Chương 15: Chapter 13: One Last Thing to Do…

I was still pissed at my in-laws. Not the all-consuming, white-hot rage like before, but a steady, cold fury that refused to die down. I needed to make them pay big time. The vow to make them pay still stood, and I had no intention of breaking it. Maybe it made me the bad guy, but I didn't care. The thought of them walking away scot-free, especially after everything they put Sophie through, made me grind my teeth. I combed the spell list for something to help me take revenge.

After some time, I finally came across the Mind Discipline section, which had a selection of rather dark abilities. Among them were Mesmerizing, Spellbinding, Enthralling, Entrancing, Hypnotizing, and Bewitching. Taking my time, I carefully read through each description, weighing my options. Ultimately, I settled on Spellbinding. It aligned perfectly with my intentions. SPELLBINDING A sinister enchantment that compels obedience through magic.

Favored by spies, enchanters, and illusionists, it ensures unwavering loyalty through coercion. The spell lasts three days against people of a lower level than the caster, but the duration shortens as the recipient's level increases. When the spell levels up, its duration can extend beyond the initial limit, and at higher levels, it allows for more potent and complex commands, even overriding natural resistance. Cost: 1 Ability Point I also found the Invisibility spell mentioned in the Archives.

Many Travelers recommend always crossing the Gates while invisible. INVISIBILITY A coveted illusion spell favored by rogues, mages, and spies for covert operations and tactical advantage. It renders the caster invisible to ordinary senses, allowing them to pass through various environments unseen. The base duration is five minutes, with longer durations unlocked at higher levels. Cost: 1 Ability Point With the two spells, I headed to "visit" my in-laws.

They made Sophie miserable over money and jewelry; I'd make them feel the same. They spent their whole lives hoarding wealth, clutching it like a lifeline. Let's see how they enjoyed watching it slip through their fingers. To avoid detection, I cast Invisibility multiple times, starting twenty blocks away from their house. Once I arrived, I waited patiently for my father-in-law. As soon as he parked, I cast Spellbinding:"Don't notice my voice, but do as I say." Malcolm jerked and froze.

His eyes lost focus, pupils wide, and his face became empty and expressionless. Spellbinding:"Go inside and leave the door open for two minutes." He bolted, nearly tripping over himself as he sprinted to the house, threw the door open, and disappeared inside. I slipped in behind him, recasting Invisibility. The house was equipped with security cameras, both inside and out. Rachel was in the living room. I stepped closer and cast Spellbinding:"Don't notice my voice, but do as I say."

She stiffened, and her breath hitched. A shudder rolled through her, and her fingers curled like she was trying to hold on to something. Her lips pressed tight, jaw clenched. She twitched a few times and made me wonder if she'd break free. Then, all at once, her shoulders sagged, and her expression went slack. Spellbinding:"Go, collect all your and Malcolm's jewelry, put it all in a bag, and set it on the dining table." The spell bucked under the complexity of the command.

It felt like gripping a thrashing eel inside my mind. Rachel jerked and shuddered, her breath hitched like she might break free. I recast it for an extra boost, and everything settled. Her resistance cracked, and she stood up and walked away in slow, jerky steps. She returned ten minutes later, the bag hitting the table with a thud. I cast again.

"Go to sleep." Another cast.

"Forget everything that happened." And one more.

"Tomorrow, you'll remember feeling tired and going to bed early." This time, there was no resistance. She blinked and shuffled off. On second thought, one last cast.

"Don't look for the jewelry for the next three days." Her expression stayed blank as she walked away. Good enough. Now for Malcolm. Spellbinding: "Go to your safe and add all the valuables to the bag, return it to the same place." Same reaction as before—zero hesitation. He just snatched up the bag, sprinted to his office, returned minutes later, and dropped the bag on the table. Did I need more casts with Rachel because she's stronger mentally? I shook my head. It didn't matter.

Spellbinding:"Access your bank account and donate all your liquid funds to the Cancer Research Foundation." Another cast.

"Attach a letter saying it's in memory of your beloved daughter." He spun on his heel and bolted to his office. I followed at a slower pace. By the time I reached the office, he was already clicking on his computer. Satisfied, I cast again.

"Remember feeling guilty about your treatment of Sophie and deciding to donate in her memory." He looked like he was about to cry. Good. Next, "You will feel good about donating." His shoulders loosened, and he let out a relieved exhale. A contented smile appeared on his lips.

"Go put the bag with the valuables behind the lion statue in the front yard." The moment he returned, I cast again.

"Go to sleep. Forget everything that happened except the donation." One last command. I hesitated. It was too much for level one, even with his susceptibility. I split it into three.

"Tomorrow, you'll remember feeling tired and going to bed early." Then, "Don't look for your jewelry or open your safe for the next three days." And the last one.

