"What? I can adjust them for you. You want them bigger?" asked Mori.
The old man turned around after carefully putting the crown down.
"No, they're just..."
The man trailed off, in thought.
"They're horrible," said Jax right next to him.
Mori filled his lungs with air, slowly exhaling with his eyes closed.
Most of the time, people relied on him and his strength. When using magic, most reactions were usually wonder or fear.
Here, it was disappointment.
"Don't take it that way, it only means you can grow some more."
"And looking at these, there's a LOT of growing to do," added Jax chuckling.
"They're chains. What more did you expect?"
The man was polishing the crown as it sat on the table, using a piece of the rags he wore and his breath.
Not every item seemed to have that treatment, while everything that was in view seemed in perfect condition, some chests had items hanging out of them in the corners of the room.
After a few sweeps on the crown, he faced them again.
Lifting his hand up, the man's face tightened a moment.
From his palm that was facing upward, a chain emerged, its clinking noise multiplying as it moved around the room.
It was moving around as if it had a life on its own. A dragon soaring the skies or a kite lead by a bird.
As it went around on its third lap, a lot of chains were spiraling around the shop, with the head of it heading back into the hand it came out of.
Quickly, all of it was reeled back in, as Mori watched the scene unfold.
"So you're one of us," said Mori.
"One of us?" replied the man.
Mori's head turned toward Jax, who's face showed the same confusion as the man.
Mori's face turned to confusion as well.
"Well, a sovereign, or someone using curses? Was your title different, like Jax?"
The old shopkeeper had a short laugh, a bright smile drawing itself on his lips.
"Ahhh, that's what you mean! Should've been clearer... You say 'one of us' as if that'd mean anything to me..."
Jax's chuckles annoyed Mori, who kept ignoring them the best he could.
"Are you?" he asked again.
"Oh, no. Not a sovereign of anything I fear. Maybe of this place... but no visitors allowed, so could I really be a sovereign with nobody to be a sovereign to?"
A deep sigh left Mori's lungs, as his eyes reached for the sky.
"So how are you doing this?" he asked.
"The chains?"
"Yes, the chains."
The man furtively looked at Jax again.
"Why do you keep looking at him? Are you both trying to rip me off or something? Is this a trick?"
"Uhh," started Jax, tilting his head to the side. "It's just that it's pretty basic, really. Anyone can do this much."
Lifting his own hand, Jax drew out chains as well.
They kept multiplying, their varying size floating around. After a moment, he got them together, depicting a dragon spitting flames, with red-orange chains coming out of its mouth. Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|-novelhall.net
Mori was slightly amazed, while mostly annoyed.
Mana, or life energy, as some people in the lands describe it, was believed to come from the environment.
The concept of balance existed, and powerful spells had powerful drawbacks on the world, and it all made sense.
Everyone has energy, and the forests or even rocks had some, and it was all explained as simply using what was around.
Some man he had met on a quest described it as being a magnet that attracts energy to oneself, slowly filling the well of the body and mind.
Those explanations were interesting, but everyone used the system.
The system felt nothing.
You pressed a button, the spell was cast, and that was the end of it.
You might feel the heat of the fireball, or the cold of an ice spike, but that was it.
"So all this time, we've been using magic from other realms?" asked Mori.
"Oh no, let's just say you're lucky enough to tap into the pure stuff, while most people get by with that main realm's energy. Some people have affinities, and there's more complicated stuff down the line... but that's the gist of it."
Mori looked around once more, as he stood in that narrow alleyway with the lights of the shop dancing on the walls nearby.
From the eclipse, to the wastelands, to the inhabitants...
The husks, shells of former lives that had lost meanings. The dead trees, eternal reminders that any life in this place lead to only one state.
That 'cursed energy'. Could it truly be coming from that place?
It made sense, but didn't feel that way when he cast spells before.
"It's totally normal. It's more something you feel than something you rationalize," said Jax. "You're tapping into the real stuff while you're here, you'll get used to it."
"The fact you're already able to summon chains, let alone use them in battle is great on its own," added the old man. "Take some time to get used to it. Maybe have Jax train you, he's come a long way himself."
Mori watched as Jax's face went from a smile to annoyance.
"No thank you," replied Jax.
"Really? That's a shame..."
A moment of silence filled the alleyway, as nobody spoke up.
"Why don't you?" asked Mori.
The old man raised an eyebrow, "Me?"
"Yeah. Explain to me the basics. I'll take it from there."
"Hm. I suppose I could..."
Jax rolled his eyes, snapping his tongue.
"You'll never get anywhere. He's not even here. Furthermore, he's a lousy teacher. A lot of talking and not much doing, you'll bore yourself to death before getting any real experience."
"That's good. Understanding how things work helps me learn faster. Practice only reigns as king with knowledge as its foundations.
"I like that kid," chuckled the old man.
Jax broke away from the counter, going down the alleyway.
"Let's go, there's still that guest waiting for you," he said over his shoulder.
Mori took a step back.
"Once I'm done with that, I'll come back. Just show me the basics, I'll give you that chain, and you give me that crown."
"I'll see you later, then," replied the old man.
Mori then turned, walking quickly to catch up to Jax who was meters further down the slight slope.
As he caught up, his eyes became round with the realization that he'd need to get back here.
In the middle of this maze pretending to be a city.
Swiftly turning around, Mori stood still.
No lights danced on the walls, as the shop had completely vanished from the alleyway.