Choosing a Fourth-Circle Spell

After saying goodbye to the aloof middle-aged Mage, Ryan retraced his steps to the reception hall.

When she saw Ryan emerge from the corridor with a thoughtful expression, the receptionist's eyes lit up. She had been deeply impressed by him. His handsome appearance and sunny demeanor alone would have been memorable, but he was also the young Mage whom the elusive Guildmaster had personally told her to keep an eye on and had met with in private.

Seeing the handsome blond boy slowly approach, the receptionist twirled a lock of her soft hair and tucked it behind her ear, showing off just the right amount of feminine charm. A radiant smile bloomed across her lovely face. "Mage Ryan, you're back. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Ryan glanced at the suddenly warm and welcoming receptionist. His deep blue eyes remained calm, and he paid no attention to her flirtatious overtures. In an ordinary tone, he asked, "Could you tell me where I can exchange for spell models?"

The receptionist felt a pang of frustration when the fresh-faced young Mage in front of her proved unmoved by the charms that had always worked so well for her. She prided herself on her looks and thought she'd finally met a handsome Mage she liked. He was a hundred times more appealing than the gloomy, lifeless Mages who spent all day at the Mages Guild. Even if they couldn't become lovers, a little fun together would be nice.

Despite the flurry of thoughts in her mind, she maintained her demure smile and gentle tone. "Mage Ryan, spell models can be exchanged for Magic Crystals in one of the Guild's private rooms. Let me show you the way."

With that, she swayed out from behind the counter and made as if to take Ryan's arm, smiling sweetly. "I'll take you there."

Ryan sidestepped smoothly, brushing past her without a fuss. "All right. Sorry for the trouble."

The beautiful receptionist seethed at the young Mage's imperviousness and began to doubt her own charms. But given her position, she had no choice but to keep up her perfect customer-service smile and lead the way, walking ahead of Ryan.

After winding around a few corners, Ryan followed the receptionist to the private room where the Magic Crystals were kept.

The receptionist looked at Ryan as he examined the decorations on the door and spoke in a sweet voice. "Mage Ryan, this is where you exchange for spell models. I have to get back to my post, since it's part of my job. You can come find me here after my shift." With that, she winked and handed him a slip of paper with an address written on it.

Ryan hesitated for a moment, then took the slip and nodded.

Seeing him accept it, the receptionist's smile widened. She congratulated herself on still being as beautiful as ever, then happily bade Ryan farewell and left.

After the cheerful woman had gone, Ryan glanced at the slip of paper and silently shook his head. He snapped his fingers, and the paper burst into flame without a breeze. A gust carried the white ashes to the soil of a potted plant in the corner.

Putting the trivial matter out of his mind, Ryan entered the room and strode straight to the head-sized Magic Crystal at its center. He took out the silver, circular badge Alexander had given him and verified his identity before the crystal.

Only after accessing the magical information stored in the badge did Ryan understand that it served both as a pass to enter the ruins and as proof of membership in the Waterdeep Mages Guild. What's more, only a handful of specially chosen members possessed one. It was clear how much Alexander valued him.

Ryan fed his magic into the Magic Crystal. As his power rippled through it, he felt his mind being drawn into an unknown space.

Above an immense, boundless expanse of night, stars of every color formed circles within circles, revolving in their orbits. They glittered like brilliant diamonds. This was the system of magical inheritance that modern Mages had taken pride in ever since the fall of Netheril.

Mages had discovered that a special kind of Magic Crystal could store and imprint information, and that Magic Crystals could transmit information between one another through magic and the Weave. Legendary Archmages had used these properties to create a mysterious space where spell models could be stored. Any Mage could purchase spell models through it, making the transmission of magical knowledge far more convenient. As for its other uses, a Mage of Ryan's standing had no way of knowing.

Though Ryan had seen this magnificent, beautiful night sky many times, he still marveled at the power and ingenuity Mages had displayed in creating it.

After the fall of Netheril, magic had disappeared from people's daily lives. The wondrous, mysterious spells had become the exclusive province of the supernatural, appearing only as embellishments in legends and records.

To prevent the abuse of spells and preserve their own rule, Mages had imposed layer upon layer of restrictions. Spell models had to be bought at exorbitant prices, and some rare spells could only be exchanged for after making major contributions to an organization.

The high costs and steep barriers to entry had made being a Mage the most expensive profession in Faerûn, while also keeping a great many impoverished commoners out of the world of magic. Thus, in Faerûn, becoming a powerful, esteemed Mage was often something only the upper classes considered.

