Chapter 3 - Suspension Monday (1)

"Well, if Rakkar's shop is here, the magic item store should be along this route."

This store in the game is vital if you want to pursue a magic-based path because it's one of the few places where you can buy everything related to magic.

These items range from wizard robes to staffs. Even if you don't choose the wizard path, you can buy magical bombs. There's a wide variety of these bombs, which are essentially encapsulated and sealed spells.

When thrown, they release and attack the nearest target, causing significant magical damage. They're somewhat expensive, but you can buy the recipe to make them yourself.

I lifted my head and noticed the sun had begun to set, bathing the town of Iron Haven in golden and orange hues. This was a sign to quicken my pace; I couldn't risk returning to my 'home' too late.

After a short walk, I arrived at the magic item store. It was easy to identify by the hanging sign with golden letters reading "Arcane Essences." Before opening the door, I realized something I had been subconsciously ignoring. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember the name of the shopkeeper, nor could I recall parts of the story.

It was all my fault. The reason was that I only paid attention to the game's story during my first playthrough. After that, for my subsequent 'new game+' routes, I skipped dialogues and cutscenes.

"That's what I get for being impatient."

As I approached, the wooden door creaked softly, announcing my arrival with a delicate chime of a bell.

The interior of the shop was a spectacle in itself. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books of all shapes and sizes, jars containing iridescent liquids, and magical artifacts buzzing and glowing with their own life. The air was thick with a blend of herbal aromas, incense, and a hint of something resembling burnt meat, which tickled my senses.

Behind the counter, a woman who appeared to be between 22-24 years old flashed an enigmatic smile upon seeing me. Her hair was as black as the night, cascading over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes glowed with ancient wisdom.

Although she appeared young, various hints in the game suggested she was much older. If you delved too deeply into this, she would become angry with the player, as she had a complex about her age, always diverting any conversation about it.

In short, she tried to act like a young girl, attempting to ignore the fact that she was a crazy old woman.

"Who are you calling an old woman?"

"Can you read my mind?!"

"SO YOU WERE THINKING IT!"

She glared at me with rage in her eyes as she stood up, pulling a staff from her hat. Frightened by what might happen, I raised my hands and shook my head vigorously.

"NO NO NO! This is all a misunderstanding."

She looked at me with continued disdain but eventually put her staff away and sat back down.

"Tch, welcome to Arcane Essences. I'm Eldora Saythkona, the owner. Looking for something in particular, you rude little vermin?"

Eldora spoke with a harsh, dry voice, her gaze fixed on me, surely waiting for me to make a mistake so she could kick me out. I tried to ignore this as I approached the counter, feeling a mix of fear and excitement.

"Yes, I'm looking for a basic magic book and a potion cauldron."

"Anything else?"

"No, sorry about earlier. It was all a misunderstanding. I mean, you look very young and very beautiful."

"Really? How old do I look?"

"Well, between 20 and 24 years old."

"Good answer. Fine, I'll forgive you just this once. Follow me."

The woman regained her smile and gestured for me to follow. We walked among the shelves, passing grimoires whispering secrets in forgotten languages and artifacts glowing with their own light. Seeing it in the game was one thing, but witnessing it in person made my blood run cold. Finally, she stopped in front of a less ornate but equally impressive shelf.

"These are the basic magic books, and those are low-quality potion cauldrons."

Eldora pulled a volume from the shelf and offered it to me. I was a bit amazed by the book's antique appearance.

"This book is a good start for any aspiring mage."

I took the book carefully, feeling the weight of the pages and the texture of the leather cover under my fingers. As I opened it, I found detailed illustrations and elegantly written text, describing simple spells and fundamental principles of magic.

"Thank you," was all I could say, marveling at the treasure in my hands. "How much does it cost?"

"Five silver coins for the book and seven for the cauldron," she replied with the same calm smile she had shown after I apologized. I took the coins from my pouch and placed them on the counter.

"Here you go."

"I hope you find what you seek within its pages."

Eldora wrapped the book in a soft cloth and placed it inside the cauldron before handing it to me.

"One more thing, keep in mind that magic is not only a path of discovery and self-knowledge. Magic is a long and tedious journey where only the persistent shine."

Eldora leaned against the shelf, took off her hat, and reached inside to retrieve what seemed to be a pipe, which she began to smoke.

"There are exceptions to the rule. Those born with talent for magic skip all those obstacles and enjoy power without any complication."

Eldora's expression changed to one of disgust when mentioning people with innate magical talent.

"But those people become vain and completely ignore all the points they skipped, where untalented mages get stuck."

Eldora raised her voice for a few seconds, then calmed down, sighing and leaving her anger behind.

"A true mage is not measured by their destructive power or the beauty of their spell. No, a mage is measured by every obstacle they overcome, whether through ingenuity or perseverance."

"What do you mean?"

"A mage who overcomes each of these obstacles will learn from their mistakes and use what they have learned in ways a talented mage never could. Talent does not define a mage; the mage defines themselves."

