Going back! (2)

Sora looked at his armor, luckily the sword only cut off a bit off the shoulder pad and it could still be used without any issues, but that begs the question. 'Will it repair if I upgrade it?'

'Well I'll find out later' Sora looks at the party that had a dumbfounded expression on their face.

"So... Why are you guys here?"

"How..." Taki mumbles when suddenly her face brightened with realization 'Ah that's it, it's probably an ability from the skill... maybe.'

"Haa, alright you are fine. Why did you stay in the dungeon the whole day?"

"I was training! Of course!" Sora says energetically.

Taki looks at him and opens her mouth. "Alright doesn't matter let's go we are leaving"

The rest of the party sighs. Masayoshi being the only one to say anything "Haa, I thought we were actually going to go in this time" he finishes with a disappointed expression.

Choten tries to cheer him up "Don't worry lass the dungeon isn't going anywhere" Masayoshi just nods in agreement.

"Taki I wanted to know some things"

"What is it?"

"Can monster parts be used for anything?"

"Some can and some can't they can be used for crafting or alchemy"

"Good to know I have some with me but I don't know which are sell-able"

"Also how come the monster's in the dungeon got stronger?"

"They got stronger?"

"Yea, I saw more evolved forms of the past ones"

"Well I don't know exactly usually when they get stronger they go further down, not much is known about the dungeons, we should probably raise the defenses just in case," Taki answers with a worried expression

"Oh? Why?" Sora asks curiously

"Well it hasn't been that long since they started appearing"

"Wait they only appeared not too long ago?"

"Yea I'll explain it to you some other time, let's go for now."

'I wonder will upgrading my armor repair the missing part? I'll test it out later.' Sora thinks to himself as he jumps back on Asu. 'Let's go' Everyone starts going back. Taki comes close to Sora.

*H-puff* (Asu breathing out)

Asu released a threatening huff towards Taki taking her by surprise "Calm down girl." Sora says as he thinks 'How does she even breathe? Well, there isn't really a way for me to know except if Taki can tell me' Taking a look at Taki he opens his mouth. "What is it?"

Getting out of her stupor Taki asks. "What would it take for you to upgrade some of our equipment?".

"Hmm, I don't know, give me a bit to think about it." Sora starts contemplating in his mind. 'Better equipment definitely, also I would need them to bring me to the temple of that god. Money is there anything else I would need... Ah I know I should probably get a bunch of accessories to get some good upgrades'

"Do you mean just for your party or for your guards and family as well?" Sora inquires.

"Of course for the family as well." Taki answers.

"Then money, better equipment including accessories and clothes. Ohh! Also a map I want to see what would happen if I upgrade it. Also a small favor"

Taki thinks it over and says. "Alright, We'll give you according to the amount you upgrade and the strength of it. The small favor can be an advanced payment as long it's not too much."

"Shake on it?" Sora asks as he extends his hand towards Taki.

Taki grabs and shakes his hand with a sweet smile on her face. "Alright, agreed"

"Quick question what is a mana core for exactly? Also since I've got nothing better to do pass me the first item you want me to upgrade." Sora says he decided to upgrade his armor later since he has it on right now.

"A mana core is basically solidified mana of a being, it stores their mana and helps recover more mana. With some time people can form their own mana core and most do it. Monsters can also form mana cores but how they exactly do it isn't known since its different from humans. Mana cores are also very valuable as they can be made into equipment. Also, there is a theory that a core improves a beings potential monster or not." While Taki was explaining she took out a blue book with a droplet of water imprinted on it.

"Can you upgrade this?" She says as she hands him the book.

"What is this exactly?" Sora asks as he takes the book and looks at it.

Taki starts explaining "It's a magic book. It can hold spells for instant cast and strengthens the magic of the wielder. That one focuses on Water magic and has a slight boost to Ice magic, although I would prefer one that focuses on Ice it is hard to get your hands on one of these since not many can make them. So they are rare and when they do appear they are quickly bought since the instant cast can save your life."

"I see," Sora says as he reads through the screen for the book.

Obj: Water Magic Grimoire

Wei: 0.3kg

Har: 20/20

Spell Capacity: 3/3

MB: 80% Water magic, 40% Ice magic

"You said you prefer Ice magic?" Sora asks impatiently.

Taki looks at him questioningly and answers. "Mhm, I do"

Sora starts drawing on his mana turning it into ice and forming the shape for the upgrade from memory. Impatient to see what would be different.

Obj: WM Grimoire +1(Ice)

Har: 22/22

SpC: 3/3

Magic buff: 80% Water magic, 52% Ice magic

As they were walking they reached the gates without him noticing as he was too focused on the book. The light shining in his eyes making him squint as he looks forward only to see the Guard woman with a scar looking at him.

Blushing from the past embarrassment in front of such a beauty he looks down to the book trying to get rid of the fealing and the sudden rise in his heartbeat.

Taki noticing his expression looks at him dumbfounded. 'This guy... Seriously? Well, good luck with that...' She looks away with a sigh remembering the Guard captain's cold personality and reputation.

'Anyways that seemed to take a lot of mana out of me to finish it' Sora looks down and tries to focus on the upgrading.

Mana: 73/100

'That took a lot for just one upgrade. Well, Ice mana is expensive and it seems to cost more for better items and magic items.'

As he immerses himself in upgrading Taki walks over to the captain to inform her about the rise in the strength of monsters and the raise of defense.

"Alright! Everyone pack up, we are leaving!" Taki yells out. And looks at Sora approaching her.

"Upgrading the book is going to cost me a lot of mana I need some time to finish it I'll be following you on Asu," He says as he starts to upgrade the book a second time.

"That's fine," Taki says and they soon start traveling.

A dozen or so minutes later~

Obj: Ice Magic Grimoire +5

Har: 40/40

SpC: 3/4

MB: 150% Ice Magic, 80% Water Magic

SpA: Stored Ice*

Stored Ice- Stored Ice Magic spells are 50% stronger

As Sora upgrades it the fifth time the book gives off a light shine changing the deep blue to a lighter shade of blue and the picture in the front changing to a block of ice. 'That is interesting in changed from water to ice'

'Asu get behind their cart.' This time Taki and her party came in a coach so they can carry their equipment.

As Sora closes in Taki notices him and sends an inquisitive look wanting to know what happened.

Sora realizing what she wants extends his hand to give her the book as he says slightly too loud "The Ice Magic Buff is now 150%! Also, any stored Ice magic is 50% better!"

Taki looks at it with a silly grin as the rest look enviously towards her, Masayoshi gets up and yells out excitedly "Me next! Me next!" but as the cart is still moving, he loses his balance and the cartwheels bump on a rock sending him face-first on the wooden floor of the cart.