As I continued walking through the city, I found myself unable to stop admiring the Kingdom of Arkin. Perhaps it was only this particular city, located near the academy, and the rest of the country could not boast the same level of order, but even this alone was enough to leave an impression. Clean streets, well-maintained buildings, and representatives of countless different races peacefully coexisting with one another created the feeling of a place into which enormous effort and resources had truly been poured.
On my way to the magic shop, I also stopped by a store specializing in swordsmanship. Unfortunately, I found nothing useful for myself there. Most of the books on display described styles designed for fighters who used shields, spears, halberds, and other weapons that suited my combat style poorly. As a swordsman, all I could do was silently lament my luck.
During the first trial, I had managed to avoid using the imperial Krey style, but I understood perfectly well that this could not continue forever. In the third trial—or later, during my studies at the academy—I would almost certainly have to fight more often, and far more seriously. If someone observant enough noticed familiar elements of the technique, it could create unnecessary complications.
Looks like I'll have to visit the academy library later. Perhaps I can at least find basic materials on other fencing styles, or something I can adapt for myself.
Before long, I stopped in front of a large building.
If the map the guard had given me earlier was accurate, this was where the shop of magical techniques and skills was located.
Magical techniques, much like skills, could also be sold, though such knowledge was rarely valued especially highly. After being transferred and absorbed, their effectiveness usually dropped noticeably, which made ready-made techniques less valuable than fundamental knowledge that allowed a mage to develop their own spells independently.
Pushing open the door and stepping inside, I froze for a moment.
The first thing I noticed was the air.
Not the stale scent of an enclosed space I had subconsciously expected, but the genuine fragrance of greenery, water, and something astonishingly pure.
Somewhere in the distance, I could hear the sound of falling water.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
Instead of a ceiling, a blue sky stretched above me, dotted with sparse clouds. Around me grew towering trees, their branches occupied by birds chirping softly, filling the space with living sound.
For several seconds, I even doubted whether I was still inside the building at all.
Looking around more carefully, I noticed that beyond the trees were long rows of tables, where humans and members of other races sat completely immersed in reading.
Some studied thick tomes, others took notes, while a few simply sat with their eyes closed, as if trying to process what they had just read.
Determined to figure things out, I headed toward the nearest table.
The moment I got close, it felt as though I had slammed into an invisible wall. A resilient magical barrier instantly stopped me, forcing me to step back. With mild surprise, I glanced ahead again, then looked at the man seated there—but he did not even lift his eyes from his book, as if he had not noticed either my presence or my attempt to approach.
That only deepened my confusion.
Running a hand over the spot where I had collided, I decided to circle around the tables and observe more carefully.
"Is this your first time here, young half-elf?" a calm, melodic voice suddenly asked from the side.
Turning around, I saw a light elf.
She wore a loose golden dress, far more suited for a leisurely walk or a social meeting than for working in a shop. Long golden hair cascaded freely over her shoulders, while her vivid violet eyes immediately drew attention, lending her an appearance that was both noble and faintly unreal.
For a brief moment, I had the strange impression that she was not here to work at all, but rather to wait for someone's arrival.
"Yes, it is my first time here," I replied, continuing to study her carefully. "Where exactly are we? And how should I address you?"
There was nothing outwardly suspicious in her behavior, but after everything that had happened over the past few days, I had no intention of relaxing completely.
The elf smiled softly.
"We are indeed inside the shop of magical techniques and skills, just as you assumed," she said in the same calm voice. "My name is Keyrin. I manage this place."
With a light inviting gesture, she turned unhurriedly, signaling for me to follow.
"And what is your name, young half-elf?"
"Trey," I introduced myself, walking after her. "But if we're still inside the shop, then how is this possible? Everything around us feels too... real."
Without thinking, I lifted my gaze to the sky again, listening to the water and birdsong.
Keyrin smiled faintly, as though she had expected the question.
"Because everything around you is real," she replied calmly. "From the trees and birds to the tiniest insects."
She paused briefly, allowing me to absorb her words before continuing.
"At the moment, we are inside a separate spatial pocket, artificially connected to the outside world. Visitors who come here for the first time are granted a special rule: you may choose one item from the shop for free."
She slightly turned her head over her shoulder, looking at me with the hint of a smile.
"So I suggest choosing wisely."
As I continued following Keyrin , I remained cautious.
This place was simply too unusual.
And she spoke far too casually about things that, under any other circumstances, would be worth a fortune.
"For a half-elf, you're surprisingly distrustful, especially when it comes to nature and magic," Keyrin remarked with mild curiosity. "So what exactly brought you here?"
