When the manager saw the Imperials Sun-mana-stone, he was stunned for a second!

Many people heard of this currency denomination but only few saw it.

Before one can understand the value of the imperial mana stones, one has to understand the value of mana stones.

There are two ways to obtain/create mana stones. One is to mine them from the mana veins. Second method is consolidated the mana through formations or alchemy process. For the first method quality is not guaranteed but the quantity is definitive while technical expertise is not a necessity. On the other hand for second method quality is relative to technical expertise. Though formations technically can produce high quality mana stones, you need years of good tutelage and practice to make mana stones.

So most people prefer to mine the mana stones from the veins. But as you need stones with higher concentration of mana, the odds of finding such stones in the mines are very slim. So from the moon-mana-stone and sun-mana-stone it is preferable to make them with the help of formations.

But even though so much effort is put into making the mana stones, it is still considered lower level currency.

The currency that is used by true hegemons of battlefield starts from the Imperial-mana-stones. Many people think that imperial stones are even higher concentrated mana stones.

No, they are actually essence of universe! The shiny part they see in middle of the crystal balls are the sun or moon’s essence.

Essences of universe are building blocks of the universe. For example the Sun and Moon, these two celestial bodies are accessible to any being that can gaze at them. By using formations, slowly you can gather the essence of sun or moon.

Depending upon the size of the essence in the crystal, imperial stone value is decided.

There are many essences out there. Some obscure to find and some are found anywhere. But one thing the all have common is that it is very hard to extract them from their natural state make them into imperial stones. For example even as one extracts the sun’s essence it starts dissipating into the nature. So they use specially constructed crystals to hold them.

He never thought he will find this currency denomination here .But he immediately remembered about other person’s status as junior librarian.

Even Harima was shocked when he saw those stones. Though he was pampered, even he only saw them few times during yearly family meetings. After seeing them in Pragna’s hand he remembered his brother’s warning,

Don’t judge your fellow librarians by their appearance. Don’t confuse their eccentricity with lack of power. Make as many friends as you can.

Harima felt quite happy for not voicing his previous doubts.

Manager immediately recovered from his shock and said,

“I didn’t know the esteemed customer has the imperial stones. What do you want sir?”

Pragna asked,” I want body nourishment pills and soul nourishment pills.”

Manager asked, “At what quality sir?”

“Quality?”

“Well we can immediately offer pills that can satisfy up to immortal stage, but for pills that are usable for people at divine stage, they are made by pre-order and each batch of pill will cost more than one-imperial stone.”

Pragna thought for a second and said, ”OK tell me how many you can offer up to immortal stage.”

Manager then picked up a transmission device and said “Give me some time to draw an estimate. In the meantime”, he took out a catalogue and gave it to Pragna, “These are some of our finest auction items.”

Saying that he left, While Pragna was holding that catalogue. Though Pragna had his usual poker face, even he was shocked to find that these two stones are the imperial stones.

Because of the constant warnings Agarthala gave him, he was forced not to use his skill to check other people’s windows. Caught up in that he even forgot to check the status of the items he had!

Sighing to himself he opened the catalogue and went through that list. Some of the item’s descriptions were quite fantastic to even read!

Finger needle- primordial stage soul weapon, a needle that will multiply each time it is broken- price, one death essence stones.

Blink chariot- high speed travelling chariot that take you anywhere in the battlefront- price, 100 imperial sun mana stone (High density).

Poison gourd- contains the most distilled poison from the all seven heavenly snakes- price, 500 life essence stones.

Though he did not know some of the denominations, Pragna is quite surprised to see this fantastic list of items. Even Harima is taking a glance at this item’s description along with Pragna.

While Pragna is busily browsing the list Harima tried to start a conversation.

Harima asked, “So Pragna where are you from?”

Pragna looked at Harima and smiled and said, “That is a very good question.”

Harima was stunned! He did not know how to take the conversion from there.

As he was confused not knowing what to say next, Pragna smiled and said, “There are some parts about my past that are a bit murky to me and I am trying to find them.”

Harima asked, ” You mean like amnesia?”

“Yes.”

Harima sighed and said, “I envy you.”

Pragna, who was busily browsing the list, lifted his head and looked at Harima inquisitively, “Why?”

Harima despondently said, “Unlike others, your past does not dictate terms on your life.”

