by Jackson Bale
“I---recognize---that---face---and---I---must---inform---you---that---it---is---not---as---easy---as---you---believe.---Complicated---enchantments---cost---enormous---amounts---of---mana---and---require---a---very---good---understanding---of---the---process.---So,---nothing---too---complicated---please.”
I---can't---help---but---continue---smiling---like---an---idiot.
“Question,---would---I---be---able---to---supplement---your---mana---with---my---own?”
Onder---takes---a---moment,---starts---to---shake---his---head---but---then---stops,---“You---said---you---have---the---[Advanced---Mana---Sense]---skill,---correct?”
I---nod.
“Then---if---you---are---skilled---enough,---you---should---be---able---to---have---your---mana---follow---and---copy---mine.---Hmmm,---would---you---like---to---try---it?”
Yes!---No!---Dammit.---That---would---involve---having---to---stand---up---and---moving---to---the---table.
I---look---to---the---table,---it’s---a---good---five---meters---away---from---me.
*Sigh*
The---things---I---do---for---science...
...Errr---magic---science?
Standing---up,---I---suppress---a---cry---of---pain---as---I---slowly---make---my---way---to---the---table.
“Lets---try---that---then.---As---for---the---enchantment,---can---you---add---the---[Ignition]---enchantment,---but---overcharge---it---and---make---it---activate---as---soon---as---it---makes---impact---with---flesh?”
He---frowns,---“possible,---but---it---will---require---a---lot---more---mana,---otherwise---the---enchantment---will---fail---and---the---item---will---be---ruined.“
“That's---fine,---I---have---a---lot---of---mana.---You---just---do---your---thing---and---I---will---help.”
Onder---nods---and---places---his---hand---on---the---spike.---I---do---the---same---a---moment---later,---circulating---my---mana---through---my---body---to---prepare.
Onder---takes---a---breath---and---closes---his---eyes.
“[Enchant]”
I---sense---his---mana---leave---his---body,---exiting---his---hand---and---entering---the---spike.---But---the---speed---and---quantity---of---the---mana---entering---the---spike---barely---amounts---to---anything.
With---a---flex---of---my---will,---I---send---a---literal---stream---of---my---mana---into---the---spike,---mixing---it---with---his---current---trickle,---enhancing---it---several---times---over.---A---stream---of---mana---is---now---entering---the---spike,---finally---revealing---to---me---the---intricate---program---of---mana---being---created---inside.---Enchanting---is---the---literal---manifestation---of---both---creating---a---spell---in---the---item---as---well---as---giving---it---substance.---Creating---a---far---from---a---one---time---use---item.
With---another---force---of---will,---I---increase---the---amount---of---mana---sent---into---the---spike---even---more,---finding---that---the---program---being---created---starts---to---increase---in---complexity.---So---much---so---that---I---can---no---longer---follow---its---creation---as---geometric---programs---pile---on---each---other,---condensing---into---one---complex---program.---Unfortunately,---it---seems---that---if---I---lower---the---amount---of---mana---being---sent---now,---it---would---ruin---the---enchantment.
Oops,---I---might---not---have---enough---mana---to---finish---this.---Crap.
Mana---871/1165
Mana---701/1165
Mana---530/1165
Shit,---shit---,shit.---This---is---going---to---be---close.
Mana---412/1165
Mana---201/1165
Fuck,---im---starting---to---feel---dizzy.
Mana---103/1165
Mana---65/1165
And---just---as---my---headache---gets---excessive,---the---spike---stops---accepting---my---mana.---Sweat---covers---my---face---and---I---am---forced---to---take---deep---breaths.---Looking---at---Onder,---he---too---looks---like---he---just---ran---a---marathon,---but---like---me,---he---also---has---a---huge---smile---on---his---face.
Level---up---x---9
You---are---now---a---level---43---[Enchanter]
One---skill---Awarded:---[Unstable---Enchantment]
[Unstable---Enchantment]---[Common]
When---you---create---an---Enchanted---Item---that---will---destroy---itself---upon---use,---the---items---enchantment---strength---is---increased---by---30%
Congratulations,---you---have---learned---the---following---enchantments,
[Ignition]
[Flash---Fire]
[Infernal---Nova]
Oh…---something---doesn't---seem---right.
