The Fool's Freedom

The familiar featureless silhouette of a person stood before Alan as if judging his worth. He had left the void just like that as if pulled by a casual wave of a hand. How strong was the one behind the Bazaar?

“Hello again,” Alan said with a smile. He felt an amazing wave of relief wash over him. So much had changed, yet this place felt like a safe haven against the turbulent new experiences that never ceased coming.

“Esteemed guest, you surprise us yet again with your presence. To see the changes you’ve undergone in such a short period of time is truly a treat for us,” the being bowed.

“It’s good to see you too. Where are we?” Alan looked around.

They were on a square piece of earth, surrounded by something similar to the void he’d woken up into. However, this particular void wasn’t as empty. He could sense many powerful beings working behind the curtain. Alan was certain that he hadn’t truly seen the monster rushing toward him with his eyes. It had been simply a new sense, an extension of his will.

“A defensive measure of sorts. Some undesirables wish to visit the Bazaar and make use of its wonders. And, as you may have guessed, such beings are thrown into the forbidden void and made food for its inhabitants.”

“I see.”

“Esteemed guest, do not be alarmed. We shall treat you accordingly after having confirmed your identity. Your original position was simply outside of the approved ones.”

Alan nodded. That made sense. He noticed with surprise that the System messages buzzing at the back of his mind seemed muted. He could still read them, but it was a different sensation.

“Please, hold still, Alan Morgan.”

The world spun and Alan felt space twist around him, as if he was the only unchanged constant, while the world spun around him.

A sheen of energy once again covered him and took away the pressure he was feeling. He felt like he could handle it quite well this time around, but he wasn’t about to argue with the mysterious being for the sake of his ego. If it deemed it necessary, then it was necessary. Plus, he vividly remembered old Greyheart’s actions from last time.

The thought of the old bastard made Alan grin for a moment before the sights before him took hold of his mind and held it. Was this the Bazaar?

They were there already. Not on a floating rock or anything like that, but on a dirt road. The distant sky was made of rock and stalagmites that seemed insanely large even from this distance. Despite it all, the world around was bathed in a soft warm light that made one thing of a pleasant chat by the fire with a good company. There was no fire anywhere though. The sourceless light was a strange thing to see, but it was not a bad or worrying thing in the least.

Alan must’ve looked confused as the being next to him answered the questions running through his head.

“The Bazaar is a place of constant change and many forms, Alan Morgan. Don’t be alarmed. In time, as you frequent us and make use of the services of our many inhabitants and offer yours in turn, you will come to understand better.”

“I see, thank you.”

“I must repeat our rules once again, as it is my duty. Do not fight without permission, do not lie without permission, and do not speak of the Bazaar or its inhabitants once you leave without permission. The last one is purely a recommendation and for your safety. Do you need any further assistance?”

“No, I think I’m good.”

“Then may the twisting roads offer you what you seek, Alan Morgan.”

With that, the being disappeared with any sort of spatial fluctuations.

Alan was left alone. In the distance, he could see a similar sight to what he had seen that first time. It was oddly comforting, but then again that could’ve just been the influence of the Transient Bazaar. Alan wondered who was behind the place. Was it regulated like anything under the Thrones he was hearing so much about, or was it a hole in the universe – a place for those who didn’t care about rules and rulers to do their business in?

The variety of buildings remained the same, with some perched up on large stalactites rising from the floor or built into the rock walls that undulated as if the world-sized cavern they were in was breathing. There were large and small shops, shops made of crystal, bone, seashells, and even moving water.

As Alan stepped forward the familiar shift once again appeared and all the sights before him, apart from a few, changed. The world was reacting to him as if it was a place built around the customer and not the other way around. This time he could appreciate everything much better and he strolled forward, trying to keep his gaze on the places he deemed interesting.

What could he offer, if he was to offer something? What would he want in return? He doubted simple gold or silver was of any value to a System-based world. Just to the right of him was a building made of what looked to be flowing gold.

He could, quite possibly, trade away some of his skills. Could he do that? The spirits had proven that they were not as trustworthy as he liked them to be, although Enid’s help was a favor Alan wouldn’t ever forget. Even now the memory of what the Bone Lord had done brought rage to the surface, and Alan gritted his teeth.

One day…

He passed by the obscured shapes of the various customers and examined briefly those who chose to appear as they were, unafraid of roaming gazes. Was it confidence in the Bazaar or themselves?

In passing, he turned toward the System message still flashing in his mind.

Congratulations! You have gained insight into Emptiness

True Emptiness is something very few know the meaning of. However, it can be seen as fundamental to the state of being like mana and air. Emptiness is quite difficult to understand, as its concept is quite the opposite of what perceived existence is. Emptiness cannot be seen or touched, and it takes a certain state of mind to feel it. To not be, is to elevate yourself and understand how fragile the universe is. All comes from nothing, and to nothing, all will go.

Now that… is above my paygrade. Alan didn’t quite understand when he had gained such insight or what had caused it. He attributed it to the state he had been in while floating in the void, his new bloodline, and the new trait that had saved him from almost certain death. That was another thing to look deeper into and Old Greyheart was the expert.

However, Alan was reluctant to reveal it. He had met once with the old man, and while the meeting had gone mostly well, and had been quite the enlightening and useful experience, the old man was not a simple character.

