Player Level 999

"Accidents" Happen

"If you want me to train you, what's in it for me?" Lydia crossed her arms with an eyebrow raised, leaning against the her counter.

I opened my bag and pulled out a Legendary grimoire for an Enchanter class, immediately gaining her full interest and attention.

"That's-"

"Here, it's yours. Just help me for a bit." I cut her off and gave it to her waiting hands.

She inspected the grimoire with wonder in her eyes, even opening it slowly and carefully as if it would easily break.

"Where in the world did you get this?" She looked at me, frowning.

"I, uh, have my ways." I shrugged. I couldn't tell her that I have three more of the same grimoire in my bag.

Her gaze darted towards my bag and her eyes sharpened as if she's trying to remember something.

"Now that I've looked at it, I'm sure that I've seen that bag before. I remember it being sealed shut." She then said with her eyes returning to look at my face. I could feel her becoming wary of me.

Now that my suspicions are correct, I took the opportunity to press the subject further.

"I saw this bag being sold on a small village near here. The man said that a merchant friend of his found it and tried to open it, but failed. Do you know this merchant?" I asked.

"Why? What do you want with him?" She crossed her arms again, grimoire still in hand.

"I just want to know how and where he got it. You see, this bag is originally mine. I just got lucky and got it back." I answered truthfully, putting my hands on in my pocket.

She looked at me silently for a few moments and I could almost see the gears turning inside of her head. I could use a spell to know what she's thinking but without practice, I know that she would feel it.

"A few days before the small village of Enad got attacked by a horde of Goblins and Orcs, my friend, Ansel, decided to stay there for a few days to sell some goods. On his last day, as he was preparing to depart, an earthquake occured and a large cave mysteriously grew beside the village. The people tried to explore the cave, but none of them could enter it due to some magical force preventing them to do so." She went back behind the counter to sit on her chair.

I walked closer, waiting for her to continue. She put her elbows on top of her thighs and stared at the grimoire on her hands.

"The earthquake disturbed and angered the horde and it was too late for the people to escape. Most of the people were slaughtered and the village burned to the ground. Ansel was one of the few who escaped and, in the process, he told me that he saw a flicker of light coming from the depths of the cave. After that, the bag suddenly appeared in front of him. He took it and ran here to Wildewick with the survivors." She placed the grimoire on her lap and folded her hands on top of it.

"Then he brought it to you when he realized that he couldn't open it?" I asked and she nodded.

"When I inspected the bag, I realized that it wasn't just a normal seal. It was filled with dark energy as if the contents of the bag are too powerful for anyone to handle. No matter what I do, I couldn't open it. So Ansel just decided to give it away to another merchant friend." She finished her story as she looked at me.

Silence ruled us again as we both studied each other closely. Her suspicion of me is growing and I could feel it in my bones.

"So, will you help me?" I asked again, using a light tone to erase the weird atmosphere.

"Fine. I'll help you as thanks for giving me this." She said as she lifted the grimoire, admiring it again.

"When can we start?"

She grinned at me, stood up and put the grimoire on top of the chair. She held out her hands towards me across the counter.

"We'll start now."

I held both of her hands and I could feel my surroundings warping. Not even a second later, we we're at a large clearing just outside of the city.

"It's just a basic Teleportation spell. Anyone can do it, but it's too taxing for some people." She explained and let go of my hands.

I nodded in acknowledgement and she crossed her arms while inspecting my body.

"Now, what are the spells that you know?" She wondered and I contemplated before telling her.

I left out all of the dangerous spells engraved in my mind but she was still very impressed by the large amount of different kinds of spells that I know.

"Are you an Elementalist?" She inquired and I shook my head.

She hummed and stood silent for a few seconds before she walked so far away from me.

{ Perfect Shield }

An almost transparent silver dome appeared around her.

"Attack me with everything that you've got." She yelled and I swallowed a lump in my throat. I nodded and dropped my bag beside me to avoid ruining it.

I hope this isn't a bad a idea.

