The sound of a feather's tip repeatedly hitting the paper filled the room.
The strokes were usually constant, yet at times a quick succession could be heard paired with an exhale.
"Having a hard time?" asked Xannos standing by the doorway.
"I just need to get used to it."
"Those are the easiest inscriptions you can make. Let me show you one more time."
Xannos walked to the table, dragging some paper toward him and taking the feather from Mori's hand.
"Alright, so this ink we're using has enchanting properties. Instead of casting the spell out loud, we're casting it through the ink on the paper."
"Yes, that much I know."
"You're basically casting fireball by yelling 'HotSphere'. Meaning is close enough, but not quite there."
From what I've learned about magic, this ain't true. Still, I guess he's right about inscription.
"So because my lines aren't perfect it's like a different spell," said Mori.
"Exactly. Now, inscription, like enchanting, has a lot of uses. You're now learning the two-step process, but eventually — and after some guidance — you'll go through a single step inscription."
"Two steps is when I inscribe the spell on parchment, then use the parchment to apply it on what I initially wanted to. Single step is doing it directly on what I want enchanted."
"You've listened! Good. Well, two steps is the easiest way to do it, so if you can't learn to draw proper line on paper doing it on your own body will take forever."
He's not wrong.
"I'll try again."
Mori took the feather back, and the sound of a feather tip dragging across the paper filled the room again.
The day had started well; the innkeeper made them quite a breakfast, a true feast.
Her culinary skills were good, her cooking level must've been pretty high, Mori guessed.
It wasn't only the cooking, however. The place was spotless, she kept it clean all by herself.
On top of that, the sheets and towels smelled of lavender, which meant she had done them recently.
With barely any clients, she went through the trouble and hard work of redoing the rooms, where anyone else would've probably just let them be.
She took her work seriously and listened to any request they had.
Someone with a work etiquette that strong shouldn't be struggling, yet she was.
"Alright, just keep going until you make one that's right. Just 1 is what's needed for level 2. Eventually it'll be easier."
Mori nodded as Xannos left the room, heading back into the shop.
The concentration he needed was tremendous. Until he found a way to better seal the hexes, undoing the chains to use his arms proved to be a rough process.
The hexes played with his mind in ways he had gotten used to, but anything requiring concentration proved difficult.
He kept trying, over and over again. Inscription wasn't that hard, but a small mistake is all it took to mess up the whole process.
"Finally."
[Inscription level up!]
[Inscription Level 2.]
Xannos quickly appeared in the now open doorway.
"You did it? Show me."
He walked around the table, looking at Mori's work while nodding and making 'hm' sounds.
He tapped around the key parts of the inscription with his fingers, following the structure.
"Yes, it looks quite right. Use it now, on the feather perhaps."
Mori grabbed the parchment and used it, it slowly burned in his hand, yet there was no heat.
The small fire eventually consumed the whole thing, leaving his hands empty.
"Good, now try to bend it."
Mori took it in his hands and tried to bend it. It was surprisingly quite sturdy despite him being able to bend it.
"You should feel some resistance. Don't worry, it's weak so you can still break it, but as you level up you'll get better results."
"I know. It's just good to get started, can you give me a whole kit I could travel with? So I can keep training?"
"Yeah, I'll prepare something for you, I'll give it to you on your way out. About carving your skin..."
"We'll see."
"GOOD. Good. Does your neck bleed a lot? You know what... we'll see as we go... yes..."
Xannos was looking at the ceiling, rubbing his chin as he kept muttering on his way out.
The next hours proved to be easier, mainly due to the additional level gained.
The biggest hurdle was truly getting the first inscription done, after that, it was smooth sailing.
Repeating the same process, he made almost a dozen, the progress slowly decreasing around level 6.
After boredom finally conquered him, he decided it was time to leave, making sure to grab the inscription kit Xannos prepared on his way out.
A dark leather backpack filled with parchment, feathers and ink.
Additionally, a small handmade instruction manual for the early level inscriptions he could practice.
"Before I leave, do you know anything about the Ferryman?" asked Mori.
Xannos frowned, visibly in thought as he pondered the question.
"Hmm. The Ferryman? Can't say it rings a bell. Who is it?"
"He apparently helps people get to the north."
Xannos' face darkened.
His eyes darted around, looking at the front window and then at Mori.
"You want to get us killed?! They ever hear you saying that and your head is a good as gone! And honestly, if that happens, it means you didn't have much of one in the first place..."
"I understand the risks. Still, I need to find that person."
"Hmm."
Xannos started pacing behind the counter.
"I'll ask around, but I can't guarantee anyone will know about him. But If you want my opinion, the north isn't much better than here."
"What do you mean?" asked Mori.
Xannos deeply exhaled.
"I know how bad we have it, here. Still, we don't face certain death as long as we follow some rules. Since the war broke out, the North is only holding out by forcing people into their armies."
"Should they let them conquer them, then? Force them into their ideals? Do you know what they're capable of, here?"
Xannos pinched his nose between his eyes.
"Listen. It's clear you don't like what's happening here. Just keep in mind both sides have problems, they're simply different. If I had to choose, I'd say it's worse here than up north, but going there won't guarantee happiness for anyone."
"Well, it's worth a shot, at least," said Mori.
Xannos shrugged while nodding. "Maybe you're right. I truly don't know what the right solution is. Anyways, I'll ask around for you."
"Thanks."
"Ah, and, before I forget, someone left this here for you."
Mori frowned, taking a letter Xannos was handing him.
"Who?"
"I don't know. They just came in, left this on the counter and left before I even asked them anything."
Mori turned the letter around, a pink heart was drawn on the back.