[Ding! Transferring data.]
Lucas's foreboding feeling soon found to be true.
According to the memory stream provided by the System, previous Lucas after obtaining the unknown runic artifact was enthralled by it and was crazy about studying it and experimentation.
At first the catalysts, ingredients and materials needed were quite ordinary thus Lucas's allowance was sufficient for his experiments, but as his skills and knowledge acquired continued to grow the rarity and variety of ingredients and materials also increased thus accordingly his expense also continue to increased.
Lucas knew he can't ask risk exposing the artifact. So he needed to show a valid reason for requesting money from his grandfather or from his uncle. For a short term he can ask them but inevitably he may expose himself so he needed some other source of money.
Generally, before advancing to a true Mage no mage could make much money and Lucas needed a lot of money. Also since Lucas is only a Mage Apprentice the level of his attainments in the field of Runes or any other form of high magic study is limited thus preventing him from getting any productive results.
No one will allow Lucas's usage on rare materials since his success rate will be very low due to his low cultivation.
Therefore Lucas needed a source of income legal or illegal and that led to the only black market in City of Datura, Underhood Market.
After 2hr the appointed time for the trade will arrive. As the initiator of the trade an advance payment was necessary. Lucas had to fork out his 70% of money, he gave it to Saddik and remaining payment will be given in the form of a poisonous potion brewed by Lucas.
In Underhood Market Lucas was an old poison master.
If he failed to arrive at the secret trade place his advance payment will fly away and with it his credibility, even if his credibility is lost Lucas feared nothing, but money he couldn't loose, so at any cost he have to attend the secret trade.
Lyon Arsln a Maxim Level Mage, Lucas's grandfather was one the strongest in Arsln family. From young his treatment was similar to a young master of the Arsln Family and his talent in rune only cemented his position.
Lucas had no close friends nor relatives except for his grandfather and his uncle's family. His father and mother died when he was young and not many information was known to him.
Finally, Lucas went to his grandfather and asked about black market.
Fortunately his grandfather didn't suspect anything and seeing his grandson's interest in the black market he took him around the black market and gained quite a lot of information.
This was a quite unexpected development for little Lucas. He didn't think much ahead, he showed his doubts in his face.
His grandfather seeing his doubtful face showed a gentle smile and softly spoke to him. "With your talent you will definitely be a core member of our Arsln Family and you may even get a chance to run for the next Patriarch. You cannot be ignorant of what our family can do, how powerful the name Arsln is and especially about the City of Datura since this is our Arsln Family's headquarters and origin."
After this trip his grandfather took him to his personal room. In a way it was the turning point in his life for the Young Lucas. Lyon looked at him with a solemn face and took out a grey robe, a silver bracelet and an ordinary looking gray ring. "I know you want to go to black market, I don't know whether it is because of your curiosity or something else."
"I have been thinking of starting your official training needed for a successor after 1 or 2 years but since you have come yourself it will start earlier." Lucas at that time didn't knew the implications behind that sentence until much later.
Lyon continued, "From now on I am giving you free reign. You were mature beyond other children your age and uncommonly intelligent so if I treated you like a ordinary intelligent child it may become your shackles. Do what you want, but from today onward you are not allowed to miss the training."
Pointing at the items in his hands Lyon said "The grey robe will help you hide your identity by blocking all senses below Maxim whereas the bracelet can help you out from illusion and control spells and this ring has a Maxim Level attack and an emergency signal for requesting assistance."
"Only use the attack if your life is in danger otherwise the emergency signal is sufficient and reinforcements will arrive in 10 seconds. Even in Underhood Market we have our own people so don't worry too much."
Lucas took sometime for sobering up and looked at his grandfather with a mix of astonishment and happiness.
"You still have the Defense shield I gave you at your 13th birthday, right?, and it will give you enough protection." Lucas was startled for a moment but quickly covered up.
Lyon was a gentle and caring grandfather for Lucas, Lucas felt guilty for not telling his secret but before he could say anything his grandfather said "Everyone have their own secrets, I won't ask you and you don't need to tell me. Just remember to take care of your health and if something you can't take care crop up, just tell me and I will take care of it. Remember behind you stands your Grandfather Lyon a Maxim Level mage and the Arsln Family."
Recalling his memory through System, Lucas had complicate feelings toward his grandfather. He shook his head and rid of his thoughts and started to prepare for his trip to Underhood Market.
From the memories he knew he was a Apprentice Mage in the accumulation stage but even so he couldn't feel any mana inside him.
Confused he shouted in his mind. 'Hey system why can't I feel any mana inside me?'
