The week passed uneventfully, and soon it was time for another meeting. At the gathering, Leo received the small book on Osara, the mysterious old god, as well as the 100 magisterial gold coins promised to him by Mr. Immortal. After a moment of hesitation, he handed over his 10 gold coins—the only profit he had managed to save after recent expenses, aside from the 100 magisterial gold coins still tucked away securely—to Mr. Light in exchange for the book. The weight of the magisterial coins in his pocket served as a constant reminder of the opportunities they held.
It was Monday now.
Leo woke early, as usual, and began his morning routine with a run through the quiet streets. The early morning air was crisp, carrying with it a faint chill that kept him alert. As he ran, he noticed how much easier the familiar route had become for him. His breathing was steady, his muscles fluid, no longer strained by the effort.
He glanced down at the bracelets wrapped around his wrists and ankles—weighted training tools he had grown accustomed to over the months. The once-heavy burden they imposed on his body now felt almost negligible.
‘I need to get heavier bracelets,’ he thought, his mind already ticking through the possibilities. With 100 magisterial gold coins now in his possession, he had the resources to upgrade his gear and push himself further.
But first, Leo needed to find a way to convert the magisterial coins into usable currency. The coins were undeniably valuable, each one representing a small fortune. However, they were probably the kind of currency typically found in the coffers of merchants in this country—not in the possession of a 15-year-old boy. Moreover, they weren’t the type of coins he could simply exchange at a regular market without drawing unwanted attention. He decided to ask Mr. Peter for advice later in the day.
After his run, Leo returned home, took a long, refreshing bath, and dressed for the day. Breakfast was quick but satisfying—a hearty meal that fueled him for what was to come. Once he finished eating, he gathered his things and made his way to the Paladin Association.
Upon arriving at the association's storage room, Leo noticed that Mr. Peter wasn’t there. With a shrug, he stored his belongings and changed into his training clothes. Since Peter wasn’t around, Leo decided to head directly to the training grounds where Rorin and Faleria would be waiting.
Over the past few weeks, Leo had made significant progress in learning warrior techniques. However, compared to Rorin and Faleria, his skills still seemed rudimentary. Watching their mastery over the art of combat, he realized just how far he still had to go. Their movements were sharp, their strikes precise, and their ability to harness their strength was beyond anything Leo had yet to achieve. It was a humbling reminder that his journey was only beginning.
After finishing his training, he took another bath, washing away the sweat and fatigue. Once refreshed, Leo headed to the library, where he planned to spend the remainder of his day until four in the afternoon. His routine of studying, researching, and expanding his knowledge was a constant, but today, a question kept gnawing at the back of his mind. He couldn’t wait until evening to ask Peter, so he decided to take a chance and ask Samuel instead.
When he had finished shelving the books, Leo made his way to Samuel’s usual spot in the library. Samuel was hunched over his desk, writing something in a thick ledger. The light from the nearby window cast shadows across the page, illuminating the steady flow of ink from his quill.
“Mr. Samuel, what are magisterial gold coins?” Leo asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Samuel looked up from his work, surprise flickering across his face. “Magisterial gold coins? Where did you hear about those?”
“Yesterday at the city gate during my patrol, I overheard some merchants talking about them.”
Samuel leaned back in his chair, scratching his newly grown beard thoughtfully.
“Magisterial gold coins are the currency of the Magic Empire. They’re not common around here, but those who trade with the Magic Empire often use them.”
Leo’s interest deepened. “Where could someone exchange them? And how do they compare to our gold coins?”
“There are a few places on the main street where you can exchange foreign currencies, especially for something as uncommon as magisterial gold coins. As for their value, 1 magisterial gold coin is worth about 1.2 of our light gold coins.”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “So, their currency is stronger than ours?”
“It seems that way,” Samuel replied, a slight shrug accompanying his words. “But I don’t pretend to understand the intricacies of economics.”
Leo nodded, satisfied for the moment. At least now he knew where to go when he needed to convert his newfound wealth into something more usable. He decided to go there after his work.
After 1 p.m., Lavi arrived for Leo’s class. Leo was sitting in his usual chair, lost in thought, planning out his next steps. As soon as he noticed Lavi entering the room, Leo quickly stood up, greeting him with his usual enthusiasm.
“Mr. Lavi, hello," Leo said, flashing a smile.
“Hello, Leo. How are you today?” Lavi responded, with his calm and composed demeanor.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Lavi nodded and sat down, pulling out his worn spellbook, its pages filled with notes and symbols from their lessons. He glanced up at Leo, who had taken a seat across from him, his expression focused and eager to learn.
“Alright, let’s review everything you've learned so far,” Lavi began, his voice steady as always.
Leo nodded attentively.
