Divination had failed.
Matthew's expression remained unchanged as he stowed the crystal ball in the cabinet. This was a common occurrence for him. He was a necromancer, and divination was far from his forte. Although he had a penchant for dabbling in it over the years, the results were consistently unsatisfactory. He took a moment to steady his emotions.
Matthew eventually made his way to the room at the western end of the basement. There were two large bookshelves, each filled with magical tomes. He intended to study spells befitting his current level.
Matthew was now an 8th-level necromancer, but the spells listed in his grimoire were stuck at the 5th level. It was time for an update. In Rolling Stone Town, finding a book that documented the principles of spells was no easy task, especially when it came to necromancy. Fortunately, Matthew had prepared. He had friends in "White Rock City" who helped him acquire the necessary books in advance, and he also had a portion given to him by Grand Magus Ronan. The spells in this room would support him up to level 10.
His eyes scanned the shelves, back and forth. After a while, Matthew composed a list of spells he intended to learn.
"Feign Death (Level 7 spell, allows for a faked death and escape);
...
Final Dance (Level 8 spell, detonates non-contracted summoned creatures);
...
Vampire's Touch (Level 6 spell, heals by draining life upon physical contact);
...
Gazia's Armor II (Level 6 spell, an advanced version of Level 2 spell Gazia's Armor, enhances physical defense);
...
Thunderstrike Blade (Level 7 spell, enchants a longsword with thunderous effects);
...
Summon Augmentation (Level 8 spell, enhances the effectiveness of necromantic summoning);
..."
Learning spells was no easy feat for most people. Most mages spent almost half of their time studying and mastering spells. Other necromancers of Matthew's level would likely take at least ten months to learn these six spells, even with their best efforts. Matthew was different; his talent for learning spells was inversely proportional to his divination skills. He was confident that he could master them within three months.
"Next, I need to focus on studying these spells. I'll have to request some time off from the school..." Matthew carried the stack of books and entered the meditation room. It was approaching midnight, and he felt a bit drowsy.
"Peggy, make me a cup of coffee!" No one responded, so Matthew had to make a cup of black coffee himself. The bitter and robust taste immediately woke him up. "Feeling more awake now."
He smiled and opened a thick book. On the title page, mischievous magical characters danced before his eyes.
"Gazia's Armor II: The Art of the Tortoise Shell Mage...
...
Note: Gazia's self-deprecating humor matches his mastery of the craft. I recommend every mage to learn the Gazia series of spells. - Ronan..."
"Grand Magus Ronan... I hope his journey through the astral realms is going well." Matthew chuckled. Grand Magus Ronan had been the greatest benefactor he encountered after crossing over into this world.
When Matthew had first arrived, he was utterly lost in this unfamiliar world. Besides the task of planting trees, he had no other clues. However, planting trees required money, land, and other resources, which he didn't have. After wandering in Rolling Stone Town for a while, he was almost destitute and couldn't afford a meal.
At a crucial moment, it was Ronan who came to his rescue. Ronan invited Matthew to his home for a meal and asked why a practitioner of the Deathless Path was wandering aimlessly in a place like Rolling Stone Town instead of going to White Rock City for opportunities.
Matthew made up a story about his mediocre talent in the Deathless Path and his desire to explore a different angle. He claimed that he wanted to plant some trees near Rolling Stone Town to create a small forest and experience the power of life, which might help him in his Deathless Path research. It was all a lie to get a free meal.
To his surprise, Ronan found this idea intriguing. He offered Matthew the opportunity to plant trees on his land and even agreed to sponsor half of the cost for seeds and growth fluid. Matthew was amazed but politely declined Ronan's generosity, insisting on using his own resources. Nevertheless, Ronan wrote a recommendation letter on the spot, allowing Matthew to teach noble children in the Westphal Academy in town, with the freedom to choose the subject.
From that point on, Ronan extended his help to Matthew in various aspects of life, work, and tree planting. Even the house Matthew now lived in was provided by Ronan. Later, Matthew learned that half of the houses in the Mage District were owned by Ronan, while the other half belonged to his wife. Rolling Stone Town was Ronan's hometown, and although he spent more time in Gemstone Bay, the town had never experienced any disasters or troubles in recent years, thanks to his close connection.
Matthew was always grateful to Grand Magus Ronan, but he also understood the reasons behind his assistance. Blindly relying on someone else was not an option. He had to rely on his own strength to truly grow.
With that in mind, Matthew refocused his attention and began to study the spells meticulously.
...
The next day, in the daylight, Matthew walked out of the security office with two guards following him, carrying the merchant's body to the Oakwood Forest. Matthew skillfully dug a grave and buried the body, fulfilling the ghost's wish.
