"It's another document about the ring, which looks like some kind of experiments."
Lira leaned in, her eyes scanning the faded ink. "It says here that the ring was subject to several experiments to understand its nature. The results showed that the magic ring is a key to unlocking dark power, and it chooses its owner based on a strong affinity for dark magic."
Lira's expression grew grim. "That explains why it won't come off and why you were able to use dark magic during the challenge."
Alexander swallowed hard, his mind racing with a single, ornate book he brushed. "So, I've been chosen by this ring because of some kind of dark magic inside me?"
Lira nodded, her voice gentle. "It seems that way. The ring's function is to amplify that power, which can be used as an enchantment to strengthen the owner's existing abilities or can be used directly to cast dark magic."
Lira placed a reassuring hand on his arm, her touch sending a warm jolt through him. "But remember, Alexander, just because the ring has chosen you doesn't mean you have to use its dark power. You have a choice. We can study it together and find a way to control it or even remove it."
Alexander felt a surge of gratitude for Lira's support. "Thank you, Lira. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Lira smiled, her eyes softening. "We're in this together, Alexander. We'll figure it out."
They shared a moment of comfortable silence, their eyes meeting in a way that spoke volumes without words. The sun rose higher in the sky, casting warm beams of light through the library's windows.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted them, causing them to instinctively turn their heads to the sides. Elara appeared, her usual energetic smile lighting up her face.
"Hey, Alexander! Lira!" she called, waving as she approached. "I've been looking for you. There's going to be an auction in two days, and there'll be a market too. I thought we could go together and buy a piece of equipment for Tomas, you know, as a thank-you."
Alexander nodded, smiling at the thought. "That sounds perfect."
Elara grinned. "Great! I'll see you there. Oh, and Alexander, you might want to use the auction as a chance to get yourself a new piece of equipment too." Then she waved goodbye and hurried off, leaving Alexander and Lira alone once more.
Lira turned to him, her expression thoughtful. "Elara's right. It might be best to keep the ring hidden for now. We don't want anyone asking too many questions."
"Yeah, that's a good idea."
"So, Alexander," Lira began, smiling playfully, "Do you have any credits for the auction or the bazaar? "
In the world, 1 credit is equivalent to about 1 cent in reality. And the minimum bid in the auction is 10 credits, some of the higher-end items can go for up to a million credits.
Alexander's smile froze on his face, he reached instinctively for his pocket, where he kept his meager savings, but he already knew the answer. He didn't have much. In fact, he had almost nothing.
Lira noticed his discomfort and couldn't help but chuckle. "I take it that's a no?"
Alexander's face flushed slightly, trying to recover his composure. "Well, you see… I've been so busy with studying magic that I never really paid much attention to credits or making money. I mean, food and accommodation are free here at the Academy, so I never thought I'd need them."
Lira couldn't help but laugh softly at his flustered explanation. "Alexander, you really are something else. You've been here how long, and you've never thought about earning credits?"
He shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "I guess I just never realized how important it was. Do you have any advice on how I could earn some credits quickly?"
Lira's smile softened, and she nodded. "Alright, let me break it down for you. There are a few main ways to earn credits at the Academy. The first way is to help professors or teachers complete their research projects as an assistant."
"But since we'll be busy studying how to master dark magic together, so we can rule that one out."
Alexander nodded, listening intently as Lira continued.
"The second way," she said, "is to take on missions from the mission hall which has various tasks."
"That sounds promising," Alexander said, intrigued by the idea of earning credits through missions. "I think I'll check out the mission hall and see what's available."
Lira said, nodding approvingly, " I'll apply for a research room and some funds for our project. We'll need a place to work and some resources to study that ring of yours."
With that, the two of them parted ways, Lira heading toward the administrative offices while Alexander made his way to the mission hall.
The mission hall was a bustling place, filled with students of all ages and ranks looking to take on various tasks in exchange for credits. The large hall was lined with bulletin boards displaying mission listings, some were written on crisp parchment, while others were scrawled on worn, yellowed papereach one detailing the job requirements, the rewards, and the risks involved.
Alexander stepped inside, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he scanned the boards for a suitable mission. He had never done anything like this before, and the sheer number of options was a bit overwhelming.
He scanned the boards, taking in the sheer variety of tasks available. Some were straightforward, like assisting with research projects or tutoring younger students. Others were more adventurous, involving expeditions to ancient ruins, recovering lost artifacts, or even dealing with magical creatures that had strayed too close to the Academy.
For example:
Exploration of the Ancient Battlefield: High risk, high reward.
Unkown tasks from the Felzen Empire: Requires travel to distant lands.
Clearing the Miasma: Requires strong magical abilities and combat skills.
Orc Hunting on the Border: Requires combat experience.
Gathering Rare Herbs: Requires knowledge of botany and local flora.
Library Cataloging: Requires attention to detail and patience.
Alexander's eyes fell on a task listed under "Letter Delivery and Contact Work." It seemed simple enough: make contact with a specified individual in a nearby town and deliver the letter to Lady Liliana. The reward for completing the task was 1,000 credits, a generous sum that caught Alexander's attention immediately.
"A lot of credits for a simple delivery," he muttered to himself, wondering why no one else had taken the task. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to go for it. He needed the credits, and this task seemed like the quickest way to earn them. He reached out and touched the listing on the board, a magical scroll materializing in his hand with the details of the task.
He grabbed the scroll and brought it to the front desk, where a clerk was busy organizing papers. "Excuse me," Alexander said, holding up the scroll. "I'd like to take this task."
The clerk looked up, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "This one, huh? Not many students choose it. But if you're sure, I'll need you to fill out this entry and exit form."
Alexander nodded and quickly filled out the form, signing his name at the bottom. The clerk handed him a small map with directions. "Good luck," the clerk said with a slight smile. "You might need it."
Alexander thanked the clerk and left the mission hall, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. As he stepped outside, he realized he hadn't thought about the travel expenses. The town was a fair distance away, and he'd need some money for transportation and food along the way. He patted his pockets again, but they were just as empty as before.
"Great," he muttered under his breath. "I didn't think this through."
Just then, he spotted Cedric walking across the hall, his usual confident stride catching Alexander's eye. An idea sparked in his mind, and he hurried over to catch up with him.
"Cedric!" Alexander called out, waving. "Wait up!"
Cedric turned around, his expression brightening when he saw Alexander. "Hey, Alexander! What's up? You look like you're in a hurry."
"I was wondering if I could borrow some money for travel expenses," Alexander said, feeling a bit awkward. "I've taken a letter delivery task, but I need a little cash to get started. I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I get my credits."
Cedric laughed good-naturedly, clapping Alexander on the shoulder. "No worries, man. I've got you covered. I remember my first few weeks here at the Academy—money was always tight. Here, take this."
Alexander took the pouch gratefully, feeling the weight of the coins inside. "Thanks, Cedric. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime," Cedric replied with a grin. "Good luck with the delivery. And be careful out there, okay?"
"I will," Alexander promised, giving Cedric a nod of thanks before turning and heading toward the Academy gates. The path led him through the woods outside the Academy, winding through thick trees and underbrush. The air was cool and crisp, and the sound of birdsong filled the air.