by Roharp17
Clearing his "throat," Danny said, "Can you talk, can you hear me?"
The crystal trapped Danny smiled and said, "Hello, Danny"
Hearing his voice talking back to him was almost worse than seeing his body trapped in the crystal.
"Is this... am I crazy," Danny said more to himself than the figure in the crystal.
"No Danny, you’re not crazy. This sanctuary is purely a manifestation of your consciousness. I am now part of your consciousness and thus I have a representation here. I would guess this is apparently how you best could comprehend the gift the sanctuary has bestowed upon you," the crystal trapped Danny said.
Excitedly, Danny asked "Are you a repository of knowledge!"
The trapped figure squinted at Danny, and answered, "No, no, Danny, you know this place was not set up that way. It's obvious to us that the Grand Sorcerer used great wisdom when creating this gift. If they just gave everyone power and knowledge, you know what would happen. People would use powers and skills they were not prepared for. Most people wouldn't even try to improve further, knowing they already had reached greatness. Already, the humans of Diadem take certain aspects for granted, or purposely stunt the growth of certain groups to maintain a power balance. There might be necessity in their actions, but that doesn't stop the fact of what they do."
Danny thought for a moment before replying, "You just said you were not a repository of knowledge, but you just answered a lot of things I have been questioning... So, what exactly are you?"
The eyes of the other Danny softened as he answered, "I am you, or more importantly now a part of you. Everything I have said you know is what you believe. Our current understanding is that your intelligence has been artificially elevated to a point where I can exist.
You will now be able to focus completely on two independent tasks at once. We will find multitasking, a skill found more readily to some degree in most women, much easier. Speaking of women, it scares us to think how empowered this ability would make them. We can think of a few scenarios for each skill, especially those influenced by intelligence, that multitasking on this level would improve. For instance, how many spells can you hold at once?"
Danny moved closer interrupting, "Wait, wait, wait, are you going to be speaking to me when I'm not here?
"Like I said, I am just a manifestation in here. You will just find tasks easier now that you can focus on multiple things at once. Imagine training multiple spells at once, of course we would have to split the mana usage, monitoring mana consumption rates..."
"Wait! Ok your part of me, but separate. So, I can't call you Danny because that would drive me crazy. Ok, so I'm Danny and you’re... Danny2," Danny moved back and forth pacing.
Looking excited Danny2 said, "You mean Danny2.0! Just kidding, how about Cranny?"
Stopping his pacing movement, Danny said sarcastically, "What's that like a celebrity name? Oh, is that Crabby and Granny mashed together?"
Cranny did not look impressed, "Crystal and Danny... Look, you do realize your just trying to piss yourself off right?"
Sounding contrite, Danny said, "Cranny it is, I just figure we could have come up with something better than that."
"Seriously! Have you even seen the English names you have been giving to the people of this world," Cranny said as he pulled out a pair of reading glasses and looked over a piece of parchment that was suddenly in his hands. "You called our mother, 'Mom,' and our father, 'Stan'." Pulling down the reading glasses slightly he looked up addressing Danny again, "Seriously, Stan? Wasn't that the name of the old electrician who charged us half a month’s salary to fix your power outage issue in the kitchen? How did he fix it again, oh yeah, he flipped a breaker!"
Danny had tried to stay civil, but he had heard enough, "Hey! Stan was a pretty cool for an old guy, and I couldn’t use my previous dad’s name… You know what! Why am I even arguing with myself!"
Without another word he turned around and left to enter his mana room. Looking around he was surprised, and pleasantly distracted from what had just happened, when he found a new skill. "Runecraft" was level one. Apparently, he had barely scratched the surface of the use of runes to cast spells.
Looking around, he realized there was nothing else new in his sanctuary. Ignoring the new room again, he left his sanctuary.
A note from Roharp17
Edited
Chapter 19
Danny decided the next week to request use of the individual training rooms after Wizard August was done with the instructional portion of the class. In the first week August had only taught them a handful of additional rune combinations and most days they went to the group training room and trained, perfecting their use of the spells.
Wizard August, who had warmed up to him since learning he already had three affinities, squinted suspiciously at him, saying "Why would you need the use of an individual room?"
Prepared for this question, Danny answered, "Since I have three affinities I wanted to try casting two spells at once. If I am in this room, I will certainly become distracted and lose focus."
Wizard August looked conflicted, while tapping a finger thoughtfully to his chin he replied, "I will allow this, but under two conditions. You will demonstrate this dual casting in three weeks, and you will also take the exam for adept by the time Fall arrives... For all three of the elements you hold affinities for."
Danny considered that it was now the second week in spring. August was giving Danny a little less than half a year to prepare for this adept exam.
Danny ask, "When do initiates usually take the exam for adept?"
"It usually isn't till well after their first year, some into their second. Then a similar timeframe for a secondary element, if they have one," August replied quietly.
