Sachihiro

I check out the weapons in the Store.

Already I have a lot more equipment and information than I had the whole time I’ve been down here. I’m at a higher tier of power and so much more comfortable in my own skin than I've ever been. The necessities; food, shelter, a map and destination are already covered, a flying shield for those gaps I can't jump over.

Ultimately I feel prepared enough to move, with 290pts I’m not sure what to do with. There are just so many options and any one of these things could be vital in chaotic situations or completely useless. I could always get more healing spells, I wonder if the potions are better? I guess I'll know after I use them and I have the mirrors to get things if I need to resupply. Okay, final browse through for a good weapon.

The axes are beautiful, well made, functional. The swords are sublime, sleek, time and care taken in their crafting, some with enchantments that give them extra utility. The spears are exceptional, each a unique piece of deadly art. I can see how that crossed axe with the hooked bottom could be used to wrench tissue with a twist of the wrist or even disarm.

That sword is interesting, Ohhh... that bone hammer looks like it could do real damage.

Necrotic Hammer.

The aura is of a cold wet lifeless thing, hard. The epitome of 'bone hard' with a density one would mistake for stone if the curved stag head didn't clearly have bone pores on it. The rounded femur head at the end of the shaft is the dead giveaway for the materials used, I smile to myself.

I have weapons though, I can feel Honour like an extra limb attached to my soul. I don’t want to explore how that is possible whilst under the gaze of the orb but even in that suicide-stone that may have melted my equipment Honour in Death still is. I feel it, so any weapon i take here will be a temporary secondary weapon.

There is also… something. A connection of some sort between my skin and my weapons that I’ve yet to explore. Like my spiritual storage ring manages to exist, so to Kata and Razor aren’t wholly lost, its muted and different but the connection is there. I’d feel it if it were otherwise.

For now I need an external weapon. Something reliable, sturdy, deadly. Something valuable enough to pass on to my kids if the opportunity presents itself. I spot a spear that stands out somewhat.

2m in length with a leaf blade of reinforced steel as wide as my hand. The shaft is metal, retractable to be about the size of a sceptre with a pointy bottom end. An easily concealeable good quality spear is a good weapon.

15 points to purchase. I take it. It retracts as I pay for it through the orb. I grab it, opening it’s full length and feeling the balance.

I stab, cut, twist and slash missing one of the displayed items by a hair’s breath. It’s good, smooth in my arms. Retracting it I continue walking around the Store until something else catches my attention.

I turn to the section on spirit enchanted charms, amulets and talismans. Sorcery enchanted amulets of protection here are mostly single use items. It’s no easy thing recharging an item with spiritual energy if it’s not bound to you, which these can't be. Nothing I see could hide or protect me from Phosphorus. I think I’m done with items and weapons.

I glance around the place once then leave, heading back to the bookshelves.

I doesn’t take long to find the shelves on sorcery. I find a spell book with dozens of sigils and what they all mean and different ways to combine them to create spells, a sorcery spellbook. Personally I only know one summoning spell, the utility that can be achieved through sigils is almost endless.

Most of these combine into summoning sigils of different sorts as well. Summoning ropes, summoning chains, summoning pseudo-conjurings of fire, water, ice, air anything really depending on the geometry and sigils used. This book is invaluble! There is a stylus I saw in the Store that can be used to draw sigils on anything, even air. I’ll get it before I leave so I can practise these spells.

There are sigils that act as physical shields, sigils that act as barriers, sigils thatin combination act as doorways. Sigils that can be combined with others to produce unique effects.

I don’t use sorcerer like most people do. I don’t channel through a familiar, or a Spirit or any such entity to tap into the spiritual realm. Most sorcerers focus on sigil shaping whilst the familiar floods and stabalise the working with spirit energy in the correct ways. Easy for them not so much for me who uses his own energy, but I have my own advantages.

With divided mind I could probably divide the focus needed in supplying energy while shaping the spell intent and drawing the sigils, I'll just have to sacrifice mobility whilst casting. Maybe sacrifice awareness as well depending how strainous this is but otherwise I think I just found myself a new arsenal.

How will I shape them in battle though? A stylus isn’t something I can just use in a fight for my life, too slow. I’d need to be able to draw the symbols instantaneously in a serious fight. Practise will me perfect eventually, I can use it easily enough in slow paced fights or when i have backup.

