"Magic Mirror, Magic Mirror, who is the enemy hiding in Free City?"
"Wynn McKenna."
Annan had a guard pass the name the Magic Mirror had given him to Olmedo, then stayed at the Mage Tower to study. With his aura gone, his true talent showed: after five days, he had built less than a fifth of the Spell Model.
He could learn a Third-Circle Spell in about a month, but that still felt a little slow.
"When are you planning to leave?" Olmedo asked. In the meantime, she had found Wynn McKenna—at the Dawn Tavern.
This time, it had nothing to do with Succubi. He was an information broker, the sort who sat in a tavern for weeks and passed on whatever he overheard.
He was from the Montablinlock Duchy and had been hired by the Rikaner Kingdom to spy in Free City. Olmedo sent him north to Watchhold and let them decide what to do with him.
"I want to learn all the Third-Circle Spells before I leave," Annan replied.
There weren't many of them, really... He could set foot in the Southlands before spring arrived.
"You'd better leave sooner. Steelton Fief sent an invitation. The Southern Kingdoms are holding a celebration in spring, and it's a good chance to make money."
"Then the plan stays the same. I'll leave at New Year..."
Partly out of superstition, Annan hoped his decision to head south would become the subject of the Apocalypse Forecast. That would be better than bad news from the Northern Frontier.
Realizing he couldn't finish learning the spells before he left, Annan gave up studying so hard. He could build the models on the road anyway.
After letting the Dean and Lilith know, Annan moved back to the City Lord's Mansion and resumed his usual life.
The