Over the next few days, every night, Irene would teach Cassian more about how to utilize his dragon slayer magic, and also gave some inspirations, on what kinds of techniques were recommendable.
Though, no matter how good of a teacher, Irene was, the actual progress was… limited. It would be generous to say that he could use them as support to his swordsmanship, when he would need it.
The Luminescence Dragon Slayer magic was coming along, just fine, but the Solar gave him some problems.
Cassian had managed to access both lacrimas, and also found something else inside of his body, during the process.
A third source of magic, filling his entire body.
He had not told Irene about this, since he himself wasn't entirely sure, what it was, and if it had any connection to his fae blood.
Nevertheless, after four days of traveling and magic lectures, they eventually reached the continent Ishgar, and specifically an island before the coast of Fiore.
This would also be the last stop on their way. Cassian hadn't been told a lot, but apparently, Zeref had insisted that he went his own way, and for that he was supposed to come here.
"There won't be any lectures tonight. Find out, if you can actually rest like any normal person. Otherwise, you could potentially cause quite a few commodities when you are under normal people, from tomorrow onward."
Like normal, he followed her advise, and managed to actually fall asleep soon, not knowing that these were the last words, she would speak to him for years.
---
Cassian awoke a few hours later, only to find the familiar presence, he had already grown used to, missing.
What he found instead, was a bag, with a note attached to it.
Doing the obvious, he took the note, and read it.
"Cassian, in this bag you will find a bit of money, to last you a while. I have already started heading back, since if I am forced to return immediately after bringing you, anyway, then I might as well already return. After all, I already told you the way back to the mainland.
Our time together, was… short, and filled with many lectures of magic, but it was still an interesting time, nonetheless.
You have little magical aptitude, or maybe you are just a terribly slow learner.
Enjoy your own journey."
"…"
Cassian was looking at the note with a deadpan expression. In his opinion, she could've just as well, waited the few hours extra, and properly say goodbye.
"*sigh* Well, what can we do. She is how she is. Nothing that I can do about it…"
Seeing no point in being angry about it, or even really annoyed, since he was basically just a task that was given to her, he instead grabbed the bag, and took a look inside.
"…"
'Maybe I am not the only one, with missing common sense…' Cassian thought, as he looked at he mountain of gold, which was revealed the moment, he opened the bag.
On the bars of gold, there was another small note, though.
"PS: We have managed to reverse-engineer your spatial pouches, and created this bag. See it as another small gift."
'Real honesty is truly not her strength…'
He held his hand over the piles of gold, and waited for the system to calculate.
[Encountered valuable resource. Exchange for currency?]
"Estimated value?"
[Analyzing resource… Estimated value: 5 million Jewels]
"...exchange."
[Exchange started…]
Just like the first time, he had done so, the 'resource', as the system called it, shone brightly for a moment, before it entirely vanished.
[Exchange complete! Current Currency: 6.5 Million]
'Well, that is something, at least. Could just as well, take a look at the shop, then. Surely, a million should be enough to last myself, anyway.'
[Shop]
Categories:
- Skills
- Spells
- Noble Phantasms
- Bloodlines
- Fables/Tales
- Appearance
- Miscellaneous
Currency: 6.5 Million
Cassian still remembered that not a single Noble Phantasm could be bought with this amount of cash, so he completely ignored that part, as well as the bottom four, since they were all not too important, for the moment.
'Skills, or spells… hmm…'
The last time, he had prioritized Skills, but it wouldn't hurt to also take a look at the Spells, this time, and that's what he did.
Once again, nearly endless lists of Spells, their descriptions, as well as their price, appeared in front of his eyes.
With the sun still not even visible, there was still a lot of time, until he would head over to the coast.
Therefore, he read through the endless list, trying to find something useful, and affordable for him.
Eventually, nearly ten minutes later, he found something extraordinary.
[Thoughtform(Limited)]
Description: The user is able to create perfect replicas of themselves, who will have the exact same parameters of the user, and can either work independently, or be controlled.
(Limited): The spell has a clear limit of the amount of replicas that can exist at the same time, while also having a severely higher Mana cost, to summon each Replica.
