"Here's your points. The total is 621."
The professor stated, passing over Sidius' student ID.
The unexpected number left Sidius momentarily astounded.
'Six hundred twenty-one?!'
'Something must be off, but it's favorable to me,' he chuckled to himself, before taking his ID.
The professor caught a glimpse of his celebration and went on to clarify the situation.
"You made quite an achievement yesterday for making the demon show himself. You even successfully faced it down, all without any casualties. This feat has earned you recognition from the academy, granting you a reward of 500 points."
'So that's the story, I thought it was some error on their side,' Sidius mused, relieved to find the puzzle solved.
He collected his ID and headed towards the exchange hall with his points in hand.
The exchange hall was a fortified sanctuary, guarded by a powerful defense formation. Its hallowed halls safeguarded the academy's most coveted treasures and artifacts.
Anchoring the chamber was a long counter attended by a handful of staff members, entrusted with facilitating the exchange of student points for weapons, mystical arts, potions or pills.
Amidst the activity, Sidius slipped in unnoticed. The concentration of his fellow students was fixed on their own transactions.
Sidius approached the vacant segment of the counter. There was a sizable tablet displaying the array of available items.
Sidius browsed straight to the mystical arts section without hesitation. There he found several options to choose from: Skills, Mystical Arts, Artifacts, Weapons, and Natural Treasures.
Under the Mystical Arts section, he selected the 'offensive mystical arts' category and then delving into the offerings under Tier 2.
"Let's see..."
—
[Fire Dance (Tier 2)]
[Cost: 600 points]
[Recommended class: Mage/Warrior]
[Description: A mystical art divided into three parts. Fire Dance is an art that uses dexterity and fire elements or yang energy to dance and materialize flames from surroundings.]
—
[Ice Wall (Tier 2)]
[Cost: 400 points]
[Recommended class: Mage]
[Description: A mystical art suited for mages.]
[First form: Ice Range - Strike the ground to summon a spiky ice wall horizontally from the ground.]
[Second form: Ice Plateau - Strike the ground to summon an ice wall vertically from the ground.]
—
[Lion Spear (Tier 3)]
[Cost: 600 points.]
[Recommended class: Warrior]
[Description: A mystical art that was divided into three parts. Lion spear is an art for the spear users that utilizes aura to summon an energy dragon to strike an enemy.]
—
'All of this is good stuff!'
Sidius was preplexed, this is the first time he encountered such high quality Mystical Arts. As expected of the Edrodorth Academy, one of the five biggest academies.
'But it's expensive and not suited for my fighting style. I prefer a speed type offensive technique. Let's look for more.'
As he continued scrolling through the available mystical arts, his excitement surged when he stumbled upon a technique that resonated deeply with his desired combat style.
—
[Thousand Cuts (Tier 2)]
[Cost: 400 points]
[Recommended class: Assassin/Warrior]
[Description: Using the agility and speed, this technique allows the user to flash within a designated range, delivering a flurry of multiple cuts to their target.]
—
"This–!"
Sidius heart raced as he absorbed the details. The image of himself using this technique in swift and precise strikes filled his mind, and he couldn't help but visualize how it would increase his combat prowess.
'It's perfect!'
Sidius exclaimed, clicking the [Exchange] button.
'If I have this before raiding the Fiery Mist, I wouldn't have to go through all that trouble.'
After a while, the screen tablet responded with a soft beep, prompting him to use his student ID as a payment card. With practiced ease, he followed the instruction and a small note appeared on the screen, indicating that he needed to wait for a couple of minutes.
Sidius nodded, closing the notification prompt.
'I still have more points. I should trade for more mystical arts,' Sidius mused as he browsed again. 'The more I have in my arsenal, the better.' he added.
After some time, nothing exciting caught his eye. All of them were not suitable for his preferred combat style.
His disappointment grew as he scrolled further and further.
However, just as he was ready to leave, another technique caught his attention—an entry that seemed to offer a unique advantage.
"There's this too?!"
—
[Phantom Throw (Tier 2)]
[Cost: 400 points]
[Recommended class: Assassin]
[Description: Embracing the dark element, this technique enables the user to mark and throw a weapon. Upon activation, the user can instantaneously appear before the thrown weapon, still holding it, regardless of the distance.]
—
Sidius' eyes danced in delight as he recognized that he had found the perfect skill to complement his fighting style. With Tam's Step being slightly limited without shadows, this new skill made up for it.
Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately clicked it. He couldn't imagine that he could possess more than one mystical art.
'I will be broke but it's worth it! Points are meant to be spent!'
That was the day Sidius depleted all of the points in his student's account, the same day he received the highest points ever given to a first year student.
Time flowed by and eventually, after waiting patiently at the counter, Sidius received two compact books. One was designed in a black cover with elegant gold lettering, while the other was a rustic brown with black text. These were the techniques he had chosen.
Without wasting a moment, Sidius carefully stowed the books inside his expansion bag. Then, he proceeded to the training hall designated for section A, eager to practice his skills.
Navigating through the academy, he finally reached his destination: the illustrious training hall. This facility spanned ten floors, each dedicated to a unique class-specific training room.
Stepping into the grand hall, Sidius found himself in a bustling crowd of students, their energies focused on a particular area.
Rainer, his attire a black training suit embellished with bold blue lines, noticed Sidius.
"Hey, Sidius!" Rainer's voice carried through the air as he approached. "I knew you'd show up here sooner or later because you're a training maniac!" he added with a grin.
Sidius simply nodded with him. Yet, his attention quickly turned towards another presence.
Seeing Nicsia was not there, He turned and asked Rainer. "Did you sneak off again to Nicsia?"
Rainer heard Sidius and shook off his head. He turned towards a room where most students were gathered.
"Over there," he pointed. "Nicsia is inside."
Sidius' focus shifted towards the designated area and mumbled, "Gravity room."
It was the name of the area.
"Apparently, Nicsia was on the level 4, right after she entered," Rainer clarified.
Sidius nodded and made an exit from the bustling area, leaving Rainer behind stunned.
He has no time to watch and idle. He was eager to practice the techniques he acquired from the exchange hall that he did not have no time to care about simple stuff.
After some time, he found an unoccupied training room and entered its white-walled enclosure.
"Whoa!"