ET Chapter 4 - Silver Hearth, Big Noggin’, Water Ball

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The moment the door closed behind the boy, the elderly shopkeeper released a slow breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. Her fingers briefly tightened around the edge of the counter before she picked up the book which she placed aside back down in front of her. She turned her sharp gaze toward the armoured guard, who still had his hand on the handle of his sword in a tense posture despite the boy’s departure.

"Oh for goodness sake lad, don’t be a fool!" She chastised, folding her arms and sending him a disappointed look. "Do you really think you stood a chance against that boy?"

The guard flinched slightly but exhaled, lowering his broad shoulders in disappointment. With a heavy sigh, he let go of his weapon and returned to sitting in silence, though the tension in his body remained. The young girl, who had been quietly observing from behind the counter, finally spoke up. “Granny Tina… was that really the Storm Shadow?”

“That’s Grandmother to you, Tessa. Granny makes me sound older than I am.” Granny Tina adjusted her glasses as she ignored her granddaughter rolling her eyes while she herself continued staring at the door for a moment before responding. “All the signs point toward that being the case. Though, he’s older now.”

Tessa’s brows furrowed. “Then why did you seem… worried?”

Granny Tina didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she sat back in her chair with her fingers laced together as she gazed into the past. After a few beats of silence, she finally spoke. "Because, child… I’ve met that boy before today. Although, ‘met’ might be the wrong word."

Tessa’s eyes widened in shock. “You did?”

“It was years ago.” Granny Tina’s lips pressed into a thin line before she continued. “I was part of a team hired to hunt him down a few years ago. ‘Just a bit of extra cash for a magic user’ the team leader said.” She snorted.

Her granddaughter gasped, but Granny Tina simply nodded grimly. “The job was supposed to be simple — hunt, capture and or take down someone’s apprentice. Something others had done before for easy cash. Nothing special.” A bitter chuckle escaped her. “But we didn’t stand a chance — like all the others that had done the job before. He was just a child, yet he defeated us effortlessly.”

“Then…” Tess swallowed, hanging on her grandmother’s every word. “Well, it seems like you shouldn’t even be alive. So.. how are you still alive?”

“Because he let us live — more like he refused to kill us.” Granny Tina’s expression darkened with, a note of something — perhaps admiration, perhaps sorrow — creeping into her voice. "But his teacher? His teacher didn’t approve of his mercy."

A shiver ran down her granddaughter’s spine. “What happened?”

Granny Tina grimaced as she recalled the scene with crystal clarity. "We watched as his teacher broke his bones — right there in front of us, well, those of us that were still conscious anyway. Every time he hesitated to finish us off, the teacher would snap another bone. And then another. Until he couldn’t even do anything — stare defiantly at the man breaking him."

Her granddaughter’s breath hitched as horror started dawning in her eyes. "That’s… awful."

Granny Tina nodded. "It was one of the most brutal things I’d ever seen. But even after all of that — after the pain, the discipline, and the violence —" she paused, looking at the door the boy had just exited, "— the boy still maintains his respect and moral compass. He even apologised when he realised how old I was before he threw me against a tree." 

Tessa stared at her grandmother and then back at the door for a few long moments. Granny Tina let out another breath, rubbing her temples. “That’s why you must always treat him with respect — no matter what.”

"I will." Her granddaughter nodded quickly. “Promise.” She lingered for a few moments, staring at the door as if expecting him to return. Then, with a deep breath, she went back to her seat and picked up her book again. Granny Tina watched her for a moment longer before doing the same.

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Theodore Marek

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After leaving March Cities Magic Store, I made my way over to the clothing store and bought a new pair of brown sturdy trousers, boots that actually fit properly and didn’t smell like the wrong end of a donkey’s ass, socks, and a belt. I even got a blue tunic adorned with a white stitching design that reminded me a lot of the Champions Tunic from the Zelda series, and a beige long-sleeved t-shirt to wear under it. 

