Chapter 19: Collections and Compendiums

Now that I’ve sorted out all of the stat gains it’s time for the real fun to start. To the library!

Yep, while no one will ever guess it, I love books. A current demon, future greatest assassin ever (hopefully) and previous slum girl is a sucker for a good novel. You have to understand that my life was pretty much constant awfulness and books were my ticket to another world. My escape hatch as it were. I haven't felt any urges to find some new books since I’ve been in templa (what use is a ticket to another world when you’re already there?), but that doesn’t mean I won’t appreciate the chance. The fact that magic may be available doesn’t hurt either.

I finally stop jogging as I approach the stairs in the back of the training hall. Step by step I make my way up whilst marveling at the drastic change from the ground floor. Whereas below there was hard stone floors, instruments of pain lining the walls and the constant sound of metal on metal, I now find soft lighting illuminating dark paneled walling and a deep red carpet. Somehow it has become completely quiet as well.

As I finally come to the top of the stairs I can see rows upon rows of bookshelves with reading areas every few feet.

“How can I help you dear?” I hear to my left.

Snapping my neck to the side I can see an elderly demon with white hair dressed in a black robe who might actually be older than Zim standing patiently about three feet from me. How did he sneak up on me that well? I’m supposed to be a ghost, but I should probably be taking lessons from him.

Remembering Zim’s warning about never judging people based on their age I use essence sight on him. 108 *whistle*. Jeez he could probably level this whole building on his own. Showing slightly more deference (and vigilance) I finally answer his question.

“Could you point me to some books on magic”

A slight smile appears on his face “Interesting. I suppose Zim was right about your uniqueness. The books on magic are on the other side of the library, but before you go you should know that it will not be easy for you to learn magic. Your class doesn’t usually gain an aptitude for the arcane until at least level 10.”

There are a number of questions rattling around in my brain (which makes sense considering that I didn’t understand like 90% of what he said), but for some reason the first one to come to my lips is “You know Zim?”

His smile only grows more pronounced “Why of course, we were in the same adventuring party after all. That was a long time ago, but we still try and keep in touch. Especially when someone interesting comes along. I’m Malthus by the way.”

Huh. Well that explains his level at least. “I’m Blade” (Arn’t I just a master of conversation) “What were you saying about not being able to learn magic?”

“Well it’s not that you can’t, but it will be extremely difficult. Every class picks up on magic at some point. Warrior’s wreathing their swords in flame, thieves attracting gold like a magnet, etcetera… but it there is a certain point when they unlock their mana pools and can experiment with it freely. Before then it’s like trying to get water by wringing out a towel as opposed to using a bucket. If you trained for a week, then perhaps you could learn to light a campfire. Of course mages, clerics and other classes like that unlock their mana pools at level one, but I’m afraid that ghosts aren’t quite the same.”

Well crap.

Malthus must notice the depressed look on my face (not that it would be hard) because he places his hand on my shoulder and with a consoling tone says “You shouldn’t be too sad young one. While you may not have magic yet, it’s not like you never will. Magic is something for the future and if Zim is correct you have things that you need to be focusing on right now. Some trials perhaps. Oh and on that note, helping you prepare for the trials is something that I can certainly help you with.”

I usually hate it when people interrupt my grieving, but he is right. I’ll be able to use magic later and until then I have stuff to do. “You can help with the trials? Do you know what the next one will be?”

“Unfortunately that is something that not even the head librarian in Direburn, one of the most knowledgable people in the world, could tell you. Only Volos himself and his closest followers know what is coming. Nothing in all of templa could make them tell you. Don’t be discouraged however, just because I don’t know what’s coming doesn’t mean I can’t help you prepare. Follow me.”

And with that he turns and walks off at a rather swift pace towards the north western corner of the library. I haven’t the faintest idea what I’m still doing in this library when I could be grinding my stats, but he seems to have a destination in mind and I don’t really want to annoy him. I hurriedly jog to catch up to him. He glances back at me and nods slightly.

As we begin to approach the far wall Malthus finally stops and begins to run his finger over the different titles, speaking to me as he does so. “We are now in the skills section of the library. Everything less than ten feet or so from this corner is on, about or concerns skills. If even half of the rumors about your activities are true, then you should have a good number of them yes?” With that he stops his search and looks at me expectantly.

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

Malthus’ eyes are hard to make out in this light, but I’m pretty sure they roll right about now. “Let me rephrase. How many skills do you have?”

“…Eleven”

One of his eyebrows arches up a little, but otherwise he seems unchanged. “And what level are they?”

“Level one”

“Right. Now surely you have used at least one of your skills extensively, so answer me this. Why hasn’t even one of them leveled up yet?”

That feels like a trick question. What I want to say is that they just take more use to level up, but if it was that simple then he wouldn’t have asked me in the first place. I’m not coming up with a different answer to his question though, so let’s just shrug and have him tell us.

I give him a shrug, but he just looks at me with an expectant expression, clearly wanting more. Of course. Very well Malthus I’ll play your little game, but don’t expect me to like it!

“Does it just take more practice than I currently have?” I say in the most unsure voice I can muster up.

I swear the corner of his lip twitches into a smirk, but it disappears before I can be sure. “Well you’re not wrong” (How much you want to be I’m not right either?) “But your not totally correct either.” (What did I tell you) “If you simply used your skills enough then they would eventually level up, however that isn’t the best way to do it. When a swordsmen wants to improve his skill does he just fight opponents until he gets better. No, of course not. That would work, yes, but it is far more efficient if he practices new techniques on a dummy and tries to see where he could do better or looks for a master to teach him. In order to rapidly advance your skill level you need to focus on improving that skill specifically. If you want to improve your level of sneak for example then you need to actively look for ways that you could be more stealthy. Find shadows to hide in in a forest and try to make it second nature to flow into them, for example.” He gives a conspiratorial wink whilst continuing to search among the books for something.

