The New Skill

'Have a wonderful night!!! See you around!' Basmon exclaimed as he and Vatue left the shop, 1 platinum coin richer.

"Hey Dad, what should we buy with our money?" Vatue wondered.

'Good question... How about we go get the skill book first... Are you ok with that?' Basmon asked Vatue.

"Sure, that's fine. Let's go to that store!" Vatue shouted, pointing to a store across the square.

They quickly walked into the store.

"Ring!" The doorbell rang as Vatue walked in, with Basmon on his back, alerting a clerk.

"Welcome!!! May I ask what interests you this fine day?" The handsome clerk asked.

"Yes, thankyou. I am looking for a skill book, something under 40 coins..." Vatue requested.

'Hey! We said 20 coins!' Basmon said in disbileaf.

'It's fine, Dad. If we don't spend a bit more, we couldn't get you a useful skill!' Vatue responded.

'But... Your items!'

'Its fine, don't worry!' Vatue responded, then went to look at the skill books. The clerk brought out 4 books, putting them down on the counter.

"Thank you, but I must ask, how are you not worried someone will steal those?" Vatue wondered.

"Oh, because the guards would catch anyone who tried to steal. Especially something so expensive. Now, let me show you the books." The man explained.

"First, this red book is a fireball skill. It summons a fireball, shooting towards the target. Size is relative to mana given. It cost 25 Gold coins." The man said.

'Dad, what do you think?' Vatue asked Basmon.

'It's ok, but I already have fire arrow. Let's look at the others.' Basmon replied.

"Second, we have this black book. It summons a lightning strike at the desired location, strength relative to mana given. This one costs 40 Coins." The clerk said.

'Dad, what do you think?' Vatue asked.

'I like it. Let's see the rest, however.' Basmon stated.

"Next, we have this red book, which summons a fire torrent towards a target, costing 100 mana. Costs 32 Coins." The man said, showing them the book.

"And Finally, we have this blue book. This one summons a water ball which can be used to heal or to cast a debuff on an opponent. The strength variers per mana given. Cost 40 Gold." The man explained.

'System, check the books, please." Basmon requested, just to make sure they were not being scammed.

<Fireball: Summons a fireball, can be shot towards a target. Costs 20 mana>

<Lightning Manipulation: Can manipulate lightning, Cost Mana respective to amount manipulated>

<Fire Burst: Summons a burst of fire towards a target. Cost 100 Mana>

<Water Ball: Can heal or debuff enemies, relative to the amount of mana spent>

'Alright. It seems he is being truthful. I guess they do not have perfect identification for items.' Basmon thought to himself, deciding on which skill to get. After a bit of debating, he decided.

'Vatue, buy the second one, Lightning Strike.' Basmon commanded.

"Yes, thank you. I would like Lightning Strike.' Vatue requested.

After a bit more talking, they left the store skill book in hand. The first thing they did was go to a quiet location. Then, Basmon floated off Vatue's back and summoned spectral body. Next, he released mana into the book, causing it to disappear, flowing like a stream of mana into the bow.

<Announcment: Could not gain skill Lightning Manipulation, Locked: Gained Skill: Lightning arrow>

'What! System! Explain! Why can't I get that!' Basmon exploded at the system.

<The skill is locked. Once you reach a higher tier you will automatically get it back, for now, it was downgraded to Lightning Arrow, due to the fact that you are a bow>

'That still didn't explain it!' Basmon yelled at the system but got no response.

'Well... Alright... Let's go get your items, Vatue.' Basmon instructed.

Soon, they walked towards the best armorsmith in the whole city, at least from the rumor Basmon had heard. Soon, Vatue walked into the workshop, the smell of sweat and smoke burning his nostrils.

To his and Basmon's surprise, the entire shop was filled to the brim with swords, axes, armor, everything. Soon, a large woman came up to them.

"You! Out! Out! No one wants your kind here!" The women shouted at Vatue.

