"Congratulations, you have an affinity with the water element! Give me a minute to put all this away, and I'll present you with the different spells you can choose from."
The young girl stood up and began carefully storing the stones.
Little Idiot looked at Qiris intensely "Rabbit!!"
Annoyed, Qiris replied "It's not an enemy, it's an elemental stone. It's something that can make you stronger, but we can't afford to buy it. So, we'll have to fight for it."
At the mention of the word "fight" the little frog's large orange eyes narrowed, filled with a combative spirit.
"Here we are! In this book, you'll find the beginner spells you can learn. Please select only one, and I'll give you the learning manual afterward."
The young girl returned and placed a book in front of Qiris titled "Basic Spells (Water)".
"Let's see what's offered..." Qiris murmured, leafing through the book for a good ten minutes. He picked out three that seemed the most interesting in his case.
- [Soothing Drop]: allows healing of summons.
- [Aquamarine Blade]: the only offensive spell in the book.
- [Protective Bubble]: allows protecting a summon.
Little Idiot seemed to be a real hothead, so Qiris would feel more reassured to be able to either protect him or heal his future concussions.
"Little Idiot, choose 1 if you want me to heal you, or 2 if you want me to protect you."
Qiris tried something, but the answer managed to disappoint him even though he wasn't expecting anything special.
"Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!"
"Well... I'll take the [Soothing Drop] spell, please, ma'am."
He returned the book, and the young girl came back shortly after with a pretty manual adorned with the symbol of a drop on the cover.
"You are not allowed to share its content in any form whatsoever, even with your family. If you are caught doing so, you will be judged by the Indigo Court."
She gave a mandatory reminder while handing him the book before saying goodbye and welcoming the next customer.
Qiris left the shop, followed by the small green creature with orange eyes that attracted everyone's attention.
Walking towards the bookstore, Qiris observed the animation around him. The streets were lined with small colorful shops where summoners and their creatures came and went. Stalls offered magical artifacts glittering under the setting sun. Merchants shouted their prices while children ran between passersby, fascinated by the summoned creatures wandering in the street.
The bookstore was located at the corner of a narrow cobbled street. Its facade was sober but imposing with its large dusty windows that revealed piles of ancient books stacked up to the ceiling. A hand-carved wooden sign bore the inscription "Library of Ancient Knowledge" which slightly faded over time.
Qiris pushed the massive wooden door that creaked softly as it opened. Inside, the atmosphere was hushed and silent. Cracked wooden shelves covered every wall, filled with ancient books, some of which seemed to be almost falling apart. A familiar smell of yellowed paper and ink floated in the air.
An old man was sitting behind a worn counter made of gray stone. He seemed as ancient as the books surrounding him. His deep wrinkles told centuries of stories while his piercing eyes shone with immeasurable wisdom.
"Hello, I'd like to buy books on summonings and summoners... The simplest and most comprehensive ones possible to learn more before my first entry into the Astral Tower" Qiris asked politely.
The old man nodded slowly before carefully standing up. He browsed the dusty shelves before returning with a few volumes with worn bindings testifying to many years of use.
"That will be 10 gold pieces, please" he declared in a hoarse voice while handing the books to Qiris.
After reluctantly giving away a third of his hard-earned economic resources, Qiris left the shop with a stack of books in his arms. He left behind the hushed and mysterious atmosphere of the bookstore to head towards his next destination, the magical craftsman.
The sun was beginning to descend on the horizon as Qiris continued his way through the lively streets of Astral. Magical lamps lit up one by one above the shops while summoners returned from the towers or prepared for their next nocturnal adventures. Little Idiot hopped happily behind him without paying attention to the curious looks he attracted.
The shop he was eagerly awaiting was nestled at the end of a discreet alley but well-lit by crystals suspended from the exterior walls. The golden sign simply indicated "Magical Craftsmanship" but its reputation was well-established among local summoners.
The small bell placed above the door tinkled softly when Qiris entered a room bathed in soft light emitted by multicolored crystals suspended from the ceiling. Each crystal projected shimmering reflections on the walls adorned with shelves filled with magical objects carefully sculpted wands, brightly colored potions, and mysterious talismans.
Qiris approached the empty counter when an ethereal figure suddenly appeared before him as if out of nowhere. She floated slightly above the ground; her long white hair undulated around a graceful feminine face while a shimmering aura surrounded her spectral body.
"How may I help you?" she asked in a melodious voice that resonated like a crystalline song throughout the shop.
Fascinated by this unexpected magical apparition, Qiris explained his request with slight hesitation he was looking for an amplifying wand for his water-related spells and still had 23 gold pieces for this crucial purchase.
"Wait a second... I'll see what I have in stock..." she replied softly before disappearing in a sparkling luminous whirlwind.
A few moments later, she reappeared with several wands between her translucent hands that she delicately placed on the counter.
- Mist Wand: Carved from rare misty cedar, ideal for enhancing perception-related spells.
- Tides Wand: Inlaid with seashells, it strengthens control-related spells.
- Cascades Wand: Made entirely of pure water crystal, it amplifies all types of aqueous spells.
- Torrents Wand: Engraved with ancient runes, it considerably increases the offensive power of aquatic spells.
Each wand vibrated slightly under the magical energy emanating from them as Qiris carefully read their descriptions engraved on small golden plates placed in front of each of them.
Without further hesitation, after quick reflection on his future needs in the imminent Astral Tower... he finally chose the Cascades Wand, renowned for amplifying all types of aqueous spells without exception!