As they slandered through the town, Tyson noted how relativlely advanced the architecture was. Buildings rose as high as three stories, a byproduct of magic he supposed.

They had left the horses and cart away with an old buddy of Paul and were now following Seria.

The bookstore was located away from the towns center, a small wooden hut pressed between an old mansion and an even older looking appartment complex.

‚Brom’s Little world‘ the sign read in small precise letters.

Michal opened the unremarkable wooden door with the chime of a bell.

„A little bit of patience please“

A baritone voice sounded from behind dark wooden shelfs almost spilling over with worn books and other curiosities. Even the celling was not spared as various trinkets hang from above. Some Tyson could recognize as ritual components, others he had seen in a book about the jungles of Kotor. The place felt familiar, like a little piece of home spilled over from his old world. Jet mysterious in the way he had looked at the world when he was little.

Tyson and Michal stood stunned in the entrance while Seria walked past them, weaving through the maze.

They hastily followed her, carful not to run into anything. Paul just leaned against the entrance, smiling.

At the other end of the hut they found a large bald man his brown beard adorned with pearls and runic metal.

„Never change do you, no wonder you have no customers.“

He did not even spare them a glance, still focused on the map in front of him.

With a lot of care and precision, the man moved a circle across the paper making one more small line.

Until Seria slung her arm across his neck, laughing. Tyler vinced in sympathy as the man drew a ugly line across the whole map. „You have been searching for Nevorg for ten odd years. If the city even exists its not gonna appear out of nowhere.“

Brom carefully placed his tools down and turned around, his deep brown eyes gliding over them. Tyson felt a small tug, but the feeling glid over hin without grabbing hold.

„Interesting, interesting.“

Seria rubbed rubbed his head, smiling.

„Ten years and thats all you have to say?“

Tyson materialized eyebrows to raise them. Seria visited the city fairly often.

„By the way he is grinning, your descendent has inherited most of your less than optimal character traits. From the situation I take you are here to buy some books for school?“

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Michal gave a hesitant nod.

„Arestoteles?“ A strange ape the size of a child dropped from the celling, grey long fur and intelligent beady eyes. Seria looked away, but Tyson could see the pain in her eyes.

„I know, I know.“ The spirit sounded like a disgruntled old man, it even got the scoff right.

The summon asked a few questions about Michals magic, his style of combat and so on but Tyson wasnt listening anymore, instead browsing a thick tome about common enchantments he had found next to a title called ‚erotic magic and its application in battle‘.

„So now that we have you covered, about your companion. From his form alone, I would say he is aligned with shadowmagic?“

Michal started stottering.

„Ahhhh, i mean he can hide in my shadow but hmmm you would have to ask shady yourself.“

Tyson rippled, he would like nothing more than to reveal his real name just so he could avoid all the horrible nicknames they gave him.

„You are already able to speak?“

Reluctant he turned away from the book to face the bookstore‘s owner.

„Yes.“

The man heaped himself up. He was positively giant.

„Remarkable, you must be truly ancient.“

He cast a glance at Saria who looked a little worried. Her early confidence was nowhere to be seen and she looked deep in thought.

„The connection must have been inherited. Tell me what do you still remember?“

Tyson almost froze, before smoothly shaking himself. „Dissconected feelings and impressions.“

Brom stared at him for a moment before heaving a sight.

„Its always the same with summons. They learn better and faster, but everything to remind them of who they once were are a few meager lines the system provides about their traits. Imagine all the ancient secrets and forgotten stories we could have learned.“

The dark lord allowed himself to relax a bit. He knew now that he could always play innocent .

„So tell me, what can you do?“.

He kneed next to Tyson, looking him in the eyes.

„I think something on shadow magic would be good.“ Tyson cast a quick glance at Seria.

„And, I.. I am quite interested in rituals, especially since I am physically weak. And their interplay with catalysts are just fascinating.“

Brom stroke his beard.

„Rituals huh, hexes might also be something to look into.“

The air grew unrest, the earth trembled. All of them looked at Seria in silent shock. Tangible waves of magic rolled of from her and shook Tyson to the core.

„Why do you of all people suggest something like this. You were there, you ..“

„Magic is a tool. It is neither good nor evil.“

Brom cut her of with his deep calm voice, and before she could say anything else walked over to his ape familiar who had before him a stack of books, a strange mantel and an amulet.

„Let us not talk about the past today.“

Brom took the amulet first and pressed it into Michals hands.

„The amulet of the wanderer. Al-Zahrawi made it in his younger years and it is enchanted with quite the defensive matrix aside from a few smaller conveniences.“

Michal opened his mouth but before he could say something, a mantle came flying at him.

„A classic shifting cloak aaand.“

He patted the books.

„The intricacies of light-weaving written by the warrior priests of the Spire. A few classics on chakra manipulation and the rest is the mandatory stuff on history mathematics and philosophy. I thought I might give you something on swordplay too, but honestly practical experience should be a lot more valuable.“

Seria gave the man a weak smile.

„Thank very much. How m..“ he shook his head.

„We will still be in town for awhile, buying clothes and other supplies.“

Seria began heading out, and Michal followed her.

Tyson followed the unspoken command, as his eyes drifted over the many books from all over the world.

It reminded him of his own study, where he made the decisions that would change his life forever. Hours spend over charts and books searching for a method to do the impossible.

„Actually, I wish to stay here until it is time for us to leave.“

Seria seemed like she had something to say but Michal was faster.

„Sure we will come and get ya, when we finished everything else.“

Leaning in he whispered.

„and get me some entertaining novels.“