After leaving the bookshop, Liam strolled through the vibrant streets of Brooklyn. His trunk trailed behind him, enchanted to follow like an obedient pet. The sun was beginning to dip beneath the skyline, casting golden hues on the cobblestone streets. He knew his next destination—The Hotel Bossert, a luxurious and discreet establishment known to house all sorts of guests, mundane and magical alike.
Liam had chosen this hotel specifically. Not only was it elegant, but it also ensured privacy—critical for someone about to dive into forbidden knowledge.
The Bossert's grand lobby gleamed with polished marble floors, velvet armchairs, and crystal chandeliers that bathed the room in warm, flickering light. The staff was impeccable, blending charm with a cool professionalism that ensured guests wouldn't be bothered unless they requested it.
Approaching the front desk, Liam was greeted by a sharply dressed concierge.
"Good evening, sir. How may we assist you today?"
"I need a suite for two nights."
Liam said with a polite smile.
"Preferably one with strong wards for privacy."
The concierge's expression didn't change, though a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. He leaned slightly forward and replied
"Of course, sir. We have discreet accommodations available. Will that be acceptable?"
Liam nodded.
"Perfect."
Within minutes, he was handed an elegant brass key with the number 1408 engraved on it. A bellhop appeared to escort him, but Liam waved him off.
"I'll manage."
He said, motioning toward the trunk trailing behind him.
Liam entered the suite to find a spacious room with plush carpets, tall windows overlooking the city, and a large bed draped with silk covers. Ornate magical glyphs glimmered faintly around the doorframe and windows—subtle but powerful wards that ensured no sound would escape and no unwanted guests could enter.
Satisfied with the accommodations, Liam locked the door behind him, placed the trunk in the center of the room, and flicked his wand. The trunk sprang open, and a cascade of books spilled onto the floor—a treasure trove of both mundane and forbidden knowledge.
He quickly sorted the books, stacking the standard Academy textbooks and reference materials into one pile. The darker tomes—the true reason he'd come to the shop—formed a separate stack, their leather-bound covers exuding an aura of danger and promise.
Liam sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully pulling out The Book of Azrael first. The pages were worn, and the text was written in an archaic script that whispered secrets into his mind. This book, like many others in his collection, delved into necromancy and summoning arts—fields that would not only supplement his magical education but also provide him with a dangerous edge.
As he turned the pages, he discovered spells to bind spirits, invoke shadows, and even anchor life forces—arts long banned by the Council of Archmages. Liam's mind buzzed with excitement. These spells were nothing like the tame, regulated ones taught at the Academy. They held raw power, the kind that could bend fate and reshape destiny.
After a few hours of skimming through the darker books, he set them aside and turned to the more mundane spellbooks. The Founders Academy textbooks covered the fundamentals of elemental magic, charms, and transfiguration—all essential knowledge. Even though he had learned similar concepts before, there were key differences in theory and application that fascinated him.
By the time the city outside grew quiet, Liam had a solid plan. He wouldn't simply follow the Academy's curriculum. No, he would master both the sanctioned and forbidden arts—taking only what was useful from each. If the Council of Archmages wanted to control knowledge, he would outsmart them at every turn.
With these books, he had the tools to ensure his survival and success, no matter what the Academy—or the Noah family—had in store for him.
Liam glanced at the clock on the nightstand—3:00 AM. Time had slipped away, but exhaustion hadn't touched him. The adrenaline from unlocking arcane secrets fueled him.
With a flick of his wand, he sealed the door with an extra layer of privacy wards. No one would interrupt him tonight.
He settled into the suite's armchair, The Last Graduate resting open on his lap. There were still so many books to study, spells to learn, and rituals to memorize. And this was only the beginning.
Smiling to himself, Liam whispered.
"Let them search for me. By the time they find me, I'll be untouchable."
And with that, he dove back into the world of forbidden knowledge, the flickering lights of the city casting shadows that danced along the pages of his book.
Hours later Liam finished absorbing the knowledge from The Standard Book of Spells: Tier 1, with his Index Record. He soon felt the familiar tingle of a system notification pop up.
The quests presented by his Merchant System were direct yet challenging, offering rewards that would make even the simplest spells exponentially more efficient and powerful with mastery.
Ding!
[Quest: Practice Makes Perfect]
[Objective: Cast Entangle 25 times (0/25)
[Bonus Objectives 1: Cast Entangle 50 times (0/50)]
[Bonus Objectives 2: Cast Entangle 75 times (0/75)]
[Bonus Objectives 3: Cast Entangle 100 times (0/100)]
The first quest, Practice Makes Perfect, laid out clear goals for his Entangle spell, pushing him to cast it over and over.
