He tossed and turned for some time, and failing to calm his mind, he turned to check his status window.
------------
Neuman Wisch
Level: 23
Exp: 670/2300
------------
Strength: 48
Agility: 48
Vitality: 48
Dexterity: 48
Magic: 50
------------
Stat Points: 25
------------
Defence: 50
Perception: 50
Speed: 50
Accuracy: 50
------------
[Skills]
Spear Technique (Advanced)
Basic Dagger Technique (Basic)
------------
[Special Skills]
Flame Control
Stealth
Combo
------------
Skill Points: 19
Skill Upgrade Points: 3
------------
[Production]
[Taming] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy] [Market] [Abilities]
------------
He decided to search for anything useful in the [Market], noticing a wider selection after his level increased.
He saw that Advanced Fire Control now cost 800 soul points on the list. He squinted and recalled that the price was 950 soul points previously, but now it has dropped by 150 soul points.
Since he only had about 200 soul points and had used some of the soul points to purchase two skills during the underground battle, he chose to ignore it, as it was good for him if the price had dropped.
Curious, he looked to see if any other items had seen comparable price reductions, but none had. He browsed the mixed section, where a variety of items were available, then a thought struck him—he quickly switched to the skills section.
Looking at the wide range of skills, Neuman's eyes widened as he read the skills' names.
[Advanced Fire Control - 800 soul points]
[Arcane Fire Control - 15000 soul points]
[?? - 50000 soul points]
[??- 100000 soul points]
[Basic Ice Control -250 soul points]
[Advanced Ice Control - 2500 soul points]
[?? - 25000 soul points]
[Basic Earth Control - 100 soul points]
[Basic Water Control - 100 Soul Points]
[Basic Metal Control - 100 soul points]
He felt frustrated seeing so many enticing options, yet he didn't have enough soul points to afford any of them. Some skills were entirely new to him, like Arcane Fire Control and Advanced Ice Control.
When he first checked the market section, these weren't on the page. There were even skills he couldn't purchase, their names obscured, revealing only the soul points needed to unlock them. Those with their cost hidden were even more mysterious.
Finally, he succumbed to exhaustion as the first rays of dawn peeked through the window.
When he awoke, the sun was high in the sky. He felt groggy and disoriented but slightly more rested than before. He got out of bed and went to the window, looking out at the city once again. The streets were already bustling with activity. It was a new day, a new beginning. He decided to explore the city.
Grabbing his spear, he left the room and headed downstairs.
The dining room was even busier than the previous night. People were eating breakfast, talking, and generally preparing for the day ahead.
Stepping out onto the street, he took a deep breath. The air was thick with the smells of food, sweat, and something akin to raw sewage. Still, it was a vibrant, alive smell. He started walking, letting his instincts guide him.
He passed stalls selling everything imaginable: fresh produce, handcrafted jewelry, trinkets, and even caged animals. He noticed a blacksmith hammering away at a piece of metal, sparks flying with each strike. The rhythmic clang of the hammer was oddly soothing. Further down the street, a group of children were playing a game with a worn-out ball, their laughter echoing through the narrow alleyways.
He paid close attention to the people around him, observing their behavior, their clothing, and their weapons. He noticed a group of rough-looking men huddled in a dark corner, their eyes darting suspiciously.
He also saw several soldiers patrolling the streets, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. They looked alert and professional, a sign that the city was well-guarded.
Eventually, he arrived in a residential neighborhood with tall buildings and narrow streets, a more tranquil part of the city. The atmosphere was calmer and quieter here. He observed children playing, elderly men sitting on benches, and families going about their daily lives.
He stopped in front of a modest building. "The Scholar's Guild" was written on a sign above the door. After some hesitation, he decided to enter. After all, he had ten days. He might as well get some knowledge through this.
The interior was dimly lit and filled with the scent of old books. The ceiling could be seen by rows and rows of shelves filled with books of all sizes and shapes. Behind a big desk, a middle-aged man with glasses on his nose was reading.
Neuman stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Excuse me."
The man looked up, startled for a moment. "Yes? How can I assist you?
"I want to learn about magic," Neuman said.
A warm smile spread across the man's face. "Well, you've come to the right place. Knowledge is the focus of the Scholar's Guild. What aspect of magic interests you most?"
Neuman thought for a moment. "History, particularly creatures with magical abilities and not just power."
The man nodded knowingly. "That's a fascinating subject. There is a lot to discover here. However, to access our books, there's a fee—two silver pieces for a full day of reading."
Neuman didn't think twice. "That won't be an issue."
"Excellent." The man pushed back his chair. "In that case, I have a few suggestions. We have a vast collection of military histories, combat manuals, and magical beast related book. Follow me."
Neuman followed the scholar through the maze-like aisles, stopping at different shelves and retrieving books. After he had taken five books, he turned to Neuman and said, "These books will tell you the basics about the magic beasts and some history and other stuff. You can read them today and complete them. If you have completed them, you can tell me, and I will give you other books later."
Saying this, he then went back to the front desk. Neuman then took the books with him and sat on the chair and put the books on the table and picked them up one by one and read the titles first.
"Magic and Beasts"
"Basic Magic"
"Magic and Occupations"
"Impacts"
"Beast Life"
After that he chose the 'Basic Magic' book. Just as he opened the book and looked at the first page, a notification popped up.
[Understand the book—1 soul point]
Seeing this, Neuman was surprised at first, then suddenly remembered that he chose something related to this when he reached level 5. Neuman then looked at the thick book and the notification, thinking what to choose.
But after some moments, he accepted it. It will take too long if he were to sit and read so many books, so it's better to just use soul points for this.
After he accepted it, a surge of knowledge pierced into his mind like a stream of burning light, flooding his thoughts with unfamiliar symbols and foreign concepts that settled into place as if they'd always been there.
It instantly imbued him with a fundamental understanding of magic that was written in the book. He now knew the basic principles and the different schools regarding the magic. It was all theory, of course, but it was a solid foundation.
['Basic Magic' has been understood.]