– Day 9 –

Zero

Dawn approaches, and it’s pretty safe to say I was wrong, and no one is going to attack. I still feel it was better to be prepared after the events of yesterday and all.

Disheartened by the lack of action, Risk and I disarm our traps and head to wash up as Kate, Millie and Bella are coming down the stairs.

“Master, shall I make breakfast?”

Oo, I am hungry now she mentions it.. *Sigh* I really miss junk food…

“That would be great Millie, thank you. Bella, morning training?”

“Not going to sleep?”

“I drank one of those stamina tonics, so I’m good.”

I didn’t, but it’s the most straightforward answer.

An understandably tired Risk just sighs while begrudgingly generating a spear with his compositional magic before heading upstairs to sleep. An impatient Bella and I head outside to do a warm-up before getting started, stretching is important after all.

While stretching, I observe the Capitals skyline at dawn. It’s rather beautiful with the black blues fading to bright pinky reds; the high stone walls for a backdrop. I peacefully watch as the crisp morning air is made visible by each breath and listen while the birds call to one another. Beautiful and peaceful…that is, of course, until Bella ruins this scene by throwing a dagger at me–

“–What the hell was that for!?”

“Checking your reflexes.”

“I was just enjoying the morning…no, never mind, let’s get on with it *muttering*.”

Until the compositional spear faded, Bella had me practice stances, strikes and combinations. There’s a lot to remember, but I have the basics down, and continued practice will perfect my form in time. By the end of this session though, my hands are raw and throb in pain, but I managed to get another free skill point, so it was definitely worth it!

Known Skills:

Shield Style Lv 1 / 10 [>]

Tower Shield Proficiency Lv 2 / 10 [>]

One-handed Style Lv 1 / 10 [>]

Spear Proficiency Lv 2 / 10 [>]

Two-handed Style Lv 1 / 10 [>]

I can already roughly tell how this method of skill acquisition works so let me break it down.

- Level 1 is an open understanding of the skill.

- Level 2-3 is an operating understanding of the skill.

- Level 4-5 is an advanced understanding of the skill.

- Level 6-7 is an expert understanding of the skill.

- Level 8-9 is a master level of understanding of the skill.

- Level 10 is a god-like understanding of the skill.

I obtained level 1 pretty quickly. If I understand the use and limitation of a skill, it seems that’s enough to 'net' me the free point.

Level 2 was a little more difficult. I had to actually use the skill effectively for quite some time, and I assume levels 3, 4 and 5 would be the same, but it would most likely take many months of skilled usage to obtain.

The last three brackets, I’m unsure how to achieve without using skill points but I’m certain years of study would be required. This then means, realistically for me, the highest I can manually train skills quickly would be level 2 to 4. This is still great, however, and with a little hard work, I can save a lot of skill points for other places. I think I’ll refer to this method as labour points.

With my training done for the morning, I begin to head in to wash up. Bella remains outside and with her student out of the way, is doing her own morning training routine. I pause for a moment to watch as she swings that massive two-handed sword with such speed and ease.. It’s quite a sight to behold due to her slender figure.

Kate and Millie see me heading for the bathroom and follow me from the dining room where breakfast looks to be waiting. I’m assuming they want to offer to treat me, so I close the door behind us and accept their kindness.

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 670 / 670

Hunger: 30% Thirst: 42%

Blood State: Low

Kate was drained just yesterday, so I’m a little worried–

“Don’t worry; I’m fine.”

She said with a smile. She’s gaining Emily’s ESP trait it seems.. She doesn’t look anaemic or unhealthy, so I’ll trust her words.

[Absorb]

[Absorb]

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 670 / 670

Hunger: 5% Thirst: 12%

Blood State: Good

Thinking about the blood I’ve been absorbing, it seems I need around 4 litres of blood a day to remain in ‘Good’ status and 3 for ‘Normal’. Travelling to Aslogia with a group is going to be a pain and difficult without a reasonable way to meet this requirement…

I head to the Dinning room after washing the sweat from my sore and aching body while calling to Bella for breakfast. She can return to training later, Millie cooked for us all after all, and it would be a shame to let it go cold.

Breakfast is leftover meat with vegetables made into a soup with crusty bread and butter. The soup is delicious, but personally, I think it needs more salt. There’s still no denying it; Millie is quite the impressive little cook.

“This is very tasty Millie. You’re quite the cook.”

“I-it’s nothing special.”

She states while blushing.

We’re all chatting while enjoying Millie’s cooking when Bella asks a good question.

“So what are the plans for today?”

“Hmm. I get the feeling I should go looking for someone to build me a forge in the back.”

“A forge? You dabble in blacksmithing too?”

Hmm, I have to be careful here. At the moment I have no skill in smithing, but if I pump points into it, I’ll suddenly be artesian…which would be suspicious, to say the least. Guess it’s time to lie again. I do feel bad having to tell porkies like this continually, but I do plan to come clean with them at some point, I just hope they’ll understand then why I lied now.

“No, but it was my Grandfathers speciality. I’ve always wanted to learn the craft, but unlike alchemy, it can’t be done on the move, so I’ve never had the chance.”

