The two of them crossed several streets and rounded a massive fountain, eventually coming upon a low perimeter wall.
The wall was constructed from a grayish-white stone, standing about twice the height of a man. At regular intervals along the top, bone pillars were set into the stone, their tips burning with eerie green flames.
"The dormitory area is here." Holden came to a halt and pointed toward the wall. "Find your own way once you're inside. The Talent District is at the far eastern end. I'm too lazy to go in, so you're on your own from here."
He turned to leave as soon as he finished speaking.
"Senior," Ethan called out to him.
Holden looked back. "Something else?"
Ethan reached into his robes, pulled out the silver hairpin he had taken from the girl on the airship, and held it out.
Holden took the hairpin, turned it over a few times to inspect it, and raised an eyebrow.
"Frost Hairpin," he said casually. "An Apprentice-level Wizardry Tool. Channel your mental energy into it, and you can fire Frost Arrows. Its power is mediocre—good enough for dealing with ordinary people, but it’s like a tickle to a Third-Tier Wizard Apprentice. Still, the materials are decent. It could sell for about ten magic stones."
He tossed the hairpin back to Ethan. "If you want to sell it, head to the trading area west of the Central Plaza. There are shops there that specialize in buying this kind of stuff. The prices are fair."
Ethan nodded and tucked the hairpin back into his robes.
Holden gave a dismissive wave and vanished into the night.
Ethan pushed open the gate to the dormitory area and stepped inside.
Inside the wall was a straight stone path that cut through the entire dormitory area. Numerous smaller paths branched off from it, leading to different sections. Each section's entrance was marked by a stone tablet engraved with a name.
Ethan walked along the main path.
As he passed the Mediocre District, he glanced at the low, densely packed rows of single dormitories before looking away and continuing forward.
The stone path gradually widened, and the buildings on either side began to change.
The cramped single dorms disappeared, replaced by sparse, independent courtyards.
Each courtyard was enclosed by a low wall, and within each sat a small two- or three-story building. Most had unknown plants growing in front of them that emitted a faint bioluminescence in the dark.
After walking for another fifteen minutes, a stone tablet appeared ahead.
Talent District.
Ethan stopped and pulled out his identity crystal.
Upon being activated with a drop of blood, the crystal's surface glowed faintly. A subtle sense of guidance emanated from between his brows, pointing toward the depths of the Talent District.
He followed that sensation.
The courtyards along the path became even sparser and more exquisite. Some buildings featured small gardens, others had fountains, and some even boasted small groves of trees.
Finally, Ethan stopped before a stone tablet engraved with the number "77."
The courtyard before him spanned at least two hundred square meters, enclosed by a waist-high white stone wall that formed a neat rectangle. Inside stood a three-story building constructed entirely of a pale green stone that gave off a soft shimmer in the night. In front of the house was a small lawn with a tree about three or four meters tall standing in the center. Several pale gold fruits hung from its branches, emitting a delicate fragrance.
Ethan pushed open the courtyard gate.
The wooden gate looked ordinary, but it felt exceptionally cold to the touch, and fine patterns seemed to flow across its surface.
He crossed the lawn and approached the house.
The front door was also made of wood, but it was much heavier than the courtyard gate. Above the lintel, the number "77" was carved into a stone tablet that shimmered with minute runes.
Ethan took out the crystal and pressed it into a depression on the door.
The runes on the crystal lit up, resonating with the patterns on the door.
With a soft click, the door opened.
The entrance led into a spacious living room of about fifty or sixty square meters. The floor was covered in a dark wood that felt warm and elastic underfoot.
The walls were a pale gray, devoid of any decoration, yet they provided a sense of solidity and security.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, glowing with a soft orange light that illuminated the entire space.
To the left of the living room was a spiral staircase leading upward.
To the right was a door that opened into a kitchen, fully equipped with a stove, sink, and cabinets—it even had a small ice cellar.
Ethan made his way up the stairs.
There were three doors on the second floor.
He pushed open the first one to find a bedroom.
It was about thirty square meters, with a large bed pushed against the wall, covered in soft fur padding. A desk stood by the window with a lamp on it. In the corner was a wardrobe made of a semi-transparent material, through which he could see several brand-new gray robes hanging inside.
The second door led to a washroom. Though small, it was fully equipped. A large stone bathtub was recessed into the floor, its edges carved with intricate runes. He could faintly feel a warm aura radiating from between the markings.
The third door led to an empty room of about twenty square meters, containing nothing at all.
Ethan didn't linger and continued upward.
The third floor had only one door.
He pushed it open to reveal a spacious area of about forty square meters.
This was clearly a cultivation room.
The floor was paved with a pitch-black stone, its surface covered in complex runic arrays. The walls were made of the same material, with runes visible spreading from the floor all the way to the ceiling. In the center of the ceiling was a crystal the size of a fist, with points of light like stardust swirling slowly inside.
A slight smile touched Ethan's lips.
A three-story villa, a private courtyard, and a built-in cultivation room.
This was the treatment for Grade Five Aptitude?
"Heh, I guess being worth the investment really does come with perks."
Ethan pulled his thoughts back and turned to head downstairs.
When he stepped out of the house, he only carried two Wizardry Tools in his pack.
He intended to keep the short spear, the shoes, and the shield for himself. The things he couldn't use, however, were destined for the market.
After all, a man like him had no use for a hairpin.
And the gauntlets?
Forget it. Why use gauntlets when you could use a weapon? Didn't everyone know that the longer the reach, the greater the advantage?
Ethan retraced his steps out of the Talent District and followed the main stone path toward the Central Plaza.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, the buildings ahead began to grow more crowded.
Various shops started appearing along the streets. Some had flickering runic signs hanging over their doors, while others were simply stalls set up along the roadside.
Ethan slowed his pace, his gaze scanning the stalls.
There were jars and bottles, crystal fragments, yellowed parchment scrolls, and even strangely shaped bones and dried plant roots.
No one was shouting or trying to lure in customers. Those who wanted to buy something simply crouched down to look, asked for a price, and if they couldn't reach a deal, they just got up and left.
Ethan looked away and kept walking.
The buildings in the trading area were shorter than those around the plaza, but they were much more densely packed. Every shop had a sign hanging in front of it. Besides text, the signs featured flowing energy patterns that were particularly striking in the night.
It reminded him somewhat of the bustling pedestrian streets from his previous life.
He soon found the kind of shop Holden had mentioned—one that specialized in buying Wizardry Tools.
The shop wasn't large, and a black wooden board hung by the door.
Buying Wizardry Tools at high prices, selling Wizardry Tools at low prices.
Rate on N.U.