I put the book in my pouch lending it for 5pts. There is just too much here for me to dwell on a single subject too long, I’d be here for months if I had time to but for now I’m grabbing everything I think I can use or quickly assimilate.

I grab another spine that attracts my attention, the other having already replaced itself on the shelf.

Enchanting, I go to a section.

Spirit Items, I'll just take a peek.

I open it and browse through most of the starter theory. I’ve learnt a lot of this already, ah here is something.

Bound objects.

I read through it carefully. ‘Most difficult part is finding or making material that can incorporate incorporeal spirit energy and hold it.’

Been through that part.

‘Spiritual energy bound items can grow in effectiveness with continuous use, are very durable so long as they remain infused with spirit and can be used with great effect by sorcerers or spirit creatures.’

I know all this, I wanna know what happens if they melt but remain spirit infused and bound.

Spirit infusing a weapon is the same as enchanting it. But instead of enchanting it with a sigil script that will channel spirit energy into a specific function, binding is more general an enchantment. More a, 'I make you my own' than a 'smite thy enemy’ with fire enchantment.

‘Bound items cannot be lost, the bearer can sense where they are. They cannot be forcefully infused with outside spirit. Connections can be so strong at times that even when the item is destroyed the bearer's spirit can maintain the shape and some of the functions of the item independent of it’s physical form. These are called phantom spirit limbs, very rare.’

I’m getting to the meat of the thing. I place the book in my pouch, another replacing it on the shelf immediately. 3 pts gone.

A shadowy silhouette sits low on the ground as though lying on the carpet between two sculptured trees. I get close.

"Pardon sir but the member seeks privacy at this time," a thin tall librarian with sharp teeth, slitted eyes and blurry lower limbs says intercepting my path to the dark form.

I change direction immediately. I don’t want to bump into anyone else in here either, the Blacks and their cohorts would only further delay my departure. I''ll be quick here.

I make my way to the shelf on Chakra and it’s use. The basics I already have and my Chakra pools will likely never grow beyond what they already are but still... I have much to explore in the potential benefit of combining Chakra and spirit energy in combat, or just in my everyday life.

I grab some books with different mudras, what they mean and how best to use them. I grab another on movement techniques and how to use the entire body’s movements as mudras instead of relying only on the hands.

A recommended read as a primer before delving into the book Jutsu which deals with the use of techniques in fighting using Chakra as the energy source. I immediately delve into the first pages.

'To perform a technique, the ninja will bring out and release the two energies of chakra. By forming hand seals in the correct way while channeling chakra, the ninja is able to manifest the desired technique. Because of the extensive number of hand seals and different combinations, there are thousands of potential techniques to be discovered.’

I close my eyes taking a calming breath to control my rising excitement.

The excitement seeps out in my aura spreading palpably within my awareness. Asriel would go crazy over this book, I hope it has good techniques for me to try.

I place it in my pouch buying it for 20pts. It’s crazy expensive to buy a book over borrowing but there are just some things I want as mine.

My last stop is the Repository of The Soul. Shelves here deal with anything and everything pertaining to the soul, what it is, how to nourish it, how to use it for more than just being alive. I’m surprised to learn there are different definitions and takes on what the soul is. Some equating it to spirit, others an esoteric existence beyond all understanding while some name it psyche.

It takes a while but I eventually find something on soul arts beyond the primer I already have in my possession. I’m happy to discover that the library has absolutely nothing on zanpakuto's specifically, it’s a relief to know they don’t know everything about everything.

I take in what I can from the books on soul arts and soul magic. The consistent theme is that to manifest the power of the soul externally it has to have an aspect attached to it. A focus of a sort it will take, otherwise it’s just pure clean energy. There is a footnote comparing soul disciplines with chi/Qi disciplines, which are manipulation of essence.

Mmmh, I’ve heard of this chi before, essence huh? I lend a primer on chi for 4pts and move on from there. I think I’m done with the library, all the benefit I can get within the time I’ve been here I’ve gotten.

Still..., a part of me doesn’t want to leave if I’m being honest with myself. I could spend a year or less here and break into Imperium if I used the time wisely. The thought itself is crazy but I feel it to be true.