[Advanced---Analyze]
Spike---of---Incineration.---[Rare]
Created---by---two---[Enchanters],---this---Treant---spike---was---laced---with---crystal---and---enchanted---with---the---[Ignition]---enchantment.---Due---to---the---excessive---amount---of---mana---used---for---the---enchanting,---the---[Ignition]---enchantment---was---upgraded---to---[Flash---Fire],---and---then---upgraded---further---to---[Infernal---Nova].---Due---to---the---strength---of---the---skill---and---the---weak---fire---resistance---of---the---spike,---[Infernal---Nova]---can---only---ever---be---used---once---before---destroying---the---item.
This---item---activate---automatically---upon---touching---internal---flesh.
Skill:---[Infernal---Nova]:---Create---an---explosion---of---fire---at---temperatures---exceeding---5000---degrees.
[Minor---fire---Resistance]:---This---item---is---resistant---to---heat---up---to---a---maximum---of---500---degrees.
[Minor---Mana---Efficiency]:---This---item---regenerates---mana---10%---faster---and---uses---10%---less---mana.
[Unstable---Enchantment]:---The---enchantment---power---of---this---item---is---increased---by---30%
This---item---regenerates---mana---at---0.83---per---hour.---This---item---will---charge---to---full---on---its---own---in---63---dyas.
Mana:---1254.96/1254.96
I---turn---and---look---at---Onder,---his---mouth---wide---open---as---he---stares---at---the---item.---Apparently---he---has---some---skill---that---allows---him---to---know---the---enchantment,---a---probably---passive---one---considering---he---didn't---activate---any---skill---vocally.
“So---Onder,---how---about---we---not---make---this---into---a---spear,---but---into---a---javelin---instead??”
Onder---looks---to---me,---his---eyes---glazed---as---he---slowly---nods---his---head.
Javelin---napalm---grenades.---I---made---motherfucking---napalm---grenades.---Long---range---fucking---napalm---grenades.
I---frown---as---I---stare---at---the---item,---thinking---in---hindsight---the---activation---requirement---was---a---bad---idea.---I---can---see---this---killing---someone---who---accidentally---drops---some---meat---from---their---meal---on---it.---Is---blood---considered---to---be---internal---flesh?---Shit,---this---is---dangerous.
“Well---then,---I---don't---suppose---I---can---use---your---workshop---for---the---next---couple---of---days?---I---have---a---lot---of---ideas.”
Onder---looks---at---me,---then---looks---at---the---spike---which---could---destroy---his---home---and---possibly---the---homes---near---his.
He---turns---to---me.
“No.”
Chapter---Fifty:---Baldness---and---the---Centaur---Fetish.
“Buuuut---[Priestess],---I---don't---want---to---go!---I---want---to---stay---at---the---monastery.---Why---do---I---have---to---go?”---a---young---Janie---pouts,---her---arms---folded---in---a---defensive---posture.
The---[Priestess]---can---only---chuckle---as---she---pats---the---pouting---girl---on---the---head,---“Come---now---Jess,---did---you---not---say---you---want---to---be---a---[Priestess]---when---you---grow---up?---As---followers---of---the---goddess---Eir,---it---is---part---of---our---responsibility---to---help---cities---in---time---of---peril.”
“But---I---don't---like---cities,---they---have---[Nobles]---and---[Nobles]---are---always---mean---to---me.---One---of---them---called---me---a---little---[Whore]
.”
The---[Priestess]---frowns---now,---choosing---her---next---words---carefully.
“Jess,---they---cannot---harm---you,---they---can---only---spout---lies.---These---[Nobles]---don't---understand---the---good---we---do---for---others---and---are---merely---jealous,---so---don't---let---their---words---bother---you.---Instead,---put---your---robe---on,---fix---your---hair---and---let's---go.---The---other---[Priestesses]---are---waiting---for---us.”
