The trio emerged from the weathered Inscription shop, bathed in the midday sun''s golden glow. A gentle hunger gnawed at their bellies as the tantalizing aroma of sizzling meats and freshly baked bread wafted through the bustling street. A jovial street vendor, his apron a riot of colors, had set up shop nearby, his cart overflowing with mouthwatering delicacies.


    The vendor greeted them with a warm smile, his voice as inviting as the food he sold. He extolled the virtues of his day''s specials, a symphony of flavors that danced on the tip of their tongues. Robert, ever the hearty eater, opted for a meat pie, its golden crust promising a savory surprise within. Elara, with a more delicate palate, chose a pastry filled with sweet berries, a perfect balance of tart and sweet. Ash, after making sure Robert was paying, selected a savory kebab, its marinated meat sizzling to perfection. As they savored their meal, the trio engaged in lively conversation. Ash, unable to resist his curiosity, leaned in and asked, "Milord, you spent eighty gold like it was nothing. You must be a noble, aren''t you?" Robert shrugged. "Nah, I''m just a guy. An adventurer, I guess you could say. Just trying to make my way in the world."


    Ash''s brow furrowed, "But where do you get all that gold?" Robert chuckled. "Well, adventurers do more than just slay monsters and delve into dungeons. We also trade, craft, and sometimes, we get lucky. Besides, a good craftsman can make a decent living, especially if they know where to sell their wares." He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Of course, dungeon delving is always a reliable source of income, but it''s a dangerous game. You''ve got to be prepared, both physically and mentally."


    As soon as they finished their lunch, Robert turned to Ash. "I need to find a shop that sells magic scrolls and books," he said. Ash considered this. "Well, there''s The Bound Book, but they only deal with licensed mages. I doubt they''ll do business with you. It''s in the noble''s district, so we might have some trouble getting in." Without further hesitation, Ash began to walk, and Robert and Elara followed. Twenty minutes later, they reached a grand gate blocking the road. Two guards emerged, their expressions stern. "State your business, or begone," one of them demanded.


    Robert stepped forward. "We''re headed to The Bound Book. We''re looking to make a purchase." The guard eyed them with disdain. "Your master should''ve sent better-looking people," he sneered. A small crowd had gathered, their curious eyes fixed on the scene. Two particularly well-dressed individuals snickered and pointed at the trio. The other guard, growing impatient, slammed his spear into the ground. "This area is for your betters. Move on, or we''ll move you." Robert, unfazed, simply smiled. "I think I''ll have a seat at that café while my assistant, Ash, runs over to the guard headquarters. Perhaps he can ask Captain Stormheart for a moment of her time." Ash, ever the showman, saluted with a grin. "As you command, milord."


    The first guard, his confidence wavering, interjected. "How do you know Captain Stormheart?" Robert chuckled. "You mean Kaelan? We''re quite familiar." Before Ash could leave, a man emerged from around the corner. He approached the guards, his demeanor authoritative. "I believe there''s been a misunderstanding. These men will be retrained on proper conduct." The guards stiffened, their arrogance melting away. "Lieutenant Walsh, sir. What are you doing here?"


    "Helping you keep your jobs, though that''s still up for debate," the Lieutenant replied. He pointed at Robert. "Look at that man. That scale armor, likely Tier 5, and he wears it like a second skin. That''s the mark of a skilled warrior. And he''s asking to visit a shop catering to high-level mages, suggesting he''s a mage himself, capable of wearing heavy, high-tier armor. What does all that tell you?" The first guard''s face paled. "Sir, it means he''s someone we probably don''t want to cross." Lieutenant Walsh nodded. "Wise choice. Return to your post." Turning back to Robert, he offered a wry smile. "Please, excuse the interruption. Enjoy your shopping trip." With that, the guards stepped aside, allowing the trio to pass.


    As they continued, Ash leaned in. "Did you know that Lieutenant was there?" Robert smiled. "Oh, he''s been following us since the guardhouse." Ash''s eyes widened. "How? I didn''t see anything." Robert paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "Perception. It''s a stat that helps you see things others might miss. Mine''s pretty high." Ash''s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I thought only nobles and high-level adventurers unlocked stats!" Robert chuckled. "Being a noble or an adventurer isn''t a requirement. Hard work is. If you put in the effort, anyone can unlock stats." Ash''s jaw dropped. "You mean, you''ve unlocked more than one?" Robert simply smiled and continued walking.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    As they approached The Bound Book, a guard stepped forward. "Mage license, please," he demanded. Robert sighed. "I''m not from this kingdom, and I don''t have a license. But I''m sure the owners wouldn''t mind a little extra business." The guard remained firm. "No license, no entry. Please move along." Robert shook his head, a playful glint in his eye. "Well, in that case, I guess the owners here already know every spell in every sphere. I''ll just take my business elsewhere, to a shop that''s actually interested in expanding its knowledge." Turning to Ash, he asked, "Can you think of another shop in town that wouldn''t mind working with a Tier 6 Inscriptionist?" Before Ash could answer, an older man, draped in ornate robes, materialized before them. "Wait, young man. My guard can be a bit... rigid. The Bound Book is always open to those of your skill level. Please, come in." Turning toward the door the man nodded to the guard who opened the door, turning back he waved them in.


