Ryan enjoyed a good night's sleep. While the straw pile wasn't as comfortable as an Earthly mattress, it was soft enough. The one thing he couldn't get used to was the lack of proper sanitation. In the town, the better-off used grass, stones, or wooden chips, while others didn't bother with anything, much to Ryan's disgust. Left with no better option, he chose large tree leaves, drying them out to use as makeshift toilet paper. He resolved to perfect his waterball spell once he became a more advanced mage—clean, hygienic, and efficient.
As for whether to stay or leave, Ryan put off the decision. There was still a month of winter left. The people below the mountain couldn't make their way up, and while Ryan could descend, he had no idea what to do afterward. Should he travel alone, adventuring and training? Or should he join a powerful organization? His books explained that mages typically followed one of these two paths. Solo adventuring offered freedom but was dangerous, expensive, and lacked systematic education. On the other hand, working for a powerful force meant safety, abundant resources, and fewer decisions, though it came with obligations.
Currently, Ryan's curiosity centered on the profession of alchemist. As a mage, he was fascinated by magic, a cornerstone of Earth's Western myths. With the opportunity to explore it firsthand, how could he pass it up?
Ryan picked up The Basics of Alchemy, a book that included beginner magic arrays and the formulas for engraving solutions. His task was to practice inscribing magic arrays.
"Basic magic arrays boil down to two fundamental types: defense and offense. Beginner arrays fall into two categories as well: one deals damage, and the other defends," the book explained. Ryan carefully flipped through its pages, finding the concepts relatively simple.
Beginner arrays were classified based on the materials and solutions used to inscribe them. For example, an array inscribed with a solution derived from a fire-elemental beast's core resulted in a fireball spell, while a wind-element solution produced a wind blade. The arrays themselves required only minor adjustments. Essentially, a novice alchemist needed to master just two basic magic arrays; all others stemmed from these templates. The real challenges lay in magical power and mental strength.
In most cases, the items an alchemist crafted were two or three levels lower than their mage rank. For instance, a level-three mage could only begin learning alchemy. Compatibility also played a significant role—most alchemists specialized in a single element. A fire-aligned alchemist would struggle to craft water-element items. This limitation required the use of special alchemical pens that could swap cores or crystals to channel different elemental powers, though doing so demanded tremendous mental energy. Crafting a water-element item as a fire-aligned alchemist consumed more than twice the mental energy compared to crafting a fire-element one.
"Well, that's manageable," Ryan muttered with relief. "If every element needed its own array, learning all 12 would have been exhausting." A glint of mischief sparked in his eyes as he considered his ability to use all 12 elements. However, the thought of the magic power required to level up—especially at higher ranks—quickly deflated his mood.
Noticing his slump, Niu Niu cast a curious glance his way. Turning away sheepishly, she pulled out a small copper mirror to check her appearance. Finding nothing amiss, she muttered under her breath, "Weirdo," and went back to her work.
"Time to start inscribing magic arrays," Ryan declared. He turned to the sections describing the two basic arrays, then found a flat stone slab and grabbed a tree branch to use as a stylus.
Carefully following the instructions, he began inscribing the array stroke by stroke. Despite being labeled "basic," Ryan found the process even more complex than an electrical circuit diagram. Thankfully, he had inherited a family talent for micro-carving—an art of etching letters on grains of rice and carving dragons on peas.
This skill, in another life, had been a handy tool for online flirtations. The impostor in Ryan's memories had used it to woo women on social media, though his cowardice often got the better of him. Several near-misses with catfishing scams or public humiliations kept him wary. On the rare occasions he agreed to meet someone in person, he would flee after dinner, terrified of potential consequences. His anxiety worsened after new laws imposed hefty fines and required family members to bail out offenders. These experiences left him too cautious to enter the neighborhood massage parlors glowing pink at night, even when his wallet was full of cash. Instead, he would linger outside, stealing a few extra glances.
