Life in the Kingdom (3)

Everything was going well for Link and his family. Anny started working in a tailor shop where she helps patching up clothing or assists in modifying or even making new things.

Lisa and Rena started working in one of the hospitals located in the main public area. This place was like the common grounds that shops and so on are located and people are free to go there, unlike living areas.

In the living areas shops exist, but the ones that open up shop there are the people that can't afford to open in the main area.

Link had a lot of time on his hands, and he wished to test a few things. "Would I get Exp if someone used a scroll I made with my own spell and Mana?" He kept thinking. Having that enormous amount of Exp required forced Link to think of alternatives. He could go out massacring everything he sees. That option will hit a wall at some point and he knew it. This whole thought process led him to thinking of a way to earn Exp on the side.

He had some sinister ideas of poisoning the Kingdom's water supply and many other things but he stopped himself. "I've become a little cold blooded haven't i" Link thought, shaking the idea out of his head.

Creating Scrolls and imprinting spells and Mana into them was something he should be learning in the Academy on his second year, but Link had found out that he did not have to wait until then.

The difficult part of creating Magical Scrolls is the Imprinting part, in which Link can easily do due to his Mana Imprinting Skill. After maxing it, he could imprint not only Mana but also spells. He used this a lot in his fight with the bandits back in the other continent.

<You won't be able to just use the Imprint a Skill on a piece of paper and expect it to work just like an average Scroll>

"I know, I saw a Mage shop when Samuel and I were heading back from the Duke's castle. I'll check it out later and get me some books and supplies" Link said.

Since he was alone now, with Samuel off doing his own thing, Link decided to head out and get what he needed. Within a few minutes, he was walking inside the Main Public area, watching his surroundings.

The place looked like what you'd expect a fantasy market area would look like. Shops and stands were everywhere, with the smell of food, flowers and many other pleasant fragrances filling the air.

The magic shop looked average. It had the picture of potions and many other items hung on a sign outside with the doors and windows blackened. "This looks more like a trap than a shop" Link muttered. The shop looked small as well which disappointed Link a bit.

Clink!

Link pushed the door open and walked in hesitantly. "What?" Link thought with a frown "Is this the same shop I went into?"

It looked like he entered more like a mall than a small shop. The place was huge with different floors and clean well organized shelves. "This is definitely more magical" Link thought with a smile. He didn't understand if he was teleported somewhere or some sort of space magic was set up.

"Welcome dear customer!" An owl with silver and gold feathers spoke, standing on a desk.

"H...Hello!" Link said, looking confused. "The Kingdom is definitely different" He thought.

"I see you are a new face. Interesting eye color as well" The owl spoke "I rarely get any customers from the Rechanguard Kingdom"

"Why'd you say it like that? Your shop is located in the Kingdom" Link asked. He noticed that the owl constructed its words as if it gets other customers from other kingdoms as well.

"Yes, indeed it is located in the Rechanguard Kingdom, but it's also located in Graverod Kingdom, Phenixio Kingdom and many more.." It explained.

"So it is Teleportation" Link muttered.

"Indeed" The owl jumped and flew up "So, what can i help you with, dear mage?"

"I would like to learn how to make Scrolls" Link said "Is there a guide of some sorts?"

"Of course. Follow me" The owl flew away and Link followed. It led him into an area with shelves full of books. Link looked ahead, trying to see the end of it but he couldn't, all he could see were shelves upon shelves of endless books. "Don't worry. We won't have to look for it" The owl spoke seeing Link's expression. It swung its wings, and a string of Mana flew into the endless rows of shelves. Link couldn't see where the string went but a minute later, it returned wrapped around a book.

"Here you go" The owl said, handing the book to him. "That will be 10 Gold coins"

Link paid but didn't leave yet. He sat on one of the sofas in the reception area where he started to read. "We provide food and beverages as well if you'd like" The owl announced from the desk.

"No thank you, i'm fine"

The book's name was simple. 'The guide to Magical Scrolls'.

Link started reading, carefully going through each page with interest. "This is easy!" He muttered to himself. The book explained the materials needed, and it was as he expected. An empty scroll, a Mana pen and the right runes and glyphs, but there was something else he was not aware of, and that was the materials needed for each imprinted spell. There were the basic spells that used lesser Mana stones and crystals, but for the more advanced, Link would need to purchase another book with all the instructions. Using his 'Scholar' Skill, Link finished the book rather quickly and either confirmed some ideas he had or learned something new.

