Seeing, that Nova understood, Crevan stood up and went to him, placing the shard in Nova's bag.
"It is already night, for now, go home and come back tomorrow morning, I will help you with basic necessitates in the meantime," Crevan said and Nova nodded.
He left the office, walking down the hallway, thinking about everything that had happened to him, knowing he had a long way more to go and this was the official start of his path.
After leaving the headquarters, he went to an inn within the city, where he resided ever since he had woken up in the body, with not much but clothes and money, as well as a nice room.
Nova freshened up and had dinner, compliments of the inn. When he finished, he plopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling as the events unfolded in his head. Nothing was ordinary; it was all exactly like those stories he often read in novels.
"Erna, why did you clone my stats before Crevan gave me the shard?" He asked, curiously.
"Because it was unsafe, your existence is not of the ordinary within this world, you still have to find your place, it was the best option to make sure any unnecessary suspicion did not arise," Erna responded and he exhaled deeply, as he fell asleep, but he understood that it was a necessary precaution.
After a good night's rest, Nova woke up the next morning prepared for whatever the day may bring. He got out of bed and stretched off.
He did his normal morning routine, then grabbed his bag, which contained the shard that he had gotten the previous day, and left the inn. He headed back to the headquarters to meet with Crevan, for he did not have much time to waste.
When he arrived, the guards let him in since they were expecting him due to Crevan's order. He went straight to his office, not having time for idle chat or judging the gazes of strangers.
"Good morning, Crevan," He said upon entering and Crevan looked up at him from his desk, his hair disheveled, his glasses crooked and he had a wary look.
Seeing him in that state, made Nova bit back a laugh but his eyes glimmered in amusement and Crevan scoffed at his reaction.
"Yeah, yeah laugh it up whatever, good morning," He replied as he stood up and fixed himself, causing Nova to let out a small snort.
"Brat, come on follow me, I can only help you a bit," Crevan said as he walked out of his office and Nova followed him.
They proceeded down a hallway adorned with elaborate carvings that portrayed a variety of heroes, infamous creatures, and historical battles. The hallway was filled with a gentle, golden glow from the magical lanterns, which created intricate shadows on the walls.
As they arrived at the armory, Crevan's eyes glowed green, as he placed his palm against the door and a magical circle appeared on it, then he pushed open the hefty double doors to reveal a large room brimming with armor, weapons, and magical artifacts of all sorts.
Shelves held scrolls, potions, and enchanted amulets, and racks of staffs, swords, and spears stood neatly arranged. Nova's skin tingled with excitement as he noticed that everything, he was seeing was exactly like in some of the games he frequently played, and the air buzzed faintly with latent magical energy.
"Now this is where you will find what you need to get started," Crevan said, extending his arms. You have some advantages because of your class, but you also need tools that are specific to your skill level."
Nova stepped inside, his eyes wide with awe. His attention was drawn to a section with a glowing sigil that resembled a red mixed with a purple crescent moon surrounded by runes, but the sheer variety of equipment within the armory was overwhelming.
The aura that radiated from the objects there was familiar, almost like a continuation of the energy that was throbbing inside him.
Crevan followed Nova's eyes to the sigil, which had captured his attention. "That's the necromancer section," he said. "A small selection, but every piece has strength on its own. Go ahead and pick something that resonates with you.
Nova walked over to the area and carefully looked over the contents. He noticed a staff among them. Silver veins ran the length of its dark, polished wood construction. An eerie, rhythmic glow pulsed from a smoky crystal at its tip. The staff appeared to be alive as if it were awaiting his claim.
"You have a good sense of choice, that one," Crevan said approvingly, "is the Nightshade Staff. It amplifies necromantic magic and channels mana more efficiently. A good choice for someone just starting out, however, it does come with its ups and downs."
Nova's fingers touched the staff's surface as he extended his hand. He felt a surge of energy, and the crystal at the tip flared for a moment before becoming steady.
"It feels… right," Nova murmured, gripping the staff firmly.
"Good," Crevan said. "Let's get you some simple armor for now. Heavy plating won't be necessary; it will only slow you down. Something robust but lightweight ought to work.
Nova looked around before deciding on a pair of reinforced robes. The protective enchantments that lined the dark fabric were intended to absorb a small portion of the physical and magical harm. They were useful, providing reasonable protection and enabling mobility.
Crevan gave Nova a small pouch once he was equipped.
"Basic potions, mana crystals, and a few scrolls with simple spells are the beginning materials. Although they won't save your life in a major conflict, they will keep you alive in an emergency.
Tucking the pouch into his satchel, Nova nodded. He felt more prepared than ever thanks to the armor on his body and Crevan's guidance.
However, at that very moment, the staff disappeared, turning into nothing but ashes with a stone beside it and his eyes widened as he picked it up, wondering what happened.
"It's okay, place it in the pouch then find yourself a blacksmith named Sorev, you will see why when you are there," Crevan assured him, he nodded and did as he was told.
For the first time since arriving in Etarion, he felt as though he was actively working toward his survival, even though he still had a lot of questions concerning the trial and the world he now called home.