VRMMO: World's First Glyphborne-Chapter 97: Magical Subscription Plan

"Membership ring?" Belladonna questioned, a hint of worry gracing her tone as her face sank slightly.

"You are not a member of the Tower?" The Receptionist immediately frowned, glancing at Belladonna’s hands as she looked for the ring, before looking up at her again with narrowed eyes.

"Oh... You’re a Graceless. I see... That is even more unexpected. Your kind are all lingering on the lower level. I’ve yet to see one advance to this level yet, and I haven’t heard of any Graceless members coming close to developing their source yet.

Does... Does that mean you are entirely self taught?" The receptionist asked with a flash of surprise. When she first mentioned graceless, there was the same look of pity that the Innkeeper had given her.

But before the irritation of it could settle in Belladonna’s heart, it was replaced by the shock as well as something else. There were hints of envy and it was clear she was impressed on some level.

Even if it was the level of being impressed with a toddler who could draw incredibly well for their age, but was still terrible compared to real art. It was surprising, yes, but she still knew this person was looking down on her. Not in a condescending way, just in a ’I’m naturally more powerful and smarter than you, but good job anyways’ type of way.

Belladonna tried her best not to take it personally as she nodded softly, a hint of wariness filling her body as she re-positioned her feet. She was already getting ready to run, or more likely because of the rules it would be more of a brisk walk.

It was always a possibility that she had accidentally intruded where she didn’t belong, and the brisk walk escape plan would be necessary to escape any wrath of the entitled.

However it quickly became entirely unnecessary, as the receptionist smiled widely again as she said in a cheery tone,

"Well that’s alright then! It’s honestly amazing that a Graceless managed to get this advanced in such a short time. But then again, your kind seems great for growing powerful, so I bet that your kin will be close behind.

Still, you are the first, so congratulations. Now, shall we get you booked in as a member?"

"Oh... I’d like that very much, Thank you." Belladonna let out a sigh of relief, the tension leaving her body all at once. However that didn’t last long.

"Very well. For membership it is Thirty Regil every new moon." At the mention of all that money, the tension immediately came back with a hateful vengeance. It wrapped around Belladonna’s body, freezing her in place.

The urge to run also returned, as the coins in her bag gained an unreasonable weight despite the fact they should have been weightless. She could feel thirty of them resting in her bag, begging for her to keep them on her person instead of spending them, and she was very easily convinced by their pleas.

It was especially bad because, even though the metre did not exist in this world, somehow it had become plagued by the subscription service. Thirty per new moon most likely meant thirty per month with a bit of leeway in that timing.

That was one fifth of her current savings, gone for a membership that she wasn’t entirely sure about. So in an attempt to give herself some time to cope with the painful loss of money, she asked a few questions with a strained smile.

"Do you mind telling me the benefits of the membership? This is my first visit to this place ever so I’m a bit lost on the basics."

"Of course, It’s no issue at all," The Receptionist replied with a chirpy mood and a wide, professional smile.

"Your membership to the tower not only allows you access into this wonderful place, but allows you certain access to its facilities. Some of them will still require additional charge, depending on ingredients used, but some are free.

For example, you get a free examination of your Familiar. Hehe, I can see that little guy hiding underneath your hair, even if he isn’t showing himself.

If you were to get him examined and understand more about his species, then you could develop his strength. Many familiars have additional benefits to their masters, depending on their growth, such as the Dewdrop Dragon. Familiar bonds with those result in increased cognitive abilities, understanding and memorisation once they are developed.

They are very popular with researchers or alchemists, although they can be tough to develop."

She paused her explanation, giving Belladonna time to process it all before she continued. It would be adverse to overwhelm the newcomer with an onslaught of information right out of the gate.

Beans manifested from underneath Belladonna’s hair and nestled himself on her shoulder, letting out curious meows and soft purrs, that Belladonna understood to be his way of saying he was interested in the sound of such a thing.

She had to agree with it herself. The thought of developing Beans and getting even more benefits from him would be amazing, regardless of what it actually gave her, plus she would actually find out what he was.

She had been calling him a cat all this time, but generally cats didn’t have wings or deadly stingers in their tails. At least not that she knew of. The shadow thing however... Well that was entirely possible for cats, they did have a tendency to simply appear out of nowhere and defy physics at their whim.

Once the receptionist was sure that Belladonna was hooked by her bait suggestion, she continued on,

"You will also gain access to the library and the limited number of spells that basic membership allows. There are alchemy rooms and spell testing rooms, along with requests you can post for others to fulfil, such as requests for ingredients, or you could carry some out yourself if you are in need of money."

Belladonna nodded softly as the explanation went on. She could see the real benefits of joining up and becoming a member. Plus what was the point of being a mage, even a physical one like her, if she couldn’t be a part of the cool magic society with the even cooler headquarters?

However as she thought on it, another random question popped into her mind. Something that the receptionist had said in passing, and that she herself had noticed on her arrival.

"You said that the other Graceless are on the first floor. Where is it that I can access this floor, just in case I need their help with something or there is something on that floor that I need to get?"