Curious Banterley

After much persuasion, Skar finally agreed to Zhang Yuan's suggestion that they return together. However, as an injured man, even after receiving treatment from a priest, he was ordered to lie in the supply wagon and forbidden from running around.

According to Skar, divine magic could indeed produce immediate results against external injuries, illnesses, and poisons. However, it came at a price.

Ordinary flesh wounds were manageable. The body's natural healing ability, combined with healing magic, was enough to mend them. But for severe injuries that damaged the muscles and bones, relying purely on divine magic was not impossible. The problem was that while the stimulated cells in the body rapidly multiplied, they also underwent accelerated metabolism. In essence, this consumed one's lifespan.

So Skar's final word was: "There's nothing to hesitate about when your life is on the line. But if you have room to spare, divine magic should only be an aid. You must always trust your own body."

Thus, someone merely accepted the priest's treatment to slightly accelerate the healing of his wounds, enjoyed a more professional round of bandaging, and then obediently crawled into the wagon, remaining completely still like a tortoise.

The party headed north, retracing their route along the Coast Road they had taken on the way there. Thanks to the thorough cleanup they had conducted along the way recently, hardly any foolhardy beasts or monsters came to harass the convoy this time.

When the Flaming Fist members arrived at the Friendly Arm again, they entered the inn with practiced ease, rested, drank their fill, and feasted to their hearts' content.

One mage, however, secretly sought out old Banterley and asked him about Tylanthyr.

After hearing Zhang Yuan's intentions and learning about what had happened between him and Tylanthyr, Banterley unexpectedly began by envying Zhang Yuan.

"Are Innate Awakeners really favored so much by Mystra? Or are you actually Tyche's illegitimate children?"

Once Banterley got excited, he even jumped to his feet as he spoke. "What's this? At level one, you can summon a stone elemental or a rock construct? My Garl Glittergold, then what will you be able to summon at level nine? A mithril construct or a Diamond Golem?"

It was no wonder Banterley was hopping around in envy. Leaving aside the practicality of this mutated summoning spell, merely being able to establish a connection with the legendary Mechanus was enough to make anyone green with envy.

After all, gnomes were extraordinarily curious by nature. They usually loved tinkering with little gadgets and inventing things, so they were naturally extremely curious about Mechanus, a place filled with all kinds of clockwork and gears.

Heh heh, someone with an idea brewing began plotting something devious.

"Ahem, forget that for now. I just want to know, is Tylanthyr really that difficult to deal with? If I performed a little better while serving as his assistant and helping with his research, would I have even the slightest chance?" Someone still refused to give up.

"Perform better? You? An outsider who doesn't even know basic magical principles—what could you possibly do to perform better? You might contribute more by lying on the table and letting him study you." Old Banterley shot Zhang Yuan a sidelong glance.

Could you stop bringing up being studied? someone grumbled inwardly. Fortunately, he already had a plan and didn't care about the other man's taunts.

"Then aren't you interested in this stone construct? Or is your research ability too poor to compare with Tylanthyr's?" Someone began fanning the flames.

"Nonsense! How am I lacking in ability?" The old gnome jumped three feet into the air. "My knowledge is no worse than Tylanthyr's."

After holding back for a long while, he still didn't have the nerve to boast that he was vastly more knowledgeable than Tylanthyr. He merely said resentfully, "I'm not much worse than Tylanthyr. If you let me study it, I definitely—"

"Fine, I'll let you study it." Zhang Yuan, who had been waiting for those words, cut him off before he could finish.

"You miser! Old Banterley isn't going to steal it from you. Wait, did you say you'll let me study it? Old Banterley didn't hear that wrong, did he?"

"Oh, yes, my dear old Banterley. I swear on my grandmother's name that I'll lend you my summon for study. Yes, as long as you can fulfill one condition of mine. Yes, my old friend, if you do this, I swear—"

"By Garl Glittergold, your damned manner of speaking is even more obnoxious than my cousin Gandler's mouth. Yes, I swear, if you speak to me in that foolish tone again, I'll kick you hard in the ass with my boot."

"Ahem, let's get to the point." Someone ended his affected performance.

"Spit it out." The old mage truly had no way to deal with being pestered by this fellow, but the stone construct was in someone else's hands.

"I have only one small request. I hope you can teach me for a while." Someone finally revealed his true objective.

"I knew it." Old Banterley sighed, his tone not as resolute as last time. "Your unrelenting pursuit of knowledge and the arcane is a good thing. Unfortunately, old Banterley truly doesn't have enough energy left to appreciate the scenery along this road with young people."

"Master Banterley, I'm not asking to become your apprentice. I only hope to receive some guidance from you and have your help setting foot on the path of a mage."

Banterley snorted. "That sounds lovely. Before, you called me old Banterley. Now that you need something from me, I'm Master Banterley?"

As he spoke, Banterley raised his head and looked at someone sidelong. "Besides, tell me how your condition differs from taking me as your master. Aren't you just explaining the definition of a magical mentor to me?"

With his scheme exposed, Zhang Yuan could only smile sheepishly and let the old mage vent his displeasure.

"Forget it. If you go to High Hedge Castle as an assistant looking like this, you'll drive Tylanthyr to his grave." After venting his anger, Banterley calmed down. "Ten days. I'll give you only ten days. Whether I discover anything or you learn anything, it all ends after ten days."

The deadline was short, but it was better than nothing. Knowing when to stop, someone quickly nodded in agreement, afraid that Banterley would change his mind.

The next day, Zhang Yuan got up early and found Banterley. As agreed, he first summoned Little One for him to examine.

When old Banterley witnessed with his own eyes that Zhang Yuan had truly summoned a stone construct with Summon Monster I, his uncontrollable astonishment made his eyes bulge nearly out of their sockets.

"This isn't magic! This isn't arcane!"

Of course it isn't magic. It's a cheat. I added a cheat to it! someone silently grumbled inwardly.

The old mage circled Little One incessantly while continuously rubbing his hands over Little One's stone body, as if every bump and every crack could arouse his interest.

"Take a few steps. Hurry up and make it walk a few steps." Banterley kept urging him.

With no other choice, Zhang Yuan made Little One perform various actions according to old Banterley's instructions.

The test results left old Banterley very satisfied. "A very impressive construct. Although it lacks the independent judgment of advanced golems and elementals, it can understand most commonly used commands, and its movements are fairly nimble. That's rare for a level-one summon."

Zhang Yuan, standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you're satisfied. Once I return from Baldur's Gate, we'll have plenty of time to study it."

"Hurry up and finish your business. Old Banterley can hardly wait."