11 A beast on sheep’s skin
"Thank you, child, for returning to us the lost one... You are here to collect a garment for protection, I assume." -Raymus spoke. In a voice filled with melancholy.
"Yes! If the spirits will guide." She responded.
With a wave of the man's hand, a number of wardrobes appeared behind him. And the interface shows a number of beautiful clothes. Seeing the collection, Izen couldn't help herself but marvel at the clothing before her.
"This is what we provide our normal visitors... But you are special, returning to us the young spirit, this is the collection from the children you've returned." Said the spirit guide, thumping the but of his spear on the ground, and a black wardrobe appeared behind him.
With the rise of another wardrobe, a tab appeared on the clothing interface before Izen, and when she excitedly opened the interface. Inside were five sets of traditional clothing used by shamans; Hanbok (Traditional Korean attire), Hanfu (Traditional Chinese attire), Tapis (Traditional Philippine attire), Miko set (Traditional Japanese attire), and a Kasaya (Traditional Monks attire). These clothes particularly piqued her interest, mixing and matching them as she browses each set.
For more than thirty minutes, Izen engrossed herself in her search for a way to look unique in the special garments before her. She could have chosen a single set or a pair, but she was of course, on how she would look like in this attire.
Mixing and matching for the longest time she ended up with one from each set; [Apu-ngut] a hair ornament made from snake bones, gems and fangs,[Hanfu Robe] a white robe that extends just below the knee and embroidered with magic circles,[Miroku's Gloves] a tree fingered gloves accommodating the thumb, middle finger, and pinky, covering only the top of the hand,[Hakama] a velvet skirt-like pants that reach just above the ankle,[Hanbok shoes] a simply closed shoe with magic circles embodied on it, adding a colorful shin, and [Bak-get] a sash like a belt with tips extended like ropes.
[Apu-ngut (Special Equipment/Garment)
Stats:
INT +50
MP Regeneration +50%/Minute
Skill:
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear once used. Be wise in your endeavor.
- A traditional headdress was worn by indigent Women from the Philippines, a symbol of wealth and beauty. This is an ornament passed down from Mother to Daughter.]
[Hanfu Robe (Special Equipment/Garment)
Stat:
Physical Defense +50%
Magical Defense +50%
Skill:
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear once used. Be wise in your endeavor.
Description:
-Ancient clothing is worn by a priestess. A gift from the white Snake Princess.]
[Miroku's Gloves (Special Equipment/Garment)
Stat:
Casting Speed +50%
Magic Damage +1
Skill:
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear once used. Be wise in your endeavor.
Description:
-A master of the sealing arts, Miroku, used this to suppress the curse that devours his soul and amplifies his power.]
[Hakama (Special Equipment/Garment)
Stat:
DEX +50
Elemental Resistance +50%
Skill:
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear when used. Be wise in your endeavor.
Description:
-Ceremonial trousers used in a ritual of ten stars and purification. Exposed to the power of the spirits.]
[Hanbok shoes (Special Equipment/Garment)
Stat:
Movement speed +50%
Evasion +25%
Skill:
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear when used. Be wise in your endeavor.
Description:
-An Assassins tribute to their leisurely friends. A gentle reminder that even the quick, may not survive without them.]
[Bak-get (Special Equipment)
Stat:
STR +50
STA +50
Skill:
Special Weapon Slot (Passive)
-A special off-handed weapon slot will be available if this is equipped.
Extra Bag (Passive)
-An extra bag can be equipped through this equipment. (0/1)
Weightless (Passive)
-The extra luggage will not contribute to the users' weight.
Devour (Active)(One-Time-Use)
-Consume one item, and claim all its skills and attribute. Skill will disappear when used. Be wise in your endeavor.
Description:
-A girdle used by women, who's daily life requires trekking mountains, and crossing rivers. A great Aide to the travelers.]
She was born in her search through this equipment, other than the girdle that provides a very useful function, she chose the pieces of equipment based on their looks, how she could match it to her taste.
At first glance, she looks exactly like a Shinto priestess, but on closer inspection, her clothing betrays this impression. With her robe split on the side, belted, with the girdles tail hanging on the left side and the Iron fan dangling on the right, underneath the robe is a Hakama with a purplish red shin, a colorful shoe, and a head full of Gems and Bone, holding her hair in a bundle like fashion. She looked malevolent standing before the Spirit Guide.
"You have chosen well. Go child and spread the words of the spirit." The Guardian said, and in the next moment, she stood before the golden garbed majestic lady.
"To the Temple?" The acolyte asked, ushering his master.
"Yes! To the temple." She said.
This time they took only about 7 minutes traveling the usual 15-minute walk. Apparently, the NPC was keeping up to her pace, but since she acquired the speedsters, the Time was reduced.
"Thou have come at last!" A man, wearing a greenish-brown robe underneath a long white coat, and goggles on his forehead, with hands stocked in the front pocket of the coat, standing in front of the temple said when Izen and the acolyte approached the gate.
"Yes we have arrived... the lady would like to challenge for her blessing." The acolyte said.
[System: The quest for blessing acquisition has been activated. You have chosen to receive gifts from all three sanctuaries. Search for a master that will assist you in your growth. (Your choice will determine the blessing you receive.)]
This was not a surprise to Izen, and she already knows where the master she should follow is located.
"I chose to be your apprentice, please accept these young beings wish." She said as she bowed to the man.
"If that is what you wish... search for diamond, pearls, herbs, gold, and firewood. The quality of materials you bring will determine the quality of your reward." The NPC said.
[System: You have decided to become an apprentice to the alchemist, Soraysya, Bring the best quality materials you find, to him, and let him judge your talent.]
