Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

"Good evening, are you two or are you waiting for someone?" The waitress's voice, kind and professional, greeted the two boys. They had waited about ten minutes before entering.

"Do you have a private table?" Rick asked. He wanted to relax like the last time, eating and drinking without issues.

"I am sorry, but those tables are all occupied," the waitress replied, lowering her head in apology.

Rick shook his head. "No problem then. Any table will do."

The waitress smiled. "Perfect, this way."

The two followed the woman in silence, looking around. The tables were filled with people of all ages. "Hey, look there! He is wearing a robe with silver veins! A Silver Mage, incredible!"

Rick had never seen a Silver Mage up close, only fleetingly from a distance. They did not frequent the same areas as Bronze Mages like them, after all.

Lian, however, did not seem surprised. At the start of his journey, he had seen Mage Patrick face a boss monster comparable to a Silver 1, the Shadow Wolf Steel 1.

Moreover, inside the Gate, he had played a crucial role in defeating the Silver 1 worm. He still kept its Mana Core. Finally, he had spoken with Bibo, the headmaster's disciple.

"Here you are, you may sit."

"Thank you!" the two said in unison, smiling at the waitress, who went off to serve new customers.

A few minutes later, a waiter arrived to take their order.

"Today is a celebration," Rick said to the waiter who had just arrived to take their order. "So bring us your best dishes. No expense spared tonight!"

Lian could only sigh helplessly, watching his friend flaunt his money.

The waiter left with a professional smile, taking Rick's words at face value.

"I just hope we can manage… otherwise, I will have to sell him the artifact…" Lian sighed again. "Damn it, why do you not think before speaking?!"

"Come on, buddy, do not be like that! It is just money; you will make millions!"

Lian glared at him. "Speaking of money… why do you not go do missions like all the other students? Why do you play the poor guy?"

Rick raised his hands. "Calm down, do not accuse me. I tried doing missions, and honestly, they are deadly boring. All that for just a few coins… I prefer trying my luck borrowing money from others—"

"Tch, pathetic. That is how you ended up in that situation with Marcus. It did not go well for you, did it? Now I am thinking you only became my friend because you thought I was rich…"

"Lian, are you kidding?? Am I that kind of person?"

The two continued chatting as delicious dishes arrived endlessly.

---

"You damn bastard!" Lian snapped as he left the restaurant. His face was a mask of anger. "What the hell were you thinking? 2,500 gold coins for a dinner? Are you serious?"

Rick did not know where to hide his face. He had expected a similar price, but he did not expect Lian to lack the money to pay. He had to pawn his artifact to cover the difference. Once he brought the remaining 600 gold coins, Lian could reclaim the artifact.

"I still cannot believe it… my very first artifact, the fire sword, was stolen by a guy named Plammer. Now, my first self-made artifact is pawned to pay for dinner? What the hell!"

Lian continued ranting, cursing left and right.

"Relax, Lian… it is just pocket change—"

"Sure, pocket change, but now we are broke! How are we supposed to go shopping without a coin in our pockets? Shall we sell the other Bronze 5 artifact too?"

"That could be a solution…" Rick scratched the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. "Come on, Lian, do not be like that. I promise I will help you recover the 600 coins to redeem the staff. And besides, was that not a fantastic dinner? That wyvern soup was… I am speechless! You will remember it for the rest of your life!"

Lian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, I will never forget it. But next time, order a salad and keep quiet, got it?"

Lian ranted for a few more minutes before stopping his worrying. It was not worth it.

"Let us go check out the shops, then. I will buy something I like another day…" Despite his gruff tone, the thought of browsing the shops was lifting his spirits.

He had no money, but he could at least get an idea of what the Academy, or rather, the world Lian lived in, had to offer.

After walking for some time, the two reached a square illuminated by huge lamps of various shapes. In the center was a massive fountain with clear water flowing, where many fish swam happily.

Behind the fountain stood a towering multi-story structure with a facade of glass reinforced by glossy black stone.

The sign hung above the main entrance, glowing with a vibrant blue.

Falling Stars Emporium.

The building was colossal, with crystal arches reflecting the light and windows displaying showcases full of all kinds of items.

"Holy cow," Lian murmured, eyes wide. "This place is enormous!"

Rick nodded, equally impressed. It was not his first time visiting, but he had always only dared to look from afar. It would be too painful to want something and not afford it.

"Well, we do not have a penny, but at least we can look," Lian added as he headed inside.

The entrance door was wide open. All sorts of people frequented this place. Lian and Rick also saw many Silver Mages, recognizable by the silver veins on their robes.

"One day, I will have one too!" Rick murmured, staring intensely at a student's robe.

"Sure, but you will need to keep it clean." Lian pointed to the sauce stain on Rick's uniform. "You are embarrassing…"

A slight blush formed on Rick's cheeks as he ignored the matter, entering confidently with Lian beside him.

Falling Stars Emporium was not a simple shop but a complex of specialized boutiques, each with its own counter, sign, and unique atmosphere.

The main hall was immense, filled with corridors branching out like tree limbs, each leading to a different section.

There were not only students, but a few professors could also be seen around.

"Okay, this place is insane," Lian said, looking around. "Where do we start?"

"I do not know; I have never been inside—" Rick shook his head.

"Wait," Rick pointed to a sign hanging above a corridor. "Look there. There is a map."

The two approached with interest, reading and studying it carefully.

After several minutes…

"So…" Lian looked up, staring straight ahead. "That way, up the stairs, to the north, is the artifact store…"