The road to Dawn City stretched like a dead forest through the plains with unending path ahead, lined with sparse trees whose branches twisted in the wind, their leaves whispering faintly like ghosts in the afternoon sun. Eli rode alone, the sun climbing slowly above the horizon, gilding the landscape in a harsh, burning light. The journey would take a day, long enough for reflection, and for the first time since leaving the Starborne Duchy, Eli allowed himself a moment of peace.
He had left behind everything , everything that had been his to tell as his identity as a Starborne family heir, the weight of thier expectation and their constant comparisons, the mockery and scorn of a family who had never believed in him. Yet even while travelling alone in the open road, he did not feel scared and weak. The Shop skill pulsed quietly in his mind, a soft, insistent pulse that reminded him he had something unique, something no one else possessed.
Reaching a secluded place midway along the journey, he halted his horse. The animals grazing nearby paid him little attention, sensing neither threat nor interest. Eli dismounted carefully, his gaze sweeping over the landscape. The air smelled faintly of damp earth and distant pine, but it was not the wilderness that drew his attention—it was the Shop skill, beckoning quietly from within his mind, offering a world of possibilities beyond the broken expectations of the Starborne family.
He reached out, focusing, and the familiar translucent interface shimmered before his eyes. The soft hum of the system echoed in his consciousness as the menus expanded, presenting him with the categories that would serve as the foundation of his future:
Infinite Shop
Skills
- Buy
- Sell
- Appraise
- Store
Buy
Food
- Everfull Apple – A glowing apple that never runs out no matter how much you bite.
COST - 5 SC
- Chameleon Cheese – Cheese that changes flavor depending on who eats it.
COST - 8 SC
- Floating Fudge – A small cube of chocolate that hovers just above the table until eaten.
COST - 12 SC
- Whispering Tea Leaves – Brewed tea murmurs secrets of the forest. 15 sc
COST - 15 SCper cup
- Dragonberry Jam – Spicy-sweet jam that gives a slight warmth to the throat when eaten.
COST -10 SCper jar
Weapon
- Iron Edge (A simple, dependable sword favored by novice adventurers. Slightly boosts attack power by 10%). COST 50 SC
- Oak Wand (A wooden wand infused with faint mana. Increases basic spell potency for beginner mages.) COST 80 SC
- Bronze Dagger (Lightweight and sharp, perfect for quick strikes or stealth missions.)
COST 100 SC
- Hunter's Bow (A basic shortbow made from flexible yew. Ideal for training ranged accuracy.) COST 130 SC
- Apprentice's Staff (A beginner's staff that channels magical energy steadily, though with limited amplification.) COST 160 SC
Blueprint
- Traveler's Rest Tent (A basic collapsible shelter made of durable canvas. Can house up to two people comfortably and offers minor protection from weather.)
Cost: 45 SC
- Wooden Watchtower (A simple lookout post built from treated wood. Provides elevated vision and limited defense for a small area.)
Cost: 120 SC
- Herb Drying Rack (Used for preserving herbs and ingredients gathered in the wild. Increases the shelf life of alchemical materials.)
Cost: 30 SC
- Basic Forge Station (A compact blacksmithing setup including an anvil, bellows, and a small coal forge. Enables simple weapon and tool repairs.)
Cost: 150 SC
- Supply Crate Blueprint (A sturdy storage container made of reinforced wood and iron bindings. Keeps supplies safe from pests and moisture.)
Cost: 60 SC
Seeds and Farming
- Glowroot Seed (A hardy seed that grows into a faintly luminescent herb used in low-tier alchemy.)Cost: 25 SC
- Silvergrain Starter Pack (Contains basic cereal seeds ideal for novice farmers. Yields modestly under any soil.)Cost: 18 SC
- Mossbean Pod (Produces creeping vines with edible beans often used in travel rations.)Cost: 30 SC
- Sunpetal Bulb (A small flowering plant that thrives in sunlight; petals are used for mild healing salves.)Cost: 22 SC
- Ironweed Seedling (A tough plant known for fibrous stalks used in simple rope and thread crafting.)Cost: 27 SC
Crafting(Alchemy)
- Basic Mana Thread(A thin strand of energy used to bind magical fabrics or weak enchantments.)Cost: 15 SC
- Alchemist's Ember(A small spark harvested from spent potion fires, useful in low-grade transmutation.)Cost: 25 SC
- Crystal Shard (Imperfect)(A rough fragment of an unstable mana crystal, often used for simple charm cores.)Cost: 30 SC
- Beast Bone Powder(Crushed remains of small magical beasts, a staple for novice talisman crafting.)Cost: 20 SC
- Essence Drop (Faint)(A droplet of diluted essence from a weak elemental creature, used in potion bases.)Cost: 35 SC
Potions
- Minor Healing Potion(Restores a small amount of health when sipped)
COST 15 SC
- Weak Mana Elixir (Slightly replenishes magical energy over a few minutes)
COST 20 SC
- Fever-Soothing Tonic (Reduces mild illness symptoms and chills)
COST 18 SC
- Brittle Bone Salve (Temporarily strengthens fragile bones for minor impacts)
COST 12 SC
- Dim Light Potion (Causes the drinker to emit a faint, soft glow)
COST10 SC
Herbs
