After that incident, Emily and I lost the mood for shopping and headed straight back to our lodgings.

In the hall, I had just shed my sweltering robes and mask when a soft, warm body pressed against my back from behind. Emily’s fragrant breath brushed my ear as she whispered, "Sister Rylin, you’re so kind to me."

Heat rushed to my ears at the sweet scent of the girl. I gently pushed her away, feigning nonchalance. "Silly. We’re friends, aren’t we? Of course I won’t let anyone bully my friend!"

"Friends…?" Her voice grew quiet. "But you’re a noble Mage, apprentice to an Archmage. You’ll be someone important in the Empire someday. I’m just an orphan—a merchant’s adopted daughter..."

"So what? Archmage or orphan, emperor or beggar—we’re all human. One nose, two hands. Status is just status. Yes, the powerful command the powerless. But that’s merely a social contract. Deeper down—in dignity, in heart, in soul—we’re all equal. I truly want to be your friend, Emily. Don’t hold back because of silly worries."

My middle-school civics lesson might’ve been too progressive for this world. Emily took minutes to absorb it. A strange light flickered deep in her eyes as she murmured, "I always thought myself worthless. An orphan. My adoptive father taught me etiquette, cooking, reading—all to raise my value as merchandise. I’d accepted that fate. Believed that was all my life could be."

"But yesterday," I said softly, "you refused to marry that Raymond. You kept begging me for help. Merchandise doesn’t think like that."

"No," she breathed, her eyes brightening. "I’m human. Not merchandise. From now on, no matter what happens—I’ll live as a person. I’ll shape my own life." Her voice trembled. "Thank you, Sister Rylin."

"Told you—we’re friends. No need for thanks." I changed the subject lightly. "What’s for dinner?"

"Hmm… stewed crab? Saxon’s a port city. The seafood here is incredibly fresh."

"Perfect. You’ll teach me how to make it later, right?"

—

The next noon, another visitor arrived. I recognized her—Jessica, the apprentice who handled front-desk duties at the Magic Office.

Naturally, Emily received her while I slipped into my bedroom. I wrapped myself in robes, adjusted my mask, then descended the stairs at a measured pace. "Miss Jessica. Welcome to my humble home."

Jessica appeared around twenty-three or twenty-four. Her fitted gray apprentice robes accentuated her slender curves. Tall—even a few centimeters taller than me—she bowed deeply upon seeing me. "Your honor is too gracious. I’ve brought what the Association prepared for you."

She opened a black square case. Inside lay a brand-new set of pure black mage robes. Resting atop them was a circular badge the size of a beer bottle cap. Its base pattern resembled a magic circle, with my name—【Rylin Black】—engraved at the center, encircled by three tiny stars. As I lifted it, both my name and the magic pattern glowed with a pale blue light.

Jessica eagerly explained, "This is the Mages Association’s anti-forgery badge. It records your unique magical signature—it only glows when you wear it. This badge is a Mage’s simplest proof of identity. Wherever you go, wearing this will earn you respect."

"Mm. Understood." I kept my tone cool to maintain my aloof image.

I examined the robes. They matched the cheap black ones my master left in the cabin—same cut, but finer fabric and tailoring. Clearly, the Association had upgraded its uniforms over the years. This set was tailored precisely to my frame, unlike my master’s oversized hand-me-downs.

Beneath the robes lay a thin booklet. Jessica chimed in again, "The Association’s charter and contact details for all offices. Please read it carefully when free. Membership brings privileges, but also duties. Serious violations may lead to expulsion… or even a warrant."

"I’ll read it later."

The formalities were done. Yet Jessica lingered, eyeing Emily—who stood quietly beside me—with open curiosity. "So this is the woman you took from young Raymond? Truly lovely."

"Not *took*. She signed a labor contract with me willingly." I corrected her firmly on principle.

"Well…" Jessica waved a hand. "The result’s the same. I understand liking beautiful women—men have certain needs, after all. But heed my warning: Raymond holds grudges. Be careful."

Though we barely knew each other, Jessica spoke like an old friend. I felt a flicker of warmth. "How many registered Mages are in the Association?" I asked.

"Hmm… about sixteen hundred?"

"And unregistered ones?"

"Not many. Total Mages on the continent? Fewer than two thousand."

I’d known Mages were rare—but this stunned me. "The continent has over fifty million people. Yet fewer than two thousand Mages?"

"Exactly why magical talent is *incredibly* lucky!" Jessica puffed her chest proudly. "And even among the sixteen hundred registered? Half are apprentices like me. Someone like you—a full Mage *and* Archmage-taught? Unimaginably enviable!"

Mages were one-in-a-million. But that alone didn’t explain their towering status. Many rare professions existed.

"Jessica," I pressed, "if Mages are so few… why does everyone—even children—fear their power?"

"Oh, that’s complicated." She grinned. "Let me explain properly, Your Honor…"