After changing into them, I took my Hyrule looking-ass to the armour store and got a pair of vambraces to match the ‘adventurer’ look, before heading toward the inn the guard had mentioned. I only got a few steps away from the armour store before I felt a presence heading right for me from behind, though the Force indicated it was non-threatening, then tug my arm which made me halt.

“Hey there, sir!” A cheerful voice met my ears as a young girl with short, wavy brown hair and bright green eyes grinned up at me. She looked to be about thirteen or fourteen, dressed in a simple but well-kept dress and an apron tied around her waist. Before I could respond, she began pulling me down the street by the arm.

"You look new around these parts! If you're looking for a place to stay, then the best place in town is The Silver Hearth!" She declared proudly.

I blinked but didn’t resist, letting her guide me. I had already planned on heading there, so there was no harm in humouring her enthusiasm. “Alright,” I said with an amused smile. “Lead the way, miss.”

The two of us arrived at the large, warm-looking inn with a wooden ‘The Silver Hearth Inn’ sign hanging above the entrance, depicting a silver flame. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat wafted through the air as we stepped inside. The main hall was cosy, lined with sturdy wooden tables and a long counter where a well-built woman — who reminded me of Molly Weasley — was tending to some customers. As soon as we entered, the girl released my arm and beamed at the woman behind the counter.

“Mom! I found a new customer!” She said proudly. They shared the same features, with her mothers being more mature. The landlady — a broad-shouldered woman with thick brown hair tied in a bun — paused mid-action and gave the girl an exasperated look.

“What did I tell you about harassing people on the street, Amelia?” she scolded, placing her hands on her hips. “You shouldn’t be so pushy all the time, and I don’t want you wandering too far from the inn — you have no idea what sort you meet out there that might not be as kind to ya’ like the other were.”

“I didn’t go too far!” Amelia huffed, crossing her arms. “I saw him walking this way anyway, so I figured I’d help out. No harm done!”

The landlady sighed before shaking her head. “Back to your chores, young lady. And stay off the streets for now.”

Amelia pouted but complied, muttering something under her breath as she disappeared into the back, where I could sense another working. The fond yet exasperated feeling I could feel from the other person was enough to let me know they were probably shaking their head at her for yet another of what was clearly a constant ongoing thing. Once her daughter was gone, the landlady turned to me, offering an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about that,” she said with a chuckle. “She’s always been a handful. I hope she didn’t bother you too much.”

“Not at all.” I waved a hand dismissively. “She’s got good energy. And to be fair, I was already on my way here.”

“That she does.” The landlady gave a small laugh. “So then — are you here for food, or are you looking to stay the night?”

“Both, actually,” I replied, walking up to the counter. “I’d like to book a room for a week for now, if that’s possible.”

The landlady nodded. “We offer two lodging options: a private room for one large copper coin per night, or a shared dormitory bed for three copper coins per night.” She leaned on the counter before adding, “Both options come with one free meal a day.”

“I’ll take the private room, please.”

The landlady gave a satisfied nod. “That’ll be seven large copper coins for the week, then.”

Without missing a beat, I retrieved the coins from the [Inventory] and placed them on the counter. The landlady’s eyebrows raised slightly as she watched the money materialise out of thin air, but she simply shrugged and didn’t comment, scooping up the coins and tucking them away in a small money pouch on her hip.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” she said with a grin. “I’ll get your key. Welcome to The Silver Hearth. And do please keep the noise down for others who may be trying to sleep and room in good condition during your stay.”

“Yes ma’am,” I said with a respectful nod. Manners never hurt anyone after all. The landlady gave me a nod before pulling a logbook from the side and setting it in front of her. She reached for a feathered quill and a small ink pot, dipping the tip into the ink before glancing up my way with a lightly raised eyebrow.

“All I need now is your name and occupation for the records,” she said, tapping the book lightly. “Just to know whose in what room ‘n all.”

