He kept speaking, but I wasn’t listening. My heart was just about to jump out of my chest. My eyes refused to believe what they were seeing.
Sphere of Temporary Growth.
— Type: Magical objects.
— Rarity: Epic.
— Effect:
— Increases level by 1.
— Effect duration: 30 minutes.
— Sphere disappears after use.
“Well, how do you like it?” the mage chuckled. “Pretty nice, huh?”
Inadvertently forgetting where I was, I nodded joyfully.
“Hehe... Just don’t get your hopes up. You’re sure you gave me all your esses? Because you never know, you might go and ding on me for real. Then how are we gonna get iridescent tablets? So I ask you again, have you surrendered all your esses?”
“Yes, lord,” I answered dejectedly in a rasping voice.
“Alright then,” the mage nodded and pushed a small copper box in my direction. “Here. When I say the word, you start to use them.”
I glanced inside. A few hundred clay tablets and another ten or so silvers.
“Too bad the sphere only gives plus one,” the mage sighed, digging in yet another chest. “All you can do is unlock base characteristics. Skills, abilities and spells can only be activated from level three. And the ceiling is gonna be just ten... Mind will be stuck at two. But it doesn’t matter. This way, if you lose your button and ring in battle you won’t turn into a vegetable right away.”
Master Chi finished sorting through the box, sat back in his chair and looked me stubbornly in the eyes.
“After you activate the sphere, don’t you dare use any experience essences. Got it?”
“Yes, lord.”
“Good. Then you may begin.”
— Attention! Your level has been temporarily increased to 1.
— Remaining duration: 29:59 minutes.
“Now use the clays to bring your Mind, Strength, Agility and Endurance up to maximum. Alas, your Intellect and Health are already at the ceiling.”
— Attention! You have used Clay tablet of Mind (20)!
— Present value:
— Mind: 5/2.
— Attention! You have used Clay tablet of Strength (100)!
— Present value:
— Strength: 13/10.
— Attention! You have used Clay tablet of Agility (100)!
— Present value:
— Agility: 12/10.
— Attention! You have used Clay tablet of Endurance (100)!
— Present value:
— Endurance: 10/10.
“Now,” Master Chi continued in a calm voice. “Use the silver tablets to bring all your magic up to maximum.”
Obediently, operating like a mechanical puppet, I used one hundred silvers, bringing all my abilities and spells up to one.
The mage was keeping a close watch over the process, holding a small mirror in his hands all the while.
“Eh-heh... You’re still very weak... Take this too.”
He extended me a small muddy-gray stone.
Small crystal of mana.
— Mana: 0/800.
“Hide it where no one will find it. You can slough off all your excess mana into it. You may begin right now. And you can level your beast on your own. Shen!”
“Yes, milord,” the blackblood called back immediately, materializing out of nowhere. Unlike the first time, I was no longer shuddering at his unexpected appearances. Over the last few days, I’d gotten used to the constant invisible presence of the mage’s assistant.
“Everything ready?” I asked Master Chi.
“Yes, lord,” Shen nodded.
“Excellent!” the mage shouted and, smiling, turned to me: “Okay then, now we’re gonna see you in action. Your first battle is in one day’s time. Prepare yourself!”
Chapter 4
AS I LEFT THE MAGE’S STUDY, I felt a slight queasiness. At first I assigned it no meaning, but with every step I was feeling worse and worse. I glanced at my supplies and gasped! Energy was constantly flowing out of my body like a leaky wineskin.
When I reached the ladder that led to the cellar where my tiny room was located, I could barely see farther than an outstretched hand. I grabbed the rungs with the last of my strength and took my first step. A strong hand saved me from falling. Slowly turning my head, I saw Shen’s pale face. In fact, that was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness...
The first time I woke up for only a brief moment. Through the blur in my eyes, I could see that I was lying in a bed in a tiny little room. I was very hot. My clothing and the bedsheets were all soaked in sweat. A dull aching pain ensconced my entire body. Eerie vibrations were emanating from the crown of my head to the tips of my fingers and toes.
After that came a series of strange occurrences. Seemingly the half-sleep swallowed me whole. I finally came to my senses for good when my forehead touched something searingly cold.
Wincing, I opened my eyes.
“Gathered your wits?” came a familiar malicious voice.
Master Chi was standing next to my bed and carefully watching an elderly slave woman dab my face with something wet and cold.
“What’s wrong with me?” I rasped.
“Can’t figure it out on your own?” the mage asked mockingly. “What do they teach you in those schools?”