I’m what, 51 years old and already I’m thinking about Imperium, 4th tier.

I shake my head in wry amusement. I’m almost disgusted with how quick my growth has been now with the benefit of hindsight in my perspective, 'overpowered shit’ indeed.

A grin stretches my face as I think back. There was a time I felt weak, felt like I wasn’t progressing, felt left behind by the likes of Om, Volvox, Mira, my brother, Ava. People I considered my peers in this pursuit of the martial path. Now I know deep within myself that my path is my own and am secure in that. There is no one to compare myself to but myself now.

However long this road is whatever turns it takes I am unique and no one could ever be a better Sachihiro van Damage than I can, than I am. No more comparisons, my only competition is the me of yesterday.

"I’m ready," I say to the air.

Mooletré comes walking around the corner like he was lurking there the whole time. Probably was considering a librarian turned me away from another member.

"Ready to check out sir?"

Is this place also an inn?

"I just have 200 points I’ll be spending before I go. I’d like your recommendations in helping me decide on purchases."

"Of course sir," he says pleased.

The basic necessities are covered, now for some luxury purchases. He leads I follow.

Rune Chalk

Used to drawn and infuse simple runes on objects. Lasts up to 4hours unless washed away. Can draw 20 simple runes before it is used up.

At 1 point per chalk I get 10 of them. I’ll use them to ward my campsites instead of chiselling wards onto hard rock.

Scroll of Spell Absorption

While holding this scroll you can absorb any tier 3 spell targeting only you, storing it a temporary amount of time for later or immediate release. 60pts.

Tuning Knife

This double bladed dagger can be struck on a surface and made to ring like a tuning fork. When a target is cut they will hear a loud ringing cancelling out all other sounds for a temporary amount of time. 7pts

Sand of the Pocket

This non dimensional pouch can be attached to any article of clothes and will always contain a handful of sand. When thrown at close range sand will target orifices and eyes. 12pts.

Gnomish Grenade

Using clockwork detonators this grenade will create explosion damage approximately 10m wide. 15pts.

I get two of them.

Bloody Forked Tongue

Once every moon cycle this severed tongue can be used to tell a lie to any target that they believe, no matter how ridiculous. Effect duration vary depending on target. 20pts

Ring of Mind Shielding While wearing this ring you are immune to most mind reading or mind altering spells and abilities. Telepathic communication is possible only when you allow it. 20pts.

With another 24 points I buy comfortable traveling boots and a pair of eye glasses with dark and distance vision enchantments. I get a pair of leather pants for 8 points and a belt for 2, expensive but well made from tough material that should last me through the journey. I still have 50 points leftover but more equipment than I need.

We walk back to what I now see as the lobby, it feels like I’ve been here days. It’s warm it’s comfortable and safe inside, it’s cold and dark and dangerous outside.

I put my pants on, then boots then the armour piece by piece with Mooletré helping. I’m watchful through my awareness which is how I spot him stick something between the seams before strapping the ties tight long my ribs.

I wonder what that is. Betrayal, another message?

I think I look good in boots, serviceable pants and armour, I feel good. Flexing my toes, kicking the boots on the wooden floor to test them. They fit well.

The weight of the armour is nice, comfortable. I can turn my torso without much issue but I can’t turn all the way as far as I can without it.

Gonna have to choose my fighting moves consciously if I’m forced to have to fight in this but it does feel solid.

I knock on the breastplate hard. The vibrations are all I feel otherwise the impact is completely negated.

I put on the oculus on my face. Rounded Victorian eye glasses for dark and distance vision, I attach my pouch under my breastplate and grin at the librarian looking at me with open interest.

"What do you think?"

"Exceptional sir, exceptional."

He passes me the spear and the new orb I haven’t yet activated. I attach the retracted spear on my back and disappear the orb in my left hand.

"This is your library card sir."

He passes me a playing card of some sort artfully decorated with glyphs that change colour with the light. I disappear that as well.

"The cloak sir?"

Right. I pull it from my dimensional pouch opening it with a flutter of holding it up. It's a beautiful peice of material.

"May I?"

I give it to him, he attaches it along my shoulders pulling the hood to hang out limp on my back.

I'm ready.

I nod once and leave through the doors that squeak open before me.