Of course, since he was there, Matthew didn't forget to plant three oak trees. This action earned him 30 experience points, leaving him satisfied.
In the afternoon, Brad acted swiftly. He informed Matthew that they had investigated the underground cavern and found no additional clues. The cave had several interconnected passages, almost reaching anywhere in Goldseeker Basin. Even the best trackers would be baffled by such a network of tunnels. This confirmed Matthew's judgment and proved that he had done the right thing by not rashly investigating further.
As for the "Ghost Widow's Fort" mentioned by the spirit, Brad was gathering a team because it was a dangerous and desolate place deep in the mountains. He promised Matthew that he would notify him immediately if any new information came up.
One week later, in the evening, in the basement, Matthew chanted a brief incantation, and suddenly, a thick, semi-transparent armor enveloped him.
"Your spell 'Gazia's Armor II' was successfully cast!
Your armor +8
Duration: 180 seconds."
Success! Matthew felt the soft, bouncy, and all-encompassing sensation of the armor, much like being wrapped in a giant jelly. It was not heavy but provided excellent defense.
"According to 'The Art of the Tortoise Shell Mage,' Gazia's armor is unique because it can be layered. Level I and Level II provide 3 and 8 points of armor, respectively. Together, they offer better protection than typical heavy armor!"
Matthew was delighted. He was about to continue experimenting with stacking two spells when he suddenly saw a vision. In that moment, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a corner of Oakwood Forest.
The vision vanished in an instant, and a rush of warmth surged into his heart. He suddenly gained new knowledge.
"Your ability 'Nature's Gift' is in effect...
You have gained new abilities 'Appraisal' and 'Accounting.'
Appraisal: You can accurately estimate the value and price of most goods in circulation in Goldstream City.
Accounting: You have acquired some financial knowledge, sufficient for basic bookkeeping."
Appraisal? Accounting? Matthew was puzzled. "Did nature grant me these abilities?" he mused aloud. Then, he remembered that he had just seen the corner of Oakwood Forest, where he had buried the merchant's body. "Did I gain these abilities by burying the body? Does it require fulfilling the deceased's wishes? How many bodies can I bury, and are there limits to this ability? Could there be negative consequences?"
Matthew stopped his train of thought. He needed to experiment further to confirm his suspicions. He also noticed that the green energy bar on his quest interface had increased significantly, nearing two-thirds of its capacity. This was likely related to the "gift" he had received.
"No need to rush. I'll take it slow. I can't turn Ronan's land into a graveyard," Matthew muttered to himself, his eyes flickering. "At this moment, I truly feel like a wicked necromancer."
At the entrance to the basement, Peggy, adopting a flirtatious posture, said, "Dinner is ready!"
Matthew ignored her attempts to flirt and asked, "Dinner already?"
Peggy shook her head. "No, it's the Big Beard; he seems anxious to see you."
At the gate, Brad was agitated. "What? Someone kidnapped Sif?"
Matthew was surprised. Brad nodded hurriedly, "Don't spread the news, I just received the message. They're demanding a ransom, but Lord Grisham thinks it's a delaying tactic to stall the rescue. Right now, the Blood Banner Clan is secretly assembling a team. I was leading a team to Ghost Widow's Fort but had to return after the urgent report. Of course, it's understandable; Sif's safety is paramount. I came to remind you to be cautious. There might be more unusual events ahead, but you don't need to worry about Sif; everyone is giving their all."
After Brad left, Matthew furrowed his brow. Sif was the only daughter of the Blood Banner Clan's generation and one of his students. Like Beiana, the female students at Westfall Academy had a fondness for Matthew.
He recalled the last time he saw Sif; the young girl had enthusiastically informed him that she had written an anonymous letter to the City Hall, nominating him as an Outstanding Citizen. To his surprise, City Hall officials had even come to confirm the nomination. He couldn't believe that the cheerful girl he had met before was now kidnapped.
The audacity of the kidnapper was beyond belief. To kidnap the only daughter of the Blood Banner Clan in Rolling Stone Town was outrageous. The culprit must have had a long-standing plan or was simply insane, defying even the name of Grand Magus Ronan. How crazy could they be?
Matthew felt deeply worried about Sif's safety, but he had no leads on the kidnapper, and divination wasn't his strong suit. He feared he might be unable to help.
Locking the door, he sighed. In the kitchen, the Minotaur Skeleton's voice rang out, "Dinner is ready!" As Matthew moved to join him, a white light flashed in front of him, and an Oakwood Fairy rushed to him in a panic.
"What's wrong?" Matthew listened to the fairy's frantic chatter, his expression growing increasingly serious. "Someone set a fire? And it's spreading towards Oakwood Forest?"
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