Ryan had lived in this world for many years and understood all too well the exploitation of its lower classes and the vast gulf between them and the elite. The rigid class structure of this world of swords and magic was every bit as entrenched as that of the curry-scented country he had lived in during his previous life.

Ryan was immensely grateful to have been born into a wealthy noble family in this life. He didn't believe in nobles' claims that they were born superior, but he had ultimately benefited from his status and had the means to study magic from the start. Compared with the common farmers who lived and died in the dirt, toiling all their lives just to survive, Ryan felt deeply fortunate. Fate was strange indeed; the good karma he had accumulated in his past life had finally been rewarded.

That was also why Ryan could face all the setbacks and blows he encountered in this life with optimism. Nothing could cleanse a person's spirit more than being given a second chance at life. As your memories flashed before your eyes at the moment of death, you could always understand what your life had meant.

Ryan shifted his attention to the green stars of the fourth circle. One by one, they lit up, shining with dazzling brilliance. Descriptions of spell models and their general effects flashed before his eyes, and his deep gaze shifted between light and shadow.

Suddenly, Ryan's eyes lit up. Among the stars, he found one of the Mage's most coveted signature spells: Dimension Door. Its description read: Teleport to any location within 400 feet; you may bring along objects and creatures you touch.

As an esteemed Mage, Ryan thought it shameful not to have mastered a spatial spell. His unusual experiences had also strengthened his grasp of spatial magic, giving him a special advantage with such spells.

Dimension Door could let him dive straight into the enemy's back line or kite his opponents with superior mobility. It could even serve as a tactical retreat when the battle turned against him. The spell was perfectly suited to Ryan's needs, and he had coveted it ever since becoming a Mage. After all, he was a longtime MOBA player. How could he not understand the importance of having Flash?

By a stroke of luck, Ryan decisively chose this spell as his first fourth-circle spell, getting it for free. When he realized the intricate spell model had been imprinted in his Spellbook, ready for him to copy and study when he returned, he eagerly began choosing his second spell.

After browsing the fourth-circle spells for a long while, Ryan found himself torn between Ice Storm and Wall of Fire.

Ice Storm would make up for Fireball's weakness in dealing with groups. A massive whirlwind sweeping across the battlefield, packed with fist-sized hailstones, would let Ryan and his Fireball make his enemies experience the despair and terror of being caught between ice and fire—a perfect spell for an artillery Mage.

Wall of Fire, on the other hand, was the ideal spell for controlling the battlefield. It could block enemies, cover a retreat, divide the battlefield, or even set the stage for a barbecue. Its effects were excellent in every case, and its uses were wide-ranging. It could also be paired with the Grease spell Ryan had modified to increase the damage, making it an extremely suitable choice.

After weighing the options again and again, Ryan figured that he would encounter plenty of battles as he traveled the world. Compared with Ice Storm's indiscriminate nature, Wall of Fire suited him better. He really didn't want his own teammates charging into battle only to end up frozen into ice sculptures by his spell. That would be incredibly stupid.

Having chosen his spell, Ryan withdrew from the Magic Crystal's mental network. He rubbed his forehead and shook his head, trying to settle the painful strain from exhausting his mental energy. "Damn, I took too long. I'm running out of mental energy."

Still, Ryan couldn't help beaming as he looked at the models of the two fourth-circle spells recorded in his Spellbook. Even back in Silverymoon, he had bought every spell himself, one at a time. Yefalin had done no more than offer advice when he was choosing them.

Mages, who believed in "knowledge above all, equivalent exchange," always charged a fair price for what they sold, so Ryan was forever sighing over his wallet. But he understood better than anyone how precious and important knowledge was, and he had no complaints about it. He was already more than satisfied to get two fourth-circle spell models for free this time.

Ryan knew the reward he'd received had far exceeded the risks he'd taken—so much so that it was enough to make anyone jealous. Part of it, no doubt, was the old man's concern for a younger member of the family. The other part was a test, meant to temper him behind that kindly facade.

"I'd quite like to meet the younger generation of the Mages Guild," Ryan thought. Remembering the peers the old man had mentioned, the ones who would join him in exploring the ruins, Ryan felt a headache coming on. Yet a hint of eagerness stirred in his heart. "I've spent ten years honing my sword, but never tested its edge. Today I draw it before you—who among you has a grievance?" No matter how much he tried to talk himself out of it, in the end he still wanted to see the colorful world and its heroes.