"The Archanum of Scrolls" unveiled a trove of twelve basic scrolls. Among them, the fiery Fire Scroll, the nimble Fleet-Foot Scroll, and the cleansing Purification Scroll were the simplest and the best for new inscribers to practice.
The trouble? Worth. In the Order's market, six of these scrolls barely fetched a single mana crystal. Profitability lay in advanced creations. The morning sun cast long shadows across the room as he spent the entire night practicing, churning out Fire, Purification, and Fleet-Foot Scrolls.
"Thirty-one total," he muttered, counting the fruits of his labor. “After deducting materials, three crystals profit. Ninety a month, two hundred seventy in three months... working tirelessly, maybe five hundred forty..." Hope flickered. A thousand crystals within three months seemed achievable, especially if the Citadel of Siren Delight remained inactive.
The market buzzed with activity, a vibrant tapestry of mages, merchants, and exotic creatures. John set up his stall, heart pounding with anticipation. But as the hours ticked by, his hope dwindled. The scrolls remained untouched, their vibrant colors failing to attract the attention of the passing crowds. Aer Weavers, with their limited resources, focused on training and rarely indulged in the luxury of scrolls. Unlike independent mages, who needed to stockpile them for protection, the Order's mages, even those in a dark conclave, enjoyed a basic level of security.
Frustration gnawed at John's gut. He had poured his heart and soul into these scrolls, yet they seemed destined to gather dust. Just as he was about to give up, a figure emerged from the crowd, her eyes scanning the stalls with an intensity that drew his attention. She was a late stage Wave Weaver, her aura shimmering with power. She paused at John's stall, her eyes widening in surprise.
"You inscribed all these?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"I did," John replied, his heart skipping a beat.
"Are you interested?" he ventured, a glimmer of hope returning, but then he realized how stupid his question was, why would a Wave Weaver need basic scrolls like these?
"Very," she confirmed, her gaze sweeping over the scrolls. "Do you have Inferno Scroll or Thousand Blades Codex?”
John shook his head. "I just started learning scroll inscription. Haven't mastered Wave Weaver's scrolls yet.”
The girl's surprise deepened. "You are just starting?”
"Yes, this is my first batch. I made them last night.”
"Who is your master?”
"Archmage Meridian," John replied.
"No, I meant your inscription master.”
"I..., I don't have one. I learned on my own.”
The girl stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean to tell me that you learned the craft of scrolls by yourself, and made all these scrolls in one night?”
John nodded, unsure why this seemed so unbelievable.
"I'm Winter Bright," the girl said, extending her hand with a dazzling smile. "And you are, genius?”
"John Riversong, ” he replied, taken aback by the compliment.
"John," Winter's eyes sparkling with admiration, "you probably don't know how much of a genius you are. I've studied inscription myself, and it takes at least a couple of months for a talented disciple to inscribe this well. Moreover, your Fire Scroll is really special. Look at its aura, so vibrant. I wonder if it has some special effects."
John was speechless. Could his success be attributed to a unique saidin pattern or a hidden talent for inscription? He pondered the possibilities, a spark of excitement igniting within him.
Yet, he couldn't help but sigh. "Genius or not, no one wants to buy these scrolls."
"Give me six Fire Scrolls," Winter said, placing a mana crystal on the table. "And if you ever learn to make Inferno Scroll or Thousand Blades Codex, definitely let me know. I'll be a regular customer.”
She took the scrolls from John's hand, a cheerful smile on her face, and disappearing into the bustling crowd. John watched her go, a newfound sense of hope blossoming in his chest. Perhaps his path to financial freedom wasn't as bleak as he had imagined.
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After the deal, John packed up his stall, a new resolve settling in his eyes. He had tasted success, however small, and it fueled his determination. He bought more materials, his mind already racing with the possibilities of Wave Weaver level scrolls. But first, he had a duty to fulfill. The Pristine Luna at Moonsilver Lake needed his care.
Over the next few days, John fell into a rhythm. Mornings were dedicated to the botanical garden, his hands deftly tending to the various herbs and plants. In the afternoons, he would retreat to the secluded courtyard, meticulously caring for the prized Pristine Luna, its ethereal glow a constant reminder of the power it held. Evenings were spent at the market, where he sold his scrolls and gathered information, always alert for new opportunities. And as the moon climbed high in the sky, John would retire to his room, the soft glow of the mana lamp illuminating his workspace as he delved into the intricate art of scroll crafting.
The Pristine Luna had been a boon to John's magic training. He got two blue bubbles by tending it every day.
