Stanley was now headed to Asina city, a big city on the edge of the kingdom, led by a Count of Brixia kingdom, Count Asina, who was famous for being a Rank-7 swordmaster.

Count Asina was considered strong in the kingdom. He was famous for slaying monsters.

Asina, being on the edge of the kingdom, reinforcements during a monster attack or monster tide were usually late, so the Count used to get on the battlefield himself.

Asina was doing bad in the previous Count's time due to being a barren land. The current count inherited that same barren land but he made it into a hotspot for the adventurers, also a reason for Stanley to go there even though it was far.

The journey from the Baron's mansion he was previously to Asina took almost 13 days if travelling by foot.

While leaving the ruined mansion, Stanley had taken as much gold and silver as he could with him.

Upon reaching a village, Stanley hired a carriage and sat on it to travel to Asina.

"Sir, we need to wait for a little since a group is being made to go through the forest. You can eat some food in the inn right there." The carriage driver said while pointing to a building at some distance.

To travel through forests safely, without getting attacked by monsters, groups of carriages and travellers were made. Some rich people even hired adventurers to go with them.

Stanley walked to the inn the driver had pointed to and went inside.

There were a lot of people sitting inside and eating food or drinking beer. People were making a lot of noise and Stanley did not like it.

He sat at the long table in the corner. Beside him sat two little kids.

Stanley ordered and ate the food in peace. After finishing his food, he glanced at the kids beside him.

"Hmm?" Stanley had not noticed it before due to the hood they were wearing and keeping their head down, the kids both had the same white hair as him.

Stanley did nothing and paid the money for the food.

On his way out, he asked the owner if there was a library nearby.

The library in this world sold not only books but also spells that could be learned by mages.

"If you walk out of here and take the first right turn, you will be able to see the library." The old owner of the inn told Stanley.

"Thank you," Stanley said with not a speck of gratitude in his voice.

When Stanley left, the old man said," What has this young'un gone through at this age? I guess it is due to his hair."

Stanley followed the directions given by the old man and soon reached the library.

The library looked more like a witch's house than a library.

"Is this the place?" Stanley decided to ask a few more people but they all pointed toward the witch's house.

Stanley once again stood in front of the library.

He sighed and opened the door. He was welcomed with the ring of a bell and a woman a little older than him, came out of the sea of books lying on the floor.

"Help me up?" The woman asked as she held her hand out in Stanley's direction.

Stanley helped her up and saw her figure.

She had a beautiful face and an attractive figure. Her hair was blonde and her eyes were light blue as if it was the sky itself.

"I am Greta McCoy, the librarian here." The woman introduced herself.

"I am Stanley, a wandering traveller. I would like to buy an attack spell." Stanley said as he pulled the hood of his cloak a little down, covering his eyes.

Greta listened to Stanley's request and walked into a deeper part of the library.

Stanley waited right where he was while wondering how Greta managed to get in the situation she was in.

As he was wondering, Greta came back with three pieces of old paper in her hands.

"Here, this is Fireball, Thunderbolt and Water Blast. Which one do you have an affinity with?" Greta asked as she put the paper on a table.

Stanley did not speak anything for a while. He did not have any idea what his affinity was.

After pretending to think for a while, Stanley walked to the table and picked up the Fireball spell.

"So, fire it is. Now, just tear the paper and you will be able to learn it." Greta said with a smile on her face.

Stanley tore the paper in his hand. He felt a warm sensation all over his body and slowly, it became hot.

He bore it all and in some time, it was over.

When it was over, Greta gave a handkerchief to Stanley and asked him," Was this your first spell?"

"Yes. Does this always happen?" Stanley asked.

"Woah, you can speak? I didn't know. Anyway, yes this always happens with everyone on their first spell. If it is a fire spell, the body feels very hot, if it is water, the body feels cold, if it is thunder, the body feels like being pinched all over and other things for the other elements." Greta explained.

"So, what if my element gets evolved? Will it happen again?" Stanley asked.

Every person had an affinity with at least one of the five elements, Fire, Water, Earth, Wind and Thunder. For someone who used the elements for a long period, the element may also evolve to a higher version like Fire is evolved to Inferno, Thunder to lightning, Earth to Gravity etc.

"No, it does not happen again," Greta explained.

As they were talking, the driver of the carriage Stanley had hired came in.

"Sir, we are about to leave."

Stanley then turned around and was leaving when he heard Greta," Bye, mister. Come again."

Stanley looked at her, nodded and left.