The Vanishing Spellbook

Chapter 22: The Vanishing Spellbook

Hearing that he no longer needed to transcribe spellbooks, Zhao Xu's mind began to race.

For mages, the difficulty in transcribing spells lay first in finding the spells themselves, and second in paying the transcription attrition fees.

However, with Antinoa backing him, he could shamelessly borrow them. Even if she charged him, she would likely give him a discount. That meant his main difficulty would be the attrition from transcribing spells.

Now, this feat saved him from that, completely removing his worries.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu nodded and said, "Mentor, I choose this feat."

Antinoa was a little taken aback when she heard him say that. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Alright, I'll do it right now—"

"Hm? Mentor?" Zhao Xu was quite surprised when he saw her suddenly stop.

"Uh, sorry, I just searched my memory. I realized that after the Cataclysm, Mindful Caster changed from a feat to a class feature. It was definitely a feat when I learned it back then."

Zhao Xu's eyebrows twitched slightly. Class features were possessed by all characters who took up that class.

However, some of these were selectable class features.

The way to choose these class features was to give up some existing class features as a price.

At this point, Antinoa had already begun to explain to him: "According to the new requirements, the cost for the 'Mindful Caster' class feature is to give up the Scroll Scribe and Summon Familiar class features."

"Mentor, are these two class features important?"

Zhao Xu wasn't very familiar with the inner workings of mages, but that didn't stop him from seeking guidance from a powerful figure.

"If you're not going for a familiar build, giving up Summon Familiar isn't a big problem. Besides, we were planning to assign you a different feat anyway, so it's not a pity to lose it."

"As for the Scroll Scribe class feature, it's quite important for mages. Scrolls can substitute for a mage's spell slots, preventing a mage from being unable to cast a spell they know because they haven't prepared the corresponding spell."

"Therefore, when facing some uncommon special situations, it's unrealistic for mages to prepare spells for every possibility daily, so they always have scrolls ready."

Hearing Antinoa's explanation, Zhao Xu lowered his head to ponder. If he gave it up, it would mean he'd have to buy scrolls from then on and couldn't produce any himself.

"Of course, if you're willing to spend a feat, you can also learn the 'Scroll Scribe' ability through the path of learning feats."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu's thoughts slowly circled back.

He wasn't surprised that the Scroll Scribe class ability was also a learnable feat. Otherwise, where would the divine scrolls on the market come from if priests didn't have this class ability?

They were created by priests who had spent a feat to learn Scroll Scribe.

Or, to put it another way, a level 1 mage was given the "Scroll Scribe" feat for free.

However, if that were the case, the cost of Mindful Caster would be clear.

The cost of one feat, plus the Summon Familiar ability.

The Summon Familiar ability, unique to mages and sorcerers, was also worth one feat.

What was going on with this Cataclysm? It actually caused abilities to increase in price.

What used to cost one feat now required two.

"Also, after choosing the Mindful Caster ability, although you won't consume materials to transcribe, you'll still have to spend a similar amount of money to stimulate your spirit."

Zhao Xu's face immediately turned bitter.

To tell him this at the last moment, wasn't that just toying with him?

"Mentor, if it's like this, who would awaken this ability?" Zhao Xu said, enunciating each word.

He didn't need to elaborate; it was all too clear.

He transcribed spells into his own memory and mind.

Naturally, this meant he couldn't provide spellbooks for others to transcribe, thus forfeiting the income from lending fees.

Even if that were the case, the problem was that Antinoa had just told him about the coveted "Blessing Book."

If he used Mindful Caster, wouldn't he lose the 12.5 GP per page fee? Instead, he'd face the original cost of 50 GP per page for transcribing other people's spellbooks.

The price had quadrupled out of nowhere.

If Mindful Caster still cost 12.5 GP per page, he would accept it.

"Don't you think it's great not to have to carry spellbooks?" Antinoa said, her tone full of the smugness of someone who has never experienced hardship.

"Every time you prepare spells, you have to take out a spellbook and flip through it. It's so tiring! Not to mention that these things have weight. Even with a dimensional pouch, it still feels so annoying."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu's emotions finally stabilized a bit.

Mages needed spellbooks to prepare spells, so spellbooks truly became a mage's weakness.

If they were ambushed in the middle of the night, they would have to quickly grab their spellbook and flee.

Before acquiring a dimensional pouch, which cost at least 2500 GP, players had to physically carry those books.

A dimensional pouch, even the cheapest model, could hold two hundred pounds of items. A normal spellbook, weighing two to three pounds, could easily fit dozens of them.

"Mentor, then perhaps we should forget about it." Zhao Xu said after careful consideration.

Being tired was one thing, but money was more important.

"Sure, anyway, this ability can only be chosen at level 1, so you can change it anytime before you complete your training."

Hearing Antinoa's words, Zhao Xu's heart became a little troubled again.

Sometimes, not having a choice allows one to pursue a single path to the very end.

For someone like him, who had a few options that other players didn't, it led to much more deliberation.

However, Zhao Xu suddenly realized that Antinoa had said "Mindful Caster" was a Feat when she learned it. This meant she only had to pay the same cost as Zhao Xu to Summon a Familiar.

This implied Antinoa also paid 50 GP per page to record spells.

If even a Legendary Mage chose this path, they wouldn't be making a random choice, would they?

"Mentor, were there any other reasons for your choice back then?" Zhao Xu continued to seek her guidance.

Antinoa, however, was still happy to enlighten Zhao Xu. "Mm, the path I was taking was focused on combat, so I definitely didn't want a weakness like a spellbook."

"Besides, you actually have an advantage too. If you take the 'Scroll Scholar' class at level 2, copying scrolls is also one of the Scroll Scholar's class features."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu almost slapped his thigh.

It felt as though Antinoa had deliberately teased him, holding back this information until now.

A Feat was quite expensive.

He had chosen the Human race, which had only granted him one bonus Feat.

Zhao Xu could only grit his teeth and say, "Mentor, I'll choose this replacement ability then."

Trading an ability to Summon a Familiar for one that would cost more money but eliminate the need for a spellbook was a deal Zhao Xu was willing to make.

"Alright, someone will bring over the method for awakening this ability shortly."

Zhao Xu glanced around the room. Apart from the incense slowly rising in the corner, the medieval-style furniture showed no abnormalities.

He knew Antinoa had set up an alarm spell, but it wasn't as if someone would be eavesdropping, would they?

"What are you thinking? I cast a Mindlink spell. With your current spell identification ability, could you even tell I was casting?" Antinoa chuckled lightly.

Zhao Xu could only awkwardly laugh along, but his mind began to plan for the future.

By learning this ability, he would at least have no weaknesses regarding his spellbook, unlike other Mage players who would be in trouble if their spellbook was stolen or destroyed.

At the very least, he wouldn't have to fear surprise attacks so much during the hour he spent preparing spells.