“You’ve mastered several spells: Illusion, False Power, False Aura, and Calm. Alongside those, you’ve also learned four words of power: ‘Mind,’ ‘Control,’ ‘Power,’ and ‘False.’ Now, to advance to D rank, you need to learn three more spells. These will be ‘Courage,’ ‘False Image,’ ‘Fear’ and ‘Blur.’”
Lavi paused for a moment, allowing Leo to absorb the information.
“‘Courage’ is just as its name suggests. It imbues either yourself or an ally with a surge of bravery, dispelling fear. ‘False Image’ is an extension of the Illusion spell—more refined but limited. You’ll be able to create the image of a small object to deceive an enemy, though it requires a considerable amount of mana. In the future, with more mastery over Illusion spell, you’ll be able to create these images effortlessly, but for now, this spell will serve you well. ‘Fear’ is Opposite of Courage”
Leo listened carefully, his mind already working through the implications of these new abilities.
Lavi continued, “Finally, there’s ‘Blur.’ This spell distorts the perception of an object, making it appear blurry and difficult to see, almost invisible to the naked eye. For ‘Courage’. ‘Fear’ and ‘False Image,’ the words of power you’ve already learned will suffice. But for ‘Blur,’ you’ll need to grasp a new word of power: ‘Truth.’”
Leo whispered the word under his breath, “Truth…”
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“Yes, ‘Truth,’” Lavi affirmed. “Once you’ve mastered these Four spells, you’ll be ready to advance to D- rank.”
Leo nodded, determination sparking in his eyes. He knew the road ahead was still long, but with every new spell and word of power, he was one step closer to his goals.
Lavi placed a small stack of papers on the table between them.
“For today, we’ll focus on reinforcing what you’ve already learned,” Lavi explained. “We’ll practice the spells you’ve mastered again, just to make sure you have a firm grasp on them.”
Leo nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of repetition. He picked up the papers, each containing detailed diagrams and instructions for the spells he had been working on. The familiar symbols for Illusion, False Power, False Aura, and Calm stared back at him from the pages.
He set to work, carefully tracing the lines of each spell with his finger, mentally preparing himself for the practice ahead. Lavi watched him with a critical yet encouraging eye, always ready to correct a misstep or offer advice.
They spent the remainder of the class like this, working through each spell until Leo could perform them with precision and confidence.
As the class wrapped up, Lavi smiled. "Good work today. You're making solid progress. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be ready to move on to more advanced spells."
Leo nodded again, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he gathered the papers.
Leo headed to the storage room to prepare for his patrol, expecting to find Peter, there. Yet once again, Peter was nowhere to be seen. Leo let out a quiet sigh of frustration and shook his head, but there wasn’t time to dwell on it. He slipped into his armor piece by piece, securing each buckle and strap with practiced efficiency. Patrols couldn’t be delayed for personal matters.
Outside the association's headquarters, his patrol partners—Aldred, Edric, and Walden—were already waiting. The day’s assignment took them to the main street, the busiest area in the district, teeming with merchants, street vendors, and locals going about their daily routines. The group moved in a steady formation, scanning their surroundings for anything unusual. Halfway down the broad street, Leo glanced back at Edric.
“Hey, Edric, do you know where you can exchange currency around here?”
Edric scratched his head, thinking it over for a moment. “Currency exchange? Yeah, it should be a bit farther down, a few hundred meters past where we’re supposed to patrol.”
Leo frowned, mentally noting the location. ‘That’s out of our patrol range. I’ll have to check it out later,’ he thought.
The rest of the patrol went by uneventfully. When they wrapped up their shift, instead of heading straight home like the others, Leo broke off and made his way toward the currency exchange Edric mentioned. The sun was starting to dip in the sky as he walked, casting long shadows over the cobblestones. After about fifteen minutes, he arrived at a modest-looking building with a sign that read "Conversion Bank" hanging over the entrance.
Inside, the air was cooler, with a faint scent of parchment and polished wood. The main hall was spacious, lined with several counters where clerks attended to a handful of customers. At the far end of the room, five workers were busy handling various transactions behind a long, polished desk. Leo approached one of the clerks who seemed to be available, a man in his mid-forties with sharp eyes and a calculating expression.
“Excuse me,” Leo said, keeping his voice steady and low. “I need to exchange magisterial gold coins for light coins.”
The clerk’s gaze traveled up and down Leo’s form, lingering on his well-fitted armor. He looked every bit the seasoned warrior, but his youthful features and the large sack slung over his shoulder seemed out of place in this quiet bank. “Of course, sir. How much would you like to exchange?” the clerk asked, his tone polite but cautious.
Without a word, Leo reached into his bag and pulled out a heavy sack of gold. He placed it on the counter with a solid thud. “One hundred.”
The clerk’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He eyed Leo again, more intently this time, trying to reconcile the amount of money with the boy’s age and appearance. The young man looked like he had seen battle, yet he seemed far too young to be handling this kind of wealth. The clerk’s professional demeanor slipped for a moment as suspicion crept into his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a courteous smile. “I’ll need to see some identification, please.”
