Second Realm

by Michael Chatfield

  “It was something I was given in order to help you,” Cai Dan said as they reached the front of the line and then walked up to a counter with a man standing at it.

  “How can I help you today?” the man asked with a smile.

  “Do you have a list of information manuals? And I was wondering if you have any spell books on accelerating or compressing Mana?” Erik asked.

  The man looked a little surprised but with a smile, he pulled a list out from his storage ring. “This is a list for the different information manuals we have. Is there any particular manuals you would be interested in?”

  “Manuals related to woodworking, cooking, formations, tailors, farming?” Erik asked.

  “Certainly!” The man pulled out more lists and put them in front of Erik.

  The books weren’t cheap but to the current Erik, it wasn’t bad. “Could I get these ones?” Erik pointed to different books on the lists, quickly pointing out seventy or so books.

  For farming, woodworking, cooking, and tailoring there was a lot of information to be found. Formations only really dealt with theories so Erik only got a few; their price was the highest as well.

  “What about for smithing and Alchemy?” Erik asked.

  More lists appeared. There was more for smithing than Alchemy. Still, Erik got a healthy collection of both and pressed onward, looking into spells and Mana Gathering Cultivation manuals.

  After reviewing the lists, he had found three cultivation manuals that focused on compressing one’s Mana and purifying it. Erik knew about the subject, but only from doing it. He hadn’t talked to many people about the process and he needed more information on it.

  The spell he bought was simple.

  ==========

  Increased Casting Speed

  ==========

  When used with another spell, it increases the cost of the original spell by 30% but it casts instantaneously and faster than before.

  ==========

  Erik was hoping that casting faster than before would allow him to increase the Mana bullet’s velocity.

  “Do you have any information regarding Body Cultivation?”

  “We have some elementary books on Body Cultivation, different ways to temper one’s body and increase their strength.” The salesman nodded.

  I was able to do it with poison but there must be other ways to temper one’s body. If I read the other books, I might find a new path to use and increase my body’s strength.

  Even if it is not too useful to me, there might be people in Alva Dungeon who can use this to temper their bodies without having to go through the hell of tempering with poison.

  “Could I take a look at those and books on Mana cultivation?”

  ***

  Rugrat knocked on the door to Erik’s room.

  There was a noise behind the door before a woman appeared at it.

  “Oh, you must be Delilah. Did that German fart tell you when he’d be back? I need to get some crafting supplies!” Rugrat rubbed his hands together.

  “U-uuh…who are you?”

  Rugrat held his chest as if he had been critically wounded and took a few steps back. “Jimmy Rugrat Rodriguez at your service, dear Apprentice! Call me Rugrat, though. Haven’t used those other names in ages.” Rugrat somehow slipped into being serious. He let out a right squeaker of a fart with a wet undertone as he clenched right up immediately, a shocked expression on his face.

  “’Scuse me!” Rugrat said as he ran into the room.

  Delilah coughed and then gagged. “By the nine!” She took out two ingredients and stuffed them up her nose as she slammed the door, trying to keep the smell out.

  Rugrat, clenched tighter than a Vietnam prisoner trying to hide a watch, skirted around the apartment with short steps.

  “Bathroooom??” he yelled out in half panic, half strained clench.

  Delilah tried to talk but failed, and just waved in the direction of the bathroom.

  Rugrat pulled off armor as he ran, letting it clang to the floor as his skinny white ass disappeared into the bathroom. “Fuuuuuuck you, Feng Yi! I’m never eating spicy food again!”

  Delilah didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She did take out more leaves and started chewing on them and made sure that there were no open flames.

  ***

  Erik felt good about his purchases. He had cleared out a large collection of books and then went to a number of apothecaries to buy different items.

  “Do you know of any consumables that can be used in a fight?” Erik asked Cai Dan, who was still a bit stunned from the money that he had spent thus far.

  “Well, there are concoctions one can consume to boost their stats, or coat your weapons in to affect the enemy. Then there are formations one can wear or use to create barriers, though there are only a few of those and expensive, so really only used for defense. But there are spell scrolls inscribed with magical runes. They can be much stronger than a person’s regular spells as they can be more complex and hold a charge. Anyone can use them, so a level one can use a tier one or nine spell scroll with ease.”

  That sounds fucking awesome. “Where could we buy some from?”

  “There is a small mages guild here. They have the most,” Cai Dan said.

  “Lead on!” Erik said.

  Cai Dan laughed and guided him through the streets. “So, now that you have the Mana stones, what will you do?” Cai Dan asked as they walked.

  “Rugrat and I have somewhere we need to go. Why? Going to be bored without us?” Erik winked.

  Cai Dan laughed and shook her head. “It’s been nice having you guys around and I don’t think we’ve been able to thank you properly.” Cai Dan’s eyes flicked over to him casually, a teasing smile on her face.

  Is she making a pass at me? It feels like it. As usual, Erik was his normal vocal self. “Errh, uhh, y-yeah,” he said with a weak smile.

  Fan-fucking-tastic. You just tripped over your own fricking tongue! Damn, man, pull it together!

