The newly created cards now displayed detailed drawings of Sylph and Vasida, along with their personal information. Both of their race, rank, and magic levels mirrored Lyra's, but the key difference lay in their magic power.
Vasida's card read: [Magic Power: 888/888 Mana].
Sylph's card showed: [Magic Power: 300/900 Mana].
While their current magic reserves were greater than Lyra's, their total magic capacity was still lower than hers.
"This is so precise!" both Vasida and Sylph exclaimed in awe as they examined the cards.
Vasida's eyes lit up with excitement. "I think my magic power increased by one point! During the talent test, my result was 887 mana, and now it's 888. I've never noticed it increasing before!"
"Mine hasn't changed," Sylph added, a little more subdued.
Lyra nodded thoughtfully. "Right now, the greatest value of these cards is how accurately they display our magic power," she explained. "Everyone knows their race, rank, and magic level, but it's the magic power that's hard to monitor. Usually, we have to rely on the brightness of our energy halos for a rough estimate."
Their conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice behind them.
"Why haven't you three gone to class yet?" came the voice of Lilith, their senior witch, catching them off guard.
Lilith had an early flying class that morning, and unable to sleep, she had gotten up earlier than usual. While picking vegetables in the backyard to prepare breakfast, she noticed the three young witches huddled near Sylph's gate, deep in discussion. Curious, she climbed over the fence to join them.
Startled by her sudden appearance, the three witches clutched their chests in relief. They hadn't seen Lilith all day yesterday, and her unexpected arrival gave them a bit of a scare.
Eager to share her progress, Lyra beamed as she explained to Senior Lilith about the character cards she had created.
Lilith's eyes widened in surprise. "I haven't seen you in a day, and you've already made such great progress?" she remarked, impressed. "But… are you sure it's okay to share this with other witches and sorcerers without a witch contract?"
Lyra nodded confidently. "It's not fully mature witch magic yet, but I don't think it's necessary for that right now." She smiled. "Senior Lilith, I can make one for you too!"
But Lilith shook her head disapprovingly. "You don't need fully mature witch magic to sign a contract or receive payment. I know you're being generous, Lyra, but giving these cards away without expecting anything in return isn't a good habit."
She folded her arms and continued, "You gave the three of us cards today. What happens when the other little witches find out and want one too? Will you give them out to everyone? And if you give these away, what about the next cards you create? Generosity can be dangerous in the wrong situation. Out in the wilderness, people will take advantage of you if you give too much."
Lyra met Lilith's gaze and smiled softly, reassured by a memory from her past life. "Don't worry, Senior Sister. There's a saying from my world: 'A little bit of kindness is a debt of gratitude.' I'm not going to hand out my creations to just anyone. But the little witches here at the academy are different."
She gestured to Sylph and Vasida. "They're all good people. Making character cards like these doesn't cost me much magic power; I can afford to give one to every witch at school if it helps them."
Lyra felt a deep sense of trust toward her fellow witches. From her experience, the witches were a community bound by mutual respect and understanding. They never took kindness for granted, and this was woven into the very fabric of witch culture.
"The witches here have always respected each other's limits. That's what makes our clan so united, even without strict contracts," she explained. "Our bonds are strong because we value each other's efforts. Even without the rules, witches don't betray one another. It's a part of who we are."
She spoke with conviction, her belief in the witches' bond unwavering. "The magic I use to create these cards can be recovered. If it helps everyone observe their own status more clearly, then why not do it? It's a small price to pay for something that benefits us all."
Lilith studied her for a moment, then smiled softly, seeing Lyra's sincerity. "I understand your heart," she said. "Just be careful. Sometimes, even well-meaning kindness can be taken the wrong way. But you're right, among witches, trust runs deep."
Lyra had always operated under the assumption that a witch's contract required magic to bind, so Lilith's revelations struck her as both surprising and concerning.
Seeing that Lyra still seemed confused about the implications, Lilith's tone shifted, growing more serious. "Lyra, even if you're only doing this for the witches, it's still problematic."
Lyra listened intently, her curiosity piqued.
"Witches don't take kindness for granted," Lilith continued. "If you give us a gift like this card for free, we'll feel compelled to repay you. But that's not as straightforward as it sounds."
Lyra frowned, trying to process Lilith's words.
Lilith pressed on. "For instance, if you give us these character cards without a contract, how do we know what to expect in return? Will we start charging you for our witch magic in the future? Your talent manifestations consume your magic power during creation, but once they're made, the user provides the energy. If we let you use them freely, every time you cast a spell, it'll cost us magic power."
Lyra's eyes widened as she absorbed this information. "But I didn't think about that. I just wanted to help!"
Lilith sighed, her concern evident. "You see? That's why a contract is essential. It ensures fairness. If you just give cards away, how will other witches feel obligated to repay you? Equal exchanges are valued more than mere gratitude among us. I need this card too, but I would want to sign a contract to get it."
Lyra's thoughts raced. Could it really be true that the little witches wouldn't reciprocate her kindness? She glanced at Sylph and Vasida for support.
"Lyra! If we can sign a contract without using magic, then it makes sense to offer some magic power in return!" Vasida chimed in, eager to clarify.
"Exactly!" Sylph added. "Lyra didn't understand the rules of our contracts. She was just being generous without knowing it could create complications."
Vasida nodded vigorously. "Right! She's from another world. It's normal for her to be a bit lost when it comes to witch customs."
Lilith's expression remained serious as she looked at Lyra, wanting to ensure she understood the significance of what she was being told. "I don't want you to get taken advantage of in the future," she warned.
Understanding began to dawn on Lyra. "You're right, Senior Lilith! I need to be more careful. Please teach me how to create a proper witch contract!"
Relieved, Lilith nodded. "The challenge with witch contracts isn't about the contract itself; it's about the magic. In your case, since you're not borrowing magic, we can keep it simple. Just use ordinary contract magic."
Lyra felt a surge of determination. "Got it! I learned the Golden Pen Technique yesterday. I'll write up the contracts!"
"Good," Lilith encouraged. "Just clearly indicate what each party is responsible for."
Lyra raced back to her room, gathering a stack of parchment and her golden pen. With focused determination, she imitated the contracts she'd seen before, carefully writing three copies.
When she returned, she presented them to Lilith, Sylph, and Vasida. "Here's my first draft! Are you willing to pay 50 mana, either as a one-time magic payment or an equivalent energy, to purchase a {Character Card - Apprentice - Unbound}? And the energy cost for using this card will be borne by the user."
As Lilith read the terms, her voice took on a shocked pitch. "Lyra, were you a goblin in your previous life?"
Lyra cringed at the comparison, recalling the greedy goblins from her favorite story series. "Please don't slander me, Senior! I was a real human! I followed the law and never did anything bad!" she protested, her cheeks flushing with indignation.
Vasida and Sylph burst into laughter, and even Lilith couldn't help but chuckle at Lyra's earnestness. "Okay, okay," Lilith said, shaking her head with a smile. "Let's make sure we refine this contract so it reflects the values of our witch community."