I follow Mallorc and Sagaryn down the path, weaving through the cavern’s stalagmites and taking in the scenery. I didn’t notice when we first stepped into the cavern, but there is an incredible variety of plants growing on either side of the path. Vibrant flowers dot the floor, with an interweaving carpet of green connecting all the plants to each other. I take a deep breath and am assaulted by the dense, damp smell of the cave, but I turn my focus on the layers of rich botanicals and floral perfumes that underlay the cavernous setting. I activate Tea Connoisseur out of curiosity, and I’m blinded by the bright auras radiating from the plants. Each one of them is a potent herb with a variety of bonuses apparent through the skill—some providing powerful healing effects and soul boosting, and others having effects I can’t quite parse out with my current level of Tea Connoisseur. A headache starts to form from the brightness, but before I can deactivate the skill I hear a light ring sound in my head.

  —Tea Connoisseur: Level 3—

  Excitement overtakes me as I receive my third level-up in the last two days. After so little progression, I am starting to see actual improvements across my skills—I want to be able to make a difference in this war. If only I could get Tea Service to level up I am about halfway to evolving Connoisseur into Infusion Mancer. I leave the skill activated for a few more seconds to see if there have been any improvements, and to my joy, I understand that two of the mystery herbs are now identifiable. One bonus makes it easier to level up skills and the second, holding more personal appeal, increases the efficacy of meditation. I mentally catalog those two herbs before deactivating Tea Connoisseur and instantly feel the rising headache begin to subside.

  “Cam, let’s go!”

  Mallorc’s shout shakes me from my stupor, and I realize that the other two men are much further down the path, watching me stand in herbaceous thoughts. I direct my focus back to the path and run to catch up with Mallorc and Sagaryn as we enter the cavern’s little town. All around, beasts wander aimlessly with leather pouches tied to their sides. Some of the pouches have scrolls or thin books poking out, others have various bits of herbs or raw materials, while some still remain empty. Flying overhead is a group of bright green and orange birds, cawing to each other sharply. The birds resemble the phoenix portrayed on Kat’s family crest, only slightly smaller in stature and less fiery. Milling about are other humans dressed in very similar robes, with the only key distinction being the color. Some wear royal blue robes similar to Professor Ryn’s, only they don’t have any of the gold trimmings, while the majority of the individuals we pass are wearing white robes with different trims. I’m sure the trim represents some kind of significance, but with nothing keying me to the differences I decide to table those thoughts for now.

  As we continue through the town we pass multiple booths lining the streets with a large variety of wares. Some are selling weapons, others herbs or raw materials, while some still sell street foods similar to what can be found in Verdance. My focus drifts away from Mallorc and Sagaryn—the smells of a food stall selling meat and vegetable skewers beacon to me, as my hunger drives my body to the inattentive vendor reading behind the stall. The rumbling of my stomach and drool rolling down my lip gives away that it has been over a day since I have eaten anything. As I get closer to the stand, I notice that the women working the stall is beautiful. Her hair is snow white, her pale skin glistening in the cavern light. My mana sense is prickling at the radiating cold of her mana and the closer I get the slower my mana seems to flow. I notice that the stall’s cooking fire is blue and rather than giving off heat in the traditional sense, my skin burns from the cold flowing from it.

  I have to speak loudly to be heard over my stomach. “Hello, how much for the meat skewers?” I have to stop myself from drooling on the vendor’s stall.

  Her icy blue eyes look up from her book, staring at me for a few seconds, freezing me at my core as I’m being thoroughly analyzed, before she shakes her head and returns her focus to the book. “I only accept merit points. Since you’re not wearing one of our robes, I’m assuming you don’t have any of those. Don’t waste my reading time and scram.”

  I’m surprised by the blatant lack of customer service—not wanting my pride to take a hit for the vendor’s disinterest in me, I take out my Status Card. “Listen, lady! I’m starving and I’m sure there is some kind of conversion rate. Just let me know how many credits it would cost for one skewer and you can go on with your day.”

  She looks up with cold indifference; my mana sense blares a warning as I dive out of the way just in time as ice crystals skewer where I was standing only milliseconds prior. I roll across the ground awkwardly, pulling out the monk’s spade and rotating my mana as quickly as possible. I look around the town, hoping to find someone coming to my assistance—only to find the locals refusing to meet my eyes. I flick the spade in a defensive spin just in time to sweep away a thin sword aimed directly at my eye—cold energy from the strike flashing past my face leaving a shallow cut along my ear. I can feel the warm blood congeal and freeze from the woman’s presence. I prepare for another strike to come, but I notice that the girl is frozen in fear as I feel Sagaryn’s sharp presence looming over my shoulder.

