Mortis Nacht awoke in his quarters, the faint light of dawn filtering through the narrow window. He sat up slowly, his body still sore from the recent mission, yet his mind was already sharp and alert. The deaths of Lena, Kael, Garrick, and Jareth had left him as the sole survivor. As he prepared for the day, he allowed himself a brief moment of contemplation. Their deaths had been a calculated loss, mere pawns sacrificed for his greater gain. "Whatever," he muttered to himself, "they were just meat shields, though it's a pity to lose them."
Dressing in one of his dark robes, Mortis left his quarters and made his way to the dining hall. The academy was already bustling with activity, students and apprentices moving through the halls, their conversations filled with mundane gossip and other shit. Mortis ignored them, his focus unwavering. As he entered the dining hall, he felt a rare feeling of solitude. For the first time since he joined the academy, he would be eating breakfast alone.
Choosing a secluded corner, Mortis sat down with his meal, his eyes scanning the room out of habit. The chatter of other students barely registered as he analyzed his surroundings. He was always vigilant, always prepared for any eventuality. The academy was a place of opportunities but also dangers and Mortis never underestimated his peers or his potential enemies.
But his thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind him. "Are you Mortis Nacht?"
Mortis turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the newcomer. "Who's asking?" he replied, his tone measured and cold.
The young man before him had a confident stance and a piercing gaze. "My name is Daniel Asomdes," he said, his voice steady. "So... Are you Mortis Nacht or not?"
Mortis's mind raced. Daniel Asomdes? That name sounded familiar. Where had he heard it before? Then it clicked—Lena had mentioned him the day they left for the mission. Mortis considered his response carefully. But after a short moment of thinking, he concluded that denying it wouldn't change anything. "Yeah, I am Mortis Nacht," he said finally.
Daniel's expression brightened slightly as he sat down opposite Mortis. "Excellent. Do you know why I am here?"
Mortis met his gaze evenly. "I have a guess."
Daniel laughed, a sound devoid of true joy. "Then you must know what I'm going to ask. Will you join me?"
Mortis's eyes flickered with interest. "And what's in it for me?"
Daniel's smile widened. "You will have the opportunity to work for the future leader of Myriad Demons Academy. Plus," he added, his grin turning sinister, "you won't have to experience the kidnapping and torture that others had."
Mortis stared at Daniel, his expression unfathomable. He needed time to think. "Give me three days to decide," he said at last with a slight smile. "After all, deciding whether I want to miss such a splendid opportunity for torture isn't easy."
Daniel chuckled. "Very well. Three days. No more. We will meet here for breakfast, and you will give me your answer."
"Of course," Mortis replied, a faint, false smile on his lips. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to finish my meal."
Daniel stood up, his eyes lingering on Mortis for a moment longer. "Enjoy your breakfast," he said before walking away.
As Daniel disappeared from sight, Mortis allowed himself a moment of genuine relief. "Finally," he muttered. The encounter had been intense, and now he had three days to make plans and advance his power. He needed to reach Rank 3 Apprentice to stand a chance against someone like Daniel Asomdes. Fortunately, he had just received 500 contribution points. With these, the nearly impossible task of rapid advancement now seemed within reach.
Mortis quickly finished his meal and headed toward the trading post. The academy's trading post was a bustling hub of activity, located beside the mission area. Many other students had set up stalls, each displaying their wares on signboards. The area was chaotic, with students haggling over prices and bartering for goods. Mortis moved through the crowd with practiced ease, his eyes scanning the various stalls for anything that might aid his advancement.
He noticed that only students populated the trading post. Magi probably had their own, more exclusive trading areas. The stalls here were filled with an assortment of basic items—bows, knives, and other weapons, as well as the furs, livers, and eyes of various creatures, some still bearing traces of blood. Potions were particularly in demand, with students clamoring around stalls that offered them. The stall owners, radiating strong energy waves, dealt calmly with the rush.
Mortis stopped at a stall displaying a variety of potion ingredients. The stall owner, a Rank 2 Apprentice, eyed him with mild curiosity. "What do you need?" the man asked lazily.
"I need a set of equipment for potion brewing," Mortis replied.
The stall owner chuckled. "Another retard dreaming of becoming a potion master, huh? Well, let's see what we have." He pulled out a cutting board, a small furnace and a set of glass apparatus, including beakers, a glass rod, test tubes, and a set of other tools. "This set is completely new."
Mortis examined the equipment carefully. It was of average quality but sufficient for his plans. "I'll take it," he said. "How much?"
"25 Contribution points," the stall owner replied.
Mortis told him his name and watched as the stall owner looked through his details in the storage crystal.
After the stall owner confirmed his amount of contribution points, he handed Mortis a parchment with the details of his purchase and told him to pour a sliver of his mana into it.
