Shinazu was thoroughly shocked.
In his fourteen years of life, he had never held so much money at once.
Back on the streets, even obtaining a few rusts, the low-value copper coins was a daily struggle for survival.
“Is this for buying whatever supplies I need…” A small, grateful smile appeared on his face.
“It really wasn’t necessary, Minato-sensei.
You’ve already done more than enough for me.”
With a wave of his hand, he willed the coins into his silver storage ring that Minato gave him earlier and began walking toward the looming shack.
Meanwhile, hiding behind a thick, nearby tree, Minato watched the boy’s reaction, a faint, proud smile gracing his face before he quietly slipped away.
Shinazu eventually approached the entrance of the shack.
Under the cover of the absolute darkness, only the bright moon hanging in the sky.
“It looks incredibly old…” he murmured, examining the weathered wood.
“But, it’s still seems solid.”
The building wasn’t massive, but it was easily nearly twice the size of his previous dormitory room.
He inserted the key, and after two rough attempts, the rusty lock finally clicked open.
He pushed the door, but it didn’t budge.
He pushed harder, straining his muscles, but it still remained firmly shut.
“Fine.
I guess only one option is left then,” he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
He took a few deliberate steps back, balancing his weight, and then lunged forward, kicking the center of the door with all the physical strength his thin body could muster.
Slam!
The door burst open violently.
The sudden impact shook the entire structure, and Shinazu actually rattled more than the door itself.
A massive, suffocating cloud of dust and dirt immediately started falling from the ceiling beams and the door frame.
“Cough!
Cough!” He aggressively waved his hands through the air, trying to clear the particles before the thick dust could reach his nose and mouth.
He immediately started whining again, looking inside the dark room.
“What kind of abandoned place did sensei dump me in?
This place has been dead for years!”
Because it was late at night, there was not a single source of light inside the shack except for his starry eyes shimmered with a brilliant, cosmic light emitting from his own eyes.
He scanned the dusty interior until his gaze locked onto an light reflection from the glass of an old lamp mounted to the wooden wall.
[Glowstone Lamp]
Core: 91% depleted.
Glow Strength: 32% Status: Inactive.
Needs mana contact to Activate.
“Hmm, It looks ancient but the core seems intact,” he noted, walking closer. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“It should still work.
I just need to activate it manually.”
To reach the high lamp without tripping over in the darkness, he walked slowly and cautiously forwarding his hands, while his Star Sight highlighting the exact silhouettes of various items he could look on.
He then extended his hand to touch the surface of the lamp and it flared to life, emitting a soft, light-blue magical glow that gradually spread through the dark shed, pushing back the shadows.
“It will probably only work for a little while.
I’ll have to buy a proper replacement as soon as possible.” He then turned around and finally observed his new accommodation with whatever faint light the lamp produced in night, his shoulders slumped and he let out a long tired sigh.
The interior was completely covered in thick layers of grey dust and massive cobwebs.
Standing against the opposite wall was an old, rusty bed crafted from a simple four legs wooden frame, covered by a large white cloth.
An old, unstable wooden table and a matching chair sat neglected in a corner, while a pile of soil bags, clay pots, and rusted gardening tools were stacked in the other.
“Well…
at least it has a bed.” he muttered, trying to find a silver lining.
Determined to make the place livable, He willed his elegant, tailored black clothes back into his storage ring and pulled out a set of normal, worn garments to change into.
Spotting an old, coarse broom leaning against the wall, he gripped the handle and immediately got to work cleaning the filthy space.
…
After three grueling hours of intense labor, the dust was swept away, the cobwebs were cleared, and the room was finally habitable.
“Phew!
Finally…
everything is clean,” he sighed with immense relief.
He collapsed backward onto the bed, lying flat on his back.
While the mattress wasn’t anywhere near as luxurious as the plush red bed in the dormitory, it was still decent and properly cushioned.
“This isn’t nearly as nice as that dormitory room,” he reasoned, staring up at the ceiling beams.
“But it’s still miles better than sleeping outside in cold ruins.” He nodded to himself, “Getting into the academy itself was the most important part and I’ve already received far more than ever.”
A small, knowing smile broke across his lips as a sudden thought struck him.
“Actually…
this might be a blessing in disguise.
Despite how absurdly dead this place is, but this entire location is completely secluded from the rest of the academy and I won’t have any issues practicing my Dark Magic or testing my unique abilities around here, without constantly worrying that a professor or a student might randomly barge in and catch me.”
With that comforting realization anchoring his mind, the combined stress of the day and the physical labor finally caught up to him.
His remaining energy drained away, and he drifted off into a deep sleep with no other lingering thoughts.
Morning arrived quickly.
Bright sunlight streamed through the natural cracks in the wooden walls, illuminating the floating dust motes.
A cool, refreshing breeze slipped through the open seams of the old window.
But the moment the air filled his lungs, his eyes widened.
This wasn’t just ordinary morning air, it was thick, vibrant, and completely saturated with natural mana and life force.
He was thoroughly amazed by the sensation.
Looking around the immediate perimeter of the shed for the first time, he saw countless thick bushes overflowing with dense trees, and looping green vines that were all brimming with an intense vitality.
Intrigued, he followed the lush greenery as it grew denser, guiding his steps toward the back of his shack.
The moment he rounded the corner, he was completely stunned by the view.
The entire backyard looked like a dense jungle, surrounded by dense grass that was greener than any foliage he had ever seen and right at the absolute center of this hidden clearing was a pristine, glass-like pond from which a wave of pure mana seamlessly flowed through the environment.
Driven by pure curiosity, he walked slowly toward the edge of the water.
A few small birds were perched at the edge, drinking peacefully, but they quickly took flight as he drew closer.
As he reached the bank, the sheer density of the pure mana radiating from the water hit him, and he took a deep, refreshing breath.
He sat down on the soft grass and reached out, dipping his hands into the clear water to wash his face.
He had never seen such flawless, untainted water in his entire life, it felt as if the liquid itself was inherently magical.
A profound sense of calm settled over his mind the moment the cool water splashed against his skin.
Curious about the nature of the pond, his pupils instantly shifted, shining with the light of countless brilliant stars as his Star Sight focused on the water.
A translucent information window popped up sharply in his vision:
[ Spirit Water ]
Purity: 32% Raw Pure Mana | 68% Water Properties: Enhances natural growth and rejuvenation.
Rarity: Common
“How did this pond became Spirit Water?” Shinazu muttered to himself, thoroughly amused.
“There is nothing inside the pond except for ordinary rocks.”
He looked closer, noticing a few small fish swimming inside it.
They appeared completely ordinary, except for their unusually vibrant colors and a strange, palpable sense of happiness radiating from them.
As his starry gaze swept deeper across the bottom of the pool, his eyes suddenly locked onto a large, grey stone resting near the end.
Instantly, another detailed translucent window manifested over the rock, revealing its true identity:
[ The Cryptic Silicifix ]
Grade: 2nd Grade Magical Beast Age: 1,231 Years Elements: Water & Light Status: Healthy | Slumbering | Hiding Combat Capabilities: None.
Shuts itself entirely within its shell if attacked, becoming as durable as solid bedrock.
Vulnerability: Forcibly removing the creature from its aquatic leyline will result in death within 2 days.
Properties: Purifying Grace – Actively removes all natural rot, environmental poisons, heavy metals, dark energies, and parasitic entities from its habitat.
Infuses the surrounding water with low-grade magical energy in exchange over a prolonged period of time.
Shinazu stared blankly at the text.
“A thousand-year-old magical beast…?” Shinazu whispered, his jaw dropping in absolute awe.