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  She hurries into a bow. “Apologies Master Ryn! This boy was harassing me at my stall and wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  Professor Ryn’s voice drips with cutting steel. “Now don’t lie to me, Virelle. I was walking this boy to the testing arena when he stopped to ask you about buying food. Your punishment will be a deduction of fifty merit points and you will give him a free meat skewer.”

  The girl, Virelle, sends a hateful glare my way before nodding her head and answering solemnly. “Yes, Master.”

  She walks over to the booth, picks the smallest skewer on the grill before thrusting it my way—avoiding eye contact the entire time. I feel the icy mana biting at my hand as I reach out to grab the offered food.

  With the skewer in hand, I turn around and bow at the professor. “I apologize for the disturbance, Professor Sagaryn. I didn’t realize that a different currency was used in the town and I haven’t eaten since we left Verdance.”

  He shakes his head, declining the apology. “You did nothing wrong, child. My student didn’t handle the situation very well, and will require some remediatory classes in etiquette. Now, follow along. Your reaction to her outburst leaves me with high expectations for your test.”

  With that he turns around quickly and continues walking toward the center of town. Off to the side of the walkway I spot the Old Man looking at me with a condescending look on his face. I can understand that letting food distract me from the task at hand doesn’t reflect well on his training and embarrassment flushes my cheeks as I take the first hungry bite of the meat.

  I’m not able to tell what animal the meat comes from, but it melts in my mouth from how tender it is. The seasonings are very subtle but match the affinity of the cook, potentially ginger or wasabi providing a cold spice to the meat. I quickly scarf the last few bites, feeling my hunger fade entirely, I perk up at the mana flowing coldly through my meridians. I become aware of my mana freezing to my meridians before melting off and finishing its circulation. At first, I don’t think anything has changed, until I realize that my meridians are left slightly bigger than they were before allowing more mana to flow through each point more easily.

  I take off down the path to catch up to Sagaryn, tossing the leftover skewer in a trash can along the road. After a few minutes of walking in silence we come across a lifted octagonal platform with marble steps on each of the eight sides. On the platform, two individuals wearing white robes with red trim battle. Blasts of mana were erupting from both of them as neither of them seemed to hold back at all, each attack holding lethal capacity. I look over at the professor who studies the combatants, deep in thought he mutters to himself as the battle rages on.

  After another minute, Sagaryn walks up the steps and catches the hands of both attackers mid-swing. “Well done both of you. Thomas, you need to go for less flashy spells—there were at least three opportunities a simple firebolt would have caught Dante off guard.” Thomas nodded at the observation, bowing and offering affirmation that he understood the guidance. Sagaryn looks over at the other boy, “And Dante, you mainly empower yourself through imbuement and enhancement. You could have easily rushed through some of Thomas’s weaker attacks and hit him with a reinforced martial attack, instead of using your weaker spells.” Dante mimics Thomas’s reaction before they both bow once more and leave the stage.

  Sagaryn hops down the steps and approaches Mallorc and me. “They are both great students. A little green and show-offs, but they have great potential.” He turns directly to me. “Now for your test, it’s quite simple. We will activate an array that will summon three monsters, one at a time. If you beat all three monsters we will accept you no questions asked. If you defeat less than all three monsters, I will decide if your combat style and skills fit what we are looking for. The three monsters are randomly generated by the array, so even I do not know what you will get, but they should all be in your range of capabilities. Ready?”

  I nod along to his description, but am still very confused by the relative lack of preparation. I catch the stares of the local residents, watching in pregnant anticipation. The sound of whispers surrounds me as everyone watches Sagaryn activate a glowing sigil.

  The crowd’s anticipation puts me more on edge. I should brew a quick tea and buff myself before the battle. “Um, no. Can I prepare for a few minutes?”

  I reach for my canteen and my pouch to find my tea leaves. Something that increases my defense and dexterity is probably the best choice since I don’t know what I will be facing.

  Sagaryn grins a knowing smile. “No. You cannot.” As soon as he finishes speaking he grabs me by the collar of my robe—forcing me to drop my canteen and pouch—and throws me onto the platform.

  I land in a clumsy roll and pop up to my feet quickly. “Wait. I haven’t agreed to start.”

  My mana sense picks up a bright mana formation activating on the other side of the platform. I quickly pull my monk’s spade from my back and drop into a combative stance. The mana’s light reaches its apex—before me materializes a giant lizard about two feet tall and five feet long. Its scales an inky black, with deep red eyes. It looks at me, moving its head to each side as if it were cracking its neck in anticipation at the fight before it charges right at me—flames flickering at the side of its mouth.

  Shit.