Michael ate in silence, allowing the two to focus on their meals.
Though they had only been under his command for a short time, he had already learned a few things about them.
Ace was more outspoken, while Lia remained cautious, his thoughts harder to read.
After they finished eating, Michael waved over the innkeeper. “A room for one. Like the previous one.”
The man nodded with a slight bow and led them upstairs.
Michael followed the innkeeper upstairs, with Lia and Ace trailing behind him.
The innkeeper stopped in front of a familiar door and unlocked it before stepping aside.
Michael nodded in acknowledgment and stepped inside, with the two youths following after him.
Once they were all in, he closed the door and turned to face them.
“Now,” Michael began, his voice calm but firm. “Tell me what you’ve found.”
Ace was the first to speak, his eyes lighting up as he eagerly stepped forward. “My lord, we did as you asked and looked into the living spaces in the outer city. Just as Lia mentioned before, there are three main districts where nobles tend to purchase houses—the Golden District, the Silver District, and the Copper District.”
Michael gave a slight nod. “And?”
Ace continued, “The Golden District is definitely the most luxurious, but the prices are extreme. A single house there would cost a lot silver and gold combined. It’s mostly occupied by established noble families or wealthy merchants.”
Lia, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “The Silver District is more reasonable in price but still quite expensive. The houses are well-maintained, and the neighborhood is relatively secure. It’s where smaller nobles and successful individuals settle.”
Michael turned to him. “And the Copper District?”
Lia’s expression shook slightly. “It is… functional. The homes are cheaper, but the security and upkeep vary. Some houses are in decent condition, but others are practically abandoned or in need of repairs. There are also reports of petty crimes occurring more frequently there compared to the other districts. However, it is the most affordable option. Nobles rarely buy properties here though so it’s mostly deathly people.”
Michael considered the information, crossing his arms. “Did you find any available properties in each district?”
Ace nodded quickly. “Yes! We found a few options in each area. In the Golden District, there’s a vacant estate, but it’s way too costly—over 800 gold coins. In the Silver District, there’s a mid-sized house available for 250 gold coins, and it’s in excellent condition. In the Copper District, there are several choices ranging from three to ten gold coins, though some of them might require renovations.”
Michael tapped his fingers against his arm, deep in thought.
“Did you speak to any of the property owners?” Michael asked.
Lia shook his head. “Not directly. We gathered the information from brokers and local contacts, but if you wish, we can arrange meetings.”
Michael exhaled and nodded. “You both did well. This information is useful.”
He retrieved two silver coins from his robe, which was him just taking from his storage space and handed one to each of them.
“This is for your efforts. Continue working diligently, and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.”
Ace grinned, pocketing the coin. “Thank you, my lord!”
Lia hesitated briefly before nodding in gratitude.
Michael turned toward the window, looking out at the city. “For now, we’ll wait until tomorrow. I’ll make a decision then. Get some rest—you both deserve it.”
With that, he dismissed them, already planning his next move.
Michael sat on the bed, leaning back slightly as he let out a slow breath.
He stretched out his hand and summoned a female undead shaman to guard him like always.
It wasn’t that he favoured the females more than his male undead orcs but the male undead were just too big.
Closing his eyes, Michael let his consciousness slip away from his body, returning to Aurora.
Back in Aurora, a pair of green eyes opened.
Michael spread out his senses through the house and found that all its living occupants were asleep. He had no plans to change this.
Instead, Michael simply took his phone and logged into the Supers Association forum. He had a clear goal for logging into the forum, but he didn’t immediately head to it.
Instead, Michael searched for posts to better understand his condition.
“When the body breaks under the strain of overflowing mana, what can be done?”
Yes. Michael had returned to Aurora seeking answers—not just for himself, but for Mage Lian as well.
For Mage Lian, the question was whether his wish would be fulfilled.
Michael scrolled through the search results, looking for more specific instances of mana overflow where the body couldn’t contain the excess energy.
The term “mana overflow” had many interpretations, but he needed to focus on cases where the body was literally overwhelmed by an excess of mana, causing physical strain and potential injury.
“Mana Overflow – My Body Can’t Handle It”
User: ********
“I’ve been training to increase my mana capacity, but I miscalculated and ended up overloading my body with too much mana. My body started shaking uncontrollably, and I felt my organs straining under the pressure. I could feel my magic just leaking out, and I nearly collapsed. I’ve heard of using specialized mana containers, but how do you even get something like that? Is there a way to control the overflow before it harms me?”
“Body Can’t Hold Mana – Seeking Solutions”
User: **********
“After pushing my limits, I overloaded myself with too much mana. My body couldn’t hold it, and I could feel my heart and veins threatening to burst. I know that training helps expand your mana capacity, but is there a way to stabilize it in the short term? I’ve heard about special potions and items that can help, but are they really effective? What are the risks of overloading repeatedly?”
Michael read the posts that interested him.
A few moments later he finally found his answer.
And his decision was….