- Duskleaf (A small, grayish herb that boosts minor healing spells)
COST : 20 SC
- Embermint (Fragrant leaves that warm the body slightly when brewed)
COST : 30 SC
- Glowpetal (Pale petals that emit a faint light in the dark)
COST : 40 SC
- Frostfern (A tiny fern that chills liquids slightly when added)
COST : 50 SC
- Whisperroot (Thin roots that enhance whispering or subtle communication)
COST : 60 SC
Spirits
- Whispering Wisp (A faint, glowing spirit that murmurs forgotten secrets. Perfect for eerie ambiance.)COST: 40 SC
- Flickerphant (A tiny, playful spirit that creates brief flashes of light when near. Harmless but mischievous.)COST: 60 SC
- Driftshade (A shadowy, almost invisible spirit that follows you silently, offering quiet comfort.)COST: 80 SC
- Bubbly Banshee (A cheerful, squeaky spirit whose wails bring laughter rather than fear.)COST: 100 SC
- Glimmergnome (A sparkling, miniature spirit that loves shiny objects and can light up dark corners.)COST: 120 SC
Beasts
- Crimson Scale Egg (radiates a faint heat, feels almost alive)COST : 200 SC
- Shimmerwing Egg (glimmers with iridescent patterns, slightly humming)COST : 300 SC
- Stonehide Egg (hard as rock, vibrations can be felt when touched)COST : 400 SC
- Shadowclaw Egg (dark and misty, shadows seem to move within)COST : 500 SC
- Stormfeather Egg (crackles faintly with static, small sparks on contact)COST : 600 SC
Tower
- Warrior's Key of Strength (Unlocks the Warrior Training Tower, enhances physical combat practice)COST: 200 SC
Mage's Arcane Key (Grants access to the Mage Tower, improves spellcasting drills and mana control)COST: 300 SC
Archer's Precision Key (Opens the Archer Training Tower, sharpens bow skills and accuracy)COST: 250 SC
Assassin's Shadow Key (Unlocks the Assassin Tower, perfect for stealth, agility, and critical strike practice)COST: 350 SC
Summoner's Conclave Key (Grants entry to the Summoner Training Tower, enhances creature summoning and control techniques)COST: 400 SC
Magic Artifacts
- Glasses of Appraisal – Reveals the status window of target, awakened or unawakened, with proper class, talent rating, and skills.
Cost: 500 SC
- Magic Shield – A shield forged from condensed mana, capable of absorbing 80% of physical impact and significantly reducing damage taken.
Cost: 350 SC
- Bracelet of Minor Regeneration – Accelerates natural healing, 10% regeneration rate. Cooldown: 5 minutes.
Cost: 300 SC
- Shoes of Wind – Increases agility by 15%. Cooldown: 3 minutes.
Cost: 250 SC
- Cloak of Old Mage – Reduces mana expenditure by 5%. No cooldown.
Cost: 200 SC
Each category pulsed faintly, a promise of untapped potential. Eli's fingers hovered over the first, then the second, methodically opening each. Every category had five slots, each slot brimming with items, each item labeled with its function and cost in system coins. He ran his eyes across the lists, noting the practicality of each item, the arcane sophistication of others, and the incredible opportunities the Shop skill afforded him.
It was the last category—Magic Artifacts—that caught his attention most sharply. Unlike weapons and food, or mundane crafting supplies, these items whispered of power beyond the mortal coil.
Eli's red pupils flickered as he calculated mentally, his system currency tally hovering in his mind: 10,000 SC available. He weighed the usefulness of each item carefully. The Glasses of Appraisal promised insight into the world he would now navigate alone, a tool for identifying potential allies, threats, and opportunities. The Magic Shield was practical, defensive, a literal barrier against harm during his travels. The Bracelet of Regeneration—an elegant solution to the frailty of the human body—appealed to his pragmatism. The Shoes of Wind promised swiftness and mobility, invaluable for both exploration and evasion. The Cloak of Old Mage, though appealing, held little value to him yet; mana was not a concern for Eli at present.
With deliberate precision, he confirmed the purchases:
[Total SC spent: 1400]
[Remaining SC: 8600]
The items appeared instantly within his inventory, stored securely in the magical space provided by the Shop skill. Eli reached out, activating the interface again, and equipped them one by one. The effect was immediate.
The Shoes of Wind boosted his speed first. Eli deliberately ran to test his speed without and with shoes , then a full sprint across the road. The Shoes of Wind made Eli fell the effect of wind beneath his feet, propelling him forward with increased speed than when not equipped shoes. Even the slight jagged lands of the terrain offered simple resistance compared to thier height; his movement felt effortless, fluid, almost unreal. A smile tugged faintly at his lips—this was the first taste of power he felt after being abandoned by his family.
Next, he tested the Bracelet of Minor Regeneration. Drawing a small knife from his belt, he cut his finger wantedly , letting a drop of blood fall on ground. Normally, even a minor wound would linger, stinging faintly. But within moments, the cut sealed, the skin knitting together with almost magical rapidity. The bracelet's effect was subtle yet undeniable, a reassurance that the system's power was practical as well as arcane.
