"Magnus, can you teach me magic?" And so, my plan begins.
"I'd love to teach you magic. But you won't learn anything good from me." And my plan fails at the starting line.
"Aren't you good with magic? Why can't you teach me?" He's a necromancer — an advanced class of the dark mage — so he clearly knows a thing or two about magic.
"I only have an affinity for dark magic, while you have an affinity for wind magic. So someone like Khyle or Milly is probably better at teaching you about wind magic than I am." With a quick chuckle, he tried to dismiss my request, but...
"I don't need wind magic training right now." I won't let an amazing mage like you go without training me. "Dark magic is still magic, and you can still teach me the basics."
He had a surprised look on his face after I said that. "That's right, haha. The element doesn't matter — every mage goes through the same learning process." He started searching his bookshelf.
"Here," he handed me a book. "Read this and ask me anything you need."
"Thanks, Magnus."
"Good luck, boy." I grabbed the book and started heading out to my next objective.
Part two of my improvement plan had started. Now let's begin part three.
---
"Hold this for me, Barret." There he was — our leader — training with his axe.
"What is it?"
"Don't worry about it. Just hold onto it and carry it everywhere you go." I dropped a small sack full of glass marbles next to his things and ran away.
Part three finally started.
---
I quickly entered my room, sat down on my chair, and prepared everything to study magic.
My self-improvement plan consists of:
Part One: Physical training with Karla and Khyle. My survival in this world will depend on how well I can handle physical activities.
Part Two: Magic learning with Magnus. While I only have a low wind affinity, I remember Alen being able to learn two out of the seven tiers of magic spells. It isn't a lot, but at least it can be helpful.
Part Three: Thief practice with Barret. I'll make him hold onto random objects, then try to steal them without him noticing. My physical training will also help here... probably...
"Mana is like wind; it's there even if you don't feel it... yada yada... it can be felt and controlled when you're concentrated... meditation is the most important training a mage has to do...." I remember most of this from the game's story, so I'm getting a bit bored.
I could try some of the methods the main character used to advance faster in magic training, but they either require items I don't have or they're methods that tend to be extremely dangerous and deadly... so I'll have to work with what I've got — tedious training and meditation.
Siiiiiiigh...
---
There he is.
"Milly should come back in... about two or three days." Khyle is talking with Barret. Now's my chance.
After two hours of reading [Basic Magic 1: Kid's First Spell], I decided to try my luck stealing that sack I gave Barret.
My first move was to enter the room and walk behind Barret while asking Khyle, "What kind of mission is Milly on?" Barret turned around — this wasn't the moment to steal them.
"She's on guard duty," Khyle said, now Barret was looking at him. "She was hired to protect a young lady at a rich guy's party."
"Ha. She be likely bored outta 'er damn mind."
"Yeah. She does get easily bored at fancy events. I wanted to take the job, but she offered herself."
"We better be settin' up a feast fer her when she returns." He's not focused on me. Now's my chance.
I noticed a while ago that the sack is in the left pocket of his pants. With a swift but amateur movement of my right hand, I slip it into his left pocket. Feeling the sack, I pull it out and hide it in my own pants' right pocket.
"You know she doesn't eat a lot, so a feast wouldn't excite her that much."
"How about going to the city and buying some weird tea blends?" I took a step away from Barret while asking that. "I think she'll like it more than just a lot of food."
"I'll be tellin' Magnus to fetch some tea blends later."
Did... did he not notice that I stole the sack?!?
"I could go buy them. I have to get my own stuff, and Magnus is busy."
Did Khyle also not notice?!? Am I that good?!?!
"Aye then. I'll be leavin' Milly's brew to ye."
"Speaking of... have either of you seen Magnus? I have some questions to ask him."
Just act natural. They don't look like they noticed.
"He's probably on the second floor," Khyle pointed upwards, "advancing in his tiers..."
"Ain't he already on tier five?" Both Barret and I look surprised.
Magnus is a boss who appears at the start of the mid-game. And by that point, he can already cast tier six magic.
Could I see someone advancing in real time?
It doesn't matter that I've already seen that animation more than a hundred times — a pretty cool animation, all things considered — I need to see Magnus advance.
"I need to see that." I started to rush, aiming for Magnus' room... however... Barret grabbed my arm and didn't let go.
"Now I be seein' why ye be wantin' me to keep it close,"
Did... did he—
"But ye be needin' more trainin' if ye want to plunder somethin' from me."
Oh no...
He finally let me go and walked out of the room.
"I'll prepare a dexterity training for you whenever you're not fighting Karla," Khyle patted me on the back and handed me the sack.
"Wha— I had it in my... when did you—!?"
"I'll teach you later," he winked. "Go ask your questions now, kid."
---
Why am I so bad at everything?
"I wanna cry."