"To awaken mana closest to the other side, one must be naturally in tune with death. Cemeteries are ideal but any site filled with death may work though they may be dangerous. Typically the older, the better. Miasma naturally gathers around places of misfortune and death. With the meditation techniques discussed earlier..."

Elias shut the book right then and there. "Meditating in cemeteries? What's next, digging out graves? Which madman wrote this bullshit?"

In the end, Elias wasn't able to stop himself from reading the book left behind by the old creep. Initially, he had thoughts of pawning the book and being done with it.

Yet the bizarre way he acquired it made him second guess his decision. Not to mention the nagging feeling that he would regret selling the book for the rest of his miserable life.

No matter how disturbing the contents of the book, they promised a path. To become a magus, even something as illegal or dreadful as a necromancer was something Elias wouldn't have even dreamt of having.

So he hardened his resolve and took another shot at the book. Even so, only after a few pages, he had to shake off the goosebumps.

Elias wasn't an expert on mana, far from it. Still he felt that the methods in the book just weren't right. Any sane human would feel wrong about messing with the departed.

Sigh, whatever I'll try following what this cursed book says. But first, let's find the old creep. I need answers, well and I really want to slug that grandpa in the face. Elias smirked at the thought of the old man’s top hat flying from his head.

The shady alley wasn’t far off from the police station so drifting through the crowds he found it quick. Although instead of the cartoonish grandpa he stumbled upon three hoodlums shooting the shit.

"What's yer business 'ere, pretty boy?"

One of the thugs nearest to him shouted, making Elias gulp. A bit taken back, he blurted out, "Oh. Guess I took a wrong turn, I’ll go back out, haha."

"Don't scurry off, mate. You've disrupted the gathering, so you might as well stay a bit." Despite one of them speaking, the whole trio decided to move closer, making their plans obvious.

Book in hand, Elias turned around to run however it was too late. A hand dragged him back by the shoulder.

Elias was now facing three opponents that he did not ask for. Gritting his teeth he still tried to assess the situation but it was hopeless. Three against one might work in the movies but not in real life.

Clammed up, Elias remained frozen in place, his gaze already drawn to the ground.

“Haha. Look at this coward here, wetting his trousers already. Tell ya what – hand over your belongings, including that book ya keepin behind, and we might let you escape with just a broken nose.” The most vocal of the trio came forward grabbing Elias by the collar.

Forced to look at the hoodlum in the eye. Elias couldn't help but notice the fox ears on the man pulling his collar.

A brief flashback of the beating he received at the hands of the beastmen the day earlier made something rise from within. He remembered the infuriating smirk that fox man had as he beat him. And if Elias didn't do anything now it would happen again.

His grip on the book behind him tightened as Elias glared back at the hoodlum.

"Oh, what's this? Grew a new one? Out with the valuables and scram." The hoodlum spat at Elias's feet.

"Why? Ya wankers can’t wait to make out with each other?" Elias laughed, to keep his own fear at bay.

Provoked, the hoodlum raised his fist to hit Elias yet before his fist could reach the intended target.

Elias bashed the mans' chin from beneath. And it worked about as well as throwing an uppercut with a brick, which was to say the man was knocked right out.

Both the hoodlums in the back sucked in a cold breath seeing their friend drop to his knees and fall over, all that in one hefty swing. Surprised at how well it went, even Elias couldn't help stare at the book in his hand to the hoodlum now kissing the cobblestones.

Nevertheless the initial shock didn't last long.

"Yeah! Ya want a piece of this knowledge too!?" Running on adrenaline, Elias waved the book in front of the remaining opponents, rambling like a madman.

The taunt worked and another hoodlum ran towards Elias fist raised. With a yelp, Elias backed away and slung the heavy book in the rushing man's face.

Surprised by the unexpected throw. The hoodlum couldn't dodge the incoming book in time taking the full brunt of it on his nose.

And so another one bit the book as the second hoodlum fell to the ground ass first. He wasn't knocked out but he kept screaming bloody murder while covering his now bleeding nose.

Elias whistled he knew the book had some hard edges. The sight, a stark reminder of how the grandpa threw the book at him, made him frown. He didn't know if he should’ve been thankful that the old creep didn't put his full strength behind the book throw.

Elias grinned at the last remaining hoodlum who stood with his jaw wide open. Anger had long been replaced with fear by how fast his buddies went down, he made a swift exit without looking back.

Sighing in relief, Elias walked over to the guy with the bleeding nose.