[Ding! System sealed your cultivation since without enough knowledge and experience using mana will be dangerous and may cause serious injuries.]
[Ding! The minimal amount of mana will be available for host, if host's proficiency reached an acceptable level in manipulating mana the seal will be automatically released.]
Lucas was stunned for a brief moment and didn't know what to say.
'If I can't use mana how do I operate the magical items.'
[Ding! System can help you in a passive way for operating magical items and its abilities.]
[Ding! Connect to System, and for manipulating items and abilities, use your mind to think to use the items or any of your spells. Imagination will greatly increase your control.]
[Ding! Spells known : Fireball, Detect Presence, Increase Sense, Minor Regen, Minor Stamina]
[Ding! To contact Unknown Runic Artifact Book visualize it in your mind]
Lucas's vision was filled with notifications, but realizing the last information content, Lucas was dazed for a second.
"Damn! How can I forget, this thing merged with me. How can Saddik and Underhood Market made me forget this? Ahhh"
*****************
Sky was dim and a humid air filled all over the place. The dark clouds covering the sky seemed like giving an announcement for the upcoming rain.
In the bustling City of Datura a seemingly ordinary car was moving from streets to streets at a steady pace. At the backseat Lucas was mulling over at what happened till now.
'The magic artifact inside my body is a book, most likely the previous metal block form is a sealed form or a hidden form and now unsealing it has shown it's true form.'
In Lucas's mind palace a golden book was floating covered with all kinds of mystical runes. At a single glance even an ordinary man can understand that the golden book is an extraordinary uncommon magical item.
Lucas pondered for a while, seeing as his thoughts going no where, Lucas put it out of his mind. He now needed to rapidly understand his powers. Lucas moved his hands and tried to make various kinds of seals according to his memory.
Apprentice Mage usually cast spells by chanting or by making seals by hands or combining both. The past Lucas was capable of chant-less spell casting.
After a short while,
Flickering his fingers, a pale yellow flame was hovering at the tip of his fingers, a excited expression was all over his face. 'Hmm, I am getting used to mana, it feels quite effortless, is it because I am a inborn genius or is it my past experience covering me.'
Looking intently at the flame Lucas pondered 'I am at the Peak of Accumulation Stage, 2nd Realm of Lower Three Realms.'
From the information gathered in the books and by the system Lucas got an overview of the world. This world is known as 'Sea-Mist Plane' don't know why it's called like that.
Recorded over 10,000 year history but not available to everyone, now Year 7018 of the Age of Ether. Here technology is fairly developed but the top technology is only available to wealthy and the influential. The Sea-Mist Plane have a total of 3 continents namely Asklar Continent, Ezhern Continent and Roselern Continent.
Each one boasting huge surface area. Each continent is multiple times bigger than earth.
City of Datura where he resides is one of the major city in the country Federation which is situated in the Ezhern Continent. Law of Jungle prevails in this plane, the power system of Sea-Mist Plane is divided into 6 levels 3 minor realms and 3 major realms. They are further divided but Lucas doesn't have much information regarding that.
The Lower Realms being the foundation realm and Higher Realm being the realm of powerhouse.
The minor realms which are basically divided into 3 Stages.
Stage of Sensing
Stage of Accumulation
Stage of Purification
The meaning of the realms is self-explanatory. Basically which ever path one walked the basic realms can be understood as such no matter which name it is used.
After Harmonization of body and mind, breakthrough to higher realm is possible. For Mages the higher realms are divided into Magister, Maxim and Arch. For Warriors instead of Magister the first realm of the three higher realm is known as Core Level.
The major realms are each further divided into 3 according to state of mind or body they are in. Most people will never meet an individual at the major realm in their lifetime. Magister Level Powerhouse are most common, where as Maxim Level are like Guardians and Grandmasters in their respective fields and clans. Arch Level is similar to a National Treasure or a Nuclear Bomb.
Lucas couldn't get any detailed materials in the difference of power levels or realms. Even in his memory there was very little information mostly due to his disinterest.
Although in the past Lucas was not enthusiastic in cultivation, he was still at the peak of Accumulation stage a step away from Purification stage due to his latent talent and resources provided.
"Young Master, we have have arrived at the free market" The driver reminded Lucas upon reaching the destination.
Lucas raised his head and looked at the bustling market for a while and softly said, "Alright you can go, I will go back on my own."
Underhood Market was a black market hidden inside the free market where merchants from all over come to sell merchandise. People inside both markets have a mutual understanding and so many illegal trades were done in this shadow of free market.
