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."
"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.