The rain had passed by midday, leaving the city of Elandra wrapped in a blanket of damp fog and the scent of clean stone. Thin wisps of mist curled along the streets, clinging to rooftops and tree branches. Most adventurers had returned indoors, either preparing for upcoming missions or huddled around hearths trading stories of monsters and riches. Inigo and Lyra were not among them.
They stood outside the Imperial Mage Department.
Lyra stared up at the building with a half-furrowed brow.
"I still don't get it," she muttered. "Why here?"
Inigo adjusted the strap of his weapons case over his shoulder. "Because I have magic."
That made her blink. "Wait… what?"
He nodded once. "I had it checked a couple of days ago. I went through a mana assessment. Turns out I've got enhancement-type magic."
"You're joking."
"Nope."
Lyra turned fully to face him, arms crossed. "Since when?"
"I've always had it, apparently. Just never knew."