"Wow, I don't know what to say."

"May your steps be guided by wisdom and patience."

"Thank you, I'll come back if I need anything else."

"You will always be welcome."

I left the magic shop feeling a new energy, a spark of excitement and determination in my heart. The adventure was just beginning, and now, with my new magic book, I could lighten my load in this dangerous world.

Speaking of danger, I could see the sun had fully set, giving way to the night and causing the street lamps to illuminate the town of Iron Haven.

'I hope I don't end up being eaten by a bear.'

************

After a not-too-long walk through the forest, I managed to return to my 'home.' The first thing I did was collect my clothes from the tree branches where I had left them, storing the garments in my suitcase as I ventured inside. I placed my suitcase and the things I had bought in a corner, only taking out my sleeping bag and the basic magic book.

The sun had set about an hour ago, so I had to make use of the moonlight that dimly illuminated the hollow hill. I settled atop the sleeping bag to get comfortable. In front of me, I placed the book, its cover reflecting the moonlight despite its worn condition.

Without wasting time, I opened the book, flipping through the pages until I reached the first chapter. The title was clear and concise: "Introduction to Mana: Fundamentals and Practice." I inhaled deeply, feeling the scent of aged paper and old ink emanating from the book.

The first lines immediately caught my attention. 'Mana is the very essence of life and energy. It flows through all things, living or inanimate, and can be shaped and directed by those with the right knowledge and skill.'

I turned the page, finding a detailed diagram showing the flow of mana through the human body. I flipped the page again, finding a drawing of a body silhouette, annotated with small numbered notes explaining step-by-step how to use mana.

'Step 1: Before manipulating mana, we must be aware that it resides within our body. One way to achieve this is through meditation.'

I decided to attempt this step, so I crossed my legs, joined my hands, and closed my eyes. I began to imagine that mana was in my blood, coursing through my veins, reaching every part of my body. At first, I thought it wasn't working, but then I began to feel a tingling sensation throughout my body.

I opened my eyes abruptly at that sensation, but as I did, the tingling vanished. Excited, I read the next step.

'Step 2: Now that you are aware of the mana flowing through your body, you must concentrate the mana in a specific area, preferably your hands.'

Reading this gave me an idea, so I got up to find the lantern I had bought. It didn't take long to find, so it was just a matter of sitting back down.

Having done this, I repeated Step 1, but with the lamp in one of my hands. As I felt the tingling in my body again, I began to try concentrating the mana in the palms of my hands. After a few minutes, the tingling in my hands intensified, but I didn't stop there and continued gathering mana in the palms of my hands until the lantern lit up.

"I did it, I think I'll stop here and continue tomorrow."

Having said that, I set the lamp aside and tried to close the book. But just as I was about to do this, my body stopped obeying me and collapsed. Thanks to the light from my lantern, I could read the next step. The title simply read:

"Warning: By doing this, you may experience mana sickness, symptoms ranging from headaches to weakening of your body."

"Son of..."

I tried to concentrate by doing breathing exercises, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly, attempting to stabilize my head, which wouldn't stop spinning. My eyes closed as I felt the tingling sensation in my body becoming unbearable. I began to feel claustrophobic in my own body, and at the same time, my awareness started to fade, much like the day I arrived in this world.

Finally, sleep overtook me; it was strange. I found myself floating in a vast ocean of pure energy, trying to find balance. I didn't understand what was happening, and before I could discover anything, I opened my eyes.

"What a strange nightmare. Well, at least it was all just a..."

Looking around, I remembered that this was my reality then. I took a deep breath and tried to get up. As I did, I noticed how my body was completely covered in sweat, and my stomach was empty to the point where a huge hunger was invading me.

"This is going to be a long day."

**********

After taking a shower and changing my clothes, I was walking towards the academy. I had packed all the tools I had bought along with my weapon and shield.

Furthermore, to avoid hunger and thirst, I had packed the rest of the bread I bought yesterday and boiled water in the potion cauldron.

I had left the bracelet at 'home' so they wouldn't know I was at the academy. When I was at a considerable distance, I started to be more cautious, hiding among the bushes to avoid being seen.

When the time came, I sneaked into the dumpster without anyone seeing me. This was very important because in the game, the second event you have against Rurik is right after his suspension. He blames the player for all his misfortunes and becomes so angry that he sneaks into the academy to look for the player with the aim of seeking revenge to regain his honor.

After humiliating him once more, you could claim the 'DragonWing' shield, making him fall deeper and deeper into despair. That's why I had to avoid being discovered at all costs.

Once I entered the dumpster, I felt the penetrating smell of rust, which for some reason I hadn't felt the first time I was here. Perhaps it was because my senses were starting to get used to the reality change.

Thanks to my knowledge of the game map, it was difficult for me to get lost in the dumpster, which was organized into a kind of labyrinth of shelves that stored the worn-out weapons discarded by students and teachers.

