Master Of None

"This is the material room. We hold many monster materials here. Some of them are very rare and we can't even craft with them due to their affinities or qualities. On top of this, there are also plenty of other materials from plants, mountains, and even some from across the deserts. Once we have a trader brought things from across the ocean. It was very interesting." The elder was speaking while watching the spirits explore the materials. 

"This place seems like it is more of a display instead of a treasury ready to gove out the materials." Walker wasn't sure what to make of the many different displays. There were some familiar monster bones and materials. Many of them were from nearby monsters like orcs and the goat monsters that lived in the mountains. However, there were many that Walker couldn't identify at all. 

"If you're looking for materials that have no elemental affinity or all elemental resistances you need to come to this shelf. This is where we hold some stranger materials that not many can craft with. The reason we don't just hand these out is the levels and skills needed to craft them." 

Walker had known that some quests and levels of skills were needed to get to a place where some of the materials could be crafted with. This was clear when they had helped those in the blacksmith building by allowing them to craft with their dragon scales. At the time it had been a very rare opportunity in the lower tier of the kingdom. 

"So, I should assume that if the right system user is around then the corresponding materials will be taken from here. Other than that this is just storage for some basic materials too?" Walker had understood why there was a separate area in the treasury.

"Exactly. Many of these I can't forge with. Especially there. This gem here is somehow able to absorb mana but never release it. We have found a few but can't appraise them. Try it yourself. I know you have been appraising things since you came in. You get the same look as most dwarves with appraisal skills." 

It was clear that Walker couldn't hide the curiosity he had and that the elder had seen through him easily. Walker attempted to use his all around appraisal skill.

'Unknown gem

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Absorbs all mana regardless of element. Breaks upon certain conditions.'

"All it said is that it absorbs all mana regardless of element and that it breaks upon certain conditions." Walker was stumped. He knew that his all around appraisal skill was not a know all skill but this was the first time he had not been able to gain anything from an appraisal. He usually would just receive useless or very little information. 

"That's all we can get too. We even had a master curator use his mastery appraisal skill perfect appraisal. The drawback was that he would be blind directly afterward but it would vary depending on the item he used it on. If he used it on a ruby he was blind for a few seconds. When he usied it on a person he was blind for months. But when he used it on this he was blind for an entire year. He still hasn't told us what it is." 

The elder looked like this was something he had long given up on since it was a mystery one of their best appraisers had refused to speak about. However, Walker noticed that the elemental spirits were looking at the gem intently. 

"Do you four have any idea what that is?" He had a feeling that this was the best bet on getting immediate information. 

The four elemental spirits moved away from the strange gem not wanting to be near it but the earth elemental spirits looked like they did not like it the most. The dark elemental spirit spoke for the first time since it dipped in to Walkers' shadow after he freed it. 

"Battle spirit...passed away battle spirit. Leave it to rest." The spirits went to the opposite side of the room before Walker was able to compose himself. He was thinking about why the earth elemental spirits avoided it the most.

"The dark spirit said it was a battle spirit at one time. Since the earth elemental spirits seem to be wary of it I think it is a passed away earth battle spirit. They said to leave it to rest. I think we should follow their reasoning. They are made of elemental mana, and if they get too close they may not be able to stay as they are. The elves may have better answers for you on this." His theory looked to be correct as he saw the spirits react. 

The elder lifted a small pouch and slipped the gem inside. "I will separate this far from the spirits then. I will personally safeguard the seven we have and the shards of the other two until we can speak with the elves." This was very reassuring for Walker since he wasn't sure how the elder would react. But it appeared the elder was heeding his warnings without too many questions. Most likely due to the fear he would strain the relations with the elemental spirits. 

"On another note. How about this rainbow elemental mana crystal. We have rarely gotten them but with that, we can never craft with them. We had a master blacksmith attempt to make something with it but the mana within caused trouble. Not many pieces of gear we forge can withstand every single elemental mana permanently." The elder looked like he wanted Walker to choose this. 

"It would be perfect for the staff I want to make. But, this is way too valuable. I have only heard rumors they exist because they are so rare." Walker's hesitancy was met with a steely look from the elder. Walker could tell he would be scolded. 

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