Do ratmen dream of the sacred tree of spirits?

Chapter 77 Attempt

The three of them had a lot of fun.

By the afternoon, Fafner felt it was about time.

"Martha, Alan, let's go back," Fafnir stood up and put on his shoes. "I have something to try this afternoon, and I hope you can help me out."

"What is it?" Allen asked curiously.

"Regarding the first-tier fireball spell."

……

It was already 2 p.m. when they got back to Martha and Allen's house.

Fafnir closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.

The "ledger" appeared in my mind, and the page automatically flipped to the "options" page.

He tried to fill in Martha's name in the "Seller" column, but a line appeared: "Seller is not capable of fulfilling the contract."

He filled in Allen again, and the same words popped up.

Fafnir thought for a moment, and then understood:

Martha and Allen haven't even touched a fireball yet, let alone come up with two standard spiritual units to pay them.

Making them the sellers is simply not feasible; they won't receive these "option prices" at all.

So who will be the seller?

Fafnir's gaze fell on the "ledger,"

This book, which he's had since he was three, can be used for recording, lending, and setting up claims... It should also be able to be used as a seller in options, right?

Fafner tentatively read aloud in the "Seller" column: "ledger."

Thankfully, there's no problem!

Fafnir breathed a sigh of relief and continued "filling in" the blanks.

The target asset—the thing he wants to "invest" in.

Fafnir silently recited: "The debtor (Martha/Allen) will receive additional spiritual benefits from independently mastering the first-order Fireball spell before the due date. This benefit is approximately two standard spiritual units."

Exercise conditions – The option seller (“Book”) confirms that the debtor is able to cast a first-order fireball independently of the bootstrapping framework before the expiry date.

Option price – the fee he now pays to the seller of the right to the "option".

Fafnir silently recited: "One standard spiritual unit, deducted from my spiritual limit and added to the ledger."

Expiry date – 30 days.

After filling it out, a line of text appeared at the bottom of the form:

"Confirmation: Fafner Beckett, as the buyer of the call option, pays the seller (the ledger) 1 standard spiritual unit option price. If the debtor independently masters the first-order Fireball spell within 30 days, the buyer is entitled to receive a gain of 2 standard spiritual units from the seller."

If the option is not secured, the option price belongs to the seller and is non-refundable.

Fafnir took a deep breath and silently said: Confirm.

Silvery-white spiritual threads peeled off his body, far more in number than he had expected.

They are woven layer upon layer in the air, far more complex than the guiding frameworks of basic meditation and clairvoyance.

The guiding framework for the Fireball spell requires constructing a complete spell structure, from spiritual condensation to elemental transformation, as well as the incantation in the language of spirits; every step must be flawless.

Fafnir's temples began to throb; his spiritual energy was rapidly dwindling.

He could feel that a standard spiritual unit had been deducted from his spiritual limit, which should have been integrated into the "ledger" deep within his consciousness.

Fafnir continued weaving, and a few minutes later, the framework for casting a first-tier fireball spell was complete.

Martha sat opposite him, her eyes closed, her body leaning slightly forward.

"Martha, can you feel it?" Fafnir asked.

Martha didn't answer immediately, her brow furrowed slightly, and after a few seconds she spoke: "It's a magical structure like a flower bud... in my mind."

"That's the spell structure of the Fireball spell," Fafnir said. "Try infusing it with spirituality and see if it works."

Martha did as instructed, and the "flower bud" lit up slightly in her mind.

"It lit up!" Martha opened her eyes, her voice filled with surprise.

"Very good," Fafner said. "This bootstrapping framework will last for thirty days, just like before."

Within thirty days, once you can stabilize that structure on your own, you'll have mastered the first-tier fireball spell.

Martha nodded and thanked Fafnir sincerely.

When it came time to construct a temporary guiding framework for Allen, Fafner reviewed the option terms once again.

The silvery-white spiritual threads peeled away from his body again and began to weave, faster than before. Fafnir still felt that a standard spiritual unit disappeared from his spiritual limit and "entered" the ledger.

Fafnir paid a total of 2 standard spiritual units for the two option payments.

Ellen's acceptance was smoother than Martha's, and the whole process was relatively uneventful.

"I can feel it." Allen opened his eyes, his eyes shining.

Fafnir exited meditation, letting out a long breath. His temples were still throbbing, and his spiritual potential had dropped from the fifties to just over fifty, barely enough to withstand the drain of the Fireball spell.

The feeling of a decrease in the body's total spiritual capacity is a little uncomfortable, but not too unpleasant.

"Fafner, you don't look well." Martha noticed and looked at her with some guilt and concern.

"It's alright," Fafnir forced a smile. "Your spiritual energy is quite depleted. You'll be fine after a rest. Martha, Allen, just focus on your practice."

……

When he got home that evening, Fafnir sat at his desk and entered a meditative state.

A few new lines of text have appeared on the "ledger" page:

"Options (currently active, 29 days remaining)"

Buyer: Fafner Beckett

Seller: Ledger

Underlying Asset: Additional Spiritual Gains (2 Standard Spiritual Units) generated by the debtor's mastery of the First-Order Fireball spell.

Exercise conditions: The debtor independently masters the first-order Fireball spell.

Option Price: 1 Standard Spiritual Unit (Paid)

Expiry date: 30 days

Debtor: Martha

There are a few more lines below, which are Allen's, and they have the same format.

The total option price he paid for the two call options was two standard spiritual units—this money went to the "ledger."

If Martha and Allen both master the Fireball spell within thirty days, he can exercise his right to receive a total of four standard spiritual units from the ledger.

After deducting the option price already paid, the net profit is two.

If one of them fails to learn, the option becomes worthless, the option price belongs to the ledger, and Fafnir loses a spiritual cap.

If neither of them learns it, he loses all the option price, resulting in a net loss of two spiritual caps.

Fafner did the math in his head.

This isn't a sure-fire way to make money; it's a bet on "future possibilities."

But he knew Martha and Ellen, and was very familiar with them.

Fafner knew they were willing to put in the effort and wouldn't give up halfway, which was why he was willing to pay the option price.

Fafner took a piece of paper from the drawer, hesitated for a moment, and began to write:

"Dear Mr. Victor:

Hello, I've been resting at home for the past two days and haven't been practicing any spells; I've given myself a break.

Regarding the 'path' you mentioned earlier, I've recently had some new thoughts, but they're not yet fully formed...