It was in defense yet it felt amazing. He had fought back against three hoodlums and prevailed. The memories of living his childhood in the outskirts resurfaced. The city life had made him soft and law abiding man but now that he got a good reminder of the street rat he used to be, it only made him giddy. Picking up his black book that laid beside the hoodlum, he sat on top of the whimpering mans’ chest.

With a wide grin plastered on his face, Elias tapped the whimpering man's cheek with his book, "Stop yer crying, tell me how much pocket money ya got?"

Every action has a reaction. But Elias underestimated that quote. It hadn't been long since he mugged the small gang going for him. Small gangs as it turned out did not like being on the receiving end of a beatdown, after their earlier defeat the hoodlums gathered people in record time.

Elias was running, sweat dripped down his forehead. Buildings flew by as he kept zipping through the crowd, his knees were on fire as he kept running. With a whole entourage of hoodlums on his tail like bloodhounds. Stopping right before he tackled a running tram he did a double take of his pursuers.

Weapons raised to the high heavens Elias saw maces, steel pipes and even a katana. He had to thank his cursed luck that none of them had a gun. But - a katana? That's proper rare, bloody hell!

Elias also did not miss the fact that the man leading the charge sported a bandaged nose. At that moment the chase made sense, chuckling nervously to himself Elias had to wonder. Are all these central city gangs this petty?

Elias had ran through half the city but the bastards behind him were relentless. And strangely knew every one of his usual hiding spots, making it impossible for him to disappear from sight.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." Elias cut corners through the packed streets, always keeping ahead but unable to outrun the horde. In fact the chase went on for so long both parties ended up entering the outskirts of Rayton.

The guards near the gates dividing city saw Elias sprinting towards the gate with a half a village behind him, yet they kept their guns in their pockets, their gazes indifferent. Ignoring them Elias went through the gates without a second thought.

Few steps in and he spotted an abandoned building. Jumping in through a narrow opening on the wall, he disappeared in the darkness.

By the time the gang caught up he was gone.

Decrepit, old buildings lined up the streets. One bad earthquake would make the whole place go down like dominoes. The gang chasing Elias had dwindled down to a few people, most of them had their hands on their knees, coughing, heaving.

Their leader, the one with several bandages on his nose had his brows creased as he took in the sights of Rayton's outskirts. Broken nose or not they all could smell the uniquely disgusting odor of the outskirts.

"S-shit, we on the outskirts. What should we do, Reynard?" One of his men asked turning to him.

Reynard, the bandaged nose leader lowered his katana.

Outskirts was a unique contrast with the city these men were used to living in. Beggars had tents all over the sidewalk, few people walked along the roads rigid as zombies, here and there women with skimpy dresses stood within secluded shadows cast by the broken buildings.

Reynard would have continued chasing the book carrying bastard but he noticed their little gang had the full attention of some hooded guys. Something about the way those folks moved reminded the him of a predator that had sighted some juicy prey. After all, it wasn't everyday the outskirts got visited by some central city fish.

Knowing that finding the book wielding bastard was a lost cause Reynard shook his head, “Let's go back, yeah? We'll keep an eye out for that bastard in the central."

From his hiding spot, Elias saw the small gang of wannabes walk back through the city gates marking the outskirts. The guards posted there saw the whole scene, did not react, he would've bet even if a fight broke out those guards would ignore it all the same.

Elias had to admire the nice view though, squatting behind a working lady he had half his view obstructed by some nice assets. His breath was heavy, still recovering from the marathon he muttered, "T-Thanks for the cover up, lady. One of these days, I'll treat you to a proper night out."

Maybe it was the words spoken in between heavy breathing but the woman's shoulder shook, creeped out, she yelled, "Back off, bastard. Before I fetch my mates to sort you proper."

"Alright, okay. Ya church bell." Elias muttered while taking to the roads.

As he walked he couldn't help but reflect on everything that happened yesterday. He robbed two very loaded hoodlums at book point, then made them take off all their branded clothes.

The only irritating part had been when he took it all back to the famously dodgy pawn shop. Phill, the owner shot him a shit-eating grin. No matter how Elias haggled, the git still gave him the less than usual rates claiming they were stolen goods. Elias nearly leapt over the counter to sort out the git when he threatened to call the fuzz on him.

He had a inkling that the pawn shop owner might be behind the earlier goose chase. Elias scratched his head watching a fight that broke out between some of the homeless.

Since he was already in the outskirts, "Might as well see what those cemeteries look like."