Published at 21st of July 2026 9:16 am

Chapter 164: Schemes for a gift

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I abduct a random gang member and have the old woman sacrifice them on the way back to the lair. She may say that the sacrifice isnt why shes in the cult, but I might as well do what I can to bind her to us. Oddly, it seems to work, though not in the expected way. She just seems more relaxed as we do the deed.

When we get back, I go through the plans of having her try to recruit and having more sacrifices in general with Similce. Shes hard to read. I think shes pleased at the prospect of having more members, and especially that the old woman has come back willingly, but she still seems expectant of me about something. Likely her notions of me being somehow paternal. No matter.

I spend the rest of the day trying to use my contacts to get into the auction and raising additional funds to buy the armour. Greg is as useless as expected. Viscount Monroe is doubly so. In addition to not being able to get me an invite to the auction, she cant even get me an invite to a suitable game to make more coin at. Or rather, she says she can get me to a game at higher levels of play, but

Youre not ready, she states flatly, her northern accent heavier than usual.

I cant really blame her, since it was my own fault. Still, while this might have slowed my longterm growth in the game, I wouldnt have gotten more in the few games playing it safe before the auction than I did last game anyways. So, its really no matter. She does direct me to some taverns where I can find relatively high stakes games, but nothing that I could reasonably make more than a few medium gold in a night. Still, its something, so I thank her.

I suppose, she says hesitantly as I make to leave, You know, you have a natural talent for the game. However, your skill has not caught up with your enhancement level. There are certain training methods I can try to accelerate your growth. They are rather intensive and may distract you from your other pursuits. If you use them, though, and meet up with me every other day for tutoring sessions, then you may be good enough in time for a moderately staked game right before the auction. Though I doubt you could make the same gains as last time. You will be playing rather good players after all. Second rate.

After a brief consideration, I agree. I am worried that my school work and other efforts might suffer for it, but I can always just abandon the training if it gets too intense. Still, I think I should try to find other sources of revenue.

I try to ask Greg about selling Syranthuse. Unfortunately, the same reasons that Ive hesitated asking him until now makes him unwilling to deal in the stuff. The reaction the authorities would have to a new unauthorised source of the poison would simply be too strong. Trying to sell enough to matter would get me tracked down in a week, and selling less say, single plants wouldnt be nearly enough.

Still, I do start growing the antidote to it in larger quantities and will have Greg sell them for me. Ive been hesitant to do so since even that would be suspicious. Still, it triples my revenue from the herbs, and a shortterm burst should be fine.

Other than that, the only thing I can think of would be mercenary work. Unfortunately, the only thing I can think of to make the sort of coin Im wanting would either take me far from the city, or be too risky. So not really something Im willing to try.

I do, however, after some serious divinations, start investing my coin in legitimate business. I spend fifteen large gold buying shares in various merchant cargoes to various points. Itll be low return on investment, but very reliable. I put five coins in there-and-back shipments that should return well within the two weeks before the auction, though it wont make more than a three percent return. The other ten I put in medium length trips that will hopefully return within a month after the auction. My divinations suggest a ten percent return on them, or more, but looking so far into the future starts to lose significant accuracy as it runs into ambient countering.

Then I invest another fifteen coins with the bank. Its even more reliable, but will return only a fraction of a percent during the period before the auction. Fortunately, they issue certified promissory notes for those investing amounts above certain sums with them, which the auction house will accept temporarily until the actual coin can be collected.

I will admit, while Arkothia is altogether too orderly, I have nothing against this particular practice, given how convenient it is. The whole system is new, having only come about during the past few decades, but I see it spreading well beyond the empires borders Although, contrary to my earlier assessment, perhaps they will find some way to utilize that for domination as well.

But eking out a few extra coins wont help me (beyond the innate) if I cant get into the auction. Lindrid could get me in, but unfortunately, he has already left the capital. Though perhaps he left agents in the city that could give me an invitation, along with instructions to aid me. Timos might even be here. The two of them seemed like they needed space from each other.

Still, Id rather use Lindrid as a last resort. In addition to the lingering distrust I have of him, I also dont know if getting into the auction will be worth the favour. Part of me insists that it is, but I know that, objectively, a favour from a count is far more valuable.

For the moment, I think my best bet is to ask Adrian. Im certain they wont disappoint. Still, I should wait to ask them until after our study group tomorrow; Terry might object if he catches wind of the gift I intend to give him.

Near the end of the day, I head back to my house where I after my vespertine study session meet Terry and Clarra. Shes looking much better than the last time I saw her, but its clear from a glance that shes weaker than she should be. Its hard to articulate all the signs, but mostly its just a lack of effortlessness as she moves. Not that shes in any way sickly, and indeed she still moves more effortlessly than any mundane, but compared to how a squire should be, shes practically languid.

Its not just strength either. She doesnt respond to stimuli that she should, or not as quickly. More than anything, theres a dullness to her eyes a sense of haggardness thats hard to pinpoint, but if I can see it, then so will others.

Her smile upon seeing me is haggard, too. Clearly sceptical of my claims of being able to boost her. So, she smirks, you really think you can play god, little mage?

I raise an eyebrow. Not quite. If youre not certain, though, Im sure your grades wont slip too much as you recover some more.

She grimaces. No no, Ill try just about anything to get back to the place I earned. Thankyou, Malichi. She exhales some tension in her, closing her eyes as if chastising herself for her initial greeting. Ill owe you for this.

