Chapter 7
1013 Words
I wouldn’t recommend showing up there — she won’t give you anything anymore. There’s been a purge of unregistered people… and non-people. According to the new imperial law, everyone now has to register and receive a scroll as proof. The registration offices are packed, but there are also opponents of the law.
By the way, are you registered?"
— "No, I haven’t even heard of it! I said, with my head in recognition that I am left with no clues for living.
-Of course! — You don’t read the news! This started in early spring and will last until the end of autumn. They decided to do it because of the creation of trade, craft, and banking guilds, to legalize both locals and newcomers. You understand, there are bandits everywhere.
Personally, I really support the decision of our rulers — lately, crime has been on the rise. Among the nobility and among common folk alike.
You're probably wondering how I know all this? Let me explain — I work as the Chief Investigator of the Empire. I’m close to the Emperor. But as you can imagine, being acquainted with me doesn’t exactly promise you a bright future.
My wife remains blissfully unaware. I’ve had many assassination attempts against me just this past year.
I’m telling you all this because when I’m in the city, I’ll take on the guise of another person — I have several identities. It's for your own safety… away from prying eyes.
We spent nearly the whole day talking. Erionor turned out to be a wonderful conversationalist — well-read, experienced… I couldn’t help but think how much I would’ve loved to have a father like him. A wave of sadness washed over me, realizing I had no one at all.
He shared a lot with me, and at one point asked why I saved his life. I stayed silent — what could I say? That I just couldn’t leave a wounded man behind? That my conscience wouldn’t let me? No, better to keep that to myself.
He explained the condition he was in when he appeared here — he had teleported with the last of his strength. His magical reserves had been completely drained. To heal his wounds, he had to use his life force — a very dangerous act, only done in extreme cases.
Wow… magic really is complicated, I thought.
Later, we argued for a long time about who would sleep where. In the end, I insisted Erin take the bed while I took the couch.
As I drifted off to sleep, I decided to think about what lay ahead. Studying at the academy was truly a gift. Even if I turn out to have no magic, I could still land a well-paying job. Educated people are always in demand — especially in shops, where someone’s needed to make inventory lists and the like.
I woke in the morning to the aroma of freshly brewed herbal tea — one of my own blends. It smelled of forest berries and mint… such an enchanting scent. Did I oversleep? No, that couldn’t be. Wait — I did oversleep!
I got up and washed my face. When I came into the kitchen, I found Erin deeply focused, writing something intently.
“Good morning,” he said without looking up.
“Good morning,” I replied. “Have you had breakfast?”
“No, I’m busy right now.”
“I’ll heat up some pastries, then we can eat.”
“All right.”
“Where did you find paper and a quill?”
“Oh, I took it from my spatial pocket — I have one here. Why do you ask?”
“I want to learn to write properly.”
“I’ll give you some, but I’ll choose the book and the text you’ll copy. Agreed?”
“Yes.”
I watched as Erionor made intricate gestures with his hands, and a window-like opening appeared in midair. Rising from his chair, he leaned halfway into it. I heard a crash — like dishes shattering, followed by some rather colorful swearing. After a moment, he emerged with all the necessary supplies.
“But why is the quill so strange?” I asked. “And… where’s the ink?”
“It’s a magical quill,” he explained. “It doesn’t need ink — just a bit of magical energy, which it draws as you use it.”
“May I sit with you at the table?”
“Of course — why are you even asking!?”
“I thought I might disturb you.”
“Nonsense! Sit.”
He selected a short passage from a history book for me — it was about how relations between our peoples were first established. Writing capital letters was especially hard for me. They came out crooked and awkward, and my fingers grew tired quickly.
Erionor watched my struggle in silence for a while, then finally, he couldn’t bear it any longer.
“You’re holding the quill wrong, first of all. Second, you shouldn’t be writing block letters, but cursive. I’ll write them down for you now, and you’ll copy each letter line by line. If it starts to look decent, then you can move on to the actual text.”
“Thank you! But… how should I hold the quill properly?”
“Look — this finger goes here, and this one here. Got it?”
“I think I do. It actually feels more comfortable this way,” I said cheerfully.
“Here, look,” he said, handing me a sheet with the letters carefully written out.
How wrong I had been… My letters looked nothing like his. You could say I hadn’t learned anything at all. It felt like the entire effort had been wasted.
I’d have to start over — but this time, it would be easier. I had someone to guide me now.
I realized how much I had missed having someone to talk to. These days, before leaving for the city had flown by without me even noticing.
- Writer
