Aren hadn't expected to encounter anyone in his secluded spot. A secret place shouldn't have visitors. The thought put him on edge, but the lingering pain robbed him of any immediate action.

  "Who's there?" He managed to croak out the question, his voice raspy.

  "Did you forget me already? It's me, Lycas, your new best friend." The voice was muffled, as if he were chewing while talking.

  Summoning his remaining strength, Aren pushed himself up. Scanning the trees, he spotted Lycas perched high on a branch, a handful of nuts in his grasp. He crushed a shell between his fingertips with casual ease, as if it were nothing more than an eggshell.

  "What are you doing here?" Aren grumbled, every word an effort.

  "I was going to keep an eye on you, thinking you'd spend the night at some inn, but my curiosity got the better of me when I saw you heading out of the city and into the forest, so I followed you. And I must say, that Duke's daughter has some nice curves; you really missed out by playing the gentleman." He punctuated his words with that grating laughter Aren was already starting to despise. "This morning was uneventful, so I decided to come here and wait for when you returned to check your stash and see how you were doing."

  That pervert was watching us change. Bastard! And now we're busted. He'll exploit this for sure.

  "So, I presume your silence comes at a price?" Aren steadied his breathing, slowly recovering from the Ether pulse.

  "How perceptive! You act quite mature for your age. Yes, you'll be doing some extra work if you don't want everyone to know you almost got the Duke's daughter killed. But don't worry too much about it now. I'm a good guy, just trying to survive." Lycas spoke with at least three nuts crammed in his mouth, seemingly unconcerned with how garbled his words sounded.

  This fucker is sly as a fox. I have to be very careful around him from now on.

  Aren noticed the throbbing in his hands had subsided somewhat, but he was certain there was a fracture or two in his fingers.

  "You wouldn't happen to have any more of that healing water, would you? I think I broke my fingers in the fight." He was already deep in debt to this guy; asking for one more favor was just a drop in the ocean.

  "Indeed, I do. But it'll cost you. One gold, and it's yours."

  This guy doesn't seem to care about my identity. Maybe I can get some information out of him. "I'm not from around here. How much can one gold get you, exactly?"

  "Gold? How much is that?" Lycas chuckled. "Well, 100 copper equals 1 silver, and 100 silver equals 1 gold. Simple. Average expenses in Stormia are around 20 silver per month, which is higher than most places, since it's the capital."

  So, he wants me to give him enough coins for five months of living for a little healing potion. He's definitely on the list for an ass whooping, right next to that info broker. I just need to get stronger, and they'll both pay.

  "Alright, give me the potion." Aren tossed a gold coin from his pouch. He needed his hands healed; otherwise, how was he going to explain it during training?

  Lycas snatched the coin with impressive speed and accuracy. He dropped from the tree, landing lightly next to the seated Aren. He handed over the vial of shimmering liquid.

  "What's your name?"

  "Aren," he replied, uncorking the vial and drinking the Ether-infused water. The pain vanished almost instantly, replaced by a pleasant warmth that spread through his body.

  "Aren? Aren't you that new noble with the… fighting quirks? Oh, that's so obvious!" Lycas cackled again.

  Aren wished the water could heal his eardrums. He finally stood, feeling better than he had in days. I need to get my hands on a few of these vials. This stuff is amazing.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Lycas continued, "Anyway, now that I've checked on you, don't forget your debt. Come visit me at the Black Market soon. You have a week." With that, Lycas melted back into the forest, still chewing on nuts.

  I have a really bad feeling about this guy. He's the type who'll suck you dry and then ask for more. At least now I have a story for the ring. I bought it for one gold from some shady merchant near the gates.

  He retrieved the coins from his stashed pouch and transferred them to his main pouch. Now he had 70 silver and 40 copper. He left the map to the Black Market hidden behind the boulder, just to be safe.

  On his way back to the city, he noticed the Ether water hadn't just healed him; it had also restored his stamina. The realization made him crave more of the stuff. However, the healing came at a cost – he was ravenously hungry.