“Theodore Marek, but please call me Theo — my full name makes me sound a little… uppity,” I  answered, eliciting a giggle and small shake of the head from the woman. “I’m a new adventurer.”

The landlady hummed, jotting the information down. “Figured as much,” she commented with a knowing expression. “With those clothes and that magic trick earlier, I’d be more surprised if you weren’t an adventurer honestly.”

Once she finished writing, she blew lightly over the ink to help it dry before closing the logbook.

“Alright.” She said, setting the quill aside. “Now, for your free meal — you can choose between breakfast or dinner. I’d recommend getting your food early no matter which you pick — while it’s still warm.” 

Hearing my stomach lightly rumble, she smirked as she leaned slightly on the counter, and added, “Don’t worry, dinner will be ready soon, so you’re just in time.”

“Goo to hear.” I nodded. “I’ll be down soon after I settle into my room.”

The landlady smiled approvingly before turning toward the back and raising her voice. “Amelia! Get out here and show our new guest to his room!”

A moment later, Amelia appeared, wiping her hands on her apron as she re-entered the room. “Alright, alright, I’m coming!” She huffed before turning to me with a grin. “Follow me!”

I did as asked and followed her up a short flight of wooden stairs, ignoring the floorboards creaking slightly under our steps. When we reached a simple but comfortable room, a small smile crept onto my face as it reminded me of a mediaeval version of a university dorm room back on Earth. It had a single bed pushed against the wall next to the window, a chest at the foot of the bed, an empty wardrobe for clothing, and a desk and chair combo off to the side.

Amelia turned to present me with a proud look and a key. “Here you go! One private room, as promised! Oh, and here's the key.”

I placed the key in my pocket as I glanced around, satisfied. Before she left, I summoned a small copper coin from the [Inventory] and flipped it to her. She caught it instinctively, blinking in surprise. “Huh?”

“For the fine tour guide service,” I explained, before the situation started looking like I was asking for more… intimate services. “Remind me when the dinner is ready, will you? If you have the spare time, that is. I don’t want to get you in any more trouble.”

“Sure,” Amelia grinned, pocketing the coin. “I’ll come knock as soon as I’m free.” She then turned and exited the room, shutting the door behind her.

With a tired sigh, I walked over to the bed and dropped onto it, stretching my arms behind my head as I sank into the mediocre mattress. But, there was still work to be done and magic to learn. So, with that in mind, I searched the [System] for something that might make things easier. 

[Big Noggin’ (Minor)]

[Description: Adds a minor permanent increase to the user’s mental capabilities. Increase thought processing speed, memory retention, muscle memory, learning, adaptability and focus while reducing mental fatigue.]

[Cost: 1000 SP] [Purchased]

[Current SP: ]

I couldn't afford the more expensive version of the perk but anything that Might help me, even if only a little, was a good thing at this point. I waited for a few seconds for something to happen, maybe a small headache or realising I was now thinking on the level of one in a billion geniuses… only to feel the slightest of shifts in my mind, which brought a frown to my face.

If it wasn't for my use of the Force getting ever so slightly better due to my increase in mental faculties, I wouldn't have even noticed a change.

When it said ‘minor’, I didn't think it meant ‘barely noticeable’. I have a feeling I could have achieved the same just by a few weeks of reading and practice thanks to the infinite growth from the [Essense of Blank]. 

Shaking off the disappointment, I sat up and retrieved the books on magic from the [Inventory], placing the advanced book to the side for now and cracking open the Beginners Guide To Magic book. The paper, or rather, parchments, were of surprisingly good quality, if only slightly thicker than what I was used to, and by the looks of it — it was also copied by hand. Not that it was a bad thing, the calligraphy was top-notch.

Flipping through the pages, I quickly skimmed the introduction before diving straight into the fundamentals of magic, which seemed to be essentially the same as I remember from the anime — if only with more detail.