What is he talking about?
Seeing the lack of comprehension on my face, Chi rolled his eyes and lowered himself to answer:
“It’s a side effect of activating a large number of tablets at once. Your body is changing and using a huge amount of energy. Hungry?”
“Yes,” I nodded contentedly even though I’d most likely have eaten an entire cow that very second. So this is how Gorgie feels when he’s famished. I’d have to give him more consideration when splitting up the food. Thankfully, with his energy supply, it never reached the point of fainting...
“But I’ve used tablets on myself before... And nothing like that ever happened.”
“No comparison,” the mage chuckled. “You were using iridescents, after all!” then he waved a hand and said unhappily: “I don’t much care for delays, but the crossing over will have to wait. Fortunately for you, I have an old friend coming to visit me tomorrow. He comes bearing important news... Hehe, he’s probably gonna try and spook me with those upstarts from the Order again...”
On his way out, he threw out to my nurse-maid:
“Get him fed and bring him a new set of clothes.”
The woman complied and instantly leapt out of the small room, leaving me alone. Sitting up more comfortably, I decided to look at my figures.
— Level: 0
— Mind: 5
— Strength: 13
— Agility: 12
— Endurance: 10
— Health: 10
— Intellect: 20
— Life supply: 110/110
— Energy supply: 65/110
— Mana supply: 210/210
— Skills and abilities:
— Gulper’s Lair.
— Level: 1 (0/30).
— Muckwalker’s Aquatic Regeneration.
— Level: 1 (0/30).
— Spells:
— Glitterspark Eel’s Chain Lightning.
— Level: 1 (0/30).
— Gulper’s Shattering Ram.
— Level: 1 (0/30).
— Muckwalker’s Defensive Aura.
— Level: 1 (0/30).
All the positive effects of my abilities and spells had noticeably improved. And my mana expenditure and cooldown times had gone down considerably. Master Chi said I was still very weak. Heh, he should have seen me two months ago.
After studying my characteristics, I listened to my feelings. I was contented. But this contentment was akin to that of a caged wild animal being thrown a hunk of meat. I got fed, but it only meant I would be ready for action when the time finally came.
* * *
“So then, let’
s repeat one more time,” Master Chi says, sitting with a glass of wine and staring at the ceiling. For the umpteenth time, he is harping on about the rules for my conduct. “What do you do with loot?”
“I must surrender all loot to you, lord,” I answer for the umpteenth time, reciting by rote.
“Correct,” the mage nods and takes a sip. “And if someone wants to give you a gift?”
“I must not accept.”
“And?”
“And I must inform you.”
Master Chi wanted to ask another question, but a timid knock came at the door.
“Enter!” he commanded.
The door opened to reveal the head of a young servant.
“My lord, Master Ting’s carriage will be arriving any minute.”
“Excellent!” The mage exclaimed, slapping himself on the knees and jumping up nimbly.
“Order everyone to come down and meet our honored guest!” Turning to me, he said: “But you hide over there in the corner.” And he added, menacing with a finger: “And make sure you keep your head down for me.”
Submitting, I hid behind a heavy curtain. Through a narrow gap between the folds I had an excellent view of the entrance and dining table, which was set with all kinds of exquisite delicacies. And thirty minutes later, two mages came barging into the room. They were smiling gleefully and patting one another on the shoulder, hobnobbing.
Master Chi’s very old friend was a plump middle-aged man. Luxuriant fire-red hair cascaded over his shoulders. His curly red beard was neatly trimmed, and the pomaded tips of his moustache twirled rakishly. Expensive clothing, flashy jewelry — in general, mages were defined by good grooming and fanciful mannerisms.
After them, a few servants hurried into the room carrying more dishes. As soon as Chi and his friend sat at the table, servers scurried up next to them.
“Wine?” asked Master Chi.
“Ragonian!” Master Ting answered in a deep bass.
“An excellent choice!” said Chi with a snap of the fingers. And the servant smoothly but at the same time nimbly poured bright pink nectar into two wine glasses.
For a few minutes, the mages savored the beverage in silence.
“Marvelous!” the redhead rendered a verdict.
“Incidentally, it’s a year five!” Chi said with self-satisfaction. “And that, as you know, was the best year for grapes of this varietal!”
From there the men started in on the fine foods, which made my mouth involuntarily fill with saliva.
“What do you think of the young Corwin?” Ting asked first.
“A stubborn dunderhead,” Chi answered flippantly with a wave of the hand. “His late father was marked by greater prudence.”