Ryan had an impressive memory but little enthusiasm for foreign languages. This disinterest kept him from attending a top university. After graduating, he took on several jobs, but none of them suited him. Frustrated, Ryan couldn't understand why finding work in his own country required knowledge of other nations' "bird-speak," all in the name of "international standards."
Ryan started by sketching a few lines on a slate with a tree branch, practicing intermittently. He was preparing to dip the branch in water to begin the real work.
"What are you doing?" The sudden voice startled Ryan. He looked up to see Niu Niu staring at him curiously.
Ryan rolled his eyes at her. "Practicing magic arrays," he replied.
"Don't you know about fluorite? Or alchemy pens?" Niu Niu asked, her tone dripping with disdain.
"Well… I'm just practicing," Ryan said, almost dropping the bowl in his hand. Though the bowl stayed intact, the water spilled onto his pants, soaking his lap. Thoroughly embarrassed, he twisted his mouth into a grimace and answered reluctantly.
"Heh! I told you—you're nuts!" Niu Niu teased, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Hmph!" Ryan stood up abruptly and rummaged for fluorite. A crucial alchemical material, fluorite glows under magical stimulation, its brightness dependent on the intensity of the magic.
"Is this chemistry or physics?" Ryan wondered aloud. In one hand, he held a palm-sized fluorite crystal; in the other, an alchemy pen made of amethyst and mithril. The pen resembled a thick chopstick with a large egg on top, its body entirely amethyst except for a ring of mithril at the base, used to channel magic. Basic as this one was, a pen capable of letting a fire-aligned alchemist inscribe water-element arrays would be exceptionally valuable. Ryan marveled at the craftsmanship as he fiddled with the materials.
At advanced levels, alchemists could inscribe magic arrays differently, using a highly corrosive substance to carve the array first before filling it with the required materials. However, this method was limited to large-scale projects or specialized arrays. Applying it to smaller items like bracelets or swords was impractical.
Ryan quickly realized fluorite was incredibly useful. It not only showed whether magic was evenly distributed but also confirmed if an array was drawn seamlessly. The repetitive work didn't bore him; in fact, it felt far more engaging than the lonely, late-night gaming sessions of his previous life. Even if his new companion was small and a little temperamental, having someone to talk to was a significant improvement. After all, knowing Niu Niu was female came courtesy of their soul contract—asking directly would've been… awkward.
Over the next two days, Ryan practiced inscribing magic arrays tirelessly, becoming increasingly proficient. He also discovered patterns across the different elemental arrays. As the book had mentioned, slight modifications to the basic arrays allowed them to accommodate various elements. Although he still didn't fully understand the underlying principles, Ryan wasn't overly concerned. The book contained only two arrays anyway. The latter sections introduced potion recipes and brewing techniques. With the monster hide he'd gathered still in processing, Ryan decided it was time to take a break.
"It's a beautiful day!" he declared, releasing the horses from the stable. The poor creatures, still shaken from their earlier ordeals, were in low spirits. Though now a mage, Ryan couldn't ignore their needs. Alone on the mountain, he couldn't afford to neglect the horses just because his status had changed.
Letting the horses roam helped them recover. The clear skies, absent of wind, and the bright sunlight improved their moods. The day was so pristine that the heavens resembled a flawless pane of deep blue glass. The distant, rolling mountains filled Ryan with a sense of calm. Yet, his gaze kept drifting to the two colossal planets above, captivating him with their grandeur. No matter how many times he looked, they never ceased to amaze him—a testament to the universe's wonders.
"Who's there? Who?" Ryan's tranquility was shattered when the horses suddenly bolted back to the stable. Their heightened senses alerted Ryan to a presence. He strained his ears and picked up faint sounds near the fence at the mountain's base. A small fireball appeared in his hand as he cautiously opened the gate, one hand hidden behind his back.
The sight before him left Ryan utterly speechless.