Numerous boxes were neatly piled across the expanse of the room. Tia's eyes sparkled with delight as she surveyed her new abode, nestled upon the soft leather couch. Her legs were tucked beneath her, snuggled in comfort.
It was simple, but the walls were freshly repainted in a faint yellow color, and the fragrance of new furniture permeated the air, a testament to the recent renovations that had taken place.
'Two rooms, plus one bathroom.' It wasn't the largest place, but it was more than enough to accommodate her needs.
A sense of contentment enveloped her as she took in her surroundings. The brand-new wooden floor, the supple leather sofa, and the state-of-the-art screen adorning the wall conjured a faint echo of the opulent luxuries she had once enjoyed, evoking a sense of nostalgia and elation.
'Step by step, I'm reclaiming my position. Regardless of the organization's questionable nature, they do look after their own.'
Until now, she didn't have a place, space, and resources to practice the art of witchcraft to its fullest. That has, however, finally changed.
'Healing potions, protective charms, enchanted gear, and at last spells. Maybe I can even try to enchant my pistol.' Unlike espers or battlemages, witches didn't charge recklessly into combat. Their approach demanded meticulous preparation and the right equipment, enabling them to rival or even surpass the prowess of traditional battle classes.
With a graceful flick of her wrist, the boxes yielded to her command, their contents shifting and flying around as if guided by unseen strings attached to her fingers.
Tia's eyes gleamed with excitement as an assortment of glass vials, precise measuring instruments, delicate chemical burners, and intricate metal tools emerged from the boxes, arranging themselves upon the table before her sofa.
Even now, she couldn't be more impressed by the conveniences of modern society—the ability to just gain everything she needed, not even in an hour, just by a few taps of her fingers, was simply too amazing.
'The question is, what is my highest priority right now.' She needed to improve her chances of survival quickly.
While she had acquired mundane tools, the absence of magical ones was still a problem.
Ding!
//
Current world links:
Garlicia (World Level: 3) (Travel cost: 1 WP and 3 Deaths)
Warning: The old vessel was destroyed; a new one is required.
Description: In a realm where steam engines have propelled the realm's prosperity to unimagined heights, a once-primitive society deeply rooted in magic and aura arts has evolved.
Yet, while the gears of industrialization spin tales of newfound wealth and opulence, the pinnacle of power remains in the hands of those wielding powerful mystical forces.
The rapid march of advancement has sown the seeds of conflict, igniting a secret struggle between the nouveau-riche industrialists and the deep-rooted aristocracy who wield secret techniques and powerful bloodlines.
Available worlds to plunder:
Mor (World Level: 4) (Travel cost: 3 WP and 12 Deaths)
Warning: To create a permanent link, please complete the task and gain a vessel.
Description: The scars of this devastating conflict stretch across the once-thriving landscapes, turning them into endless wastelands.
Amidst this desolation, remnants of advanced alchemical creations still move. Mystical energies intertwine with intricate clockwork mechanisms, forming a fusion of ancient knowledge and technological marvels.
Using the remnants of the past civilization, a new one is rising from the ash.
//
Contemplating her options, Tia weighed the possibilities that lay before her—a leap into the unknown of a new world or a return to the familiarity of Garlicia.
Tia pondered for a moment before making her decision, 'I would rather stick with what I already know.'
A plan quickly formed in her head. Even though she didn't know where her new body would appear or what would be its last will, she already knew what to expect from the world.
'My energy reserves have grown significantly, so I will be able to stay longer. Also, I can assume that the existence of the link might prolong it even further.'
This time, Tia was resolved to face the journey prepared. She cast a discerning gaze over her sparsely furnished apartment, her tools laid out in meticulous order, and her trusty firearm was safely on her waist.
'I need to bring something to trade...'
There was a price to travel between the worlds, and her time there was limited, so she needed to as quickly as possible to gather all the resources and tools she might need.
She put her hand under her chin, thinking, 'I need something that would be expensive and not bring too much attention to me. Also, it must also be something that is easy to sell.'
Drawing from her insights gained during her previous visit, she swiftly arrived at a solution: 'Gold or platinum would undoubtedly serve as ideal choices.' Her prior observations had revealed that the local currency remained tied to the rare metals' inherent worth.
A smile suddenly appeared on her lips, 'That's it! Trading metals between the two worlds is the answer to everything!' The gold, thanks to deep-core mining and even asteroid mining, wasn't as valuable as in primitive societies—she could smoothly get it in large quantities without bringing any attention to her.
'On the other hand, getting even the cheapest magic ores could net me a pile of money if I market them as rare exotics.'
This time, she knew what she wanted and was ready to get it almost at any cost. 'A spatial storage item. If I could get one, it would make my future journeys much more profitable.'