As he made his way to his next class, Poisons & Antidotes, Jester pondered his rogue teachers. Mr. Husher. Ms. Cloveline. and Mr. Larken. They were obviously expert rogues. But they don't look like rogues at all.
The popular image of rogue was all cloaks and daggers. Shadows and sneers. Secretive and unscrupulous. But the teachers he'd met so far were anything but stereotypical.
Mr. Husher was like military scout. Ms. Cloveline was an academic researcher. Mr. Larken was basically an athlete coach. A young and enthusiastic one.
But, from his schedule, his next teacher was named Viper. Jester expected a snake-like, cunning individual. A truly roguish character.
He reached the Poisons & Antidotes classroom. It was a well-lit laboratory. Filled with rows of gleaming beakers, test tubes, and intricate distillation apparatus. The air hummed with a faint, clean chemical smell.
Seated at a desk at the front was an old man. He had white hair, a kind-looking face, and wore a spotless lab coat. His eyes, behind thick spectacles, were surprisingly sharp. Yet, they held a gentle twinkle.
"Welcome, welcome!" The wrinkled old man said. Looking up as Jester, Finn, and Sunny entered.
"Please, take a seat. I am Mr. Viper. Though, you may call me Instructor Viper, if you prefer. Or just Viper. I've heard worse things, I assure you." He chuckled, a soft, dry sound.
Jester, Finn, and Sunny exchanged glances. This was not the 'Viper' they had imagined. This man radiated grandfatherly warmth, not lethal cunning. Jester's rogue realization solidified.
The rogues in this world weren't the edgy, brooding figures of fantasy novels. These were specialists. Professionals.
They acted 'roguish' by being unexceptional on the surface. They hid their true capabilities behind normal, even benign, exteriors. A subtle smile. A kind word. A plain face... Those were the true masks of a rogue.
Mr. Husher looked straight forward. But he could be a deadly assassin with his stealth. Ms. Cloveline was a researcher. But she happened to research deadly contraptions. Mr. Larken was a helpful coach. But he taught people how to cheat in a fight.
And now, there was this Mr. Viper. A warm old man. One who should be a great master of poisons.
"Today, we'll begin our journey into the fascinating world of toxins and therapeutics," Mr. Viper began. His voice was calm and clear.
"Many think of poisons as purely destructive substance. And indeed, they are." He admitted. "But knowledge of poisons is equally, if not more, valuable for creating antidotes. A true master of this art does not merely know how to defeat an enemy with poisons, but also how to protect themselves and their allies from the very same dangers."
He paused for a while. And continued. "In our world, which was beset by Dungeons, Undeath, and Demons, you will encounter countless natural and unnatural poisons and venoms. Understanding them is a necessity for survival."
He picked up a small, sealed vial containing a clear liquid. "This, for instance, is a common neurotoxin derived from the Azure Bloom, a flower found in the Silent Marshes. A mere droplet on the skin can cause paralysis, and a slightly larger dose, death."
He placed it back down with meticulous care. "Ignorance is not bliss in our field, young ones. It is fatal."
Mr. Viper spent the rest of the class introducing various categories of poisons. Neurotoxins. Hemotoxins. Cytotoxins...
He discussed their common sources. Certain plants. Venomous creatures. Even specific magical energies found in dungeons...
He explained their effects. The speed of action. And the observable signs of poisoning.
He spoke with passion. His kind eyes were occasionally gleaming with a scientist's excitement.
He showed them diagrams of poisonous plants common in Sherra. And carefully labeled images of venomous insects and arachnids.
He spoke of the strange, corrosive secretions of certain low-level dungeon monsters. And the sickening decay-inducing miasmas associated with Undeath Energy.
"In the coming lessons..." Mr. Viper continued. Gesturing to the array of equipment in the lab. "We won't just be identifying poisons. We will be learning their composition. How to extract them safely. How to handle them. And most critically, how to formulate their antidotes."
He reminded them. "Some antidotes are simple, requiring only common herbs. Others are complex, demanding precise alchemical reactions and rare reagents. But the principle remains: for every poison, there is a cure, if one possesses the knowledge and the skill."
Jester listened intently. Taking notes carefully. The idea of creating antidotes resonated strongly with him. He didn't really want to use poison, if there was another way to accomplish the purpose. But he also had no desire to die because of poison.