Janie---takes---a---moment,---sighs---and---nods,---“Ok---Nafissa.”
Nafissa---smiles---sadly---as---she---watches---Janie---put---her---clothes---on---before---taking---her---hand---and---moving---towards---one---of---several---carriages---outside.
Janie---looks---at---the---carriages,---old---things---made---of---old---wood,---pulled---by---just---as---old---horses.---A---white---raven---is---painted---upon---the---carriage's---walls.
Nafissa---and---Janie---enter---one---of---the---carriages---in---the---back---and---the---trip---finally---begins.
“So---what---are---we---doing?---Where---are---we---going?”---Janie---asks---after---seating---herself---and---waiting---for---the---carriage---to---begin---moving.
Nafissa---takes---a---moment,---placing---her---hands---on---her---lap,”---We---are---going---to---the---city---of---Darren---to---help---with---feeding---and---healing---those---that---need---it.---The---city---recently---fought---off---a---horrible---plague,---and---many---are---still---sick---and---hungry.---We---are---going---there---for---a---couple---of---days---to---assist---Darren---in---its---recovery.”
Janie---looks---at---Nafissa,---at---the---fake---smile---on---the---woman's---face.---Because---that---is---what---it---is.---Janie---knows---that---Nafissa---does---not---want---to---go---either---but---is---required---to.
Deciding---that---nothing---more---needs---to---be---said,---Janie---takes---the---chance---to---look---out---of---the---window,---watching---the---scenery---change---quickly---over---the---course---of---several---days.
______________________________________
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Startled---awake,---Janie---jumps---up,---almost---falling---off---her---makeshift---bed,---“What?---What's---happening?”---she---says,---looking---around---quickly,---her---heart---beating---fast---and---her---ears---ringing.
Moments---pass---as---she---looks---around,---slowly---calming---down---as---she---realizes---where---she---is.
She---is---in---her---tent,---a---[Healers]---tent,---the---place---that---she---apparently---fell---asleep---on---after---healing---those---centaurs---that---most---needed---her.---Though---she---does---not---remember---moving---to---her---bed.
“A---dream,---I---was---dreaming.”
She---frowns,---still---remembering---everything---clearly.---The---days---leading---up---to---that---day…
“Mistress,---mistress---[Priestess],”---a---shout---comes---from---outside---her---tent.---Janie---scrunches---her---eyebrows.---She---gets---up,---finding---that---she---is---still---wearing---her---clothes.---She---frowns---a---moment---before---stomping---out---of---her---tent.
“I---told---you---to---stop---calling---me---that.---Just---[Priestess]---or---Janie---is---fine,”---Janie---exclaims---aloud.
But,---considering---the---looks---of---all---those---present,---including---those---of---the---two---[Soldiers]---which---are---guarding---her---tent,---it's---clear---her---words---have---little---effect.
Revelry.---Everyone---here---has---immense---respect---for---her,---you---could---even---go---as---far---as---to---say---that---they---adore---her.---And---that---puts---a---bad---taste---in---her---mouth.---It---feels---like---a---load---of---responsibility---has---been---placed---on---her,---and---all---she---can---do---is---lead---as---best---she---can.
Janie---looks---around,---finding---all---those---who---wear---her---mark,---a---red---cross,---kneeling---on---the---ground,---displaying---their---complete---and---utter---respect---and---loyalty---towards---her.---A---loyalty---which---she---had---found---to---exceed---the---loyalty---of---those---members---to---their---Herds.---If---she---ordered---them---to---do---so,---those---people---would---leave---their---herds---where---they---had---lived---their---entire---lives---without---any---hesitation.
The---stupidity---of---this---situation,---especially---considering---she---is---technically---still---a---slave,---is---not---lost---on---her.
“Stand---up---and---stop---your---stupid---bowing.---What---is---the---problem?”---she---asks,---staring---at---the---diverse---group---outside---of---her---tent.---[Healers],---[Guards],---[Soldiers]---have---all---gathered---here---to---see---her.---Then---she---looks---up,---noticing---smoke---rising---up---on---the---other---side---of---the---city.