There was no hostility in her voice, and her expression remained calm and friendly, so I decided to be relatively honest with her.
"You're right—I am distrustful," I answered calmly. "But trust has to be earned. When I came in here, I certainly wasn't expecting to see all of... this."
I gestured toward the vast space around us.
Hearing that, Keyrinlaughed quietly.
"You're right about that as well," she nodded. "Most mages react similarly when they first arrive here. Some of the more impressionable—or overly arrogant—ones even try attacking me or my assistants."
A trace of amusement flashed in her eyes.
"But you still haven't answered my question. What exactly are you here for? Which technique or skill interests you?"
Her final sentence sounded just as soft as before, but now there was a faint metallic edge beneath it.
Apparently, Keyrin did not appreciate having her questions ignored.
I thought for a second before replying.
"I'll tell you—but only on one condition."
Keyrin's gaze sharpened.
"And what would that be?"
"You will swear an elf blood oath."
Silence hung between us for several seconds.
At first, Keyrin showed no reaction at all, as if she had not quite believed what she had heard.
Then her smile slowly disappeared.
"And since when does a little half-elf like you think he can demand such things from me?" she asked irritably. "If I wished to, I could learn about your talent without any oath at all."
It seemed her initial impression of me as some naive newcomer had completely shattered.
I held her gaze and answered calmly.
"Of course, you have enough power to try learning it directly."
After a brief pause, I continued.
"But what would happen to your reputation afterward? What would your visitors say if they learned that the manager of this place uses force to extract information about her clients' talents?"
I gave a slight shrug.
"At the very least, trust in this shop would suffer greatly."
While we spoke, we had already moved far away from the area where the other visitors were gathered.
Now, the surroundings were much quieter.
Before us stood an enormous tree, its trunk fitted with shelves filled with books. Between them floated magical spheres, each marked with its own inscription.
Keyrin studied me carefully.
"And what makes you so certain I won't simply kill you right here?" she asked, her voice now openly colder. "Just because I'm a light elf? Don't underestimate my race."
"That isn't the reason," I replied calmly.
I gestured around us.
"The reason is this place."
A trace of confusion appeared on Keyrin's face.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Among light elves, just like any other race, there are surely plenty capable of killing without hesitation," I said, looking directly into her eyes. "But someone who creates a place like this and maintains its existence is unlikely to spill a visitor's blood without reason, simply out of curiosity."
I glanced around once more.
The sound of water, birdsong, the scent of fresh grass, and the sense of tranquility permeating the entire space.
"This place is far too peaceful for its owner to invite a guest inside, only to kill him for refusing to answer."
Keyrin stared directly into my eyes.
I did not look away.
In moments like this, even such a small action could be interpreted as weakness or concession—and losing right now was something I had no intention of doing.
At last, Keyrin exhaled irritably.
"Stubborn leech," she muttered, though a faint smirk appeared on her lips. "Fine. If your talent truly manages to surprise me, I'll allow you to choose not one, but two books for free."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Agreed?"
At the same time, Keyrin retrieved a small, thin knife from her spatial ring.
"Agreed," I replied calmly. "But I recommend preparing a chair in advance."
Keyrin raised a questioning brow.
"So you don't fall," I clarified with complete composure. "And I suggest binding the oath with both your blood and mine."
This time, genuine surprise flashed across Keyrin's eyes.
"Your blood?" she repeated.
"A standard blood oath isn't reliable enough," I replied calmly. "True protection is only achieved when the oath is bound by the blood of both parties."
Keyrin's expression shifted ever so slightly.
That alone was enough to confirm my suspicion.
It seemed she truly had some method of bypassing a standard oath.
"Whoever your teacher was, I would very much like to meet him personally," Keyrin said coldly.
I barely restrained a smirk.
"My teacher has long been dead," I answered calmly. "Unless, of course, you possess resurrection magic."
She merely snorted coldly.
"Then he was fortunate."
She spun the knife irritably between her fingers.
"Let's begin."
With those words, Keyrin drew the blade across her palm.
A neat cut appeared on her pale skin, and blood slowly welled from it.
After waiting until enough had gathered, she silently handed me the knife.
Taking the blade, I made a shallow cut across my own palm and returned it.
A moment later, our hands touched.
Warm blood mixed together, and with it, I felt a faint vibration of magic.
Keyrin began reciting the oath.
"I, Keyrin'Len, second princess of the Elven Kingdom, swear before the half-elf standing before me to preserve his secret until the day of my death."
Her final words dissolved into the air.
Now it was my turn.
I slowly exhaled.
"I, Aluric, seventh prince of the Krey Empire, accept the oath of Keyrin'Len, second princess of the Elven Kingdom."