Realm Wars

Ryu tilted his head. "Spell and Skill scrolls?"

Ferris looked at the items as she explained, "There are multiple ways to acquire skills and spells in this world. One, a master teaches it to you. Two thru inherited knowledge, but only high-ranking beings have that ability. And three. . ."

Ferris faced Ryu with a beige parchment scroll in her hands. "The popular method is thru scrolls, and it's the easiest, but also the most expensive."

"But, of course, you have to be compatible with the skill and spell, or it won't work on you. Most scrolls contained basic attack and spell. For the high level ones you have to have high-level proficiency in magic, martial arts, and a good amount of mana or the scroll won't even unfold before you. And usually, those are rare and aren't sold in these stalls." Ferris skimmed his chin. "Maybe they're available in the shops?"

Ferris then faced Ryu and warned, "But always remember that some spells and skills have the same effect, albeit they have different names. Like the skill [Blink] and [Quick Steps], which allows you to move in one location within a specific distance. And then there are also [Fireballs] and [Fire Arrows] but still have the same ability to cast low-level fire from your hands. So you better read the scrolls description carefully, or you just wait precious time and money."

Ferris picked a bunch of items and then paid two hundred gold coins to the beaming half-fairy girl. Gold, she had lots of it, and where she acquired it was her little secret.

"Thank you for your patronage!"

Ferris led Ryu into a bench and shoved the two scrolls in his hand. "Since you can't use mana, I bought you two skill scrolls which I think are compatible with your fighting style. Go on. Open it, and let's see if it works."

Pentagrams appeared in Ferris's eager eye that made Ryu doubtful of her intention. But since he was also curious, he used a scroll.

The scroll flew in the air and glowed in shining white light before it unfolded and burst. Its particles enveloped Ryu, then there was tremendous knowledge that was imprinted in his mind. Words and actions that stayed permanent and became one with him.

[Beast Swipe]

"Beast Swipe," Ferris said, beaming that the pentagrams inside Ryu's body didn't repel the skill. "Though it's a basic attack, it's handy to know more skills."

Ryu wanted to try it out, but he was afraid that he'd be in trouble if people got hurt. Maybe he'd try it later when no one was around.

"Go on. Try the next one," Ferris urged.

Ryu opened the last scroll, and it glowed and burst like the other before it and its contents became one with him.

[Roar]

"[Roar], it's pretty much like what you do when you're angry and annoyed. Or if you want to break any low level constricting skills and spells. But this time, it also instill fear and a paralyzing effect for three seconds." Ferris explained. Then her face crumpled. "They're both low-level basic attacks, though. As I thought, if we want rare items, we need to enter the noble's shop."

Ryu didn't register what Ferris said as he was busy flexing his arms and vocal cords, mimicking the newly acquired skills in his mind.

Ferris looked over her surroundings and spotted and noble lady reading a book not far from them. "Hm. .. She'll have to do. As long as a human accompany us, it shouldn't be a problem."

"I only hope that she's alone," Ferris murmured under her breathe. Her shadows then crept towards the woman without anyone noticing, and it became one with the woman's shadows.

The woman's eyes turned dull as she closed her book and looked at Ryu and Ferris's way.

"Perfect." Ferris smiled in glee. It was a good thing that the woman was just a low-level mage. She could control her mind without problem.

[Shadow Puppet] wouldn't work against high level beings and mercenaries that were Class-A and above.

"Okay, first things first." Ferris pulled a pungent colored potion and shoved it on Ryu. "Drink this, please."

Ryu drew back. He smelled poison on the bottle, and he shook his head upon the sight of different unknown matters submerge and floating inside the glass container.

"Come on." Ferris drew closer. Her smile was unsettling. "It's just going to be a little experiment. I promise it won't hurt."

Ryu grumbled. "I don't. .. "

"I'll give you this." Ferris flashed another item she had saved. "This is a (Pelka jerky)." It's a rare item, and it's the most delicious food for beasts. Hunters and mercenaries used it for hunting beasts or when they go hunting for pets.

Pelka's were small pink bores whose meat made the entire realms go into war. They were exaggerating, but many already shed blood to acquire their flesh. They were swift and brutal to find. That's what made it rare. Apparently, its aroma and taste made beasts salivate, and based on Ryu's pooling saliva. It was s effective.

Without a second thought, Ryu grabbed the poison bottle and drank its content dry. He then snatched the Pelka jerky and feast on it.

He didn't even register the poison. His mind was focus on the meat. It was a whole new flavor! It's tender with just the right amount of chewiness that left his mouth salivating for more. It had this intoxicating effect that stimulated his hunger. Its flavor and its texture brought a sense of fulfillment that no one nor anything could give.

Ryu sighed in blessed.

Ferris grabbed her (Ryu's Journal) and jutted everything that happened. Her earlier deduction was correct. Ryu had somehow become immune to poison. But the pentagrams remained the same.

Ferris thought of giving Ryu lethal doses in the future just to make sure that he was immune to all kinds of poison.

The poison bottle was just a regular poison. There were many more deadly poisons out there. She could just heal him if he ever was in danger.

"Yosh." Ferris hid her journal and waved at the woman.

The woman walked towards them with a smile on her face and her blank eyes turned crescent.

"What's your name?" Ferris asked. Not that she was planning to remember.

"Emely Rodes, my lady."

"Good. Emely, are you alone?

Emily shook her head. "I'm with my husband, but he was meeting some of his friends. We're from the neighboring town and are here for the auction tonight."

Auction? Ferris thought to check it out later. Usually, these auctions have rare items. "Good. can you show us around the shops?"

Emily smiled. A hallow smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Gladly."