"Don't access your bank account for the next three days." I wished I could make it longer, but the spell description said three days, so I had to compromise. He turned and took off up the stairs. I paused at the door, giving the house one last look. If the spell wore off early, would they think they'd been robbed? Probably. But Spellbinding held. I could feel it. Still, best to be out of the city before they call the cops. I grabbed the bag, dropped it into Storage, and slipped away.

By the time I reached my hotel, I had a huge grin. They loved money more than anything, so this was the perfect revenge. My only regret was not being there to see their faces three days from now when it finally hit them. I sighed, imagined it in vivid detail, and instantly felt better. Sometimes, doing the wrong thing felt so right. Once I got back to my room, I dumped everything from the bag onto the bed and stared. I knew Rachel had a lot of jewelry, but this was nuts. There were over 150 pieces, maybe even 200.

Rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants… and on top of that, seventeen full sets in individual velvet-lined boxes that looked expensive as hell. One set had a necklace with two rows of big red stones. Rubies? The hotel light caught the gems, scattering reflections across the sheets. It was so bright and colorful, I had to rub my eyes. I ran my fingers through the pile. Cufflinks, tie clips, brooches… some plain, some with gems. One of the diamond tennis bracelets scattered tiny rainbows across the wall.

How many times had she worn this stuff while looking down on Sophie? And that wasn't even all of it. Wedged between the jewelry was a fat stack of cash—$50, 000—plus a small bag of loose gems and silver and gold coins in plastic sleeves. Looking at all this, I remembered searching for a looting spell and laughed. Turned out there was a looting function—it just works a little differently. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Before leaving, I visited Sophie one last time.

Standing before her grave, I traced the letters of her name, the cool stone smooth beneath my fingertips. An icy wind tugged at my jacket and hair as a light rain began to fall, matching my mood. My tears mixed with the raindrops, and I tilted my face to the sky, letting the drops wash them away. All the shopping lists, the careful planning, the endless running around—none of it mattered here. None of it could touch this moment or fill the emptiness Sophie left behind.

It took a long time before I could bring myself to speak. The pain of letting go, of leaving her here while I stepped into another world, pressed down on me until it was hard to breathe. When I finally steadied myself, I looked down at the headstone.

"I'm keeping my promise," I whispered.

"I didn't give up. I'm still here. I donated everything you wanted me to and let it all go. The only thing I'm still struggling with is living in the present. I know that part mattered the most to you, and I swear I'll do my best. I'm not giving up." Sinking to the ground, I rested my back against the headstone, legs stretched out in front of me. The grass was wet, rain soaking through my jeans, but it didn't matter.

Hours slipped past as clouds thickened and broke again, and the light shifted from gray to gold to the muted purple of dusk. Still, I sat there, unwilling to leave her side. I had nothing left to say, only the quiet companionship we once shared. As dusk settled, I leaned in and pressed my lips against the cold stone.

"If I don't come back…" I trailed off, swallowing hard. My fingers traced the grooves of her name.

"It's not because I stopped loving you. I never will." For a moment, I almost gave in; the thought of leaving without her hollowed me out. My throat tightened, and I whispered, "I can't do it, Soph. Walking away feels like abandoning you all over again." I pressed my palm flat against the stone and shook my head.

"But I promised you, didn't I? You made me swear I wouldn't give up. If I stay here, I break that promise." My chest ached as I forced the words out.

"So I'll go. Not because I want to leave you, but because it's what you wanted for me." The wind ruffled my hair and carried a faint scent of jasmine. Her favorite perfume. Was it real or my imagination? I pressed my forehead against the stone with a sigh.

"You'll be with me, Soph. In every step, every sight, every story, I'll carry you with me." The wind picked up, cool against my face, like a caress. I closed my eyes, the corners of my mouth lifting despite the ache.

"I love you too, babe." With one last kiss to the stone, I stood and walked away, carrying her memory into the cosmos. I'd burned through three Ability Points in two days and had no idea if I could "farm" more where I was headed. Better to stock up now. I flew to New York, assuming there would be more workshops, pawnshops, and delis. I also wanted to fill up my Storage with hot takeout food, especially Italian and Chinese. My red light had been blinking since my last shopping spree at the bookstore.

At the time, my mental and emotional state was so wrecked that I didn't have the energy or the desire to deal with it. Truth be told, I suspected it was good news and wasn't ready for that. It felt like a betrayal. But now, after my final goodbye, I was ready, and the flight was the perfect time to face it, with nothing else to do. You have bought and sold goods for enormous sums of money. New Profession Unlocked: Merchant Would you like to take Merchant as your Profession?

Note: Choosing this Profession will allow you to use the banked advancement. Y/N That was unexpected and definitely not something I'd ever considered doing. I stared at the message for a long time, lost in thought. On one hand, Merchant didn't sound all that exciting. But on the other… I had no intention of staying in one place. I planned to travel, and not just through boring Shimoor, but across worlds. And traveling took money.