  He made his way to the "Main Street Tavern" for lunch. The tavern was just as he remembered it. He even spotted Berin at the counter, the drunk he'd encountered the previous day. Berin was sober this time and didn't even recognize him. The barman commented on Aren's new, expensive clothes, asking how he'd climbed the career ladder so quickly. Aren explained it away with finding the job he'd been looking for.

  He paid 10 copper for a hearty lunch: a stew brimming with meat and a pint of ale. The taste was unlike any stew he'd had back on Earth. He devoured it, feeling like he hadn't eaten in days. How come Isla didn't want to eat after the healing? Or was my body so damaged that it took more resources to heal me than a single wound?

  After his late lunch, he headed straight for the castle, eager to train with his new ring. He consulted the map the maid had given him to navigate from the entrance to his room. There, he deposited his coins and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

  It was still too early for the evening training session, so Aren decided to visit Jaxx'im. Perhaps Veridian had something new to say, or at least he could take a look at the ring. He checked the castle map again and made his way to the lab.

  Stepping inside, he was met with a paragon of order. What had once been a chaotic mess was now meticulously organized. Every scroll, book, artifact, and device was in its place. The strange smells were gone, and the floor was as clean as Chronos Labs. The assistants were absent, and only the blue-skinned man sat by the window, engrossed in writing.

  "Am I interrupting?" Aren asked, his voice echoing in the vast space.

  Jaxx'im finished his sentence and looked up. "Sir Aren, I confess I have been anticipating your esteemed return." The humanoid stood. "I have been diligently occupied with the refinement of a novel method of transcoding. It is, in essence, a system for rendering the pronouncements of the Ether into comprehensible text. Allow me to test an improved device. Please, be seated."

  Jaxx'im gestured towards one of the chairs next to the table in the middle of the lab. The book with the strange symbol was no longer there.

  Aren entered and sat as instructed, thinking, Transcoding? Isn't that a bit too technical a term for this world?

  "We'll start where we left off last time." Jaxx'im picked up the artifact detector. It looked and behaved the same as before, pulsating with a red glow. Jaxx'im circled Aren, his green eyes fixed on the detector. "No change here," he concluded.

  "I was able to access Ether today. Perhaps I can try that tier-measuring device."

  "So soon? That is nothing short of a miracle, to access Ether so soon into the training. Are you certain?" Jaxx'im's words indicated he was impressed, yet no emotion surfaced on his face, nor did his voice change.

  "Yes, but I'm not sure I can hold it for ten seconds. But I'd love to try anyway."

  "Very well. Would you be so kind as to test this new device, with alternative transcoding? It is anticipated that it shall yield a more precise measurement, even should you not possess complete control. However, I must apprise you that you are the first to put it to such a trial, and it might give no reading whatsoever, or even suffer breakage whilst in your grasp."

  "Breakage? Is it even safe?"

  "As a man of learning, I am unable to render a definitive judgment until such time as a proper experiment be undertaken. However, no such incidents have occurred before with any Veridian device."

  Is he just too honest, or is it the opposite? It's hard to read him.

  "Well, let's try it then. Do you have any healing water on you, just in case?"

  "Healing water?"

  "Yeah, the water charged with Ether. I was in the city today, and a merchant showed me some. Said it was Veridian craft." Nice save.

  "That is a new development at the Wintervale Research Facility. It must have been leaked somehow. I shall write my colleagues a letter informing them. Regrettably, I haven't any here at the moment."

  So, Lycas didn't scam me asking for one gold, since it just leaked, and he somehow got two vials, perhaps more.

  "Let's try it anyway, but you're going to be in trouble if it blows up my arm." Aren was too eager to test his newfound power; nothing would stop him. And the feeling of being untouchable still lingered, since his real body was safe and sound. He was still disconnected from his survival instincts in this new vessel.

  Jaxx'im went to a cabinet and retrieved a stone tablet similar to the one he'd used on Leo, but thinner and larger.

  "Direct your Ether into this device for as long as possible." Jaxx'im handed Aren the tablet. It was even heavier than it looked.

  "Alright, let's see." Aren closed his eyes, recalling the sensation he'd experienced in the forest.