Information on the rewards he had been given poured into Hulio's head as he stared at the screen.
The process was seamless, his eyes widening when he understood the workings of the knowledge book.
A book that directly granted him information on whichever subject.
There was no need for him to study, as all the information would be directly transferred to his brain.
Looking at the books containing information on rare grade materials, Hulio was giddy with excitement, but his eyes still snapped back to the reward for activating the system.
At one point in time, who didn't like fire?
"Astral Forge," he muttered.
As its name implied, it was the first forge to come into existence, containing an Eternal Flame, the first fire, literally the first fire to ever be.
[The first fire is sealed inside the first forge, but 1% of the flame can be summoned out]
"Only 1%?" Much of Hulio's excitement took a big hit, his brows furrowing, but in the end, he still wanted to see the fire.
Raising his right palm, Hulio concentrated and without much effort, a small flame half the size of his hand came to life on it.
Seeing the size, Hulio wanted to be disgruntled, but a soothing warmth spread from the flame and he could not help but bring his left hand to it.
Tentatively, he poked it, seeking to test its heat, but soon his entire finger was in the flame and suffering no damage.
At first Hulio was confused, but then he quickly got an idea and turned to his desk to find a piece of paper and then bringing it to the fire.
Immediately, the fire jumped onto the paper, burning it as a normal fire should, but as the flame spread and consumed the paper, he felt a nerving discomfort deep within him, a slight headache soon rising.
"What's happening?"
"System," Hulio called several times as the discomfort got worse.
He dropped the burning paper and retracted his right hand, rubbing his chest and scratching his head, which had suddenly gotten itchy.
No reply came from the system, but as Hulio tried to find comfort, he noticed that the flame he had summoned, rather than disperse, remained floating in the air.
It didn't take him long to also notice that the fire, despite burning the paper rather than quench, remained alive, burning on the table but not the wood beneath.
As he stared at the phenomenon, Hulio's discomfort did not abate, but it also did not worsen.
He spent some seconds staring at the two flames and thinking over his condition and then with a thought, willed the two flames to come together.
Slowly, the fire from on top of the wood rose, floating towards the other, the two of them joining back together and the issue with Hulio's body disappearing.
[That's how you learn]
The discomfort had gone, but within Hulio felt slightly drained.
Looking at the System's message, it was clear a future where they would be best buddies was very far.
"Does the Eternal Flame feed on my soul?" Hulio asked after thinking for some seconds.
To be honest, other than the fact they were sought after by the most prominent of people and the greatest type of fire, Hulio didn't know much about Eternal Flames.
It was like how a poor man would greed for a rich man's prized possession despite having no true idea about it.
[Close but not quite.
Eternal flames do not feed on the soul, rather the soul is used to control them.]
"I see," Hulio sighed.
It wasn't hard to understand that his soul was weak.
Previously, he had wanted to ask the system if there was a way to summon more than 1% of the flame, but looking at how he could barely handle the measly fire, he scrapped the idea.
Bam!!
Bam!!
The sound had Hulio's head snap up, his eyes going to the short stairs that led out of the workshop.
He waited some seconds, and the sound came again, even stronger this time.
He had put up the Closed sign, but clearly someone didn't get the memo and wanted to drag him out.
Hulio's eyes went to the brown sword by the side, a smile instantly coming to life, and he decided that he needed a bit of fresh air.
With sword in hand resting on his shoulder, Hulio climbed up the stairs, flicking his right fingers, a flame coming on and off.
"This needs to get stronger," he thought to himself.
Leaving the workshop, he let out a sigh as the much cooler temperature hit him and then he made his way to the door.
First flipping the Closed sign, he opened the door and seeing a group on the other side, greeted them and retreated, heading towards the counter.
"Sorry about the sign, I've been busy with something in the back," Hulio said, turning and taking a seat.
The group that came in was made of four people, all of them warriors, two men and two women, the women very pretty.
They both kept long dark hair, but their dressing style differed.
While one had on a long dress with slits on both sides allowing for movement, the other had on tight shorts and a shirt which hugged her body as she also had a bow in her hand.
"Pretty dark eyes…." Hulio was lost in his thoughts.
"Where is Gulian!"
The words came from in front and Hulio adjusted his gaze, staring at a man who looked in his early thirties.
He had his black hair cut low and possessed a well-built body, he covered himself in special leather armor and wore thick brown pants.
His eyes were piercing, but that didn't bother Hulio as he was instead surprised.
"You know my father?"
"Yes, I also know you. You were a lot slimmer back then, pestering your father with questions.
Should be about four years."
Hulio was taken aback, then shook his head.
"Sorry, I don't recognize you."
"It's okay, my name is Balake.
Now where is your father? It's been long since I seen him."
Hulio sighed.
"He went for a hunt three years ago and never came back."
Hulio's words came out simple, but they had been audible and the other three people who had been perusing the equipment in the store froze.
"Damn," the other man in the group whispered from where he was checking a short knife.
Balake though remained silent, his eyes on Hulio who didn't avert his gaze, then he silently nodded.
He let several seconds pass, silence filling the shop, then spoke.
"So, who's been making these swords?" he turned to the shelf by the side and picked a blade.
"I wanted to compliment your father that he's gotten even better."
"Well, you know the answer," Hulio grinned.
Balake turned, glancing at him and chuckled, nodding his head.
"Explains why there are almost only swords in here."
Hulio's grin shattered, an embarrassed expression on his face.
For the mission from the system, he had chosen a weapon and only ever been working on it, his neglect caused the store to become filled with nearly only swords.
He had received a lot of complaints from customers about it.
Balake wanted to speak some other words, but then he caught sight of the blade resting on Hulio's left shoulder, its entire being seeming out of place.
"What's that?"