by Jackson Bale
Siberia---ignores---the---[Rogue],---continuing---to---caress---the---staff---as---one---would---a---child.
“SIBERIA!”---Jessa---yells,---hopping---closer,---her---foot---mere---inches---now---from---the---elf’s---face.
The---elf---turns---her---head,---finding---Jessa’s---foot---an---inch---from---her---nose,---the---smell---making---her---nose---crinkle.
The---foot---in---question---wiggles---its---toes.
“Heal?”
An---annoyed---look---crosses---Siberia’s---face---as---she---lifts---her---hand,---slapping---the---offending---appendage---away,---eliciting---a---squeal---of---pain---and---another---onset---of---hopping---from---Jessa.
Smiling---and---shaking---his---head,---Franky---looks---at---the---last---person---of---Brock’s---group,---a---short---man---with---a---huge---round---belly---and---an---instrument---which---looks---like---a---guitar---at---his---side.---The---man---in---question---is---a---dwarven---[Bard],---who---is---currently---sleeping---in---his---chair,---head---back---while---drool---can---be---seen---falling---out---of---his---mouth.
“So---Brock,---I’m---guessing---you're---going---to---let---Siberia---keep---the---staff?”
Brock---nods,”---Yup,---it's---a---good---staff,---and---the---ability---it---grants---makes---it---much---easier---for---me---to---do---my---job,---especially---considering---my---new---skill.”
“Oh,---you---leveled---up?”
“Yup,---take---a---guess---on---my---level,”---he---says,---a---huge---happy---smile---on---his---face.
“[Analyze]”---Franky---calls---out,---eliciting---a---pout---from---Brock.
Brock
Level---60---[Shield---Warrior]
Brock---is---the---current---leader---of---the---Diver’s---team---Emerald---Shields.
“You---know,---people---take---offense---when---you---use---skills---without---permission---on---them.”
“Aha,---luckily---you're---not---most---people,”---Franky---says,---enjoying---the---banter---with---this---group.
Franky---had---met---the---Emerald---Shields---when---he---first---entered---the---Divers---Guild.---He---was---looking---for---information,---preferably---information---that---isn't---bastardized---by---the---[priests],---but---quickly---found---himself---being---flirted---on---by---Jessa.
She---was---curious---about---Franky---and---why---he---was---wearing---an---inquisitor's---cloak,---something---that---would---be---punishable---by---death---if---found---you---even---owned---it,---much---less---wearing---it.
Luckily,---Brock---came---in---and---saved---the---day---by---literally---picking---Jessa---up---and---placing---her---on---his---shoulder,---ignoring---her---squeals---of---outrage.
“So,---I’m---guessing---you're---heading---out---to---see---grandma?”---Brock---asks,---pointing---towards---a---staircase---going---downward.
Yup,---Matilda,---the---[Witch],---is---actually---Brocks---Grandmother---whom---he---had---introduced---Franky---to.
“I---am.---Hopefully,---she---will---be---ready---for---me.”
*Smack*
At---a---moments---notice,---a---foot---lands---upon---brocks---cheek,---its---toes---wiggling.
“I---need---a---potion,”---Jessa---announces.
Chuckling,---Franky---shakes---his---head,---enjoying---the---annoyed---confused---expression---on---Brocks'---face.
“Well,---it---seems---you're---a---bit---busy---Brock,---so---I’m---going---to---head---down---for---training.”
Brock---merely---nods,---his---eyes---staring---at---Jessa---who---is---looking---at---him---expectantly.
_______
Leaving---the---group---with---a---smile---on---his---face,---Franky---moves---towards---the---stairs,---taking---relaxed---easy---steps---down---towards---the---basement---and---the---location---of---several---trainers---for---hire.
Entering---the---basement,---a---long---passage---greets---him,---lit---with---magical---lights---on---the---ceiling,---eliminating---the---lack---of---light---which---would---be---present---otherwise.---At---the---right---and---lefts---of---the---passage---are---doors,---each---door---leading---to---a---trainer,---all---of---which---are---older---retired---divers---who---train---the---next---generation.
Traveling---several---meters---in,---Franky---stops---at---a---black---armored---door,---knocking---lightly---on---the---hard---enchanted---wood.
A---moment---later---and---Franky---hears---the---sound---of---shuffling---as---the---door---slowly---opens,---revealing---an---old---lady---with---an---annoyed---look---on---her---face.
The---annoyed---look---takes---a---complete---one-eighty,---replaced---by---an---energetic---smile---instead.
“Franky!---It’s---so---nice---to---see---you---again.---Have---you---come---back---for---training?”
______
I---nod---slowly.---Staring---at---her---wrinkly---face,---the---face---of---someone---who---has---lived---quite---a---long---life.
“Oh!---Right.---Please---come---in.”---she---says,---moving---out---of---the---way,---allowing---me---to---enter---her---not---at---all---humble---abode.
Her---classroom,---if---it---is---to---be---believed---as---such,---is---covered---in---papers,---dust,---unorganized---furniture---and---various---contraptions---I---had---never---seen---before.---Overall,---it---looks---like---the---room---had---been---through---a---tornado.
