Arjun stared at the empty space where the eye had vanished, his voice barely more than a breath.
"…The Eye of a god."
Amy nodded calmly. "That eye belongs to the God of Contracts. He oversees the agreement we just signed."
Rohit swallowed. "Does he… watch all contracts?"
Amy shook her head. "No. Only special ones." She glanced at the scroll's remnants, then back at Rohit. "This contract originates from the Temple of Contracts. Not everyone is worthy of being witnessed by a god."
A heavy silence settled over the group.
Arjun opened his mouth, curiosity burning in his eyes—
"Don't ask," Amy said suddenly, cutting him off before a word could leave his lips.
Arjun froze.
"There are things I cannot tell you," she continued coolly. "And things you are not meant to know yet."
Arjun let out a quiet breath, disappointment flickering across his face. Then he nodded. "…Understood."
Amy shifted her gaze to the shelves of floating books. "For now, focus on what you came here for. If you plan to buy any techniques and have doubts, ask. I'll answer what I can."
Divya's eyes lit up instantly.
"I actually wanted to ask about that," she said quickly. "I was planning to buy a magic technique, but there are so many techniques with the same name. Do you have any recommendations?"
At her words, everyone turned toward Amy, their expectations obvious.
Amy didn't answer immediately.
Then she said calmly, "I could recommend a spell."
Tim leaned forward. "But?"
"But," Amy continued, "there is something better."
Rita blinked. "Better than a magic technique?"
"Yes," Amy replied. "For both of you, I recommend a book called Basics of the Nature of Mana."
Divya tilted her head. "That's… not a spell?"
"It's not," Amy agreed. "It's a foundational manual. Rudimentary, even." She paused, then added, "But it teaches how mana behaves—how it flows, reacts, and responds."
She continued evenly, "With that knowledge, learning other magic techniques becomes significantly easier. If mastered, it also improves mana over control slightly."
Tim frowned. "So… does it give a talent?"
Amy shook her head. "No. Gaining a talent is difficult. This is not one."
Arjun frowned thoughtfully. "Then what's the difference between a book like that and a talent?"
Amy looked at him.
For a moment, her expression was unreadable.
Then she turned away slightly. "I have no reason to tell you."
Arjun stiffened.
"Go," Amy said calmly. "Find the answer yourself.I cannot spoon-feed you"
The words weren't cruel—but they were absolute.
Silence followed
Just before the atmosphere could turn awkward, Rohit spoke up.
"Then," he said calmly, "I'll ask the same question."
Arjun blinked in surprise and glanced at him—then let out a quiet breath of relief.
Amy turned her gaze toward Rohit, studying him for a moment.
"…Are you sure?" she asked. "You'll be using this month's question for that."
Rohit didn't hesitate. He nodded immediately. "Yes."
Amy's eyes narrowed slightly, as if reassessing him.
"…If that's what you want," she said at last.
The corridor seemed to grow quieter, everyone unconsciously holding their breath.
Amy folded her arms. "Listen carefully. I won't repeat this."
She looked directly at Rohit.
Amy folded her arms and spoke evenly, her voice steady and precise.
"In the Tower, knowledge and talent are not the same thing."
She glanced at the shelves of floating books around them before continuing.
"When someone studies magic—something as basic as Basics of the Nature of Mana—they gain understanding. That understanding allows them to cast spells more smoothly, control mana with less waste, and grasp magical concepts faster. This kind of growth is natural. Anyone can achieve it with time and effort."
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"But talent does not add to that understanding."
She raised a finger.
"It amplifies it."
"Think of natural comprehension as a number," Amy said calmly. "If someone has a natural magic comprehension of one, they can still cast spells—but slowly, inefficiently, and with many flaws."
She looked directly at Rohit.
"Now, if that same person possesses a talent like Magic Comprehension, the talent doesn't simply increase that one into two."
She paused, letting the words sink in.
"It multiplies it."
"A comprehension of one becomes two."
"As that person grows stronger—through practice, study, and experience—their natural mana control might rise from one to two. With the talent still active, that two doesn't remain two."
"It becomes four."
Amy's voice remained calm, almost indifferent, as if stating an obvious truth.
"And the pattern continues."
"The higher your natural mana control, the greater the effect of the talent. And the stronger the talent itself, the more efficiently it optimizes everything you already possess."
She finished simply.
"That is why talent does not replace effort."
After listening carefully to Amy's explanation, Divya nodded to herself.
"Then I'll choose Basics of the Nature of Mana," she said decisively.
Amy simply inclined her head in approval.
Rita hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is there anything similar… but for healing?"
Amy raised her hand.
With a faint ripple in the air, two books materialized out of thin space and floated gently toward her. She handed one to Divya and the other to Rita.
"This will suit you," Amy said calmly.
Rita accepted the book with both hands, her eyes lighting up. "Thank you."
One by one, the others made their choices.
Tim selected Basics of Stealth, preferring survival over confrontation.
Rohit chose Basics of Alchemy, already thinking ahead about resources and long-term growth.
Koushik picked Basics of Hunting, a practical skill for tracking, survival, and combat in the wild.
Raya went straight for Basics of the Two-Handed Sword, his decision firm and unwavering.
Finally, Arjun took Basics of the One-Handed Sword, his gaze thoughtful as he held the book, already imagining how technique, speed, and efficiency could be refined together.
Amy watched them silently.
Each choice was simple.
Yet in the Tower, even a "basic" foundation could decide the difference between survival and death.