The academy was an imposing sight. High walls surrounded the institution, made of polished white stone with intricate magical runes embedded along its surface. The gates were guarded by two knights in silver armor, their chest plate adorned with the academy's crest, a silver hawk soaring over an open book. Beyond the gates, the academy grounds stretched wide, with large, castle-like buildings and training fields visible in the distance.
Arthur took it all in with a glance. One of the guards raised a hand. "State your business."
Finn quickly stepped forward. "We're here to enroll for the entrance exam."
The guard looked them over before nodding. "Proceed to the reception hall. First building on the left."
The gates creaked open, and they stepped inside. The academy grounds were even more impressive up close. Students in robes walked between buildings, some carrying books while others practiced magic in designated areas. There was a sense of prestige in the air.
They followed the pathway until they reached a large building with an open entrance. Inside, a reception desk was manned by a few clerks dressed in official academy attire. The hall itself was grand, with marble floors and chandeliers hanging overhead. Several other students were lined up, submitting their applications.
Arthur and Finn joined the line. When their turn came, a woman with glasses and a stern expression greeted them.
"Name?" she asked, quill in hand.
"Finn Ravelle," Finn answered quickly.
The woman flipped through a register and nodded. "You will be participating in the entrance test three days from now. Be at the designated testing grounds by sunrise." And handed him an application form to fill.
She turned to Arthur. "And you?"
"Arthur Sully."
She handed him an application form too and said. "Very well. Same for you, the entrance test is in three days. Arrive on time, or you forfeit your chance."
"Yes." Arthur replied.
After filling the form both Arthur and Finn submitted the application form. She handed both of them small slips of parchment with their assigned numbers for the test.
Finn practically buzzed with excitement as they left the building. "We did it! We're officially candidates!"
Arthur tucked the paper into his pocket. "Now we wait."
Finn nodded, though his enthusiasm didn't fade. "Three days… I should use that time to prepare." He turned to Arthur. "What about you?"
Arthur glanced around the academy grounds, his expression unreadable.
"Well I haven't thought of anything in particular."
…
Arthur then separated from Finn, letting the excited boy chatter about study plans as he made his way deeper into the city. He needed a place to stay for the next three days, and an inn would be the simplest solution.
Brightwater City was lively, even in the later hours of noon. The streets were lined with buildings both old and new, some crafted from sturdy stone while others bore intricate wooden carvings.
Arthur soon found what he was looking for, a modest but well-maintained inn named The Silver Hearth. The wooden sign above the entrance depicted a fireplace with silvery flames, and the faint scent of roasted meat and fresh bread drifted from inside.
Stepping through the entrance, Arthur took in the cozy interior. The main hall was warm and welcoming, with wooden beams supporting the ceiling and a large fireplace crackling in the corner. A few travelers and merchants were scattered around, enjoying their meals and drinks.
A woman stood behind the front counter, a middle-aged innkeeper with sharp eyes but a friendly demeanor. She glanced up as Arthur approached.
"Looking for a room?" she asked.
Arthur nodded. "For three days."
"Three days, eh?" The woman tapped her chin. "That'll be three silvers per night, meals included."
Arthur didn't bother haggling. He pulled out nine silver coins from his pocket and slid them across the counter. The woman inspected them briefly before nodding in approval.
"Room's on the second floor, last one on the left," she said, handing him a brass key. "Lunch's still being served if you're hungry."
Arthur took the key and gave a slight nod. "Understood."
…
After securing his lodging, Arthur decided to explore the city a bit. He walked through the winding streets, taking in the sights and sounds of Brightwater's bustling market. The marketplace was vibrant, filled with vendors calling out their wares, exotic spices, enchanted trinkets, fresh produce, and fine silks from distant lands.
As he passed by a row of food stalls, a particularly rich aroma caught his attention. It was a blend of sizzling meat, herbs, and some kind of savory sauce. Curious, Arthur approached the stall. A burly man with a thick mustache was tending to a large pan, turning small, round pieces of meat over an open flame.
Arthur gestured to the food. "What is this?"
The vendor grinned. "Meatballs! Made with the finest monster meat and a secret mix of spices. You won't find a better bite in Brightwater, lad!"
Arthur considered it for a moment before nodding. "I'll take some."
The vendor quickly plated a portion and handed it over. Arthur bit into one of the meatballs, chewing thoughtfully. It was juicy, well-seasoned, and slightly smoky from the open flame. It wasn't the best thing he had ever tasted, but it was good enough that he finished the serving without complaint.
"Not bad," Arthur said.
The vendor beamed. "Told ya!"
Arthur handed over a silver coin, the stall owner tried to return the extra coins but Arthur shook his head, "You can keep the change." The stall gave a grateful smile as Arthur moved on, weaving through the market and scanning the stalls.
