Mathew wandered around till he found someone who could help him. A woman whose profession is Fletcher. She also had a skill that could better understand items and what they can do with a skill called [Analyze].

She seemed nice enough, and after talking Mathew pulled out the ring first. “I got it recently, what can you tell me about it?”

“Sure thing darling, names Becca by the way. Lots of people bring weird items to me they either buy from the shop, make, or get them as a part of an ability or something of the sort. Let me see it.”

Mathew placed the ring on the table.

“Oh this is fancy.” She picked it up and a glow surrounded her eyes as they unfocused. “Let’s see, I know it’s called a Viridian Ring. It appears to affect your mana recovery. Her eyes refocused back onto Mathew and she handed the ring toward Mathew. “Skill is still only Novice, so I get vague ideas on what items do. I have no idea how much mana it stores. You said you have another item?”

Mathew pulled out Doozkora’s Rod. He assumed it was the name of the Pack Leader wolf he slew. He avoided thinking of who would name a giant wolf.

Becca held it and once again used her ability. This time her face scrunched up. “Weird, I can’t get anything from it.”

“What do you mean?” Mathew asked.

“Typically I get a vague idea of how an item works. Either this has no special properties besides being a fancy black rod of crystal, or it does too much for me to understand.”

Mathew took it back and looked it over. It was three feet long and fit in the palm of his hand very well. It was too skinny to be any sort of club. The sheen caused by light reflecting off of it was weird. Typically black colored objects weren’t so reflective, but this one was.

“It’s called Doozkora’s Rod. Do you have any idea what that could mean?” Mathew asked.

Becca shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine, now the payment for my services?” She held out a hand, asking for the non-physical money that everyone used.

Mathew thought it was hilarious that in less than a month all previous forms of currency were thrown out the window for a new form of what appears to be digital money.

Mathew paid her and left. Next stop was Di and the Hearth Crystal. With the Golf Cart, it didn’t take him very much time to get there as he normally did when walking.

Mathew didn’t have to wait long in line, most people recognized him. After a few pleasantries and name swapping, Mathew was standing in front of the giant crystal.

It’s ebbing glow made Mathew feel safe. “Let’s see what new powers await me.” He said as he placed a hand on the crystal.

Level 15 Profession Choices

Skill Upgrade: Writing -> Mana Writing

New Skill: Universal Tongue

New Ability: Personal Pockets

Spell Gain: Mana Bulb

“A little anticlimactic isn’t it?” Mathew muttered to himself. He was expecting something similar to when he first gained his profession, or even when he acquired his class. He had to be the first to be Level 15 in the world, or at least the first in a small grouping.

Sighing in disappointment, he read over his choices. The weirdest one was [Personal Pockets]. Mathew had no idea how having more pockets would help. However, he had a feeling it might be a form of personal storage, like the bags he can make. This was an Ability, which means he could have a second form of storage.

Mathew didn’t really need more ways to store things, so he discarded it without a second thought. Then he decided to go from the top and work his way down. A Skill Upgrade sounded like a good thing. The question he had was did it work like a rank up? If so, then would his [Writing] be Beginner rank or Apprentice rank?

Everyone now knew the rank structure thanks to the shops. Di, and several other shop owners that have been discovered have unique items for sale. One of which belongs to a store only two people have been to. A human-like creature, whose skin is transparent, sold the rank structures that everything follows.

It’s a tedious list, and one that is thought to be incomplete. Novice -> Beginner -> Apprentice -> Student -> Journeyman -> Expert is what was explained. However, when Mathew asked Di about it, he had the feeling more information would be available after either the Tutorial or Phase 1.

Mathew shook his head to focus back on his choices. Mana Writing sounded like using magic to write, which he could already do technically. So he tossed it to the side as a choice. Next up was [Universal Tongue]. It sounded obviously like he would be able to speak any language, and possibly understand as well.

“Wait, is that how Di could understand me and I him? Because he had a skill like this? I never even questioned how he could speak English, I just assumed he learned it.” Mathew thought to himself. A quick glance at [Mana Bulb] was enough for Mathew to make his choice.

Universal Tongue | Unranked

You can understand and speak all other known languages. Creatures will hear and understand you in their native tongue, and you will hear them speak your native tongue.

This Ability has no rank.

Mathew smiled to himself. “Oh, this is nice. I wonder how many people I can convince that I have a pocket Rosetta Stone and learned every language in secret?”

Once the blue boxes went away, Mathew then opened the box for the Hearth Crystal, and chose the one that took him to Di.

The slight feeling of teleportation was all but normal now for Mathew after his numerous visits to the shop.