When Sophie and I started earning well, I became accustomed to the finer things in life. An expensive car, a big house, great food, excellent wine, and fancy hotels whenever we traveled. I wasn't ready to give that up. If this profession helped me make enough money to fund my travels and maintain a comfortable lifestyle, then maybe it wasn't such a terrible choice after all. I clicked Yes. The red light was still blinking.

New Trait unlocked Luck On my profile page, I clicked on Luck, and—no surprise—the description caught me off guard. Clearly, this system hadn't read the same books I had. Luck This Trait has no physical or mental aspects. Luck influences chance, fate, and destiny. It acts as an unseen force, guiding you toward fortunate discoveries, valuable opportunities, and fortuitous encounters that lead to a better future. It also serves as an internal warning, steering you away from danger and poor choices.

Luck is the quiet hand that nudges you toward the right path, leading to prosperity, success, and unexpected rewards. My red light was still blinking.

Level Up +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free Points Merchant Level 2 Free Points: 3 Level Up +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free Points Merchant Level 3 Free Points: 6 Level Up +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free Points Merchant Level 4 Free Points: 9 Level Up +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free Points Merchant Level 5 Free Points: 12 A wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by discomfort. It wasn't exactly pain, but it came close—in my head, eyes, ears, and nose.

After ten seconds, it passed without a trace. Another jump in Perception. Just like before, the world sharpened. Sights were crisper, scents stronger, sounds clearer. But this time, there was something new. My skin. The sensation of my clothes pressing on me stood out like never before, every seam suddenly noticeable and slightly irritating. The tag on my shirt scratched like sandpaper. With a huff, I ripped it out. The headache was probably from the jump in Wisdom.

I didn't feel smarter or wiser, but maybe I just hadn't noticed the change yet. Given time, I'd probably figure it out. Except for my new Luck stat, my lowest were Agility and Constitution, so I added six points to each. I still wasn't sure what the best stat distribution would be, but for now, I didn't feel like overthinking it. Raising the lowest ones seemed like the safest choice. My skin crawled as if a swarm of ants were running beneath it. It didn't last long.

In another ten seconds, it vanished as if it had never happened. Hitting level 5 in one go was insane. I stared at the message window, half-tempted to ask if it was sure. Then I actually thought about it. In the last months, I'd spent over half a million dollars on purchases and sold nearly the same amount. Add in the trust fund and the jewelry I inherited, and my little "looting" adventure, and it started to make sense. Suddenly, those levels didn't seem so unbelievable.

With the system window still open, I checked the Merchant description. Merchant One of the oldest and most respected Professions. Merchants specialize in buying and selling goods for profit. This Profession offers 3 starting skills upon selection and an additional skill every 5 levels. When a Merchant levels a skill to 25, they can choose another skill from the list to level. Each level grants: +3 Wisdom, +3 Perception, +2 Luck, +3 Free Points. I opened my profile and noticed a few new lines had appeared.

Profession: Merchant Level 5 Merchant Skills: Bargain Sense Honesty Appraisal A Nose for Business The last one was unclear, so I poked it. A NOSE FOR BUSINESS With a sharp eye for opportunities, you excel at assessing offers, identifying their true value, and uncovering hidden factors. Your ability to present deals and merchandise in the best possible light makes you a skilled negotiator. You have an intuitive sense of what customers want, allowing you to meet their needs with ease. It was strange.

When I got the Healer Class, I had to poke the spells line to get a description, and only then did the spells appear on my profile. Now they just did. Is it because I created some myself, and the system has to tell me about the upgrades, or is each class different? I had no answer and didn't even know where to look. When I searched the Archive for information, I found nothing even remotely related. Sighing at the lack of information or even a help button in the profile, I studied it instead.

It looked pretty good and lifted my mood.

PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: John Rue Age: 38 Display Class: Healer Level 3 Healer Spells: Heal Muscle (12) Diagnose (1) Stop Bleeding (1) Heal Bone (1) Control Blood (1) Healing Touch (1) Clean Neutralize Poison Purify Class: Gate Traveler Level 3 Gates to the next level: 2/8 Class Abilities: Conversion Travelers' Archive Identify Storage x 3 (216 m 3) Local Adaptation: -Spoken Language One of the Crowd Travelers' Map Profession: Merchant Level 5 Merchant Skills: Bargain Sense Honesty Appraisal A Nose for Business General Spells: Mana Dart Mana Shield Spellbinding (2) Invisibility (1) General Skills: Pasta Making Beer Brewing Pencil Sketching Staff Fighting (10) Krav Maga (10) Archery (10) Minor Spell Adaptation (1) Mana Sense (1) Mana Meditation (3) Photography (2) Develop Negative (1) Print Photograph(1) Guitar Playing Health: 2, 500/2, 500 Mana: 3, 000/3, 000 Strength: 24 Agility: 24 Constitution: 23 Vitality: 27 Intelligence: 23 Wisdom: 30 Perception: 28 Luck: 8 Free Points: 0 Ability Points: 8 New York.

Europe. A few loose ends, and I'm out of here. Earth felt like a prison, and I was done doing time.