Emilia returns before you decide

"You're more inquisitive than I'd given you credit for." Before you could reach the coin, Emilia was back at the door, resting a hand on the frame like she wasn't fully able to stand up without a little bit of support. The redhead began to shuffle forward again, her gait making it seem like even walking is a struggle for her. When she is closer to you, she stops and rests her hands on the back of one of the nearby chairs for support.

You pulled your hand away from the coin, all focus returning to Emilia. "Wait, just now, were you even that mad about..."

Emilia shook her head. "Not particularly. Rather, your response was fairly reasonable. Being told something so unusual, it makes sense to try to rationalize it in the way you did. Occam's Razor states that the simpler explanations are more likely to prevail, but 'simpler explanations' depends on your understanding of the state of the world. When you think magic doesn't exist, a hidden camera crew filming for comedic purposes does seem like the simplest theory. However in my experience, the simplest explanation for most things in my collection are that they are magically charged."

You glanced back at the notebook, then scratched the back of your neck. "And, in the end, what happened to this A. Kensington at the focus of this story?"

"Oh, Alice? She still works here. One of my most trusted staff, even. Once her experiment ended, so to speak, her new reality required new accommodations. As long as she works for me and keeps getting things done, she's paid well in addition to living here and free meals provided by the dining staff. I treat those who are loyal to me--and discreet about the happenings throughout the mansion--quite well, if I do say so myself."

That was a relief. You sat back into your seat, puzzling over the coin and these new revelations.

"I didn't expect you to be so analytical, John. Very few have the inspiration to check my notebook, since I left it deliberately. The math in there isn't difficult to understand, though it can be strange to understand precisely why the coins work like that. How they know and decide how to supply the talents to a person, and so on. Most grab the coin without even thinking to get more information about the side effects that I conveniently neglect to mention, let alone continue to pursue a better understanding after checking the notebook." Emilia smiles at you. "I can tell that I like you already, my friend."

"No offense, but it sounds like you're not exactly picking the brightest of the bunch for these experiments?"

Emilia shook her head, before returning to her seat, apparently exhausted even from standing. "You know what happens when someone is totally prepared for becoming a Coinbearer, smart enough to think things through? All I learn is what happen when everything goes according to plan. I've seen that plenty of times. I need to see what happens when the plan falls apart. When mistakes are made. When talents are chosen without thinking about the consequences." Emilia pauses for a moment. "I hope you don't think my methods to be unethical? I do not coerce anyone to choose a talent they don't wish to have, and I don't **** the coin into their hands."

You shook your head. "I guess when it comes to this stuff, it makes sense. And if people get what they want... well, if they can handle everything in here."

"Precisely. Remind me again, what's your surname?"

"Bishop," you replied.

"Mr. John Bishop," Emilia repeated, at her fireplace with a larger smile. "Rather interesting how fate continues to put pieces on my board... Similar to you, I have two others to whom I have made a particular offer. Amusingly, a Mr. Knight and a Ms. Castle. I suppose if you consider the other Coinbearers to be 'pawns', if I might be so blunt, then I need only find a Queen to complete the set. At least, if you take the offer."

This was an unusual turn of events, you thought. Somehow you passed a test you didn't even know you were taking, and it's your hesitance that won you this apparently exclusive conversation from Emilia? You leaned forward, puzzled, but intrigued. "What offer?"

"Well, you can still take the coin and have any talent you wish, just like the others, and continue being yourself," Emilia said. "But what my offer is, is for you to possibly take a talent that is supernatural in origin. Few realize this is an option, especially when they are so obsessed with becoming the next great singing sensation and the like. But. Everything in this mansion that is filled with magic had to be made by someone, somehow. And while artificers and enchanters are seemingly lost to the world from what I have found, the talent pool from which the magic is derived is not limited to only the living."

"Wait." You blinked, you started to form a picture in your mind of what Emilia was offering. Emilia could see the gears turning in your head, which seemed to inspire her to continue. "You mean..."

"I mean that if you are interested, I would like you to join my staff with a talent in enchanting artifacts like the ones in my collection. High pay, many perks, no need to keep attending that school if you don't wish, and you'll join my very exclusive club of similarly talented staff. Given the names, I might have to actually start calling that group 'the Board', if you were to join. Shame that Alice wouldn't find the humor in that anymore... Anyway. There's a lot of items and magic to replicate to replace the items that are broken or malfunctioning, and the work is slow, so expanding from two enchanters is ideal. Before you say no, I'd happily give you a tour of what's contained within these walls so you might gain a better understanding for what that talent might encompass."

All of this was a surprise, and it sounded... too good to be true. You get to join a secret society of magical enchanters, you get paid to do so, and spend time in this mansion? You didn't know what sort of other hidden catches might exist if you agree, especially if Emilia had more she wasn't telling you which by now seemed like a given, but the offer was tempting.

Still, instead of saying yes or no, asking for the tour might buy you more time to decide.