It has been a week since the two of them started working in the mines. They had no idea if the pay was good or not since they never really bought or sold anything since coming to this world. After waking up the next day, Pyndel came and gave each of them 8 copper coins with a weird looking symbol on each of them. Kira decided to ask him what this was since he thought this was robbery. However, Pyndel simply asked them where they came from with rather suspicious eyes.
Kira panicked a little and told him that they came from an isolated village in the nearby mountains, those that he saw when he left the city. He then continued talking hurriedly, giving Pyndel no room to reply, that people would leave from that village to seek adventure in the outside world and that he and Bemo were the same. Bemo just stood there motionlessly with no expression on his face as usual.
Pyndel eased his glare a bit and asked him what their money system was. To which, Kira simply said that they exchanged goods with each other instead of using a money system while giving a remark about how uncivilized his supposed village was. He ended his sentence with a dry laugh while scratching the back of his head.
Seemingly too tired to pursue the matter any further, Pyndel told them about the money system in this country. The lowest type of coin was a sort of gray iron that they called ibene.
Above it was the copper coins in their hands that were worth 50 ibene each, they were called inty.
Then, there was the iufa which was made of silver and was worth 100 inty.
And the highest was the Oten which was, obviously for Kira, made of gold. It was worth 100 iufa.
All of these coins were enchanted to prevent rust and forgeries. A normal citizen would need at least 15 iufa to support his or her daily needs. As for the symbols, they were the crest of the Taki Monarchy which was the ruling family of this region. It was basically a big drop of water with a smaller tree, some dirt and a cloud surrounding it, forming a triangle. Once he explained it, it was actually very easy to distinguish.
The reason Kira lied to Pyndel was because he didn’t know anything about this world and the suspicious look Pyndel gave him which made him a bit uneasy.
After that they continued to work there for the whole week, avoiding people as much as possible until they could find out more about the world.
Kira decided they should go back to the city afterwards to read more about the world in a library or anything of the sort. When they told Pyndel they were leaving, he asked them to hand over their picks and waved them off with a tired good bye.
Kira was fashioning his usual smile on his back, with the expressionless Bemo walking beside him.
They crossed the inner gate and went straight for the shaking pantry pub.
As they entered, the bartender noticed them and had a bit of a smug look on his face.
“Did ya give up, kids?” he asked as they approached.
“No, we’ve done what we needed” Kira said with a grin.
The bartender’s face returned back to normal as he laughed loudly and “hit” Kira’s shoulder with his gigantic right hand “attaboy, it’s good that ya know what you’re doing”
Kira decided to laugh with the man to appear intimate and told him a simple “thank you”
And then continued “So I need to buy a map to know where I’m going instead of coming here to ask you every time”
“Sure that’ll be 10 inty”
Kira gladly gave him the money, grateful that he wouldn’t tell him to go somewhere else because he was a bit tired.
He waved his hand good bye to the bartender and left the place after he told him “see you later”
Once back on the stone streets, Kira spoke while looking at the map “so where is this library?” while moving his finger all over the map trying to locate the library, Bemo simply pointed at it from the side.
“Oh thanks, Bemo”
They headed for the library to finally get some information about the world they were in.
After passing many buildings with different looking roofs, they found the library at a corner between two streets, exactly as the map showed. It was a three story building with many windows that showed only the book shelves inside and the same white rock ceiling as the outside.
They went inside and looked around for the receptionist. They found her at the far right side of the store managing some books. As they approached they could make out her appearance somewhat. Wearing a simple white shirt with a black v-cut vest that barely went down her stomach and a black skirt to match. Her clothes matched her black curly hair very well. With emerald green eyes and a lovely round face she looked at the two men approaching. She gave them a lovely business smile and told them with her very smooth, pleasant voice “what can I do for you, gentlemen?”
With a smile of his own, Kira said “Hello, we are travelers coming from an isolated village in the mountains, and we would like to get some books on the history of this world”
Suddenly remembering something he added “…and also some books on the language spoken around these parts”
The woman who looked to be in her 20s replied to Kira “certainly, sir. However, first you’ll have to either buy a membership for the library or pay for a day’s stay in the library”
“How much do they cost?”
“The membership costs 1 iufa while the stay is 8 inty each”
Kira pondered whether he should go kill something outside the city while spending all their money to buy a membership for Bemo so that he could finally get some action. Or think rationally and stay here while both of them read the books and go hunting together afterwards.
“We’ll stay for a day” He said as he handed her 16 inty.
“Then please take seat over there” she pointed at a table to her right.
“And I’ll go get the books you requested” She said cheerfully.
A while later the two of them sat with a stack of four books in front of them. One was for the vocabulary of the language the other was the grammar, and the two others were history books.
“Alright, come on, Bemo” Kira said as he took the vocabulary book and went to the receptionist.
