Dash Of Mage-Craft

Walking across the street and entering the store, Reed's eyes laid view to the unique items and materials in the store.

Around the walls were multiple shelves all harboring different magic items from potions to spell books.

Reed approached the woman next to the counter, a middle-aged mage named Vanessa with black hair wearing a mage hat, who apparently looks young through the power of 'Mage craft.'

"Excuse me, I am here to buy a skill," Reed said.

"And who might you be?" Vanessa asked, placing her hand against her face.

Reed had three main reasons for coming to this store. First was to get a new skill that he could use against the enemy since most of the skills he has are recovery skills.

Second would be magic scrolls, lots of them. Reed had a plan; they were one of the main resources he needed.

Thirdly were some mana potions. Reed noticed when activating 'Drain' it sucks a large quantity of his mana, and he constantly needs to replenish it.

"I'm Reed, so do you have it or not?" Reed asked calmly, not wanting to waste his time.

"Ah, yes, a skill, right? Which one?" Vanessa replied.

Skills came in different grades and abilities, but were mainly divided into two types: attack and support.

Reed for now didn't need anything serious, just a skill that would allow him to move more effectively.

"Do you have the skill called 'Blink'?" Reed muttered.

Blink was a skill Reed saw a player use during his research, and he was fascinated by its capabilities, allowing the user to travel anywhere in the blink of an eye as long as they could see it.

"Yes," Vanessa replied.

"How much is it?" Reed asked.

"That will cost you a hundred silver coins, sunny boy," Vanessa said.

Reed was shocked for the first time by its absurd price. He thought because it had a weakness of only able to teleport where you can see, it was a cheap knockoff of a teleportation skill.

But it was to be expected; the thought of just wanting to be somewhere and magically appearing there seemed quite useful and often gave players the advantage when it came to a fight.

So it may not look it, but it was an 'Epic' skill in anyone's book.

Reed sighed, knowing he didn't have the money to afford it right now. "Tell me, do you have anything else that could help as a replacement?"

Vanessa tilted her head, placing her finger next to her lips. "Let me think... Oh yeah, I do have this similar skill."

Using her magic, a book came out from one of the shelves and landed on the counter.

"Here is the skill book," Vanessa said with a smile.

Reed stared at the book, its name and details displayed.

| - Skill name: Dash

| - Skill grade: Uncommon

| - Skill Details: Cover 3 meters in an instant

| - Skill cooldown: 5 seconds

"So how is it, sunny boy? Do you like it?" Vanessa asked politely.

Reed sighed and asked for the price. She replied, saying it's only a silver coin. Reed tossed her the money, saying he would like to buy magic scrolls as well.

And so after he was done buying the magic scrolls and mana potions, he was about to leave the shop when a thought entered his mind.

Reed was confused and wanted to confirm his suspicions. "Hey."

Vanessa turned to look at him. He placed Vinos' ring on the counter and asked, "Where can I find 'Vinos,' traces of the one who owns this ring?"

Vanessa paused, shocked by what he was holding. "Where did you get that?"

"That's none of your business, so are you going to answer me or not?" Reed asked demandingly.

Suddenly another customer walked into the shop, wanting to buy some health potions. Vanessa pulled Reed's collar and leaned over, whispering in his ear, "Look, sunny boy, I may not know how you got that, but you really shouldn't be going around asking about this stuff openly. The word 'Vinos' is forbidden and should never be said so carelessly."

"Hello, I would like to buy some health potions," the player said.

"Sure, coming," Vanessa said, letting go of Reed to attend to the customer.

Reed stepped backward, then turned and left the store. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."

Then he left the store. Coming outside, everything looked busy, players and NPCs roaming the streets, wagons carrying important guests and supplies.

Reed pondered his next step from here on out. His quest was at a town named Dorian, owned by Avalon's count named Cassel Von Dorian.

A weak count in Avalon's world of politics set out a quest, hoping to revive the village, but sadly things were too late. The adventurers/players didn't take the quest, saying it was too hard and the pay was too low for an extermination quest.

Reed, standing in the midst of the capital, wondered how he was going to get to Dorian village, which was quite far due east from the capital.

He didn't have any means of teleportation, nor did he know where to get a wagon.

He opened up his map, walking down the streets. Panning to the next street, he saw the entrance of the capital gate with carriages entering and exiting the capital.

There was an inspection center for the carriages. A wagon moving down the street paused next to the inspection chamber.

The guards paused, turned, and looked at the man, asking what was in the carriage. The man explained, saying it was goods he was taking back to his village, 'Dorian.'

Reed, hearing those words, slowly approached the wagon, hoping the man could carry him as well.

Then suddenly, a thief sneaked up to the back of the wagon, grabbing a box filled with fruits.

Running through the street, "Get out of my way!" the thief yelled, pushing a woman to the ground as he ran.

The guards turned, hearing the commotion. Seeing a man stealing and making a break for it, they pursued him.

Running towards Reed, holding a dagger, "Move out, kid, or else."

"Or else what?" Reed muttered, narrowing his eyes.