I spent that night and the next day absorbed in the spell tomes Aldric had given me. There wasn't a direct knowledge transfer so the efficiency with the written material was not the same as the scrolls in Tradegate, but I could work through it cataloging spell structures.
The magic system here was a mess in its complexity. Each spell level represented a leap in power. First-level spells like Shield or Magic Missile were straightforward, simple patterns of energy manipulation. By sixth circle 11th level, spells like Disintegrate or Chain Lightning required maintaining dozens of simultaneous variables which normally was done with the help of the weave in toril.
One spell in particular caught my attention: Arcane Gate.
According to the documentation, it created two linked portals that allowed instantaneous travel between them. The range was limited, sixty feet maximum, and it only lasted ten minutes. Still, the underlying principles were fascinating and that it worked in outlands was impressive. This was personal gate creation, temporary and limited, completely different from the permanent planar gates I'd been studying but they had some similarities.
If I could understand how Arcane Gate worked, I could adapt the principles for more permanent applications, it would save me from having to visit too many gates, maybe even create portable gate anchors, or improve the range limitations.
I needed to see it cast. Reading about spell structures was useful, seeing them in action was a lot better.
I found one of the gate guards during his off-duty hours, a celestial named Raziel who seemed less rigid than his compatriots, I found his name from them shouting it as one of them was leaving.
"Excuse me, I need some place to freely cast some magic," I explained. "I'd like permission to use one of the city's training grounds for some observations."
Raziel considered this. "Which training ground, do you have one in mind?"
"Whichever one is least used. I don't want to interfere with regular activities."
"The eastern training ground sees minimal use during afternoon hours. You may reserve it for one day and it is renewable if needed." He produced a token inscribed with his name and rank. "Show this to the groundskeeper. He'll grant you access. We have already received word about you and word was already sent to accommodate any minor request you have,"
"Thank you."
"On one condition," Raziel added. "Any magical experimentation that risks damaging buildings around you must be reported in advance. Excelsior values order and stability."
"I understand."
I returned to the market square, searching for a specific type of caster, I ended buying a few basic books and one that looked like it had tentacles. It looked like an interesting read. I needed someone with sixth-circle capability, someone who had Arcane Gate prepared and was willing to cast it for observation purposes.
The market had a section dedicated to magical services. Mercenary casters advertising their abilities and offering everything from healing to combat support to utility casting. I scanned the posted rates and qualifications until I found what I needed.
It was a human wizard named Korvus, he was claiming sixth-circle mastery with specialty in conjuration and transmutation magic. His posted rate was twenty gold per casting for sixth-level spells, negotiable for bulk long term contracts.
I approached his stall. Korvus was younger than Aldric, perhaps forty, with a lean build of someone who looked like they spent more time studying than eating. His robes were made from quality material and looked well-maintained. It was marked with subtle enchantments that probably protected against common minor magical hazards.
"Excuse me, I'm interested in hiring you," I said. "Specifically, I want to study Arcane Gate being cast over several hours."
Korvus raised an eyebrow. "You want to watch me cast the same spell over and over? That's unusual."
"I'm studying the spell structures for items I plan to make and I need to observe the casting process in detail, understanding how the energy patterns form and stabilize."
"Ah, artificer work." He nodded slowly. "How many castings do you need?"
"As many as you can manage in a day without exhausting yourself. I'm willing to pay your rate per casting, plus a bonus for the extended castings."
Korvus pulled out a small abacus, calculating quickly. "I can prepare four sixth-level slots. That's eighty gold for the castings themselves. Extended casting adds another twenty gold for my time. Call it a 100 gold total, and you get a full day of my attention."
Reasonable, considering what I was asking. "Hmm, that sounds good. So when can you start?"
"I can start tomorrow morning. Where can I find you?"
"You can find me in the eastern training ground. I've reserved it for the day."
"I'll need two hours in the morning to prepare the spells properly. I can meet you there at the second bell after dawn."
I paid him fifty gold as a deposit, promising the remainder upon completion. He seemed satisfied with the arrangement. We made our agreement in the guild as well.
The next morning, I arrived at the eastern training ground with my tools: several blank journals for notes and various devices I'd crafted for detecting and recording magical energy patterns.
