Chapter 3 – Lexis

Lexis was happy. She was not human or beast, so normal food was not an option. To survive she had to consume souls, but not all souls was good. She would choose random person, then train him and eat his soul.

“Lets buy some food, before we will go to my Book Shop.” Lexis smiled.

She never had a shop, it was a lie. She had big personal library, sometimes she would buy new books, but never sell.

“Do you think we can buy Linen Cloth, so I could practice Tailoring?” Ace wanted to learn Tailoring as fast as possible.

“Sure, but you will have to use 10 Gold which I gave before.”

In Ex World you could learn new things 3 ways: 1. Learning from Trainer; 2. Reading books and then trying to repeat it; 3. Doing same action 10 times.

Ace was looking around and saw dirty streets. Once beautiful Draken city, now was in ruins. No one knew how it fell so low. Every day someone was killed and no one care. There was no law.

After buying all that they need Lexis told to follow her. Path to her shop was like maze. It was almost impossible to find her Shop.

He was getting suspicious what they got lost. “Are you sure we are going to right direction?”

“Yes.” She was smiling. “My shop is very special, so we don't have many customers.”

“So what is why we bought so many food?” Now Ace understood that he will not be able to leave her shop until Quest is complete.

“Yes and don't worry about training. You can train all day if you want or read books.” She bought all this food for him so he would not die from starvation.

Then they got to her shop he was surprised. It was not shop. It was mansion filled with books. It was not in city, but in ancients ruins underground.

“Do you ever get any costumers in this place?”

“Yup once every 20 years.” She was not lying, Ace was her customer which she will eat latter. “I am joking, we don't have that many.”

“This shop is huge and dust is everywhere. Can you show there I can sleep and train?”

“You will be living in this mansion until you will finish your training. First lets freeze food so it would not go bad.” She put food in enchanted containers and food froze instantly. She showed him huge library on first flour. When they was done they walked to second flour there was his room. It was not big and had only bed and table where he could read books. “This will be your room, if you will need anything you can find me in library.”

“Thank you.” He wanted to start his training as soon as possible, but was afraid to ask for help. “I know you are must be tired, but maybe you could recommend some books for my training?”

“What do you want to learn?”

“Every adventurer must be able to: heal and use offensive magic, make some food and cloths, identify items and repair them.” He wanted to learn herbalism, alchemy and enchantment too, but could learn only 5 skills. He was planing to use life and air magic. Life magic was very good then you need to heal wounds, while air magic would make him faster in battle field and give good offensive spells (maybe latter he would be able to fly).

“I see you already know what you want to learn.” She was surprised. Usually she would need to ask them to learn cooking, while this one was asking her. She was happy, because she have never cooked in her life. She never ate food so why she would need to learn it? “In kitchen you will find some cooking books, you can learn identification while you try to cook. When you will make some food for yourself you can go to library and learn some healing and offensive magic. Before you will go to sleep you can make some cloths. In morning you can go in basement and start repairing items there.”

Training schedule:

08:00 Repair items in Basement

12:00 Cooking in Kitchen

15:00 Healing and Offensive Magic in Library

18:00 Tailoring before sleep

Identify on every new item he find.

First week was interesting, because everything was new. He have learned Cooking, Tailoring, Identification and Repair. Ace was not able to learn magic. Every time he tried learn magic it would fail.

“So have you learned all 5 skills?” She was getting weak from hunger and wanted to eat him. She liked him, but had no choose, if she want to live.

“No, it seems I can't learn magic. I think I need to get new title to be able to learn magic.” He was sad.

“Strange, why do you think title change will help you?” She was curious.

#Show Title to Lexis# Ace said in his mind.

“Ha ha ha, Title Fool with bonus +100% Spell Failure.” She was laughing so hard what even tears was dripping. “You sure are unlucky, Loki must be laughing too.”

“Is there any way to get new title?”

“Here take this book, no mortal have ever read this.” Book name was 'Ancient Technology'. “With this book help will get new title.” She knew what he will not be able to use knowledge from that book. To use he would need secret class, which only she could give. “I will go to city and buy some food to celebrate your training completion. Make sure you will get magic skill before I will return.” Book was soul bound item, so even if he would run away with what book she would find his location easy.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

***

Lexis was over 1,000 years old. She have killed many people to survive and there was many legends about her. Some people said what she is witch and must be killed. Many have tried and failed. It was hard to find her. Everyone knew what she live in Draken city, but no one was able to find there. They knew what every 20 year she would come to fountain and look for prey.

Many old people recognized her then Ace was killed near fountain. They gave quest to Freeman's, so they would kill her.

They didn't know what she was guarding them from beast which lived underground. If she would die, then city would be wiped out in 1 day.

Black Tiger Guild formed Raid party to find and kill her. They ruled Draken city and no one was able to go against them. They could kill people in street and would not get red mark. Guild Leader was Raven. He was cruel and didn't care about anyone else. Then he got message what scout have found Lexis near shopping district, he send everyone he could to slay her.

She killed everyone who attacked her. She was weak from hunger, but was still able to kill 3,564 players. She tried to run and hide.

***

Then Ace finished reading first chapter he got message.

#You got new title:#

Scholar

Since ancients times only scholars was able to explain how this world work.

Bonus:

Can use skill 'Upgrade'

#Show Upgrade# Ace said in his mind.

Upgrade

Can make 10% items better.

'Nice now I can make better armor.' He tried to use air and life magic, after which he got 2 more messages, which told him what he can use them now. He was happy and wanted to thank Lexis for all help she gave him.

After waiting for her 1 day have passed. He was worried and packed his stuff. He left mansion and tried to find her. After walking 8 hours he found way to city. When he got there he saw Lexis running from people.

One of the player have damaged her soul crystal and she knew what her life is fading away. She saw Ace and run to him.

“Follow me.” she told him.

When they was in safe place, he saw damaged mechanical parts in Lexis body. She was dying.

Ace tried to help her. He tried to use healing magic, but nothing happened. “How could they do this to you?” He didn't want to believe what she will die soon.

When she saw what he was trying to help her. She tried to talk. “.... sorry.” Life was unfair. If she would have been living being she wouldn't need to eat souls and maybe she could been Ace friend. She was protecting this city all her life and now they tried to kill her.

“Why are you apologizing?” He was confused. “It is my fault what I am not able to help you. My magic is not working. If only I could learned stronger magic.” He accused himself for his weakness.

“You *cough* know I was planing to eat your soul before *cough*, but now.” She talked in pained expression. It was hard to talk.

“It is ok.” He was not afraid to die. She was his first friend. “I can create new avatar latter. I want you to live.”

“I am dying and you can do nothing about it. *cough*” She will die soon and tomorrow this city will fall. “Here is your award for Quest.”

Job in Lexis shop (Complete)

Lexis was forced to live alone. She was last guardian which protected Draken City. She had to consume souls to live. You are her first and last friend. She was happy what she will not need to eat your soul and sad what she will die soon.

Reward:

Secret class: Soul Master

#Would you like to change your class to Soul Master?#

“...Yes.” Ace didn't care about it, but this was Lexis last gift to him, so he had to accept.

“Please leave this city today. *cough* I hope we will meet some day.” She tried to smile.

She died with smile on her face.

Ace was cursing Black Tiger Guild. They killed him before and now they killed his friend.

Chapter 2 - FoolMainChapter 4 - Infection