Pragna suddenly laughed loudly! Even the manage who is talking on a device at a corner looked at Pragna for a second and went back to his work.

Harima had a sour expression on his face, “What is so funny about that?”

Pragna controlled himself and said, “Even lack of past will dictate terms on your life! From the day I lost my memories I have been searching for my past memories. Whether you remember or not, your past will always dictate terms on your life.”

Harima was annoyed by that answer, “So what are you saying? I have to live with my burdens for rest of my life?”

Pragna continued, “No, unlike me you know what is making you miserable. Rather than trying to fix it, try to find why it is making only you miserable. Then you may find an answer. ”

In his entire life no one ever gave Harima such advice. Either they tried to kiss-ass him or they hated him but no one tried to approach him on real friendly terms.

Harima after few minutes said something that he rarely ever said after his ascension. And even if he said it he never meant it.

“Thank you”, after saying that he sat in his chair, lost in his own thoughts.

Pragna looked at him for a second and then again got engrossed into the catalogue browsing.

After seeing the list for some time he found an item that roused his interest,

Soul mirror- reveals a part of your true self, inner nature---price, one imperial sun mana stone.

Pragna knew that this can shine some light on some his doubts. He is not sure if his current personality is the same one as his past self. So if he could see his inner nature, then he can confer with his ideas. If he is right and his current personality is different, then that red ball did not give him accurate information.

After 1 hour manager came back and, “Sir I talked to the main branch. We are willing to offer 10,000 body nourishment pills and 1000 soul nourishment pills at immortal stage.”

Pragna said, “I will take them along with this”, he pointed it to the image of mirror in the catalogue.

Manager face slightly darkened when he saw that mirror.

He said with sincerity, “Sir I will be honest with you, do not purchase it.”

Pragna is slightly surprised and asked, ”Is there some defect in the product?”

Manager sighed and said, “Sir, actually we do not know the exact origins of this mirror. While trying to explore a hidden realm, we lost lot of our men. The only thing worthwhile we got out of that expedition is this mirror. We put up this item for the auction but the people who bought it did not like what they saw. They sent it back with lot negative reviews and we exactly don’t have way to prove that we are sold the exact product as it is described. From then few people tried it and all of them more or less said the same thing ‘that mirror is wrong’. So sir if you want it we can sell it, but the money is non-refundable.”

Pragna did not even hesitate for a second, “I will take the mirror.”

After seeing Pragna’s resolve manager understood that he cannot change his mind.

Manager said, “I will be back in few minutes sir.”

After that he came back with two small boxes. He handed one to Pragna and other to Harima. Then he said, “Thank you, have a nice day.”

It is midnight and a cool breeze is flowing through the air. Slowly Pragna and Harima are walking back to the Library. Harima who had been silent all that time asked, “Are you going use those pills for increasing your level?”

Pragna said, “Yes.”

Harima said, “I don’t think that is a good idea. Though those pills may seem like a great idea in the beginning, after using them a lot your constitution will breakdown. Once you lose your constitution it is very hard to repair, even with regeneration skills.”

Pragna asked, “Doesn’t regeneration fix everything?”

Harima said, “No, it does not. There are some poisons out there which will trick body into thinking they are the natural part of body constitution. Once that poison is assimilated into the body, no matter how many times body is regenerated even the toxin will regenerate. Over usage of these pills will produce one of those poisons.”

Pragna said while smiling, “I will be careful.” Though Pragna said that, he knew he has nothing to worry about those toxins. His body can digest anything! That puts him at a unique advantage.

When both of them reached the library Harima asked Pragna, “What will you do once you find about your past?”

Pragna said while smiling, ” That depends upon what I find.”

Harima continued, “Let’s say you found something that will completely affect you and take away any chance for happiness then what will you do?”

Pragna, “Finding about my past is not about happiness, it is about finding the truth. Truth offers only one thing, clarity. From there how you take it, depends upon the individual. Ignorance is bliss, only if you are an idiot. You need clarity if you ever want move on forward.”

Harima tried to ask again, “But what if -”

Pragna cut him mid-sentence and said, “All of those conundrums will ultimately boil down to one question. To find the solution to a problem, you need knowledge and knowledge always comes at a price. So the question is simple, Are you willing to pay the price or not? ”

Harima had expression on his face as though he swallowed the world’s bitterest pill. While he was wallowing Pragna left.