Chapter 5: (1/8)
The next day, David came down to the hotel to give Kain and Arthur their Mage's Licenses. Since Kain and Arthur became the members of the Gray, they have officially joined the Mages Council therefore each of them received their Mage's License before graduation. This will grant them the ability to legally cast magic spells in public places without facing any kind of charges. Kain looked at his Mage's License, it was written as:
Name: Kain Almos
Sex: Male
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 5’11” Weight: 180 LBS
Year of birth: 415,809 Calendar: Forty-eighth
Elemental Soul: Conjurer
Mages’ Academy: Nosh
Originated: Grand Duchy of Macmalian
There was also a painted portrait of Kain on the Mage's License. Kain and Arthur dropped their blood on the Mage’s Licenses and it flashed three times in white color which indicated the Mage’s Licenses have acknowledged them to possess it. David told Kain and Arthur to switch their Mage’s Licenses and they did. Both of them were amazed when the Mage’s Licenses escaped from their hands and automatically switched back.
David said, “This is how we can find out if the Mage’s License you possessed is real or fake. You can't just steal someone else's Mage’s License to put your painted portrait on it because it will automatically fly back to its owners.”
After bullshitting for over an hour. David secretly gave Kain his Blood Pendant back before leaving the hotel.
Eight days later.
"Jaane..."
"Coming!!"
Golda rushed Jaane because they were about to go shopping in Flumen city. It's been nine days since the first round of the tournament battles were over. Eighteen Student Mages of Nosh and Professor Biersack wanted to go for another tour of this city and possibly go buy some magical equipment using the money they have earned for winning the first round of tournament battles. Professor Blonigan had to escort the losers back to Mages' Academy of Nosh. The same goes for all losers of other Mages' Academies. That was why each Mages' Academies brought two professors, so one of them can escort the losers back while another professor stays with the winners.
Jaane rushed out to meet with Golda and the other students in front of the hotel.
"Jaane, what takes you so long?"
"Sorry... I was hiding money so no thief could see it."
"This is Flumen city, there are more than two hundred thousand guards actively patrolling the city. No thieve would dare to steal our money."
Student Mages can not cast their magic spells in public places until they graduate from Mages' Academies and receive their licenses from the Mages Council. Any Student Mages break this rule will be treated like 'Rogue Mages'. That is why Jaane was afraid that some thieves are going to steal her money and she can not cast a spell to stop it. There is one exception to this law. If they encounter Rogue Mages or Blood Mages then they are allowed to use their magical power to execute them.
Jaane and Golda ran toward the group of other sixteen students to join them on this shopping day escorted by Vincenzo Biersack. Jaane saw Kain and Sofia were holding hands while walking together. She was happy for them but something bothered her and she could not figure out what it was. After an hour or so they arrived at the Flumen Magic Shops District. This district was not that big but it could hold up to twenty thousand people. There are an entrance and exit gates with approximately five hundred guards stationed on each gate.
At the entrance gate of Flumen Magic Shops District, Vincenzo said, "You guys can go separately now but all must come back here in three hours, understood?"
"Yes!" All students responded and quickly left Vincenzo by himself.
"Hey weakling, let's shop together." Kain invited Arthur and Adela to go shopping with him and Sofia.
"Let me ask Adela first. Adela?"
"Yes, I don't mind."
Kain shook his head and whispered into Arthur's ear, "Weakling, you gotta control your girl. Train her to listen to you at all times. If you tell her to go East, then she knows that she can't go West. There is no reason to ask for Adela’s permission, understand?"
"My father always ask for my mother's opinions for everything, that was why-"
"Trust me, you don't want to be soft."
"Kain!" Sofia angrily called out Kain's name.
"Hmm?"
"What are you whispering to Arthur for?"
"Just some men’s secrets."
Sofia and Adela were not happy when Kain and Arthur started whispering to each other because they know the only reason men whispered to each other is to talk bad about them.
Arthur thought to himself, "Hmm… Kain may be right. Sofia did not dare to argue with him. I should try this too."
Arthur yelled out loud, “Adela! Let’s go shopping with Kain and Sofia!”
Adela was surprised to hear this. She asked, “Arthur, are you alright? I have already said that I don’t mind.”
“Yes, you did! Sorry about that!”
Arthur looked at Kain and saw he was just covering his face laughing. Arthur knows he has been tricked by Kain and made a fool out of himself by yelling at Adela for no reason.
Jaane, Golda, Rosa, Ana, and Calley tagged along with Adela. Together with Kain and Sofia, the nine of them went to go shopping together.
There are magic shops for all Elemental Souls. The group of nine decided to split up and will meet back in thirty minutes. Jaane walked into the magic shop for Earth Soul. The first thing that surprised her was the prices. One magic equipment item being sold here could cost the salary of a working family for five years. Jaane thought she was rich after receiving two gold coins from the arena after she won her match. Jaane now realized these two gold coins can't even buy her a Bronze Staff embedded with four Magic Earth Stones. That Bronze Staff itself was enchanted and has a passive effect of minor mana recovery. Four Magical Stones has a passive effect to reduce twenty percent mana cost of all Novice and Intermediate Earth spells.
1 Gold coin = 100 Silver coins
1 Silver coin = 100 Copper Coins
10,000 Copper coins = 1 Gold coin
The average working-class citizen made between fifteen (15) to thirty (30) copper coins a day.