Getting out Lucas started to walk deep into the crowd, even though sun was close to setting and dark clouds filled the sky there was no sign of thinning the crowd. Lucas was wearing an ordinary black jeans with a brown shirt, looking completely ordinary.
Weaving through alleys and crowded streets he made rapid turns and put on the grey robe without anyone noticing.
After making sure that no one was following Lucas moved his feet towards to the meeting point. Walking a bit more Lucas reached a Shop named 'Scented Tea', calming his breath Lucas stepped into the shop.
Inside the shop an old man was sleeping with his on the cash counter. He looked like he will step into his coffin in any moment, Lucas quickly brushed off all the distracting thoughts and went to the old man's side and knocked over the table.
Knock Knock
The noise woke him up, "What?Yes?What do you need? We have every tea leaves, every kind you need, everything at a cheap price."
Lucas with a calm but cold face replied "I like tea roots."
The old man without any change in expression merrily asked, "Yes, yes. Tea roots are good. Which one are you looking for? We have all the kind."
"The purple kind that which are not available everywhere."
Old man immediately changed his demeanor and flatteringly said, "Oh a honored guest, please come in, you will find what you need at Room 23."
Behind the old man a secret room automatically opened and the old man motioned him to go in.
Lucas was secretly astonished because he didn't know what the old man did to make the door open. 'Was it technical or magical way?'
Stepping inside through the secret door, what came in his front was a long dark corridor with doors on both sides. Walking through he secretly inspected the metal doors but he couldn't hear any sound or feel mana fluctuations or presence of life. Suddenly information surged into Lucas's mind.
Sealed Doors: Capable of isolating sound, vision and mana fluctuations. Alloy made of Crimson Gale Stone, Black Worm Sand and Desert Redstone.
Reaching Room 23 Lucas pushed open the door, inside there were 2 individuals sipping coffee.
Lucas identified Saddik, he was a burly man with a robust and firm body. He was a Core Realm Warrior(Magister equivalent), beside Saddik was a thin middle aged man presumably the trader of Lunar Shell Crystal, Mr.Maverick.
Upon seeing Lucas, Saddik was delighted, he laughed and welcomed Lucas while calling his alias "Haha, Mr.Vanguard please come, we were waiting for you. Let me introduce you to Mr.Maverick-"
Before Saddik could say more Maverick cut him off "Sorry to interrupt but I am in a rush and I would like to finish this trade as soon as possible. Is it okay with you?"
Lucas without hesitation nodded as he too didn't want to spend any more time in the dangerous Underhood market without having any comprehensive understanding of the current world.
Since both of them had an understanding Saddik quickly excused himself after receiving compensation from Mr.Maverick.
Mr.Maverick and Lucas looked at each other silently, after confirming the doors were closed they started their trade. Lucas could see that Mr.Maverick was a Magister by sensing the mana fluctuations emitted by him.
What Lucas didn't know was Maverick was very nervous at the moment, he couldn't sense any mana fluctuations due to the grey robe Lucas was wearing. Maverick could identify that Lucas was not a warrior but he was not sure which realm Lucas was on as a Mage. Since he couldn't detect his level the only possibilities are that Mr Vanguard has a higher realm or superior magical item to hide his presence. Any of these possibilities mean that he is very dangerous person or maybe even a trap to lure him in.
Maverick was prepared to face any unforeseen circumstances.
Lucas was vigilant but he was confused by Mr.Maverick's silent and nervous state.'What is he nervous for? Is there any problem with the trade?'
Maverick quickly calmed down and took out a box from his space pouch and opened it to show Lucas, "Lunar Shell Crystal, have you got what I need?"
Lucas also took a bottle from his storage ring, "Moonlight Hive Potion, Let's trade"
Maverick was delighted seeing everything going smoothly, he quickly confirmed the potion and after trading the crystal Maverick hastily left the room.
Lucas didn't expect everything to go on easily, he was prepared for some probe since Moonlight Hive Potion could only be produced by Master Alchemists of High Precision, even some Alchemy Grand Master cannot brew this potion easily.
Walking by the alleyways Lucas quickly and quietly changed his less appealing attire and changed into a luxurious outfit.
Boom!!
"Catch him!!"
"Haha, Fedrick!! You can run but you cannot hide"
Turning over to where the sound came from Lucas saw a man running for his life, his hair was disheveled and there were patches of blood on his clothes.
Lucas felt a slight familiarity within him. Hastily he asked system in his mind. Whether that man was a friend of his, if was he should somehow help him.
[Ding! There is a 79% similarity with Mr Maverick]