I nod. Yes. For one, I need both of you to swear to come when I call you in the future to perform the second part of the ritual in the correct manner.

I swear, Terry says immediately with an eagerness that prompts an amused grin from Clarra.

Oh, so that did happen? Terry denied it.

Not in the way that you mean, Terry protests, a slight blush to his face, but yes, some things occurred between us.

Oh, well, good, she smiles with unguarded happiness. You needed something outside of well, you know. Anyways, I swear to come and do your part of the ritual when you need it. Now, what do I need to do?

Oh, um, not much, I say, gesturing her to the garden. Ive prepared the circle ahead of time. All you need to do is get naked and lie still while I apply the symbols on you. It wont take more than ten minutes, then you lie still while I do the chanting. Normal ritual stuff.

She lauhs, turning to Terry. You didnt mention that detail of your experience. I hope you had fun.

He scratches the back of his head, strangely bashfully, before admitting to it. Ah, yes, I suppose it was a bit. Why would he not want her to know that he enjoyed it?

Good for you. Though I dont think Ill be getting the same feeling. I wont mind, just try not to ogle too much.

I nod, not really caring about that, which makes her laugh again for some reason. If you wish, you wont need to get fully naked, just the handful of areas that I need to paint the symbols over. The night is cool, so you may wish to keep on whatever you can.

She shrugs, removing her cloak with the gesture. Sure, though Id be fine. I might be weakened, but I should still be stronger than you.

I ignore the possible factual error and apply the symbols, then quickly perform the ritual. It goes smoothly, with no hint of the sense linking that occurred with Terry. She jumps up when Im done and immediately performs a series of experimental moves. Its hard to say, but I dont think shes quite back to where she was before. Still, it should be close enough to fake it, and the ritual also boosts her healing, meaning that shell likely make a full recovery much sooner.

She thanks me with a hug, then, looking between Terry and me with a smirk, quickly dresses and takes her leave. I look to Terry, smiling even more radiantly than usual, and feel suddenly rather awkward.

What am I supposed to do now? Just move back to how we were last night? What happened yesterday was the result of a series of events leading into each other. I want to go back to the conclusion, but how do I get there?

Terry, seeing something of these thoughts on my face, laughs and ruffles my hair before pulling me into a hug. We dont reach the same level of emotional intensity as before, though its nice in its own, more relaxed, way. For one, neither of us ends up naked. We kiss a few times, but in a less vital way, then fall asleep in my room cuddling.

School the next day is more pleasant than usual. Count Vithal, seemingly mostly moved on from my apparent death, gives her best lecture yet. Its interesting. I find that while Im aware of Terry sitting next to me during the lecture, I dont find him distracting like I expected. Hes just a calm and calming presence, letting me focus more fully on what I need to. Its nice.

Afterwards, everyone at the study session (besides possibly Erik) immediately notes the difference in our interactions. They seemed pleased by it, even relieved. Even Emily breaks from her usual whatever she is to offer a congratulation.

Its nice. It makes me feel welcomed in a way that I didnt realize I would want. Accepted for a facet of me, rather than the person Im pretending to be.

Unfortunately, Adrian leaves before I part from Terry (with whom I spend some time walking around campus), so I dont get to ask for advice about getting into the auction, though I quickly write to them when I get back to my dorm.

Unfortunately, their reply is not what I hoped. They say that they are not personally able to get me an invite as theyve already used their connections to acquire one for someone else. They could, if I wish, ask their father to help me, but cautions against it.

Adrian claims me as a friend, and so their helping me can be part of a nebulous exchange with no one keeping an exact tally. However, their father is not my friend, so any assistance he may render would have to be a discrete exchange of favours, and any favour a man of his stature would deem worth collecting would likely be very pricey.

Considering this, and the fact that the only thing I know about their fathers opinion of me is a mysterious disapproval of the Empress giving me her dagger, I think itd be wise to avoid him unless necessary.

Still, Ill keep him as a backup plan.

That is the problem, though, isnt it? The value of attending an auction is likely not high, especially if I end up not purchasing anything. However, since only counts can get invites, that means that the price of attending will likely be much higher than the value. I wonder if this was a hidden reason the Empress had for making that rule. To cement the loyalty of her most powerful nobles by creating an opportunity to enrich themselves.

Anyways, Ill try to figure something out. If I cant by the end of the week, then Ill ask Allan for help. If that fails, Ill go to Adrians father. It might be cutting it close, but it should be fine. But where else could I find a sponsor into the event? I suppose I do have a number of people still trying to contact me because of the dagger incident. Perhaps I can use one of them.

I start with the newest batch of letters that came in over the weekend (a set that grows smaller each week, but still includes nearly a dozen hopefuls). I usually just glance through them and have Marcus send back generic replies of heartfelt gratitude for their deigning to show interest in me. Unfortunately, at this point, the only people still sending me letters about the dagger are people who are desperate for something. Not a set of people who are likely to be counts or higher. The best I get is a destitute viscount who name drops their good friend, a marquis. I place that one on the maybe if everything else fails pile, which now consists of one letter.

Another letter comes while Im going through them. Assuming its like the rest, I reach for it with a sigh, but freeze when I see that the name is altogether unlike the others. It seems that the Favoured of the Sun and Supreme Hierarch of the Imperial Sect, Johnathon Rakenhal, is formally requesting my presence in his capacity as teacher of the school in which I am a student.

I suppose I dont really have a reason to refuse.

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