[Quest: The Alchemists Request
- To become an alchemist apprentice you must bring the highest quality material you find.
Diamond (0/1)
Pearls (0/10)
Herbs (0/100)
Gold (0/1)
Firewood (0/10)
Time limit: 5 Days.
Reward: Alchemist Gift (Depends on the Quality of the materials), Random Skill Book, Alchemists Ring, Gold 10, EXP 500]
This is the particular quest is actually easy. All these materials can be bought within the town of beginnings, but the highest quality is not easy to acquire. The alchemist is not actually searching for the immediate precious thing, but looking for someone who can see past the norm. Also, this particular quest allows her to travel out to the other town of beginnings to collect rare materials.
"Thank you for accepting my request I shall not disappoint you," Izen said to the alchemist, after which she opened her message bar and replied to a message that is sitting there for a while now.
"Sai, I'm going to start my Alchemist mission, I'll go to the druids garden to collect some herbs see you there." Izen sent to Sai.
- - -
Sai was sitting on a chair in front of a study table, in the library of the magic academy, apparently, in the library everyone is allowed to learn the basic spells and magic circle, but learning this would require them to read and understand the concept, unlike using the consumable skill books that directly flash the information into their memory.
Sai was reading a book about the identifying auras, and extracting them, these particulars skill though he already has the art of extracting and compressing the aura, there is still valuable information within, like how the energy could be embedded into an item, or how the different colors could provide different effects.
When a message came from a friend that he has been waiting for. He immediately read through the message that reads: "Sai, I'm going to start my Alchemist mission, I'll go to the druids garden to collect some herbs see you there."
During the time that he was waiting for the message, Sai had Accepted the magician's Apprenticeship along with AleyaNala and VerBoss, while GurinBare headed to the Royal Training grounds and Shapeless to the Dark Forest.
[Quest: The Magicians Request
-To become a magician you must learn how to construct and manipulate magic circles, and make your own spells.
Search for miss-placed books in the library. (0/10)
Learn magic circles. (0/10)
Modify magic circles (0/10)
Reward: Magic Grimoire(Rarity: Depends on the magic circle you Learn), Scribes Quill (Rarity: Depends on the magic circles you Modify), Magicians Wand(Depends on the Book you return, Gold 10, EXP 500)]
With the help of VerBoss, the group was able to search for books much faster, but in the middle of searching, SayaShin happened to observe that some books have auras. Which prompted the three to look for the books with Energy. While searching, AleyaNala suddenly sent a message to the team chat linking a book she found.
[Book: Winds Whisper
-An introduction to the art of searching and foraging.
Content:
Flowers Scent, Beast Tracks, Rivers Gurgle...]
Which everyone promptly shouted. "Don't submit that book until all of us learn those searching skills."
Indeed, searching skills like this are very handy they are after all support type class, and this skill is a must especially for solo players. who would have thought that skill with this rarity would be found in the library? This discovery frantically made the three search for other useful skills for support and solo players.
One Book! Two Books! Three Books!... Fifteen Books!
The three manage to find books with great rarity and informative content. Books in compounding, refining, herbs, minerals, appraisal, beast information, legendary weapons, basics of magic circles, advanced magic circle, dismantling, wood carving, collection sites, collection methods, and the book for searching. The contents of these books are only available from monster drops in higher level maps, to chance upon them would be divine providence.
To some large scale spells and survivability skills are the greatest finds they could have acquired, but to support class these hidden skills are essential after all the rarity of the drops would mean that people with this skill are equivalently rare, much less to poses most of it.
That brings Sai and his teammates, cooped up in the library reading the contents of these books, digesting them, and thinking of ways to play with them.
"Come to the Magic Academy First, there are some interesting finds here, hurry!" Sai sent a message to his friend Izen.
Two hours have passed since Sai sent this message when a Miko entered the Library attracting the attention of everyone who was near the entrance. Discreetly moving towards the librarian, and said: "I, a priestess, wishes to learn the arts of magic circles."
"Mizarin, of the Oracles, wishes to learn modern magic instead of the archaic arts of divination." The librarian said.
"I pray to understand modern and ancient ways." She responded.
[System: You have gained a favorable evaluation from Minue the GrandMaster magician and Librarian of the Magic Academy.]
[Quest: The Magicians Request
-To become a magician you must learn how to construct and manipulate magic circles, and make your own spells.
...]
"I have great expectation of the young priestess!" Minue Said.
Izen entered the library, slowly walking down the aisle, marveling in the towering bookshelves, books are lined up on the walls. From below one could see five mezzanine floors filled with bookshelves and reading tables. Each floor contains different rarity of the book; Common, Normal, Rare, Epic, Legendary. Starting from the first floor are common and the last floor is Legendary. A dome-like structure covers the ceiling with a globe hovering at the center, just above the fifth level, glowing with light that doesn't seem to be too bright or to dim for reading.
Sai was concentrating on his book when suddenly, a sound of murmurs was heard behind him, observing that even his companions were distracted, he turned towards the direction of the entrance were everyone's attention was directed, there he saw an all too familiar face, with purple-colored hair, wearing a Kagura-like attire. With a slightly flushed expression, he raised his hand drawing the attention of the Miko.
"You know her?" VerBoss asked curious about the two's relationship.
"She's the friend that I'm supposed to meet, I told you about."- Sai said.
While they begone to have the conversation about the connection of their fellow and the stranger. The beautiful figure approached and said: "What's the important find that you had me run this far!"
The serene grace that was exuded by the figure was dispelled with her vicious tone. 'A beast on sheep's skin' was what the listeners thought.
