle mage could live for a millennium. The progression was slow but remarkable.

John read on fascinated by the complexities of this world's magic system. It was as though a whole new realm of possibilities had opened up to him. But his thoughts were interrupted when he spotted Leif sitting in a corner fast asleep with a book about flowers and beasts open in his lap.

"Always the scholar, huh?" Melch muttered to himself, a smile tugging at his lips. He left the library quietly and returned to the inn to report to Galen.

"I didn't find anything on the medicine" Melch told him, "but I did learn a lot about the magic system here."

Galen gave him a sharp nod. "Good. Knowledge is power. But for now, we wait. Kaiser should be back soon with news from the Church."

Meanwhile, Kaiser had made his way to a local bar, looking for someone who might be able to help him with the task at hand. It didn't take long for him to spot a thin, short man sitting alone in a private room, far from the rowdy crowd. Kaiser made his way over and took a seat across from the man.

"I was hoping to find someone" Kaiser began, his voice low. "I didn't expect to see you here."

The man laughed, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What do you need? I'm not in the habit of offering favors for free."

Kaiser reached into his pouch and pulled out a bottle of liquid. "Sea Serpent with dragon bloodline. If you help me, it's yours."

The man's eyes widened as he focused on the bottle. "What do you need?"

Kaiser leaned in, speaking in hushed tones as the man's expression shifted to one of shock. The deal was struck and Kaiser left.

Back at the inn, Melch and Galen were preparing for the next step in their journey. The road ahead was uncertain but with each passing day, they were one step closer to their goal.