The first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of lavender and gold, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets of Arcanum City. Nyx Shadowbrook emerged from his modest apartment building, his violet eyes bright with determination despite the early hour. The cool morning air carried the scent of freshly baked bread and hints of arcane energy, a unique blend that defined the magical metropolis.

As Nyx made his way through the awakening city, he noticed the subtle signs of life stirring around him. Street lamps flickered and dimmed as their enchantments sensed the growing daylight. Here and there, early risers shuffled about – a bleary-eyed apprentice hurrying to light the fires at the local bakery, a group of street sweepers wielding brooms imbued with minor cleaning charms.

The market district came into view, a sprawling maze of colorful awnings and wooden stalls. Vendors called out cheerful greetings as they arranged their wares, the air filled with the clattering of crates and the soft whoosh of moving goods into place.

Nyx's gaze swept across the awakening marketplace until it settled on a weathered wooden sign swinging gently in the morning breeze: "Thornberry's Leather Goods – Quality Craftsmanship for the Discerning Adventurer." There was a picture of a boot with a feather depicted above.

The leatherworker's shop was a cozy affair, its walls lined with an assortment of bags, belts, and boots. The rich aroma of tanned hide and polish filled the air. Behind the counter stood a stout dwarf with a neatly trimmed red beard, his clever fingers already busy with the day's work.

"Good morning," Nyx called out, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. "One traveler's bag, please."

The dwarf – Thornberry, Nyx presumed – looked up from his work, a twinkle in his eye. "Ah, an early song bird! Let's see what we can do for you, lad."

The leatherworker returned, presenting a sturdy bag of rich brown leather. "Here we are," he said proudly. "Finest cowhide, reinforced stitching, and a little enchantment to keep the rain out. It'll serve you well, wherever your path may lead."

"And a leather cloak." The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "Planning a trip, young mage?" Nyx grinned. "Something like that."

Nyx ran his fingers over the smooth leather, admiring the craftsmanship. With a nod of approval, he began counting out the coins, the soft clink of metal on wood marking the start of his new adventure. With his new purchases secured, along with some basic herb collection tools, Nyx made his way to the Adventurers Guild.

Nyx stepped into the Adventurers Guild building. It was big and noisy, but not as fancy as the Mage Guild. The walls were made of rough stone, and wooden beams crossed the high ceiling. Torches and glowing crystals lit up the room.

The main hall was full of life. Adventurers of all kinds walked around or sat at long wooden tables. Some wore shiny suits of armor that clanked as they moved. Others had on dark leather clothes perfect for sneaking. Mages in colorful robes stood out in the crowd.

In one corner, a group of warriors arm-wrestled, their muscles bulging. Nearby, a rogue juggled shiny daggers, showing off her skills. At a table, a group of adventurers bent over a map, planning their next quest.

The air smelled like a mix of leather, metal, and something Nyx couldn't quite name – maybe it was the scent of adventure itself? The room was loud with the sound of people talking, laughing, and shouting. Every now and then, someone would yell out in excitement when they got a good quest.

On one wall, a huge board was covered in papers. This was the quest board, where adventurers could find jobs. People crowded around it, pushing to get the best quests. Some quests had pictures of monsters to fight, while others showed maps to treasure.

At the back of the room was a long counter. This was where adventurers signed up for quests and got their rewards. Behind the counter, tough-looking guild workers sorted through stacks of papers and bags of coins.

Even though it wasn't as fancy as the Mage Guild, Nyx could feel the excitement in the air. This was a place where real adventures began.

At the registration desk, Nyx fidgeted nervously. "I'd like to register, please." The clerk, a battle-scarred dwarf, looked him up and down. "Mage, eh? Well, we've always got room for spell-slingers. Just don't expect any special treatment." After filling out the necessary paperwork and paying the registration fee, Nyx scanned the quest board.

His eyes lit up as he spotted an E-rank herb gathering quest. "Perfect," he murmured, plucking the notice from the board. An hour later, Nyx found himself in a small clearing just outside the city walls. He glanced around, ensuring he was alone, then summoned his clone.