I rattled my brain for a strong spell and settled for an advanced Elemental one.

{ Fire Bolt }

I held out both my hands as a combination of fire and lightning flashed towards her, turning into a meteor-like ball. The impact of my power colliding against her shield caused a thunderous sound that's surely heard across the kingdom.

The ground shook and dust and debris flew everywhere to the point where I can't even see Lydia anymore.

{ Zephyrus }

I held out a hand a strong gust of wind blew all the dust away, presenting me with a destructive image.

Holy crap, I'm so glad that I left Asmodai in the Inn. If he's here, we would've been caught in the damage.

Lydia is lying on the ground inside of the dome, unconscious. The land surrounding her shield was severely destroyed, leaving a huge V-shaped crater from where I'm standing.

Crap, I didn't know that a single attack would cause this much damage.

"Lydia!" I yelled in concern as I ran towards her.

The farther I go, the deeper the crater went. When I got to her, she was three feet above the ground.

I jumped up to her and balanced myself on the small piece of rock just outside of the shield.

Her dome has multiple cracks, but it's still mostly in good condition. If I used Fire Bolt again, it would destroy it completely.

Perfect Shield can only be dispelled by the user and judging by how the dome is still standing, I can tell how powerful Lydia truly is.

But that doesn't mean an impact like that couldn't harm her. In fact, I think she's already used up all her energy just to keep the shield standing.

I can't attack the dome again or else I would kill Lydia.

I have no choice but to use one of my class' spells.

If I use it correctly, it wouldn't harm me or Lydia. I took a deep breath and mentally prepared the spell.

{ Astral Switch: Lydia }

I closed my eyes and felt my soul being forcefully ejected out of my body. I saw Lydia's soul and pulled her towards my body, switching places with one another.

I opened my eyes and I blinked a few times to get rid of my blurry vision. I slowly got up and inspected my surroundings.

Holy crap, I'm in Lydia's body.

I don't know why but switching bodies with an unconscious woman made me feel like some sort of creep.

"Let's get this over with." I whispered to myself and focused. I just hope that this works.

{ Cancel Perfect Shield }

The dome was successfully dispelled and I had no time to celebrate this new discovery when I saw my body lying three feet below me.

I carefully jumped down to the crater and lied down next to my own body. I can't damage Lydia any further.

I hope I can still use my own spells after switching bodies. I focused with the spell on my mind.

{ Astral Switch: Blair }

I closed my eyes and I felt my soul leaving Lydia's body. I pulled Lydia's awaiting soul back into her unconscious figure and I returned into mine.

I groaned as I opened my eyes, feeling a slight pain on the back of my head. I think I had a bad fall when I switched bodies with her.

I quickly got up and scooped Lydia into my arms just as I heard dozens of hooves running towards us.

Crap, if Mildos sees me like this he would surely get the wrong idea. I might go to prison for harming Lydia and the damage that I caused here.

"Basic Teleportation spell, anyone can do it right?" I whispered to the unconscious Lydia.

I ran towards my bag and grabbed it as I pictured myself standing in our room back in the Inn.

{ Teleport }

My surroundings warped and I find myself in the middle of my room with Asmodai sitting on top of his bed, eyes wide open like he's surprised to see me.

"I'm back." I said to him and put Lydia down on my bed, dropping my bag on top of my nightstand.

"Who's this lady? What did you do to her?" Asmodai exclaimed in an accusing tone.

"This is Lydia, the lady who helped us yesterday. And hey, I did nothing. It was just... an accident?" I explained hurriedly, doubting my own words.

"What should we do? Is she okay?" He asked as he inspected her body for any injuries.

"I don't think so. I guess she's just tired from using her powers." I answered, sitting down Asmodai's bed.

When he finished checking her, he sat beside me and sighed.

"You're lucky she's not injured." He huffed and I ruffled his hair as thanks.

Our attention snapped towards the door when continuous booming knocks disturbed our peace.

Whoever the hell is on the other side of the door, they're obviously not here to talk.