Thinking of the skill, his calm and collected heartbeat immediately increased its speed in excitement. Noticing that the woman had paid and left, he impatiently approached the counter and asked with shining eyes, "Elder, I need a quill and a parchment. What do you have?"
Without saying anything, the old shopkeeper pivoted to a shelf to his right, picked a thick book, and put it above the counter with a thud.
He inclined his head slightly, his eyes peering over the low-hung glasses perched atop his nose bridge as he opened the book and began to explain, "This book is split into three sections. The first contains information about quills, the second about ink, and the third about parchments. Feel free to browse through them, and let me know what you're looking for."
With a nod, Melvin moved the book to the left corner of the counter, giving way to the customer behind him. Then, he slowly began going through the first section that had quills.
Opening the first page, he observed that each page was split in two. At the top of the page, a vivid drawing with colors about a quill with a gradient of brown hues. The quill's tip glistened, hinting both at its sharpness and fine craftsmanship, prompting him to quirk his eyebrows with a slow sage nod.
Below the drawing, intricate details describe the quill's craftsmanship, specifying the type of ore used to create its sharp tip and the species of bird from which the feather originated. A caption beneath the illustration reads, "The Quill of Drunk Autumn: 6 Silver Coin."
Melvin was only concerned with two things when looking at the quills, the materials used to create the tip and the strength of the bird, 'Hmm this one only has a simple copper quill and a feather from an Initiate Rank 2, and it already costs a six silvers.' He mused before commenting, 'Too damn expensive.'
True to his expectations, as he continued turning the pages the price for the quills began to increase in range. From the initial price, to hundreds, and finally a whopping 30 gold coins.
'Fuck won't I become rich if I robbed this old man?' Melvin thought in amusement as his gaze moved from the book to the cool disinterested old man who was serving a male customer with an impassive look.
Looking back at a golden quill he started reading its information, 'Forged through a process of gold, feather from a Novice Rank 3 Golden Fiery Swan, price 30 gold coins... Yeah right!' He thought.
He immediately began flipping the pages back, and when he reached the quill that made the most sense for him at this stage, he paused.
"The Quill of Beautiful Serendipity."
The feather was black and had a silver tip, it came from An Initiate Rank 8 Black Crow with a price of 11 silver coins. He turned to look at the old man who was already sitting engrossed in a book after he finished with the customer and said somewhat awkwardly, "Elder, give me one quill of beautiful serendipity."
'I don't know why you'd think of such a name when looking at a completely pitch-black feather.' Melvin thought, somewhat amused by the multitude of over-the-top names he had read thus far.
The old man put down his book and walked deep into the store, till his figure became hidden by the darkness within.
Melvin then flipped the book over, and started from the other end, looking through their collections of parchments.
'Oh?' Melvin analyzed as he looked through them, 'That is indeed interesting, but makes things somewhat complicated.'
He noticed how other than the fact the parchments were made from different beasts' skin, their sizes varied by a lot.
There was a Folio size, around a meter in height and a quarter in width, and so one page. Then, there was a Quarto size, which was in essence just a Folio folded in half.
Octavo followed the same rule, Quarto's size folded in half, and then Duodecimo, and Sextodecimo who were unsurprisingly the same thing, 'This isn't complicated at all, I was just scared off by the names.' Melvin thought with a smile as he looked at them.
As he was looking through the collection, he noticed how there was a parchment made from dog skin which almost immediately made him want to vomit, 'Not the poor dogs..'
He dreaded turning to the next page in case there was one of a cat, but fortunately after he did so, he found that it was only that of a deer, 'I can live with that.' he thought after exhaling a long breath he was unconsciously holding.
In the end, he chose two Sextodecimo parchments that looked like small books. Their height was slightly higher than the average height of a man's palm and slightly wider.
The skin came from a hyena monster called Strynthar Ravager that lived in the forests close to Nightmond city, making the price slightly cheaper, 3 silver coins a parchment, even though it was an Initiate Rank 6 monster.
"It will be 17 silver coins," said the old shopkeeper with a hoarse voice.
Melvin paid with a smile, reducing his total money to a measly 87 silver coins and 432 copper coins.
He took the quill wrapped in a thick piece of paper with the two parchments and put them in his bag thinking, 'Wouldn't it have been better if I could just use paper?'
The knowledge of his skill explained something about a monster's vitality in the skin, and because the paper was mostly made from trees, the vitality and energy of the materials used were almost negligible. Much to his dismay because paper was cheaper.