This happened when the weapon reached a point of no return or simply when they acquired a better weapon. They came here to discard them so that eventually the academy would recycle them when the dumpster was completely full.

Just as I turned a narrow corner, my heart skipped a beat as something caught my attention. Through an opening in a shelf attached to the metal fence separating the dumpster from the rest of the academy, I saw the person I least wanted to find in this place: Darius, without a doubt, it was him, there was no denying it.

For a second, our gazes met, time seemed to stand still as panic seized my body. Before I could do or say anything, Darius ran out, surely to call a teacher or the student council.

The tension in the air was palpable; one thing was certain, I had to move fast, otherwise, confrontation would be inevitable. The time to be cautious was over; I had to hurry to get to the secret dungeon.

As I moved, the adrenaline in my system granted me an unusual sharpness, so it didn't take me long to reach the secret dungeon. I recited the runes to enter it as quickly as possible, always watching where I stepped to avoid falling like the day before.

Once inside, I recited the runes once again to close the entrance and avoid being discovered. Now I could afford a little rest to recuperate; I needed to regain my energy before starting to dig.

I could feel the air inside the dungeon was cool and humid. I didn't know how air managed to filter into this place, but for the moment, I decided not to dwell on it. I lit my magic lantern; its soft blue glow bathed the stone walls. I took out the shovel and pickaxe secured on my back, ready for the hard work that awaited me.

I advanced carefully, while my steps echoed in the oppressive silence of the dungeon. As I approached the hand of the mechanical suit, the air became denser and colder, and the echo of my steps became more pronounced. These were things I hadn't noticed the first time I was here; it was strange, I didn't understand why this was happening.

"Could it have something to do with being able to manipulate mana now?"

Finally, I reached the hand of the mechanical suit. The light from my lantern reflected on the dark metal it was made of; I was surprised that it wasn't all rusty or broken considering where I had found it.

I placed the lantern on top of a rock, illuminating the area where I would start digging, then took out my shovel, beginning to move the earth with precise and methodical movements. Every strike echoed in the dungeon, the sound reverberating on the stone walls. Sweat soon started to run down my forehead, but I didn't stop. I knew time was crucial; I didn't have enough provisions, so it was best to unearth this suit today.

"I hope you're worth it."

With every shovel of earth removed, my thoughts focused more on my goal. I imagined that this mechanical suit must be a masterpiece of gears and magic, waiting to be awakened from its long slumber. After a while, I switched to the pickaxe, hitting hard against the rocks that obstructed my progress.

Minutes turned into hours. I worked tirelessly like I had never done before; the echo of my tools and my heavy breathing were the only sounds in the dungeon. Finally, after an especially strong blow, I felt the pickaxe resonate with a different sound.

It was the metallic sound I had been waiting for so long. After what I assume was about three hours, I managed to reach the leg of the mechanical suit.

My heart skipped a beat; I hurried to clear more earth and rocks, my movements were more frantic but just as precise. Soon, the outlines of a metallic structure began to emerge. The mechanical limbs made of some extremely resistant metal were now unmistakable.

I continued digging until I removed every last layer of earth covering the suit. I'm not sure how long I had been digging, but if my intuition was correct, it must be sunset by now.

I stopped for a moment to admire my find. Despite being covered in dirt and somewhat corroded, the suit emanated a sense of power and ancient knowledge. Carefully, I began to clear the remaining debris, revealing more details of the complex machinery and arcane inscriptions adorning it.

As I removed the debris covering the structure, the imposing figure of the suit began to reveal itself. The core of the suit was a armored cabin, built with plates of some extremely durable metal.

This core was basically a huge sphere, which when I approached to touch it, ended up opening, showing that the lower part of the sphere was a control cabin with levers and buttons. While the top was a dome that surely sealed tightly when pressing a button, protecting the operator from external attacks and dangers.

The metal was marked by time and past battles, with scars that spoke of countless encounters. However, the design remained impressive, a mix of brutal functionality and mechanical elegance.

The suit was equipped with two massive mechanical arms, each ending in large hands that could surely lift all kinds of devastating weapons. The legs of the suit were equally impressive, designed to provide stability and mobility on any terrain. Perhaps they were equipped with large hydraulic pistons that allowed fast movements and powerful jumps.

I wasn't sure how the suit's propulsion system worked, but I could appreciate large pipes and valves running along the suit's limbs. Surely the power source was in the cabin.

I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the magnificence of the mechanical suit as I cleaned the last remnants of debris. My mind was filled with visions of what I could do with such power at my disposal. Mainly me acting like a complete maniac, I sighed with joy at that mental image.

I knew his work had just begun; I would have to reactivate the suit, find a way to recharge it, clean it, and possibly repair it. But at that moment, in the cold and dark dungeon, I felt a wave of triumph and determination. I had completed one of my objectives in this new life. Now, the real test would be to bring it to the surface and unravel its secrets.

But before I could think about what my next move would be, the system screen appeared to inform me of a new message that had arrived.

[-System-]

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