She---sighs,---already---piecing---together---what---happened---and---of---course,---the---person---responsible---for---it.
“You,”---she---points---towards---a---centaur---[Healer]---who---immediately---straightens---up---at---being---called.
She---walks---towards---him,”---down,”---she---says,---pointing---to---the---ground.---The---centaur---in---question---bends---all---his---legs,---his---muscles---tense.---She---moves---to---his---side---and---hops---on---his---back.
“Take---me---to---the---source---of---the---explosion.”
The---centaur---straightens---his---legs---with---ease---and---quickly---starts---trotting---in---the---direction---of---the---explosion.---Looking---behind---her,---she---finds---a---small---army---following---her---like---kittens---after---their---mother.
__________________________
The---trip---to---the---origins---of---the---rising---smoke---did---not---take---long---on---centaur---back.---As---Janie---approaches---the---location,---she---finds---an---entire---building---destroyed---and---the---building---next---to---it---moderately---damaged.
But---that---doesn't---faze---her.---Instead,---she---focuses---on---an---area---where---a---bunch---of---centaurs---are---gathered,---looking---down---towards---something---on---the---ground.
“Over---there,”---she---exclaims.---Her---mount---nods---before---heading---towards---the---specified---location.
As---she---reaches---the---area,---the---centaurs---standing---around---take---one---look---at---her---before---half---of---them---panic---and---start---to---literally---run---away,---screaming---her---Eir---forsaken---nickname.
She---takes---a---moment---to---look---at---those---that---hadn't---run.
“Oregan,---Zoteal,---Damiar,---it---is---a---pleasure---to---see---you---all.---I’m---guessing---that's---him?”---she---asks,---pointing---at---the---somewhat---charred---corpse---on---the---ground.---The---corpse---is---wearing---nothing---but---a---robe---and---rings.
“Yes,---I---do---find---it---surprising---that---he---still---lives,---especially---considering---the---damage---he---sustained---from---the---explosion,”---Damiar---exclaims---with---a---great---bit---of---confusion.
“I’m---more---surprised---that---he---was---able---to---cause---such---damage---in---the---first---place.---Destroying---a---whole---building---and---damaging---the---others---around---it---is---quite---a---feat,”---Zoteal---adds,---looking---away---from---the---corpse---and---towards---the---still-smoking---ruins---of---the---destroyed---building.
*Cough*
“Can---ahh,---you---start---[Healing]?---My---body---hurts---a---lot,---and---my---eyes---have---been---burned---off.,---but---somehow---I---can---still---hear---you---and---speak.---I---still---don ́t---like---pain---however.”
Janie---looks---at---Thoric---and---his---black---charred---skin.---Few---would---have---survived,---let---alone---be---conscious---after---this---amount---of---physical---damage---inflicted.
“I---see,”---she---says,---tapping---her---mount,---which---bends---down---to---allow---her---to---slide---off.
She---movies---to---Thoric---who---turns---his---head---in---the---direction---of---her---footsteps.---His---eyes---are---scorched.
“What---in---Eirs---name---were---you---doing?”
Th
oric---smiles,---revealing---his---somehow---perfectly---white---undamaged---teeth.
“Well,---I---learned---a---new---enchantment---called---[Infernal---Nova],---and---I---wanted---to---put---it---on---one---of---my---bone---daggers…---Unfortunately,---my---daggers---weren't---of---adequate---quality---and---the---cost---to---enchant---them---exceeded---my---maximum---mana.---My---enchantment---failed,---and---apparently---that---caused---the---skill---to---activate---on---its---own.---It---exploded---right---in---front---of---me.---Luckily---my---robe---took---the---majority---of---the---impact.---I---was---sent---flying,---broke---through---the---wall,---and---crashed---into---the---ground.---I---probably---broke---my---spine---somewhere---along---the---way.---And---now---I’m---here,---unable---to---move---and---in---massive---pain.---So---yea,---I---didn't---expect---failed---enchantments---to---react---so---violently.”