Strangers From Another World 7 Window Shopping

Alex and Gene strolled through the marketplace, looking at the stalls selling questionably legal goods. One stall can be seen selling parts of rare beasts, another can be found selling vials containing dubious liquids, and there was even a stall that had cages containing strange creatures Alex and even Gene had never seen before. That being said, nothing here seems overtly dangerous.

"It's seedy, but not as dangerous as I thought," Alex commented.

"Well, it's not as if people would just go ahead and put an artifact of ma.s.s destruction up for sale in open stalls. Don't let that fool you though, the things that could be found here are, more often than not, anything but harmless. It'll do you some good if you can learn to recognize some of them."

The two continued to stroll down the streets with Alex asking questions about the things that caught his eyes and Gene telling him what he knows. Some of the things Gene told him were intriguing, and some made him shiver in fear or disgust and made him realize once more that this world is a very violent place, more so than the world he came from, or at least, what he knew of the world he came from.

At one stall, one of the goods on sale caught Alex's eyes, a book, or more accurately speaking, a tome. Gene explained that magical tomes are monopolized by an organization called the Circle of Mages. Based in a country far to the east of Cygnus, the magic kingdom of Tyto, the Circle of Mages has all authority on everything magic related, including the production of magic related text and magic items throughout multiple countries. As such, the only way one could find magic tomes are through magic guilds or academies that have been approved by the circle, or by the way of the black market.

Driven by curiosity, Alex decided to just lightly browse through the book, thinking that the stall-keeper probably won't mind if he just takes a quick look. Casually, Alex flipped through the pages, stopping at a random page. The page described healing magic and how to apply it to living beings. Apparently, while it is fine to apply it as is when it comes to one's own body, when it comes to the body of another, it's another story entirely.

According to the tome, when the body is being affected by magic from an outside source, the mana within the body would recognize it as something alien and attempts to eliminate it as a protection mechanism. Alex relates it to something similar with leukocytes, the white blood cells. As such, one does not simply try to mend wounds by applying magic, as the mana within the body would break it down, reopening the wounds. Instead, to successfully perform healing magic on an individual other than oneself, one must use to magic to the most subtle extent as to not trigger a reaction from the mana within another's body. The correct method here is to, as the tome puts it, "aid the natural healing properties of the body by subtly guiding the materials within the body to increase healing efficiency". The tome then goes further to describe how to better increase healing efficiency by providing the body with additional nutrients needed for healing through diet, and in cases of emergencies, the healer may even provide the needed nutrients directly from their own body with a reversed [Life Drain] spell.

After reading the pa.s.sage, Alex recalled the days back in the cell. The food given to him tended to be the kinds that are high in calcium, and the healers from the Administration took three days to completely heal his hand. At the time, he thought that was pretty slow for healing magic, but now he knows that it's likely because they were careful to not trigger a reaction from his mana.

"Looks like you got yourself quite a find," Gene's elated voice called Alex out of his thoughts.

"Is it that amazing?" Alex didn't feel as though the tome was giving out some big secrets or anything of the sort.

"You have no idea. The book here made a reference to a forbidden spell," Gene pointed to the part of the text that said [Life Drain], apparently a forbidden spell. "Something like this is more than enough reason for the Circle of Mages to pull it off shelves. That means you got yourself here a pre-censored edition."

Alex's eyes are sparkling now, it seems that he had found himself one heck of a rare item, and his heart can't help but skip a few beats at the thought of possessing it. However, when he turned to check the price tag, there was a despairingly large number: 5,000 sil, it said.

"Five thousand Cygnus Silver Coins, basically. That's fifty Cygnus Gold Coins or five hundred thousand Cygnus Copper Coins," Gene said, his face turning pale at the sight of the number.

"That sounds like a lot to carry."

"We have paper bills around here. They are only accepted in cities with the banks that issue them though, so if you're carrying bills, take note of which bank you got them from. The Adventurers' Guild here pays in Cygnus Coins, and that's accepted practically everywhere so no worries there."

As the stall-keeper was giving them the stink eye for standing around so long without buying anything, and as neither Alex nor Gene has any intention of actually purchasing the stupidly expensive book, they soon went away. It was a pity, even Gene would agree that it was so, the tome was a really rare find, but it was just so expensive he could never ever even dream of buying it.

"Well, at least I learned a little bit more about magic just by taking a look," Alex said.

"If you're satisfied, that's fine I suppose. As for myself, I wouldn't have a use for a magic tome anyways."

Because your magic resistance is too high for you to use magic efficiently? Alex did not say those words out loud, that much is obvious so he kept quiet. Though, while he's on that line of thought, Alex wondered if the mana reaction to foreign magic is the same as magic resistance. The tome says that it reacts to magic from a source outside of the body, but the magic from within the body is fine, which is a little different in Gene's case, whose magic resistance affects both magic from without and within. Is it a disorder caused by his overly strong magic resistance, or is it something else? Discreetly, Alex turned his mystic sight towards Gene, he was getting a hang of controlling it now, at the very least, he was able to tune it down to the point where the constant stream of information was ignorable and strengthens it only when he needs it. In the end, though, the mystic sight gleaned nothing from Gene, not anything Alex doesn't already know. That being said, Alex still couldn't shake the feeling that something is missing.

Perhaps I'm just being paranoid, Alex thought. But then he remembered what Gene had said, that the Mystic Sight of Knowledge contains the insight of whomever that had granted it. Alex thought back to the golden library in his dreams, where he had gained the sight. For some reason, he knew that the knowledge contained within the library was vast, but he also knew that it does not know everything. There are still things his sight cannot see, some things that it does not know. Perhaps it's too early to draw any conclusions.

