Chapter 083: An Unexpected Test

“We can't decide on the Wetlands expedition immediately,” Marin said, licking his finger and turning a page. “It depends on what Master Andromath and the others higher up at the Wizard's Sanctum think. For now, Mr. Seso, why don't we talk about your light spell?”

“Ah... the light spell.” Jess answered, “I practiced on my own a few times yesterday. But just as you said, my energy is limited. Once I felt tired, I didn't dare keep going. So I thought I'd get some potions to restore my mental energy and train harder.”

“Practicing with mana potions?” Marin turned to him. “Do you have so much money you don't know what to do with it?”

That made Jess uncertain.

What made mana potions so expensive? The ingredients? Mageroyal grew in Westfall, so surely it couldn't cost that much.

And Silverleaf grew everywhere. On his last trip to Duskwood with Gred, Jess had practically stepped on some. He'd seen more while hunting wolves by the river. If he'd brought a larger herb bag, he'd probably have collected some then.

Briarthorn also seemed to cost only two or three silver coins per plant.

Could it be the bottles?

“Are mana potions really expensive?” he asked cautiously.

“The ingredients aren't cheap, but that's not the main problem. The trouble is making them. Most potions that rapidly restore mental energy require a very skilled alchemist. Are you sure you can manage it yourself? In any case, I won't make them for you, even if you pay me. My eyes aren't what they used to be. If I start heating potion ingredients again, I'll probably go blind before I get old enough to lose the use of my legs.”

“Oh, so that's the problem,” Jess said. “Still, I want to try for myself. I can practice my alchemy while I'm at it.”

“That's reasonable,” Marin said. “Practicing with a potion whose ingredients aren't too expensive, but whose preparation is difficult, is a good way to improve your skills.”

If that was true, why had Ursula Delin offered to brew potions for him for free?

Jess remembered Gakin and Galds saying that Ursula had something valuable to contribute to The Slaughtered Lamb. Perhaps this was what they'd meant.

She could trade her excellent alchemy skills for free access to the others' spells. She got ingredients from other people to practice brewing, could study shadow magic as well, and had found a place where she belonged.

If mana potions were that difficult to make, Jess no longer felt as though Ursula was using him for free labor by asking him to investigate the murlocs.

A small provenance note: this page copied the chapter without the author's permission. The author's publishing page carries the published version.

While he was thinking, Marin asked, “So you plan to gather the herbs yourself? New apprentices usually start with the most basic mental recovery potions, which use Mageroyal. There's plenty of Mageroyal in Westfall. When I was young, I often went there with alchemists from the academy. You seem to have something on your mind. Is that where you want to go?”

“Yes, I was planning a trip there,” Jess said. “Actually, I was about to ask for some time off.”

“You don't need to request leave,” Marin said. “By this afternoon, you won't be my assistant anymore. As long as you complete the tasks I assign you, you won't have to come here to work every morning. Just attend your classes on schedule. The rest of your time is yours.”

“Are magic classes scheduled the same way as Orcish classes?” Jess asked.

“No. There's usually only one lesson a week for each course. Students need plenty of time to practice and discuss things with one another. Magic classes aren't packed together like language or social studies classes. Of course, if you decide to study alchemy or enchanting as a separate subject, that's different. Those courses meet much more often. You'll find out.”

“I think I understand.” Jess paused. “Master, there's something else. I want to go home to Lordaeron to see my parents at Winter Veil. Is there any chance...?”

“Of arranging a business trip to Dalaran for you?” Marin looked up as if he'd expected the question all along.

Jess smiled.

“To be frank, there's no reason for me to go to Dalaran toward the end of the year. I don't know whether the Sanctum will suddenly have a task in a few months. But I do know your Orcish teacher, Master Duchamp, has an opportunity to go to Dalaran for an Orcish language exchange before the year's end. If you earn that place, he'll cover your travel expenses.”

“What?” Jess hadn't expected that. “How do I get it? Master Duchamp never mentioned it.”

“Simple,” Marin said. “Come first in the Orcish exam on Tuesday afternoon, November twelfth. I can't imagine you wouldn't get the opportunity. Duchamp hasn't told the class because he doesn't want trouble. Lots of mages here would love a free trip to Dalaran. If they heard, they'd all start bothering him privately. And Duchamp hates being bothered. He'll be unhappy enough that I told you.”

“First place?” Jess frowned. “Against people who've already been studying the language for a while? And I've only got a month. Do you expect me to capture an orc and make him teach me?”

“That's up to you. I'm not an Orcish expert. You could come here every morning, and I'd cast Arcane Intellect on you to help a little. But if you did that every day, you'd probably develop a split personality in two weeks. You'd start despising the slow, stupid version of yourself that comes back whenever the spell wears off.”

“Arcane Intellect is that terrifying?” Jess stammered. “Maybe not, then. But Master, could you at least tell me something about what's on the exam?”

“This isn't a mathematics test. Even if I knew exactly what was coming, it wouldn't help much,” Marin replied. “Language exams always involve much the same things: translating passages, giving reports, writing, and answering questions. Judging from the two exams Master Duchamp has given before, I expect this one will be similar. You'll probably write an essay in Orcish about an issue affecting Stormwind or the Alliance, present it in person, and answer questions about it. Naturally, the important part is how well you understand and use the language, not how deep or convincing your argument is.”

For an exam like that, knowing the format really wasn't much use. He'd still have to produce the work himself.

What a headache. How was he supposed to stand out from the other students and win the chance to represent the Wizard's Sanctum at an Orcish-language exchange in Dalaran?

One month. All he could do was find more time to study and practice.