Hey there! Guess what? PH wanted me to jump in and contribute again this month. I figured it would be cool to switch things up a bit and give you some insights from Wish on what it’s like to be a non-mage in the middle of risky magical investigations. Wish kindly volunteered to write a treatise, which turned into a multi-month project. So, without further ado, here’s part two!
When it comes to my training, I’ve picked up a few tricks from Manny. You see, he’s got some techniques that he learned during his time in the Imperial espionage service, also known as the sniffers. I’ve learned how to quickly change my appearance to throw off anyone tailing me, as well as how to spot potential followers and set traps for them.
But to be honest, when I first started, I had zero knowledge of investigation in general, let alone anything related to magic. I only had a basic understanding of everyday magic-powered transportation and those small gadgets available to the public. The other skills I mentioned before (if you caught my last piece) require experience, and I had zilch.
Honestly, if it weren’t for Manny, I’d probably be nursing some serious injuries or worse from our very first encounter. But hey, I wouldn’t have even gotten into this mess if I hadn’t met Manny and agreed to join him. Back then, I had no idea about the dangers involved, but now I’ve learned my lesson.
Experience has taught me a lot, and I’m a lot wiser and more cautious about my actions now. Accidentally triggering unexpected magic or getting attacked from the shadows has become a regular thing for me, but hey, the work is fulfilling and steady, even if it does give me the creeps sometimes.
Danger is always around the corner when you’re dealing with criminal investigations, and there aren’t many hints about the surprises waiting to jump out at you. Thankfully, having Manny by my side and learning from his training and my own experiences has made me much more prepared than when I started this gig.
Confronting the challenges that constantly pop up is just part of the job in this line of work. The real eye-opener for me was discovering how much magical crime occurs in Cal Rindon, and probably in other places too. It’s innerving how unaware most non-magic folk are about the dangers lurking all around them. But I guess the Imperial government has taken steps to control a lot of the magical criminal activity.
Manny has taught me some useful skills to avoid conflict and get away, but unfortunately, I had to learn a lot of those on the job, in not-so-safe conditions. Honestly, with all these frequent encounters, it feels like hazard pay is well deserved.
That’s it for now! Stay tuned for next month’s installment.
Manny