"My name is Luca Brewster. I serve the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, and I'm currently responsible for the Church's affairs in West Balam.
"I expected you to arrive at least a year after receiving the invitation. I never thought you'd become a Mysticism Mentor in less than ten months."
Luca, an elderly gentleman in a plain white robe threaded with brass, had neatly combed silver hair. After a brief introduction, he smiled at Abner.
"I've prepared copies of many Secret Arts in this house. You can study and research them here as you please. I've also selected several talented children. Teaching them what you learn should help you digest your Potion more quickly.
"Also, I've—"
"Wait!" Abner interrupted before Luca could finish. He raised a hand, looking rather helpless and a little disappointed. "I don't need any of that. I've already digested the Mysticism Mentor Potion."
Luca froze for a few seconds, then smiled bitterly. "It seems you haven't come early. You've come late...
"That's quite a departure from my prophecy. Fate really is hard to fathom."
With a sigh, he took two sheets of parchment from a desk drawer and handed them to Abner.
"In that case, there's little I can offer you now. Perhaps these will still help."
Curious, Abner took the parchments and read the top sheet carefully:
"Sequence 4: Prophet.
"Main ingredients: the main eye of Absol, a Mothman's true soul.
"Supplementary ingredients: 200 milliliters of Absol's blood, 20 grams of Mothman wing powder, 10 grams of Treefolk Mentor bark shavings, 10 milliliters of freshly pressed golden grape juice, 10 stalks of blue sawtooth grass, and one notebook imbued with your own aura and mind.
"Advancement ritual: Complete an invention or discovery on your own. Present it, reveal what was previously unknown about it, and