Price: 6 Million
(Limitbreaker: 9 Million)
Well, that was really an interesting spell. Especially, because it cost more to 'limitbreak', than the actual spell cost.
But, it went above his current budget. Cassian still did not know the real value of money in this world, since ever since he arrived in this world, he had been living outside, or was cared for completely.
Among the many spells, this one was by far the best one, he had found. Though, due to not being able to really buy it, Cassian decided to rather take a look at the Skill list again, and simply buy this spell, somewhere in the future, if he ever had the money to spent.
And so, another near endless search for something really useful began, for Cassian.
Then, finally, after searching for another 20 minutes, he found a few skills that were affordable, and yet also useful to him.
[Appreciation of Swords]
Price: 2 Million
[Sword Trial]
Price: 1.25 Million
[Natural Body]
Price: 1.75 Million
Here, the first skill would help Cassian directly in combat, with his swordsmanship, at least. Since, it would help him gain an instinctual understanding of it, as well as help him grasp how to confront any normal weapons.
The second one, would allow him to be able to get the most out of every sword he wields, even bringing out 100% of a sword's potential, if he truly wished to do so. And the last one, it gifted the user a near perfect body.
It was supposed to be to the point that his body would, at all times, be in peak condition, he would never gain weight, or anything like that. This would also help him improve his combat prowess, since with this, he would always be at his peak, in a battle, as well as that he would never need to adjust to any changes in his body.
These three skills would be a perfect addition, especially because they would make up for the biggest of his problems; Swordsmanship.
Nevertheless, he still hesitated for a moment, ...but, eventually gave up the resistance, and began the transaction.
[Removing currency…]
[...merchandise received.]
When the process was finished, a new small pouch appeared in front of him.
Already used to this, Cassian took it, opened it, and pulled out the cards to use them.
After finishing with the cards, he threw a glance at his own status, for the first time, in seemingly forever.
[Servant System]
[Status]
Name: Cassian Orlando Pendragon
Moniker: ---
Skills: Mana Burst (Beginner), Instinct (Novice), Magic Control (Novice), Appreciation of Swords (Beginner), Sword Trial (Beginner), Natural Body (!)
Spells/Magic: ---
Noble Phantasms: Durandal (Anti-Unit), Switch On – Airgetlám (Anti-Unit)
Bloodline: Human (70%), Fae (25%), Dragon (5%) (!)
Fables/Tales: Dragon Slayer, Cheater of Death, Student of Disasters (inactive)
Talents: Grand-??? Potential (Error), Master-swordsmith, (!)
There had definitely been a few changes, since he last looked at it. Especially the Fables section, and the new Talent section, was where it got interesting.
Nevertheless, for now, he would go over each section, one after another, starting from the top.
His self-given name had been actually registered. That was a nice addition.
There was still no Moniker he was known for, so that was an obvious blank.
Skills, there were multiple additions, all skills he had bought from the shop. Apparently that was the only way to gain skills, or he had simply not managed to get anything on the level of a skill. Right now, that wasn't important, though, the exclamation mark was.
[Skills have a proficiency range, and will be always classified as such. The proficiency goes from Beginner → Novice → Advanced → Master.]
[You have obtained a skill without proficiency rating. This skill will not improve, nor worsen with time.]
Easy enough to understand, though, Cassian needed to admit; he hadn't even noticed his two skills ranking up.
Continuing, the Spells/Magic section was still empty, and would probably stay like that, until he would either improve his Dragon Slayer magic, buy Spells from the shop, or develop his own, thanks to 'real' magic and Magecraft.
There was also no change in his NP section, which was also no surprise. Looking at his right arm, Cassian knew what kind of power actually rested within it, but did not have had any chance to use it, yet.
Next was his Bloodlines…
'Okay… how exactly have I received a dragon bloodline…?'
Sadly, no one would answer him, no matter how much he would like to know. Therefore, he did the only thing he could do, right now, and once again pressed the exclamation mark.
[You have obtained a world-specific bloodline, which has the potential to increase. It is your decision, if you want to continue with it, or do your best to stop this from happening.]