At one of the alchemy shops, Arthur used his 'Analysis' skill picked up on several rare herbs. Some had shimmering petals, while others had a faint magical aura around them. He purchased a variety of the most exotic-looking ones and discreetly sent them into the Spear of Heaven for further analysis after exiting the shop.
If they turned out to be useful, he might be able to extract something valuable from them. If not, it was still worth gathering more knowledge about this world's plant life.
As Arthur was about to leave the market, something caught his eye.
A dark brown leather pouch sat behind a glass display in a relatively small store. It looked ordinary at first glance, but using 'Analysis' he immediately identified it for what it was.
//--------------------//
Item: Spatial Bag
Capacity: 3 cubic meters
Enchantment: Space Compression Magic
Description: A magically enhanced bag that allows storage of items in a subspace.
//--------------------//
A spatial bag.
Arthur had been considering acquiring something like this for a while. It wasn't that he needed the storage, his dimensional pocket was far superior, but having a visible storage item would serve as a perfect disguise. If he suddenly produced items out of thin air, people would ask questions. But with a spatial bag, no one would think twice about it.
He stepped into the shop. Behind the counter sat an older man, his spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose as he read from a thick tome. He barely looked up when Arthur entered.
"Looking for something specific?" the shopkeeper asked, flipping a page.
Arthur pointed at the spatial bag. "How much for that?"
The man finally glanced up, adjusting his glasses. "Ah, a fine item. A spatial bag of this quality doesn't come cheap. Ten platinum coins."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. That was the most expensive item Arthur had ever seen after coming to this world. But money wasn't an issue for him. He could replicate coins as much as he wanted.
In Arkanis the currency are these different coins, the coins have a 1:100 ratio with their superior counterpart. For example hundred silver coins are equivalent to one gold coin, and hundred gold coins are equivalent to one platinum coin.
"Fine," Arthur said, pulling out the required amount. He set the ten platinum coins on the counter without hesitation.
The shopkeeper blinked in surprise. Clearly, he hadn't expected such an easy sale. He quickly gathered the coins and inspected them before nodding. "Pleasure doing business with you, young man."
Arthur took the bag and gave it a quick test, placing a small item inside. As expected, it worked exactly like his dimensional pocket, just at a much smaller scale.
Satisfied, he attached the small bag to his belt and left the shop.
…
As the evening sky deepened into hues of orange and purple, Arthur made his way back to the Silver Hearth. The once-bustling streets of Brightwater were gradually calming, with merchants closing their stalls and street lamps flickering to life, casting a soft glow over the cobbled pathways.
Pushing open the inn's wooden door, he was immediately greeted by the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread. The main hall was livelier than before, with travelers and locals sharing meals, laughter, and stories of the day. The fire in the large hearth crackled warmly, adding to the cozy atmosphere.
Arthur took a seat at an empty table near the corner, away from the louder groups. The food was better than expected. Tender meat, crispy edges on the potatoes, and the greens added a refreshing contrast. He ate at a steady pace, his mind more focused on his plans than the meal itself. After finishing, he made his way upstairs to his room.
…
Once inside, Arthur locked the door and took a brief look around. The room was simple but comfortable. Arthur removed his cloak and sat cross-legged on the bed. With a wave of his hand, a small pile of low-grade mana stones appeared in front of him, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Without delay, he activated Energy Absorption and began pulling the mana from the crystals.
The process was familiar. The raw energy flowed into his body like a gentle stream, spreading through his veins, merging with his body. One by one, the mana stones dimmed, their essence drained. The first few took some minutes to be absorbed, but after a while, Arthur noticed something.
The more he absorbed, the faster the process became.
By the time he had gone through a hundred low-grade mana stones, his body seemed to have adapted, processing the energy with increasing efficiency. It was as if something inside him had been refined, optimizing the way he took in mana.
Arthur narrowed his eyes. 'Interesting. Although I can't use the mana I absorbed from the mana stones, it seems I can absorb them faster the more I use Energy Absorption.'
Curious, he decided to test something. With a thought, he summoned a mid-grade mana stone, its glow noticeably brighter, its energy far denser than the previous ones.
Holding it between his fingers, he activated Energy Absorption once more.
Immediately, he felt the difference. The mana rushed into him like a river breaking through a dam, surging through his body at a much greater intensity.
After fully absorbing the crystal, Arthur exhaled slowly.
He didn't feel physically different, no sudden surge in strength, no awakening of hidden abilities. However, he knew that the change was internal. His capacity to absorb mana had undoubtedly improved.
Satisfied, he stopped his experiment for now. With a mental command, he sent the remaining mana stones into the Spear of Heaven for analysis. If there were any hidden properties in the crystals, the ship's AI would try to find them.
Arthur stretched slightly before lying back on the bed. The candle on the desk flickered once before extinguishing, plunging the room into darkness.
As his body relaxed into the mattress, Arthur closed his eyes.
Sleep took him swiftly.
***
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