As the commotion in the magic hall subsided, Martin and Debbie made their way to the Kara Magic Bookstore on Stardust Avenue. After leaving the Mage Guild, they decided to grab a quick lunch, reminiscing about the extravagant meal they had indulged in earlier, costing them four silver coins.

  Debbie, with a serious expression, turned to Martin and said, “You must remember, the books on the magic bookshelf should not be touched casually. I’ve heard that learning enchantment is incredibly challenging. If the books are too expensive, we won’t buy them. Besides, your qualifications may not allow you to learn it anyway…”

  Martin shot her an incredulous look. “Couldn’t you have spared me the discouragement?” he thought, rolling his eyes at her comment about his abilities.

  Entering the magic bookstore, they found it eerily empty, just as they had left it last time. The lack of customers was disheartening. Martin sighed, “This place really needs better management.”

  Debbie shook her head, recalling their last visit. “Last time, she charged us nine gold coins for that terrible book…”

  Martin nodded in agreement, and a moment of silence hung between them before Debbie added wistfully, “When will we be able to open a store like this?”

  Martin chuckled, “When we do, we’ll make sure to sell books that are actually worth buying.”

  He moved to the back of the store, hoping to find books on enchantment. Scanning the shelves, he quickly became disappointed. After searching through every book, he realized there was not a single title related to enchantment.

  “What? No enchanted books?” he exclaimed, frustration creeping into his voice.

  Debbie, who had been looking for books alongside him, confirmed his findings. “It looks like there’s nothing here,” she said, noticing his disappointment. “I heard enchantment books are incredibly rare and valuable.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  Just then, a voice floated down from the stairs. “You’re quite mistaken. It’s not that the enchantment books are too valuable; it’s that the technique itself is too complex to be captured in writing.”

  Kara appeared, her presence commanding attention. She wore a simple yet charming outfit that accentuated her figure, but Martin quickly diverted his gaze to avoid any awkwardness.

  “Complex?” Martin asked, intrigued. “Are you saying the technology of enchantment isn’t documented anywhere?”

  Kara descended the stairs, a roast leg of lamb in her hand. “Exactly. Enchantment can be grasped in a single day by some mages, while others may struggle their entire lives. It’s all about talent. Are you interested in learning?”

  Her gaze lingered on Martin, and he felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension. “What’s the catch?” he countered, half-smirking.

  Kara laughed lightly. “Just a small agency fee of five gold coins.”

  “Five gold coins? Are you serious?” Martin’s anger flared. “That’s outrageous!”

  Kara leaned against the wall, chuckling. “You should know that finding an enchanter is rare. The fee is quite reasonable considering what you’ll gain. Without my help, you’d never get a chance to learn from them.”

  Martin was skeptical. Five gold coins was a hefty sum, equivalent to about fifty thousand of his currency. He glanced at Debbie, who appeared deep in thought.

  After a moment, Debbie’s expression changed. To Martin’s astonishment, she reached into her purse and pulled out five gold coins, handing them to Kara. “Here, take us to the enchanter!”

  Martin stared at her, shocked. “You’re kidding! You just gave her five gold coins without a second thought?”

  Kara’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly pocketed the coins, wiping her hands on a towel after discarding the bone from her leg of lamb. “Follow me,” she said, leading them outside the bookstore.

  As they walked, Martin couldn’t help but feel a rush of gratitude for Debbie. She had clearly noticed his fascination with enchantment and was willing to support him, even if it meant spending her own money.

  “Just so you know, if you don’t learn enchantment after this, you’ll regret spending those five gold coins for the rest of your life!” Debbie warned, her tone serious.

  Martin chuckled nervously. “I’ll make sure it’s worth it.”

  As they followed Kara, the weight of his decision settled on him. The allure of enchantment was strong, but so was the risk of failure. Would he be able to learn, or would this be yet another disappointment? Only time would tell.