---
Somewhere far away already, high up in the sky, Irene was flying with a far greater speed, than she had demonstrated to Cassian, before, when she suddenly stopped in mid-air.
"Wait, have I forgotten to tell him about Dragonization?!" The red-haired woman asked herself, before shaking her head. "No that couldn't be. After all, I am an amazing teacher…"
She did forget.
---
"Dragon, huh…? Guess, I will be a fairy dragon, eventually, then." Cassian found it somewhat amusing, even if the warning was also a bit concerning.
Next, the fables section.
When he tapped on it, three separate screens appeared before him, one for each fable.
[Dragon Slayer+]
Description: You have officially slain a dragon. Since, there had been witnesses to this event, it was recorded on your Saint Graph. Because of the way it happened, and was told, the tale has been upgraded.
Effect: Higher damage against Dragons, Most Dragons will feel wary around you
[Cheater of Death]
Description: You have cheated the curse of death, and are the first person to ever achieve this, in this world. Since, there had been witnesses to this event, it was recorded on your Saint Graph.
Effect: Significantly less damage from all Dark Magic, Immunity to the doings of Ankhseram
[Student of Disasters(inactive)]
Description: You were taught, by those considered disasters, and masters of their craft. From those, whole nations would rather run, than fight. Since, there had been not enough witnesses to this even, it will remain inactive, until the minimum amount of witnesses is reached.
Effect: 100% boost in Learning Speed, per Disaster (inactive)
"…"
Apparently, August and Irene had been even more of a big-shot, than Cassian had given them credit for.
"Then, why did they even teach me? And, just what kind of person must his majesty Spriggan, no, Zeref, be?" Cassian knew that he needed to ask this, the next time, he met either of them, though, he did not know, when that would actually take place.
His intrigue nearly caused him to directly fly back, the way they had come from, but his rationality held him back. After all, he was just technically kicked out, and was now homeless, again.
Also, he, himself, had so proudly declared that he wanted to live a life, others would remember. If he could do it, was still uncertain, but he was going to try.
Nevertheless, wanting to finish with his Status first, he took a look, at the brand-new section; Talents.
[Grand-??? Potential (Error)]
Description: You have what it takes to become a Grand-???, this is the reason you were chosen, amongst billions of options. Only you decide to what degree you will reach this rank, if you ever do.
Effect: Unmatched potential in ??? (Error)
[Master-swordsmith]
Description: The ability to create Swords, and nearly all kinds of bladed weapons, with the potential to one day even challenge the gods, in this craft.
Effect: Nonpareil talent in forging (Swords)
"…"
Seeing this section, Cassian couldn't help but, close his eyes, and take a deep breath, in the attempt to calm down.
When he opened his eyes, though, and the scene before them was still the same, he couldn't hold back anymore, "Where the hell have they come from, now?! And, why does one of them have an Error?!
What unmatched potential?! And, nonpareil talent in forging?! I never even touched a hammer, much less tried forging, ...i think. Not that I would remember, if it happened in my previous life.
Still, even if I were to ignore that part, why is there an error, in something made by some omnipotent being? Isn't the principle behind omnipotence, such that you can do anything and everything?
Therefore, shouldn't a system he creates be perfect?"
At this point, Cassian was in no way venting, he was just genuinely confused, about all of these weird new additions.
With no other option, once more, he simply pressed on the exclamation mark, hoping for at least, some answers.
[The Talent, Master-swordsmith was created, due to the synergistic combination of two skills, belonging to the same person, Senji Muramasa, the swordsmith, whose skills were said to rival even those of the gods.]
[PS: It generally would take three Skills, or Spells from a single person, registered in the Servant System, but Senji Muramasa is one of very few exceptions to this rule, due to his personal circumstances.]
A short explanation is better, than none at all. So, Cassian was glad to, at least, find out about where the forging Talent had come from, while also learning about this particular function of the System.
After that last section, even if there were still many questions that had been left unanswered, Cassian closed the System panel again, only to notice the Sun already slowly rising on the horizon.
"Guess I should head out soon…"