5 A Lie

"You must not be from around here, then. Enchanted objects like this are a bit more expensive, but most people have enchanted tools. The farmers have Earth enchantments that make their plows more durable. A bit of an investment, but most choose to pay the enchanters," Rod explained. "Objects like my freezer are trickier to enchant and are thus more expensive. Between you and me, I think those hacks at the Academies overcharge for their services. Then again, it's not like I could do it," Rod sighed wistfully, wishing that he had more magical aptitude.

"Why not?" Jacob asked, wondering just how common magic truly was. He knew that he had it, and that was certain. How many others could do what he could?

"I don't have any talent for magic. There just isn't enough mana in my body to even begin to nurture. Some of the lucky ones have some inborn mana in them that they can grow to great heights. They are few and far in between," Rod sighed again. Clearly, this topic was something that the older man had done quite a lot of thinking about.

Jacob paused at the realization. Would telling the man that he could manipulate the wind be a wise idea? He couldn't risk getting thrown out of the inn, and there was clearly no love lost between the cook and the mages. With a shake of his head, Jacob decided not to say anything; a lie by omission is barely a lie.

"Who else works here besides you and Angelica?" Jacob said, curious to know who else he could meet at his newfound job.

"That's pretty much it. Angelica's an old friend's daughter, and I own the place. That's all we've needed up until now. With the Royal Road connecting to Leafburrow, though…" Rod paused, staring pointedly at Jacob. "That's why you're here. With all of these soldiers and mercenaries around, they need a place with good food and good drink. Too much demand and not enough of me. So that means you've got to learn fast," Rod explained, the tone in his voice relaying the tiredness the innkeeper had built up.

Jacob nodded, though it hurt him to do so. A lie by omission was one thing; now he was truly lying to the man. He knew that he couldn't stay long in Leafburrow, not if he wanted to find a way to get back home. Until then, though, he needed a place to stay and food to eat. It felt like a betrayal of Rod's trust to have the man teach him to cook and provide him a place to stay only to leave. So instead of mulling on it, Jacob turned the conversation to something that interested him more.

"So how do you know if you have talent for magic or not?" Jacob asked, noticing the shift in the other man's tired demeanor.

"The mage recruiters come every few years to test the young. We were given a level one spell-form to practice with and prove that we could use our mana. I could not. That old friend of mine, though? She was one of two children that year that could. Angelica's hoping to follow her ma's footsteps when they come 'round again," Rod said, a serene expression overcoming him as he reminisced about days long past.

Jacob wondered what a spell-form was, or how to use one. When he did his thing, the wind just did what he told it to. Sure, he got tired really fast, but he knew that he could do something. Maybe when the recruiters came, he'd have his chance to take a look.

"When are they coming again?"

"A few months from now, they'll make their way down the Royal Road. That's when those with any magical aptitude leave their old lives behind and become mages."