If he could learn to negate poisons, he could protect himself and others. That would be a potent form of strength.
It wasn't about being immune to everything. But about being resilient. Adaptable. It aligned perfectly with the rogue's philosophy of survival through ingenuity.
He imagined the various debilitating effects his opponents might have cast upon him. If they had the chance. Knowing how to counter such things felt like a genuine anticipation.
As the class ended, Mr. Viper offered a final piece of advice. His voice was still gentle but firm. "Always remember, knowledge is a tool. It can build, or it can destroy. Use it wisely, and always consider the consequences."
Jester gathered his things. His mind was still buzzing with new information.
The school day was finally over. He had acquired a lot today. The news about future fortune and a Medal of Valor. New practical skills. And a wealth of knowledge about poisons.
It was a kind of overwhelming. But now, it was time for a more personal acquisition. As he didn't need to worry about future expenses now, he had decided. He would purchase a video recorder. And a computer.
He used to be a content creator. An entertainer. That was his passion. And it was still that way even here in the troubled world. He wanted to bring smiles and excitement to this gloomy realm.
And the first step would be... high-level cartoon movies. He needed video recorder for that. And computer.
He navigated the familiar streets of Oakhaven. Making his way towards the Market District. This time, the journey was uneventful.
No sudden spatial cracks. No charging demons. No terrified screams.
The market was bustling. It was still the usual hubbub of vendors hawking their wares. Citizens going about their daily lives.
The memory of the demon attack was clearly still there. A low ember of anxiety beneath the surface. But life, as it always did, had resumed its pace. People bought groceries, chatted, and haggled over prices.
Guards patrolled. Looking more alert than usual. Their weapons and Soulheart Gears were visible and ready.
Jester skirted past the fruit stalls and the bustling fishmongers. Heading towards the Electronic Zone. It wasn't a large area. Just a few specialized shops nestled between a bakery and a clothing store.
This was Oakhaven's version of a tech hub. Stores selling radios, speakers, refrigerators, electric fans, video players, personal computers, cameras, and other electronic things. Including video camera recorders.
He entered the biggest store. Which was not that much bigger compared to the others. Simply labeled as 'Oakhaven's Gadgets'. Shelves lined the walls. Crammed with various electrical devices.
A middle-aged man with thick glasses and ink stains on his fingers looked up from behind the counter. A soldering iron held gingerly in one hand.
"Afternoon, Son. What can I help you with?" The man asked. His voice was friendly.
"I'm looking for a video camera recorder." Jester replied. Making his way to a display case where a few models were showcased.
They were far from sleek. Resembling the tape-based camcorders his Earth-mind remembered from the late 80s or early 90s. Bulky and requiring separate tapes.
"Ah, a budding documentary filmmaker, are we?" The shopkeeper chuckled.
"We have a few models. This one here..." He pointed to a mid-range model. "... was quite popular. Good resolution for its size. Decent battery life. And takes standard V-tapes. Easy to find replacements."
Jester examined it. It had a small, flip-out screen, a chunky lens, and looked like it weighed a fair bit.
It was exactly what he needed. Something to be fused with his [Toon Gear]. Something he could bring to Toonworld. And record his absurd excursions into Toonworld.
Hopefully, it could be used to record the antics of the denizens of Toon Forest Village. And the miraculous environment in that world.
More importantly, it should be able to be used in both world. Bringing animated stories from Toonworld to Sherra. If his assumption was right, it should be a perfect tool for his plan to enter the entertainment field.
"This one looks good." Jester said, picking it up. It felt solid in his hands. "How much?"
The shopkeeper quoted a price, 3000 zeons. It was a significant sum for a regular teenager. He had enough money to buy it. But normally, he had to reconsider due to his future concerns.
However, after the morning's announcement, Jester decided he should buy it. Thus, he paid with the cash he had already prepared.
"Excellent choice!" The shopkeeper beamed as he packaged the camera and a few blank V-tapes into a sturdy bag. "Come back if you need any accessories. Tripods, spare batteries, lenses, we've got them all."
Jester thanked him. The heavy bag felt satisfying in his hand. He left the shop. The next destination was close by. The computer store...