Good News

The basement's only oil lamp wasn't the only thing making the air feel stifling and oppressive.

Annan lowered his eyes, disappointed but unsurprised. He had been prepared for this result.

It was like planting a cedar from a frigid region in the tropics. How could someone from a world without magic, someone who couldn't use magic, have any affinity for it?

Annan had been in this world for over a month.

In that time, he had met Aunt Susan and her family, Mr. Fast and his friends, and Mr. Victor. He had made friends, learned the language and its writing, and even had what might have been a chance encounter.

His future wasn't bleak, either. He still had a chance to become Mr. Fast's apprentice, and the money from "Breaking the Magic Sky" would keep him comfortable. Recreating even a tiny fraction of the literature and knowledge from his homeland could make him rich.

But Annan wanted to experience this world's supernatural wonders for himself.

After his fiftieth attempt at sensing it, the magic stone lost its magical properties and became an ordinary crystal, fit only for display.

Beautiful, but useless.

"Mr. Victor, I'll head out first."

Annan spoke to Mr. Victor, who looked even more miserable than he felt. Back outside, he saw Little Winchester standing before the locked door.

Little Winchester hadn't come by in days. Ever since she had seen Annan at the tavern in his... distinctive attire, she had decided he had seduced her aunt. But if she wanted to become Mr. Victor's apprentice, she had no choice but to come to the Library.

"I know what you're worried about."

As Annan signed Little Winchester in, he said, "Good news. I can't become Mr. Victor's apprentice... I don't have the aptitude to be a mage."

Little Winchester gave him an odd look as he wrote down her name, but she answered anyway. "I was never worried about that... I just want you to stay away from Aunt Margery."

"You should tell her that, not me." Annan had no idea what she meant.

"I will when she gets back."

Watching Little Winchester approach Mr. Victor as he emerged from the basement, Annan opened "Mages to the Left, Warlocks to the Right" to its final page.

At the end of the book, the great mage Oga Petri had left a single line.

[If humanity measures the greatness of the world, then mages measure the grandeur of the stars.]

Annan could no longer relate to it.

Rather than dwell on the distant dream of becoming a mage, he needed to think about practical matters. "Breaking the Magic Sky" would stay popular for a while, but the customers would eventually tire of it. Before the traveling merchant returned with good news, he had better "borrow" another novel to fill the gap.

[Do you want to understand the meaning of life? Do you want to truly... live?]

[Strego watched the words appear on the book's title page and scoffed, ready to shut the notebook. It was obviously some dull magic trick. But when he touched the notebook, a strange throb in his chest stopped him.]

Scratch, scratch—

Annan crossed out the failed draft.

Unlike "Breaking the Magic Sky," this book couldn't be copied with a few minor changes. He would have to adapt it completely, replacing the films in the original with stories everyone in this world knew. But Annan didn't know enough about this world's famous works.

And he could hardly expect customers who spent all day drinking in a tavern to have read many books.

Then Annan suddenly remembered: he had forgotten to bring Tasia.

The last rays of sunset streamed into the hall from the side. The clock's hands met in a straight line, and its chime rang out.

Mr. Victor said nothing to Annan. Leaning on his cane, he left the Library with Little Winchester.

Annan could roughly guess what Mr. Victor was thinking. After watching him for half a month, Victor had decided to give him a chance. Unfortunately, Annan hadn't been able to seize it...

Annan closed the windows, locked the door, and headed off, his long shadow trailing behind him as he vanished into a busy street corner.

When Annan reached the tavern, he apologized to Tasia first and promised to take her there tomorrow. Then another busy night began.

Faster leaned against a wooden pillar, watching Annan bustle about with less energy than usual. When Annan had a moment to spare, Faster beckoned him over.

"What did Mr. Victor say?"

"Well... Mr. Victor said he'd test my aptitude, so I won't have to pay for it." Annan kept his answer vague.

He still hadn't figured out how to tell them.

The bard paused his story and asked quietly, "Do you want to become Mr. Victor's apprentice?"

"I'm still thinking about it."

"Mr. Victor's influence is nothing like that crude warrior's... Don't let this chance slip by."

Evelyn was happy for Annan, though she looked a little downcast too. "Once you become a mage, you won't come here anymore, will you?"

"I will... Well, I probably will."

Annan managed a smile as they talked, knowing they meant well.

Late that night, Annan dragged his weary body back to Aunt Susan's house, his mind just as exhausted. She and Uncle Holin were still awake. As he entered the yard, they welcomed him with open arms.

"Oh, my dear little Annan, you're going to become a mage!"

"It's not certain yet... Aunt Susan."

"Our little Annan is sure to become a mage."

"That's right. I knew it from the moment I met you..."

Aunt Susan and Uncle Holin talked over each other.

Annan forced a smile. Once he was alone in his room, it faded into a long sigh.

Early the next morning, Annan took the generous breakfast Aunt Susan had prepared to the tavern, then went to the library with Tasia.

As he opened the library doors and signed Tasia in, Annan explained the library's rules to her.

Mr. Victor arrived on time. He saw Tasia but said nothing as he went down to the basement.

Tasia slipped between the shelves to choose a book. Then another visitor came in: Horn, a wealthy man's son who was also seeking the apprenticeship. He didn't come nearly as often as Little Winchester.

Annan signed him in as usual, but something unexpected happened. Horn spotted Tasia and demanded in disgust, "Who let you in here? Filthy Orc!"

"No shouting in the library." Annan stepped in front of Tasia. "Be polite. Tasia works for Mr. Fast."

Horn looked ready to shut his mouth, but stubbornness got the better of him. "I knew that organization's members wouldn't give up!"

What organization?

Annan frowned and let Horn walk away.

The argument seemed to have drawn Victor's attention. He came out of the basement and said, "Tell your friend to leave."

"Mr. Victor, you said everyone has the right to knowledge."

Annan was surprised. Mr. Victor was a stickler for rules and set in his ways, but he had never seemed cruel.

"Lock the door."

Annan realized Mr. Victor might have another reason.

After asking Tasia to leave, Annan followed Victor into the basement.

Standing there, Annan felt as though he had passed through a strange, thin membrane. The faint outline of an ordinary carved wooden door appeared before him.

"What do you see?" Victor's voice sounded beside his ear.

"A door..."

"...You can't become a mage."

Something between relief and wistfulness crossed Victor's face. It was hard to believe Mr. Victor, who usually wore such a stern expression, could show such complicated emotions.

"But you have the talent to become a Sorcerer."