“Excuse us, ma’am. Could you please tell us about the basics of this language? Like how each characters sound and the basic sentences?” He was looking up while talking because she was on some stairs evidently trying to sort some books or return them into place.
“I’m sorry, but I’m a little busy at the moment. You can try touching the characters or sentences and you’ll hear what they sound like” she said, looking down at them with her business smile.
A little confused, Kira thanked her and went back to their table.
He opened the book to the first page after what seemed to be the table of content and found some characters spaced out evenly on the page. He touched one of the characters and a great voice resounded. With surprise written all over his face he asked “Did you hear that?”
“No, I did not, Kira”
Kira was even more surprised by this and thought for a moment before telling Bemo to try it.
Bemo looked at Kira after touching a letter and said “It seems to be a kind of telepathy magic, Kira”
Kira nodded energetically and said “Ok, this is awesome. I can’t wait to try out more magic in the future. For now, let’s finish these books”
After Kira was done hearing all the letters he heard a *Ding*
YOU HAVE GAINED A NEW SKILL
For already having experience using this skill it has been raised a tier
Mnemonics (Intermediate : Lvl 1)A technique used for memorizing facts and information using one’s imagination. This skill increases your visualization’s vividness. And increases your speed at making associations.
Kira became ecstatic that he could increase his proficiencies in skills, that he picked up in real life, even more in this game. He couldn’t wait to finish the language so that he would get the speed reading skill, too.
“Did you get anything after finishing the characters, Bemo?”
“Yes, I did, Kira”
“Oh, show me, show me” Kira got excited like a little kid.
Bemo seemed to be playing with his fingers in the air when the familiar blue window appeared with a *Ding*
Photographic Memory (Trait) You gain full retention of your memories whenever you want to remember them.
“That’s so cool” Kira exclaimed his admiration out loud while standing up from his seat before remembering where he was and covering his mouth. Thankfully, there wasn’t anyone in the vicinity except the receptionist, who was a little startled but ignored it, so Kira relaxed.
They spent two hours reading both language books. With each page, Kira got faster as he started becoming familiar with the characters. And apparently the magic on the sentences and words would say the word in its language and then translate it to the most familiar language of the one who hears it.
Until after an hour of reading Kira got what he was waiting for
*Ding*
YOU HAVE GAINED A NEW SKILL
Stolen story; please report.
For already having experience using this skill it has been raised a tier
Speed Reading (Intermediate : Lvl 1) Increases your reading speed by 800% that of a normal person’s.
While Kira was still reading the grammer book, Bemo was already reading the final history book.
*As expected, his learning speed and capacity is way higher than any human’s: normal or not* thought Kira
It took another hour for Kira to finish the history books. Yet Bemo didn’t move from his side and sat while looking in front of him for the whole hour. Each book he finished gave him a boost in his skills and some stat boost in INT and WIS but mainly in INT.
Kira went to return the books to the receptionist, who was surprised, and asked “Are you not going to finish these books?”
“We already have”
The receptionist just looked at them for a moment then laughed and said “yeah… right”
“No, I’m serious. For example the peace treaty done at Biford castle between all intelligent species ended the times of war and started the new calendar” Kira said as matter of fact.
“You might have just know that from where you came from” the receptionist said, unconvinced.
“Well, it was mentioned in page 327 of the book (History of Zumar)” Kira wanted to find out what kind of expression she’d make, once he convinced her so he pushed further with a playful expression.
“Also there was this battle in scarwood forest where the wood and high elves fought against the blood elves and ended their race, it was mentioned in page 251 to 254 of the same book”
“Also…Also the blood elves were the race that gave birth to vampires through a certain unknown incident which is believed to be the reason vampires are susceptible to the sun while the blood elves aren’t, it was mentioned in page 57 of the book (the races’ history)”
The woman just stood there in a daze, unable to process how such a thing is happening.
“pffft… Nhahahahaha” Kira couldn’t hold it any longer and burst into laughter, waking the receptionist from here daze.
“Why are you laughing?” She asked cutely while puffing her cheeks and giving him and angry glare.
“I’m sorry, but I just love looking at those kinds of faces. It gets me every time” he stopped a lot in the sentence, trying to keep from laughing out loud again.
“Hm… Many people can do that anyway, it’s just the first time I’ve seen it done with my own eyes. Though these people are usually scholars. Are you a scholar…Um? What’s your name exactly?”
“It’s Kira” He pointed at Bemo and said “This is Bemo. And no, we’re not scholars. Though we used to read a lot in our home village” Lying through his teeth, Kira tried his best to not sound suspicious. Especially after he read the history books.
“I’m Cecie. It’s good to meet you two” She gave them a lovely smile.
“Well then, Cecie. I was wondering whether there would be books on magic that we could read here” Kira said, also smiling.
“There are many books on magic here. However, you must have a magic profession or the mages guild’s emblem, in order for you to read them”
“Oh… Do you know how I can get the mages guild’s emblem then?” Kira asked.