She puzzles over my answer. I guess there is a massive difference between picking up flowers and hammering iron.

“Sam’s the man if you want a forge built. He's the forge builder for the Tolian company and they’ve several forges in active use, along with some well-trained smiths in employment, but Sam’s the best around. The King’s tried to poach him a number of times as well.. If you want, I’ll speak to him for you? He also owes me a favour.”

That would leave me time to tick off something else on my todo list.

“If your sure, I would welcome the help.”

“Of course…I also want to tell him about the dungeon expedition..if possible.”

Why– No wait, it’s obvious. Although this world is game-like, it’s also more realistic. Weapons dull and get nicks when used in combat. We will need a varying amount of support party members for repairs and such.

“I understand why but you’ll need to hold back some details, like why the expedition is going as that information was given to us in secret.”

“Very well, I’ll head over there now if that’s okay.”

“Sure. See you soon.”

With everyone leaving the table, I thank Millie again for the food as I begin to collect the tableware. I was planning on washing up; the cook doesn’t clean after all where I was brought up, but I received a firm karate chop to the head from Emily for my efforts and told to leave. Bleeding copy-cat tomboy..

With some time to myself, I decided to head upstairs to my room and bar the door. I barred the door as I’m planning to activate some skills while looking in the mirror and I don’t want anyone barging in and screaming in fear. I really need to know what is safe to activate in front of others and what is not after Emily’s warning.

First, I’ll start with [Night Eye].

It seems Emily was correct. My skin around the eyes becomes misshapen with green cracks down to my cheeks and along my temples. My brow becomes thick and swollen, and my eyes turn from red to yellow. It’s almost like the skill cracks my human side into my demonic bloodless appearance. Monstrous indeed. It’s strange that the change incurs no sensual feeling, but it explains why I didn’t notice..

Next [Herbalist Eye]. No physical change but a blue ring appears in my iris. This one should be safe to use in public.

[Appraisers Eye]. No physical difference either and no change in my eyes. This is my first time activating this skill, and I think it’s meant to be an always-on as no MP was used when enabling it. At first, I wasn’t sure it was even working as nothing change until I focused on the edge of the mirror.

Waved Oak Standing Mirror

Rarity: Common

Manufactured by: Telford and Sons

Cost to produce: 1 to 5 Silver Kings

Materials: [Unknown due to lack of craft knowledge]

Cost to buy: 1 to 2 Gold Kings

Handy and self-explanatory. It also looks like if I have craft knowledge applicable to the object, it will reverse-engineer the materials needed. Very useful.. Although I guess I'd still have to figure out how the materials go together.

From all this, I think it’s safe to summarise that only skills related to my race cause the transformations…does that mean blood magic changes my appearance as well? Crap, I need to test that..

*knock knock*

“Aburi? Risk said you were up here, may I come in?”

It’s Katherine from the sounds of it… Thank the gods I decided to bar the door.. Why did Risk even send her… Ah, he’s trying to be funny.

I open the door, and Katherine stands there in an opened long pale blue shirt and tight brown trousers. She smells… a bit ripe. I’m guessing this is her training attire and she’s just come from it. Not that I have a leg to stand on regarding body odour.

“Good morning Katharine.”

“Morning, I hope I’m not imposing and please excuse my attire, I came from morning training with Father.”

Cute is cute.

“Not at all, what’s up.”

“I just… I wanted to thank you for saving my Father…and me the other day.. and I guess, well, thanks in general.. I um…”

I guess I’ve saved both her and her father now. Not hard to imagine why she’s a little flustered.

“would, no.. I came to invite you and the others to dinner this evening!”

Loud! I can’t not be taken aback by the sudden increase in volume, but I manage to recover quickly.

“By others–”

“Bella, Risk, Emily, Hannah, Millie, Kate and of course yourself”

I can’t help but chuckle as she jumped in when I was about to ask.

“Mira is also looking forward to seeing you again… Duke Rayford will also be attending”

..Ah, I see. The dinner party is an attempt to camouflage the meeting so the more, the merrier.

“Sounds like fun. Should I bring anything?”

“Just yourself and the others.”

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight then.”

“I-I am looking forward to it!”

She’s already halfway down the stairs. Do I really make her that nervous now? She’s been totally fine with me all this time though. Anyhow, I guess the mystery of who attacked her father will be reviled tonight, I wonder what I should do in the meantime–

“Master! There’s someone at the counter for you.”

Emily bellows from the stairs. I head down to take a look and find a very short old-aged man standing no more than 4ft 5 tall at the counter. I fight the urge to laugh as his head is the only thing visible from this side of the counter, which is visibly funny.

“Aburi Draconis I presume?”

“You presume correctly, how may I help you?”

“Harry Fitz”

He’s stopped talking… Am I supposed to know who that is?

“…Forgive me but, how can I help you, Sir Fitz.”

“*Sigh* Zero. Call me that”

Zero… Zero? Oh.

“Oh, I think Duke Rayford mentioned you. I apologise, I wasn’t expecting you today.”