“Matilda,---you---really---should---clean---this---place---up---a---bit.”---I---say,---watching---an---actual---rat---shuffle---out---of---a---pile---of---papers,---notice---me,---and---then---run---back---into---the---massive---pile.
“That's---Jeffrey,---he’s---harmless.”
Shaking---my---head,---I---turn---to---one---of---the---cleaner---seats---on---the---far---side---of---the---room.
I---sit---down---on---the---chair,---watching---as---Matilda---sits---down---across---me,---a---black---robe---stained---with…---possibly---blood,---but---it---could---really---be---anything---considering---the---nature---of---her---class,---covers---her---rather---skinny---visage.
She---puts---up---her---hand,---not---allowing---me---to---speak.
“First,---let---us---blind---your---little---stalkers.”
She---claps---her---hands.”[Zone---of---Disturbance]”
The---walls---start---to---glow,---runes---hidden---within---the---stone---depths---come---to---light,---glowing---immaculate---colors---of---various---designs.---The---mana---forms,---blending---around---me---as---they---form---and---converge,---sending---a---sensation---of---pressure---on---my---psyche.
And---just---as---fast---as---it---happens,---the---pressure---subsides,---the---runes---going---dormant---around---me.
I---blink,---shaking---my---head,---confused.
“What…---Just---happened?”
Matilda---smiles---in---return,”---Well,---I---created---a---zone---which---nullifies---all---scrying---spells---and---spying---abilities.---As---of---right---now,---nobody---is---able---to---listen---to---our---conversations.”
She---leans---forward,”---So---you---can---speak---freely...---[Hero].”
My---eyes---widen,---and---then---immediately---focus.
“What---do---you---want?”---I---say,---slightly---panicking---that---she---figured---out---my---identity---so---quickly.
She---smiles---back,”---Coin,”
I---stop,---looking---at---her---relaxed---expression.
“Hehehe,---what?---Did---you---expect---this---to---be---some---convoluted---plot---for---me---to---kidnap---you---and---attempt---to---sell---you---off---to---some---other---country---for---a---fortune---which---would---allow---me---to---live---the---rest---of---my---life---in---luxury?”
She---pauses,---her---eyes---widening.
“Huh…---now---that---I---think---about---it,---that---would---have---been---quite---a---great---plan.”
I---look---at---her,---confused.---But---a---smile---slowly---forms---on---my---lips---as---I---remember---something---Thoric---had---told---me.
‘The---most---trustwo
rthy---people---tend---to---be---the---weirdest.---Always---make---friends---with---them.---More---often---than---not,---they're---not---plotting---your---downfall.---The---worst---they---will---ever---do---is---drug---you---and---take---you---to---bed.’
I---relax---on---my---chair,---watching---as---Matilda---has---her---hand---on---her---chin,---her---mind---someplace---else.
Heh,---it's---funny---how---Thoric's---ramblings---about---his---job---as---a---hero---has---been---helping---me---out---tremendously---this---past---week.---He---always---says---I---have---the---qualities---to---be---summoned.
I---reach---into---my---pocket,---taking---out---a---small---bag---of---Danuri,---the---most---common---coin---in---the---world---of---Orbis,---and---plant---it---on---the---table---with---a---clank,---immediately---grabbing---Matilda's---attention.
Her---eyes---move---to---the---bag.
“All---yours---after---training.”---I---say.
She---frowns.
“You---know,---the---amount---of---coin---you---are---paying---me---is---significantly---more---than---my---rates.---It's---actually---the---main---reason---why---I---figured---out---who---you---are.”
You---also---seem---to---have---a---far---more---extensive---spy---network---considering---barely---any---[Nobles]---even---know---how---many---heroes---were---even---summoned.
I---nod.
“As---long---as---I---continue---to---improve---my---[mage]---class,---I---doubt---they---care---how---many---coins---I---spend.”
Her---hand---moves---up---to---her---lips,---looking---down---towards---an---entire---month's---worth---of---her---wage.
She---nods.
“That's---fine.”
She---gets---up,---moving---towards---a---pile---of…---clothes,---quickly---rummaging---through---them,---finding---a---rather---old---wooden---staff---with---a---jewel---at---the---end---underneath.
She---quickly---returns---and---hand’s---it---to---me.
I---take---the---staff,---confused---as---my---hand---touches---the---worn---down---wood.
“I---was---warned---to---learn---magic---without---a---staff,---that---it---would---be---best---to---cast---spells---without---a---crutch.”
She---rolls---her---eyes,”---Are---you---talking---about---those---[Archmages],---a---bunch---of---pricks---they---are,---being---born---into---a---family---of---mages,---learning---magic---at---an---extremely---young---age.”
She---waves---her---hand.
“Those---idiots---know---nothing---of---training---someone---of---a---low-level---class.---They---probably---expect---you---to---have---the---[Mana---Sense]---skill---already.”