There was a lot to be gained from having insights, and considering it was one of the requirements for a tier-up, it was that much better.

What was left was advancing one of his skills to the ancient tier.

With a thought, a piece of paper appeared in Alan’s hand. Words flowed on their own before the paper flew up in the air and disappeared. Old Greyheart could wait for a while. The first thing was to explore the opportunities of the Bazaar and see if it had what Alan needed the most.

He kept walking for a few minutes until the shifting road led him toward a small square building. No matter how Alan changed his step, the road always led him toward it.

There was an overwhelmingly bored-looking man in front of it. He was playing with a lock of his dark blue hair. His skin was also blue in places, as if scaly, which made Alan pause. The last thing he needed was to run into another angry dragon that could smell the Void Dragon on him. Hopefully, the stay in the void and his transformed bloodline had washed away the traces of the [Bestowment] and the dragon’s bloodline.

As he got closer, however, what appeared to be scales turned out to be strange crystals growing on the side of the man's face and the top of his hands. They were smooth as if part of his skin.

“Ay, ay, come, stop staring. You’re not my type anyways,” the man said suddenly and an illusory hand grabbed Alan by the collar before yanking him closer.

Alan tried to resist but the motion was done before he could even react. The protection issued by the Bazaar remained silent, possibly because the offending move wasn’t meant to harm.

“That was rude,” Alan said before he could stop his mouth. Then he chuckled at himself as he straightened his clothes.

The man raised an eyebrow, “What’s rude is not telling me how great I look while begging for my tutelage, you senseless cretin. Anyways, let’s do business before I’m tempted to spank you and incur a fine.”

Alan grinned wider. “I might not be that easy to spank around.”

It was the man’s turn to laugh, “Oh, kid’s got bark. I’ve probably schooled your parents at some point. You smell as if you’re fresh out of the womb so don’t get smart with me. Now, out with it, what’s your name, what’s the skill, what’s the goal.”

That’s one way to do business. He doesn’t look that old either, but I should stop judging people on their looks. Wait… does that mean Old Greyheart chooses to look like he’d drop dead any second? Hah.

“Name’s Alan, I want to elevate a skill to the [Ancient] tier. Haven’t chosen which one yet.”

“Oh? You want a [Ancient] skill, and yet you’re still a tier-one fledgling? Arrogant, aren’t we? Why don’t you tier up first, it feels like you’re close to it.”

How’s everyone seeing through me constantly? I should take measures.

“It’s a requirement for me to step to tier two.”

That certainly got the man’s attention. He stopped playing with the blue lock of hair in his hand and straightened up. He was taller than Alan by at least a head. His clothes were simple but well-maintained, and Alan couldn’t help but frown as there was not the slightest sense of presence coming from the man. In fact, he hadn’t even noticed the flow of mana churn when the hand had reached for him.

Even in front of the world-sized dragon, Alan had felt the mana move for the briefest of moments. What was this?

The man’s face grew serious. “There are many tutors around the Bazaar. For it to lead you to me, I assumed you were special. I can’t see it, which is a surprise, but that’s only more intriguing. Very well, Alan.” He tried the name as if it was a strange dish. “Having received such condition by the System, you certainly have other quite powerful skills. More likely of a grade similar to [Ancient] but not quite. Bloodlines could give such, and so can family legacies or skill crystals. The latter is less likely as absorbing a skill crystal of the [Ancient] tier would leave you as nothing more than a smear on the wall in most cases.”

Alan shifted nervously. Having secrets, but also being unable to hide them properly was starting to get to him. And he had many secrets.

“It’s alright kid, I’m not one to pry. Anyone could come to this conclusion. Plus, being able to work on someone who’s gotten so lucky, without putting in the effort is a reward in itself.”

“I’ve put in a lot of work to be where I am.” Alan protested. Some anger rose inside of him. He didn’t like being treated like that. Not after everything. However, some different part of him found the situation quite funny and useful. His newfound arrogance was a double-edged sword, and while it made him confident, it could also lead to his downfall. It was an undisputable fact that despite his growth, he was still on the lower end of the food chain.

“I’m sure you have. However, the power and understanding you seek are quite valuable. Come inside, we have a lot to discuss before deciding the direction we’ll be taking.”

Alan hesitated to go inside. He vividly remembered Old Greyheart’s hut. “Wait. You haven’t told me your name, and your price.”

The man spun on his heel and it almost seemed as if he struck a pose as his hands touched his hips, he lifted his chest and turned his gaze toward the non-existent sky.

“My name… I sometimes forget not everyone here knows my name. Ah, to be young again,” the man lamented. “My name’s Isind Felmor, the best--,” he stopped himself then mournfully held his hand before his face and took a deep breath. “Just a Skill Trainer… Yes, just a trainer.”

There was a dramatic pause which made Alan quite conflicted on whether he still felt comfortable with going through with this arrangement.

The man suddenly grinned, as if a different person, “As for the price, no matter how poor or desolate you are my dear child, no matter how sickly or dying, no matter who’s after you, we’ll figure something out.”

Alan tilted his head. Isind Felmor reminded him of a spirit for some reason. And not a good one. “You work on credit? Sweet.”