10 Chapter 10: Books Actually Help. . . Sometimes

The air was heavy with the scent of ancient text, as piles upon piles of books were scattered about the floor. Certain piles towered over the bookshelves, leaning slightly due to the weight.

The contents of the scattered books were in wide variety, each one explaining the very basic fundamentals of skills, spells, and formations as understood by the people who wrote them.

There were different tiers in regards to them all,

Earth-Tier

Low-Tier

Mortal-Tier

Mid-Tier

High-Tier

Supreme-Tier

Heaven-Tier

Within each tier were grades that further categorized the potential and strength of magic as a whole, the system was made in regards to how easy it was for any one person to learn a spell from any of the tiers.

While simple chants of Earth-tier magic could give one great control over the corresponding spell, it would normally take decades of study to gain a fragment of understanding for a Heaven-tier spell.

While there were people with great aptitude towards magic, they were few and far between. As the best and brightest were often monopolized by the great powers who ruled them, as a result the knowledge of magic was freely distributed except for spells that made up the foundation of religious schools, sects, and certain kingdoms.

Faith sighed turning the page of the books she was reading, having seen the same introductory page in all the books around her so far. Looking up at the mountain of literature at her back like a towering wave, that hung hauntingly above her head.

Stretching her body to shake away the tired feeling trying to settle in her bones, causing the book the slide off her lap and drop loudly to the floor.

"Thunk"

The sound echoing down the aisle soon fading to silence, reaching down she gingerly picked up the book. Dust lightly swirling from the cover, setting the book on top of a nearby pile Faith looked around taking in her surroundings. A few feet away Kenny and Annie we're surrounded by a mound of books,Kenny excitedly flipping pages, while Annie was silently meditating by his side.

"Alright, I think I understand some of how this world works, and how this system helps us." Said Kenny snapping shut the book in his lap, standing he grunted in relief as he stretched.

"This world is ran by people who wield the strongest magic, those who don't tend to suffer. Mana is the powering source for magic, this place never runs out. It's generated by everything, even people. There are two types of people, those who are naturally gifted with magic or those who are taught."He explained maneuvering his way through the barricade of books to stand before Faith continuing,

"However Mana isn't the only source of power, those who can't utilize mana, can use Aura to activate skills or unique abilities they've developed and mastered. It does follow the same logic as magic though. So not much real difference, but for us, it's easier."

He paused long enough to place a finger on his temple, lightly tapping,

"We have this system, it's like a cheat code for instant access to both skills and magic. We can cast whatever we want provided that we've gained an understanding of it or it's been used on us, as long as it's suits us of course.

Kenny said looking at Faith who was staring in earnest,

"That's all well and good. How do we use mana though is a question I have." Faith responded the anticipation shining in her eyes as she stepped close to Kenny,

"Woah now." He chuckled holding his hands up slightly , "There's a difference between skills and magic. Magic usually requires an incantation or chant to activate, skills activate when the name is said. Simple really. They are faster but lack strength compared to magic, hopefully that answers your question."

Kenny paused for a moment before looking over to Annie who was still silently meditating,

"Unfortunately Annie was the only one of us to actually start out with magic. Which must mean she has a strong affinity for it, but I don't think we aren't any better. Just need to find a magic that suits us."

Faith stared at Kenny for a second before descending into deep thought, bringing up her list of skills to stare at the three skills available.

"Wait. . . 3, I only started with 2, right?"She thought to herself, going through the list again,

"Destruction, Flame Manipulation, and . . . Draining Strike?When did I get that?'

"Stolen Skills and Magic that meet compatibility are added automatically."

The system responded abruptly cutting into her thoughts, which roused her from the depths of her mind.

Looking toward Annie who was still meditating, and Kenny who was nose deep into a book again. Faith was slowly growing bored, while the books were informative, she preferred practical experience. The thought spending another minute reading started to agitate her, driving her to grab both of their shirt collars and stomp toward the exit. Dragging a surprised Annie and dejected Kenny behind her, as the book tumbled away his grip, a tear , formed at the corner of his eye.

Jayson watched his skill take effect, stretching toward the giant man. Hoping to steal whatever it was that bound him, until an odd sensation started to creep up his legs. It was wet, cold , and hard like cement solidifying around them.

"High-Tier Skill detected. Shadow Paralysis acquired. Would you like to nullify the effects? " The system alerted Jayson, he looked down to see his own shadow had covered his legs entirely, rendering him immobile.

"No, leave it. I want to break out on my own." Jayson responded silently , urging his legs to move. However it felt as though the Earth itself sat on them to prevent any movement, the more he struggled the more fatigued he became.

"It's no use child, just be good and stay there." Came a sweet and charming voice from within the crowd, as it parted to let through an elderly lady.

She stood a head shorter than Jayson, adorned in extravagant robes that attracted everyone's attention, made him wonder how he missed such a flashily dressed woman.

Wrinkles heavily covered her face that her eyes were no longer visible, and made it seem like her face sagged. However when she "looked" in their direction a strong gaze could be felt.

Just by standing there Jayson could feel an unbridled amount of pressure radiating, from this elderly woman it was overwhelming. Whoever she was, she was able to pin both Jayson and the other guy with ease.

"I certainly wouldn't last in a fight with her as I am now, I'll listen for now" He thought to himself as the elderly lady approached, standing before him she poked him gently in various areas on his body.

"Excuse me, shouldn't you at least buy me dinner before attempting to poke me?" Feigning embarrassment Jayson teased, a sly smile manifesting on his face,

"I'm sorry child, I'm not interested in those kinds of men." She responded casually as she stepped back a bit.

"That's odd, I don't sense an aura on him, and yet. . . He used a skill. This world sure does have its weirdos, especially with a hair style like that."She thought to herself as she "looked" him up and down.

"I don't know where you were raised, but stealing around here is not a good thing to do." Pointing to the ax as she spoke seemed to draw it toward her, like a strong magnetic force was applied.

The abruptness of this nearly tore his arm away as he hurriedly released his grip,

"Magic detected, analyzing complete, Magnet Magic uploaded." The system chimed to Jayson's annoyance however he was more impressed with the new information presented, the gears in his head started to turn.

"If you say your sorry and promise to not do this again, I'm more than willing to let you go. I prefer peace to violence." The cane in her hands trembled slightly as she spoke, the tip begun to glow with a soft and pure light.

Slowly it grew intense as the light lingered, it was as pure as snow with no trace of impurities, it enthralled all who gazed, filling them with a sense of unbridled warmth.

Jayson felt the weight on his legs disappearing in the presence of this strange light, looking down in time to see the shadow that pinned him there was receding at a visible pace.

A moment later, the restraint on his legs vanished completely, the giant man had also been released. He stared at Jayson, hostility burned in his eyes, face bright red in agitation.

He suppressed his anger in front of the elderly woman, who returned the ax to him, "You should take better care of your things child, if your weapon is taken again, I won't intervene." She spoke endearingly as if it was her own child she was scolding.

The color in his face drained receiving her meaning, with a curt nod of his head, "Yes Granny Chi, I'll be more careful" his once loud voice was now small and respectful. Turning towards the door, he shot Jayson a dirty look before stomping away. The base of his neck slowly turning red again.

Jayson watched with interest settling himself onto a chair, "With a look like that on his face, I know I'll be seeing him again. I wonder if he'll bring friends?" He thought with much amusement

He prepared to give chase but was blocked by Granny Chi, who poked the tip of his foot, she "looked" at him for a while, "I've got questions for you child, might you indulge an old woman?" She pushes him through the crowd before he could answer, clearly implying he had no choice.