SPLASH!
I doused myself in water to wash away the little sweat I had accumulated from my amped-up training.
HA... HA...
Beads of sweat and water rolled down my skin and muscles as I bathed myself.
I used the Worthless Bowl to collect water from the open Stone Gallon before pouring it over my head.
SPLASH!
The water rolled down my face, washing away the accumulated sweat but failing to put away the stink. I had no soap nor deodorant so I just had to make do with what I had.
Store.
[Unequipped Item: Worthless Bowl]
The Bowl shattered into several sparks, vanishing.
I watched it before letting out an exhale. I turned away and then walked over to the flame.
CRACKLE!
My tan-skin was illuminated in the radiance of the flame, bringing my athletic body to light.
I had of course dismissed my clothes to bath and as a result was butt-naked.
Not like it matters...there's no one to see me...and even if there was it wouldn't matter...
I slicked back my hair and said with an indifferent tone, "Life is worthless anyway."
I remained nude for a couple of moments, sitting by the fire to dry before resummoning my wear.
Inventory Open.
[Equipped Item: Veil of the Moon]
The cool black, lusterless fabric weaved itself comfortably onto my frame, making my presence seem attentive yet strangely elusive.
I took a short inhale and breathed out before walking over to the wall, and plopping down next to it.
Stats.
I uttered the command to open my stats panel.
[Name:] Alex
[Title:]???
[Level:] 5
[EXP:] 103/200
[Skills:] Oversaturation, Mind Palace, Reverb Mapping, Art of Learning, Body Constitution, Battle Arts, Anti-Lip Sync, Invisibility, Manipulation, Vast Knowledge Base, Pickpocket, Panoramic Vision, Resistance, Fear Inducement, Thousand Tongues, Death Darting Eyes
[Aliases:] The Mastermind, The Fool, Skeleton Horror, Feral Connoisseur
[Debuffs:] Partial Hearing, Myopic Vision, Anti-Lip Sync, Rizzless
[HP:] 89/100
[Achievements:] Flash of Power, Combat Novice, Beat the Odds, Wild Chef
After glossing over it as usual, I dismissed it and opted to resume my usual habit of scratching the ground but then my gaze wandered over to a part of the chasm.
The pile of books I had been avoiding.
I looked at them with a bored gaze but then shrugged, "Doesn't matter whether I do it or not anyway..."
I said with a detached expression as I crawled over to it, completely ignoring the magic circle on the monster skin hide.
I leisurely picked up one of them, the most easily accessible one; the book at the top of the pile.
The book in question had a green hardcover along with a black outline and was titled,
'GARDENING BASICS FOR GREENHORNS'
"Hmm..."
My eyes remained indifferent as my gaze wandered over to its author.
'Robert D. Weide'
Hm... D. Weide...huh...
I turned it over to the blurb and read the description.
'Explore botanical science with Robert D. Weide in GARDENING BASICS FOR GREENHORNS, a comprehensive guide to the biology and care of plant species tailored specifically for beginners. Delve into the anatomy of bioluminescent Stardust Vines, the adaptive mechanisms of Moonlit Orchids, and the symbiotic relationships of Whispering Ferns with their magical ecosystems.
This book provides in-depth analysis and practical gardening techniques based on the Nascent Nature Saturation Art. Complete with illustrations, environmental requirements, and insights into their genetic makeup along with a guide on how to adapt the Nascent Nature Saturation Art for botany magic.'
Hmm...Stardust Vines...Moonlit Orchids...Whispering Ferns...all magical plants.
I thought after I finished reading and opened my mouth slowly and muttered to myself,
"Botany with magic...huh?", I looked the book up and down while weighing it in my hand, "I thought that bastard Droet was a builder so why would he need a book on gardening?"
Then again, he was a perfectionist and had quit building...he might have wanted to venture into a new endeavor...
My eyes narrowed on a certain part of it.
Nascent Nature Saturation Art...?
I went from indifferent to slightly-less bored.
Is it a way to use magic...?
My intuition didn't respond or rather...I didn't care enough to listen to it.
"Hmm...Oversaturation."
[Skill:] Oversaturation: A skill every human being is born with that allows one to connect to spiritual entities as well as perform miracles. Yours has been honed to perfection due to diligent practices of meditation. This skill allows you to effortlessly absorb the World's Energy.
Saturation Art... huh?
I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath before deducing.
Based on the blurb of this book...am guessing a huge requirement is at least a little bit of knowledge of this so-called Nascent Nature Saturation Art.
"Meaning that the only thing I can gain from reading this book is knowledge of magical plants since I have no idea what the Nascent whatever Art is."
Besides it's too thick...reading it's gonna be a chore...
I tossed the book aside without a second thought before proceeding to the next one.
Even though there was a chance that I could learn something about the Nascent Nature Saturation Art from that book, I really couldn't care much to check.
It was strange.
I had been rather eager to learn magic for a long time since I entered this game, but now, I was treating it as a chore.
Reality can really break people's spirits.
I picked up the next book on the pile, it was an orange hardcover book a little less thick than the last.
"Ballroom Etiquette? Why the fuck did that bastard need this shit?", I spoke with barely-concealed angst, not even bothering to read the author's name before tossing the book.
I picked up another one and checked the title, 'A GUIDE TO PIANO AND CALLIGRAPHY.'
Where have I heard this?
I asked myself as if expecting someone to answer but no one did.
I was the only one here after all.
With a sigh, I turned to the blurb and read it.
Oh, it's actually a piano and calligraphy guidebook...
I tossed it aside.
I continued to check out and toss aside books, either out of laziness or disinterest. The once stacked pile of old books had soon turned it a messy scattering of it.
My face remained indifferent and disinterested as I searched each of the books.
Soon it was only a few books left for me to check.
My hand reached out for the next one, a black and silver laced handbook which was titled, "Midnight Pleasure by Lamie Curie."
Huh? Is this an erotica? Why would it be a handbook?
I turned it over to the blurb and read the first sentence.
'A guide to the best positions for ultimate pleasure in and out of the bedroom.'
My gaze turned dark for a minute before I uttered,
"Store."