    Entering the shop Robert looked around. The interior of The Bound Book was a sight to behold. The air was thick with the scent of ancient parchment and potent magic, a heady elixir for any spellcaster. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, their shelves groaning under the weight of countless tomes. Each book was a treasure trove of arcane knowledge, its cover adorned with intricate symbols and sigils. The shop was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow, cast by floating orbs of luminescent energy. The light danced across the polished wooden floor, illuminating the countless arcane artifacts scattered about. There were crystal spheres, each humming with a different type of magical energy, strange devices with glowing dials and levers, and even a few ancient scrolls, their fragile parchment whispering secrets of forgotten ages. Behind a long, ornate counter sat a wizened old man, his eyes twinkling with arcane wisdom. His fingers, gnarled and stained with ink, delicately turned the pages of a thick, leather-bound book. The man was a master of his craft, a guardian of ancient knowledge. He had spent countless hours poring over these books, deciphering their secrets, and unlocking their power. The shop was a place of quiet contemplation, a sanctuary for those seeking knowledge and power. The only sounds were the soft rustle of turning pages and the occasional whisper of wind through a nearby window. It was a place where time seemed to slow down, where the worries of the outside world faded away, and where the mind could wander freely through the vast expanse of magical possibilities.


    Robert quickly noticed that the man behind the counter was in fact the man who he had just met outside, with a smile Robert decided magic was wonderful. Looking around at the volume of books Robert began, "So it''s possible you do have every spell known to the System." The old man laughed and said, "Not even close." Looking around, "This looks like a lot of knowledge but it''s not. A lot of these are nearly worthless pieces, take this one for example," He held out his hand and a large book flew from one of the shelves and into his hands, "This book is from the Sphere of Fire, and you would think it''s full of knowledge, but it''s not. This entire book only includes one spell in it. The Tier one spell for ignite"


    Robert approached a bookshelf, his eyes scanning the titles. A particularly intriguing tome caught his attention, its cover adorned with intricate symbols. He pulled it from the shelf and began to flip through the pages. "Who wrote this?" Robert asked the old man, his voice laced with disappointment. "Most of this seems to be a glorified essay on the superiority of fire magic. It''s practically worthless." The old man, Eldrin, chuckled. "There are 968 books in this shop, and only 2,491 spells. Quite a limited selection, isn''t it?" Robert was taken aback. "That''s it? I have more spells than that, and I''m just one person." Eldrin nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Magic is a tightly controlled resource, guarded by noble houses and arcane schools. It''s taken me nearly three centuries to amass this collection, and even then, it''s far from complete."


    Robert smiled. "Well, while I can''t give you every spell in the system, I can provide copies of numerous spellbooks. Where do you see the biggest gap in your collection?" Eldrin pondered. "Lesser spells, primarily. New mages and those seeking to become mages often rely on noble houses or magic schools, both of which come with significant costs." Robert nodded. "I can inscribe a hundred or so Tier 1 spells from all spheres, and perhaps some Tier 2 spells, depending on the time." Eldrin''s eyes widened. "You have copies of that many spells? I only know about thirty Tier 1 and twenty-five Tier 2. If you can provide those, I''ll let you copy any spell from my collection that you don''t have." Robert was puzzled. "Why such a generous offer? A few Tier 1 and 2 spells hardly match your entire library."


    Eldrin sighed. "It''s not about the spells themselves. It''s about spreading knowledge. If you were to share these spells with others, those outside the control of noble houses and schools, that would be a great service. A service I can''t do openly." Robert understood the implication. Eldrin wanted to democratize magic, to make it accessible to all, not just the privileged few. "Do you happen to have any spare blank books lying around?" Eldrin chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I do. My workshop is a bit cluttered. And speaking of clutter, the Leaky Cup Tavern has a convenient trash bin. If you have a moment, could you dispose of these?" He handed Robert a box containing six blank books. "Thank you for helping me clear the clutter."