[Reward: Reduce cost to cast by 20% MP]
[Bonus Reward 1: Reduce cost to cast by 40% MP]
[Bonus Reward 2: Reduce cost to cast by 60% MP]
[Bonus Reward 3: Reduce cost to cast by 80% MP]
Hitting the MP reduction milestones would make it so that by the time he reached 100 casts, the spell would cost nearly nothing—an invaluable advantage in combat situations where conserving mana was crucial.
Ding!
[Quest: HIT THE TARGET!]
[Objective: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 25 times (0/25)]
[Bonus Objectives 1: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 50 times (0/50)]
[Bonus Objectives 2: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 75 times (0/75)]
[Bonus Objectives 3: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 100 times (0/100)]
[Bonus Objectives 4: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 200 times (0/200)]
[Bonus Objectives 5: Hit a moving target with the Entangle spell 1,000 times (0/1,000)]
The second quest, HIT THE TARGET!, introduced an even greater challenge, as it required him to not just cast the spell but to hit moving targets repeatedly.
[Reward: Entangle spell is 25% stronger]
[Bonus Reward 1: Entangle spell is 50% stronger]
[Bonus Reward 2: Entangle spell is 75% stronger]
[Bonus Reward 3: Entangle spell is 2X stronger]
[Bonus Reward 4: Entangle spell is 3X stronger]
[Bonus Reward 5: Entangle spell can be continuously charged to stronger Tier levels by using more MP]
As he progressed through the objectives, the power of the Entangle spell would grow significantly, eventually allowing it to scale to even higher Tier levels by continuously charging it with mana. If he could complete all the bonus objectives, the spell would become an unstoppable force of nature in the right hands—his hands.
Liam looked down at his wand, feeling the anticipation build. The quests didn't just apply to Entangle, either. The same notifications appeared for every other spell he had practiced during his late-night session in the abandoned woods.
He quickly reviewed that all the other spells had a similar quest, which had the same objectives and rewards. Every single spell he had tried triggered these intricate progression quests, all designed to push him toward perfection.
"Looks like I've got my work cut out for me."
Liam muttered, but his lips curled into a smile. He wasn't afraid of hard work, especially when the rewards were so substantial. These incremental improvements would help him gain an edge in the upcoming Academy trials and future conflicts.
Liam found a secluded spot deeper in the forest again, where he wouldn't be disturbed. He raised his wand and focused on the Entangle spell.
With a sharp, practiced movement and the correct incantation formula, vines shot from the ground, twisting and writhing in the air as they sought an imaginary target. He noted how much mana it took and how the vines responded to his command.
"Entangle!"
Liam cast a single-spell formula ring, repeating it over and over. Initially, the mana flowed with ease, but as the spell count increased, the strain began to mount. By the 25th cast, the effort was significant, yet his speed with the gestures had improved, and his focus had sharpened with each repetition. Upon reaching his goal, a light pulse of energy surged through him.
Ding!
[Reward: Reduce cost to cast Entangle by 20% MP]
The relief was immediate. Casting the spell again felt smoother, and lighter, as if the vines were responding to his will with even more precision. Liam's eyes gleamed. With 100 casts, the 80% MP reduction would make this an incredibly efficient tool.
Now, he needed moving targets. Summoning a swarm of enchanted training dummies, Liam watched as the wooden figures began to move and dodge erratically, their enchanted wooden bodies glowing faintly. Perfect practice targets.
He raised his wand again.
"Let's begin."
Vines shot out, snaring the first dummy in a tangle of roots and tendrils. 1/25. Then another. 2/25. He began to focus on improving his aim, adjusting to the dummies' movements, timing his casts for maximum impact.
The forest grew quiet except for the swish of his wand and the occasional thud of a dummy crashing to the ground.
The quests would take time to complete, but with the rewards improving his spells' potency, Liam knew that by the time he was done, he wouldn't just be another Academy student. He would be one of its most dangerous contenders.
For hours, Liam honed his skills, casting spells on moving targets. He monitored his mana pool meticulously, casting spells efficiently to prevent exhaustion. Between sessions, he sipped on mana-restoring potions he had saved from his last trip to the alchemy shop.
Each successful spell cast and target hit marked a minor triumph. As he unlocked new bonuses, his spellcasting grew more potent. After hitting 50 moving targets, Liam achieved a 50% power boost. By dusk, he had struck over 200 targets with nearly all his spells, significantly reducing mana consumption and tripling their power.
Liam recognized the herculean effort needed to hit 1,000 targets, yet the potential gains spurred him on. Fully charging his spells and ascending to higher tiers would render them incredibly powerful.
"It's going to be a long journey."
Liam said to himself, smiling.
"But once I'm finished, I'll be unmatched at the Academy."
With this resolve, Liam prepared for the forthcoming trials. He was ready to complete every spell quest necessary to become the preeminent mage at the Founding Fathers Academy. But for the moment, it was time for rest, recovery, and strategizing for the next day's magical endeavors.