Nyx and his clone walked into the forest. They each had a leather bag, a small knife, and some tools for picking herbs. The clone wore a dark cloak to hide that he looked just like Nyx.

"Let's split up," Nyx said. "You go that way, I'll go this way. We'll find herbs faster."

As they looked for herbs, they drew little pictures on their maps. Each time they found a good plant, they marked it down. This way, they could come back later to get more.

"Remember," Nyx called to his clone, "we only take what the quest asks for. But we can mark other good spots."

They worked hard, and soon they had all the herbs they needed. Nyx smiled at his clone. "Good job!" he said. "This was fun!"

Just then, Nyx felt something strange. He used his magic skill Enhanced Magical Sensitivity to look around. There, by a big rock, was a tiny tree. But it wasn't a normal tree - it glowed with magic!

"Wow!" Nyx thought. "That's a baby Mana tree!"

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

His mind raced with all the amazing things this tiny tree could do. If he could grow it, it would make his magic stronger. The tree could help him learn spells faster and cast them without getting so tired. He could use its leaves to make super powerful potions. Maybe he could even sell some of its magic wood to buy better stuff for his adventures. Nyx knew that finding this baby Mana tree was like finding a chest full of treasure. It could change everything for him!

Suddenly, his clone yelled, "Watch out!" The clone ran at Nyx and pushed him hard. CRASH! A huge magic boar appeared out of nowhere! It ran right into the clone, turning him into mist. The clone's cloak fell over the boar's face.

The boar shook its head, angry and confused. Its big tusk had made a hole in the cloak. It looked for Nyx, ready to attack.

Nyx's mind raced. He had to be smart and quick. He grabbed a handful of leaves and threw them in the air. "Hey, boar!" he shouted. "Over here!"

The boar blindly charged, but Nyx was ready. He jumped high, landing on a low tree branch. From there, he leaped onto the boar's back! The boar bucked and spun, trying to shake him off.

Nyx held on tight with one hand and used his other to make quick cuts with his knife. Slash! Jab! The boar roared in pain.

When the boar tried to rub Nyx off against a tree, Nyx backflipped off just in time. He rolled on the ground and popped up behind the boar. Another quick slash to its leg!

The boar turned, mad as ever. But now it was slower and free of the cloak on its face. Nyx darted left, then right. The boar lunged upward at Nyx going for his face. Nyx ducked under the boar's tusks and made more cuts.

Finally, after what felt like hours but was really just minutes, the magic boar fell down. It was too tired and hurt to fight anymore.

Nyx, breathing hard but grinning, looked at the fallen boar. Was it really over? He found a long stick nearby and poked the boar carefully. It didn't move.

"I did it!" Nyx cheered, jumping up and down. "I really did it!"

As his excitement calmed down, Nyx remembered his Enhanced Magical Sensitivity skill. He decided to use it to check the boar. As he focused, he felt a strange magical energy coming from inside the boar.

"Wait a minute," Nyx muttered. He moved closer, following the magical feeling. There, in the boar's chest, was a glowing stone! "A magic stone!" Nyx gasped. "This wasn't just any boar. It was a magical boar!"

Nyx carefully took out the stone. It was smooth and round, about half the size of his palm. It glowed with a soft blue light.

Nyx remembered what he had read about magical stones in his studies. These special stones grow inside magical creatures as they live and use their powers. Each stone is like a little treasure chest, holding the magical energy of the creature it came from. Mages get excited about these stones because they can use them to create powerful magical items or brew super-strong potions. The really cool thing about magic stones is that they get stronger as the creature gets bigger and older. So, a stone from a young magical boar might be pretty useless.

Tired but proud, Nyx looked back at the baby Mana tree. "What a day," he said to himself. Then he thought about how dangerous the forest was. He had almost been hurt by the magic boar. Nyx decided it wasn't safe to leave the special tree here. "I should take it home," he thought. "I can plant it when I start my farm where it'll be safe." Carefully, Nyx dug up the baby Mana tree and put it in his bag. He made sure to cover it with soft leaves so it wouldn't get hurt on the way home. "You'll be much happier on my farm," he told the little tree. "And I can watch you grow big and strong!"