At last his finger seems to alight on something which satisfies him and he breaks out into a wide smile. “Here it is” He says pulling from the shelves a thick volume with a coarse leather jacket that is emblazoned with golden letters.

“The Compendium of Skills by Rykmen Blot?” I say in a tone so thick with incredulity it’s probably dripping onto the floor.

“Yes indeed” Responds Malthus, either missing (which I doubt is possible) or completely ignoring the inflection in my voice. “This is one of the most complete record of skills ever made. It will let you learn about all sorts of useful abilities as well as how to get them if the information is known. Not only that, but for most of the common skills, this will have some information on ways to improve them.”

“Thanks” I reply “Where would be a good place to read some of this?”

“There is a reading area three shelves down from here to your left.” He says whilst pointing south. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

He moves to walk away, but I do have one more question of him. “Hey Malthus?”

He stops mid stride and turns his head back towards me. “Yes?”

“Why do you have all these books about skills when the one you just gave me seems like it would work all on it’s own? I don’t think you’re one of those people with a million different copies of what amounts to the same information so most of the should be unique. How complicated can skills possibly be that you would have hundreds of books on them?”

Malthus lets out a little laugh “That’s certainly an interesting mind you have there. Most people just take the book I give them and go read it, but not you.” He seems done, but then looks at my face (which is conveying just how annoying deflecting a question can be) and shakes his smiling head ruefully.

“Answers and knowledge are never given in the demon lands. They are always earned. Sometimes it you earn it by slaying a fearsome yeti in the bitter cold mountains and finding a lost grimoire in it’s stash and other times the price is making knowledgeable friends. Sometimes it’s as easy as finding the right book.” He gives me another of those winks before resuming his stroll away.

“I know that you’ll be itching to figure it out, but you may want to read that compendium I gave you first. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush after all and this…” His hands splay out to indicate the shelves around us, never halting in his stride “…is a pretty big bush. Still, I see nothing wrong with you looking around afterword. The library is open to all.” With his last words seeming to echo, Malthus disappears from sight.

Sound advice it would seem. Even in this world the elderly are wise. The ones I’ve met at least. Anyway. Lets see find a seat then see if the Compendium of Skills will live up to it’s reputation.

I follow Malthus’ directions (three shelves down and to my left in a southward direction) and find a comfortable looking area with a curved red velvet couch curling around a table made from the same dark wood as everything else. There’s a light stone hanging above the table (My inner thief says take it, but my inner coward remembers Malthus’ level) which illuminates the area quite nicely. I take a seat on plush velvet and settle in before cracking open the thick leather cover.

It opens up strait to the table of contents and wow am I going to be here for a while. It’s written in roughly size 7 font and has pages the same thickness as a bible so unless I can somehow narrow this down I’ll be reading this for a week.

Let’s see, I can break this into two basic sections: The skills I already have and the skills I want. I know what I have, so that only leaves one question.

What do I want to learn?

Level: 2

Free stat points: 0

Strength: 4 Agility: 10

Dexterity: 6 Endurance: 8

Heath: 50 (1 point= +10) Mana: 20 (1 point =+10)

Regeneration: 4 Wisdom: 5

Skills

Essence Sight. This ability will give you the ability to asses almost anything you focus on and find information on the object or person. Quality and amount of information will increase as your skill level does. This ability won’t work on items obscured by an essence shadow of an equal or higher level than your level of essence sight. Current skill level: 1

Essence field. You will now be able to see names as well as health and mana levels of NPC’s, champions and monsters. This skill has no levels. Current skill level: 1

Wing push. This is a hidden skill which cannot be taught and is unique to the demon and angle races. This skill, involving both wings, will send a blast of air at an opponent possibly stunning it and pushing both the user and target back. The chance of stunning and the distance pushed back will increase with skill level. Current skill level: 1

Stealth. This ability allows you to sneak near enemies without them seeing or otherwise sense you. This is a general ability and there are multiple specialized abilities that are modifications of this ability such as jungle stealth which will help you sneak while in a jungle. The effects of this ability can be negated by an adversary with the perception ability. Current skill level: 1

Cooking. This skill will allow you to use ingredients that you find or purchase to create delicious meals. At a high enough level with high enough level ingredients the food can give bonuses to stats which at even higher levels can be permanent. Current skill level: 1

Time Slow. When you are in a situation where your normal body cannot react fast enough to a threat your mind will speed itself up making everything else seem to slow down. This takes a great toll on your mind so it will use up mana and you will not be able to use this repeatedly in a short period of time or sustain it for long periods of time without experiencing side effects. Increasing the level of this skill will decrease the amount of mana expended for each second of Time Slow and reduces the side effects when using this skill repeatedly or for a long time. Current skill level: 1

Flight. This is a passive skill that determines the skill with which you fly as well as the time you are able to fly. It will increase the more you fly. Current skill level: 1

Bartering. This skill will increase your ability to get better prices both for purchases and sales. In order to increase this skill it is necessary to get above standard prices from people. Current skill level: 1

Meditation. By putting your mind into a state of tranquility and calm and pushing all external thoughts out of your mind you can enhance your brain’s ability to process information and create better plans or analyze information with greater proficiency. Meditating while sitting in a meditative position will double mana recovery and increase health recovery by 50 percent. Higher levels of Meditation will make the mana and health recovery even greater and allow for even better mental processing. Current skill level: 1

Acrobatics. By jumping, falling, rolling and generally showing good acrobatic ability you have gained greater proficiency when performing any parkour like activities such as those listed above. This skill also increases your movement speed whilst moving in a difficult environment. Current skill level: 1