The Magic Shield activated next. He conjured a shallow sheild made of mana and struck it deliberately with the hilt of his sword he brought from his house . The impact was absorbed almost completely except for a small part ; the vibration or impact that reached him was minimal. The shield would not replace armor or skill, but as a small defense, it was good enough. Eli's mind noted the effect, thelimits, the cooldowns.
Finally, he turned his attention to the Glasses of Appraisal. Lifting them to his eyes, he adjusted the lenses and focused on a nearby traveler who had paused along the road—a young man, nondescript in clothing and bearing, seemingly unaware of the interface overlay now visible only to Eli.
The glasses activated instantly. A translucent frame appeared before his vision, highlighting the individual:
Name: John Doe
Class: Bard (Unawakened)
Skills:
>Melody Singer D,
>Attractive Singer E ( Skills are Locked, unlocks after awakening)
Eli studied the data carefully. The appraisal was precise, clear, and immediately useful.
With a single glance, he could determine class, skill ratings, and potential threats or allies—a tool far more valuable than any simple weapon. He removed the glasses and exhaled softly, feeling the first real thrill of independence.
Everything had cost him 1,400 SC , yet in the scope of the system, it was a minor investment for the potential the glassses hold. His remaining 8,600 SC would provide a buffer for future acquisitions, or a foundation for trade once he arrived in Dawn City. His inventory now held 1,000 gold, which was taken from inventory of Starborne family and was stored within the Shop skill's magical Storage space, invisible and intangible to anyone but him while it was converted as 10,000 SC virtually for him to spend .
The road stretched on, and Eli continued to test his new capabilities methodically. He nudged his horse into a gentle running competetion, feeling the Shoes of Wind enhance his speed enough to keep maintaining his speed with horse . He nicked himself once more to observe the bracelet's regenerative capabilities, and it performed flawlessly, leaving no trace of injury. The Magic Shield sat ready across his arm, responsive at the mental command of his will, and the Glasses of Appraisal rested atop his nose, providing an immediate interface for the world around him.
Eli remembered silently the events that had brought him here. Exiled, abandoned, dismissed by his family, yet the Shop skill had granted him power , an invisible power that no family authority could negate. Where Veldora's flames, Christian's swordsmanship, and Delphine's elemental mastery had failed to recognize him, this Shop provided him an advantage with which He can strength himself.
As the evening came , the terrain began to change. The desert gave way to rolling hills and sparse forests, hints of civilization appearing in the distance. Dawn City lay ahead, a broken jewel of a once-prosperous settlement. Its stone walls were worn, the gates battered, and its streets whispered of neglect and decay. Yet to Eli, it was a canvas. The Shop skill, his inventory, and the wealth he carried were tools to reshape it, to begin anew where his lineage had deemed him unworthy.
He rode slowly through the outskirts, testing the Glasses of Appraisal on the laborers repairing crumbling walls and merchants tending meager stalls. Each appraisal confirmed the potential he had always known existed, even in the shadows of power:
The blacksmith was unawakened but skilled in metallurgy. A wandering healer carried knowledge of minor potions and herbs. Even the children, wandering barefoot through the streets, carried faint sparks of talent in hidden veins. The Shop skill revealed possibilities where the naked eye would see only ruin.
By the time night fell, Eli had settled at a small inn just outside the city gates. He opened his inventory once more, reviewing his purchases, confirming their functionality, and adjusting his mental command over the equipment. Everything responded perfectly. The Shoes of Wind gave him swiftness, the Magic Shield provided security, and the Glasses of Appraisal revealed the unawakened potential of the world around him.
He settled on a chair by the window, moonlight reflecting off the polished surfaces of his new acquisitions. His red pupils gleamed faintly in the reflection of the glass, a mixture of resolve, anticipation, and the cold determination that had been forged in the crucible of exile. Dawn City was ruined, yes, but it was also full of potential, unclaimed wealth, and unseen talent. And for the first time since leaving the Starborne estate, Elias Starborne felt fully, completely, empowered.
Inventory:
Gold: 1,000
Magic Artifacts: Glasses of Appraisal, Magic Shield, Bracelet of Minor Regeneration, Shoes of Wind
System Currency: 8,600 SC
The first day of his journey had ended, and with it, the first tangible step toward a future of his own making. The Shop skill was no longer a promise; it was a weapon, a shield, and a guide, all rolled into one. Tomorrow, he would explore the streets of Dawn City, begin to learn its secrets, and—most importantly—begin to lay the foundation of power that no Starborne could anticipate.
For now, though, he sat quietly by the window, listening to the wind whisper through the broken gates, the faint hum of the system pulsing in rhythm with his own heartbeat. The world was vast, cruel, and indifferent. But Eli was no longer powerless. And the moment his fingers brushed the interface again, the translucent menu shimmering to life, he knew one thing with absolute certainty: he would not merely survive here.He thought
" I will not just survive, I will surpass the very Starborne family that rejected me .