Danny thought for a moment before replying, "What is involved with this exam?"
"I cannot give you too many specifics, but it involves a series of challenges that test your competency with the element you have chosen. You will not find it easy. If you succeed, you will be granted a new vest, one with the color of the element, or elements whose exams you have passed," Wizard August smiled, obviously waiting for Danny's reply.
"Why would you think I could do all this in half a year when it takes others four… no six times as long to accomplish the same," Danny asked with much exasperation.
"Look around, Noble blood runs through everyone’s veins in this room. Generations of wizard’s blood. Well that is, for everyone... but you," Wizard August said without disrespect evident in his voice. "I want you to prove to me that doesn't matter. Don't think I haven't noticed you mastering the spells I teach within a few hours. Most of the students in the other classes have to write down the runes we teach and practice drawing them while you learn twice as fast as the next best pupil in this room."
Danny immediately realized a few things. Either the noble boys in this class had a high intelligences like Danny, or the other boys had been taught the runes before they came to this school. The first time they had been told to cast with just the first part of the rune, was probably a test to trap Danny. To see if he had been taught before he came. Danny also realized that his high intelligence allowed him to process things at a near instant rate.
Even with this Danny was still confused, and asked, "Twice as fast, then why do I have to complete everything in a six the time it takes others?"
Wizard August smiled as he replied, "I could give you a year, and that would definitely be impressive. What I want is to challenge you, because I know even with you being ahead, you’re still taking it easy in this class." August's smile became slightly devious as he continued, "Plus, I want to be able to say that I was the teacher that led their peasant born pupil to reach adept level in not one but two elements in half a year."
Danny could tell this man had more than a few levels in persuasion. That was a textbook hard sell approach. Time for him to find out what August had forgot to mention in the fine print.
Danny said, "That's
if I pass, what happens if I fail?"
August looked away for a second before turning back with a cold look, saying, "I would claim to have not approved of you testing so ridiculously early. You see, student's determine when they are ready for the exams, not teachers. It helps promote initiative and confidence. After you fail, I will request you be transferred to another teacher, as I obviously failed in my responsibilities. You would get to spend the rest of your time here with your own kind."
Danny now had two paths before him. The first, he accepts August's challenge, gains access to the individual training rooms during more than just free time, and uses not just spells to level his affinities. The other has him in this room, for who knows how much longer, casting nothing but spells. Which may or may not level his affinity now that he had raised it so high. One could lead to embarrassment not just for himself but for his family. The other probably wasted a year of his life, or however long Wizard August planned to keep them training together.
Danny knew nothing ventured, and said, "Lower the requirement to test only two affinities and you got a deal!"
The smile August sent Danny had him rethinking his counter offer.
"Excellent, you can keep the gloves for training fire and I will see you in three weeks," said August, dismissing him.
"Wait, aren't you going to teach me anymore spells," Danny asked incredulously.
Wizard August, turned around acting surprised that he was still there, and said, "Oh, you can find all the spells we will learn here in the school library. Here, I will help you, since I am your teacher... The library is on the third floor." Wizard August looked down at Danny, daring him to ask for more assistance.
Danny stared at the man for a few moments before turning around and walked away without a word. He wasn't going to give him the benefit of seeing him angry.
"Good luck Creek, you’re going to need it," laughed Peak and a few of his group joined him. Danny hadn't realized they had overheard his conversation with August.
Danny ignored them to and left to get himself a private training room.
Danny thought about going to the library but he needed to blow off a little steam. Heading to the healer on duty he requested a private training room. They were first come first serve. Most of the older initiates and adepts used these individual rooms most days. Instructing Wizards became advisors in subsequent years, having taught their pupils everything they needed to know. The second circle housed hundreds of train rooms. Danny learned from the healer that there were training rooms with specific elements included. There were rooms with sand floors, earth floors, stone floors, or different containers of water. Some rooms dipped further into the earth, expanding underneath to allow for wind wizards to practice in a more open environment. Some rooms had been designed to be colder to assist fire wizards not cook themselves alive. Training rooms were inspected after use and the floors and walls repaired if needed. This in itself was helpful for training purposes of those in charge of this repair duty. Danny was warned about the dangers inherent to individual training. Danny hoped that he wouldn't get to a point where he was hurt beyond the point of being able to heal himself.
Danny chose a generic training room and went to the designated numbered door. Once he got inside he saw there was an actual locking mechanism. This made sense as you didn't want someone stepping in right in the middle of a dangerous spell. Locking the door Danny turned around and stepped down into the room.
This training room was about a ten meter cube. Danny went into the center and sat down.
*One problem at a time*, he thought.
