One Step Further

Not wanting his wife to know he turned down one of the few paying customers they had he went to the back of the shop and carried out a bunch of beginner grade spells. The spells were weak and nothing special, but they still brought a big smile to Desmond's face.

He looked through them and picked out what he thought was useful "I'll take the spells, produce flame, mage hand, produce water, control flame, gust, shape stone, shocking touch, shape water, chill grasp along with those 3 human anatomy books and a book on the city laws while i'm at it than I'll be on my way"

Desmond smiled at Ragnar, but stopped when he Ragnar said the price " that will be 750 magic crystals". Desmond was stunned it wasn't that he didn't have that much it was that the prices were insanely high for magic related items.

"Why are prices so high" Ragnar shrugged stating simply it is not mages don't like to spread their knowledge to people who are not mages themselves, those who are not in the same clan, commoners, and royalty.

Royals have an easier time acquiring magic books and ingredients because they are typically richer than any normal commoners, but are no better than leaches in the eyes of official magi. Royal also typically have a higher chance of having a kid with a good chance to become a mage because they marry others with strong magical affinity.

Desmond partly knew this but he still felt the pricing for beginner grade spells was obsered but had to agree with the mages tactic. Doing things this way forces people to join there clan even reduces the number of rogue magi running around.

Desmond paid for the books with the large sack of crystals he had he felt a sting, but not much because he still had a little over 8,250 left from looting Vincent's place. He was just worried how fast all that money would disappear when he tried to get better spells.

Remembering the other reason why he came to this book store Desmond took out a green potion he had for a while but forgot to have inspected. Ragnar only needed a glance to confirm the potion was used to cure weak poison since its a general variety it doesn't really cure the poison just weakens the affect of the poison.

Desmond asked if it could be used to combat magic poisoning Ragnar's response was full of mockery. Only high quality and expensive potion can work agains magic poisoning inflicted from other potions or environmental factors. He advertise Desmond to purchase a technique that drives the poison out of a persons body.

Looking at Ragnar's strong disheveled stature Desmond knew what he had to ask next "excuse me, Ragnar, one last question can you please inform me of a place to train. I seem to be lacking in regard of actual combat skills and would like to improve. Magic is nice, but if someone gets to close I'm a dead man". Although Desmond only wanted to focus on magic he was not arrogant especially after all that danger he found himself in 6 months ago.

Ragnar didn't want to help, but he still did anyway "there are a bunch of places you can go to train you can find notices at the Eclipse Association trade center. They offer classes for free if your a member and a small fee of 3 magic crystals a month for none members. But if you want the best training go down to the city guards training camp in district B you can join there reserve units. That are just a bunch of citizens that get called to man the guns on the wall when a war for ownership of the city breaks out they don't do much besides that.

Its been a few decades since the last one, but you should have enough time to train there and leave before your forced to fight in a war. There have been people trying to abuse the system because we have had peace for so long. Getting good training than leaving immediately after to hunt in clover forest that's why to sign up cost is 10 magic crystal and there is a 10 year wait before you can quit.

Which is a problem for people trying to get the standby salary of a reserve soldier and not really commit to the job. The people who are living a rent free life in the city walls are also reserve soldiers, but only one member of the household has to be so hey can stay in the walls. Overall still great place to train.

Desmond thought his options over a bit, he wanted the time and freedom to practice magic still he knew how weak he was and the idea of making powerful friends in the military seemed very attractive to him because they might be able to scare the mirror man away. "Already I've decided I'm joining the city's reserve thank you, Ragnar".

Ragnar had a tired look on his face as he waved off Desmond's thanks and watched him leave the store with all his books in hand.

...

Desmond felt as though his arms were going to break when he lugged all those books back to his room. A sense of pride and accomplish filled him when he saw his new stack of books, but Desmond didn't stay to read over everything as he wanted. Instead, he took out a map he bought, traveled all the way to the surface and headed towards a train station in a carriage that was on route to district B.