“They make you go through a test, in order to see your magic capabilities and whether or not you might use their knowledge for evil” Cecie answered.
“And they obviously check whether or not we’re evil with some form of telepathy magic?” Kira asked.
“Maybe, I’m not too keen on the details” Cecie answered while putting a finger on her lower lip and looking upwards.
Kira had a dissatisfied look on his face before he hid it and said “Ok, thanks, Cecie. We’ll see you later then“ He waved her good bye and left with Bemo.
“Come back anytime” She said while also waving at them from behind her counter.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kira learned through the history books that this land was ravaged by many wars between all the different races. The sentient races fought for supremacy over one another, which decreased their numbers greatly, allowing the monster races to overpower them at some point. The humans wanted to enslave all beast kin, thinking they were lesser beings. The high, wood and night elves fought the blood elves until they drove them to extinction because of their beastly ways that weren’t deemed fit for elves. And then joined the conflict of the humans and beast-kin.
The dwarves and gnomes hid in their mountains avoiding most of the conflicts. Yet, there was still skirmishes between other races and sometimes between their own kin. The barbarians fought for whoever hired them as mercenaries. And the draconians kept mostly to themselves only fighting those who fought them.
When the monster races started getting stronger and pushed the sentient races to a corner. The humans out of fear reluctantly agreed for peace with the elves and beast-kin. Together they provided raw materials for the dwarves and gnomes in order to persuade them to join their alliance. Though the barbarians loved violence and battles they also joined the alliance because they could still fight monsters everyday. The draconians still stayed mostly secluded from the outside world. However, some of them liked to leave their homes and wander the whole continent. This alliance is now known as the Biford Union. A union guided by the great god of light (Kathil).
After hundreds of years the monsters were easily pushed back again. And conflict between some of the beast-kin and humans ignited again. To deal with the rebellious humans the union decided to banish them to the north. With the humans taking the north, they started the Ceton kingdom, ruled by the Ceton royal bloodline. The ones who reignited the conflict. The kingdom follows (Thaldir) the great god of destruction. He gave the Ceton family power to defend their kingdom from the monsters and enslave all who stood before them.
The beast-kin, who were unable to live with humans again, went east, to the center of the continent. They made the Anes republic that follows the great beast goddess (Anes). With power shared evenly between each beast clan, they found hope in defending themselves against monsters.
Thankfully, the kingdom and republic are separated by a mountain chain and going around it would lead them into the union’s borders. So, the conflict is at a standstill for now. In the far north where Kira and Bemo are, lies the Taki monarchy. A family of humans who worship the great goddess of water (Takela) The ruling family is said to be very welcoming to all races as long as they don’t cause trouble. The family existed way before the union. With a great military and economic system along with the power given to them from the goddess. They repelled all invaders and solved any conflict that happened inside their borders. Though people don’t know how they did it on their own even to this day. They suspect the family had help from the draconians whose city is believed to be within the monarchy’s borders.
What Kira found most unnerving and unusual about all the history was that no one ever got out to the great ocean and came back to tell the tale. The furthest any one could get were a couple of islands close to the main continent. And even most of those who tried going to these islands got shipwrecked. Of the few survivors who were miraculously close to shore they reported seeing gargantuan monsters from the sea.
Which is now belived to be the reason no one survives in the sea.
The reason Kira became overly cautious, was because of the unknown that awaited him and Bemo when people find out he wasn’t from here. Even worse if they found out he and Bemo were the ones that actually made them.
That’s why he decided to stay away from the mages guild until he could at least block their telepathy magic and even better if he learned it for himself in order to forcefully make Bemo feel emotions.
Though he didn’t know if it was a good idea. He decided to risk it since he didn’t see any improvement in Bemo.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once they were out of the library, Kira decided they should go hunting since he has been dying to try out the martial arts he learned in real life.
*I should have asked Cecie to give me some information on the monsters in the area* Kira pondered * but then she might get even more suspicious since I’m supposed to be from a village in the nearby mountains*
With a shrug. Kira thought this was for the best.
“Hey, Bemo. Let’s go hunting” Kira said with his smile.
“Will you be alright, Kira?” asked Bemo without any visible concern in his voice.
“It’ll be alright, I can hold it” Kira said, giving a little sad smile before saying “I’m pretty sure I can hold it together as long as I don’t get too aggravated, but if push comes to shove… you know what to do”
Kira looked at Bemo as if to make sure of something, then Bemo said with a nod “I understand, Kira”
“Good. Then let’s be on our way” Kira said as he turned to walk on the way to the gate, with a determined smile on his face.
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Hello, everyone!
I know that this is just the beginning of the story but i already feel that my side characters are very lacking. whether it's their personalities, roles or other wise. Also my vocabulary sucks even though i take great pride in my grammar.
So please give me some pointers and suggestions if you can.
As always, please report any loopholes, inconsistencies or grammatical errors.
Thank you, everyone!