‘I could go to a magic shop, but maybe I should check if Madam Vanya has something for me.’’

And thus, she decided to go home. And was greeted by the door.

“S-Siola, you’re here. Good.”

“?”

“What’s wrong, Madam? You look exhausted.”

“Here, look at this.”

The white rabbit on the counter. But she doesn’t know where to look exactly.

“What am I looking for?”

“This.”

Some sort of marking under its fur. Vanya took a piece parchment with a drawing on it.

“This is what the poor rabbit has behind under that fur.”

Rough lines, it portrays some sort of rocks… or not.

“Hmm…”

She turns the parchment around.

“What do you think?”

‘A vanilla animal like that is already rare enough and for them to have birthmark is even rarer, but is it really that? What exactly is this thing?’

“I don’t know.”

“Well, keep it for now. I will make another copy and see what I can come up with.”

“More importantly, Madam Vanya, I’m looking for good magic spells. Ones that don’t require a lot of Mana to use.”

“Spells? But aren’t you a Priest?”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“Um, shouldn’t Priest be using their Miracles instead?”

“I’d like to have my options.”

“Sure, but I mean, even if you want to um… in order to learn a spell, your intelligence, I mean INT status has to match or exceed the spell’s requirement you’re trying to learn.”

‘Works the same way as it did back then.’

“What books do you have for me, Madam Vanya?”

“…” sighing, “Well, a couple.”

She went to look for all the books she has in her possession.

“These are all I have.”

* Firebolt / Tier 2 / Cast to hurl a fiery flame towards the target

* Quick Sand / Tier 2 / Cast to turn the ground beneath into a colloid of sand and water, trapping and slowly pulling those above under

* Fuming Bolt / Tier 3 / Cast Sign to conjure a cloud of flame that hovers stationary midair, fires consecutive bolt of fire

* Spectral Darts / Tier 1 / Cast to conjure an arcane dart to hurl at target

* Shock Lash / Tier 1 / Cast to wield a short-range electric whip

* Glimmer Veil / Tier 2 / Cast to conjure a shimmering shield barrier

* Ignis Shard / Tier 2 / Cast Sign to summon a small, fast-moving projectile of fire

“Quite the collection.”

“You will find more in a magic shop. Do you know what these tiers entail?”

“Remind me.”

“There are 11 Tiers of Arcane that has been recorded throughout history.”

(1) Basic > (2) Intermediate > (3) Advanced > (4) Expert > (5) Master > (6) Extreme > (7) Supreme > (8) Mega > (9) Ultimate > (10) Maxima > (11) Overdrive

“You might have noticed that tiers are differentiated in numbers instead of letters, like our profile status. This doesn’t translate well to what extend we can actually learn a spell. I have heard that there some who can learn Advanced tier while having an E-Rank intelligence, such cases are few and far between though.”

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“The rule of thumb is the spell you want to learn has to have an equal tier to your INT. This is of course, before we factor in one’s capability to comprehend the spell they’re trying to learn.”

“I understand. Is there anyone out there who can use Tier 11?”

“Of course, silly. Though, we’re talking about the realm of the gods here. But before she became a god, the witch Selene, was an extremely talented individual.”

“Moment’s prior she ascends, she cast a Transcendental Law, bringing an end to an erupting volcano as she turns the entire landscape into a frozen land. Although her brilliant spell has saved the land itself, it cursed the living caught in its touch. Forever frozen under the freezing mist, waiting to be rescued before it’s tipped over.”

“Think you ever heard of the story before?”

“The Witch Mountain Path.”

Vanya nodded.

“Arts and Laws are ones created by people, even the gods themselves have some. By casting it as such, the spell would transform into something much more.”

“And a Transcendental Law is a realm beyond us human can achieve.”

“But you said Selene casted it.”

“Yes. Because she abandoned her humanity.”

“…”

In her thoughts, ‘There were people who have been fortunate enough to meet the gods back in my past life, but I wasn’t one of them.’

“Well, it’s a fascinating story. But which one are these spells requiring little mana to cast?”