***

"It's almost time, let's head back," said Gene as he took a look at his pocket watch. The numbers displayed upon goes from one to twelve, and pointing towards them are three hands, seemingly for hour, minute, and second. As a pocket watch, it would be completely normal looking, had it not been for the fact that the numbers were written in the symbols of this world.

"Gene, that watch of yours, why-"

But before Alex could ask his questions, he felt something crawl up his trousers. The sensation of tiny claws digging into his flesh and the slithering against his skin was terribly uncomfortable as his instincts told him that his body was being invaded by some foreign organism.

"Get it off! Get it off!" he yelled as he kicked and flailed, trying to shake whatever creature that had crawled up to him off.

"Just keep calm! Keep calm and stay still!"

Heeding Gene's words, Alex managed to momentarily suppress his fears and stood still. Once still, Alex's could feel the creature much more clearly and desperately he holds in his urge to panic as he waits for Gene to do something about this. Fortunately, in hardly a moment, the creature peeked its head out of Alex's collar, and immediately, Gene's hand shot out and yanked the creature out of Alex's clothes.

It was over, yet Alex still feels miserable as he realized that everyone in the vicinity is staring at him, and the fact that he knew his face was getting redder by the minute only made it worse.

He turns towards Gene, wanting to stare into the eyes of the creature that had caused him so much embarra.s.sment, and there, squirming in Gene's hand, Alex saw a small white beast, with a smooth body and a long tail, clawed and webbed feet, and a serpent like head.

"Is that some kind of lizard?"

Admittedly, it looked kind of cute, but Alex still didn't like it, he never liked reptiles and his grudge against this particular one was strong.

"From the looks of it, I'd say it's a nessie pet.i.t."

"Nessie?" The name sounded oddly familiar; perhaps Strangers had named the creature.

"It's a subspecies of lesser water dragons I think, usually fond around lakes. They grow up to about the size of golden retrievers and are quite rare. It's also considered a delicacy in some countries."

"A delicacy, huh?" Alex eyed the creature for a bit. "What's it doing in the black market?"

"Likely because the selling of anything dragon related is frowned upon by the Circle of Mages. The Inquisitors may drop by for a visit if they tried to sell it openly."

"The Circle of Mages has Inquisitors!?"

"Magic can be dangerous, and it should be treated with the same level of caution, that's the circle's excuse anyways," Gene said with disdain. He did not have fond memories of dealing with the Circle of Mages.

"So what are we going to do with this slimy thing?"

"We'll have to return it I suppose. I think I saw a stall dealing with rare beasts back there."

"There!" a voice suddenly called out, and from a distance, Alex and Gene can see a cloaked figure pointing towards them. "I found it!" the figure said, "It's right over there, milady."

A group of three approaches Alex and Gene, each of them had their faces obscured by their cloaks.

"Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here, Gene," said the one they called milady.

Gene tilted his head as he was being directly addressed, looking a little confounded. "That voice... you're-"

"Shush!" The lady placed her index finger against Gene's lips. "What do you think the cloaks are for?"

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"You sure seemed like you were."

"I was just surprised. I didn't think you'd be back already. Thought you'd at least repeat a year or two."

"Watch your tongue, Gene, if I hadn't the need to be discreet, I'd order you to be dragged away."

As the two exchange words, the lady's eyes shifted beneath the shade of her hood, taking note of Alex that was lurking behind Gene.

"Care to introduce your friend there, Gene?"

"He's Alex, a Stranger," Gene said plainly, pushing Alex forward.

"Pleased to meet you, Alex. I'm... well, call me Lady Grains. Don't forget to add the 'Lady' at the beginning," said Lady Grains, her tone playful.

"Pleased to meet you too, Lady Grains," Alex replied shyly.

After the introductions, Lady Grains turned back to Gene. "Now, Gene, won't you hand that little creature back, it was rather costly to purchase."

"This is yours?" Gene looked to the reptile squirming in his unyielding grip. "It's too small to be eaten don't you think?"

"Of course, I'm not going to eat it. I'll be keeping it."

"You don't just keep a dragon as a pet, milady, lesser or otherwise."

"Oh, what do you know? Besides, what's a cute little thing like this going to do?"

"It might look cute now, but once it gets bigger, it could maul you to death."

"I'll deal with it then, but I'd like it back now."

"Suit yourself."

Gene held the creature towards the lady, and she signaled one of the two others beside her to receive it. After being taken off Gene's hand, the creature was promptly placed in a small cage.

"Well then, I should be leaving you now. Before I go, is there anything you like me to pa.s.s unto my brother, Gene?"

"No. We're not talking right now."

"Again? I say, you two can be so childish sometimes."

"He started it."

"Oh, I'm sure he did," Lady Grains said without commitment. "Well then, if you have nothing to add, I shall be going now."

With a quick farewell, Lady Grains left with her entourage.

"Was that fine, letting her keep that thing?" Alex asked.

"She'll do whatever she wants. Nothing I could have said would convince her otherwise. Besides, right now we have our own troubles. Let's head back to the bar."

And with that, Alex and Gene left the black market behind.

"You sure know a lot of people," Alex commented as they walked away.

"I do, and I have the good fortune of mostly knowing people that are nice and kind. Not everyone is that lucky." In Gene's voice there were hints of melancholy and all of a sudden his footsteps seemed heavier. Alex wondered what could Gene be thinking about as he said those words.

A moment of silence pa.s.sed between the two before Gene spoke up again. "Make sure to stick close, Alex," he said. "Things could get dangerous from here on out."

Alex nodded, feeling the weight on those words upon him.

In hardly any time at all, the two arrived back at the bar.

***

End of Chapter 7