"That's not all, I also want to ask... Do you have any potion formulas for potion novices?" Mortis inquired.
The man nodded. "I have formulas for strength potions, healing potions and refreshing potions. Which one do you want?"
"The healing potion and ingredients for twenty batches," Mortis decided.
The stall owner pulled out a blue box containing ingredients for twenty batches and a parchment with the potion formula. "Thirty contribution points."
Mortis poured a sliver of his mana into the updated parchment describing details of his purchase and tucked the potion formula and box into his robes. He needed to make the best use of his contribution points, so he moved on to other stalls, looking for anything else that might help him.
He found another stall selling spell scrolls. The owner, a rank 2 apprentice, greeted him. "Looking for something specific?"
Mortis nodded. "Do you have any spell charts for advanced combat spells?"
The stall owner pulled out a storage crystal. "These inside are quite powerful. They cost five contribution points each."
Mortis examined the spell charts inside the storage crystal and discovered three spells: a fireball spell, an ice shard spell and a lightning bolt spell.
The first spell that appeared was Fireball. As Mortis focused on it, the crystal displayed an image of a swirling, incandescent sphere of flames. The fireball could be hurled at enemies, exploding upon impact to engulf the target in a fiery blast. Mortis envisioned using it to inflict severe damage on groups of enemies or to break through physical barriers with its destructive force, making it an ideal choice for both offensive and strategic purposes.
Next was Ice Shard, depicted as a jagged, crystalline spear of ice. The crystal showed the shard forming rapidly in the caster's hand before being launched with precision. The icy projectile could pierce through flesh and armor alike, delivering a chilling wound that could slow down the target. Mortis saw its potential for direct attacks, as well as for creating hazardous, slippery surfaces to hinder opponents and control the battlefield.
The third and last spell, Lightning Bolt, created a brilliant arc of electric energy. The crystal illustrated a crackling bolt of lightning shooting forth, striking targets with lethal precision. The electric discharge could incapacitate or even kill its target instantly and had the added benefit of potentially jumping to nearby enemies, spreading its devastating effects. Mortis recognized it as a powerful tool for dealing with both single and multiple foes swiftly, making it a versatile addition to his arsenal.
He poured a sliver of his mana into the parchment describing details of his purchase, pocketed the storage crystal with spell charts and left.
As he continued browsing, Mortis spotted a small shop at the center of the trading post. Unlike the makeshift stalls, this shop was a permanent structure, its exterior well-maintained. Mortis entered, curious about what it offered.
The shop was dimly lit, with shelves lined with various magical items. The shopkeeper, a corpulent man in a black robe, looked up as Mortis entered. "What can I do for you?" he asked.
"I'm looking for anything that can help with rapid advancement," Mortis said.
The shopkeeper's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ah, a common request. Let's see..." He pulled out a box containing several small vials. "These are potions of accelerated learning. They enhance your absorption of magical knowledge and speed up your mana refining for a short period. Very useful for someone looking to advance quickly."
"How much?" Mortis asked, already calculating his remaining points.
"Ten contribution points per vial," the shopkeeper replied.
Mortis bought two vials, leaving him with 410 contribution points. He then inquired about artifacts, but the prices were astronomical.
"I also need potions to increase my mana," Mortis said.
The shopkeeper nodded thoughtfully. "I do have mana-enhancing potions. They are quite inferior, but still usable for apprentices. They will cost you 50 contribution points each."
Mortis considered his options. Despite the high price, the benefits of enhanced mana were too significant to pass up. "I'll take two," he decided.
After completing his purchase and receiving the potion, Mortis carefully stored it away, knowing it could be a crucial asset in his upcoming endeavors.
Satisfied with his purchases, Mortis left the store and headed towards the official trading counter. He needed to find a tutor for alchemy, someone who could teach him the basics quickly and efficiently. As he approached the counter, he saw a large notice board displaying various teachers, their specialization and their costs.
Mortis scanned the list, looking for anything related to alchemy. Most of the lessons were astronomically expensive, but one caught his eye—a basic alchemy course taught by a rank 5 apprentice named Varo. The price was only five contribution points per hour, which was reasonable given his current resources.
He approached the clerk at the counter. "I'd like to sign up for Varo's alchemy lessons," he said.
The clerk nodded and made a note in a ledger. "Varo's next lesson is in an hour. Room 23, East Wing. Five contribution points per hour. Pay here and keep this receipt for admission."
Mortis poured a sliver of his mana into the parchment describing details of his purchase and took the receipt. With a bit of time before the lesson, he decided to review his new spells and potions. The Fireball, Ice Shard, and Lightning Bolt spells he had chosen were powerful but required precise control.
When the time came, Mortis made his way to Room 23 in the East Wing. The corridors were quieter here, the air filled with the faint scent of herbs and potions. He arrived at the door and knocked.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.