Leo nodded, unfazed. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his Paladin ID and handed it over. The clerk studied it for a moment, and his eyebrows raised even higher.
“Mr. Mantine,” the clerk said, addressing him with newfound respect. “I’ll have your transaction ready in about five minutes. Please, feel free to take a seat while you wait.”
“I’ll stand,” Leo replied flatly, his gaze fixed on the clerk.
The man nodded, slightly unnerved, and disappeared through a door behind the counter. True to his word, he returned a few minutes later, struggling under the weight of a large sack filled with light coins. He set it down in front of Leo, slightly out of breath.
“Here you are, sir,” he said, his voice tinged with both relief and curiosity.
Leo took the sack and carefully secured it back into his bag. “Thank you,” he said curtly. Without another word or a glance back, he turned and strode out of the bank, leaving the clerk standing there with lingering questions that would remain unanswered.
Before heading home, Leo stopped by a well-known magic shop tucked away in one of the quieter corners of the city. The shop was dimly lit, filled with the scent of incense and old parchment. Shelves overflowed with mystical trinkets, enchanted stones, and ancient scrolls. After browsing for a while, he approached the counter and purchased two heavy bracelets, each weighing forty pounds. They were meant to enhance his strength over time through constant resistance, but Leo knew better than to activate them immediately. Forty pounds was a lot, even for him. He decided to hold off until he had built up more muscle first.
...
In a damp, shadow-filled corridor, a lone woman walked with a deliberate, steady pace. Her long white dress trailed behind her, and a large, pointed hat obscured much of her face. The only sound in the eerie silence was the echo of her footsteps against the stone floor. On either side of her, the darkness was endless, stretching into nothingness, as though anyone who strayed from the path would be lost forever in the void.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking, she reached a massive stone throne. A figure cloaked in shadows sat upon it, unmoving.
“We are very close to our goal,” she said, her voice a haunting melody that echoed through the corridor.
“Good,” replied the figure, though the voice didn’t seem to come from the figure itself. It was distant, yet omnipresent, filling the air with an unnatural resonance. “When the time comes, I will send the necessary assistance. We must do this quickly and quietly. The Pope must not know what we’re after.”
“And what about Oryu?” the figure asked.
“I’m keeping an eye on him. He won’t be able to betray us,” the women replied,
The figure raised a hand from the shadows. “Soon, the fragments of the fallen god will be ours.”
As the dark figure’s words lingered in the air, the very place seemed to shiver with excitement. The woman smiled, a glint of ambition in her eyes.
...
Back in the comfort of his home, Leo sat at the kitchen table, deep in thought. His mother was busy with her usual tasks, while his sister, Rosie, was reading at the other end of the table. Rosie was brighter and sharper than most kids her age, and Leo couldn’t help but think about her future. If she decided to pursue the science of magic, he would be able to help her. He had the means now, and with the steady income from his salary combined with the unforeseen opportunity presented by the secret meeting, he could ensure she had everything she needed to succeed.
But his mind wasn’t only on his sister. Leo had his own plans. He had a growing stack of books to read, including five more on top of his language studies. Knowledge was power in this world, and the more he knew, the more he could use to his advantage. Information could be a powerful tool, especially in his future dealings. He needed to make smart moves, gather resources, and build his connections. Right now, in this world, money could open almost any door.
Leo also knew he needed to advance in rank as quickly as possible. Reaching D rank would allow him to start enchanting, a valuable skill that could bring in even more income and opportunities. There was a lot to do, but he felt confident that he was on the right path.
As he lay in bed that night, thinking about all that lay ahead, exhaustion slowly overtook him. His thoughts grew hazy, and before long, he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep, ready to face whatever tomorrow would bring.
…
In a brightly lit room, illuminated by magical lamps, an elderly man sat behind a massive desk. Opposite him, another man fidgeted impatiently. The single large window was shrouded in heavy curtains.
Silence stretched between them until the younger man could bear it no longer.
“Your Holiness,” he urged, “we must act now.”
The old man, the Pope, the most powerful figure in the Kingdom of Light sat impassive. His aged face etched with wrinkles and pale blue eyes. A towering white hat, adorned with glittering stones, crowned his head. He wore a long, flowing white robe.
“Patience, young man,” the Pope cautioned. “We cannot act without certainty.”
“Then at least dispatch someone,” the younger man pleaded.
The Pope nodded. “Send Mr. Wells.”
“Just him?” the younger man questioned.
“Oryu is no fool,” the Pope explained. “A direct approach is necessary, or he will surely suspect something.”
“As you command,” the younger man replied, rising and bowing respectfully. “I will prepare immediately.”
The Pope watched him go, then sat motionless, a statue of contemplation.
'What are your true intentions, Bishop Oryu?' he mused.