Buying a Mana pen and a few Empty scrolls, Link started to head for the door. "Which one did i come through?" He thought, seeing the endless number of doors in front of him.

"You come through the blue door" The owl spoke, seeing Link's confusion "Thank you for your purchase, please come again"

Link bowed his head a little and started walking away, when another door opened. It was a black colored door with some decorations. A hooded man walked in, with no visible features. He looked around, as if he could see with the long hood covering his face, he looked around the place for a bit then turned and faced Link.

"A new face?" The man spoke, his voice deep.

Link did not want to have any interaction with such a shady character, so he bowed his head slightly and headed to his door.

"Welcome!" Link heard the owl speak from behind him "You're back again i see"

Wosh!

Stepping back into the street, Link sighed. "What a place" He muttered, starting to walk away.

"You're a mage?" A kid stood in front of Link with sparkle in his eyes.

"Y..yeah" Link answered, the boy came out of nowhere so it surprised him a bit. "How did you know?"

"You came out of the magic shop" The boy spoke as if it was obvious.

"Average people can buy magical items too, so how did you know i was a mage?" He asked.

"Not from there they can't" The boy said then took a step towards Link. "I want to be a mage too, it's my dream" He said innocently.

"Hey, what're you doing!" A woman ran and grabbed the little kid, then looked towards Link then behind him. "We're sorry for bothering you, Master!" She said with a bow, then pulled her son away.

"What was that?" Link thought with a shrug. "Whatever, i have things to do anyways"

Magic was common, everyone uses it regularly, but the privilege of learning higher tiers and becoming a Level Mage was not something people had. It was either due to the finances or the talent, as a rare few can become a Level mage, then after that it all depends on luck and talent if one wishes to reach higher.

Little did Link know, he was like a monster to others. A one in a billion talent that taught himself Magic and reached Higher tiers without any help. People usually fight and beg for a spot in the Military Academy, but getting scouted was something that never happened before, hence all the eyes that were on him back there.

Inside the room, Link settled everything he had on a desk then sat on a comfortable chair. "Let's begin!" He muttered, grabbing the Mana pen and a scroll. With the book open in front of him, Link started copying the symbols and drawings instructed of him onto the paper. After he was done, he put the pen down then he proceeded to hover his hand on top of one of the two circle-like shapes. "Mana Imprint!" He spoke "Holy Nova!"

A light shone and descended onto the paper. As the glow faded, Link noticed the circle filling up with odd runes and scribbles. "It worked!" He said excitedly. "Now your turn" Grabbing an Advanced Mana Crystal, Link crushed it then sprayed the dust onto the circle. It started to move, the dust slowly taking the shape of a son. Although it looked like it was done, the light did not fade, is which Link moved quickly to the second circle, where he copied the same action by hovering his hand over it, but this time, he started injecting Mana into it. "Mana Imprint!" He said, adding the amount the spell would usually take off of him when casting it.

Ding!

A sound was heard, but Link's expression looked disappointed. "I failed" He said, looking at the now torn paper. "Again!"

Repeating the same thing for over 10 times, Link failed in each one. It was either in the Mana injecting process or the Spell imprinting part, Link kept failing and more Mana crystals were going to waste.

"Damn it!" He yelled, slamming his fist onto the desk "I did everything right, why do I keep failing?" Link was frustrated. He started to check the drawings and glyphs to see if they were the problem, but everything seemed perfect. "Is the amount of Mana i'm using wrong?" He thought.

<Why did you choose Holy Nova? You should have started with something simpler>

"I'm not interested in something else, i need a lot of money for the future and this spell would earn me a lot since it is not something anyone can cast. Check for me if the Mana required for Holy Nova is the correct original one or not"

<Ok, hold on> Zero went quiet for a couple of seconds before speaking again <The system and your Apex Predator body caused you to use less Mana than usually required for spells. This is the real Mana required for it>

A window appeared with Holy Nova's description and the Mana needed at the end. Link shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me this before I wasted all those Crystals?" He asked.

<I don't have all spells memorized to heart>

"I didn't know the Story of Genes reduces Mana cost. i should i have checked" Link scratch his head "Let's try this again"

Link repeated everything as he did it before, with the exception being the Mana. He did this with extreme caution as this was the last Advanced Mana Crystal he had left.

A few minutes into the process and a message appeared in front of him.

<Achievement Unlocked: Talented Hands>

<Reward: Craftsmanship>

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