In the next day,

Harlack was siting in his desk typing something on the device in his hands when he the smell of roses assaulted his nose.

‘I guess she will never learn,’ Thought Harlack, putting the device away and then he said aloud, “You can come inside”

The door of Harlack’s studio opened, and Lorin came inside but didn’t say anything.

“Lets start with the weekly report. What have you learned this week?” asked Harlack

Lorin moved closer to Harlack, but didn’t take a seat and started to say what she learned over the week, “I know that you and Arthur made a deal with a blacksmith, but I don’t know the full details, investigating him more I discovered that the blacksmith name is Bantay, a famous blacksmith that don’t like to use modern forging techniques and is famous for having one of the most complete collection of rare metals, my guess is that Arthur swords were made of something that Bantay didn’t have and he reforged those two swords in the gauntlets that Arthur is using now, and the price was a piece of the same metal.” After saying all, she took a long breath and waited.

Harlack didn’t immediately respond to her, but analyzed the situation and the details she missed. “You seem to be missing the most crucial point of the deal, and that is, why would Mack, please stop calling him Arthur, is annoying. Why would Mack need to make a deal with a blacksmith that doesn’t use the most modern techniques, and also, if the sword metal is precious, why would he agree to a deal that was not to his advantage and would lose some of the said precious metal?”

Lorin’s eyes immediately grew with that bit of information. What surprised her was not the information itself, but the thought process behind it, and that was exactly what Harlack was trying to teach her over this two weeks since they arrived in this planet.

“Thank you for your teachings, I will remember this.” Said Lorin, giving a small bow.

“We are not done yet, there is two points that you need to take care of in your observation techniques. The first one is that Mack and I noticed you behind the door, trying to listen to what we discussed. This is the most basic flaw. For this, I will give you two spells, and you should learn it quickly. The first one is, Wave Essence Detector. It checks the essence waves for hidden circuits or spells, because some may be hidden from the eye or just be fully invisible, but all spells and matrix, when active, they leave ‘an essence wave'”

Taking a small pause, Harlack grabbed one book by the side and threw it to Lorin, it was the book that taught the Wave Essence Detector spell, then he continued “The second one, is a temporary buff of your own natural senses, it increases your eyesight, hearing, and etc… this will allow you to well… you will not need to stand just behind the door to listen private conversations.” said Harlack, already throwing another book to Lorin.

“Thank you very much,” Said Lorin, giving a small bow again.

“Dont thank me, this will be paid with your contributions once you have some, and of course I will take a small fee, hehe.”

Hearing the ‘fee’ word, the smile on Lorin vanished. The thing that scared her more was that Harlack never told the exact amount of fees. Her biotech implant was the same, and she knew how that thing costed. ‘please please be a small fee’. But deep down she knew that she had made a deal with the devil. The small laugh that Harlack gave every time after he said the doomed ‘fee’ word always made her shiver in fear. 

‘It was that or be a cripple for years. It’s a small fee. Yes, it’s small. He is only joking.’

But Harlack didn’t let Lorin ponder on her financial problems for too much as he threw another item at her, and said, “This is a neutral deodorant, please throw your perfume away and never use it again, I can smell you miles away, the smell of camelia was still lingering on the room once I returned” 

Lorin’s brows furrowed, and she started to voice her objection, “But I don’t…” but she refrained from continuing,

“What?” asked Harlack

“Nothing, Nothing, is that all, Sir?” but in her mind the only thoughts was ‘But How? I don’t use a perfume!’

Harlack then pointed to an item by the desk with his nose, it was a glass bottle with black powder inside, and said “Take this to Mack, he will need it today, after that, study the spells for the next three days and come to show your progress. Apart from that, you are free to do as you wish.”

“Ok Sir” said Lorin after grabbing the bottle and already turning her back to leave the room, but once she turned her back, Harlack said “Oh! I almost forgot, the communication devices also came today”.

Lorin turned and saw the old man grabbing two small boxes from inside one of the table drawers, and put them on the table.

“They are matched with your essence waves so there is no risk of accidental leaks or theft and only you can use, and apart from a few modifications in the inside, they look identical to any other communication device used those days,” said Harlack slowly pushing one in Lorin direction

“This is mine?” she asked out of politeness even the answer been obvious.

“Yes, take the other one to Mack, and explain the same things, also, that poor bastard dont know the common tongue, so buy him a few books about runes on your way, that freak is obsessed with runes, that’s the only way to motivate him to learn the language, if he dosn’t learn the common tongue he will not be able to use the device and will be you that will need to….. ‘solve his daily needs’ ….. Now, go! I still have a lot to take care of.” said Harlack, already shaking his hands to shove Lorin away.

“I undestand, Sir”