As Abri headed downtown, she reviewed her quest list.
Quests:
Increase the world's mana
Create a revival array
- Gain a mana storage item
- Store 1 million (1,000,000) mana
- Create the array
“What else should I get while I’m here? A sword would be good, maybe some armor…” Abri thought, heading into a store.
“Welcome! What are you looking for?” a store clerk asked.
“A cube of pure metal, maybe iron. Also, a long block of wood, maybe 2 meters. We don’t have any weapon shops, right?”
“We have a blacksmith, but I’m unsure if they make any weapons.”
“Then I’ll add like… 3kg of steel. Fair amount of leather, a spool of cotton and 4 meters of wool.”
“Understood, I’ll get your block of iron, it’s in the back. You can get the wood in aisle 1, the steel in aisle 3, and the cloth fabrics and leather are in aisle 4. You can get rung up at counter 6, I’ll be there waiting.”
“Thank youuuuu,” Abri remarked as she ran off to the aisles.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Having gotten what she needed from the RM store, she headed to the CA store to pick up a backpack, leather armor, and ring, before heading to the CT store for her tools.
“What you need lass?” the store clerk asked, leaving Abri with a sense of Deja Vu.
“Does every store clerk immediately call to customers to ask what they need?”
“If business is slow.”
“Huh. I need a carving knife, engraving tool, small wood engraver, and sewing kit.”
“Alright. Is that all?”
“Is there a forge nearby?”
“Head south three blocks, head east 2, you should be there.”
Abri thanked the clerk, before packing up her stuff and heading to the smith.
-_/|||{[%]}|||\_-
Arriving at the forge, Abri entered, looking for someone to talk with. Spotting an open door, she peaks into the back. Looking around the smithy, the only one there being someone reading, she heads in.
“Hrm? A customer?” the lady asks.
“Yes. Do you have a sword handy?”
“Nope, custom order only.”
“Why does the clothing store have leather armor, but the blacksmith has no swords?”
“Leather armor is used occasionally by crafters. Swords aren’t typically used.”
“Ahh. So, can I get a sword made? Actually, scratch that. Can I learn blacksmithing?”
“Sure. It can take several years, however.”
“Sounds good. I’ll come by tomorrow to get that paperwork and whatnot.”
“See you then,” the lady responded, turning back down to her book, while Abri grabbed all of her stuff and headed home.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Quest list updated!
Increase the world's mana
Create a revival array
- Gain a mana storage item (DONE)
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
- Store 1 million (1,000,000) mana
- Create the array
Get a sword
Get a cloak
Learn tailoring
Learn engraving
Learn wood carving
Learn Magic
Become proficient at blacksmithing
Become an apprentice blacksmith
“How convenient, a checklist. Actually, that’s really useful.”
Abri fished out the cube and realized a problem. She had no idea how to manipulate mana.
Quest Gained!
Feel your mana
“Look within yourself for what feels like a pool of energy.”
Following instructions, Abri quickly began to meditate. Breathing in, she began to focus deeply. She took the time to inspect herself. She felt a minor strain, the result of carrying many bags. Minor exhaustion in her legs, she walked a lot today. A cushion under her legs. Rising and falling shoulders. Peace. A small feeling of something somewhat foreign. Four “bright”, one much brighter than its companions. Her heartbeat.
She shook her head, she needed to focus. The small feeling of something foreign. What was it? She pulled it towards her, and it flowed, albeit like molasses. As she drew it out, it felt more and more familiar… as though it had always been there.
Quest Complete!
Feel your mana
“You looked within, and saw all you needed to. Perhaps you’ll finally see all of yourself one day.”
“That was mana? I guess it’s always been with us. But… how had no one else awoken it?”
“Four-fold - One Divine Growth made it much easier to learn. Two, the System partly runs on mana, so you already had minor, subconscious training with it. Third, you knew it was there. Fourth, Soul Sight allows you to see all of yourself, and your talents much easier.”
“Whole lot of benefits. Well, time to fill this cube… I should come up with a better name. Array generator? Cube of unlimited power? Mana cube? Yeah, let's go with mana cube.”
Filling up the cube, Abri made a late dinner, and headed to bed, more exhausted than usual.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Quest Complete!
Experience Mana Exhaustion
“You overdid it. Try not to do it again.”
Abri got up, feeling rather sluggish. As she sat on her bed, trying to recover from mana exhaustion, she reviewed the Quest list, and saw “Become an apprentice blacksmith”.
“Better head downtown soon. I should bring a pen.”
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
“So you really returned. Here, look over this,” the lady from yesterday stated, handing a sheaf of papers
Reading through the papers, they were all about what’ll happen, what the pay is, etc. Upon finishing the papers, as Abri was uncapping her pen, a notification window appeared in front of her eyes.
Skill Unlocked:
Fast Reading
“Set up a notification box instead,” Abri mentally commanded, with a new UI element appearing in the system, before closing the system and signing the papers.
“... Everything looks good. Well, I’m your new teacher, Jane Smith.”
“I’m Abri Cath. I have a question. If the world became like a fantasy, with monsters, magic, even an RPG system. What would you do?”
“Heh. I get to make and sell weapons. Hell, i’d make an empire. Why’d you ask?”
“I’m going to turn the world into a fantasy. If I can get a blacksmith on board, it’d become easier to get people on board when it happens. After all, what’s a good fantasy without monster hunters?”
Jane was silent, staring blankly at Abri’s shining face. It was the face of a madwoman, but could she do it?
“Don’t believe me? Understandable. I’ll try some magic then.”
“Try? You don’t know any?”
“To be fair, I decided this yesterday when I got a system… can I give you one? Can I give one to everyone?”
It is possible.
Due to the strong wish of Abri Cath, the following Skill has been unlocked:
World Wide System
Utilizing the knowledge flowing into her head, Abri channelled all of her mana, gripped the System Talent, and flung the mana at Jane.
“WHAT!” Jane yelled, clearly shocked at the vision in from of her eyes.
“That’s… great…” Abri said, falling to her knees. “Could you… let me lay down… somewhere?” were Abri’s last words before falling asleep.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Abri slowly opened her eyes, and shook her head; the migraine was way too painful.
“Whoo. You’re finally awake. Do you know how much of a shock that was, seeing someone just pass out in front of me?” Jane asked, clearly straining to not yell.
“Heheh, sorry. I just didn’t even think to stop. I didn’t know I was this impulsive. I got to calm down, I’m still on this thrill.”
Jane could clearly see that. Yesterday, her face held only a bit of excitement, and that was after getting an apprenticeship. Now, her face seemed almost forced into a smile.
“We’re not learning today. You need to both calm down, and rest up. You’re in no state to learn.”
“Alright, alright. Just… let me have a minute to calm down,” Abri said, sitting up straight and beginning to meditate.
Calming down, Abri gets up, says goodbye, and heads home, despite the sun showing it’s just past 11.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Laying down, Abri feels angry with herself. She needs better self-control. Gritting her teeth, she sits down and meditates. She’ll keep herself under control.