"So, I take it you remained behind to look after the facility when everyone else left?" Cain asks the wizened Elf who is looking longingly at the tea.
"Spot on young man. I am in charge here. I was then, I am now. So everything that happens here is my jurisdiction. I couldn't just let the place rot and be looted now could I?"
He's got a point, even if the city couldn't support a full population anymore, it can clearly support one single Elf. Who isn't nearly as crazy as Cain would have expected.
"I don't suppose there are any remaining skill books around on dual sword combat techniques are there? That's what we were hoping to find in the ruins. Instead, we found a whole city locked up like a time capsule."
"Of course there are training books. Excellent books and lots of them. But you'll need to be a member of the Royal Guards to use them. I might still have some of the other ones around, you know, the basic ones for adventurers and soldiers and such. Most of them are gone though, if the skills were junk I used them as toilet paper." Okay, maybe he is a little off, but that's somewhat justified. You don't want your fallen Empire's legacy to be some third rate skill book that just happened to survive the vagaries of time.
Lloran suddenly turns and starts waking down the corridor, possibly forgetting he's not alone right now. Drazzit smiles at Cain and follows behind him when he gives her an eye roll and chases after the ancient Elf, praying that they're going somewhere useful. Their guide leads them down winding hallway after hallway, then up and down stairs before going up again and opening a grand set of double doors.
Everywhere they've passed is immaculate, all well kept despite showing its age, and all in the same black and Grey theme with green and bronze accents. Even the stonework had been chosen from quartz and granite that matches the Royal Guards color scheme, unless it was created with Earth Magic.
The destination turns out to be a combination library and training space on the third floor and they follow the old man inside as he heads towards the shelves and pulls down a collection of books.
"Dual Wield, Parry, Offense Basics, Defensive Footwork. Maybe Cloud Dancing? Yes, that one will be essential. Oh and Blade Aura, you can't call yourself a Swordsman without a Blade Aura." He says mostly to himself as he collected books before setting them on the table nearest to Cain.
"There you go. Copy those out and learn them first, and I'll come back to you next week when I clean." Lloran nods in satisfaction before taking a gliding step across the room and leaving, locking the door behind him with a surge of magic.
[Guys? I think a crazy old Elf just locked me in a training room to learn combat skills.] Cain sends in Guild chat.
[There's someone alive here? Do you need a rescue?] Misha sends back, wondering if she should send her escort to his location.
[No, there's a window, I can probably leave if I want, but there's a whole library here in perfect condition. Are you both alright to stay in the city for a while?]
Kone has hardly mapped one percent of the city, and she's already found cool things, so this is no bother to her, and the Summons want to play dress up with Misha, so she's fine with taking a little longer.
[Alright, but you owe us.] Misha sends back after a while, distracted by their search through the shopping district.
[Have fun. I found a working moped.] Kone sends back, making everyone grin. Just what they needed, mopeds. That does make Cain realize that he's woefully lacking in transport type summons.
Looking through the books chosen by the old Elf to determine what one to start trying to copy first, Cain scans through his Lesser Golem options. There's a few forms of Centaurs in there, they're almost horses. And a miniature Pegasus, but that's not big enough to carry him. Maybe some of the smaller girls could ride it though.
Really, the best option he has are Drakes and Dragons. It might be a little conspicuous, but traveling to the coast on the back of a Dragon would be really quick. Maybe a Drake instead to save a long argument with Laura about the ethics of using Dragons as a beast of burden. Once he's gotten all the essentials copied from this library, they're really no more need to stay at ground level and search for portals after all.
"Alright, time to work. Let's see here, first up, let's try [Dual Wield] them I'll move on to [Offense Basics]." Cain says out loud, making Drazzit give him a strange look.
[Book Locked: Create Copy To use]
[Insufficient Inscription Skill: Base 5 percent success chance applies]
This is going to be a very long day. Or a very long week, if he can't get his inscription skill up. Cain starts on the [Dual Wield] book, an amazing skill that increases offhand weapon damage from thirty percent of main hand damage to full damage. Warriors can get this at level 30, and most non tank ones do.
As he writes though, he realizes this isn't the Warrior Skill, but a separate version of [Dual Wield] that has additional ranks only unlocked when other skills are learned. Namely [Offense Basics: Dark Elven Blade Forms] and [Cloud Dancing]. The additional ranks improve attack speed and allow [Parry] without ending an attack combination.
[Inscription Failed: Try Again?] Y/N
Of course he's going to try again, insufferable system.
Late that night, Cain finally makes a breakthrough. His inscription skill moves from Apprentice to Basic.
[Insufficient Inscription: 10 percent chance of success]
That's twice what he was working with before, this seemingly neverending grind is really paying off for him. Plus, it's easy on materials, the desk holds everything he needs, and the supply appears to refill itself between attempts. If there's a chance later, he's totally going to steal one of these magic Inscription desks.
After midnight, Cain decides to get some sleep and rest his eyes, asking Drazzit to watch over him before making sure the rest of the non Companion summons are watching over the girls, except the two Oath Breakers guarding the portal. Focusing on them, he can see what they're doing, rebuilding the stone shelter that used to surround the portal. But because they are innately rather evil, they first blocked the other side, so anyone who attempts to sneak past them and enter the city will suffer a brutal death.
Cain mentally asks how they plan to get everyone out again, and they declare that they've fully tested their theory with a desert lizard, and they can successfully teleport in and out of the city with another living being.
They're proud of their accomplishments, so Cain simply thanks them for their hard work and leaves them to their own devices.
Vala and Nemu have split up, each sending a copy of themselves to Kone and Misha while Laura simply flies around in circles, enjoying the cool air and drawing her sketch of the city. None of them need to sleep, so it's possible the Dragon will continue to do that the entire time they're here.
The first attempt of the morning brings victory.
[Inscription Successful]
[Book of Dual Wield: Dark Elven Blade Forms] has been created.
So it really is a separate version of the skill. And limited to this one specific style, where the Warrior Skill is available for any one handed weapon they can use.
[Dual Wield] Unranked Skill. Part 1 of 3 Activated. Allows the use of specific weapon combinations at full damage. Paired Short Sword, Long and Short Sword, Paired Long Sword, Paired Scimitar, Scimitar and Short Spear.
Rather limited in options, but Cain has been using the same [Ice Bow] that never seems to proc its special effect, the one he got fifty levels ago, for ages. He's in no position to complain about being limited to a few weapons.
Next up, the book of Offense Basics. It's about the same size as the last book, so hopefully it's no harder to manage. In fact, he might even get it done a little more quickly now that his inscription skill has gone up.
[Inscription Insufficient: 10 percent chance of success]
Perfect, now to pray to whatever deity governs chance that he is successful. Was that RNGesus? Or is that only for drop rate in video games? The patron Saint of dice might be a good choice too, but do either of them exist in this world?
"Oh mighty System, please grant me success in my Inscription." Cain whispers wholeheartedly as he finishes transcribing the book over two hours later.
[Inscription Failed: Try Again?] Y/N
[Bonus applies: +5 percent success chance]
It worked, it really worked. Bonus success chance. Alright, he's got a good feeling about this next attempt. "Thank you system for granting me your favor. Book complete."
[Inscription Failed: Try Again?]Y/N
[Bonus Applies: +5 percent success chance]