Korvus arrived on schedule, carrying his spellbook and component pouch.
"Before we begin," he said, "I should explain how Arcane Gate functions from a casting perspective. The spell requires precise spatial calculations. If I make an error in the coordinates, the gates could overlap, or fail to connect properly, or open into solid matter."
"I understand. Take whatever time you need to cast safely."
"Good." He opened his spellbook, reviewing the spell notation. "The first casting might take longer because I will need to calibrate it".
He began the casting process. His hands moved through complex gestures, each one timed to coincide with verbal components spoken in what Michael's memories identified as Draconic, harsh and gutteral. Magical energy coalesced around his fingers, forming a circle filled with patterns that hung in the air for brief moments before dissolving into the growing spell structure.
I watched with every sense I possessed tracking the energy flow with intense focus, my tools were set to record everything as well.
The spell took shape over thirty seconds of continuous casting. Two points in space, sixty feet apart, began to shimmer. The shimmer intensified, reality bending around the designated coordinates. Then, with a sound like tearing silk, two circular portals opened simultaneously.
Each portal was roughly six feet in diameter, their edges lined with crackling energy. Through one portal, I could see the training ground from a different angle. Through the other, the reverse perspective. Step through one, emerge from the other, instantaneous travel across sixty feet of space.
I approached the first portal carefully, examining it from every angle. The magical structure was incredibly complex, dozens of interwoven patterns maintaining the connection between two points in space. Energy flowed from Korvus to both portals simultaneously, sustaining them through sheer continuous effort.
"How long can you maintain this?" I asked.
"I can maintain it ten minutes maximum before the spell structure collapses," Korvus replied. His voice carried slight strain. "It is difficult, as maintaining two stable apertures simultaneously requires constant focus."
I spent the full ten minutes examining the portals from every angle, documenting the energy patterns, noting how the spell structure shifted and adapted to maintain stability. When the spell finally collapsed, both portals winking out of existence simultaneously, I had pages of notes.
"That was the first casting," Korvus said, breathing slightly harder. "I need a few minutes to recover, then I'll cast it again."
Over the next several hours, I watched Korvus cast Arcane Gate four times. Each casting provided new insights. The spell was consistent in its basic structure, the variations came from environmental factors and the caster's slight adjustments to optimize performance.
The fundamental limitation was obvious: the spell created a temporary connection by forcing two points in space to overlap through continuous magical pressure. It was brute force dimensional manipulation, effective for short durations, completely unsustainable for permanent gates as the energy required increased exponentially.
The permanent planar gates worked differently. They didn't force space to overlap, they created stable pathways through existing dimensional connections. The difference between forcing a door open versus finding a door that was already there and propping it open permanently.
Still, Arcane Gate had applications. If I could create an item that cast it automatically, triggered by certain conditions, it could provide emergency escape routes or rapid repositioning in combat situations. The range limitation was problematic, sixty feet wasn't much, but perhaps I could modify that with the right materials and construction techniques.
"That's my last casting," Korvus announced as the fourth portal collapsed. "My sixth-level slots are exhausted for the day."
I paid him the remaining fifty gold, plus an additional ten as a bonus for his patience with my numerous questions during the observation process.
"If you need more observation time, I can prepare the same configuration tomorrow," he offered.
"I think I have what I need for now," I said. "Though I may hire you again in the future if I need to observe different spells."
"Feel free to hire me again. This was actually more relaxing than most combat contracts." He packed his spellbook. "Most clients hire me to blow things up. Watching you take meticulous notes while I cast the same spell repeatedly was almost meditative."
After he left, I spent another hour in the training ground, reviewing my notes and sketches. The spell structure was becoming clearer. I could see how the components fit together, how the energy flows maintained stability, where the limitations were built into the fundamental design.
Could I create an item that replicated Arcane Gate? Probably. Could I improve on the range and duration? Maybe. Could I adapt the principles to create something more permanent? That would require significantly more research.
But I was making progress. I gathered my materials and headed back to the inn, already planning the next phase of my research. Tomorrow, I'd finally speak with the trumpet archon about the devil attack. After that, maybe I'd start experimenting with the gate principles I'd learned.