He walked back to the edge of the sidewalk and stood there, waiting for a red transportation carriage to come by. Standing there, he quickly noticed a wide and thin wooden board planted on the sidewalk. In front of it, several people stood, reading the content inside.
Intrigued by this, Melvin steadily approached the group and began reading as well.
---
Anticipation in the Air: Excitement fills the streets as the city eagerly anticipates the upcoming Crimson Feathers Festival. With tomorrow's festivities on the horizon, citizens bustle about, preparing their grills and adorning themselves in vibrant attire. Bodies sway in anticipation, ready to dance and revel in the joyous celebration to come.
---
Inheritance of the Arcane: At Lumina's Glow, the esteemed President prepares to pass the torch to a new successor: his own illegitimate son. As rumors swirl and tensions rise, the enchanter shop braces for a transition that could reshape the very foundation of magical commerce in the city.
---
New Owners, New Era: The Gaistel Family's recent acquisition of the renowned Crimson Fang Guild signals a significant shift in the mercenary landscape. With their resources and influence, they promise to usher in a new era of strength and prosperity within the guild's ranks.
---
Tragedy Strikes the Parker Family: Johnathan Parker, Vice-President of the Adventurer's Association, reels from the loss of his daughter, Amelia Parker. Assaulted and killed, her untimely demise casts a shadow over the city's streets, leaving her father and the community shaken to the core.
---
Rising Threat in the Woodlands: Concern grips the city as reports flood in of an abnormal surge in monster activity within the nearby forests. With the safety of the populace at risk, the Adventurer's Association is forced to call upon the aid of the military. Together, they stand ready to confront the escalating threat.
---
'Damn,' Melvin thought shock, especially after reading that last piece of news, 'It seems like it's very dangerous out here'
Still, what he felt the most looking at that was none other than disbelief. His mind was still having issues processing the gravity of his situation, and he would always internalize these things from the point of view of someone from Earth, someone who was both clueless and easily awed.
He continued reading the other articles as they proved to be a very good way to learn about the world, and listening to other people's conversations as they speculated over all kinds of news entertained him for a while.
The city had already started to become bustling with activity again, and the streets were busy with vendors loudly haggling. From one of the nearby taverns, laughter echoed, waking Melvin from his reverie and prompting him to glance in its direction.
The sign of a wooden cup and a bottle of wine made him remember something, 'I need alcohol to reduce the surface tension of the parchment so that it could soak up the ink, otherwise, it'll just stay on top of it and I won't be able to write like that.'
With no time to waste, he checked left and right to see if there was any incoming fast carriage before he crossed the road and entered the tavern on the other side of the street.
The tavern's wooden door creaked as Melvin pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with the warm scent of ale and hearth fire. Circular tables were scattered throughout the room, each surrounded by patrons engaged in conversation or quietly nursing their drinks.
A large stone fireplace dominated one wall, casting flickering shadows across the worn wooden floorboards. A burly bartender with a black beanie stood behind the counter, polishing glasses with a rag as he surveyed the room with a groggy expression of someone who had just woken up.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, there was an air of camaraderie and relaxation that enveloped the tavern. Melvin guessed that maybe all of these day drinkers were regulars.
However, he noticed something frightening that made his steps immediately halt in front of the door. Initially, the people inside the tavern only reflexively stole a glance at him out of habit, but noticing his stiff facial expressions, and more so the way he was just standing there, they all began watching, clearly intrigued by whatever was happening. Even the big group in the middle that was bellowing with laughter were stealing glances amidst their busy conversation.
As for what made Melvin pause, it was a huge black bear sleeping in front of the bar counter. If he wanted to go and ask the bartender for a bottle of alcohol, he had to stand directly in front of its face, but how could he do that?
'What in the world is happening here?' He thought in shock, but it was mostly a way to air out his confusion and process them. He understood that for some reason, some people were followed by monsters. He knew that they were to a degree, safe, and posed no threat to humans. Just the patrons' nonchalant reactions to a giant bear sitting next to them were a testament to that.
But, he didn't expect them to be even indoors, in an establishment that welcomed customers. He was still a man from Earth, and to ask him to willingly approach a black bear with his measly strength would always be met with a ridiculous scoff. The fact that just this morning, a little boy was eaten by a horse didn't help in easing his worries at all.
His gaze moved to the nearest table to his right, there he saw a younger man in his mid-twenties with shoulder-length brown hair drinking on his own. The man's expression looked intense as he looked at the jug between his palms, from time to time he would mumble something under his breath before clenching his fists in rage. "Does that bear bite?" A voice echoed close to him, capturing his attention.