She---sighs,---glowering,”---They’re---powerful,---but---that's---it.---Any---Diver---[Archmages]---can---outspell---them---even---if---they---have---over---twenty---levels---more.”
I---nod,---acknowledging---that---as---strong---as---these---[Archmages]---may---be,---they---have---an---exceptionally---crippling---ego.
“But---enough---about---them,---Last---time---you---were---here,---I---had---you---learn---to---sense---your---Mana,---forming---complicated---shapes.---And---you---seem---to---have---been---a---prodigy---at---it,---already---gaining---seventeen---levels.”
Indeed,---the---training,---once---you---get---the---hang---of---it,---was---rather---easy,---giving---me---several---levels.
“But---I---didn't---get---the---[Mana---Sense]---skill,---only---the---minor---version.”
She---smiles,---showing---her---teeth.
“The---skill---manifests---itself---after---you---are---able---to---do---it---subconsciously,---which---requires---constant---practice,---same---as---learning---spells…”---she---stops,”---Did---you---gain---any---spells---when---you---hit---level---ten?”
“Yes,---I---gained---the---spell---[Flash---Fire]”
She---smiles,---her---eyes---twinkling.
“Wrong,---what---you---gained---was---the---skill,---not---the---spell.---It's---very---different.---A---skill---of---a---spell---is---the---most---efficient---of---that---spell,---allowing---you---to---activate---it---using---a---fixed---and---extremely---low---Mana---cost.---The---skill---is---extremely---efficient,---but---is---considered---a---crutch---as---it---does---not---allow---you---to---manipulate---the---spell.”
I---frown,---confused.
Matilda---nods,---noticing---my---lack---of---understanding.
“Here's---an---example,---your---[Flash---Fire]---skill---is---a---basic---fire---attack---that---creates---a---fiery---explosion---from---your---palm.---It's---quick,---efficient,---and---powerful.---But---someone---who---has---the---spell---mastered---could---infuse---more---Mana,---making---the---explosion---wider,---hotter,---or---even---farther.”
My---eyes---widen,”---so---the---skill---itself---is---useless---later?”
She---smiles,---looking---down---at---her---hand---and---removing---a---ring.
“Normally---yes,---but---skills---can---be---upgraded.---If,---say---you---learned---the---spell---[Flash---Fire],---then---your---[Flash---Fire]---skill---will---upgrade---to---a---more---advanced---and---powerful---variant.”
Huh...
She---leans---forward,---placing---a---ring---on---the---table---and---pushing---it---towards---me.
Frowning,---I---pick---it---up,---finding---that---the---metal---is---rather---plain.
“And---this---is…”
“A---minor---identification---ring.---Not---that---expensive,---but---it---allows---you---to---use---a---weak---[Identify]---spell---to---get---a---good---understanding---of---magical---items,”---she---crosses---her---arms,”---I---find---it---amazing---that---the---Church---didn't---even---give---you---any---proper---items.---Regardless,---the---ring---is---yours,---please---use---it---on---the---staff.”
Taking---the---ring,---I---point---it---at---the---staff---“Identify.”
The---feeling---of---Mana---can---be---felt---moving---through---my---body,---converging---towards---my---finger,---entering---the---ring.
And---nothing---happens.
I---frown.
“You---have---to---make---sure---the---ring---is---touching---the---item---you---are---casting---the---spell---on.”---Matilda---calls---out---of---her---chair,---enjoying---the---view---as---a---[Hero]---struggles---to---use---a---rather---simple---magical---item.
“You---would---think---there---would---be---some---kind---of---instruction---manual---or---something…---whatever.”
I---move---the---ring---and---allow---it---to---touch---the---staff.
“[Identify]”
Elven---Training---Staff.---(Rare)
Increases---mana---control---by---272%
Increases---mana---cost---by---572%
A---staff---created---by---an---Elven---[Enchanter]---to---help---young---Elven---children---learn---to---control---their---Mana.
I---don't---understand.
“What's---the---point---of---this---staff?”
This---doesn't---seem---useful.---I---would---run---out---of---mana---very---quickly.
“The---point---is---to---help---you---get---a---better---understanding---of---what---better---control---feels---like.”
She---leans---forward,---extending---her---hand,---her---palm---opening---and---a---blue---sphere---of---light---forms---above---it.---The---sphere---quickly---morphs---into---different---Geometric---shapes---like---squares,---triangles,---octagons.
“The---first---part---of---becoming---a---proper---mage---is---being---able---to---properly---control---your---mana.”
The---Mana---above---her---palm---immediately---changes,---forming---into---complicated---circles---which---are---integrated---into---each---other,---interesting---and---complicated---designs---can---be---seen---around---the---circle's---edge.
“Then---you---can---start---attempting---to---learn---spells.”
The---mana---on---her---palm---starts---to---changes,---circles---melding---into---each---other…---and---then---a---ball---of---red---flame---forms---above---it,---heat---quickly---emanating---from---her---palm.
/> And---just---as---quickly,---the---ball---of---flame---disappears,---an---exhausted---look---comes---over---her---face---as---she---lays---back---on---the---chair.