Vol 1 Chapter 8 (1/2)
Chapter 8: Alto
The sorcery notes that Lucien opened was filled with strange and unfamiliar letters and symbols, neither Chinese nor English, they were not among the languages that Lucien knew before he traveled. And that body he owned now after traveling, lived in the poor area. It was regular that a pauper could neither read nor write. Actually, the fact that he can listen, speak and make daily communications using the language of that world, was already the biggest luck among numerous difficulties Lucien had encountered.
Therefore, Lucien in his current state sadly became a real illiterate. He can only be staring at the sorcery notes, without any idea about any single words on it.
Lucien smiled with self-mockery, “Being illiterate……something really feels wrong.”
Lucien had already experienced a lot on the first day he traveled; and although such experiences had made him more calm and mature——he even worried about the church’s threat before he opened the notes——his att.i.tude is nonetheless stroked by great disappointment. As an “aspiring, moralized, civilized, and disciplined” college student from the modern era, it felt awful to be illiterate, especially when the literacy was directly related to transcendental powers.
Without any second thoughts, Lucien confirmed his goal: “The most important thing, for now, is to learn the language of that world!”
Even if he later decided to abandon magic, it was crucial to learn the language and acquire knowledge to break away from current social status and living condition as a pauper. Particularly when Lucien was lacking physical strength and combat skills, which prevented him from being a fighter, adventurer or soldier.
Established his objective, Lucien quickly left the disappointment behind, what filled his mind now was to strive for knowledge. He continued to flip through the sorcery notes and looked for other secrets——like treasure maps or stuff like that.
As he looks, Lucien frowned when he saw something familiar on the sorcery notes: many geometrical figures, lines, and the odd graphs they made.
Magic Circle, or magical sigils? Lucien made a hypothesis based on his experience with the “Holy Badge of Truth”. After a while, he also flipped several pages with rows of equations that were similar to the chemical formulas, although they consist of words and phrases instead of chemical symbols. Equations of Spells? Potion recipes?
Lucien made several guesses about those part but had no way to confirm it without know the words and sentences.
Finishes that particular sorcery note, Lucien moved on to the next one. On that one, the words were more distorted, almost like decorative signs.
Not the same kind of language? Having such thought, Lucien curiously opened the third sorcery note, which consisted of drawings of plants, minerals and odd creatures, like a “field guide” in terms of the cla.s.sification of books. However, the language it used was the same as the one in the second book.
The language I’m using was probably the one the first sorcery note. Lucien drew an inference from its degree of universality.
He looked at the books back and forth for several more times. When he could get nothing more from doing that, Lucien lies on the bed and forced himself to fall asleep.
Lucien had such an intense desire to change his condition. Beginning from tomorrow, he wanted to work hard for better life every day. He wouldn’t be seizing opportunities and accomplis.h.i.+ng his goal if he didn’t get enough sleep
Although Benjamin’s healing divine spell completely cured Lucien’s wounds, the physical and mental weariness, from a fierce fight, still helped Lucien to fall asleep in just several minutes.
In the sewerage, the witch’s backroom was completely destroyed.
However, at that time, a black rat suddenly appeared from nowhere, its eyes are blood-red, cold, and dreadful.
It ran around the ruin for one lap or two, squeaks, and moved toward the sewerage in another direction, after a long time, it found a hidden hole, sneaked into it and disappeared.
………………
In the early morning, sounds like people talking and water splas.h.i.+ng gradually appeared in the Adrien District. The noises broke through the night’s solitude, giving Lucien a direct impression of life and vitality.
Lucien, who hates to get out of bed, forced himself to wake up immediately. He jumped out of bed, lit the stove, boils water, and bakes the last loaf of breadstick.
He started mapping today’s plan, in order to distract himself from the painful feeling of swallowing sawdusts.
If not, Lucien would never be able to eat the bread.
“First, go ask about where to learn read and write, and what I need for that; Also, go find some work to do, or I’ll probably hunger to death before I learn anything.” Lucien could only plan based on what he knew about the world, “I don’t let many people know that unless I wanna give the show away.”
Briefly was.h.i.+ng his face with good water, Lucien took out the seven coins in the crate and carried them around. Not much, but I at least feel more secure.
Locked the door, Lucien walked directly toward Aunt Alyssa’s house, he had no clue about the routes in the that “City of Chant”, of course, he needed to ask somebody.
“Morning, Lucien!” A black hair young girl greeted Lucien, with strong curiosity.
Lucien obviously doesn’t know who that was, he made standard smile, and perfunctorily greeted back, “Hi! I’m on my way to Aunt Alyssa”, and acted like he was hurrying.