Thinking of the skill, his calm and collected heartbeat immediately increased its speed in excitement. Noticing that the woman had paid and left, he impatiently approached the counter and asked with shining eyes, "Elder, I need a quill and a parchment. What do you have?"
Without saying anything, the old shopkeeper pivoted to a shelf to his right, picked a thick book, and put it above the counter with a thud.
He inclined his head slightly, his eyes peering over the low-hung glasses perched atop his nose bridge as he opened the book and began to explain, "This book is split into three sections. The first contains information about quills, the second about ink, and the third about parchments. Feel free to browse through them, and let me know what you're looking for."
With a nod, Melvin moved the book to the left corner of the counter, giving way to the customer behind him. Then, he slowly began going through the first section that had quills.
Opening the first page, he observed that each page was split in two. At the top of the page, a vivid drawing with colors about a quill with a gradient of brown hues. The quill's tip glistened, hinting both at its sharpness and fine craftsmanship, prompting him to quirk his eyebrows with a slow sage nod.
Below the drawing, intricate details describe the quill's craftsmanship, specifying the type of ore used to create its sharp tip and the species of bird from which the feather originated. A caption beneath the illustration reads, "The Quill of Drunk Autumn: 6 Silver Coin."
Melvin was only concerned with two things when looking at the quills, the materials used to create the tip and the strength of the bird, 'Hmm this one only has a simple copper quill and a feather from an Initiate Rank 2, and it already costs a six silvers.' He mused before commenting, 'Too damn expensive.'
True to his expectations, as he continued turning the pages the price for the quills began to increase in range. From the initial price, to hundreds, and finally a whopping 30 gold coins.
'Fuck won't I become rich if I robbed this old man?' Melvin thought in amusement as his gaze moved from the book to the cool disinterested old man who was serving a male customer with an impassive look.
Looking back at a golden quill he started reading its information, 'Forged through a process of gold, feather from a Novice Rank 3 Golden Fiery Swan, price 30 gold coins... Yeah right!' He thought.
He immediately began flipping the pages back, and when he reached the quill that made the most sense for him at this stage, he paused.
"The Quill of Beautiful Serendipity."
The feather was black and had a silver tip, it came from An Initiate Rank 8 Black Crow with a price of 11 silver coins. He turned to look at the old man who was already sitting engrossed in a book after he finished with the customer and said somewhat awkwardly, "Elder, give me one quill of beautiful serendipity."
'I don't know why you'd think of such a name when looking at a completely pitch-black feather.' Melvin thought, somewhat amused by the multitude of over-the-top names he had read thus far.
The old man put down his book and walked deep into the store, till his figure became hidden by the darkness within.
Melvin then flipped the book over, and started from the other end, looking through their collections of parchments.
'Oh?' Melvin analyzed as he looked through them, 'That is indeed interesting, but makes things somewhat complicated.'
He noticed how other than the fact the parchments were made from different beasts' skin, their sizes varied by a lot.
There was a Folio size, around a meter in height and a quarter in width, and so one page. Then, there was a Quarto size, which was in essence just a Folio folded in half.
Octavo followed the same rule, Quarto's size folded in half, and then Duodecimo, and Sextodecimo who were unsurprisingly the same thing, 'This isn't complicated at all, I was just scared off by the names.' Melvin thought with a smile as he looked at them.
As he was looking through the collection, he noticed how there was a parchment made from dog skin which almost immediately made him want to vomit, 'Not the poor dogs..'
He dreaded turning to the next page in case there was one of a cat, but fortunately after he did so, he found that it was only that of a deer, 'I can live with that.' he thought after exhaling a long breath he was unconsciously holding.
In the end, he chose two Sextodecimo parchments that looked like small books. Their height was slightly higher than the average height of a man's palm and slightly wider.
The skin came from a hyena monster called Strynthar Ravager that lived in the forests close to Nightmond city, making the price slightly cheaper, 3 silver coins a parchment, even though it was an Initiate Rank 6 monster.
"It will be 17 silver coins," said the old shopkeeper with a hoarse voice.
Melvin paid with a smile, reducing his total money to a measly 87 silver coins and 432 copper coins.
He took the quill wrapped in a thick piece of paper with the two parchments and put them in his bag thinking, 'Wouldn't it have been better if I could just use paper?'
The knowledge of his skill explained something about a monster's vitality in the skin, and because the paper was mostly made from trees, the vitality and energy of the materials used were almost negligible. Much to his dismay because paper was cheaper.