[Mana Affinity]
[Mana Affinity]
On the contrary, the botanical garden yielded mostly white and green bubbles. John realized consistent care of the Pristine Luna could propel him to the mid-stage Wave Weaver within three months, making it all the more important to find a way to conceal his aura.
John adopted a daily practice of identifying the Pristine Luna. Typically, the results were
[Pristine Luna: Holy medicine for healing, the main ingredient of Tears of the Moonwillow, is about to mature and in good condition. ]
Occasionally, the results would indicate that the Luna was not in good condition, being too cold and needing more magma, though he was unsure of the exact amount needed. He would cautiously add a little extra, hoping it would suffice.
For his scrolls business, he shifted his focus to more advanced creations, the Inferno Scroll and the Thousand Blades Codex. They fetched a fair price of five mana crystals each. Unfortunately, weaving one took too much of his mana reserve, he can only make one each day. With his mana affinity growing, he knew he could make more soon.
With his current success rate, John could barely break even. However, time was on his side. Increased success rates in the future would guarantee profits. Luckily, his mana affinity improved daily without dedicated training, so a temporary reduction wouldn't significantly impact his progress. This flexibility wasn't available to others.
John arrived to find Echo Reverie, her usual friendly smile tinged with a hint of concern. "Brother John, always punctual," she greeted, her voice a touch softer than usual.
John dipped his head in a curt nod. "Wouldn't want to disappoint, Senior Echo." He'd grown accustomed to Echo's warmth, a stark contrast to Lady Blanche’s icy demeanor.
"Lady Blanche is on edge today," Echo murmured, her eyes darting nervously towards the main house. "The pressure of the harvest is weighing on her. Whatever you do, don't bother her. Tomorrow's the deadline, so don't give her any reason to lash out.”
John's gratitude for the warning was evident in his quick nod. "I'll be careful, Echo. Thank you.”
Alone in the Pristine Luna area, John approached with a practiced ease. But a surprise awaited him. Gone were the familiar blue bubbles. Instead, a single, vibrant purple bubble pulsed beside the holy flower, its ethereal glow casting an otherworldly light on the surrounding foliage.
"Purple? That's odd," John muttered, his brow furrowing in confusion. Years of tending the botanical garden had never yielded anything like this. He knew better bubbles only appeared at the beginning and the end of a plant's lifecycle.
Intuition gnawed at him. Channeling his magical power, a message materialized before his mind’s eye: "[Pristine Luna: The holy medicine for healing, the main ingredient of Tears of the Moonwillow, has matured.]"
Unlike other elixirs, Pristine Luna had no set harvest time. It matured on its own, withering and regrowing in a never-ending cycle until its next maturity. Legend spoke of its lengthy intervals.
Despite the unexpected timing, John knew delay was not an option. He secured the purple bubble and hurried to report to Lady Blanche. The bubble had already dissolved into his body by the time he reached the master's quarters.
[Enchanted Item]
"Finally, another piece of the puzzle to unlock a new power," he thought, suppressing the urge to explore it immediately.
With a composed voice, John announced himself. "Disciple John at your service, Lady Blanche. I have an urgent matter to report."
After a while, just as John was about call her again, the door creaked open, revealing a scowling Lady Blanche. "Speak quickly,” she snapped, her voice sharp with impatience. "This better be important.”
John braced himself. He wouldn't waste her time with trivialities. After gathering his thoughts, he said, "While tending to Pristine Luna today, I noticed an anomaly. Signs of maturity, perhaps. So, I—"
Before he could finish, Lady Blanche vanished, her figure blurring as she rushed out the door. John understood – the unexpected maturity warranted immediate attention. He followed her towards the Pristine Luna area, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Moments later, John found Lady Blanche carefully collecting the matured Pristine Luna, her movements swift and precise. A look of awe and wonder transformed her usually stern features as she cradled the glowing flower in her hands. Relief washed over John – the mission, albeit unexpected, was concluded without incident. The harvest, naturally, surpassed expectations. Forget twenty crystals; the real treasure was a brand new magical power.
For the first time, John felt a trace of warmth in her voice as she praised him, "A keen observation indeed," while carefully storing the Pristine Luna in a crystal container.”
John downplayed his role. "Just a hunch, Lady Blanche. Your guidance has been invaluable."
"Your ability is undeniable," she countered. "Now come. I'm taking you to meet the owner of this flower. Be sharp, and you might gain something more than just a reward."
John's heart pounded in his chest. A meeting with the elusive Regent Headmaster? He had heard whispers of her power and influence within the Order, but had never dared to dream of meeting her in person. Nerves fluttered in his stomach as he prepared to face this legendary figure.