Chapter 22: Old Sen’s Magic Scroll Shop
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One person, one book, one gas lamp, one night, one miracle.
Ethan felt as if he had returned to the days of burning the midnight oil in his previous life. By the time he finished reading the entire book, his eyes were already strained. The book was highly specialized, filled almost entirely with overview texts and painfully lacking in examples or case studies. Moreover, it covered a field completely unfamiliar to him. If he lost focus even briefly, his mind would fall behind, forcing him to flip back several pages to review again.
There is no pain without comparison.
He had to admire the anonymous author of *Fireball and Ice Arrow Elemental Magic*, who managed to condense such profound elemental shaping techniques into a level even a total novice, never exposed to magic, could understand.
Fortunately, Ethan came from a background of rote education and had once been a top performer in this field. He surveyed the learning trends across the empire and considered himself unparalleled in book-devouring skills.
Had it been someone else, they would have given up long ago. But Ethan was different—he refused to sleep until he had thoroughly mastered this book.
This was the calm confidence of a strong-willed person who dared to leave winter break homework until the last three days.
Finally, perseverance paid off. When he closed the book, a new skill appeared in his proficiency bar:
“Elemental Mapping (Beginner): Proficiency: 1/45.”
Ethan spread out the mana-charged parchment neatly on the table, propped his face with his left hand, and covered his tired, swollen eyes. Although he had mastered the craft of elemental mapping, he still had to say: the craftsmen invited by the June Blossom Publishing House of the Imperial Capital simply did not speak human language. They had almost no ability to summarize and could make a simple problem infinitely complicated, ultimately rendering it incomprehensible to non-specialists.
No wonder people nowadays generally believed that unless one personally apprenticed, no one could learn a craft.
The teaching quality was truly abysmal.
Year 171 of the Sixth Age, Ethan, a scholar from Streamwood Town, voiced the above criticism of the current educational environment in the Imperial Capital.
In truth, elemental mapping was far less mysterious than the book described. Essentially, it tested a cartographer’s control over their own mana. Simply put, it was about drawing an ice arrow on the mana-charged parchment to create a magic scroll.
There was nothing difficult about that.
Not only could Ethan draw an ice arrow on the parchment, but he could also alter its shape and mimic other forms.
He found it hard to imagine how these so-called master craftsmen could associate such a simple principle with meditation, spirit, and perception—things utterly unrelated.
Had the anonymous author written this book, Ethan would have mastered this craft hours ago.
He sensed that the anonymous author was an educator with advanced ideas. If possible, he wished to meet the person.
Luckily, it was not too late now. If all went well, he could produce twenty ice arrow scrolls before dawn, then head to Hearthbay to sell them all, fulfilling the first batch order for Old Sen’s Magic Scroll Shop.
Building on the ice arrow, he planned to fully utilize the characteristics of proficiency level 2 to create works uniquely styled for Old Sen’s Magic Scroll Shop. How about combining three ice arrow scrolls into a powerful ice arrow? And the hailstorm used to bury Miss Becky and the seven old stewards could also be incorporated into the production guidelines.
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He had already thought about strategic partners. Near the port in Hearthbay, there was a magic scroll shop on Merchant Ship No.1. A scroll cost 50 Silver Antelope to make; he planned to price his at 1.5 Gold Lion. Since it was a basic spell, the price couldn't be too high—the idea was to build a steady, lasting income.
This way, he could save on stall fees aboard the merchant ship.
The first batch of mana scrolls would earn him 30 Gold Lions. After repaying Ivy 4 Gold Lions and 50 Silver Antelope...
The cost of the book would be covered in one transaction!
Ethan felt immensely encouraged. Business related to the occult was indeed one of the fastest ways to make money. He saw the gates of wealth opening before him.
Regarding this, the owner of “The Magister’s Magic Scroll Shop,” who had seven years of experience in selling magic scrolls, commented bluntly:
“Why the hell don’t you just rob them?”
When Ethan, carrying twenty ice arrow scrolls enthusiastically, approached this elder to state his purpose, the old man was so shocked that the cigar fell from his mouth onto the floor. “Selling an ice arrow scroll for 1 Gold Lion 50 Silver Antelope? Are you crazy?”
This unexpected scene left Ethan somewhat stunned. He instinctively glanced at the dazzling array of magic scrolls on the shelves. “But these are ice arrow scrolls.”
The elder waved him off lazily. “Basic elemental shaping scrolls are on the third shelf. Take a look yourself.”
Ethan hurried over in three quick steps.
The prominent sign by the shelf read: “Beginner Elementary Elemental Shaping Spells, Mastercrafted, Artisan Quality, Unit Price 60 Silver Antelope.”
A thunderclap flashed through Ethan’s mind. This sudden blow left his hands and feet cold. As a novice opening his first shop, he realized he had paid a dear price for youth. He had plunged into this business wholeheartedly just because he heard magic scrolls were lucrative, completely neglecting market research!
This was his mistake.
But...
Why not just give them away?
He wanted to retort silently to the magic scroll shop owner, knowing that a single mana-charged parchment cost 50 Silver Antelope.
He couldn’t help but take a closer look at the sign again.
They really did.
Buy 10, get 1 free.
By the time he returned to the counter, the owner had already posted a “No Conflict” sign, and a new line appeared on the notice board beside the counter: “No returns on beginner elemental shaping spells.”
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“But my ice arrow scrolls are specially designed. Using three at once creates a little surprise. They work better in rain or near water.”
“I don’t care about your this or that. The scrolls on the shelves are drawn by academy professors—textbook-level magic scrolls. They simply don’t sell!” The owner waved his hand impatiently. “The era of elemental shapemakers is long gone. If I had that money, wouldn’t I rather buy a gun? What use do you have for these disposable magic scrolls? If you really want to make money from magic scrolls, learn skills no one else can do.”
The last avenue was blocked. It seemed he couldn’t even earn a bare minimum of 10 Silver Antelope.
But Ethan didn’t understand.
Guns and gunpowder were undoubtedly good, but elemental shaping spells couldn’t be as worthless as the owner claimed.
He had seen the power of ice arrows. Compared to modern anti-material sniper rifles, they were no less potent—far beyond what firearms of this era could match. The only problem was that magic scrolls were single-use; once used, you had to buy a new one.
But guns needed bullets too, didn’t they?
Ethan walked out of the magic scroll shop in a daze. In his original plan, he should have pocketed 30 Gold Lions by now, not be stuck with unsold ice arrow scrolls.
Could it be that Old Sen’s Magic Scroll Shop was destined to sink before it even set sail?
He thought of the entire fortune he had thrown down yesterday on a gamble, still owing 4.5 Gold Lions. On reflection, it was a kind of all-in bet.
A gust of sea wind blew toward him, carrying the salty scent of the ocean.
So cold.
“Elemental Shaping Master, please wait.”
Suddenly, someone called out to Ethan. Someone emerged from the magic scroll shop, their voice familiar. Though wearing a masquerade mask, the radiant light, the same color as a Gold Lion, made it easy to recognize him.
It was the pure-hearted nobleman.
The nobleman placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “I heard you say that using three ice arrow scrolls together has a little surprise. Could you explain it to me in detail?”