“Mr. McGonald, welcome back. I see you have gone through some major changes.” Di said in his normal greetings fashion. When Mathew came back after gaining a level to restock or repair his gear, Di always complimented him on it. Mathew secretly didn’t like how Di always knew, but Di ensured him it was all confidential information.

“You are observant as always Di.” Mathew said with a hint of smugness. “Sadly, my most recent battle will scar me more than I would have preferred.” Mathew held up a hand to show off the scars. “The price one must pay for power I suppose.”

Di was about to respond but stopped. “Mathew, how are you speaking Mongdrool?”

Mathew smiled. “Is that what your native language is called? I was wondering that.”

“Did you recently have one of my kind sell you the language crystal? Or is it an ability? Perhaps a spell?”

“Now Di, you know my information costs money?” Mathew rubbed two fingers as if he was rubbing two bills together.

Di laughed, “I see, keep your secrets then. If you want to spend money, we do have items to hide scars if you wish, even regrow limbs, but those are heavily expensive. I can recommend an amulet that can make minor changes to ensure nobody will ever see your battle wounds.”

Mathew shook his head. “I would rather keep them exposed actually. If someone sees that I have scars from battle, they might think twice than mess with me. Like the rattle from a snake, to warn away others before they strike.”

“You have much wisdom, Mr. McGonald. So, what can I help you with today? I see you don’t have your robes any longer, did they not survive your victorious battle?”

“Sadly not Di, but I have good news for you. I can finally go up a bracket on items, my latest battle gave me plenty of funds.” Mathew’s mind went back to the rows of items he so wanted the last time he was here.

Di rubbed two of his hands together, “Exquisite. Should we start with the robes?”

As Di finished his sentence, the rows of items around Mathew whirled and rows of robes and other outfits for mages appeared.

“Actually before we start buying, I have two items I want you to look at. I have no idea what they can do.”

“Do you not have a merchant or other profession that can do so for you on your planet? That’s sad, I was hoping to open some chains once your planet is fully opened.”

“We do, just none near me currently.” Mathew lied. He wanted to see what Di could tell him and compared the two bits of information. “It’s only been a month as well. You can’t rush greatness.”

Di waved a hand. “I forget, you are still a newly integrated planet. There are many privileges you lack that others have. You should have seen my face when I learned your species never even learned about magic!” If he had a face, Mathew could have probably imagined it better.

“So the items?” Mathew asked.

Di summoned his table. “Place them here, and we can take a look.”

Mathew pulled out the ring and rod from his bag. Di took the ring first. “Ah, a classic item for mages. It’s enchanted to help with mana recovery. So those who are in battle can recover quicker and be ready for the next fight. This one even has a small mana storage, interesting.”

“Can you tell me anything more specific?”

“You know my information costs, Mr. McGonald. Care to send me the funds?” Di had a slight grin.

Mathew sent the standard fee for both items. “Perfect. The [Viridian Ring] is an uncommon item, due to it only being used by battle mages. Those are a type of casters who focus on spells for combat versus utility or other paths. The mana stored inside can be used to quickly replenish your own reserves so you won’t suffer from Mana Drain. The enchantment on the ring draws in ambient magic toward you faster, like your robes did. Nothing drastic to where you can blast spell after spell rapidly, but after a night's rest you will be in peak shape the next morning.”

“The symbol here” Di pointed at the symbol at the top of the ring, “is part of the enchantment, it’s written in the Arcane Language. With this, I can tell who made this ring, and because of that, I have to congratulate you again Mr. McGonald.”

Mathew raised an eyebrow, “Why is that?”

“This is a System provided item. Only given out when a quest is completed. I’m sure it was a tedious thing to accomplish.”

Mathew was a bit surprised at how Di knew it was a quest reward. “Yes, it was. The System had an Area Quest pop up when myself and my team went to kill some wolves that were causing problems. That ring was part of the rewards.”

“Makes sense, newly integrated planets always have a shocking number of quests. You can expect more once the Dungeons open up.”

“Oh?” Mathew asked.

“Yes, this is for free since it will be obvious in a couple of days. Every Dungeon has an associated quest to remove them. Each with its own rewards depending on the difficulty of the dungeon and a slew of other factors. I suggest clearing them out swiftly, since everyone will be rushing to do so.”

“Well I want these last few days to hurry up so I can figure out what those things even are.”

“Patience, Mr. McGonald. All will be revealed. I just hope you survive.” Di chuckled darkly as he picked up the black rod. “Now let’s look at this final item shall we?”

Di ran a hand along it, and paused. Typically when he does this, he is typically in thought or about to say something that would cost Mathew some Currency to get the answers.

“Mathew, where did you get this?”

Mathew had a slight shiver run down his body. Di had never called him by his first name, and that meant that item was either dangerous, or about to make him the richest man in the world.