Annan faced a delightful problem.
Every obstacle in his path had vanished, leaving him with an onslaught of enthusiasm: nobles wanted roles in Annan Potter and the Magic Stone because of the opportunities the Magic Film promised.
Some fools thought, It's nothing special. Merchants wondered, How much money could this make? Nobles considered, How can I get Jack to paint my portrait too? Only the truly powerful understood: if it weren't the Year of Turmoil, the Churches would have launched a Holy War to claim Annan.
The stage plays that promoted the Churches couldn't hold a candle to the Magic Film...
Annan and Dean Breichim hid in the Academy, leaving the unfortunate Vice Dean Boris to deal with everyone. He dared neither offend the nobles nor pressure Annan and the Dean.
Alice suggested giving them the Characters of Professor Snape, the other professors, and some students. Annan agreed. But he didn't want arrogant nobles ruining everything, so he announced auditions in three days and sent the script for Annan Potter and the Magic Stone to everyone who wanted a part.
The impact of The Mage Tower's Fall was still growing, much as it had in Breeze City. The people of Breeze City saw themselves in it; the people of Siltovis saw a Champion Sorcerer.
What little resistance remained was drowned out by the Champion Sorcerer's fame and the nobles' applause. Only the commoners were left bewildered, but... they'd never had a voice anyway.
Even Vampires and Succubi, who only came out at night, were taking Annan's form to hunt under the name "Jack's Night of Passion." The thirty-four Jacks of Star-Moon Bay merely shared a name. Siltovis really did have thirty-four Jacks.
Three days later, at Solz Magic Academy.
Annan, Alice, Dean Breichim, and Vice Dean Boris sat in the