The Frugal Mage

[ Spark (Common): Produces a weak burst of static electricity. Useful for lighting fires, startling small beasts, or signaling. Almost no combat value.

Duration: 5 seconds

Cost per use: 1 Gold

Type: Utility / Lightning Elemental ]

"Seriously… Why would anyone purchase this skill?" Rayven thought as he realized that some spells are truly useless.

Creating a 5-second spark for 1 gold coin was not worth it at all.

'It should just be a free spell or something…' Rayven thought as he turned to the next new Spell.

[ Earthen Grasp (Uncommon): Causes hands of earth to rise and restrain a target.

Immobilization Duration: 4 seconds.

Range: 5 meters.

Cost per use: 2 Gold

Type: Control / Earth Elemental ]

This one was a lot better than he had expected.

It was cheaper than Stone Skin and had a longer immobilization period than the Mana Pulse, which could only give him 2 seconds.

Well, the Mana Pulse was only a Common Grade, so it was normal that it had weaker effects. Still, this Earthen Grasp was quite enticing…

'Should I take it too? But if I did that, am I going to be an Earth Mage for my path?' Rayven thought as he already had a Stone Skin.

From the many books and a few online games he played in his previous life, he knew that it was sometimes important to focus on one or two specialties.

He didn't want to be a jack of all trades and a master of none.

'I guess I have to buy that Personalized Spell Path Guidance after the 7th Spell.' Rayven thought.

Well, he also couldn't ask Thyruz about most of his concerns since the latter didn't have a proper Magic Education as well. Thyruz mentioned before that he only learned through his own experience. He also revealed how he researched his own Enchantments and mastered a few of them just to earn money.

'Well… If it's that expensive. I must be something important. I can't miss something like that.' Rayven mused.

***

After resting, Rayven soon brought out a quill and a sheet of parchment. He wanted to jot down a few ideas or anything that might help strengthen Golden Coast Trading.

"Let's see… What should be the appropriate one…" Rayven muttered to himself.

The Holt family's main company dabbled in a wide range of goods.

Their caravans carried fine silks, sturdy cotton, wool, and dyed linens from nearby provinces. They also supplied adventurers with basic weapons like iron swords, short spears, and hunting knives. They were the sort of gear necessary for hunting beasts or even the dungeon expeditions.

Beyond that, Golden Coast Trading moved dried herbs, medicinal roots, pottery, lamp oil, and occasionally rare spices when shipments were available.

But the most lucrative of all was their branch in Ferdain City, a bustling port in the east. Ferdain was where the company imported tea leaves, a product that had quickly become a symbol of status among nobles and wealthy merchants. The Holts had secured a reliable supplier from across the sea, whose leaves brewed a fragrant, clear tea with a refreshing aftertaste.

The Velthams, however, didn't seem to like this fact…

After all, they were the first to try with the tea trade.

Unfortunately, if compared to the ones the Golden Coast obtained, their leaves could be considered harsher, thicker, and lacked refinement. Yet they charged nearly double the price, relying on their noble name to maintain prestige.

Needless to say, when Golden Coast Trading began selling higher-quality tea at fair prices, it was no surprise the Velthams grew aggressive. In truth, Rayven suspected this was the very reason they had escalated their harassment after learing it from Rennard.

'Well, now that the Velthams are gone, nothing stops us from pushing the Ferdain tea trade harder.' Rayven mused.

Ferdain's position as a port city made it the gateway not only to Kesla and Hesa, but also to the smaller towns along the coast. If the Holt family played it right, their reach would spread across half the eastern region.

Indeed, the Golden Coast Trading had three branches in total… The main hub at Kesla City, the newly established operations here in Hesa City, and the critical Ferdain branch, tied to the tea trade.

Rayven dipped the quill into the inkpot and frowned as the uneven strokes scratched against the parchment.

"Tsk…" Rayven frowned at its inefficiency.

"Hm… Is this a sign? Should I start with this quill pen?" he muttered. Writing was clumsy, even with the memories he had inherited from the original Rayven. Compared to the smooth pens he had used in his modern life, this was frustratingly primitive.

"Can I even start a pen business?" Rayven wondered aloud. The idea lasted for some time.

Ink already existed, and brushes were common for scribes and artists. But a more practical, refined writing instrument could change everything.

He smirked to himself…

'Of all things, I might end up building a pen empire in a world of magic and swords.'

Rayven leaned back and tapped the quill against the parchment.

'If I really want to make a pen business work, I'll need a few things first…' he thought.

First was the material.

Quills were common because feathers were cheap and plentiful, but they wore down quickly.

If he could get a steady supply of thin metal, perhaps he could shape nibs that would last far longer. Brass or iron could work, though brass might be easier for finer tips.

Second was consistency.

Quills had to be trimmed every so often, but a proper nib could be forged and attached to a small shaft.

Wood was plentiful, but if he could refine it further, smooth it, carve it neatly, polish it with resin or oil… Maybe he could make writing instruments that weren't just functional, but elegant.

'Hmm… This might actually work…' Rayven mused as he recalled their field trip in high school, where they visited a pen factory.

Nonetheless, the third, and most important, was ink. The ink already available in this world wasn't bad, but it was thick and messy. If he wanted smoother writing, he'd have to learn the process of thinning it without sacrificing durability…

"Right… That should work…" Rayven's eyes lit up as he recalled something.