He walked back to the edge of the sidewalk and stood there, waiting for a red transportation carriage to come by. Standing there, he quickly noticed a wide and thin wooden board planted on the sidewalk. In front of it, several people stood, reading the content inside.
Intrigued by this, Melvin steadily approached the group and began reading as well.
---
Anticipation in the Air: Excitement fills the streets as the city eagerly anticipates the upcoming Crimson Feathers Festival. With tomorrow's festivities on the horizon, citizens bustle about, preparing their grills and adorning themselves in vibrant attire. Bodies sway in anticipation, ready to dance and revel in the joyous celebration to come.
---
Inheritance of the Arcane: At Lumina's Glow, the esteemed President prepares to pass the torch to a new successor: his own illegitimate son. As rumors swirl and tensions rise, the enchanter shop braces for a transition that could reshape the very foundation of magical commerce in the city.
---
New Owners, New Era: The Gaistel Family's recent acquisition of the renowned Crimson Fang Guild signals a significant shift in the mercenary landscape. With their resources and influence, they promise to usher in a new era of strength and prosperity within the guild's ranks.
---
Tragedy Strikes the Parker Family: Johnathan Parker, Vice-President of the Adventurer's Association, reels from the loss of his daughter, Amelia Parker. Assaulted and killed, her untimely demise casts a shadow over the city's streets, leaving her father and the community shaken to the core.
---
Rising Threat in the Woodlands: Concern grips the city as reports flood in of an abnormal surge in monster activity within the nearby forests. With the safety of the populace at risk, the Adventurer's Association is forced to call upon the aid of the military. Together, they stand ready to confront the escalating threat.
---
'Damn,' Melvin thought shock, especially after reading that last piece of news, 'It seems like it's very dangerous out here'
Still, what he felt the most looking at that was none other than disbelief. His mind was still having issues processing the gravity of his situation, and he would always internalize these things from the point of view of someone from Earth, someone who was both clueless and easily awed.
He continued reading the other articles as they proved to be a very good way to learn about the world, and listening to other people's conversations as they speculated over all kinds of news entertained him for a while.
The city had already started to become bustling with activity again, and the streets were busy with vendors loudly haggling. From one of the nearby taverns, laughter echoed, waking Melvin from his reverie and prompting him to glance in its direction.
The sign of a wooden cup and a bottle of wine made him remember something, 'I need alcohol to reduce the surface tension of the parchment so that it could soak up the ink, otherwise, it'll just stay on top of it and I won't be able to write like that.'
With no time to waste, he checked left and right to see if there was any incoming fast carriage before he crossed the road and entered the tavern on the other side of the street.
The tavern's wooden door creaked as Melvin pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with the warm scent of ale and hearth fire. Circular tables were scattered throughout the room, each surrounded by patrons engaged in conversation or quietly nursing their drinks.
A large stone fireplace dominated one wall, casting flickering shadows across the worn wooden floorboards. A burly bartender with a black beanie stood behind the counter, polishing glasses with a rag as he surveyed the room with a groggy expression of someone who had just woken up.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, there was an air of camaraderie and relaxation that enveloped the tavern. Melvin guessed that maybe all of these day drinkers were regulars.
However, he noticed something frightening that made his steps immediately halt in front of the door. Initially, the people inside the tavern only reflexively stole a glance at him out of habit, but noticing his stiff facial expressions, and more so the way he was just standing there, they all began watching, clearly intrigued by whatever was happening. Even the big group in the middle that was bellowing with laughter were stealing glances amidst their busy conversation.
As for what made Melvin pause, it was a huge black bear sleeping in front of the bar counter. If he wanted to go and ask the bartender for a bottle of alcohol, he had to stand directly in front of its face, but how could he do that?
'What in the world is happening here?' He thought in shock, but it was mostly a way to air out his confusion and process them. He understood that for some reason, some people were followed by monsters. He knew that they were to a degree, safe, and posed no threat to humans. Just the patrons' nonchalant reactions to a giant bear sitting next to them were a testament to that.
But, he didn't expect them to be even indoors, in an establishment that welcomed customers. He was still a man from Earth, and to ask him to willingly approach a black bear with his measly strength would always be met with a ridiculous scoff. The fact that just this morning, a little boy was eaten by a horse didn't help in easing his worries at all.
His gaze moved to the nearest table to his right, there he saw a younger man in his mid-twenties with shoulder-length brown hair drinking on his own. The man's expression looked intense as he looked at the jug between his palms, from time to time he would mumble something under his breath before clenching his fists in rage. "Does that bear bite?" A voice echoed close to him, capturing his attention.
