Chapter 66: Purchase
I came to this commercial city with a purpose. It wasn’t just for some stealth marketing.
I was searching for a book that detailed how to capture Spirits. I had asked the Butler and Ash about it, but those kinds of books are generally kept under wraps. If there were any available, it would likely be at Naruadeid.
Few people contract Spirits. The reason is that a significant amount of Magic Power is consumed during the contract, which usually results in only temporary servitude. If the contract isn’t completed before the Magic Power runs out, the angry Spirit, trying to break free, could end up killing the contractor.
Temporary servitude, also known as Magic or Sorcery, only drains a bit of Magic Power and results in failure if done incorrectly. However, if a troublesome Spirit is summoned, it might retaliate against the user, but at least the safety of the caster is generally ensured.
Still, as can be seen from those who naturally attract Spirits, the benefits of a Spirit Contract are substantial, so there are always a certain number of people willing to take the plunge. Some temporary effects can become nearly permanent.
The book referred to as the “Book of Spirits” is typically discreetly offered to wealthy nobles or sold at auctions, so I decided to search through some slightly dubious shops or antique stores.
Thanks to that, I ended up attracting a lot more thieves and thugs than yesterday. I even found myself buying some odd trinkets out of sheer curiosity. Is this a compass? Old clothes, knives, candlesticks, mismatched dishes and tiles, and a variety of tools with unclear purposes.
“What are you looking for, mister?”
“A book about Spirits.”
I answered honestly since there was no need to hide it. If they could point me in the right direction, it would be a lucky find.
“Why not try a bookstore?”
“No, I’m hunting for hidden treasures.”
I was wandering around here because they weren’t sold through regular channels.
“You don’t see many around here. Nobles buy books just to display them, so those without clear content are handled by proper bookstores. It seems even merchants have started to flaunt their studies lately.”
The bookstore was indeed a bookstore.
I bought two candles from a lady at a general goods store and paid a bit extra to learn about two “proper bookstores.”
“Do you have any books for display?”
“Yes, we do. Would you prefer one with content or without?”
“I’ll take one with content, please.”
The one without content was just a wooden box with book spines attached. It was meant solely for decoration, though it could be used as a small box.
“This one is blank, and this one is a manuscript rendered unreadable by a Spirit’s prank.”
“The blank one is more expensive, huh?”
“This one can become a book if someone knowledgeable writes in it.”
When I made the Spirits visible, I saw one playing with the book. Was it currently rewriting the text? I thought as I reached out to open the book.
I can read it.
“Ah, that one is written in a Unique Script, only readable by the author. There are those who want to keep their secrets to themselves, especially those who practice Magic or Sorcery,” the shopkeeper shrugged.
Thanks to my Language skill, I could read it, whether it was in Unique Script or just words. Anagrams or reinterpretations of existing characters and words were the real challenge for me.
If I put in the effort, I felt I could decipher it like Holmes with “The Dancing Doll.” But no, I’d need to know the language the creator of the code usually used. I wouldn’t recognize frequently used words or characters.
Wait, there should be another book. There’s one with diagrams of Magic Circles, and it says to combine them using the numbers written here.
“Do you have a book with the same spine as this one?”
“I do, but those with illustrations or diagrams are expensive, even if you don’t understand them.”
“I’d like it, please.”
It seemed I had struck gold.
The Spirit clinging to the book wasn’t just playing tricks; it was likely because this was the original.
“Also, if you have any books on history, Herbs, or Spirits, I’d like those as well.”
Since I had stocked up on potions for hunting, my purse was a bit heavier than usual.
—Still, books were expensive, and I regretted buying that red glass a little.
I had been hearing bits and pieces of the continent’s history from the Spirits, but their tales were often too abstract to grasp. Plus, humans have a tendency to fabricate history, turning it into truth over long periods. Especially conquerors who have committed dubious acts tend to rewrite their narratives.
Since there were some discrepancies in what Ash and the Butler had said, I needed to align our understandings.
With my funds running low, I decided to head home before anything else caught my eye. I settled down by the Fireplace and immediately began reading the books I had acquired.
The first thing written was about the risks and benefits of Spirit Contracts. The risks could generally be mitigated by matching attributes and having ample Magic Power. The benefits varied depending on the contracted Spirit, but a common advantage was that they would come when called.
Typically, Magic or Sorcery borrows the power of Spirits nearby, but it’s not always guaranteed that the compatible Spirits are present, which can lead to inefficiency. However, contracted Spirits can usually be summoned from most places, solving that problem.
I used to think Spirits were everywhere, that Fire Spirits and Water Spirits were interchangeable. But after seeing Spirits of the same attribute, like Mishto and Haralfa, I realized that was a misconception.
Even though they share the same light attribute, Mishto and Haralfa are quite different, and the orb attached to my sister is a whole other story.
Well, Spirits don’t like to heed the requests of outsiders who disturb their territory.
And then I realized I had forgotten something. I need a compass and a protractor to draw the Magic Circle!