  Cai Dan laughed and walked ahead a bit as they reached a store.

  Erik quickly checked her out. One more day wouldn’t hurt, right?

  They entered the large hall. There was a seating area with food and drink to the left side; on the right, people were selling goods and administration tables saw to the needs of the people in the guild.

  Cai Dan showed Erik to one of the counters with a woman sitting behind it.

  “Hello, customers. Is there anything that you would be interested in buying today?” She pointed to a list of items to the side of the counter.

  Erik looked at the extensive list. There were a number of ingredients that one could consume to increase their Mana Regeneration, as well as high-leveled food that looked to do the same. There were enchanted arrows and a few enchanted weapons as well. Then there were supplies for making spell scrolls and the spell scrolls themselves, ranked from tier one to two.

  Most tier-one spells were something that could kill creatures in the First Realm with only one or two uses. Tier-two spells had a larger area of effect or greater power, and one of them could kill most creatures below level seventeen.

  If we had people who could make spell scrolls in Alva Dungeon, it would give us another advantage.

  Although stats and attributes were good, Erik wanted to focus on using consumables first and then use the power in his body. He could weaken an enemy or heal an ally first and then finish the job off using his own skills and abilities.

  Stealth spell scrolls, spell scrolls for fireballs, a lightning strike? Really? I’ll get one. Arcane arrow—worth a shot.

  “Do you have any books on making spell scrolls?” Erik asked.

  “Those are only available for members of the guild. If you part of the guild and gain merit you can gain access to books about how to create spell scrolls.” The woman smiled.

  Nice catch. Still, even if I can’t make the spell scrolls, maybe someone can and these things
could be useful in any situation.

  “All right, I’ll get the Wind Tempest, the Increase Strength buff spell, the Localized Thunder Strike.” How the hell do you make lightning localized? “The Stealth scrolls, that tier-two spell Increased Magical Damage...”

  ***

  Erik had a full storage ring as he had cleared out a good number of spell scrolls from the guild, leaving the woman in shock as he took crafting materials for the spell scrolls as well.

  He headed back to his residence with Cai Dan in tow. Rugrat had said he was there. Erik wanted to check with him, then see if he couldn’t take Cai Dan to get some food.

  He knocked on the door to find it unlocked.

  Rugrat’s clothes were on the floor and he was covered in sweat. He sat at the kitchen table in just his American flag short shorts. Delilah looked tired as she was making him something.

  “Uhh…” Erik looked around the room, making assumptions as he looked at the two.

  “It’s like that goat curry in Somalia,” Rugrat said.

  With just those words, Erik’s body convulsed. Even with all of the windows open, Erik stepped backward toward the door. He took out two Mana stones and put them on the floor, tossing a Simple Ranged Heal in Rugrat’s direction.

  “Come on, we’ve got a meeting with Hiao Xen,” Erik said.

  Rugrat’s color started to get better as he started to use his own healing spells.

  “Ugh, that nausea was nasty. Couldn’t keep my head clear to heal myself,” Rugrat said as he quickly recovered. He stood and got himself ready.

  “Let’s go and see Hiao Xen then.” He walked for the door.

  “Delilah, you can stay here and study.” Erik turned to the bewildered Cai Dan. “Would you want to go get something to eat later?” he asked with a smile.

  She pulled her eyes away from the door, a big smile on her face as she nearly jumped with excitement. “Sure!”

  Rugrat rolled his eyes behind her but Erik only grinned.

  Erik and Rugrat went to Hiao Xen’s office.

  He was waiting for them as they entered.

  “It seems that you are leaving Taeman city,” Hiao Xen said, looking right through them.

  Erik nodded.

  “I hope that our paths are able to cross again in the future. My debt to you is no small matter,” Hiao Xen said.

  Erik made to dismiss it but stopped, seeing that Hiao Xen would be offended if he tried to.

  “Grandmaster Rugrat, I have heard and read a lot about you. I am sad that this is the only time that I have been able to meet you,” Hiao Xen said.

  “I was busy with a few projects. I did plan on making my way over, but things came in the way,” Rugrat said.

  “I hope that your projects went well and you know that the Blue Lotus would be pleased to sell any of them.” Hiao Xen smiled.

  Rugrat couldn’t help but laugh slightly.

  “Seeing that you will be leaving before the auction starts, I have taken the liberty to prepare a gift for you.” Hiao Xen pulled out a cauldron and held it out toward Erik.

  Erik accepted it. Just holding it in his hands, he could feel the quality of the cauldron. It was much better than the simple cauldron that Old Man Hei had sold to him.

  ==========

  Flame of the Rezi Cauldron

  ==========

  Weight: 12.7 kg

  Durability: 100/100

  Innate Effect: Decrease Mana Flame cost by 12%

  Enchantment: Medicinal Bell—reflect the medicinal ingredients back into the center of the cauldron. Increase quantity of concoction made by 8%

  Requirements:

  Mana, magical or formation flames

  Apprentice-grade Alchemist

  ==========

  Erik’s hands shook in agitation as he looked at the information that came with the cauldron.