…which is why magic is primarily divided into 3 categories; Attack, Healing and Summoning Magic.

Attack Magic, as the name suggests, refers to the external use of magic to attack an object and or individual. Within this category, there are 4 schools/elements of attack spells, including Fire which generates and manipulates fire and head, Water which generates and manipulates water ice and steam, Wind which manipulates air and other gases, and Earth which generates and manipulates earth, rock and minerals.

Although Attack spells were created to fight monsters and for war, they can also be used for non-combat-related tasks as simple as using water magic to provide drinking water, or Fire magic to assist with cooking. It just depends on the practitioner’s magical capacity, control, knowledge and whichever task they have set their mind to.

Healing Magic primarily refers to the restorative spells designed to either heal injuries and ailments or toxins, with spells that affect incorporeal monsters and barrier spells also being included. Within this category, there are 4 schools/categories, including Healing for healing injuries, Detoxification which purges poisons and diseases, Devine Strike which can harm incorporeal creatures, and Protection 

Summoning Magic is used to…

“Yeah, okay, I get it already,” I muttered as I flipped to the chapter about spell ranks, already familiar with what I was reading. The information was as I remembered there as well though. That ranks being Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint, Kingly, Emperor and Divine. The book itself only even had Beginner and Intermediate level spells in it, but I bought the advanced book to cover that.  

Skimming through the section that explained Magic Circles, Incantations and Chantless magic, I went straight to the actual spells and summoned a wooden bucket from the [Inventory], placing it on the floor. Outstretching a hand over it to ensure the spell wouldn’t affect the floor, I started reciting my first water spell.”Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now—”

As the words were leaving my lips, I felt a distinct shift with the magic in my body, travelling through my arm.

“ —Water Ball.” As the final words were uttered, the mana gathered in my hand, forming into a basketball-sized sphere of water, floating just above my palm. Although it felt strange, it would have felt stranger if I wasn’t used to feeling something like the Force already, so I was able to move past the feeling almost immediately.

I held the sphere there for a moment before allowing it to drop into the bucket with a small splash. Then, with a light smile, I cast the spell again, but this time, I focused on how the magic moved within my body. Both naturally and with the Force, for good measure. I concentrated on the sensation — every moment of the mana travelling down my arm, and gathering in my palm to produce the spell.

After repeating the spell a few more times, I felt like I had it memorised enough. I had skill with using a power that relied on feeling it over using words already, so the memorisation part was just child’s play. With that, it was time for the real test. I raised my hand once more and focused my intent — this time, without uttering a word.

Unsurprisingly, a [Water Ball] formed instantly above my palm — if only slightly smaller than the first, but that didn't bother me that much though. Now that I had the basics down, I experimented further, increasing and decreasing the size of the Water Ball by manipulating my magic, from as small as a marble to nearly double its normal size. I even made the ball hover and move around gently in the air before releasing it. Then I moved to testing my ability to hold multiple spheres of water at once, managing to juggle five before getting bored and moving on.

After a few more minutes of refining my control and using magic on the already summoned water in the bucket, which seemed to require less magic, I decided it was enough practice for now. The bucket was getting full and I could always get back to it when I was outside later, after all.

Pulling out a clean cloth from the [Inverntory], I dipped it into the bucket. Since the rooms lacked a bath or shower, and I really couldn’t be bothered getting diseases from a shared bathhouse, I took off my new clothes and methodically cleaned myself using the damp cloth, wiping away the dirt and sweat that had accumulated over the day. The entire process made me miss modern plumbing more than I realised I would.

Once I was finished, I put my clothes back on and placed the bucket of water back into the [Inventory], stretched, and went to lie down. But, just as I was about to relax, a knock came at the door.

“Hey, mister adventurer!” Amelia’s voice came from the other end. “Dinner’s ready!”