“Hmph. Well, I’m here..”

Grumpy git.

“Indeed you are. Please come in. We’ll go to the dining room as that’s the only room with chairs at the moment. Can I get you something to drink?”

“No no. I’d rather get this over with as quickly as possible.”

We head into the dining room and take seats opposite each other. He immediate crosses his arms and turns his nose upwards. His attitude stinks, but I guess this was forced on him so I can understand a little why he would rather not be here.

“So, you believe you have magic proficiency and want to learn spellcraft, correct?”

“That’s corr–”

“I’m sorry to tell you that magic requires more than blood affinity with mana! Just because you’re Dallus Elvainian, doesn’t mean you’ll be naturally good with spellcraft.”

“I underst–”

“Not to mention that most apprentices are taken in at childhood when their mana circuits are not fully grown and pliable. Even if you learn magic now, your potential will be shallow in comparison.”

Argh…can I talk now?

“…”

“Well?”

Obstinate old man.

“…I think it may be best if I just show you my potential. Can you tell me your elemental affinities?”

He sighs but looks like he’s a little curious by my words.

“Dark and Earth..”

Hmm, Dark magic contains typically damage over time spells, right?

“Please cast a Dark magic spell.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to attempt to copy it.”

Another exaggerated sigh. I’m not above punching old men you know..

“Unlikely… …”

He seems to hesitate for a moment but then decides it could be interesting to play along.

*Zip*

[ Void Magic Acquired ]

Suddenly, the old man is behind me. That was a teleport spell, right? Oh my.. I want that so badly!!

[>>>>>]

Known Skills:

Void Magic Lv 5 / 10 [>] Skill Points: 20

“Sorry, one more time.”

He exhales impatiently. Trust me old man; it’s worth the wait!

*Zip*

[- Warp Learned -]

He’s back in his chair.

*Zip*

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 669 / 670

I’m now sitting beside him. Oh, it seems the cost is distance based. I’ll need to experiment with this later.

“What the!”

“As I told Duke Rayford. I–”

“[Dftia Arf–”

[- Void Lance Learned -]

Oh crap.

“–tia Alus]”

[Void Lance]

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 569 / 670

The two spells collide with each other and mine barely cancels the other out. A large concussive shock wave is sent through the room as it happens and there’s an almighty ringing in my ears.

“What the hell old man!”

I only just managed to counter! There’s no doubt in my mind though that his [Void Lance] was as weak as he could make. ..The dining room is in quite a state.. Kate will not be happy–

“Incredible. Simply Incredible!”

Aw shucks, you’re making me blush.

The man leaps from his chair onto the floor and begins to walk out of the dining room. Do I follow?

“He reads the wave lines, replicating the mana output while forcing the composition mimicry… All without chanting! This proves it! I’m on the correct path!”

He continues out the front door… has he forgotten about me?

“Um–”

“If I replace the Raxor gem with a suitable foci that forces composition; YES! that’s it!”

*Zip*

He’s gone…

Well, that was just rude.

He’ll be back I guess, and for now, I’ve learnt two spells, so it’s not a total loss that he’s gone. I’ll ask the Duke about him at dinner. For now, though, let’s sort out the mess.

I head back inside to the dining room. Kate and Millie are already tidying up.

“Apologies Kate, Millie. That crazy old coot just threw a spell at me with no warning whatsoever.”

Kate and Millie chuckle while we pick up the chairs

“At least you're okay Master. Leave this to us. I believe Bella wants to speak to you.”

Oh, she’s back already? That was fast..

Kate gives me a ‘Shu, you're in the way’ gesture… Fine, this is going to take a while to get used to.

I head outside to find Bella laying on the grass… naked.. while sunbathing. At first, I avert my eyes, but who am I kidding, I’m a red-blooded male through and through, and those are some beautiful friends…

“…”

“You’ll go blind.”

Oops. Caught. No point looking away now.

“Sorry but eye-candy is eye-candy.”

“Ha! Pervert… Turn around”

Why? You’ve just shown me everything? *Sigh* Fine.

She gets up and puts her clothes, if they can be called that, back on.

“Sam’s in for the expedition if we want him. He’ll be here tomorrow to start building your forge.."

She finishes tying the straps and throws her hair back behind her.

"About the cost; there was some options. 65 Gold for a basic forge, 150 for a basic smithery, 300 for all the bells and whistles. I told him the 300 one, was that right?”

“Indeed. Guess I’ll have to collect that money from the Duke tonight.”

“No rush. He’ll need about 100 as a deposit though. The rest he’ll collect after the build is complete.”

“Perfect”

“Oh, he’ll also throw a couple of lessons in for free.”

“Even better.. Ah, Katherine’s invited us all over for dinner tonight to thank us for yesterday so no heavy drinking until we get back.”

“..Fine but with that sorted. Risk!”

Oh, I didn’t notice Risk behind me. He’s also sunbathing.. naked.. Well, I guess that answers the question no one was asking. My win.

“Aye ma’am.”

Risk generates a spear and shield for me. It’s almost midday I guess.