Back at the Adventurers Guild, Nyx turned in the quest, feeling a surge of satisfaction as he collected his reward. As he left the guild, his stomach growled. He stopped at a nearby food vendor, treating himself to a hearty meat pie.

Nyx bit into the meat pie, and his mouth filled with warmth and flavor. The crust was flaky and golden, crumbling slightly as he took a big bite. It made a satisfying crunch between his teeth. Inside, the meat was juicy and tender, mixed with soft vegetables in a rich, savory gravy.

The taste was a perfect blend of salty and peppery, with a hint of herbs that made his tongue tingle. Each bite was a mix of textures - the crispy outside, the soft, meaty inside, and little chunks of vegetables that added a nice crunch. The gravy was thick and smooth, coating everything in delicious flavor.

As he ate, he reflected on his finances. For the past two years, most of his earnings had gone towards accessing the Mage Guild's library and magical facilities. Even completing 2-3 Mage Guild quests a week, his expenses had far outpaced his income. After two years, he had a mere 50 gold pieces in savings.

"No wonder I could never get ahead," Nyx muttered, crumpling the meat pie wrapper. He started thinking hard about money. Magic training and getting stronger were super expensive. All those fancy rooms at the Mage Guild, the special books, and the magic tools - they cost so much gold! But now, Nyx had a new idea.

If he stopped spending so much and worked really hard to make money, he could save up fast. He could use his clones to help do more work and earn more gold. "If I'm smart about this," Nyx thought, "I could have a big pile of gold in no time!" With his clone ability and this new dual-guild approach, he might even have enough for a small farm in less than a month. The thought filled him with renewed determination. He straightened his robes and set off towards the Mage Guild, ready to tackle the next phase of his day.

Nyx walked into the Mage Guild, feeling full and happy after his meat pie. He looked at the quest board and saw a simple E-rank job:

"Wanted: Mage to enchant 20 quills for quick note-taking. Payment: 5 gold pieces."

"Perfect!" Nyx thought. He took the quest paper and went to see Magister Eldridge.

"Ah, Shadowbrook," Eldridge said. "Think you can handle this without falling asleep?"

Nyx nodded, trying not to roll his eyes. He got the box of quills and sat at a table to work.

Enchanting the quills was easy. Nyx just had to put a small spell on each one so it would write faster. He picked up the first quill, focused his magic, and whispered the spell. The quill glowed softly for a moment.

Nyx worked steadily, enchanting quill after quill. His mental clone ability helped him to focus better than before. Soon, he had finished all 20 quills.

"Done already?" Eldridge looked surprised when Nyx brought back the box. He tested a quill, watching it zip across the paper. "Well done, Shadowbrook. Here's your payment."

Nyx took the 5 gold pieces, feeling proud. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Plus, he had done the job quickly and well. Maybe Eldridge would give him better quests now.

As Nyx left the Mage Guild, he thought about how different he felt lately. His new Mental Clone ability wasn't just for meditation. It seemed to help him in lots of ways.

When he was fighting the magical boar, Nyx realized he had been calmer than usual. It was like part of his mind was watching from outside, helping him think clearly even when things were scary.

Just now, while enchanting the quills, Nyx noticed how easily he could focus. It felt like he had extra brains working together, making the magic come more smoothly. He didn't get distracted or bored like he used to.

Even his everyday thinking seemed sharper. Nyx could look at problems from different angles, almost like he was having a conversation with himself in his head.

"This Mental Clone thing is pretty amazing," Nyx thought. "It's like I've unlocked a whole new part of my brain!"

He wondered what else his new ability could help him do. Maybe he could learn spells faster, or come up with clever solutions to tough problems. The possibilities made Nyx excited for the future.

As he walked, Nyx's mind raced with possibilities. He'd need to balance his time carefully between the two guilds, his studies, and his personal training. It would be challenging, but for the first time in years, he felt truly excited about his future. "Watch out, Arcanum City," Nyx said softly, a smile playing on his lips. "Nyx Shadowbrook is finally ready to make his mark."