“I must disagree with you on that account.”
“I wonder if the Bear and the Boar have begun plucking his feathers yet.”
“According to reports I’ve heard, Corwin has begun sieging Orchus,” the redhead said.
“That means the trap will slam shut any day now. And what about the Order? Have they decided to support him?”
Master Ting shook his head.
“He’s too restive.”
“On whom then will they confer the baronial crown?” Master Chi asked, intrigued.
“A nephew of the elder Corwin — a very quiet and timid young man,” the redhead answered profoundly.
“Ugh,” Chi breathed a short sigh, shaking his head. “A little mind control could solve this issue.”
The redhead took a heavy sigh.
“I do not agree. In fact, it would complicate things significantly. The courtiers would raise a stink, then it would be the events of two-hundred years ago all over again. We were driven to the brink of extinction as it was. And don’t you forget that every little baron out there aspires to unlock the mana supply.”
Chi just sighed in silence and took a deep swallow from his glass, which was immediately refilled by the lightning-fast swipe of a servant’s hand.
The mages fell silent again, each thinking about something else. Master Chi started the discussion back up. Squinting, he turned to Ting:
“Well old bean, that can’t be why you came to visit, right?”
“Indeed, my friend! You are absolutely right. I come bearing bad tidings for you.”
Chi gave a careless chuckle.
“The old worm got another itch?”
“You’d do well not to speak that way!” Ting objected. “And your flippant manner frightens me! Beyond that, you are disrespecting the council of the Order of our barony. There were mages sympathetic to you before, but your Bug-may-care attitude has driven them all away. I believe I am the only friend you have left. I remember perfectly who saved my hide back in that tomb.”
Chi gave a kind smile and patted the redhead on the shoulder.
“I know, my friend. That is why you are here drinking wine with me today. And as for our elders, here is what I have to say — that ditherer occupies a seat which does not belong to him. I was supposed to be head of our cell. You know that perfectly well!”
“Yes,” nodded the redhead. “But he was appointed by the Five with the Grand Magister at their head! Their will is our law!”
Slamming his palm loudly on the tabletop, Chi hopped up nervously. His face went crimson, his lips screwed up into an evil grimace and his manicured hands balled up into fists so tight his knuckles turned chalky.
“Everyone knows Magister Shitang forced that dunderhead on us! That old snake was consolidating positions by placing his people in elderships throughout the Kingdom!”
Paying no mind to his friend’s shouting, Ting responded calmly:
“That’s just where your problem lies, old bean. You’ve grown so accustomed to creating soulless marionettes that you can no longer stand being subordinate to anyone. You are too proud to be an elder, too independent. And as a rule, with time, those who run afoul of our leaders become a dangerous hindrance. That’s why I am here. To warn you. You’ve pressed on too many old sore spots. The council was saying so openly at their last meeting.”
My heart aflutter, I was taking in all the information. If my father could hear what these people were saying, he’d be no less shocked than me. I had guessed this world was not as straightforward as I was led to believe. But not to this degree...
Meanwhile, their conversation was ongoing.
After the quick flare-up, Master Chi got himself together just as quickly and sat back down at the table. Smiling broadly and, raising a glass, he said:
“Let’s drink, old bean. And to the abyss with all these scoundrels!”
The redhead chuckled sadly and raised a glass.
His goblet drained, Chi gave a sweep of the arm and every last servant left the room. When the door closed behind the last one, Chi walked right up to his fellow mage. Squinting conspiratorially, he began to speak:
“My friend, I no longer give a damn about becoming an elder of our back-woods Barony. My aim is to climb higher. I want to become Great Magister! And to do that, I will need trusted associates. I will need people like you, my friend!”
Ting frowned and glanced suspiciously at his friend. I could see perfectly well that the redheaded mage did not like what he was hearing.
“Chi, have you lost your mind?! Those words alone could get us turned to ash and scattered in the wind! You live among your puppets without a care in the world, but I have successors to think about!”
“Don’t you worry about a thing, my friend,” the master of the house answered in a calm voice. “I have a plan. And you know perfectly well that once I set myself a goal — I always get what I’m after. I have discovered a way to make many influential people dependent on me. You simply cannot imagine the kind of perspectives that have opened up before me! And if you follow me, you can share in my success!”
“Explain yourself,” Ting asked, his right brow arched.
Master Chi stood easily from the table, rubbing his hands together and smiling intriguingly, then said:
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The Wastes Page 5