Ancient Magic

(3rd Person POV)

After purchasing volume 1 of "Dragon Ball", Ichiro tucked it safely in his bag, deciding to save it for later at the hotel. He spent hours exploring Horn City before finally returning to his room, eager to dive back into the manhua.

Though he had already read chapter one at the store, Ichiro was curious to see if the subsequent chapters would maintain the same level of intrigue. With the bedside lamp casting a warm glow, he settled in to continue Goku's adventure.

Hours slipped by unnoticed as Ichiro immersed himself in the story. It wasn't until he turned the final page that he realized he had finished the entire volume in one sitting.

"I'm already out of chapters..." Ichiro sighed, disappointment evident in his voice. Glancing at the clock, his eyes widened in surprise. "It's already 3 AM!?"

Shaking his head in disbelief, Ichiro marveled at how quickly time had passed. His gaze returned to the "Dragon Ball" cover, focusing on the illustration of the wishing balls.

"I wonder if dragon balls exist?" Ichiro mused aloud, considering the possibility. It reminded him of how people speculated about the existence of rings from "Lord of the Rings" after its release.

Ichiro quickly dismissed the thought. "It's just a fantasy story," he reminded himself. After all, even in the manhua, it wasn't yet confirmed if the balls could actually grant wishes, as Goku and Bulma had yet to gather all seven.

As he set the book aside, Ichiro's thoughts turned to his mother, who owned a manga publishing company in Japon. He felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of showing her "Dragon Ball." Her reaction to this Morningstar manhua could be interesting, given her expertise in the industry.

Ichiro yawned, the late hour finally catching up with him. As he switched off the lamp and settled into bed, his mind continued to wander through the world of "Dragon Ball."

***

(Arthur POV)

I've been filming "Demonfather Part 2" for days now, waiting to see if Anubis's friends can actually act in my film. During my free time, like now, I've been examining Firfel's amulet.

Seeing it shiver pitifully, I decided to store my ring in the system while investigating. Without the ring's presence, the amulet cooled down, its trembling significantly reduced.

I attempted to inject my magic into it, but it rebuffed me each time.

"This amulet is pretty stubborn," I muttered, frustrated.

I've been researching the ancient runes on it, but so far, I've come up empty. Not surprising, given how little is known about ancient runes. I've pored over books on the subject, but no luck.

The only consistent reaction I've observed is the amulet's response to my ring. This gave me an idea.

I pulled the ring from the system storage. The moment it materialized, the amulet sensed it and started trembling again.

I shook my head, feeling an odd pity for the amulet, despite it being a mere artifact. Its genuine fear of the ring was unsettling.

Turning my attention to the ring, I noticed it exuding an ominous aura near the amulet.

"Is this ring actually communicating with the amulet?" I wondered aloud, astonished to see what appeared to be an interaction between the two artifacts.

The scene before me was almost comical. My small ring, despite its size, seemed to act like a bossy Chihuahua, while the larger amulet cowered like a frightened chicken.

"Interesting..." I stroked my chin, intrigued. "I wonder what these two are talking about?"

As I observed their silent communication, my mind raced with possibilities. Could understanding this interaction unlock new secrets about both artifacts? And more importantly, how could I use this knowledge to my advantage?

I made a mental note to research more about artifact communication. If these inanimate objects could interact, what other surprises might be lurking in the magical items of this world?

I imagined the ring scolding the amulet, exuding an air of authority while the amulet cowered before it.

To my astonishment, the amulet began to release magic, offering it to the ring on my finger. The magical power it gave off reminded me of Firfel's. It must be her magical essence.

Sensing my ring was enjoying bullying the poor amulet, I quickly returned it to the system storage.

I turned my attention back to the still-shivering amulet, gently caressing it. "Poor guy," I muttered sympathetically.

This time, when I injected my magic power, the amulet didn't resist. It welcomed my magical energy with open arms. This change of heart surprised me. I wondered if the ring was responsible for making the amulet more receptive.

After channeling for a bit, I stopped as information about the amulet began to flow into my mind. I could even sense its feelings. Firfel was right; the amulet did have emotions.

Memories flooded my consciousness: a dwarf crafting the amulet. But as I watched, a dragon appeared beside the craftsman. I wondered if the dwarf was actually a half-giant, half-dwarf, given its enormous size yet distinctly dwarven features.

"𒈗𒍪𒊭𒍝𒀭𒉌𒆠𒉡𒁲𒈨𒉆𒁴𒀭𒀭𒀀𒈦𒁕𒀀𒄑." the dwarf spoke to the dragon.

What language was that? I couldn't understand a word!

The scene ended, leaving me confused. It was clearly a memory from the distant past, in a language far beyond my comprehension.

[Ding! You have discovered the ancient artifact "The Giant's Gift".]

[Queen Rose the Third Amulet]

(An amulet full of mysteries! Unravel its secrets to discover its true purpose.)

I'd hoped to finally understand the amulet's true purpose, but this revelation seemed incomplete. At least I now knew it was indeed a gift from the giants.

I also received a reward for discovering the amulet - an ancient magical element.

[You receive the reward: Rose Magic]

Rose Magic.

Is it just some flashy spell?

As information about the magic flowed into me, I learned that Rose Magic could be used for healing and would enhance my mana absorption when in nature.

It also boosted my charm attribute.

Maybe using it would make me more charismatic?

I could try it around Firfel.

At the same time, I discovered that as my proficiency with Rose Magic increased, I could even visit other people's dreams. Now that's pretty cool.

And if my mastery of it skyrocketed, I might even use it for divination - though I doubt I'll ever reach that level of proficiency.

After all, it demands a significant understanding of magic. Like, dedicating almost all my time to mastering various types of magic - which isn't feasible given my focus on the business.

Still, the potential of Rose Magic intrigued me. Healing, enhanced mana absorption, increased charm, dream walking, and potentially divination - it was a versatile magical skill set. Even if I couldn't master it completely, any improvements in these areas could be beneficial.

Rose Magic seems more intricate than ordinary spells.

I conjured a rose from my palm, noting its healing effect.

As soon as I employed Rose Magic, the amulet responded, as if awakening.

Holding it with Rose Magic-infused hands, the amulet grew intimate with me.

Interesting... Could Rose Magic hold special significance for this amulet?

Not surprising, considering it belonged to the third queen of the Roses Kingdom.

Of course, hailing from the Roses Kingdom, she must have wielded Rose Magic.

"I wonder what your true purpose is..." I mused, studying the amulet.

I retrieved the ring from system storage. This time, the amulet didn't cower in fear.

Even my ring's hostility had dissipated. It seemed the two artifacts had become... friends?

This development intrigued me. The Rose Magic appeared to have brokered a peace between the ring and the amulet. Could this magic serve as a bridge between other conflicting magical items? Or was this unique to these particular artifacts?

I toyed with the idea of delving deeper into the relationship between Rose Magic and the amulet. There might be more secrets to uncover, more powers to unlock. But for now, I had a film to make and an amulet to return.