“You have [Firebolt], [Spectral Darts], and [Shock Last]. All are easy-to-learn spells and they don’t cost as much. Among the Tier 2, you have [Ignis Shard] and [Glimmer Veil]. Providing both offense and defense at a somewhat reasonable cost. [Fuming Bolt] is very handy too as it only requires one cast to hurl multiple small firebolts.”

“Hmm…”

“I’ll take these three. How much?”

“Oh, just take them.”

“Huh?”

“For the cape—”

“No, no. That’s different thing, okay—I mean, ahem.”

“Madam Vanya, like I said, that one is a fee for my stay here. So, please. Let the exchange be what it supposed to be from now on. You and I, no longer have favor owed to each other.”

“Well, except for the Rabbit.”

“Pfft, fine. If you keep insisting.”

“But do you have enough for them? All three costs 37.000 Golds.”

“I do. I would like some potions too. Ones that replenish mana and stamina, I need two of them and another bottle to cure fatigue.”

“Okay, that would be another 14.000 Golds.”

“Do you also have a bag to holster them? And a backpack too?”

“Of course. I can give the holster for free but the backpack will cost you 4000 Golds. It’s enough to hold the books and more.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Here—,” bringing them to the counter, “… you go.”

After wearing with them with the crossbow, it becomes somewhat uncomfortable.

“Hmm, it’s quite… heavy. And I still have an order for Mace too.”

“You have too much load indeed. Ah, wait here.”

Vanya went to look on multiple drawers and found a box. There are several magic rings inside all neatly organized.

“Here, try wearing this.”

* Ring of Ogre / Rare / Moderately increases STR

Upon wearing it, Siola feels light on her feet.

“Ohh, this is exactly what I need. How much is it, Madam Vanya?”

“This one… well, it’s 45.000 Golds.”

After spending her money on weapons, she has exactly 80.000 Golds and she has already spent 55.000 Golds to the items prior. She is just short of 10.000 Golds.

“Uhh, would you accept trades? I have this ring.”

“Oh, an Echoing Shadows Ring. Hmm, it is indeed of similar rarity with the Ogre Ring, but I cannot accept it as is.”

“Th-Then, how much do I have to add in Golds?”

“Sadly, it is not as precious as the Ogre Ring, but for you, I only ask for half the price.”

“That is fine. Thank you.”

There she saw something different with Siola, after flustered emotion, there is now an expression of joy. It made her heart beat.

Now, with only 2500 Golds left in her purse. She is now more determined than ever to find and hunt another criminal. Though, she didn’t bring the items she has bought with her.

48 hours after the death of the three men coming after her. Including the missing person that is unknown to her. The guards have noticed lower crime rate. At least, on the forefront.

At night, people are missing. They have gone unnoticed, until they were found dead.

“What the hell?”

Her eyes shocked to find a wall painted in red, detailed intricacies of decapitated corpse.

Siola narrowed her eyes down, ‘This is no work of an amateur.’

“Guard, we’re h— Eeeeek?!”

“Hnnghmph?!”

One vomited, the other shocked to its core.

*Ptui*

*Pant *Pant

“Wh-What happened here?”

“It’s a murder no doubt, but I don’t know sir.”

Siola helps them clean up, and one of them is in charge of transporting the corpse.

As Siola and the guard scrub the blood off the wall, he says, “Who could’ve done something so cruel.”

“Heartless monster, sir.”

“…”

“Oh, don’t call me sir, I’m 19. I’ve heard about you though. Your achievement. Done in three stubborn ass thieves all in one day.”

She chuckles, “I was just lucky.”

“Still, luck can sometime be a skill too. Just like how you killed Garan.”

Her eyes widened in confusion, “Garan, who?”

When she turned, there was no guard in the direction she’s looking at. A sweat dripping from her forehead as her hand reaches to her sword and dagger.

“…”

Scanning the surrounding. Her eyes narrowed down to a slit.

‘Son of a bitch, where the fuck…’

‘Garan, Garan, Garan… I don’t remember… I don’t—’ Her eyes widened once more.

‘Those items.’

She looks at her profile status, and there is one particular ability that is out of place.

“Mage Shift.”

Weapons dropped as her head stretched backwards. Fists grasping the air as she groans.

“Hrmmm…”

Tilting her head onward, her eyes opened. No irises, and it’s black as night.