Master Of None

There were a lot of rumors and theories about how all of the current bridges to the elemental planes had seemingly calmed and become more stable. The manas leaving them had also become more harmonious with the world as it was.

While many were beginning to hear that Walker had helped establish a bridge to the elemental planes, that was still just a mix in theory for the rumors. Not that it was a bad thing.

With people being suspicious and curious, it was spurring even more study in the manas of the world and how they flowed. That was a necessary thing for the people of Genesis.

Walker quickly caught on to the rumors since he had gone back to Genesis earlier than Gil and Alma. The simple reason being that he wanted to check on the witch born who had already reached Genesis properly and would have some questions or concerns that he might be able to handle better than others.

It was also best that he returned and explained some of the more interesting parts of the natural runes and relationships with the bridges to the elemental planes.

The fact that they could resonate with the manas on the opposite ends of the bridges even if the bridge was not properly opened at all was a new and important fact. He should ensure that it was well known enough to keep an eye on.

There were other places with naturally formed elemental runes. What if they also had been close enough to a once been bridge to the elemental planes to resonate when the elemental planes shifted?

The rumors that Walker picked up with his sharp senses were constant. It was best because he was walking through a market street intentionally. It was fine though, with how many people ahd come to Genesis, the constant rush that everyone was in kept them from noticing him as much. It actually felt a little sad not to see so many people recognize him.

That didn’t mean that there were not those who noticed him. Plenty of people were able to see him and recognize him even though he was not wearing the pins or the robes that he normally wore. Even if he wore his least used armor, he would be seen clearly as who he was. Especially by those with some connections to mana.

This with the right senses picked him out immediately.

Something that Walker had realized some time ago was that with mana senses, he could see and notice people. Everyone had mana even those who could not use any form of magic or even use their own affinity for mana. That was just how things were.

When Walker moved though, his mana and innate affinities were potent. If he were looking at himself from the outside he would find that he was a fairly oppressive presence. He didn’t halt manas or radiate intense mana, but it was like seeing something that someone knew was too heavy to life. They would instinctively know that they could not lift it now matter how much they tired.

This was why Walker was able to recognize some of the shop owners and stall owners he had seen before. Many had grown their small stalls in to full shops while a few of the shops had been brought together. Especially the general stores which sold a little bit of everything.

While the competition was brutal for merchants now, Walker was impressed to see some of the more prominent ones joining together to keep growing. It meant a lot that they were supporting the entire unity effects of Genesis as a whole.

Yet, when Walker noticed one shop with a bit more mana than any of the others, he stopped his train of thought and put meeting the witch born who had begun to learn about Genesis on hold. It wasn’t too odd that there were some shops that would have materials or items with denser manas. That was just how some items were.

However, the larger amount of mana that was coming from this shop stuck out.

For all instances, it looked like just another general shop being repaired to be reopened. The men working on the outer walls to make them in to a larger glass showcase glanced at him but didn’t worry when he walked inside.

As soon as he did, a young woman shouted, ”We are not open today, the showcase is being installed so it is a little too messy!” it seemed she was the one in charge of the counter.

”I didn’t come to buy anything. I sensed that you have a lot of mana dense items so I am just checking before I go back to the Genesis building.” the young woman popped her head around the corner of the counter with surprise. He hadn’t expected someone to stop for that reason.

She watched as Walker looked at the materials. They were a general materials shop. Specifically, they sold monster materials which could be used in various forms of crafting. What Walker saw were many bones which was surprising.

They Were from different monsters that had been brought to Genesis lately, the horns of a roaring bull, a few from the running dust bird, and even one from a mountain horned goat. There were also skins from different lizards and tanned leathers from some other hunted monsters.

Each was preserved very well and could be said to be in pristine conditions. They were so well cared for that not many other shops would be able to handle the same materials and keep them safely.

”I assume you are a mage of some sort? We have just partnered with a man who specializes in maintaining items for travel. He is retiring so my husband and I offered him the room upstairs. He can maintain the goods while we sell them. We have been making a lot of money. Enough to put a new display front to the entire shop!”

The young woman was absolutely beaming with excitement. If the goods were so well maintained that even mages noticed their quality with their mana senses, then it meant she and her husband would be making a very good living for their family when they started one.

”He has a lot of talent. He is using elemental rune formations on each item. They can be rubbed off easily but they are able to trap the manas within the materials and prevent natural decay from setting in. everything will eventually fall apart but he is stopping that process. This silver ant leg would normally break down in a week but from what is ee it will last a month. That’s a very good thing.” The praise just enhanced how the young woman felt about her materials and shop’s future.

”I have a blacksmith friend and a few other crafters I know. I will send them to check things out. Thank you for letting me take a look around. Also, if your new employee wants to teach a class, have them come to the Genesis building and speak to the staff there. I will leave your store name and let them know that Walker thinks his way of using rune formations is worth recording and teaching.”

Before the young woman could speak Walker had headed back out. He was moving with a little more energy after learning that there were still many improvements happening in the field of runes if even just for crafting.

The young woman had her own plights though as she realized someone famous had just walked in and she hadn’t even spoken to him with an added politeness or thanks for helping to establish this city!

All things aside, Walker made his way to the Genesis building quickly to find that the witch born representatives had all found themselves some space in the rooms reserved for the visiting representatives. These were held just in case but they had all locked themselves away.

”Do I dare ask why everyone but the sun witch is in their room?”

His question could not have made some of the staff feel happier. They had all been worried and stressed since their new guests had arrived. However, it was the mana fluctuation as the grand witch of decay came down the stairs to greet him that Walker knew was more important.

’They are all staying there until they learn to be polite to others when visiting a new place. Very many of them decided they would try and rush off to explore or learn about your home, two of them took food without asking, and another three decided they could just walk in to someone else’s home and look because they were curious.”

Walker knew immediately, they had angered their mother figure and they would not be escaping without punishment. The poor witch born had rules to learn.

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Please say no to piracy! Don’t take part in crime! Don’t patronize thieves!

Drop those golden tickets!