  With 12% less Mana used for the flames, then I can use more of them and I can exercise greater control over them. Allowing me to make higher-level concoctions without having to worry about the Mana cost as much.

  If Alchemy was compared to running, then the amount of Mana that one could draw on was comparable to their Stamina: the more they had, the longer they could train for, and the farther they could go.

  That, combined with the medicinal bell enchantment that made it harder for the efficacy of the different ingredients to be lost, resulted in the craftsmanship of the cauldron to be at half-step Journeyman. Although there were armors and weapons that could be found at this level, finding a specialized cauldron of the same level was much rarer as the blacksmith had to have an innate knowledge of Alchemy and smithing in order to make such a cauldron.

  “This cauldron—I haven’t seen something like it before in my life,” Erik said.

  “I am glad that it is up to your standards. I hope that it is of benefit to you,” Hiao Xen said, pleased that his item had met with Erik’s approval.

  “It is more than up to my standards.” Erik bowed his head and accepted the gift.

  “I wish you good travels.” Hiao Xen bowed to them both deeply.

  They returned the gesture and turned, leaving his office.

  Chapter: Return

  People looked over to the Ten Realms totem as six people wearing cloaks appeared.

  Storbon made a gesture with his hand and they all quickly left the square, heading for the gates.

  In the First Realm, there were only a few places that had fees when one entered through the totems. They were simply too expensive by themselves to waste the manpower.

  Still, a group of guards moved to intercept them.

  “Welcome to Chonglu city. Might I know what your business is here?” the leader of the squad asked with a smile.

  “Passing through,” Storbon said in a low voice.

  The leader’s smile weakened as he squinted at the six cloaked people. He seemed to come to a decision as he waved the guards to move. “Please, have a nice day.”

  Storbon nodded and headed straight toward the northern gate.

  Seems all a bit small compared to the cities that we saw in the Second Realm. Storbon laughed at himself. When he was in Alva Village, going to a place like Chonglu city, he would have been lost and anxious.

  He had truly changed since then. He was on guard but he wasn’t anxious. The Second Realm and his experiences had tempered him. He was no longer a simple boy who had only seen Alva Village and been left crippled.

  They passed through the gate. The guards all watched them as they passed.

  “Just those auras, did it seem to get chilly around here?” one guard muttered to his friend.

  “That’s the aura of a fighter, someone who had put their life on the line again and again. I’ve only felt it when I served in the Gasalop war,” his friend replied. “Make sure that you don’t offend that lot.”

  Storbon’s lips pressed together but he didn’t say anything. They headed out on the path with the occasional farmer and trader heading in and out of the city.

  “Let’s pick up the pace,” Storbon said.

  They quickly left the fields around Chonglu city and moved through the forest. The sound of rushing wind filled the forest as they moved out in an arrow formation. They circled around Chonglu and headed toward Beast Mountain.

  Ian dropped off a few traps that would alert them if anyone was following them.

  It was something that they had built up in their time in the Second Realm. They could only rely on themselves.

  They disappeared in the trees, no one the wiser as they headed between the trading outposts that ringed the Beast Mountain Range.

  ***

  Rugrat looked around, with Delilah next to him.

  With the vials, he had quickly recovered from his episode. Then he had Feng Yi run all over town buying different things he wanted as payment.

  Feng Yi enlisted the help of the Ru sisters as well, gathering more items.

  He hadn�
�t been able to contact Erik, but the fact no one had seen Cai Dan either, Rugrat felt worse rather than worried.

  One of the guards came over to them as they stood in front of the totem. Seeing Rugrat’s face, he swallowed his words, nodded to Rugrat and continued on his day, whistling as if nothing had happened—just a regular normal day, with a pissed-off redneck who’d had one too many goat burritos.

  Feng Yi could only cough awkwardly. The rest of the Thantis Traders hid their smiles.

  Cai Dan and Erik appeared, entering the square.

  They walked right up to them, looking rather close as Cai Dan hung off his arm.

  Rugrat moved his mouth, thinking of all kinds of curses before he let out a heavy breath. The corners of his mouth lifted as he looked at the people from Thantis Traders. “See you on the other side and don’t get stuck in weird places!”

  Cai Dan grabbed Erik and kissed him deeply before letting him go. They looked at each other before smiling and releasing each other.

  “What he said—look after yourselves. If you’re looking for a job,” Erik tossed them a letter, “this falls under the oath you made before.”

  With his words, it made it impossible for them to knowingly pass the information to anyone else other than each other.

  Erik and Rugrat walked through the line and toward the totem. Delilah trailed behind.

  “Second Realm, check. Next will be the Third Realm. Holy ground for alchemists apparently,” Rugrat said.

  “Fourth Realm, Battlefield Realm, where legends are born and heroes die,” Erik replied.

  Rugrat looked to Erik. A grin appeared on his face.

  “Battle maniac.” Erik grinned back.

  “Like you’re any better, Blue Eyes.”

  Erik let out a dry laugh and Rugrat put his hand on the totem.

  He selected Chonglu city. Erik passed him three Mana stones.

  They dissolved, entering the totem as three spots were highlighted on the ground. Power flooded into the spots as the three stepped on them.