Greater Secrets
After recovering his hp Ezekiel wanted to return to his affinity cultivation but the smiths told him that he should return at a later time.
In fact all of the cultivating mages were being escorted out.
He did not know what was happening but he just left as requested, he could probably convince that alchemist to let him stay again if he gave more of his blood.
The city at night was very strange but he found his way back to her shop without much trouble.
When knocking on her door he almost expected nothing as it was already dark but she eventually answered.
He started to politely bow thinking it was how respect was shown in such a fantasy world but she immediately spat on the ground when he did so.
He would assume she didnt like such things.
"Back already eh? Hoping for another night here?"
"Yes! Um sorry, yes I am hoping that i can exchange more of what we did before to pay for another night."
"Boy dont say it like that, ya sound like a damn hooker... a male devil hooker, now that would be some kinda weird luxury."
'A luxury?' He wanted to ask for clarification but she went to her shop so he just followed.
When inside they began their work as before.
While he was bloodletting he did ask her a few questions this time though.
"Hey i wanted to ask since before, you said shadow magic is outlawed? Why is that?"
She was mixing potions in her great cauldron but she seemed to be doing something that didnt require all her focus since she replied.
"Shadow magic is outlawed because people call it the magic of serial killers. They dont allow people to know exactly why but apparently part of shadow mana makes ya really keen to kill people in horrible ways."
She began bottling the potion from the cauldron as if she were bottling alcohol.
"They say that when a shadow mage wants to get stronger the method they use will naturally lean towards torture and gruesome murders."
"Now i dont know if its true or if its fear mongering because ya the first shadow mage i met."
After bottling the final potion she turned to him.
"Any idea if they right? Shadow magic a rool of serial killers boy?"
He wanted to immediately refute it but then he remembered something.
"Well i have been hurt by it before and I would definitely call it torture, imagine being burned alive while also being covered in frostbite. Cold fire that creeps into your body while your flesh is melted as if acid were poured on it."
What he didn't mention was how shadow magic could apparently give you more stats somehow.
"Well here's my next question ma'am, how do i take my spells beyond the master rank?"
She seemed surprised now but then waved her hand in dismissal.
"Ya otherworlders and ya boons from the creator, ba!"
"To make ya spell grow beyond master ya gotta forge the spell's shape yerself."
She held a hand palm up and through his mana sense he could see her channelling mana to her palm where it began to form... a dagger?
"To make ya spells stronger ya gotta learn to manipulate mana even further which means ya gotta make yer mana control go beyond master."
"And how would i do that?"
"Ya practice manipulatin mana in ways that dont absorb it or make spells. Ya gotta make mana constructs."
When she said this he finally had an epiphany.
'She was never using a spell, that demilich was using a mana construct to attack me!'
He examined her closely and watched as she controlled her mana so easily.
As he was observing her skills he got distracted though.
He saw something very interesting.
"Um... why are your veins full of mana?"
She was taken aback by his question before she started cackling almost violently.
"Those are my mana veins! Its an advanced skill for mages like spell mastery."
He got very excited at this and leaned in close.
"Can you teach me to make my veins carry mana?"
She looked at him strangely before shaking her head.
"They be veins that carry mana not my actual veins boy but sure I'll help ya cross the boundary to become an advanced mage."
What happened next was a long night of studying anatomy through books she kept for apprentices to learn proper potion applications and medical skills.
To create mana veins he had to do what he did with his core but it could only be done with high level mana control.
He would have to slowly form his mana veins in such a way that they would not be constrained by his body but also reached every point in his body.
This was why mages used the real circulatory system as a guide for it.
It took him hours of hard work and concentration but eventually...
~~~~~~~~~~
Skill Obtained: Mana Veins (A)
Increase mana flow to spell craft by 50%.
~~~~~~~~~~
He wasnt sure what that meant but based on the way she described it he wouls be adding more mana to fuel the things he would make when handling spells or mana constructs.
It would increase his mana consumption by 50% but it would help in every way she clarified.
Her fire had only increased his affinity by 1% but he was still happy with the results since he had only hoped for a bed that night, instead he got a bed and a new skill.