“Thank you, I'll be right there,” I called back, holding back the groan that almost escaped my lips before making my way out the door, with the girl having already run back down to get back to work. I descended the wooden staircase, stepping into the much more lively main hall full of people eating and drinking to their heart's content. The aroma of cooked meats, fresh bread, and seasoned vegetables filled the air, mixing with the murmur of conversations and the occasional burst of laughter from the gathered patrons.

My gaze swept across the room, immediately noting that every table was occupied — travellers, adventurers, and merchants by the looks of it, all enjoying their meals and drinks after a long day. I felt a free seat before I even saw it, and just as I was about to walk over a familiar voice called out to him.

“Over here, mister adventurer!”

I turned to see Amelia, with her apron slightly stained from carrying trays of food and drinks, waving me over with a grin. She led me to the only available table I had already sensed, tucked near a corner but still close enough to the bar and kitchen for quick service. With how busy the place was at the moment, I got the feeling it was saved for me.

As I took my seat, she leaned slightly on the back of the chair across from me and said, “I recommend the venison and vegetable stew. It’s one of our best dishes.”

“Alright,” I smirked, trusting her on the choice on the matter as I had never had venison in real life before. “I’ll take your word for it.”

“Good choice!” She said before heading off toward the kitchen in the back. True to her word, Amelia returned soon after, carrying a steaming bowl of venison and vegetable stew, along with a chunk of fresh bread on the side.

“Here you go!” She said, setting the meal on the table in front me.

“Thanks,” I said as I inhaled the rich aroma before patiently picking up my spoon, barely holding back drool from sheer hunger.

Amelia just watched for a moment before asking, “Want some ale to go with that?”

I lightly shook my head. “No need.” Instead, summoning a wooden cup from the [Inventory], I used a smaller version of the [Water Ball] spell, filling the cup with clean, fresh water. The water silently gathered above my palm before being guided into the cup, shimmering under the candlelight before I picked it up and took a sip. Amelia blinked, her mouth opening as if to comment, only to be cut off by another customer.

“Oi! Amelia!” A rowdy patron from another table called her over, raising an empty mug of ale with a grin. “More ale over here!”

She sighed but quickly turned away to attend to the customer, leaving me to enjoy my meal in peace. The stew was rich and flavorful, the meat tender and well-seasoned, and the vegetables perfectly cooked. The bread, though not particularly warm, was a little soft, perfect for soaking up the remaining broth. By the time he finished, I was sitting back slightly and almost falling asleep completely satisfied.

Amelia soon returned, carrying a tray she used to collect my empty bowl and plate. “You finished already?” she asked with slight raised eyebrows.

“Yeah.” I nodded with a thankful smile, playfully massaging my belly as I smothered a yawn. A food coma was one of the greatest compliments a person could give a cook after all. “Give my compliments to the chef, will you? That was absolutely delicious.”

Amelia grinned. “I knew you would, I’ll let my Pa know!”

I simply smirked and pushed my chair back. “Anyway, I’m heading up. Thanks again for the food.”

With that, I made my way back upstairs to the room, ready to get some well-earned rest. I ended up passing out within a few seconds of hitting the mattress, only waking up when the sunlight hit my face in the morning the next day. Luckily, I put my clothes in the [Inventory] before losing consciousness to make sure I didn’t wake up extra sweaty.

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“You can't save the world on an empty stomach.”

—Mr Ping, Kung Fu Panda.

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Hello there!

Now we have a start on magic. Theo has experience with the Force, so using voiceless magic is easier for him than it would be for a normal person.

Also, just to clarify, he doesn’t have the Laplace factor, but magic grows naturally in the body to an extent as you grow, so he won’t be starting at baby levels of magic either. He could have grown those reserves by training as a kid, but he’s missed that chance now. Thankfully, he has Essence of Blank to cover that.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC and original ideas. All credit goes to their respective owners.

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Thank you for reading.

As always, stay awesome.

Until next time, Light's out.