Holding out both hands, he focused on mana leaving both hands. Mana shot out of one hand then the other. This was not what he wanted. He needed simultaneous releases and eventually independent releases of his mana, from both hands. Danny practiced this all afternoon, until he heard a bell. Looking around, he couldn't figure out where it came from. Thinking it came from the door he walked over to it. There was nothing on the locking mechanism. When he looked up, there above the door was a small bell with a half dome stone cover that was open on the bottom. I guess if you still managed to break the bell and miss a meal that was your fault.
Danny went to supper determined to find some more initiate level runes in the library the next day.
A note from Roharp17
Edited
Chapter 20
Danny headed to the library after breakfast the next morning. He discovered that, unlike on half days, the library was usually packed during the day. More than one initiate was manning the front desk and Danny was pointed to a nearby bookshelf when inquiring about initiate level spells.
Not having really had time to look closely at the other bookshelves during his previous visit, he was surprised to find multiple copies of the same book on each shelf. With gaps between the majorities of the books he realized why. Since this had been described as the initiate bookshelf, he grabbed a copy of each book he could find. Looking around the library he noticed a lot of initiates, in their brown vests, but not as many adepts. Not a single table was unoccupied. Danny picked a table with mostly other initiates. The table had an open corner with an empty chair next to that. Danny sat down and opened the first book, going over the runes and concepts described. There wasn't as many runes as Danny would have figured. The books themselves were not very big.
Each book was split by element. In air he found two utility spells called "Magic Voice" and "Magic Wind." One he had seen the headmaster use. Anywhere the conjured wind traveled, your voice was carried there as well. Wind was just a light wind that could dry things or cool one off. The two attack spells were "Wind Blade," that created a spinning blade of wind for cutting, and "Wind Blast," which caused a rush of air intended to knock an opponent or object down.
The earth book was a bit thicker, it had a utility spell called "Raise Earth." It could be used defensively as well. This is where the majority of the bulk of this book came from. It described spells for square walls, rectangular walls, and varying shaped cubes. The spells created specific sizes based on their close equivalent to the meter. Danny realized how easy this made things to build uniformly. The rectangular shape of all their buildings and walls made more sense now. There was also a modifier rune for the inverse, removing earth from an area. Offensive spells in earth consisted of "Earth Spike," a thin spike of earth that rose up vertically from point chosen, and "Earth Rumble," which shook the ground in a small area to disorient or knock down.
The fire book contained two utility spells, "Magic Light" and "Magic Warmth. Magic light was self-explanatory. Magic warmth didn't warm objects it could be used to cook food. The offensive fire spells included "Magic Flame" and "Fireball." Magic flame could be used to burn a small area, or used like a flamethrower. Fireball was a condensed ball of flame that ignited targets from afar.
The Water book had one utility, "Magic Water." The majority used it were for filling containers, washing things, and watering plants. "Water Blast," was an offensive spell that shot compressed water at the enemy. "Magic Mist," was a defensive spell. Unfortunately anyone caught in the mist received limited vision as well.
The last book was for life affinity and it was the thinnest. It contained one spell, "Magic Heal." This spell targeted flesh only and would not mend bones or cure diseases. This was a disappointment. Danny wondered how would anyone train this. Though with so many initiates training dangerous spells, there probably wasn't a better place to be for a life wizard.
Danny went through them all by the time the lunch bell rang. The library suddenly came to life, like a nesting flock of birds suddenly startled. Danny got up with the rest of the students, returning his books to the initiate shelves. As he was walking towards the dining room he noticed an initiate a few years older than him. The boy was much taller than Danny, and had dark blonde hair. Danny waited till the other boy noticed him and held out his hand as they walked.
"Hey, I'm Danny Creek."
"David Shore...," the other boy said
while shaking Danny's hand.
"Nice to meet you David, how long have you been going here," Danny politely asked.
"This will be my third year here," David said with a sigh.
"I just started and was wondering if the adept exam was as difficult as they say," Danny said sympathetically.
"Oh yes, it's different every time, so if you don't prepare for everything...," David trailed off, not having to explain further.
"How long does it normally take people to reach adept," inquired Danny.
"From what everyone's told me, and what I have seen, it's about three to four years. For the wizard exam it can be almost twice that long," David explained.
Danny missed his step and almost fell, "Three to four years!"
Laughing at Danny's reaction, David said, "Yep, expect to be here a while."
Danny was doing his best not to hyperventilate and start foaming at the mouth at the same time. He wasn't accomplishing something at fourth the rate of other students, it was more like an eighth!
"...and that's why most study in the library in the mornings before training," David said.
"I'm sorry, I was trying to get over how long it will take to get out of here. What was that about why everyone is in the libraries most morning," Danny asked apologetically.
"To compare notes mostly. The wizards all want us to learn but they will not give us many hints past the first year of obligatory lessons. They tell us it's to make us self-sufficient but everyone thinks they are just hoarding power so they can stay at the top, long past when we become wizards," David said with venom in his voice.