Platinum Rewards and a Catastrophe

Sasha entered the mirror she initially came from. It was the only one that didn't disappear after transformation. She returned to Alab with a bag, and from it she pulled out and handed a seed, a key and a small, rounded object which had wings that eventually flew and landed on the floor. She then explained their uses.

Rewards:

1. A Seed of the Spark Tree

Provides air in Mozza when planted and grown. A patch of land is needed.

2. Morphing Key of Sora

A key that can open any kind of door and locks if there is an opening. Doors that are barred from the other side cannot be opened. The key can also be used on any door in Gaia to return in Mozza.

3. Bright Eyes, Tim

A previous librarian's Familiar. Tim works like a camera by recording a view the same way the eyes can see. Since it can fly, it specializes in aerial views. The recording can be transferred or shown to the owner through a link.

"A seed that provides air in Mozza? I do not see any problems here right now," asked Alab.

"Right now, but after 6 months..." said Sasha.

After 6 months, once Polo finishes his Thesis, the light, air and gravity that Polo's Sparks provide will be gone instantly. There will be nothing but complete darkness. This is every librarian's 1st challenge in Mozza known as the Genesis.

Problems after problems. Alab is now faced again with a dilemma that made him more frustrated.

"Can I not have a break?"

After being placed in a completely new world with a war that is traumatizing, Alab is now faced again with another place that has problems he has to solve.

"What do I need to do?" he asked the Sasha.

"You find a source of light and gravity in Gaia. For the seed, you need to bring a patch of land. There are also some items here in Mozza but those doors are still not available."

After being handed the Morphing Key of Sora, a new door known as the Gatekeeper appeared on the north wall. Using the Morphing Key on door in Gaia allows entry of Alab anytime to Mozza. Dream Summon which is an automatic summon that happens based on Mozza and Alab's affinity may now be deactivated. The summon creates an intense fatigue to Alab which explains his tiredness after waking up from his second day in Gaia. Alab refused deactivation as entering the door costed 500 Information Points. Through the Gatekeeper, Alab may bring the sources of light and gravity, as well as the land.

'I can't imagine myself doing this.'

Polo's current items that provide the basics of Mozza are a mix of something from Gaia and the Thesis. The light is from the Unending Sky and Sea from Podon, one of the deep islands of Mermen in Gaia, Air from the World's Painting from the librarian Claus, Gravity from the Stabilizing Couch from librarian Freya. If Alab cannot fulfill this in time, he cannot enter through the gatekeeper and he will die after Dream Summon.

Alab tried talking to Polo, whose door was being materialized in the west side of Mozza. There was still ten minutes on the Clock of Visit. He still had plenty of time to ask questions. However, Polo was in a trance and cannot hear his voice.

Somehow, his frustration was alleviated because of the 2 other rewards. He already thought of where he can use them the Morphing Key but still is thinking about Tim. With the key, he can gain access to different houses and perhaps borrow some materials he will be needing in the future. If ever he gets imprisoned, hopefully not, he can easily open the locks as long the prison guard is not on duty. There are many possibilities. Tim, the recording familiar is a major tool which can help him record things for Mozza but right now he is still thinking where it can used the most.

His attention now switched to the Gatekeeper. It requires 500 Information Points to enter which was a lot. When Alab looked at the Information Points Monitor, he saw 3000. As to how it increased that much, he had no idea. So many unexpected events happened the night before his dream, one of which is being trampled on by an unknown person. Nevertheless, it was a good thing because such events could have contributed for the tremendous increase of IPs.

He then picked Tim as instructed by Sasha.

"Say Record to start his recording, 'Stop' for it to stop, Link if you want to see the recording in your mind and View if you just want a screen to view the recording," explained Sasha. "Do take note that View can only be done here in Mozza."

Tim cannot converse back, but it can understand simple instructions. Alab instructed Tim: "Fly up enough to see us and record for 30 sec." After the flight, Alab used Link on Tim and saw the recording which showed with him along with from above as it was just like a drone shot. While on Link, he can manipulate what part of the recording he wants to look at. With View, it showed a very large, curved monitor as if he was in the cinema.

Using this recording familiar can further help Alab with his chronicling. He planned to immediately use it on the predicted last battle tomorrow.

A cube was noted at Tim's flame shaped comb. After Alab touched it, smoke appeared on the east wall and Merlin was seen coughing in his stall. Merlin's Stall underwent a development under the Continuing Thesis. It was now Merlin's Mahika and Treasures Store. It was now a Level 2 Thesis.

Merlin, who was abnormally quiet went to his stall, waved and smiled at Alab as this was being explained.

Alab still had five minutes. Merlin's stall got bigger with another platform on the side with several small flags attached on strings that are placed on top of poles. The stores showed different items. It was the First Level 2 Thesis.

"What caused this?" asked Alab.

"Requirements being fulfilled," answered Sasha. "Just like doors, Thesis can level up if met with certain requirements. As for this level up, the appearance of a familiar cause this."

"Come here immediately Alab! You only have a few minutes left."

Realizing it, he remembered he wanted to ask Merlin something but forgot.

"With the remaining minutes you have here, I'll just tell you what you need to buy from my stall. This is Tim's Memory Cube; it costs 3000 IPs. Purchase it now to improve its memory for 2 hours. "

Currently, Tim can only record for 2 hours.

'It really is expensive compared to the skills I can purchase from the Magic Book. I wish I could at least have some spare to buy some magical Book. If I buy it today, I do not know how much IPs I'll be able to gain once I returned to Gaia. But I feel Merlin's goodwill and I also do not know the things I should purchase so I feel like I should buy it.'

"But before that, let me just browse the Magic Book."

During his browsing, something caught his eye.

"Merlin, I'm sorry but I feel I am just going to buy a skill from the Magic Book instead."

"Huh? But you can't."

"Why?"

"Check the first page of the Magic Book"

Alab checked and read the first page "Magic Purchases can be only done once a month and also can only last for a month."

Several other restrictions followed the first rule.

He felt that the restrictions were reasonable given that the skills only required a small amount of IPs. His first purchase was only 50 per skill for a day. What made him ticked off is as if the limitation of several things were only known after certain actions were already made as if they are omitted intentionally. But as Merlin said, Mozza wants him to discover things on his own so that may be a reason. That is why starting from now, Alab made it clear to himself to always ask questions as there may be no fully detailed orientations in the future. While still on the idea of the limitations, something also dawned on him. In a world where active wars are present, and where he was trampled by a complete stranger, violence is generally present. If the skills are only available for a few more days, it may be difficult to survive.

"I need to lie low. I need to get out of the army. I will definitely die for sure if I stay longer."

Alab purchased Tim's Memory, dropped it on his comb which turned into a flame and engulfed it. The flame spread and turned into words, "Memory: 2 hours," and disappeared.

The light in Mozza started getting dim which meant, the time was running out for Alab. Merlin handed alab a bracelet.

"Take this too! We can't be with you physically, but this bracelet can encompass dimensions. The hole there will turn green if there is a development here in Mozza and red if there is an urgent concern."

'Merlin really liked last minute transactions'

Finally, Alab felt that he gained some tools that will be very useful in the world of Gaia just like any other transmigrator from novels he read. It may be not cheat like, but this will help him survive... and eventually return to Earth. Gaia excites him like never before, but he also fears what may happen to him. He plans to survive first and learn of Gaia and then he will decide what he'll do in the future.

"Let us learn the rule of this world. Then maybe in the future, we can break them."