"But ma'am, this is a free country. You can't discriminate!" Vatue argued.

"Too bad, so sad! Private property, My rules!" She shouted, kicking him out. Vatue looked down for a bit, then started to look for another good place. Somehow, he ended up in a worse part of the city, with lots of homeless people and trash lining the streets. He ended up seeing a sign for an armorsmith and went into the shop out of desperation.

"Welcome! Give me a bit, then I'll help you!" A small child shouted over the din of his hammer banging in the forge. After a bit, he finished up in his forge and tossed whatever he was making into a palet of water, letting it cool. Neither Vatue nor Basmon had any idea how to forge, so they had no clue what he was doing.

"Alright! I'm done, how can I help you?" The child asked.

"Ello, I am looking for some armor, mainly chest pieces..." Vatue stated.

"Wonderful! I have a ton of those! Just come look!" The boy exclaimed, pulling Vatue with him.

"See this one? This one is made of kryce metal, and can repair itself if you supply it mana!"

"Or this one! It can change shape if you supply it mana!"

"Or even this one! It can come back to its owner!" The boy said, pointing out an axe.

Soon, Vatue was exhausted from looking at armor.

"Look, Sir... Let me think, Please." Vatue requested, and to his surprise, the kid stopped, and let Vatue think about what armor set he wanted.

After a bit of thinking, and talking to Basmon, he decided on 2 different sets. The problem was, they both cost 60 Gold. So he needed to choose one of then. The first, was a shiny gold plated chest-legging suit that could repair itself naturally through absorbing mana naturally in the air, and it could also summon a shield for 20 Seconds, costing 100 Mana. The second one was pitch black, and was a chest plate that could redirect 50% of the damage done, absorb the mana of the object/person hitting it, and change shape based on the owner's wishes (Mana Needed).The first was called 'Unbreakable Streg', apparently after the kids dad, and the second one was called 'Vampires Night'.

After talking to the kid and Basmon for a bit, Vatue decided on 'Unbreakable Streg' and bought it.

"Thank you for your purchase!!! Do come back!!!" The child yelled after Vatue. Soon, Vatue and Basmon were back by the exit they had come into the city by. Before they left, they decided to have a quick discussion after Vatue got his armor on. Once he had it on, he and Basmon started to talk.

"Master, what should we do now?" Vatue asked.

"Let's not go back to the forest. I heard from some people that on the opposite side of the city, there is a path to some mountains. Let's go there." Basmon decided, causing Vatue to groan as he trekked back through the city, back to the other side.

*Royal City, 10 AM

"Father! I have something to report!" Vasile shouted, running into the throne room where his father was working. The guards stood back, letting him talk.

"What is it, son?" The man responded majestically.

"The 5 God Church! It is practicing slavery! I saw it for myself! When I went to the city of the main church, I found a large number of creatures outside of the church, and met the leaders of this group! It turns out they escaped from the church!" Vasile blurted out.

"Wait. Did you see anyone locked up?" The king asked.

"Yes! The leaders helped me explore the dungeon, where some people were still locked up! And they had captured a lot of animals just to kill them! And! I met a gold dragon they had in captivity, and a minotaur, and a SENTIENT ITEM!" Vasile exploded in a mess of words.

"Wait. They had a gold dragon in captivity? And you met a sentient item?" The king asked.

"Yes! Isn't it insane?"

"Are you sure? This is an extremely serious accusation, especially if they captured a golden dragon, who we have an alliance with!"

"Yes! I am 100 Percent sure!"

"Alright. I believe you. GUARDS! Heed my command! Send out soldiers to search every church of the 5 gods, and collect testimony from witnesses!"

"Yes Sir!!!" The guards answered, moving out. Soon, the entire church disappeared off the country. The church was still strong in other countries, but in this country, it would never be allowed back. It had completely gone against all laws in this land.

"Thank you, son. If not for you, this might have gone under my notice far too long." The king thanked Vasile.

"Of course, father. It is my duty as the heir to the throne, after all."