Joseph walked forward on the open field. He saw grass, trees, also far away wheat and a huge plowing field. In the distance the border mountains stood firmly.

'So the ancients should be somewhere here. There might be a town somewhere.'

He proceeded to the plowing fields.

After a few hours of walking he stopped.

'It seems like I'm not getting any closer. What is happening here?'

The fields seemed just as far as they were when he was next to the forest. But when he looked back, the forest was far away as well.

'Is it some illusions? Let's take a break for now. I'll figure it out after that.'

He sat down in the base of a tree. Ate and drink, then took out the book he got from Bran. After remembering what happened, he stopped for a minute.

'Be more reasonable! You have to move on!'

He opened the book. The first page only contained descriptions about the book. It was a book for begginer magicians. The next page had the table of contents. It had instructions from mana manifesting to casting spells. He started to read it from the first page.

After the first chapter he understood why he couldn't cast magic as he wanted. He has to basically concentrate on directing his manna. The book had a really good explanation about it. After he reads the next chapter, he might be able to use spells, but for now he wanted to move forward.

He looked around. He wanted to see if something was amiss in the surrounding, but there was nothing strange. He touched the grass, the ground, the tree, but none of them gave him anything with his skill.

'This skill is useless...'

He took out the monster cores and broke both of them. Familiar windows popped up.

Notice

You have absorbed the core of a goblin. You have recived 20 experiences.

Attention!

Corruption stat increased by 2.

Then he used the skill on his sword.

Steel sword

This sword was made by a master of the art. It is balanced and really sharp. It is light weighted, but you can swing it really fast because of that. You feel some energy eminating from the blade.

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'Energy? Explanation please?'

Energy

Condensed form of manna. It is used to make magic equipments.

'Oh right I read it in the book... Wait! The system actually reacted to my question? That is pretty strange...'

Then he touched his armor.

Strenghened armor

It is made out of a material that looks like leather. It has been reinforced at the important parts of the body. It can sustain mediocre damage, before it is damaged.

'Ok. This should be good. I don't really care about the explanations, because I already know them, but the skill will get better if I use it. At least if it works like in games.'

He started to walk again. The environment didn't change at all. The fields were still far away, the forest was just as far.

'What is this?'

He stopped at a tree. Walking closer he realized it's the same tree he stopped at before.

'Uhh... I see. But how can I get out of here?'

He decided to walk in an other direction. Now it was to the left side of the fields. After a while he got back to the same tree. Then he walked backwards to the forest. He got back to the same place again.

'This is a big problem. I don't know how long can I stay here, but the only thing I can do now is waiting. I should read the book some more.'

After a few hours of reading he finished the book and it was getting dark already.

'I should try magic in the morning, I'm too tired for it now.'

He slept under the tree.

He had really weird nightmares. Some people were talking next to him, then they grabbed him and brought him along with them. He couldn't move or resist. It felt like they drugged him.

As he woke up, he was in a really uncomfortable bed. Looking around it was a prison, three sides of it were made out of stone and one had iron bars. The bed was actually just straw on the ground. He was stripped and only his pants were on him. Other than that, only a bucket was inside the cage. The whole place was lighted by a torch outside the bars.

He walked to the grating and looked out. He was inside a building, which had three prison cells on both sides and on the end of the hallway was a door shut. He saw noone inside.

"Excuse me! Is anyone out there?"

His voice echoed through the place. The door opened and an old elf walked inside.

"You are excused! And yes I'm right here!"

'Pfff... What is that reaction?'

He tried to stay calm and be as respectfull as he can.

"Good day to you sir! Could you tell me why am I locked up?"

The elf walked in front of the cell and looked him up and down. The guy had a slimm and tall body. His hair was grey and his face was full with wrinkles, but he still stood upright, like he was only old by the looks.

'He must be at least 3.000 years old. Even elder Bran didn't look this old.'

"Oh so you know Bran. That will make things easier."

He was really suprised.

"How did you know? I didn't even said anything."

"Hahaha! You think Bran was the only one, who can use magic to read someone's mind. I was the one who taught him!"

"Then you are one of the ancients?"

"Yes! My name is Flinn."

"I'm Joseph Smith! It's an honor to meet you!"

The elder looked at him and then pulled out a keychain.

"I'm sorry about locking you up, but it is the law. Every newcomer has to be inspected. Now that I've seen who and what are you, now we take you out and then "interrogate" you. Don't worry, you won't get hurt, it's just that we want to know what is happening in the forest nowadays."

"I see. What will hapen after that?"

"We let you go ofcourse! You'll get back all of your bellongings, except for your weapon. That you will only get back if you leave the town. We don't want anyone hurting anyone in here."

"I can understand that."

Flinn opened the cage and showed to Joseph to leave it. After that they walked out through the same door the ancient came in.